Mumbai: Having clinched just a handful of wins, the opposition raised questions about the credibility of the poll process. State Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged “fixing” between BJP and the state election commission (SEC), while Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that EVMs that were tampered with during the assembly elections were used once again, and that no one could have survived the “hailstorm” of money that was pumped into the governing parties’ campaigns. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who suffered a setback in his constituency’s Jamkhed Nagar panchayat, too said money power had crushed clean politics based on principles and development.Sapkal said the party which has “seen many victories and defeats” was willing to accept the people’s verdict, but added that the elections were not conducted in a transparent manner. “There was a mess created about the election dates, from voting to counting of votes by the SEC. Our objections regarding the voter lists still remain… Mercenary voters were brought from many parts of Maharashtra,” he alleged. “Inflation and unemployment have increased drastically in the state and corruption is rampant day by day. In such a situation, if the election results are like these, then the whole of Maharashtra, including opposition parties, has questions about how to trust SEC. Therefore, first of all, I congratulate the SEC. It helped the ruling party a lot… The biggest credit for Mahayuti’s victory belongs to the SEC…” He also claimed that BJP would soon show the way out to NCP and Shiv Sena. “BJP is working to swallow the parties with which it has formed an alliance… After the municipal elections, it will first work to eliminate its allies.” Alleging EVM tampering, Raut said, “BJP has set the machines in the same way as it happened in the assembly polls… If you see Vidhan Sabha numbers of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, and now in the civic body polls, they are the same. The [fixed] machines that were used during Vidhan Sabha are the same. The setting [of the machines] is the same and [the way] money was used is also the same.” Alleging that BJP and deputy CM Eknath Shinde spent Rs 150 crore on municipal whose budgets are Rs 30 crore, he said, “So far, no one had used a chartered plane for campaigning in a municipal election. We had left the elections to the workers. But here, the competition was between the three parties in power. Due to this, a huge amount of money was splurged.” Rohit called the results extremely disappointing and disheartening, adding that he had no grievance with the people’s verdict. “But if money rules everywhere, then when will the group leaders, farmers, shopkeepers, and other such candidates who are neglected from a political perspective and come from ordinary families—whom we were trying to bring into the stream of power—get justice? That is the question,” he said in a post on X.

Pakistan ended a 13-year wait for the U19 Asia Cup 2025 title in emphatic fashion, thrashing India by 191 runs in a one-sided final at the ICC Academy on Sunday, December 21. The victory delivered Pakistan only their second U19 Asia Cup crown and their first outright triumph since 2012, when they shared the trophy with India.

Sameer Minhas’ record-breaking century sets the tone for Pakistan

The final belonged to opener Sameer Minhas, who produced a sensational 172 off 113 balls, peppered with 17 fours and 9 sixes. It was Minhas’ second century of the tournament and one of the highest individual scores in U19 Asia Cup history.

After a watchful opening phase, Minhas shifted gears decisively, dismantling India’s bowling – particularly the spinners – with clean hitting and smart placement. His innings provided the foundation for a total that quickly moved beyond India’s reach.

Minhas found valuable support from Ahmed Hussain and skipper Farhan Yousaf, as Pakistan’s top order steadily increased the tempo through the middle overs and finished strongly at the death.

Pakistan’s batting approach was measured early before turning ruthless. Once settled, the batters targeted match-ups aggressively, ensuring India never regained control. The ability to rotate strike and then launch boundaries at will kept the scoreboard racing, leaving India facing a daunting chase from the outset.

India crumble in steep chase

Chasing 348, India never found momentum. Early wickets inside the powerplay exposed the middle order, and any hopes of a recovery were dashed by regular breakthroughs. Despite brief resistance, none of India’s batters converted starts into substantial scores against Pakistan’s disciplined pace-and-spin combination.

The contrast with the group stage was stark. India, led by Ayush Mhatre, had earlier beaten Pakistan by 90 runs, but the final told a different story as Pakistan’s bowlers exploited pressure and conditions to perfection.

Pakistan’s bowlers backed up the batters with accuracy and intensity, squeezing India for runs and forcing errors. The fielding effort complemented the bowling, turning half-chances into wickets and accelerating India’s collapse to 156 all out.

Congratulations to Pakistan U19 on a memorable Asia Cup victory. Credit to the coaches, selectors, and the entire squad for building a unit that delivered on the big stage 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/s7jt0SSRNO

— Fawad Alam (@iamfawadalam25) December 21, 2025

Also READ: Shubman Gill vs Sanju Samson T20I stats ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

The result handed Pakistan their first outright U19 Asia Cup title since 2012, sparking celebrations among fans and the team’s support staff, including head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. Minhas was named Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer and delivering the defining innings of the final.

Sameer Minhas, remember the name 🙌

– 172 off 113 balls against India in the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai 🔥#SameerMinhas #PakistanCricket #U19AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/IIgNOQCAw7

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 21, 2025

Also READ: Key reasons why Shubman Gill was dropped from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad at the last moment

Sunil Gavaskar and Shubman Gill (Photos by Getty Images and PTI)

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar shared some important advice for batter Shubman Gill after he was left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The decision came as a surprise to many fans, especially since Gill was also removed from the role of vice-captain.

With Gill out, Axar Patel has been named India’s vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2026.Sunil Gavaskar believes that Gill should accept this setback with maturity. Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “I hope Shubman takes this in the right spirit. I wish him the best. Some of his injuries have been strange.” Gavaskar felt that Gill still has a bright future, and this decision does not mean the end of his chances.Gavaskar also feels that chief selector Ajit Agarkar would have personally spoken to Gill to explain the reason behind the call. He said, “Knowing Ajit Agarkar, I’m pretty sure he’ll be on the phone to Shubman, trying to explain to him why they took the call that they did.”According to Gavaskar, the team management is trying to correct its earlier decisions. When Gill returned to the T20 squad, Sanju Samson was pushed down the batting order. Earlier, Samson and Abhishek Sharma had formed a strong opening pair, using a left-right combination and attacking from the very first ball.Gavaskar explained this by saying, “And I think it’s a course correction. In the sense that when Shubman came into the T20 squad, Sanju Samson went down the order. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had formed a very good opening pair – a left-hand, right-hand combination – looking to hit the first ball of the game for a six and getting India off to fabulous starts.”“I think that is something Ajit will definitely speak to Shubman about, assuring him that he’s always going to be in the discussion. But for this particular tournament, considering the fact that he’s had some injuries and hasn’t been in the best of touch, they’ve left him out. That doesn’t mean he won’t be part of future teams,” Gavaskar said.Shubman Gill has not been in great form in T20 cricket recently. Since returning to the T20I side during the Asia Cup 2025, he has played 15 matches but failed to score even one half-century. Injuries have also affected his rhythm and consistency. Because of these reasons, the selectors decided to drop him from the squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner (Image Via Twitter)

People have thought for a long time that Sidney Crosby is one of the best ice hockey players of his time, and he is a well-known NHL player because he has won multiple Stanley Cups and personal awards as the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fans pay a lot of attention to what he does on the ice, but not much is known about his personal life.Many Penguins fans are interested in Crosby’s relationship with Kathy Leutner. Rumors say that the couple has been together for more than fifteen years and has helped each other through the ups and downs of their careers. Leutner has been to some of Crosby’s games, cheering from the sidelines and showing unwavering support, even though they try to stay out of the spotlight.

Details on Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins relationship status with Kathy Leutner

A mutual friend set up Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner on a date in 2008, and their love story began; Crosby was making waves in his third NHL season at the time, and Leutner was working on her modeling career. The couple chose to keep their relationship private from the start, avoiding social media and public attention.Leutner, who is from Chantilly, Virginia, started modeling in 2005 and became well-known after appearing in Sports Illustrated in 2011, and since then, she has worked with well-known brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and Faviana, showing that she is a successful professional in her own right.They both love sports, which helped their friendship grow over the years. Crosby has won three Stanley Cups, two Hart Memorial Trophies as the league’s best player, and many other awards during his long career. Leutner has always been there for him, going to games and celebrating milestones with him.Sidney Crosby and Kathy Leutner have been together for a long time, and their story is still a great example of how to support, trust, and work together in the high-pressure world of professional sports.Also Read: Net worth of Auston Matthews in 2025: Details on Toronto Maple Leafs captain’s earnings, salary, and contracts

Christmas is not just a festival but an emotion! It is a spirit, a mood, a joy that fills up the season. On Christmas families meet, friends gang up, relatives and even colleagues come together to celebrate. Warm messages are exchanged between people who wish each other happiness, good luck and better health. We have curated 50 plus messages here so that you don’t have to scout the internet or rummage through old WhatsApp messages to find the perfect one. Merry Christmas!

“Merry Christmas, you chaotic, wonderful human; may your days be full of good food, inside jokes, and people who really get you. Here’s to a new year where your coffee is strong and your deadlines are kind.”“Wishing you a Christmas that feels like a deep breath after a long year, with warm lights, familiar voices, and zero guilt naps. May the season remind you how loved and irreplaceable you are.”“Merry Christmas to someone who makes the ordinary feel festive just by being around. May your home be noisy with laughter, your plate be full, and your heart feel even fuller.”“This Christmas, may your Wi‑Fi be stable, your family group chat calm, and your heart unexpectedly light. Sending you warmth, peace, and just the right amount of drama to keep things fun.”“Wishing you a Christmas where the recipes work, the gifts actually land, and the memories feel soft around the edges. Thank you for being one of the constants in a very unpredictable year.”“Merry Christmas to you and your beautifully imperfect crew; may your celebrations be real, unfiltered, and full of moments you actually want to remember. Here’s to more shared stories and fewer forced smiles.”“May this Christmas feel less like a performance and more like a safe place to just be yourself in comfy clothes. Hoping your day is stitched together with small, quiet joys and loud, happy laughs.”“Merry Christmas to a colleague who somehow makes work feel less like work and more like a team sport. May your break be email-free, nap-heavy, and full of the people and things you love most.”“Wishing you a Christmas that feels like a good playlist: a mix of nostalgia, unexpected favorites, and a few moments that give you goosebumps. May kindness find you in little ways all season.”“Merry Christmas to you, the keeper of shared memories and half-finished conversations. May this season give you time to slow down, reconnect, and remember what actually matters to you.”Merry Christmas to the one who lights up every room without trying; may your day spill over with easy laughs, hot cocoa, and zero rush. You make the season feel alive.Wishing you a Christmas that wraps around you like your favorite old sweater, cozy and familiar. Hope it brings unexpected treats and people who get your quirks.Happy Christmas, you absolute star; let the holidays fill your cup with rest, good stories, and bites of everything sweet. Grateful for your kind of magic.Merry Christmas to someone who turns chaos into charm; may your tree lean just right, your feasts satisfy, and your heart hum with joy. Here’s to you.Merry Christmas across the board, let it deliver cozy corners, full plates, and light hearts. Simple wins all around.Happy Christmas wishes laced with nostalgia, new sparks, and real connection. You shine bright.Merry Christmas to your circle, may it unfold with unhurried bliss and echoes of cheer. All the love.

Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas to the friend who knows all my bad habits and loves me anyway; may your holidays overflow with lazy mornings, epic playlists, and zero regrets. Here’s to us laughing through whatever comes next year.Dear dost! Wishing you a Christmas that hits like your favorite comfort food after a rough week-warm, satisfying, and just what you need! Surround yourself with the people who make your world brighter, you absolute gem.HO! HO! HO! Happy holidays to my ride-or-die; may your tree be crooked but charming, your gifts thoughtful, and your nights full of stories we haven’t told yet. Can’t wait to make more memories with you.Merry Christmas, you legend, may the season wrap you in cozy blankets, strong coffee, and the kind of joy that sneaks up on you. Thanks for being the friend who always shows up, no questions asked.To my favorite chaos partner: hope your Christmas is stuffed with inside jokes, spontaneous dances, and plates piled high with treats. You’re the spark that makes everything better.Wishing you a holiday that feels like sinking into your couch with zero agenda, just good company and better vibes. Merry Christmas to the one who turns ordinary days into adventures.Merry Christmas, darling dost! May your days be free of small talk, full of deep chats, and sprinkled with those little wins that make you smile. Grateful for you every single day.Hope your Christmas unfolds like a perfect lazy afternoon: warm lights, familiar tunes, and friends who feel like family. You’re irreplaceable, and I hope you know it.

Hey my dearest family!!! Wishing you people a merry Christmas. YOU raised me on love, laughter, and way too many inside jokes; may our table groan under the weight of food and stories this year. Here’s to roots that run deep and branches that keep growing!Wishing my lovely family a holiday where the house smells like home, the arguments are short-lived, and the hugs linger. You all make the world make sense, even when it’s messy.Happy Christmas to Mom, Dad, and the siblings who know me best, may we skip the drama, savor the feasts, and stack up memories like ornaments. Love you more than words, always.To my family crew! Hope this Christmas brings quiet moments amid the noise, full bellies, and hearts even fuller. You’re my safe harbor, no matter the storm.Merry Christmas, fam, may the lights twinkle as bright as our shared history, the food taste even better than last year, and the love multiply. Grateful for every single one of you.Wishing our family a season of worn-in sweaters, board games that go late, and the kind of warmth that sticks with you. You’ve built a home that’s bigger than walls.Happy holidays to the ones who’ve seen me at my worst and loved me through it; may Christmas refill our tanks with joy and togetherness. Forever yours.Merry Christmas to my family, the original squad, hope it’s all twinkly chaos, home-cooked magic, and zero rush. You make belonging feel effortless.Wishing our crew a Christmas of soft lights, shared secrets, and belly laughs that echo. Love runs deep here, always.Merry Christmas fam, may it taste like grandma’s recipes, sound like kid giggles, and feel like endless hugs. Pure gold.Merry Christmas buddy, hope it’s packed with late night chats, silly dances, and zero regrets. You’re my favorite plot twist.To the family who knows my coffee order: Merry Christmas full of adventures big and small. Can’t imagine it without you.

Merry Christmas to a colleague who turns meetings into something bearable; may your break be blissfully quiet, your inbox empty, and your couch calling. Cheers to crushing it together next year.Wishing you a holiday free from spreadsheets and full of whatever recharges you, family feasts, solo naps, or holiday movies on repeat. Great working with you!Happiest Christmas colleague, snag that nap filled break, feast without guilt, and recharge like a boss. Teamwork makes it sweeter.Wishing you holidays minus the emails, plus all the peace and play you deserve. Great vibes working with you.Happy Christmas to the teammate who gets it done with grace; hope your days off sparkle with rest, good eats, and zero alarms. See you refreshed and ready.Merry Christmas, work dost! Bhagwan kare the season gifts you time to unplug, indulge in favorites, and forget deadlines exist. You’re a pro, and it shows.To a colleague who’s more like a co-conspirator: enjoy a Christmas stacked with peace, play, and people who appreciate you. Holiday high-fives!Wishing you holidays that feel like a well-deserved exhale-warm drinks, easy company, and no emails for a while! Thanks for making the grind better.Merry Christmas to the office bright spot; may your festivities be low-key fabulous, with naps uninterrupted and joy unscripted. Back at it soon!Happy holidays, colleague, hope it’s brimming with family time, festive bites, and the battery recharge we all need. You’re gold.

Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad (l) plays a forward defensive, watched by England wicketkeeper John Murray (r) (Photo/Getty Images)

Even before Pakistan had Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, or Shoaib Akhtar, it had Hanif Mohammad. Pakistan’s first great cricketer did not announce himself with power or speed, but with time. Lots of it. He built a team around the idea that you could refuse to lose.Hanif was Pakistan cricket’s first true star. At a time when the country was new and still finding its voice, he gave it one through the bat. His feats, heard across Pakistan on radio, took the game out of drawing rooms and college grounds and into streets, maidans, and homes. Cricket stopped being a pursuit of a small, educated elite and became a sport for everyone.

Hanif Mohammad was born in 1934 in Gujarat, in undivided India. After Partition, his family moved to Pakistan, and so did his cricketing future. Hanif played 55 Tests, including Pakistan’s first against India in 1952. He played for Pakistan across a career that lasted 17 years, scoring 3,915 runs at an average of 43.98. Those numbers matter, but they only tell part of the story. Hanif’s true value lay in what he represented and how he played.He was called the “Little Master”. He stood 5 feet 3 inches tall. When he first appeared in top-level cricket, he looked younger than his age and smaller than most around him. When he walked out to bat at Lahore in November 1951, during the first unofficial Test between Pakistan and MCC, he was only 16. It was his first-class debut.“He looked about 12, Brian Statham said, as cited by Wisden in its obituary of Hanif. By the end of the day, the joke had worn thin. Hanif made 26 in 165 minutes. In the very next match, he batted for over four hours to score 64 as Pakistan chased 288. That innings, quiet as it was, changed things. Eight months later, Pakistan were granted Test status.With Abdul Hafeez Kardar as captain and Fazal Mahmood leading the attack, Hanif was the one who held the innings together. Time and again, he stood between Pakistan and defeat, building long innings based on defence, judgment, and discipline.Nothing defines him better than the innings that still stands alone in cricket history. Bridgetown, 1957–58. Pakistan were touring the West Indies. West Indies made 579. Pakistan collapsed for 106 on the third day of what was a six-day match, and were asked to follow on, trailing by 473. Defeat was not a question of “if”, only “when”.Hanif reached 61 on stumps on Day 3, having endured Roy Gilchrist’s short-pitched assault, he chose not to hook. Over the next three days, Hanif batted. And batted. He added exactly 100 on the fourth day as Pakistan lost just one wicket. On the fifth day, he defied pain from thighs bruised by Gilchrist, and sunburn that caused the skin under his eyes to peel away. During intervals he would sit in a corner of the dressing room and eat a piece of chicken. By stumps he had 270, and Pakistan a small lead. He scored 337, batted for 970 minutes, and shared century partnerships with four players, including his brother Wazir. Pakistan declared on 657 for 8. The match was drawn. Hanif’s innings remain the longest individual innings (by minutes) in Tests.A year later, Hanif showed that this was no one-off. Playing for Karachi against Bahawalpur in 1959, he scored 499 in a first-class match. It was the highest first-class score at the time. He was run out in the final over while trying for his 500th run. The record stood for 35 years, until Brian Lara made 501 for Warwickshire.That reputation sometimes reduced him to a caricature, but Hanif was more than a blocker. He could attack when required and is often credited as the originator of the reverse sweep. His skill set was wide. He captained Pakistan, kept wicket, and even bowled right- and left-handed in Test cricket. Yet, above all, he was a master of one thing: staying in.Hanif’s career was not without lean phases. His 1962 tour of England brought his first sustained run of low scores. He managed 177 runs in the series at an average of 17.70, with a highest score of 47. Five years later, nearing his mid-30s, he returned to England with a point to prove. English fast bowlers thought the short ball would trouble him. John Snow tested him repeatedly. Hanif answered with 187 not out in the first Test at Lord’s. It took 556 balls and the match was drawn. By the late 1960s, consistency became harder to maintain and Hanif decided to step away. He finished with 12 Test centuries and 15 fifties. His average, once above 47, settled at 43.98. He scored Test centuries against all opponents away from home, dismissing any idea that he was dependent on home conditions. His away average of 42.62 was close to his overall average in Tests.Hanif was also part of one of cricket’s most remarkable families. Three of his brothers — Wazir, Mushtaq and Sadiq — played Test cricket. Another brother, Raees, was once Pakistan’s twelfth man. In 1969–70, Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq played together against New Zealand at Karachi, Hanif’s final Test, echoing the Grace brothers’ feat for England in 1880. At least one brother featured in Pakistan’s first 89 Tests. His son Shoaib later played 45 Tests.Hanif Mohammad passed away on August 11, 2016, in Karachi, aged 81 years and 234 days. By then, Pakistan cricket had seen fast bowlers who terrified batters, captains who won world titles. But before Pakistan learned how to win, it learned how not to lose. That lesson came from Hanif Mohammad, who was born on this day (December 21) in 1934.

NEW DELHI: Amid concerns expressed in certain quarters over the possibility of expansion of mining activities in the Aravali Hills and Ranges in the wake of its new uniform definition, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday said it was absolutely wrong to conclude that the mining is permitted in all landforms below 100 metres height as there has been no relaxation made at all in the Aravali.“Only 0.19% of the total 1.44 lakh sq km area of Aravali can be eligible for mining. The rest of the Aravali is protected and secure,” he posted on X. The Aravalli Hills and Ranges are among India’s oldest geological formations, stretching from Delhi through Haryana, Rajasthan, and into Gujarat. Only a very small area is under permitted mining leases and out of this small percentage, nearly 90 % of the mining activity is confined to Rajasthan, followed by about 9% in Gujarat and about 1% in Haryana. No mining activity is permitted in Delhi. Yaav said the Aravali range has been explained as all the landforms which exist within 500 metre of two adjoining hills of height of 100 metres or more. All landforms existing within this 500 metre zone irrespective of their height and slopes are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining lease, said the minister.He also clarified the issue in detail in response to a media query on the sidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s meeting at Unesco World Heritage Site Sundarbans. The question pertained to the recent Supreme Court’s acceptance of uniform policy level definition of Aravali Hills and Ranges specifically in the context of regulating mining.Yadav, however, emphasised that all the landforms enclosed within the lowest binding contour encircling Hills of height 100 metre or more irrespective of their height and slopes are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining lease.The Opposition parties had raised the issue in the Parliament during the concluded winter session, claiming that the definition would exclude most of the Aravali range from protection. In the wake of the SC’s Nov order of accepting the Centre-backed definition, Congress general secretary and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh called the move a severe blow to the Aravali ecosystem.“The Aravalli Hills extend from Delhi through Haryana and Rajasthan to Gujarat. Over the years they have been devastated by mining, construction, and other activities in violation of all regulations and laws. Now it appears that this sensitive and sprawling ecosystem will be subject to another severe blow,” Ramesh had posted on X.Referring to media reports, he had said, “This definition is meant to restrict mining but in reality will mean that 90% of the Aravalli Hills will not be counted as Aravalli any more. Evidently, the Supreme Court has accepted this revised definition. This is bizarre and will have very grave environmental and public health consequences. It calls for an immediate review.”Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot too opened a front against the SC recent move, blaming the Centre for pitching for that uniform definition. Yadav on Sunday, however, appealed to everyone to “stop spreading confusion” and even explained how the Rajasthan government has been following the definition since 2006.His ministry also explained that all Aravali range states/UT during deliberations agreed to adopt the uniform criterion of “100 metres above local relief” for regulating mining in the Aravalli region as had been in force in Rajasthan while unanimously agreeing to make it more objective and transparent.“All the landforms enclosed within the lowest binding contour encircling Hills of height 100 metre or more irrespective of their height and slopes are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining lease. Similarly, Aravali range has been explained as all the landforms which exist within 500 metres of two adjoining Hills of height 100 metre or more. All landforms existing within this 500 metre zone irrespective of their height and slopes are excluded for the purposes of grant of mining lease,” the ministry clarified.By defining Aravalli Hills as any landform rising 100 metres or more above local relief, along with their supporting slopes, the entire ecological unit is protected. This prevents piecemeal exploitation of slopes or foothills that are vital for soil stability, water recharge, and vegetation cover.”

Funeral procession of Osman Hadi in Dhaka (ANI file photo)

Western diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Germany and France, have “unusually” mourned the death of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, issuing condolence messages after he was killed earlier this month.Former foreign secretary and diplomat Kanwal Sibal questioned the diplomatic response in a series of posts on X, saying the official statements of this nature were typically reserved for individuals with clear international or bilateral significance.Also read |‘Misleading propaganda’: India rejects Dhaka media reports on protest outside Bangladesh High Commission; flags atrocities against minorities

“Osman Hadi’s murder. Diplomatically unusual for the US, EU, German and French missions in BD to give so much political prominence to the murder of a student leader whose importance in the bilateral or international context is not readily apparent,” Sibal wrote.The former diplomat further highlighted Hadi’s strong anti-India stance, noting that the student leader and his group had repeatedly voiced hostility towards India. He pointed out that Hadi’s organisation, Inquilab Mancha, openly promoted claims over India’s northeast. He said the posts by the US in particular appeared to show a vested interest in the overtly anti-India group.“He was deeply hostile to India, was claiming India’s northeast, and therefore, in the regional context, a particular message is going out to India. His Inquilab Mancha has said this on his death: ‘In the struggle against Indian hegemony, Allah has accepted the great revolutionary Osman Hadi as a martyr.’ Judging by this post, the US had a vested interest in this overtly anti-Indian group,” Sibal wrote.Sibal also questioned whether mourning a figure linked to a group advocating Sharia law was consistent with Western claims of supporting democracy and minority rights in Bangladesh.“This mourning of a person whose organisation is to introduce Sharia in BD sits ill with democracy and minority rights in BD. His followers have torched the buildings associated with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in repeated acts of disowning BD’s freedom struggle. Do these western embassies approve of all this? Another case of western double standards and hypocrisy?” Sibal asked.X also added a community note to the UN’s post, claiming Hadi was a radical Islamist and accusing his followers of involvement in anti-minority violence. It said his followers were currently lynching and burning civilians alive. The note questioned why the UN was focused on Hadi, a “terrorist”, rather than on attacks against civilians.Hadi was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while campaigning in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He later died while undergoing treatment in Singapore.Also read | Bangladesh unrest: Protesters break through barricades and enter Parliament building after youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi’s funeral; watchHe was a leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, and was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.Following his death, various parts of the country were rocked by attacks and vandalism, including stone-pelting at the assistant Indian high commissioner’s residence in Chattogram. A Hindu man, identified as 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city.

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