Muslim Law Board seeks law against blasphemy, opposes forced conversions, rejects UCC

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has again made provocative remarks suggesting that Muslims in the state becoming more prosperous could signal the “surrender of the Assamese people” — a statement widely criticised as divisive and communal.

Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Sarma claimed that alongside demographic changes, Assam was witnessing an “economic shift,” with Muslims allegedly becoming wealthier. He further implied that this shift represented the beginning of “the Assamese people’s surrender.”

Citing data from 2001 to 2011, Sarma said the Hindu population growth rate was falling while the Muslim population continued to rise. “In every block of Assam, the growth of the Hindu population is coming down and the Muslim population is increasing,” he said.

The chief minister went on to link the issue to property ownership, asserting that land sales from Hindus to Muslims were disproportionately high. “We are seeing that the sale of land from Hindus to Muslims is very high, while the vice versa is less,” Sarma said, adding that such transactions are now scrutinised under a directive issued last year requiring government permission.

While claiming that his government has “no problem” with Assamese or indigenous Muslims, Sarma continued to frame economic mobility among Muslims as a threat to Assamese identity. “So far, we were thinking that only the numbers have risen, but now we see that even the wealth pattern has changed,” he said.

Critics say Sarma’s repeated references to religion in matters of demography and economy reflect a deliberate attempt to polarise communities and deepen mistrust. His comments equating Muslim prosperity with “surrender” of the Assamese people, they argue, expose the communal undercurrent in the state’s political discourse.

The chief minister said he would hold another press conference soon to “elaborate” on the matter.

Mangaluru, Nov 1: In a decisive move to bring order to the burgeoning fleet of electric auto-rickshaws, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V has mandated that all battery-operated autos must secure valid permits to operate within the district.

The order, which took effect today, marks a significant reversal of an earlier directive from July 26, 2024, which had granted free movement to e-autos and vehicles running on methanol and ethanol. The new rule, issued under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, aims to streamline traffic, enhance passenger safety, and ensure fair competition among transport operators.

Mandatory Permits and Zone-Based Operations

The new notification establishes a clear two-zone system for operations:

Zone 1 (Mangaluru City & Ullal): E-autos registered between January 20, 2002, and October 30, 2025, must apply to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for a permit.

Identification: These vehicles will be marked with a sky-blue, square-shaped marking and a police-issued identification number.

Operation: They must operate strictly within designated auto stands under Zone 1 limits.

Zone 2 (Rural Areas): All electric autos registered after October 30, 2025, will be considered rural permit holders.

Identification: Zone 2 autos will be distinguished by a circular yellow sticker bearing a police-issued identification number.

Operation: These vehicles are strictly prohibited from entering Zone 1 boundaries and must operate exclusively within rural limits.

Enforcement and Compliance

The DC's directive is unequivocal: "All e-autos operating without valid permits must regularise their status immediately." This push is intended to ensure "road discipline, safety, and fair competition" within the transport sector.

The new system was framed following extensive deliberations at the RTA meeting held on August 18. To ensure strict enforcement, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has been instructed to install necessary signboards, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic Division) and the Senior Regional Transport Officer have been tasked with overseeing the effective implementation of the order across Dakshina Kannada.

Mysuru/Bengaluru: Legendary environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Saalumarada Thimmakka, lovingly hailed as Vruksha Mata (Mother of Trees), passed away on Friday morning at the age of 114. She breathed her last at Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru, where she had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments and persistent breathing difficulties.

Thimmakka, who had become a global symbol of grassroots environmental activism, was living with her adopted son Umesh in Balluru, Belur taluk. She had been admitted to the hospital a week ago after her health deteriorated.

Earlier this year, despite her age, she was able to have Hasanamba darshana during the annual jatra mahotsava—a visit her followers fondly remembered.

Born on June 30, 1911, in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, Thimmakka was married to Chikkaiah of Hulikal village in Ramanagar district. The couple did not have children, but she famously channelled her affection into nurturing trees—eventually becoming one of India’s most admired environmental guardians.

Her life’s work is legendary:

•    She planted and tended 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur.

•    Over her lifetime, she is credited with planting nearly 8,000 trees of various species.
In 2022, recognising her extraordinary contribution, the Government of Karnataka appointed her the Environmental Ambassador of the State.

Throughout her remarkable journey, she received numerous honours, including:

•    National Citizens Award (1995)
•    Veera Chakra Prashasti (1997)
•    Indira Priyadarshini Award (1997)
•    Padma Shri (2019)
•    Nadoja Award
•    Rajyotsava Award

Simple, humble, and unwavering in her love for nature, Saalumarada Thimmakka inspired generations of environmentalists, students, women, and nature lovers across India. Her legacy—thousands of trees standing tall—will continue to breathe life for centuries.