The minister of state for home, Mr Mullappally Ramachandran, said on Thursday that he had asked Central agencies to probe the controversial study undertaken in Muslim-dominated areas in the state capital, allegedly for Princeton Survey of the United States of America.
A team of five women had first visited Muslim households in the Karimadam Colony here three weeks ago to conduct a survey. Then they conducted the same survey at areas in Chalai, where the questions gauging the patriotism of Muslims irked residents.
“The team asked as whether we would prefer to go to Pakistan if we are allowed to leave India,” said Mr Nazar, a resident of Chalai, who lodged a complaint with the police.
The other questions in the survey were meant to elicit responses from Muslims about the US president Barack Obama, Indian politicians, the Army, and the practice of women wearing the burqa among others.
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`315cr airport set to come up near Shirdi
New Delhi, Nov. 4: Devotees of Sai Baba would soon be able to fly to the pilgrim town of Shirdi in Maharashtra’s Ahmadnagar district with an environment panel giving nod for construction of an airport at a cost of `315 crores near the temple.
The expert appraisal committee of the environment ministry, in a recent meeting, approved the project noting that it meets ecological concerns and would take care of domestic as well as international traffic visiting the famous pilgrim site. Regarding Shirdi airport, the panel noted that there were no settlements at the site except a few farmhouses for which compensation will be provided as per state government policy. There are no protected sensitive areas near the proposed site the Maharashtra Airport Development Company submitted. —PTI