Iqbal Singh Lalpura takes charge as Minorities Commission chief
Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Sep, 2021 11:14 AM
New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Former IPS officer and BJP national spokesperson Sardar Iqbal Singh Lalpura on Friday assumed charge as the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in the presence of Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Naqvi extended his best wishes to Lalpura in his new responsibility and said that his vast experience in administration, social and literary fields will be helpful in strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'.
"The government's efforts for empowerment of all sections have shown results on the ground. The government has ensured justice for the victims of 1984 riots by constituting an SIT," the minister said.
Naqvi further stated that the long-pending demand of Kartarpur Corridor has been fulfilled and the government has also decided to start the 'Gurudwara circuit train' that will take passengers on a pilgrimage across the country.
Lalpura said that the Prime Minister has given him an opportunity to serve the people and he would try his best to serve the society.
Most experts believe India’s official toll of 414,000 dead was a vast undercount, but the government has dismissed those concerns. A report released Tuesday estimates excess deaths to be 3 million to 4.7 million between January 2020 and this June.
Rejecting all opposition to his elevation, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's new Punjab unit President along with four Working Presidents.
Calling the reports of alleged snooping on prominent citizens using Israeli Pegasus spyware as "baseless", the ruling BJP on Monday said there is not a single shred of evidence so far that links either the central government or the party to this controversy.
Congress MPs from both Houses had met on Sunday afternoon at Rajya Sabha member Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the issues related to Punjab and sought an appointment with Gandhi.
Apart from reviewing the security arrangements in the national capital, the Delhi Police have also strengthened the security in and around the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day.
Police said acting on a specific information, Budgam Police along with the Army's 53 RR and 43 BN of the CRPF arrested one local terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Chinese pistol, one magazine, eight live pistol rounds from his possession.