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New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) A fresh controversy has erupted over Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami’s decision not to observe a fast during the ongoing month of Ramzan. The issue has sparked a division among Muslim clerics and scholars, with some condemning his actions and others offering a more lenient view based on Islamic principles.

Recently, a video went viral on social media where Mohammed Shami was seen drinking water during India’s semi-final match against Australia.

The criticism came from Muslim cleric Ibrahim Chaudhary, who expressed disappointment over Shami’s public actions during the sacred month of Ramzan. He questioned Shami’s commitment to his religious duties, particularly the observance of fasting during the holy month.

Chaudhary labeled Shami a ‘sinner’ for allegedly breaking the fast during India’s semi-final match against Australia, which was held during Ramzan.

Chaudhary emphasised that fasting during Ramzan is a ‘farz’ (obligatory) act in Islam and must be observed by every Muslim.

“It is important to follow all the duties of Islam, whatever Allah has commanded. If any Muslim deliberately denies or skips these duties, especially when they are able to observe them, then they are committing a sin,” said Chaudhary.

He further elaborated that Islam calls for complete submission to its tenets, and only by embracing all its commandments can one attain success.

According to Chaudhary, Shami’s actions, if deliberate, could lead to a loss of the reward that comes with fulfilling religious duties.

Another Muslim scholar Maulana Qari Ishaq Gora came to Shami’s defence, offering a nuanced perspective. Gora acknowledged that fasting during Ramzan is indeed a fundamental responsibility for Muslims but pointed out that Islam permits certain exceptions when there are compelling reasons.

“If someone is unable to fast due to compulsion, such as in the case of a professional athlete, Islam allows for breaking the fast. The key is that the reason must fall within the guidelines of Shariat,” said Gora.

He stressed that the decision to break a fast should not be judged hastily by outsiders.

“This issue is between Allah and Shami. There is no need for anyone to act as a judge in this matter,” Gora added.

He also emphasised that if Shami’s actions were in line with Shariat, no one should pass harsh judgment, as it is ultimately Allah who decides the consequences of such actions.

The debate also extended beyond the religious community, with other figures weighing in on the matter.

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the President of Parmarth Niketan, offered a perspective rooted in the idea of balancing religious observance with service to the nation.

“There are people who, due to their circumstances, might not observe Rozah, but that doesn’t mean their faith is lost. They might have other forms of devotion or service, such as their commitment to the nation. That is also a form of worship,” he stated.

He acknowledged that patriotism, dedication to one’s work, and self-sacrifice for the country could be seen as acts of devotion, equally valuable in the eyes of the divine.

“To contribute to the nation’s progress, to sacrifice your time and effort for the betterment of the country, is no less than worship. We must respect these efforts, just as we respect those who observe religious rituals,” he concluded.

–IANS

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Bhopal, May 24 (IANS) Veteran BJP leader and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is set to embark on another “padyatra” — a foot march, in his Lok Sabha constituency Vidisha, from Sunday (May 25).

During his two-day ‘Padyatra’, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will interact with farmers and evaluate the impact of beneficiary schemes introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government.

Shivraj Chouhan had earlier stated that this initiative underscores his commitment to resolving agricultural challenges, improving economic sustainability, and reinforcing India’s goal of self-reliance.

The padyatra will span 20 to 25 km daily, allowing the senior BJP leader to engage with villagers, discuss welfare programmes, and provide direction for resolving challenges.

Initially focused on Vidisha, it will later extend to other Lok Sabha constituencies, broadening its reach.

During this journey, Union Minister Chouhan will highlight key schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Digital India, rural development projects, health services, education, sanitation, and self-employment programmes.

He aims to ensure that these initiatives effectively benefit rural communities. This padyatra is not just about raising awareness but about direct dialogue with beneficiaries and ensuring local participation.

The Union Minister has consistently relied on yatras as a means of engaging with the public, solidifying his vision, and strengthening his political presence.

He believes that a journey can bridge the gap between governance and the grassroots has shaped his approach to leadership.

Between December 2016 and 2017, Shivraj Chouhan undertook five major yatras — the Narmada Seva Yatra, Jan Vishwas Yatra, Madhya Pradesh Vikas Yatra, Kisan Sandesh Yatra, and Adivasi Vikas Yatra.

These journeys were not mere political exercises but efforts to directly connect with citizens and address their concerns.

In 2018, as the Assembly elections approached, he launched the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, a fifty-five-day tour aimed at reinforcing his ties with voters.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday officially declared the results of JEE Main 2025 Session 2 Paper 1 on its official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Notably, 24 candidates have achieved a perfect 100 percentile score in the exam, with the highest number of toppers hailing from Rajasthan, followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, among other states.

The NTA announced that the results of 110 candidates found using unfair means, including forged documents, in JEE (Main) have been withheld. More than 9.92 lakh candidates had appeared for the second edition of the crucial exam.

The JEE Main 2025 scorecard includes a detailed breakdown of each candidate’s performance, featuring raw marks, subject-wise percentiles, the overall NTA score, All India Rank (AIR), and JEE Advanced eligibility status.

Alongside individual scores, NTA has also released the category-wise cut-offs for JEE Advanced 2025 eligibility. These cut-offs will help students evaluate their chances of progressing to the next phase or securing seats through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process, expected to commence in June 2025.

This announcement marks a crucial academic milestone for lakhs of aspirants across the country, JEE Main serves as a gateway to top engineering institutions, including NITs, IIITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs).

It is also the qualifying exam for the prestigious JEE Advanced, which paves the way to admission into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

In a move to maintain transparency and accuracy in the evaluation process, NTA released the final answer key for the JEE Main 2025 April session on Thursday.

As per the updated key, two questions have been officially dropped, one from the April 3 first shift (domestic set) and another from the April 2 first shift (international set).

These decisions were made after reviewing valid objections submitted during the challenge window. However, the answer key was briefly removed from the official website late Thursday night.

Candidates who have qualified for JEE Advanced 2025 can now begin the registration process and ramp up their preparation. Those who did not qualify will participate in JoSAA counselling to explore other premier engineering opportunities.

–IANS

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