The Great Indian Festival of Clicking ‘Buy Now’

Let me tell you something about India. We are a country of festivals. Seriously, just look at the calendar. If it’s not Diwali, it’s Eid. If it’s not Eid, it’s Christmas. After that, there’s New Year, then Holi, then some other state festival, a harvest festival, or maybe just a long weekend that feels like a festival. We love to celebrate. It’s in our DNA. Festivals mean family, food, fun, and, of course, shopping.

But in the last few years, a new kind of festival has popped up. This one doesn't have a fixed date in the calendar. It happens whenever a company with a multi-billion dollar valuation decides it should. I’m talking about the Great Indian Online Sale. You know the ones—The Big Billion Days, The Great Indian Festival. Suddenly, our phones start buzzing with notifications promising 80% off, lightning deals, and 'offers you can't refuse'. These e-commerce giants have become the new festival planners, and they are targeting us, the great Indian middle class, with military precision.

The most amazing thing about this online shopping mela is the unity it creates. In a country where we can argue about religion, politics, and which cricketer is the GOAT, online sales bring everyone together. A Hindu guy from Delhi, a Muslim girl from Bangalore, and a Christian family in Kerala are all chasing the same deal on that new Samsung phone. Nobody cares about your faith when there’s a 70% discount on shoes. In the virtual aisles of Amazon and Flipkart, we are all just one thing: bargain hunters. It’s a beautiful picture of national integration, brought to you by capitalism. We are all united, scrolling with our thumbs, adding to cart, and hoping our PIN code is serviceable.

But hold on a minute. Before you get all patriotic about our shared love for discounts, let’s ask a simple question. Are these sales really our friends? These companies aren’t your friendly neighbourhood uncle giving you a Diwali gift. They are massive, data-crunching machines designed to do one thing: make you spend your money. Their job is to make you buy things you don’t need, with money you might not have.

They create a sense of urgency, a FOMO—Fear Of Missing Out. “Only 2 left in stock!” “Offer ends in 10 minutes!” Your heart beats faster. You feel like you have to buy it now or you’ll regret it forever. You buy a fancy coffee machine, even though you only drink instant coffee. You buy a third pair of headphones, just because it was a 'steal deal'. You think you are saving money, but you are actually just spending it. It's a psychological trick, and we are all falling for it.

So, what should we do? Boycott online sales? Live like a hermit? No, that’s not practical. The key is to be a smart shopper, not an emotional one. We need to learn to control our impulses and protect our hard-earned money.
How to Survive the Sale Season

Here are a few simple rules to follow to keep your bank balance healthy.

Make a List: Before the sale even begins, make a list of things you genuinely need. A new pressure cooker? A book for your exam? Fine. Stick to the list. Don't go 'window shopping' aimlessly. That's a trap.


The 24-Hour Rule: See an amazing deal on something not on your list? Add it to your cart, and then close the app. Wait for 24 hours. After a day, the urgency will fade, and you can decide with a clear head if you really need it. 9 out of 10 times, you won’t.


Be a Detective: Is that 70% discount real? Often, sellers inflate the original price to make the discount look massive. Use price comparison websites to check the item's price history. Don't be fooled by big red percentage signs.


Check the Fine Print: A phone might seem cheap, but what about the no-cost EMI? Is it truly no-cost, or are there hidden processing fees? What about the delivery charges? That cheap T-shirt isn't so cheap if you have to pay ₹100 for shipping.

Value Your Money: Finally, remember how hard you work for your money. Is that shiny new gadget worth the stress of another EMI payment? Is buying another dress more important than saving for a family vacation or your child's education? Don't let a clever marketing campaign decide your financial priorities.

So, next time the online festival begins, enjoy it. Browse the deals, see what’s new. But do it with your brain, not just your credit card. Be a conscious Indian consumer. Let’s show the world that we are not just united in our shopping, but also in our smarts

 #Namaz #Islam #Allah #Muslim #Quran #Prayer #IslamicQuotes #Dua #IslamicReminders #Salah #Deen #AllahuAkbar #JummahMubarak #PrayOnTime #SalahFirst #DailyPrayer #Sajdah #Fajr #Dhuhr #Asr #Maghrib #Isha #Muslimah #SpiritualJourney

Bihar 2025 - The Right to Vote, but Not to Question? The Bihar Election Circus: Dates Announced, Questions Buried.

The bugle for the Bihar election circus has been sounded, but what about the results of the grand 'SIR' exercise that was meant to precede it? As officials in Delhi deliver jargon-filled speeches and dodge questions about infiltrators, the real concerns of Bihar's people—floods, jobs, and schools—are once again ignored. This article delves into the special hypocrisy of an election where the voter is worthy enough to vote, but not worthy enough to receive a straight answer.

Read on.....

So, there you have it—the bugle for the Bihar election circus has been sounded. Our Chief Election Commissioner, with his stiff collar and imposing style, held a grand court in Delhi to announce the dates. You know the scene: flashing cameras, journalists nodding at every word, and an officer, intoxicated with his own power, bestowing the "gift" of an election schedule upon the nation.

Before getting to the main point, the election dates for Bihar, he delivered a long, rambling, and incoherent speech on something called SIR. I have no idea what it means, and I can bet that the millions of people in Bihar whose fate is supposedly tied to it don't know either. It was surely a masterpiece of bureaucratic jargon, the kind that puts you to sleep. He must have been very pleased with himself for having made such a fine display of his machinery's power.

But the real fun began when a "stubborn" journalist asked a simple question: "Sir, what happened to the infiltrators?" This question fell like a stone into the calm pond of official rhetoric. After all, wasn't this entire grand and expensive SIR exercise meant to remove them? Suddenly, the verbose Commissioner fell silent. The flowing spring of rhetoric dried up. He dodged the question like an expert politician avoiding someone asking to repay a loan. And word is that the same drama was repeated in Patna.

One is forced to ask, what is the point of such a massive audit if you don't intend to reveal its results? It is like a doctor, after performing an expensive surgery, refusing to tell the anxious family whether the patient is alive or dead. This is a first-rate joke and an insult to people's intelligence.

And what about the poor Bihari voter? He is more worried about the next flood, a ruined crop, whether his son will find work in Surat or Mumbai, or if the village school will ever get a decent teacher. But the people sitting in the air-conditioned offices of Delhi and Patna want him to worry about "infiltrators." You see, an enemy always comes in handy. It distracts people from their empty stomachs and empty pockets. The voter is handed a date to cast his vote. He is considered worthy enough to vote, but not worthy enough to receive a straight answer to a straight question.

This whole affair reeks of the special hypocrisy that has seeped into the very veins of our politics. The election will come and go. People will vote based on old loyalties to caste and religion, or perhaps on the price of onions and oil. A government will be formed, new ministers will take their oaths, and garlands will be exchanged. And that question about infiltrators, which was the reason for this whole drama, will be conveniently buried under a pile of hollow slogans and even fresher lies.

So, let the show begin. I will watch it from my armchair while reading the morning newspaper, observing this grand drama. The speeches will be loud, the promises will be grand, and the outcome will be as predictable as the monsoon rains. If anything truly changes, it will only be the faces on the posters, while the people's questions are left to gather dust. With malice toward all.

***

DJ Halli - KG Halli Riots, Five Years On: A Long Wait for Justice and a Reckoning with UAPA

By Jameel Ahmed Milansaar, Bangalore

Five years after one of Bengaluru’s most disturbing episodes of communal violence, a faint glimmer of justice has finally emerged. The Supreme Court of India recently granted bail to two accused — Kareem Saddam (Accused No. 24) and Ziaur Rahman (Accused No. 6) — in the DJ Halli and KG Halli riot cases. For families who have spent years waiting for some sign of relief under the shadow of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), this decision is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. It is also a moment that compels us to pause and reflect on what happened that night, why justice took so long, and what the entire episode reveals about the fault lines in our law and society.

From Provocation to Violence

On the night of 11 August 2020, the twin localities of DJ Halli and KG Halli in Bengaluru witnessed an eruption that was more than just a riot — it was an explosion born of deep social tension, administrative failure, and reckless provocation. It began with a Facebook post by the nephew of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, which insulted the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). What started as a small, angry gathering of around 25 people demanding action against the offender quickly spiraled into chaos.

Within hours, thousands had gathered outside the DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations and the MLA’s residence. Stones were hurled, vehicles torched, and buildings burnt. The police, overwhelmed and unprepared, opened fire to disperse the crowd. Three people died and over 50 were injured. Beyond the smoke and shattered glass, the violence held up a terrifying mirror to our society — one increasingly quick to outrage, slow to reason, and disturbingly willing to bypass the rule of law.

Arrests, UAPA, and the Machinery of Delay

In the immediate aftermath, Bengaluru Police launched a massive crackdown. Nearly 199 individuals were arrested; 138 were eventually charge-sheeted. By September 2020, the investigation was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which invoked the draconian provisions of the UAPA — transforming what was essentially a riot case into one of alleged terrorism.

The consequences were devastating. Under UAPA, bail is nearly impossible unless the court can prove that the accusations are patently false — a near-insurmountable condition. Many of the arrested men spent years behind bars without trial. In May 2025, when fourteen accused approached the Karnataka High Court seeking discharge from UAPA provisions, their plea was rejected on grounds that this was not one of the “rarest of rare” cases for bail interference. The court pointed out that much of the delay was caused by the accused themselves through repeated litigation tactics, denying them the relief of bail despite their long pre-trial incarceration. This reveals how our justice system, when dealing with extraordinary laws like UAPA, often struggles to balance speedy justice with legal caution.

Broader Context: UAPA Misuse and Judicial Trends

The recent legal developments in the DJ Halli-KG Halli riots case, including the Supreme Court granting bail to two accused after five years of detention under the stringent UAPA, fit into a broader pattern of misuse and criticism of the UAPA in India. The law, originally intended to tackle terrorism and unlawful activities, has often been invoked in riot and political cases, resulting in prolonged pre-trial detention and severe restrictions on bail.

The Supreme Court of India has maintained a tough stance on bail under UAPA, granting it only under exceptional circumstances, typically when there is significant delay in trial or lack of strong prima facie evidence. For instance, in a similar 2025 case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to an accused after noting that despite years in custody, trial progress was negligible and evidence weak. The courts recognize that while UAPA provisions allow denial of bail if the allegations appear prima facie true, prolonged incarceration without trial violates constitutional rights to liberty.

The Supreme Court decisions reflect a jurisprudential tension: on one hand, UAPA cases require a high threshold for bail due to the serious nature of the offenses; on the other, excessive delays in court proceedings and weak linkage evidence necessitate relief for accused persons. This has led to evolving guidelines reiterating the necessity of balancing state security interests with the protection of individual liberties.

Moreover, the use of UAPA in riot cases like DJ Halli-KG Halli illustrates how anti-terror laws are extended into scenarios of communal violence, often resulting in political and social controversies about fairness and misuse. Critics argue this broad application undermines fair judicial process, as most UAPA arrests end in long detentions without eventual conviction, increasing societal fissures and distrust in law enforcement.

In sum, the DJ Halli-KG Halli case’s slow justice and recent bail grant highlight systemic issues around UAPA’s enforcement: stringent bail conditions, slow legal proceedings, and the constitutional requirement for timely justice. This case serves as a crucial reminder of the need for judicial vigilance ensuring that laws designed to protect the state do not disproportionately trample on individual rights, particularly in sensitive communal contexts.

Convictions, Admissions of Guilt, and Societal Impact

In July 2025, the NIA special court sentenced three accused to rigorous imprisonment for seven years after they pleaded guilty to charges related to rioting, arson, and conspiracy under UAPA and the IPC. These convictions were hailed as a vindication of the law enforcement agencies’ efforts, particularly since the violence was found to be orchestrated by banned outfits such as the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political wing, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The court noted that the riots coincided with a religious festival and were a deliberate act aimed at communal disruption and attacking the state machinery by targeting police stations and public order. The central government’s ban on the PFI in 2022 was reinforced by these findings, as public confidence in the police and state authority was shaken by the attacks.

Lessons and the Road Ahead

The DJ Halli-KG Halli incident stands as both a tragedy and a warning. It tells us that:

Every act of hate or provocation on social media must be met with swift, lawful action to prevent escalation.

Police forces need better training, preparedness, and community engagement to handle volatile situations without recourse to excessive force.

Political parties must resist exploiting communal tensions for electoral gains, focusing instead on social harmony.

Our judicial system requires reforms to ensure speedy and transparent trials, particularly in cases involving sensitive communal elements and stringent laws like the UAPA.

The riots did not occur in a vacuum; they resulted from a dangerous mix of social discord, administrative failure, and legal complexity. Justice delayed has been justice denied for many; thus, it is imperative to balance security with liberty to prevent such fissures from widening in the future.

 

The Karur Stampede That Shook Tamil Nadu’s Heart-The Deadly Delay That Turned a Rally into Ruin

They came with hopes on their sleeves and the names of their favourite leader on their lips. It was September 27, 2025—a day that should have been marked by the rising voices of democracy, a collective celebration of participation and belief, not by the wails echoing over the silent stretch of Velusamypuram on the Karur highway. Instead, this ancient road, once a conduit of connection, became a wound etched deep into the collective soul of Tamil Nadu. Forty-one lives were mercilessly extinguished under the weight of a failing crowd, and with their passing, the dreams and futures of countless families were trampled beneath the panicked feet of many.

There is a peculiar kind of agony that only waiting can cultivate. On that fateful day, more than 40,000 supporters—mothers carrying their children close, elders standing with hope battered by fatigue, youthful hands clutching tightly to banners—pressed into an ever-tightening embrace. They had waited for seven long hours. Seven agonizing hours for a glimpse, a wave, a word from actor-turned-leader Vijay. With every passing minute, anticipation twisted tighter like a rope until suddenly, mercilessly, it snapped. Panic spread like wildfire—the lights went dark, the barriers faltered, thudding hearts collided with the harsh reality of breathless struggle for space and air.

What transpired in that moment was more than a crowd reacting; it was hope crushed, trust broken, peace violently shattered. The forsaken slippers abandoned amidst the chaos, a child’s desperate cry swallowed by pandemonium, a father lost to the consuming shadows—these sorrowful scenes cannot be measured, counted, or adequately portrayed in court records. They pulse through the every corner of Velusamypuram, alive in the empty spaces left behind.

I have spent years studying and advising on the patterns of crowd disasters—from holy pilgrimages filled with faith to charged political rallies thrumming with energy. Each event imparts a crucial lesson: human emotion, crowd density, and the infrastructure designed to hold them must harmonize in delicate balance. When this balance is disturbed or ignored, disaster is inevitable. Each lost life in that failure is not merely a number but an indelible scar, a narrative of pain and absence far more grief-stricken than data can ever convey.

When I spoke to an expert in this field—who requested anonymity given the sensitivity and ongoing investigation—the weight of his insights was heavy with truth. “Crowd size alone does not determine chaos," he said. "It's the flow, the mood, the exact moment when hopeful anticipation curdles into desperate panic." He explained that years of observation across tragedies—from the sacred churnings of the Kumbh Mela to fervent political roadshows—have shown a heartbreaking pattern: warnings cast aside, safety protocols sacrificed on the altar of spectacle, exits rendered inaccessible under the crushing force of bodies. "At Velusamypuram, all these grim lessons played out in ruthless repetition." His voice softened, the human cost clear in every syllable: “What haunts survivors is not the noise, but the harrowing silence—trying to breathe and hearing only the roar of panic. Organizers must realize: a crowd is never just a mass of people. It’s a weave of fragile lives linked by faith in leadership. Break that faith, and you undo the crowd itself.”

As the shock rippled across Tamil Nadu, grief unearthed fury, demanding not mere condolences but reckoning. The Madras High Court convened with urgency, laying bare its disapproval of TVK chief Vijay and his party’s conduct. It denounced their recklessness, their vanishing at the very moment their supporters were engulfed by tragedy, and their abject failure to show remorse or assume accountability. The court’s scrutiny was fierce and unyielding. It mandated the formation of a Special Investigation Team under IG Asra Garg, a body vested with sweeping authority to dissect every facet of the calamity with full cooperation from the Karur police. Political gatherings along highways were halted—an immediate moratorium until comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures were devised to safeguard future masses.

Vehicles of the campaign were seized, surveillance footage demanded, every scrap of documentary evidence summoned. Pleas for bail from key TVK leaders were rebuffed, holding them to the gravest charges: culpable homicide and endangering life. The court did not mince words in its condemnation of the party’s abandonment of its followers amid crisis. The judge’s voice crackled with the anguish of an entire state, “To stand witness to these deaths is a cruelty beyond bearing. What kind of leadership flees when its people cry out? Where is the responsibility that should bind them?”

The court dismissed calls to divert the inquiry from the SIT, demanding the barest fragments of truth—even the confessions of regret and the minutiae of communication—to be laid bare and scrutinized.

Beneath the weight of legal procedures and investigations, the stretch of highway in Velusamypuram remains haunted—not by ghosts, but by memories sharper than any apparition. The failure was not solely that of imperfect policing or errant organizers; it was a failure etched in the anguished tears of parents, the trembling hands of children left behind. The raw wound of loss pulses with every silent heartbeat that remembers those harrowing moments.

To those who lived through that dark night, the terror still echoes within their chests. For those who did not survive, no apology, no legal decree can heal the void carved in silent homes. This calamity must not be dismissed as just another headline or statistic to fade into forgotten folklore. Future assemblies across Tamil Nadu must carry in their hearts the quiet sobs of Velusamypuram and carry forth a solemn vow: that the true measure of leadership is the safety and dignity it ensures its people.

Justice, incomplete without this recognition, demands more than words. It calls for a collective vigil where every step along every road embraces the promise of safety, memory, and peace. The Madras High Court’s directives mark merely the opening chapter. The true verdict lies in our shared commitment to guard each other from sorrow wrought by neglect and indifference, so that hearts may heal, and futures may be brightened again.

To grasp this tragedy fully, one must peer beyond the facts and figures. It is a story of lives intertwined in trust and hope, abruptly and brutally torn apart. As an evocative cartoon portrays, a young Tamil politician clad in a white shirt stands on the roof of a caravan—evocative of Actor Vijay’s rally vehicles—mic in hand, surrounded by a frantic crowd pressing in on the Karur highway. It captures the fraught tension, the panic, and the despair that gripped Velusamypuram on that devastating evening. The canvas of human anguish speaks louder than any newsprint can hold.

This is not merely an incident from the past but a pulsating call to conscience and reform—a stark reminder etched into the landscape of Tamil Nadu, urging us all to never forget the cost of complacency when so many lives hang in the balance.

تمل ناڈو کرور کا وہ ماتم، جو کبھی مدھم نہیں ہوگا - اکتالیس زندگیاں، ان گنت آنسو کی داستاں -جمیل احمد ملنسار۔

تمل ناڈو کرور  کا وہ ماتم، جو کبھی مدھم نہیں ہوگا - اکتالیس زندگیاں، ان گنت آنسو کی داستاں -

جمیل احمد ملنسار۔

بنگلور 

اسسٹنٹ جنرل سکرٹری،

ال انڈیا ملّی کونسل کرناٹک ۔

وہ دن جب تمل ناڈو کی جمہوریت کی روشنییں بجھ گئیں اور کرور ویلو سوامی پورم کا بوسیدہ  ہائی وے ایک قبرستان میں بدل گیا،  یہ محض ایک مزید سیاسی سانحہ نہیں بلکہ ایک ایسا المیہ ہے جو ہمیں انسانی نگاہ سے دیکھنے اور انصاف کے اصل معنی سمجھنے پر مجبور کرتا ہے۔ اس دردناک حادثے نے نہ صرف اکتالیس چھین لیں بلکہ ہمارے سماجی ضمیر پر ایک ایسی چوٹ لگائی ہے جو برسوں تک نہ بھلائی جا سکتی ہے۔ اسی لئے یہ کالم ایک انسانی داستان کے ساتھ ساتھ قیادت کی ذمہ داری کا ایک دستاویزی کتابچہ بھی ہے۔ کلیدی نکتہ یہی ہے کہ ہر ہجوم ایک داستان سناتا ہے، ہر زندگی ایک وعدہ، اور ہر کھویا ہوا جان ایک سبق۔ اب وقت ہے کہ ہم ان سبقوں کو سنیں اور ان پر عمل کریں تاکہ انسانیت کی عزت اور سلامتی کی حفاظت ممکن ہو سکے۔وہ لوگ اپنے خوابوں کو سینوں کے ساتھ لے کر آئے تھے اور اپنے پسندیدہ رہنما کے نام کو زبان پر سجائے ہوئے۔

 یہ 27 ستمبر 2025 کا دن تھا — ایک ایسا دن جو جمہوریت کی بلند آوازوں اور شرکت کے جشن کا دن ہونا چاہیے تھا، مگر کرور کی وہ سڑک، جو برسوں سے ربط کا ذریعہ ہے، اس دن تمل ناڈو کی روح پر ایک گہرا زخم بن گیا۔ کرور ہائی وے کے اس سنسان مقام پر اکتالیس جانیں بے رحمی سے ختم ہوگئیں، اور ان جانوں کے ساتھ بے شمار خاندانی خواب اور مستقبل بے رحمی سے روند ڈالے گئے۔ایک انوکھا درد ہے جو انتظار کی لمبی گھڑیوں سے جنم لیتا ہے۔ اُس دن چالیس ہزار سے زائد لوگ اس سڑک پر  جمع تھے جہاں دس ہزار لوگوں کے لیے انتظامیہ نے اجازات دی تھی کا — ماؤں نے اپنے بچوں کو سینے سے لگائے، بزرگ تھکن کے باوجود کھڑے، جوان ہاتھوں میں بینر تھامے — سات گھنٹے تک تنگ ہوتی بھیڑ میں دبا رہے۔ سات گھنٹے کی اذیت ناک گھڑیاں صرف ایک جھلک، ایک ہاتھ ہلانے یا رہنما وجے کے الفاظ سُننے کے لیے۔ وقت گزرنے کے ساتھ توقع ایک رسی کی طرح سخت ہونے لگی، اور پھر اچانک وہ رسی ٹوٹ گئی۔ دہشت کی لہر نے ہر طرف پھیلنا شروع کردیا — بجلی چلی گئی، رکاوٹیں گر گئیں، دل دھڑک اٹھے، اور انسانی سانسیں قصۂ پارینہ بن گئیں۔یہ واقعہ محض ہجوم کا ردعمل نہیں تھا؛ یہ امید کی موت، بھروسا ٹوٹنے اور امن کی وحشیانہ تباہی کا منظر تھا۔ وہ جُوتے جو بے دریغ چھوڑ دیے گئے، بچے کی چیخ جو شور میں گم ہوگئی، باپ جو گم ہوگیا — 

یہ مناظر محض عدالتی ریکارڈ میں نہیں ہوئے، بلکہ کرور کے ہر کونے میں زندگی کی دھڑکنوں کی طرح زندہ ہیں۔  میں نے سالوں تک مختلف بھیڑ کے حادثات کا جائزہ لیا ہے — مذہبی عقیدت بھرے جلوسوں سے لے کر پُرجوش سیاسی جلسوں تک۔ ہر موقع نے مجھے ایک سبق سکھایا ہے: انسانی جذبات، بھیڑ کی کثافت اور ان کو نظم میں رکھنے والے نظام کے درمیان توازن ناگزیر ہے۔ جب یہ توازن بگڑتا ہے، تو تباہی ناگزیر ہوتی ہے۔ ہر گمشدہ جان ایک اعداد و شمار نہیں بلکہ ایک ناقابل تحمل درد ہے۔میں نے ایک ماہر سے بات کی جس نے اپنی شناخت پوشیدہ رکھی، جو اس سانحے کی پیچیدگیوں کو سمجھتا تھا۔ انہوں نے کہا، "صرف بھیڑ کا حجم نہیں بلکہ اس کا بہاؤ، مزاج، اور وہ آخری لمحہ جب امید مایوسی میں بدل جاتی ہے، اموات کا تعین کرتا ہے۔" اُس نے یاد دلایا کہ کمبھ میلے کی مقدس جگہوں سے لیکر سیاسی جلسوں کی گلی کوچوں تک، وہی دردناک کہانی دہرائی گئی — انتباہات کو نظر انداز کرنا، حفاظتی انتظامات قربان کرنا، اور محفوظ راستے بند کر دینا۔ " کرور کے ویلوسامی پورم میں یہی سب کچھ ہوا۔" ان کی باتوں کی باتوں میں انسانی قیمت کا اذیت ناک سبق چھپا تھا: "جو زندہ بچ گئے، وہ شور نہیں بلکہ اُس خوفناک خاموشی کو یاد رکھتے ہیں — جب سانس لینا مشکل ہو اور خوف کا شور ہر طرف ہو۔" انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ منتظمین کو یہ سمجھنا ہو گا کہ بھیڑ محض افراد کا مجموعہ نہیں، بلکہ بھروسے اور عقیدے کا ایک جال ہے۔ اسے توڑنا تباہی کا پیش خیمہ ہے۔جیسے ہی اس حادثہ کی خبر پھیلی، تمل ناڈو میں غم نے غصے کی شکل اختیار کی، اور عدالتی کارروائی نے وجے کی پارٹی کو کڑی تنقید کا نشانہ بنایا۔ عدالت نے ان کی لاپرواہی، غیاب، اور بغیر پچھتاوے کے رویے کو بے نقاب کیا۔ اُسی روز عدالت نے خصوصی تحقیقاتی ٹیم بنانے کا حکم دیا جس کی سربراہی آئی جی اسرا گرگ کریں گی۔ کرور پولیس سے مکمل تعاون کی ضمانت دی گئی، اور ہائی وے پر سیاسی جلسوں پر فوری پابندی لگا دی گئی تاکہ مستقبل میں حفاظت کے مکمل انتظامات ہو سکیں۔تمام انتخابی گاڑیاں ضبط کر لی گئیں، ویڈیو شواہد طلب کیے گئے، اور پارٹی کی مرکزی قیادت کی ضمانت کی درخواستیں خارج کر دی گئیں۔ عدالت نے الزام عائد کیا کہ پارٹی نے اپنی عوام کو خطرے میں چھوڑا اور اپنی ذمہ داری سے بھاگ گئی۔ جج نے سخت لہجے میں برہمی کا اظہار کیا: "ان اموات کا مشاہدہ کرنا ناقابل برداشت ظلم ہے۔ ایسا رہنما جو اپنی قوم کی فریادوں پر غائب ہو جائے، اُس قیادت کا کوئی وجود نہیں۔"تمام درخواستوں کو خارج کرتے ہوئے عدالت نے کہا کہ سچائی کے تمام پہلوؤں کو بے پردہ کیا جائے گا، خواہ وہ پچھتاوے کے اظہار ہی کیوں نہ ہوں۔کرور کی وہ سڑک آج بھی خاموش ہے، مگر اُس کے ارد گرد درد کی گونج زندہ ہے۔ یہ صرف پولیس کی یا انتظامیہ کی ناکامی نہیں بلکہ ایک معاشرتی ناکامی ہے جس نے باپ، ماں اور بچے کے چشموں کو خشک کر دیا۔ جو زندہ بچ گئے، وہ اب تک اُس دردناک رات کی صدا اپنے دلوں میں محسوس کرتے ہیں۔ جو جا چکے، ان کے لیے کوئی عدالت یا حکم عدولی مکمل تسکین نہیں دے سکتا۔یہ سانحہ محض ایک خبر یا داستان نہیں، بلکہ ایک پیغام ہے جسے آنے والے ہر جلسے کو یاد رکھنا چاہیے۔ قیادت کا حقیقی معیار یہ ہے کہ وہ اپنے لوگوں کی حفاظت اور عزت کو یقینی بنائے۔انصاف صرف کاغذ پر تحریر نہیں ہوتا، بلکہ احساس ذمہ داری اور اجتماعی بیداری کا تقاضا کرتا ہے۔ مدراس ہائی کورٹ کا حکم محض ابتدائی باب ہے، اصل فیصلہ ہماری اجتماعی ذمہ داری اور حفاظت کے عزم میں ہے۔اس حادثے کی گہرائی کو سمجھنے کے لیے حقائق کے ساتھ ساتھ انسانیت کے جذبے بھی سمجھنا ہوں گے۔ یہ واقعہ ایک ایسی داستان ہے جو امید اور اعتماد کے دھاگوں کو بے رحمی سے تار تار کر گیا۔ 

یہ محض ماضی کا سانحہ نہیں، بلکہ ایک حاضر و آینده کی پکار ہے کہ ہم اپنی لاپرواہی کی قیمت سمجھیں اور ایک ایسا سماج تعمیر کریں جہاں سلامتی اور عزت ہر انسان کی پہچان ہو۔

بھارت و چین کے مابین فضائی رابطے کی بحالی: پانچ سالہ تعطل کے بعد معاشی و سفارتی تعلقات کی نئی پہچان

یہ فضائی خدمات ابتدائی طور پر کووِڈ-19 وبا کے آغاز کے بعد، اوائل 2020 میں معطل کی گئی تھیں۔ اہم بات یہ ہے کہ ان کی بحالی میں طویل تاخیر کا براہِ راست سبب مشرقی لداخ میں سرحدی تنازع تھا، جو جون 2020 میں وادی گلوان کے المناک تصادم پر منتج ہوا۔ اس ضروری فضائی رابطے کو جغرافیائی کشیدگی کے باعث منجمد کر دیا گیا، جس سے مسافروں کو مہنگی اور وقت طلب تیسرے ملک کے راستے سفر کرنا پڑتا تھا۔

وزارتِ امور خارجہ (MEA) نے باضابطہ اعلان کیا ہے کہ فضائی رابطہ اکتوبر 2025 کے آخر تک بحال ہو جائے گا۔ یہ فیصلہ دونوں ممالک کے سول ایوی ایشن حکام کے درمیان اس سال کے آغاز سے جاری تکنیکی سطح کے مذاکرات کا نتیجہ ہے، جو تعلقات کی "بتدریج معمول پر واپسی" کی وسیع تر سفارتی کوشش کا حصہ ہیں۔ وزارت نے تصدیق کی ہے کہ یہ اتفاق ہو چکا ہے کہ بھارت اور چین کے مقررہ مقامات کے درمیان براہِ راست فضائی خدمات دوبارہ شروع کی جا سکتی ہیں، جو سردیوں کے شیڈول کے مطابق ہوں گی۔ آپریشنل بحالی، مقررہ ایئرلائنز (جیسے انڈگو، جس نے کولکاتا-گوانگژو سروس کے آغاز کا اعلان کیا ہے) کے تجارتی فیصلوں اور تمام آپریشنل معیارات کی تکمیل سے مشروط ہوگی، جو تعلقات کو بتدریج بحال کرنے کی محتاط حکمتِ عملی کی نشاندہی کرتی ہے۔

یہ اعلان دونوں ممالک کے لیے نہایت مثبت معنویت رکھتا ہے:

دو طرفہ تعلقات کے لیے: یہ دو طرفہ روابط کی بتدریج بحالی کی جانب ایک ٹھوس، ترقی پسند قدم ہے اور اعتماد بڑھانے کا اہم اقدام ہے۔ یہ سیاسی قیادت کی نیت کو ظاہر کرتا ہے کہ تعلقات کو مستحکم کیا جائے، جیسا کہ حالیہ اعلی سطحی روابط سے ظاہر ہوتا ہے۔

عوامی روابط کے لیے: یہ عوامی روابط کو بڑی حد تک سہل بنائے گا—طلبہ، کاروباری مسافروں اور خاندانوں کو فائدہ پہنچائے گا، سفر کا وقت اور خرچ کم کرے گا اور بہتر سمجھ بوجھ و رابطے کو فروغ دے گا۔

بھارت کے لیے اس فیصلے کا اقتصادی فائدہ قابلِ ذکر ہے:

تجارتی سہولت: چین بھارت کا سب سے بڑا دو طرفہ تجارتی شراکت دار ہے۔ براہِ راست کارگو اور مسافر پروازوں کی بحالی سرحد پار تجارت کے مواقع کو دوبارہ قائم کرے گی، سپلائی چین کو ہموار کرے گی، اور ان بھارتی کاروباروں کے لیے لاجسٹک اخراجات کم کرے گی جو چین سے مشینری اور پرزہ جات پر انحصار کرتے ہیں۔

کاروبار اور سرمایہ کاری: کم وقت اور دشواری نئے کاروباری شراکت داروں اور سرمایہ کاری کی حوصلہ افزائی کرے گی، جس سے فارماسیوٹیکل، آئی ٹی اور مینوفیکچرنگ جیسے شعبوں میں ملکی اقتصادی سرگرمی کو فروغ ملے گا، اور ماہرین اور انجینئروں کی ضرورت پوری ہو گی۔

سیاحت اور ہوابازی: بھارتی اور چینی ایئرلائنز، جیسے انڈگو، کو شدید طلب سے فائدہ ہوگا، جس سے آمدنی میں اضافہ اور بھارتی سیاحت و ہوابازی کے شعبے کو تقویت ملے گی۔

آسمانوں کی دوبارہ کھلائی اس بات کا واضح ثبوت ہے کہ حقیقت پسندی، مسلسل مکالمے اور باہمی مفاد کے ذریعے، پیچیدہ جغرافیائی چیلنجوں کے باوجود، راستہ بنایا جا سکتا ہے۔ یہ اہم قدم اس امر کو یقینی بناتا ہے کہ جب تک سرحدی مسائل مذاکرات کے مرکز میں ہیں، اقتصادی روابط اور انسانی رشتے کی اہم مشینری چلتی اور پھلتی پھولتی رہے۔ یہ مستقبل کے استحکام کی بنیاد رکھتا ہے۔ یقیناً، ہمالیہ کے اوپر رسائی اور امید کا ایک نیا روشن باب کھل رہا ہے۔ یہ حکمتِ عملی سے جڑا ہوا رابطہ تجارت، ثقافتی سمجھ بوجھ اور باہمی رابطے کو گہرائی دے گا، اور دنیا کی دو سب سے بڑی اور تیزی سے ترقی کرتی معیشتوں کے مابین مضبوط رشتے کا تانا بانا بُنے گا۔

Aga Sultan Murthuza , taking charge as Chairman of 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞.

یہ میرے لیے بے حد خوشی اور فخر کا مقام ہے کہ میں جناب آغا سلطان مرتضیٰ صاحب کو حکومتِ کرناٹک کی سنٹرل ریلیف کمیٹی کے چیئرمین کے معزز عہدے پر تقرری پر دلی مبارکباد پیش کروں۔ سنٹرل ریلیف کمیٹی کے صدر دفتر میں یہ لمحہ نہ صرف ایک نئے آغاز کی نشاندہی کرتا ہے، بلکہ مستحق اور پسماندہ افراد کی فلاح و بہبود کے لیے وقف قیادت، ہمدردی، اور انقلابی خدمت کے وعدے کی بھی ضمانت ہے۔

جناب آغا سلطان مرتضیٰ صاحب کا عزم اور وژن یہ اعتماد دلاتا ہے کہ ان کی رہنمائی میں، کمیٹی کرناٹک بھر میں ضرورت مندوں کی بحالی اور امداد کے اپنے عظیم مشن کو جاری رکھے گی۔ دعا ہے کہ ان کا یہ دورِ کار کامیابی، ترقی، اور مؤثر اقدامات سے مزین ہو جو لاتعداد زندگیوں میں امید لائیں اور انہیں بلندی بخشیں۔

اس اہم کامیابی پر دل کی گہرائیوں سے مبارکباد اور ایک بارآور اور کامیاب دور کے لیے نیک تمنائیں!

With Sir Aga Sultan Murthuza , on the occasion of him taking charge as Chairman of 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞.
***
It's immense joy and pride to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Janab Aga Sultan Murthuza on his esteemed appointment as the Chairman of the Central Relief Committee, Government of Karnataka. At the headquarters of the Central Relief Committee, this moment marks not only a new beginning but also a promise of dedicated leadership, compassion, and transformative service to the welfare of the deserving and marginalized.
Janab Aga Sultan Murthuza’s commitment and vision inspire confidence that under his guidance, the Committee will continue its noble mission of rehabilitation and support for those in need across Karnataka. May his tenure be marked with success, progress, and impactful initiatives that bring hope and uplift countless lives.
Hearty congratulations on this significant achievement and best wishes for a fruitful and rewarding tenure.

India-China Flights Resume After 5-Year Hiatus, Marking a Significant Thaw in Relations

The skies between India and China are set to open once more, marking a hugely significant and heartening development! After a five-year hiatus, the resumption of direct flight services by the end of this month is a powerful symbol of the mutual desire to mend and advance a relationship critical to Asian stability and the global economy.

The flight services were initially suspended following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Crucially, the subsequent, prolonged delay in their restoration was a direct consequence of the severe strain in bilateral relations triggered by the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, culminating in the tragic Galwan Valley clashes of June 2020. This essential air bridge was frozen amid the geopolitical chill, forcing passengers to endure expensive, time-consuming transit through third-country hubs.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has formally announced that air connectivity is set to resume by late October 2025. This decision is the culmination of continuous technical-level discussions between the civil aviation authorities of both countries since earlier this year, part of the broader diplomatic effort toward the "gradual normalisation of relations." The MEA confirmed that it has now been agreed that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume, aligning with the winter season schedule. The operational restart is explicitly subject to the commercial decisions of the designated carriers (like IndiGo, which has already announced the resumption of its Kolkata-Guangzhou service) and the fulfilment of all operational criteria, signaling a careful, phased approach to de-freezing the ties.

This announcement carries immense positive meaning for both nations:

For Bilateral Relations: It represents a tangible, progressive step towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges and is a key confidence-building measure. The move underscores the political will at the highest levels to stabilize ties, following recent high-level engagements.

For People-to-People Contact: It will dramatically facilitate people-to-people contact—benefiting students, business travellers, and families by cutting travel time and cost, directly fostering better understanding and connectivity.

The economic boost for India from this decision is significant:

Trade Facilitation: China is India's largest bilateral trade partner. The resumption of direct cargo and passenger flights will establish re-establish avenues for cross-border trade, streamline supply chains, and cut logistics costs for Indian businesses that rely heavily on components and machinery from China.

Business and Investment: The reduced hassle and time will encourage a fresh wave of strategic business partnerships and investments, boosting India's economic activity across sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT, and manufacturing, and addressing critical needs for technicians and engineers.

Tourism and Aviation: Indian and Chinese airlines, like IndiGo, which has announced the restart of services, stand to gain from the high pent-up demand, leading to increased revenue and a boost for the Indian aviation and tourism sectors.

The reopening of the skies is a clear demonstration that pragmatism, sustained dialogue, and mutual benefit can indeed pave the way forward, even amidst complex geopolitical challenges. This pivotal move ensures that while crucial border issues remain central to discussions, the vital engines of economic engagement and human connection are allowed to function and thrive, laying groundwork for future stability.

Indeed, a vibrant new chapter of accessibility and hope is gracefully opening above the Himalayas. This strategic reconnection promises to profoundly deepen commerce, cultural understanding, and critical connectivity, weaving a stronger fabric between two of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing major economies.

Mahatma Gandhi: A Lifelong Champion of Muslim-Hindu Brotherhood and Interfaith Harmony

A Bond of Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and the Heartbeat of Muslim India

In the rich tapestry of India's freedom struggle, woven with threads of diverse faiths and cultures, Mahatma Gandhi stands as a paramount apostle of unity. His relationship with Muslims was not a matter of political strategy but a deep, emotional, and spiritual bond built on profound respect and genuine affection. For Gandhi, Hindu-Muslim harmony was the bedrock of India's nationhood, a conviction he held dear until his last breath.
A Sincere Admiration for Islam

Gandhi’s engagement with Islam was not superficial. He delved into the Quran with an open heart and mind, concluding that its essence was one of peace and tolerance. He was deeply moved by the life and character of Prophet Muhammad. Gandhi saw in the Prophet a figure of immense moral strength, simplicity, and unwavering faith. He once noted that the Prophet's success came not from the sword, but from his "rigid simplicity, his scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission". This understanding allowed him to see Islam as a force for brotherhood and equality.

He believed that all great religions were fundamentally harmonious and shared a common divine source. He famously declared, "I am a Muslim! and a Hindu, and a Christian and a Jew," to express his belief in the shared spiritual identity of all humanity.
A Pilgrim for Unity: Visiting Sacred Muslim Spaces

Gandhi’s respect for Islam was visibly demonstrated through his pilgrimages to Islamic places of worship. These were not mere photo opportunities but heartfelt gestures of solidarity. He visited the revered Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.

Most poignantly, in the smoldering aftermath of Partition's violence, Gandhi visited the shrine of the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki in Mehrauli, Delhi. He went there in January 1948, just days before his assassination, to pray for peace and persuade the Muslims who had taken refuge there not to leave India. His presence at the dargah was a powerful, silent plea for sanity and a testament to his unwavering commitment to a pluralistic India. In a period of intense communal strife, he also made a notable visit to the Meo Muslim community in Ghasera village to personally assure them of their safety and place in India.
Brotherhood in Action: Alliances and Friendships

Mahatma Gandhi at shrine of the
Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
in Mehrauli, Delhi. 

Gandhi forged strong personal and political bonds with many Muslim leaders. His collaboration with figures like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the Ali Brothers (Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar), and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (known as the "Frontier Gandhi") are central to the history of the freedom movement.

His support for the Khilafat Movement in the 1920s was a landmark moment of Hindu-Muslim political unity against British rule. While the movement had complex outcomes, Gandhi’s intention was to bridge the gap between the two communities by showing solidarity with a cause dear to Indian Muslims.

While Gandhi's travels were extensive within British India, including regions that are now Pakistan and Bangladesh, there is little evidence of him formally visiting sovereign Muslim countries in the modern sense, as his political activities were concentrated on the Indian subcontinent and South Africa. However, his journey to the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan) to work with Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his non-violent Pashtun movement, the Khudai Khidmatgar, is a powerful example of his engagement with Muslim communities in their own heartlands.
Enduring Words of Harmony

Gandhi's speeches and writings are filled with passionate appeals for unity and understanding. His words continue to resonate as timeless calls for empathy and respect:

On the charge that Islam was spread by the sword, he argued that it was the "unflinching faith of the early followers" and their "noble and moral courage" that won people's hearts.


During riots, he admonished his own community, stating, "Hindus should not harbor anger against Muslims, even if the latter might beurl themselves into a frenzy".


He consistently maintained that the desecration of a mosque was as painful to him as the desecration of a temple, viewing all places of worship as sacred.

Gandhi’s life was his message, and his message was one of unwavering love and unity. His bond with Muslims was an integral part of his soul-force, a spiritual and emotional commitment to an India where every faith could flourish in mutual respect and peace.