Hyderabad: With just a day left for submission of online applications for Haj 2023, March 20 will be the last date for submission of online applications. The Telangana Haj Committee has received 8,300 applications so far. This year, around 10,000 applications are expected to be filed from Telangana.
Sources in the Haj Committee said that 3000 cover numbers have been issued for the applicants. The Haj Committee of India has extended the deadline for submission of online applications by 10 days till March 20 on the request of state Haj committees. No further extension can be said for sure, so those wishing to perform Hajj should submit online applications by Monday evening.
For the convenience of the applicants, special counters have been set up by the Haj Committee at Haj House, Nampally, where free uploading of applications is available. Meanwhile, the Haj Committee of India has issued a notification for the selection of Hajj 2023.
Applications for trainers began on March 17 and March 27 has been set as the deadline. The state Hajj committees will select the aspirants by April 15 for which a training program will be held in April.
The Indian Haj quota was fixed as 1,75,025 for the year 2023 after a bilateral agreement signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of India. The highest quota for India was in 2019 when 1.4 lakh was allocated, following that year in 2020 the number was 1.25 lakh but owing to Covid-19 pandemic that year Haj was cancelled.
Due to limitation of quota, many Haj optimistic Indian Muslim were left out of the draw system across Telangana and the country, however, with the increase in quota, more Indian pilgrims can perform Haj this year and shrinking the waiting time and widening draw chances.
Saudi Arabian Haj and Umrah Deputy Minister Dr Adelfattah bin Suleiam Mash and Indian Consul General Md Shahid Alam have signed a bilateral agreement in Jeddah.
Kulgam: A two day programme on Nund Reshi(RA), to show case the mystic tradition of sufism through music and symposium, was organized on 15th and 16th March-2023 by Indra Gandhi National Centre for Arts, J&K in collaboration with AKWO foundation Kulgam at Aharbal Main Park and Govt Degree College Kulgam. On day first a sufiana mahfil on Shruk (Nund Reshi’s sayings) was held at Aharbal. The event was itself a historic one as this was the first time when a spiritual gathering was organized to remember the mystic traditions of a great sufi saint of Kashmir whose sayings are reverberating in the hearts of every kashmiri. The event started in a traditional manner with the burning of izband (harmala) in a Kangiri to spread the aura of spiritual fragrance. The chairperson AKWO foundation Kulgam Mr Uwais Amin formally welcomed the participants. The session bloomed with two famous musical bands of artistic performance. In first part Mohd Yousuf Beigh and Saznavaz performed Shruks in a pure sufina in accordance with special Muqams of Mousiqui. The band was also consisting female performers providing uniqueness to this event. In second part Mehnaz Sangeet Group performed Chakri and Rouh. This sufi musical event of Shruks was attended by the District Development Commissioner Kulgam Dr Bilal Mohiuddin as Chief Guest accompanying with other administrative officers. The Khadimans (special devotees) of the different shrines of Nund ReshiRA also attended the event and were felicitated by organizers with kashmiri shawls. The event was also attended by locals, students of Degree College Kulgam, teachers & civil society members of the District Kulgam. The proceedings of this event started at 1:00 pm and concluded at 5:00 pm.
On the second day, a symposium on “Life and Teachings of Nund ReshiRA” was held in the Seminar Hall of Govt Degree College Kulgam. A total of five speakers from different parts of valley presented their papers on different dimensions of life and teaching of Nund ReshiRA. The programme started at 11:00 am with recitation of Shruk by Bisma Jan. Dr Jahangeer Iqbal, Head Department of Persian, University of Kashmir spoke on the life of Nund Reshi. Dr Shahida Shabnam, Assistant Prof. Govt. Degree College Dangiwacha, Baramullah presented a paper on “Nund Reshi: life and art of living”. The 3rd paper on “Nund Reshi and his society” was presented by Dr Nusrat Jan, Assistant Prof. Kashmiri, Govt. Degree College for Women M.A Road, Srinagar. During the proceedings of programme Dr Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Assistant Professor Kashmiri, Govt Degree College Kulgam spoke on the topic “Nund Reshi in the pursuit of spirituality”. The renowned writer of the valley Yousuf Jahangeer presented a detailed paper on Nund Reshi as a nature lover. The session was attended by different scholars, language activists, devotees of Nund Reshi, Professors and the students of the college. The presidential remarks were presented by Principal Degree College Kulgam, Prof (Dr) Manzoor Ahmad Lone who was the chief guest on the occasion. The mementoes were distributed among the speakers as a token of love and gratitude. The whole proceedings of the two day programme was conducted by Dr Nisar Ahmad Bhat. The session concluded with formal vote of thanks by Dr Hashim Iqbal Assistant Professor and Head Department of History Degree College Kulgam.
American presidents have been known to flaunt their Irish pride on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s the day the White House fountain turns green, bagpipes abound and world leaders share a beer — a Guinness, if they’re sticking to tradition.
Sporting a green tie and a pocket of shamrocks, President Joe Biden met with the republic’s prime minister Leo Varadkar, known as the Taoiseach, on Friday. The Irish politician presented the president with a bowl of clovers, a gesture that began in 1952, as the pair reaffirmed their partnership before a reception to celebrate the holiday.
While Biden is especially known to boast his Irish roots, he’s far from the only person to hold office to have such ancestry: It’s estimated that half of U.S. presidents’ relatives hailed from the Emerald Isle at some point.
Of recent officeholders, Barack Obama drew fanfare for participating in one of the holiday’s most famed traditions: Drinking a pint of Guinness at a bar alongside his Irish cousin at Washington’s Dubliner Restaurant and Pub. His successor, Donald Trump, participated in the shamrocks exchange, but is not a drinker and didn’t follow his predecessor in making an appearance at an Irish pub during his presidency — despite abundant merchandise depicting Trump wearing a leprechaun hat and holding a pint.
In 1976, Jimmy Carter waved to the crowd as he strutted down Fifth Avenue in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. In 1969, Richard Nixon presented a crystal vase, etched with a picture of the White House, to the Irish ambassador to the United States.
The crowning Irishman in office, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, delivered a powerful speech on St. Patrick’s Day in 1954, while he was still a senator, and addressed the Irish parliament in 1963. On a trip to the city of Limerick, Kennedy underscored his admiration for the country:
“This is not the land of my birth, but it is the land for which I hold the greatest affection.”
[ad_2]
#Shamrocks #bagpipes #green #champagne #presidents #celebrated #Patricks #Day
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
“From one Irish American to another, I want to strive every day to live up to the example of President Reagan and Tip O’Neill,” McCarthy said, addressing the president.
Biden said he agreed with McCarthy that there’s no reason why “we can’t find common ground,” and he hopes that “we can turn this breakfast into more of an everyday relationship.”
“There’s no reason why we can’t hope to change this direction of extremism of both our parties,” Biden said, adding that it’s about the “power of friendship.”
Biden and McCarthy’s relationship this year has been marked by finding a path forward on raising the debt ceiling. In Biden’s State of the Union speech last month, he scolded Republicans about their past interest in cutting the nation’s biggest entitlement programs. Biden later met with McCarthy in search of a path to lifting the nation’s debt ceiling.
[ad_2]
#Patricks #Day #puts #debt #rancor #Biden #McCarthy
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Friday due to slogan shouting by the opposition and protests by the ruling party members over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy-under-attack” remarks made in London recently.
This was for the fifth consecutive day that the House did not function ever since the second part of the budget session began on March 13.
As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, some Congress members trooped to the Well of the House shouting slogans and demanded that Gandhi be allowed to speak in the House.
They also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group, a business conglomerate headed by industrialist Gautam Adani.
The members of the treasury benches also raised counter-slogans from their seats, demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks.
The turmoil continued for about 20 minutes, with Speaker Om Birla urging the members to allow the House to function smoothly.
“Honourable members, I appeal to you to allow the House to run smoothly. People did not send you here to do this. I will give everyone an opportunity to speak, but the House has to be in order,” he said.
The protesting members ignored his pleas and the speaker adjourned the House for the day. It will meet again on March 20.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several other Union ministers were present in the House.
During his interactions in London, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a “full-scale assault” on the country’s institutions.
The remarks triggered a political slugfest, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions, and the Congress hitting back at the ruling party by citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics abroad.
UPI Transaction Limit: Can only 20 transactions be done in a day from UPI? know details
Never Miss An Update After Joining This Group
Join Our What’s Group
Click Here
UPI Transaction Limit: UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is at the forefront of online transactions. The use of UPI has increased very fast for any purchase or transaction and it is so easy. Small to big transactions done in just a few clicks.
We have become so dependent on UPI Payment Apps for our every transaction that we do many transactions in a day and then it is known that we have crossed the day’s transaction limit. But what is the transaction limit of UPI in a day? This question often comes in front of the customers and now it has been raised in the Parliament as well.
Question raised in Parliament regarding UPI Transaction Limit
Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh asked in a written question in Parliament whether there is any limit on the number of online transactions that can be done through a bank on UPI payment apps like Paytm, Google Pay and PhonePe in a day? Along with this, he asked some more questions, such as what are the details of this limit rule, what are the reasons for it? Do public sector banks only apply this limit? Will this hinder the Digital India mission or will the government consider removing these rules?
What was the government’s reply on UPI Transaction Limit?
Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that yes there is a limit on the number of online payments or transactions that can be done through the bank in a single day on the use of UPI payment. According to the latest guidelines issued by NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) on January 10, 2023, only 20 transactions can be done in a 24-hour period from a bank account in P2P ie person-to-person category.
In which the time of the first transaction will be considered as the starting time. This limit has been fixed to protect the customer from possible financial fraud and to comply with the standards for the use of UPI.
In his written reply, the Union Minister said that this limit is applicable to public sector banks including member banks in the UPI UCO-system. The UPI limit is revised from time to time by NPCI to increase customer adoption of UPI and increase the penetration of digital payments.
SRINAGAR: The United Nations commemorated the first-ever International Day to Combat Islamophobia with a special event in the General Assembly Hall, where speakers upheld the need for concrete action in the face of rising hatred, discrimination and violence against Muslims. The event took place a few days ahead of March 15, the day fixed for International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
A crowd of pigeons outside the Dargah-e-Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The observation follows the unanimous adoption of an Assembly resolution in 2022 that proclaimed 15 March as the International Day, calling for global dialogue that promotes tolerance, peace and respect for human rights and religious diversity. The day is also the anniversary of the 2019 attack on two mosques in New Zealand which left 51 people dead.
As the UN Secretary-General stated, the nearly two billion Muslims worldwide – who come from all corners of the planet – “reflect humanity in all its magnificent diversity”. Yet, they often face bigotry and prejudice simply because of their faith.
Furthermore, Muslim women can also suffer “triple discrimination” because of their gender, ethnicity, and faith.
Everyone has a role
The President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, noted that Islamophobia is rooted in xenophobia, or the fear of strangers, which is reflected in discriminatory practices, travel bans, hate speech, bullying and targeting of other people.
He urged countries to uphold freedom of religion or belief, which is guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“All of us carry a responsibility to challenge Islamophobia or any similar phenomenon, to call out injustice and condemn discrimination based on religion or belief – or the lack of them,” he added.
Kőrösi said education is key to learning why these phobias exist, and it can be “transformative” in changing how people understand each another.
Hatred on the rise
The growing hate that Muslims face is not an isolated development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told attendees.
“It is an inexorable part of the resurgence of ethno-nationalism, neo-Nazi white supremacist ideologies, and violence targeting vulnerable populations including Muslims, Jews, some minority Christian communities and others,” he said.
“Discrimination diminishes us all. And it is incumbent on all of us to stand up against it. We must never be bystanders to bigotry.”
Stressing that “we must strengthen our defences”, Guterres highlighted UN measures such as a Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. He also called for ramping up political, cultural, and economic investments in social cohesion.
Curb online bigotry
“And we must confront bigotry wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head. This includes working to tackle the hate that spreads like wildfire across the internet,” he added.
To this end, the UN is working with governments, regulators, technology companies and the media “to set up guardrails, and enforce them.”
Compassion and solidarity
Other policies already launched include a Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, and the Our Common Agenda report, which outlines a framework for a more inclusive and secure “digital future” for all people.
The Secretary-General also expressed gratitude to religious leaders across the world who have united to promote dialogue and interfaith harmony.
He described the 2019 declaration on ‘Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together’ – co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb – as “a model for compassion and human solidarity.”
Interestingly, China and US attacked each other on the day at UN event.
China accused the US of “abusing” a UN event to mark an international day against Islamophobia after the American ambassador in New York used it to draw attention to Beijing’s persecution of its Uyghur minority.
Speaking at the event, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said that the US had formally recognised that Muslims are increasingly subject to “discrimination and violence”, and cited the treatment of the Uyghurs in China and the Rohingya in Myanmar.
China’s persecution of the Uyghurs has been documented by human rights organisations and by the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and has been widely condemned by western governments.
A Letter
Meanwhile, as many as 15 organisations across the world, including the Muslim Council of Britain, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Committee for Justice and Liberty in France, Asociacion Musulmana por los Derechos Humanos in Spain and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, have written a letter to UN calling for action against Islamophobia.
“We call on governments to recognize the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, condemn anti-Muslim bigotry and racism, dismantle Islamophobic policies and laws, and ensure that all of their citizens receive fair treatment under the law,” the first call to action said.
“We know that Islamophobia has gone global. The Christchurch shooter who murdered 51 Muslim men, women and children in New Zealand on March 15th four years ago was just one horrific example of how dangerous anti-Muslim extremism can become,” the letter said.
(Part of the news item was sourced from a report from UN official website)
New Delhi: The proceedings in Parliament were disrupted for the third straight day on Wednesday as the political slugfest between the BJP and the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s democracy remarks and the Adani issue intensified and the opposition parties took to the streets.
The BJP stepped up the ante against Gandhi, saying India’s democracy is not in peril but the Congress party has been brought to “political perish” by the people while the opposition party escalated its offensive, accusing the government of “undermining and weakening” democracy in the country by stalling Parliament to save a businessman.
The Congress along with several other opposition parties also took out a protest march from Parliament House to hand over a complaint to the Enforcement Directorate on the Adani issue. However, they were stopped by the police at Vijay Chowk.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the police did not allow the opposition MPs of around 18 parties to march in protest and present their case for a detailed investigation into the Adani issue.
Later, opposition leaders emailed a letter to ED Director S K Mishra. The parties told the probe agency that “it cannot turn around and abdicate its jurisdiction”.
The letter was signed by leaders of the Congress, CPI, CPI-M, JDU, SS (UBT), RJD, DMK, JMM, AAP, IUML, VCK, Kerala Congress and others.
The logjam continued in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
In Lok Sabha, opposition members stormed into the Well of the House, raising placards and slogans, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani matter while the BJP slammed Rahul, accusing him of insulting India and cast aspersion against the Speaker of the House.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged the members to return to their seats and allow the house to run.
“This house is meant for holding discussions and dialogues. Let’s talk about policy and have a good discussion on issues related to public welfare. If we want people’s welfare and consider this house a temple of democracy, I will request that at least don’t comment on this house,” Birla said.
“It is not right to comment, either inside (the house) or outside. Talk about issues and policy here. It is not right to bring placards like this here. I am warning you. This is wrong,” he said.
Rajya Sabha proceedings were also disrupted amid uproar over the BJP’s demand for Gandhi’s apology for his “democracy under attack” remark made in London.
Both houses have failed to transact business so far in the second leg of the Budget session of Parliament that began on Monday.
Gandhi, during his recent UK visit, had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy were under “brutal attack” and there was a full-scale assault on the country’s institutions.
His remarks triggered a massive political row, with the BJP accusing him of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions and the Congress hitting back, citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising internal politics abroad.
Outside the Parliament also, the BJP kept the heat on Rahul Gandhi with Union minister Smriti Irani saying India’s democracy is not in peril but the Congress party has been brought to “political perish” by the people for the kind of behaviour its leader (Rahul Gandhi) exhibited overseas,
Gandhi’s grudge with Prime Minister Modi has taken the shape of a grudge with India, she charged, demanding that the Wayanad MP of the Congress apologise to Parliament for his remarks.
Addressing a press conference, Irani alleged that “at the feet of India’s colonial past” Gandhi lamented the “lack of foreign intervention” in India’s democracy. This is to bring to a halt India’s resilient growth story under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, she said.
She said the “lies that became a foundation of the Congress leader’s conversation in England” were many.
Thiruvananthapuram: On the occasion of International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for a united fight against the darkness of hatred and bigotry.
The United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution sponsored by 60 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
In a tweet on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said: “The UN’s International Day to Combat #Islamophobia is a solid call to action, reminding us of the disturbing rise of intolerance against Muslims and hate crimes worldwide.”
“We must unite and ignite a flame of compassion and empathy to illuminate the darkness of hatred and bigotry,” Vijayan said.
The document stresses that terrorism and violent extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group.
It calls for a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace, based on respect for human rights and the diversity of religions and beliefs.
