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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Arshad Madani has launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, questioning its historical approach to communalism and asserting that a failure to act decisively against communal forces has pushed the country to what he described as the “brink of destruction”.

In a post on X, Madani said that decisive action at a critical moment in history could have altered the country’s trajectory.

“After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, had the head of communalism been crushed firmly at that very moment, the country could have been saved from destruction,” he wrote.

Criticising the party’s policies during its years in power, Madani said the Congress party adopted a lenient approach towards politics driven by religious hatred.

“The flexible policy adopted by the Congress during its rule toward politics of hatred based on religion caused severe damage to both the country and the Constitution. Seventy-seven years after independence, the manner in which the Constitution and democratic values are being openly trampled upon is something that even our leaders of the freedom movement could not have imagined,” he said.

He further added that the present situation could have been avoided had constitutional principles been implemented sincerely.

“If the Constitution had been implemented honestly and fully along the very lines on which the foundations of free India were laid, we would not be witnessing these days today,” Madani said.

Calling it an “unfortunate truth”, the Jamiat chief said that from the very beginning, Congress leaders “perhaps out of some fear, adopted a soft and flexible stance against religiously driven politics of hatred”.

He alleged that communal forces were allowed to grow due to the absence of strict legal action.

“Communal forces were treated with leniency, and strict legal action against them, as required by the Constitution and law, was avoided. As a result, communal forces were given ample opportunity to grow and strengthen,” he said.

Madani also claimed that communal forces were responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Had communalism been crushed at that very time, the country could have been saved from devastation,” he said.

Recalling events following Partition, Madani said, “After Partition, when anti-Muslim riots erupted across the country, Mahatma Gandhi went on a fast to stop them. This did not sit well with communal forces, and even with some senior leaders within the Congress. They turned against him, and ultimately he was assassinated.”

He added that Gandhi’s killing amounted to an attack on the country’s core values.

“In our view, the killing of a great personality like Mahatma Gandhi was the killing of the country’s secularism itself. Sadly, what the Congress leadership should have done at that time, it failed to do,” he said.

Madani stated that the leadership of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had repeatedly urged the Congress to act firmly against what he termed the “madness of communalism”.

However, he claimed these warnings were ignored. “Regrettably, this demand was not taken seriously, which further emboldened communal elements,” he said.

He also said that many people today were unaware of key historical assurances given before independence.

“Today’s generation is unaware of this history that even before independence, the senior leaders of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had obtained a written assurance from Congress leaders that after independence the country’s Constitution would be secular and would guarantee complete religious freedom to all religious minorities,” Madani said.

According to him, the situation changed after Independence and Partition.

“After independence and the Partition of the country, a significant section of Congress leaders joined those who argued that since a separate country had been created for Muslims in the name of religion, India’s Constitution should no longer be secular,” he said.

Madani said Jamiat leaders strongly opposed this thinking and reminded the Congress of its commitments.

“At that moment, the leadership of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind firmly held the Congress leaders accountable and told them that if the country had been divided, it was they, not us, who had signed that document, and therefore they must fulfil their promise,” he said.

He noted that while a secular Constitution was eventually framed, communalism continued to spread unchecked.

“Consequently, a secular Constitution was framed, but the roots of communalism continued to grow silently and deeply. Despite persistent insistence by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, no effective restraint was placed on it, even though the Congress was in power at the Centre and in all the provinces at that time,” Madani said.

He argued that the Congress party had ample opportunity to act. “Had it wished, it could have enacted strict laws against communalism. But due to the flexible policy it adopted, communal forces kept becoming stronger,” he added.

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said that the Congress was paying the price for its past approach.

“If the Congress had taken the same strict stand against communalism 77 years ago that it claims to be taking now, it would not have been ousted from power, and the country would not have reached the brink of destruction,” Madani said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has used his first official visit to India to signal that Berlin now sees New Delhi as a central partner for trade, technology and security in an increasingly fractured world order. Spread over two days in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, the visit combined high symbolism with a dense agenda on defence, green transition, mobility and a long‑pending India–EU trade deal, according to an article in India Narrative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Merz in Ahmedabad, where the programme blended political signalling with cultural outreach. Bilateral talks and press statements at Gandhinagar’s Mahatma Mandir provided the formal backdrop for announcements on trade, defence and technology.

The article highlights that economics was the central pillar of the visit, with Merz accompanied by a high‑powered delegation of 23 German CEOs and industry leaders. Both leaders noted that Germany already accounts for over a quarter of India’s trade with the EU and that bilateral trade has hit record highs since 2024, strengthening the case for a more ambitious agenda.

Merz sent a clear signal of the political backing the long‑pending India–EU Free Trade Agreement, as he observed that the deal could be concluded by the end of January. New Delhi and Berlin also welcomed a new Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen economic cooperation through a German‑Indian CEO Forum, pitched as a permanent channel to deepen investment, technology partnerships and resilient supply chains.

Security and defence industry cooperation received unusually prominent attention for a German leader’s India visit. Modi and Merz backed expanded military‑to‑military engagement through joint exercises and senior‑level exchanges, and endorsed a new roadmap for defence‑industrial cooperation focused on long‑term technology partnerships and co‑development of equipment in India, the article states.

The two countries held discussions on a multi‑billion‑euro project to jointly build submarines in India, aligning Germany’s defence export push with India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat priorities. Beyond defence, the two sides signed or exchanged 19 MoUs and eight major announcements across clean energy, digital technology and innovation, framed as tools to advance green and sustainable development.

People‑centric measures were another notable highlight, with India publicly welcoming Germany’s decision to allow visa‑free transit for Indian passport holders, expected to ease travel and business connectivity via German hubs. New agreements on higher education, skilling, renewable‑energy training, sports cooperation, maritime heritage and youth exchanges were showcased as investments in the next generation of the partnership, the article added.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) India’s inflation rate based on wholesale prices was estimated at 0.83 per cent for December 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year with the positive rate primarily due to the increase in prices of manufactured goods and minerals, according to figures released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday.

Food inflation was estimated at 0 per cent as there was no increase in the wholesale prices of food in December, compared to the same month of the preceding year.

The manufactured products group which has a weight of 64.23 per cent in WPI increased by 0.41 per cent during the month. Out of the 22 products in the group, 13 groups witnessed an increase in prices, 8 groups witnessed a decrease in prices and one group witnessed no change in prices.

Some of the important groups that showed month-over-month increase in prices were basic metals; chemicals and chemical products; textiles and other non-metallic mineral products. Some of the groups that witnessed a decrease in prices were manufacture of rubber and plastics products; food products; computer, electronic and optical products; paper and paper products and beverages etc. in December 2025 as compared to November 2025.

India’s inflation rate based on wholesale prices was in the negative zone in November, as prices declined by (-) 0.32 per cent during the month compared to the same month of the previous year. WPI-based inflation was (-) 1.21 per cent in the previous month of October and 2.16 per cent in November last year.

Meanwhile, the country’s inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was estimated at 1.33 per cent for December 2025 which is marginally higher than the corresponding figure of 0.71 per cent for November.

Food inflation stayed in the negative zone during December at -2.71 per cent as prices of food goods fell compared to the same month of the previous year. Food inflation has now stayed negative for the seventh month in a row, easing the burden on household budgets. However, the figure for Dec was a tad higher than the -3.91 per cent recorded for Nov.

However, the overall outlook for inflation remains benign. The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) last month slashed its forecast for India’s inflation rate for the financial year 2025-26 to 2 per cent from 2.6 per predicted in October due to the sharp decline in food prices and the GST rate cuts playing out.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a reduction in the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent from 5.5 per cent earlier as inflation has come down and the monetary policy could focus on boosting growth.

Malhotra said that the surge in economic growth to 8.2 per cent growth in the second quarter of the current financial year and the sharp decline in inflation to 1.7 per cent provided a rare “Goldilocks period” for the Indian economy.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that he and his family were not present at their New Delhi residence when the fire broke out earlier in the day.

He said that the cause of the fire was a short circuit, which damaged a few household items. He informed that he was in Patna along with his family and thanked everyone for their concern.

In a post on X, Prasad said, “Today, a fire broke out in an outer room of my Delhi residence, possibly due to a short circuit, which has caused damage to some household items. I myself, my wife, and my son are in Patna.”

“This morning, the fire brigade quickly intervened and extinguished the fire, and the rest of the investigation is ongoing. We are all safe. Thank you everyone for your good wishes,” the BJP MP added.

A fire broke out in Prasad’s residence in New Delhi at around 8:00 a.m. in one of the bedrooms of the residence, authorities said.

Upon receiving the information, three teams of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reached the spot, and the blaze was brought under control, officials said.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, representing Patna Sahib constituency in the Lok Sabha, has served as the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology from 2016 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2021.

The BJP leader has served as a Member of Parliament since 2000 — first in the Rajya Sabha (2000–2019) and then in the Lok Sabha (since 2019). He has also served as a Union Minister multiple times.

This latest blaze added to the series of fire-related incidents in the national Capital of late.

Earlier, on January 6, three people were killed in a massive fire that broke out on the second floor of the Delhi Metro staff quarters in Adarsh Nagar.

The deceased were identified as Ajay (42), Neelam (38), and their 10-year-old daughter, Janhvi.

Earlier this month, too, a fire broke out in the top-floor flat of a five-story building in Mandawali. The fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion, according to the DFS.

Three firefighters were injured in the operation and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

–IANS

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Karwar (Karnataka), Jan 14 (IANS) The suicide case of a young woman in Karwar district has taken a twist, with the victim’s family on Wednesday alleging the involvement of a JD(S) woman leader’s son and police inaction.

The family of the deceased has written letters to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara, but claim that no action has been initiated against the accused so far.

Rishale D’Souza died by suicide on January 9 in Kadra village of Karwar taluk. Christoda Francis D’Souza, the victim’s mother and the complainant in the case, has alleged that the son of a JD(S) leader had sexually assaulted and tortured her daughter. A complaint in this regard was lodged at the Kadra police station on January 10.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Christoda D’Souza said, “We have received information that the accused brutally tortured Rishala. Bite marks were found on her body during the post-mortem.” She demanded that the investigation be conducted properly.

“My daughter should get justice. We strongly suspect that the accused took her somewhere and tortured her brutally for two days before she died by suicide,” she said.

While publicly naming the accused, D’Souza said he was directly responsible for her daughter’s death. “They were friends,” she said, adding that when Rishala attempted suicide, they took her to the hospital, where the accused’s supporters were already present.

“They threatened my son not to file a case. We strongly suspect the accused’s role, and he is absconding. This is the fifth day since Rishala’s death, and no action has been taken so far,” she added.

The FIR states, “The accused was known to the complainant’s daughter, Rishale. He used to call her over the phone and talk to her, and would frequently loiter around the complainant’s house. By expressing his love, he would harass the complainant’s daughter. When the complainant’s daughter rejected the accused’s advances, the accused allegedly told her, ‘There is no use in your living. You should somehow die. It would be better if you died rather than lived’, as the complainant’s daughter later informed the complainant.”

It further states, “Due to the accused’s same malicious instigation, the complainant’s daughter, Rishale, allegedly died by suicide on January 9 between 2.30 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. by hanging herself with a saree from the ceiling fan in the bedroom of the house where she was residing, as stated in the complaint.”

The police have registered a case under BNS Section 108 (abetment of suicide) against the accused person.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 14 (IANS) Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly A.N. Shamseer on Wednesday ruled out any immediate move to disqualify the expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, stating that no formal complaint had been received from any legislator seeking action against him, even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continued evidence collection in a third rape case involving the MLA.

Shamseer said private complaints had reached him, but clarified that disqualification proceedings could be initiated only if a complaint was filed by a sitting member of the Assembly.

He added that for the matter to be referred to the Privileges and Ethics Committee, at least one MLA must submit a formal complaint, which had not happened so far.

The Speaker also rejected the argument that Mamkootathil’s arrest in a rape case had tarnished the dignity of the House.

“How does this affect the dignity of the Assembly? Individuals do not decide the dignity of the House,” he said, adding that one cannot declare everything rotten because a single mango in a basket has gone bad.

Shamseer said society must learn to respect women and cautioned against painting everyone with the same brush because of the actions of a few.

His remarks came as the SIT conducted a reconstruction of events with Mamkootathil at a hotel in Thiruvalla, in connection with the third rape case registered against him.

Based on the survivor’s complaint, the evidence collection was carried out at the hotel, where the alleged incident is said to have occurred on April 8, 2024.

Amid heavy protests, the Congress MLA was brought to the hotel under tight security around 6 a.m.

The inspection was conducted in Room No. 408, where, according to the complaint, the sexual assault took place.

During questioning, Mamkootathil admitted that he had come to the hotel with the young woman, but maintained that he had gone there only to talk to her.

He did not respond to the allegation of sexual assault. Investigators said the room had been booked under the name “Rahul B.R.”

Mamkootathil has also declined to provide the passwords of mobile phones seized as part of the probe.

With the investigation progressing and political pressure mounting, the Speaker’s clarification has, for now, put to rest speculation over any immediate disqualification move against the legislator.

His bail application in this case will be heard on Friday.

Now all eyes are on if he gets bail, will he come to attend the last and final session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly which begins on January 20.

The Governor’s policy address will be held on the same day.

A 32-day Assembly session has been scheduled, and the State Budget will be presented on January 29.

–IANS

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Kottayam, Jan 14 (IANS) Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K. Mani on Wednesday firmly dismissed reports suggesting that his party was preparing to return to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), asserting that the party remained firmly with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

“Who is discussing this?” Mani asked, before citing Lord Jesus Christ’s words from the Holy Bible to press his point: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”

He suggested that the renewed speculation was misplaced and politically-motivated, questioning the timing and intent behind the rumours.

For the past two days, political circles in Kerala have been abuzz with reports that Kerala Congress (M), the third-largest ally in the ruling LDF, was reconsidering its alliance ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing the media, Mani said the discussions gained traction when he was abroad. He explained that he had travelled to Dubai to visit his father’s close associate who was seriously ill and had informed the leaders concerned of his unavailability.

“Despite that, all five of our MLAs were present (at the protest of the Left against the Centre in the state capital city),” he said, indicating that the party’s functioning had not been disrupted.

Reiterating his party’s position, Mani said, “Our stand is clear. We are with the Left. Do I have to say this every day?”

He pointed out that Kerala Congress (M) had participated in all LDF meetings.

“In a party, there can be differences, but finally there is only one collective view,” he said.

Drawing a contrast with the Opposition, Mani said the UDF’s strength had declined, claiming that its tally had fallen from 110 seats (based on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls) to 80 following the local body elections held in December.

He also recalled that Kerala Congress (M) was “ousted” by the Congress-led UDF in the past and said the party was “happy and comfortable” within the Left front.

Rejecting suggestions of external influence, he said the Church never interfered in politics.

However, one remark that is expected to fuel further political debate was his assertion: “Where Kerala Congress (M) is, power will be there,” underlining the party’s continued relevance in Kerala’s shifting political arithmetic.

Meanwhile the steering committee meeting of his party on Friday is expected to discuss this hotly-debated issue of shifting loyalties.

–IANS

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Chitradurga, Jan 14 (IANS) Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party has stated that the decision to undertake a padayatra to Ballari will be made after consulting the party’s central leadership. The BJP has already announced a massive protest on January 17 at Ballari, condemning the incident of violence over the installation of banners.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra made the statement in this regard on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

While responding to a question, Vijayendra said that not only BJP MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and former Minister B. Sriramulu, but many senior leaders share the opinion that a Ballari padayatra would be appropriate. He said a final decision would be taken after discussions with the party high command.

He added that he had already spoken to the party’s Delhi leadership on the matter and that a message with further information is expected within a day or two.

Vijayendra said Janardhan Reddy, Sriramulu and other senior party leaders will participate in the protest. He said the party has already decided to launch protests at various levels across the state, highlighting the failures of the Congress-led government, corruption, the creation of lawlessness in the state, farmers’ issues, and the menace of drugs.

He alleged that law and order have deteriorated in the state and explained that a massive protest has therefore been organised in Ballari on January 17.

The state BJP chief has further said that the people of the state are suffering due to the Congress party’s fight for power. He alleged that there has been no real development in the state and that people are openly expressing their anger against the Congress.

Vijayendra responded to questions and said that the German Chancellor had visited Karnataka on Tuesday. Germany, he said, is a technologically advanced country and a global manufacturing hub. When the Chancellor of such a country visits Karnataka, one leader here is busy trying to retain the Chief Minister’s chair, while another is attempting to snatch the same chair and is standing with Rahul Gandhi. He questioned what kind of situation this creates for the state.

He said the people of the state are watching all these developments and will give their answer in the coming days. There is internal infighting within the Congress, he alleged, with one leader desperate to retain the chair and others saying, “Do not test my patience; I am ready to become the Chief Minister.”

Vijayendra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renamed MGNREGA as “Viksit Bharat G-RAM G” with a noble intention. He said the Prime Minister is working to realise Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of village self-rule and the belief that the nation develops only when villages develop. He alleged that under the MGNREGA scheme, launched in 2006, there were scams, corruption, and instances where wages did not reach labourers.

He said under VB G-RAM G, asset creation and development should take place in rural areas. To avoid inconvenience to farmers, a 60-day holiday period has been provided during agricultural activity, during which wage employment will not be offered. Earlier, decisions were taken at the gram panchayat level, and the same system will continue in the future as well, he said while responding to another question.

He alleged that the ruling Congress party, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi are spreading misinformation about the G-RAM G scheme.

The state BJP chief claimed that public trust in Congress has eroded in the state, and therefore, the party is trying to create false propaganda by claiming that Mahatma Gandhi is being “killed for the second time”.

Vijayendra said the BJP will carry out awareness campaigns across all taluk centres and rural areas of the state to counter this misinformation.

–IANS

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Prayagraj, Jan 14 (IANS) In a tragic incident on Wednesday morning that sent shockwaves through Kusua village in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district, four children drowned in a pond under the Puramufti police station limits, officials said.

According to police, the victims — three minors and a 19-year-old youth — had gone to bathe in a pond located around a kilometre away from the village.

They are believed to have accidentally ventured into a deeper portion of the water body, leading to the drowning of all four.

The tragedy came to light after the children failed to return home for a long time, prompting their families to search for them.

During the search, villagers found their clothes and slippers lying near the pond, following which a rescue effort was launched. The bodies of all four were subsequently recovered from the pond.

Puramufti police station in charge, Manoj Kumar said that prima facie the incident appears to be a case of accidental drowning.

“All the bodies have been recovered and sent for post-mortem examination. An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the incident,” he said.

He said all angles of the incident are being investigated.

The deceased have been identified as children aged 10, 11, and 12 years, and a 19-year-old youth. The news of their deaths spread rapidly, triggering panic and grief across the village, as a large number of residents gathered near the pond.

Police officials reached the spot soon after receiving information, took custody of the bodies, and initiated legal proceedings.

Statements of villagers are being recorded, and authorities are awaiting the post-mortem reports to rule out any other possibility.

The incident has left the families of the victims devastated, with the entire village plunged into mourning.

–IANS

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