Muslims, led by the Nayab Shahi Imam of Punjab, Maulana Usman Rehmani, burn an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Ludhiana to condemn the beheading of Indian soldiers by the Pakistani army in Jammu and Kashmir. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 5

Condemning the brutal and dastardly act of Pakistani army against Indian soldiers, a large number of Muslims, led by the Nayab Shahi Imam of Punjab, Maulana Usman Rehmani, raised slogans against the neighbouring nation and burnt an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.Speaking on the occasion, Rehmani said the mutilation of dead bodies of Indian Army jawans by the Pakistani army, had exposed the real face of Pakistan and its evil designs to create instability in India, especially Jammu and Kashmir. “Pakistan cannot get away with this kind of inhuman acts. Indian army will give a befitting reply to this provocative action,” he said.The Nayab Shahi Imam urged the Government of India to stop all kinds of dialogue with the neighbouring country and go for army action. “Talk to Pakistan in the language that it understands,” Rehmani stressed.He said members of the Muslim community would stand by their Hindu, Sikh and Christian brethren at this critical juncture. “We might have some political differences with the government, or for that matter members of other communities but, when it comes to solidarity and unity of India, we are all one,” he added.Rehmani asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to teach Pakistan a lesson for mutilating dead bodies of the India soldiers, which was more important. The issue of ‘triple divorce’ (teen talaq) could be sorted out later, he said.

Cable operators can be taken to task for airing Pak channels

New Delhi, May 5

The Centre today said the local administration in Kashmir had the right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised Pakistani channels and take action against them.Stating that the government had sent an advisory, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said such advisories were regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.“Whenever such news comes up, it is our duty to ask for a report. Action is being taken in the matter,” he said.Rathore said it was the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they had the right to take action against such channels.“In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators,” he said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here.The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik’s banned ‘Peace TV’ and others indulging in ‘anti-India’ propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir. — PTI