Kashmir’s police on Friday arrested three junior doctors of Srinagar’s Government Medical College (GMC) for allegedly circulating pamphlets which ask the participants to stay away from a musical concert marking its golden jubilee celebrations terming it “un-Islamic”. The officials said that the trio has been taken into “preventive custody” and would be freed after the celebrations were over.
But police sources here said that they have booked under relevant section of the law on charges of preaching hatred and bigotry and trying to disrupt the celebrations of the prestigious institute. The pamphlets asked students and the faculty of the GMC as well as other invitees not to not to attend the music and dance programme held on Saturday. Witnesses said that after the congregational Friday prayers were held in the campus, a group of junior doctors started distributing these pamphlets titled Golden Jubilee-Time to Introspect. These talked about the proposed music and dance concert was an activity which Islam does not encourage and advised students and faculty to desist being part of it. After being informed by the GMC authorities, a police party from the nearby Kara Nagar Police Station arrived at the scene and took three junior doctors into custody, witnesses said. A local newspaper quoted unnamed doctors as saying “The swift action by police was most driven by the fear of embarrassment as chief minister Omar Abdullah was the chief guest on the golden jubilee function.” However, they termed it as uncalled for action.
***
BJP nominates Irani for RS from Gujarat
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
July 9: After “dreamgirl” Hema Malini, the BJP has nominated another actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani to Rajya Sabha. On Saturday, party’s central election committee (CEC) decided to nominate Ms Irani and senior leader Dilipbhai Patel from Gujarat to the Upper House biennial elections. While Ms Irani is considered close to BJP parliamentary party chairman L.K. Advani as well as party chief Nitin Gadkari, Mr Pandya is considered close to the RSS. Ms Irani was inducted by the BJP chief in his team and was also appointed as party’s women wing head.
The 35-year-old actor has pipped BJP national spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman for the nomination. Their names were doing the rounds for the past few weeks for BJP’s share of seats from Gujarat to the Rajya Sabha.
Sources said a section of party leaders were in favour of Ms Sitharaman’s nomination as she is considered articulate and is appreciated for her grasp on varying issues which the party had been raising.