Did you break your Ramadan fast with dates snatched from Palestinians?

[email protected] (News Network)
July 24, 2014

Mangalore, Jul 24: Many families breaking the Ramadan fast with the customary dates may be unwittingly consuming the fruit grown in Israel. The large, succulent Medjool dates, received enthusiastically by Muslims in the belief these are from Jordan, in fact come from Israel, a country hated in the Islamic world for its conflict with Palestinian Arabs. In the past week, Kozhikode has protests over Israel's ground invasion of Gaza.

dates

"The costly Medjool dates come from Israel but these are marketed as produce of Jordan. Last year, the packets had 'Tel Aviv' printed on them and we had to remove these labels. Products from Israel won't be touched here due to popular sentiment against cruelties perpetrated by them against the Palestinians in Gaza," said Mohammed Ashraf, a veteran trader whose family has been importing west Asian dates for several decades.

Dates are big business in Kozhikode with 10,000 tonnes imported annually and valued, according to industry estimates, at around Rs 100 crore. In Kozhikode alone, there are 150 varieties of dates, either grown or imported from West Asian countries. Interestingly, the trade closely reflects the turbulent geopolitical situation in the region. The supply of Barari dates, for instance, along with other popular varieties from Iraq, dried up this year due to the Iraq-ISIS conflict.

Given the region's Gulf connection, people are aware of the uniqueness of each variety and ask for these by their Arabic names. Among the popular and moderately priced varieties are Sukkari dates from Saudi Arabia, Kimia from Iran and Deglet Nour from Tunisia. For those to whom cost is not an issue, many high-end shops offer exquisite varieties like Ajwa, known as Prophet's Dates, which come at Rs 2,500 per kg. The Medjool too is 'royalty' at Rs 1,400 per kg.

Outlets like Ajfan Dates and Nuts source dates from their own farms in Saudi Arabia. "We've a 2,000 acre farm taken on lease in Saudi from where we source all our dates. We have 55 varieties of dates on offer at our shop," said Noufal K, the manager.

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News Network
April 13,2024

Mangaluru, Apr 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to campaign for the upcoming and much awaited Lok Sabha election in coastal Karnataka by holding a mega roadshow in Mangaluru. 

Meanwhile, the organisers have announced a slight delay in the commencement of Modi's scheduled roadshow on April 14 in Mangaluru.

Addressing the media BJP principal secretary and Karnataka MLA V Sunil Kumar said: Originally the roadshow was scheduled to begin at 5 pm., but it will start at 7:30 pm."

As planned, the Roadshow will kick off from Narayan Guru Circle, where Prime Minister Modi will pay floral tribute to Sri Narayan Guru idol. From there, the Roadshow will proceed and conclude at Navabharat Circle. 

Mr Kumar urged people traveling to Mangaluru to see Mr Modi's visit by 7 p.m. and stand behind the barricades. The roadshow is estimated to conclude at 8:30 pm.

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News Network
April 24,2024

HSRP.jpg

With the Karnataka transport department extending the deadline for the installation of High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) twice--- in November last year and February, it is no longer planning to extend the same. The department ordered for the installation of HSRP before May 31.

The transport department through a notification in August last year, had mandated the installation on all the vehicles that were registered in the state prior to April 1, 2019. According to transport officials, there are nearly two crore vehicles that are supposed to get HSRP for their vehicles.

“As of now, the state has registered only 34 lakh HSRP installations, despite extending the deadline twice. From nearly 18 lakh installations since February, the numbers have almost doubled. However, there are still a large number of vehicles that have to opt for HSRP,” said C Mallikarjuna, Additional Commissioner for Transport (Enforcement).

“We will wait till May 31 to check for the total number of vehicles that fall in line. We are expecting HSRP installations to touch 75 lakh, after which we will consider an extension as the numbers indicate that people are falling in line and if some more time is given everyone will get it done. However, if we do not reach that number before the deadline, we will request the government not to extend the deadline but urge for an enforcement,” he said.

He also stated that a fine of Rs 500 will be imposed for the first time and if vehicle owners do not fall in line, it will be Rs 1,000 later until they have installed HSRP. “We will wait till the Model Code of Conduct ends and take the government’s opinion. We are going to request the government for strict enforcement if the HSRP installations are not satisfactory,” he added.

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News Network
April 20,2024

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New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being pushed towards a “slow death” inside Tihar jail by denying him insulin and consultations with his doctor.

Kejriwal, who has Type-2 diabetes, has been asking for insulin and a video conferencing with his family doctor but his requests are being denied by the jail administration, party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a press conference.

"I want to say with full responsibility that a conspiracy is underway for the slow death of Kejriwal," Bharadwaj claimed citing blood sugar readings of the Chief Minister in jail.

He also slammed the Tihar administration, BJP, Centre and Delhi LG for allegedly denying insulin to Kejriwal and said the Delhi Chief Minister had been suffering from diabetes for the last 20-22 years.

On Friday, the chief minister council Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said Kejriwal has not been administered insulin to control his sugar levels since his arrest, terming it “shocking” and “alarming”.

The ED had on Thursday claimed before the court that Kejriwal was eating food high in sugar like mangoes and sweets every day, despite having Type-2 diabetes, to create grounds for medical bail.

Kejriwal, however, refuted the ED’s claims by asserting before a court that the food he consumed was in conformity with the diet chart prepared by his doctor.

“Out of 48 meals sent from home, only three times mangoes were there…,” Singhvi told the court.

Bharadwaj said Kejriwal was allowed by the court to use a machine in the jail to monitor his daily blood sugar levels.

"Overall, it was a conspiracy to finish Kejriwal so his multiple organ damage and when he comes out of jail after 2-4 months he goes for treatment of kidney, heart and other organs," said Bharadwaj, who holds the portfolio of health in Delhi government.

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