Waseem Rizvi appoints Hindu seer as patron of his outfit

Controversial chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi nominated on Thursday Mahant Narendra Giri, chairman of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad, as the patron of his fledgling political outifit Indian Shia Awami League (ISAL).
"History bears testimony that all 14 Shia rulers in the country not only protected the Hindus but also constructed several temples during their regime in various parts of the country," said Rizvi, who went to Allahabad to seek the Mahant's blessings. Rizvi has been a votary of construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and had presented a draft of his compromise formula to Mahant Gir in November last year, though neither of them are party in the title suit on Ayodhya pending in the Supreme Court.
The political outfit was floated on May 14 by Rizvi in an attempt to “carve a separate political identity for the minority Shia within the Muslim community ahead of the 2019 general elections”.
“The idea is to assert Shia identity separate from Sunni Muslims and there was no clash of the former with the Hindus,” he said.
“Traditionally, the vote-bank politics has only catered to Sunnis in India, since we are in minority. But when there are riots in the country because of Sunni extremism, we also get targeted due to our Muslim identity,” said Waseem Rizvi on Monday. Rizvi, however, asserted that it would not be a sectarian party and give representation to people irrespective of caste and religion.
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Pune reports below-normal rainfall in June; light rainfall likely in next few days
PUNE As per India Meteorological Department, Shivajinagar area in Pune recorded 35-millimetre rainfall in June which is 75 per cent below normal. Last year in June, Shivajinagar recorded 153 mm rainfall. Lohegaon, Pashan, Chinchwad, Lavale and Magarpatta also reported less rainfall in June. According to IMD, the all-time record for the rainfall in June was reported in 1991 at 525.5 mm rainfall for Pune city.
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Marathwada gets excess rainfall in June; Maha reports 30% deficit
PUNE Marathwada, the drought-prone region of Maharashtra, is the only region showing an excess rainfall till the end of June this year while other areas are witnessing a deficit. With Maharashtra reporting a 30 per cent rainfall deficit in June, there has been not much respite for farmers. Though the southwest monsoon reached the southern tip of Maharashtra around June 10, a few days delay as compared to the normal dates.
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2000 applicants adhere to CGWA notification on bore wells
The Central Groundwater Authority issued a notification stating that it is mandatory to obtain a no-objection certificate from the agency by June 30 for the purpose of drawing water from bore wells located in residential societies and group housing societies. End users who fail to obtain a NOC from the agency by June 30 will have to pay Rs10,000 each as permission fees for drawing water from these bore wells.
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Pune RTO gives accreditation grades to 218 driving schools, none score A+
The Pune Regional Transport Office has completed a first-of-its-kind inspection and 'accreditation grading' programme of all driving schools in the Pune division, and submitted a detailed report to the state transport commissioner's office on Thursday. The Pune RTO inspected 218 driving schools and awarded grades (A, A, B, B and C) based on various parameters. However, no driving school was able to score an A grade.
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Average daily vaccinations drop in Maharashtra
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