'One Nation One Election' bills unlikely to be passed in Parliament: Digvijaya Singh

AGAR MALWA: Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has said he is doubtful that the 'one nation, one election' bills will be passed in Parliament. Talking to reporters in Madhya Pradesh's Agar Malwa district on Saturday night, Singh also denied the allegations against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of pushing and shoving BJP MPs on Parliament premises on Thursday. The two 'one nation, one election' (ONOE) bills, including one requiring an amendment in the Constitution, lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections and were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after a fiery debate. The Lok Sabha on Friday referred the two bills on simultaneous polls to a joint committee of Parliament (JPC). To a question on the ONOE bills, Digvijaya Singh said, The JPC has been constituted and I don't think that it will be passed. On Thursday, an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi at Parliament Street police station following the BJP's complaint, accusing him of physical assault and incitement after MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were injured. The Congress has strongly rejected the claim, alleging that BJP MPs pushed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and physically manhandled Gandhi. Asked about the accusations against Gandhi of pushing and shoving the BJP MPs, Singh termed them as completely false. This is absolutely wrong. There was pushing and shoving between BJP leaders, the former state chief minister claimed. One BJP MP fell on another. Both were injured. The one who fell said that Rahul Gandhi was standing in front of him. If he was standing in front, could he have pushed him? he asked. What happened in Parliament? Who is MP Pratap Sarangi injured after Rahul Gandhi's alleged push? Notably, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat recently expressed concern over the resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes and said certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple, seem to believe they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up such issues. To a question on Bhagwat's statement, Digvijaya Singh said, If we talk about such persons who wanted to become leaders by talking about Hindu-Muslim issues then the biggest proof in front of them is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Why he doesn't make him (Modi) understand? Bhagwat is only delivering statements but why he keeps silent when excesses are committed against Muslims, the Congress leader claimed. To another question, Singh said such statements of Bhagwat are positive, but he should stop the organisations associated with Sangh. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are their organisations (associated with Sangh). Why doesn't he stop them? the Congress leader asked.

Ram temple project in Ayodhya receives British Sword of Honour

The Ram temple project in Ayodhya has been awarded the British Safety Council's 'Sword of Honour' for its exceptional safety standards. The construction, managed by L&T with Tata Consulting Engineers' support, also earned the National Safety Council's Golden Trophy.

Azerbaijan, Puducherry, Ayodhya And More: Top 10 Travel Destinations For 2025

NDTV Profit went through three popular travel recommendation listicles for 2025 National Geographic, Lonely Planet and Google to curate one for you.

CM reviews preps for Milkipur bypoll, devpt works in Ayodhya

Yogi Adityanath Slams Temple Desecration After Bhagwats Remarks

New Delhi: A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat talked about inclusivity and gave a call to avoid raking up temple-mosque disputes, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday highlighted the destruction of Hindu temples in various parts of the country in the past. The Uttar Pradesh CM reiterated that protection of Sanatan Dharma is essential for world peace. Citing Kashi Vishwanath temple, Ayodhyas Ram Mandir, Mathuras Krishna Janambhoomi, and Sambhals Harihar Bhoomi temples, the Uttar Pradesh CM asserted that bhautik vikas (development) cannot be sustained by neglecting the heritage. Continuing his tirade against the emple destroyers, Adityanath, whose atenge to katenge slogan was seen as a gamechanger by many in the BJP during the Maharashtra Assembly polls, also asserted that the descendants of those who desecrated these temples will be destroyed. The CM reiterated that Sanatan Dharma is the only way to establish world peace. The Uttar Pradesh CM was speaking at a religious event in Ayodhya, where he also mentioned atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and asked, I want to ask who were those people who destroyed the Sanatan Dharmas places of pride in the country and why did they do it? It was a part of the conspiracy to make the whole Earth a hell by carrying out these barbaric acts Whether it was Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi, Mathura's Krishna Janmabhoomi or Sambhals Hariharbhoomi...these places were destroyed, desecrated or made impure The lineage and descendants of those who desecrated these temples will be destroyed, said Adityanath. Talking about ongoing atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, Do not forget that it is only the Sanatan dharma that has given refuge, protection and an opportunity to live and prosper to all castes, religions and sects in times of adversity But are Hindus being treated the same in other parts of the world? What is happening in Bangladesh today or what happened in Pakistan or Afghanistan? I want to ask who destroyed the symbols of Sanatan dharma and why? Adityanath asked Indians to be prepared so that the country does not have to face gulami ki bediyan again and see its religious places getting desecrated. Adityanath's remarks came a day after the RSS chief, at an event in Pune, had said that one does not become a Hindu leader by building a Ram temple and spoke about developing a model of harmony in the country that could be adopted by the world. The Ram temple is a matter of faith for HindusHindus believed the Ram temple should be constructed. But by doing that, one does not become a Hindu leader We talk of becoming Vishwaguru (global leader) and not Mahashakti (superpower). This is because we have seen how people behave after becoming superpowers. To achieve selfish gains for the sake of supremacy is not our path, Bhagwat had said on Thursday. The RSS chief said, ... We have to show the world that we can do it togethermany sects and ideologies that accommodate everyone

'Aurangzeb Ke Parivar Ke Log Rickshaw Chalate Hain' says CM Yogi in Ayodhya

Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura Our Only Focus: VHP After RSS Chief Calls Frequent Disputes 'Unacceptable'

Talking to News 18, Surendra Jain, joint general secretary of VHP said that the issues were instances of historical reckoning.

RSS chief bats for inclusive society, frowns upon new disputes

PUNE, Dec 20: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has expressed concern over resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes and said certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple, seem to believe they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up such issues. Delivering a lecture on India The Vishwaguru, at Sahjeevan Vyakhyanmala (lecture series) here, Bhagwat advocated for an inclusive society and said the world needs to be shown that the country can live together in harmony. Highlighting the plurality [] The post RSS chief bats for inclusive society, frowns upon new disputes appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat bats for inclusive society, frowns upon new disputes

PUNE: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has expressed concern over resurgence of several temple-mosque disputes and said certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple, seem to believe they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up such issues. Delivering a lecture on India The Vishwaguru', at Sahjeevan Vyakhyanmala (lecture series) here on Thursday, Bhagwat advocated for an inclusive society and said the world needs to be shown that the country can live together in harmony. Highlighting the plurality of Indian society, the chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said Christmas is celebrated in Ramakrishna Mission, adding only we can do this because we are Hindus. We have been living in harmony for a long time. If we want to provide this harmony to the world, we need to create a model of it. After the construction of the Ram Mandir, some people think they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up similar issues in new places. This is not acceptable, he said. The Ram temple was constructed since it was a matter of faith for all Hindus, Bhagwat said. Every day a new matter (dispute) is being raked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue. India needs to show that we can live together, he said without mentioning any particular site. Several demands for surveys of mosques to unearth temples have found their way to courts in the recent past, though Bhagwat did not mention any by name in his lecture. Some groups that came from outside brought with them staunchness and they want their old rule to return, he said. But now the country runs as per the Constitution. In this setup, people choose their representatives, who run the government. The days of hegemony are gone, he asserted. He said the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was characterised by such staunchness, though his descendant Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1857 banned cow slaughter. It was decided that Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should be given to Hindus but the British sensed it and created a rift between the two communities. Since then, this sense of algavwad' (separatism) came into being. As a result, Pakistan came into existence, he said. Bhagwat asked why the language of dominance was being used if everybody identifies themselves as Indians. Who is a minority and who is a majority? Everyone is equal here. The tradition of this nation is all can follow their own forms of worship. The only requirement is to live in harmony and abide by rules and laws, the RSS chief asserted.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Urges Harmony and Inclusivity Amid Rising Temple-Mosque Disputes | News18

Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, recently voiced his concerns about the re-emergence of temple-mosque disputes. He noted that some individuals, following the construction of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, seem to believe they can lead Hindus by stirring such issues. Bhagwat emphasised the need for an inclusive society and highlighted India's potential to demonstrate harmonious coexistence to the world. n18oc_breaking-newsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

Revival of mandir-masjid disputes unacceptable: RSS

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over the resurgence of temple-mosque disputes and asserted that certain individuals, after the construction of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, seem to believe they can become leaders of Hindus by raking up such issues. He advocated for an inclusive society and said the world needs to be shown that India can live together in harmony.

(Not So) Trivial Issues: Why BJP Lost In Ayodhya

Can BJP Reverse Ayodhya Humiliation In Milkipur Yes And No

Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Committee Meets Union Steel Minister

Visakhapatnam: The Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee, led by CPM MP Sivadasan, met Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to address challenges at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). Committee president J. Ayodhya Ram stated that the minister assured them of resolving RINL's issues before Sankranti. The delegation highlighted problems faced by permanent and contract workers and stressed that with adequate raw materials and working capital, RINL could achieve full production capacity. Kumaraswamy reportedly secured an agreement from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allocate Rs 10,000 crore for RINLs revival. The committee expressed optimism about the plants future.

No endeavour to build Ayodhya mosque, reclaim land given for it: BJP leader to Adityanath

The Sunni Central Waqf Board formed the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation to build a new mosque on the land allotted by the State government in the Dhannipur area of the district

'Intention was never to establish a mosque': BJP leader asks CM Yogi to reclaim Ayodhya land given to Muslims

BJP leader Rajneesh Singh urged Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to reclaim land allocated for a mosque in Ayodhya, alleging the Muslim community's intent was not to build a mosque but to create discord. Singh claimed the land was being used for other purposes and that a mosque was unnecessary for prayer.

No endeavour to build Ayodhya mosque, reclaim land given for it: BJP leader to CM Adityanath

AYODHYA: A BJP leader here has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asking him to reclaim the land allotted for the construction of a mosque here and claiming that no substantial endeavour has been undertaken to build it. On November 9, 2019, settling a fractious issue that went back more than a century, a five-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, at the site where the 16th century Babri Masjid once stood. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot would be found for a mosque in the holy town. The Sunni Central Waqf Board later formed the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation to build a new mosque on the land allotted by the state government in the Dhannipur area of the district. BJP leader Rajneesh Singh, in his letter to the chief minister on December 10, said that since the apex court's verdict, o substantial endeavour has been undertaken by the Muslim community to construct the mosque. Their intention was never to establish a mosque there but to perpetuate the discord under the pretext of a mosque, he alleged. In compliance with the Supreme Court's order, the land allocated to Sunni Central Waqf Board in Ayodhya is being used by the mosque's responsible persons for other purposes. The Muslim community's intention was never to construct the mosque but rather to keep the disturbance and disorder alive under the guise of a mosque. However, this has not been possible due to your leadership, Singh said in the letter to Adityanath. Asserting that a mosque is not necessary for offering prayers anyway, he appealed to the chief minister to issue strict instructions to the officials of the Ayodhya mosque trust to use the land in compliance with the Supreme Court orders. In case of being unable to do so, issue directives to return the land to the government to prevent its misuse, Singh said. In a conversation with PTI , he said, The Muslim community merely wishes to preserve Babar's legacy through this mosque and aims to manipulate Hindu sentiments in the name of Babri Masjid. When PTI contacted Athar Husain, the secretary of the Ayodhya Masjid Trust, for his reaction to the issue, he refused to comment. In 2022, Singh petitioned the Allahabad High Court, claiming that the Taj Mahal mausoleum is an ancient temple dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva and is known as the Tejo Mahalaya.

Ram Mandir inspires spiritual awakening, says Dr Vishwas at KSM in Nagpur

Nagpur: Lord Ram is the path itself and the destination. The Ram Temple of Ayodhya is the beginning of Ram consciousness, stated renowned poet and orator Dr Kumar Vishwas, while delivering a discourse under ApneApne Ram on the fourth day of the Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav (KSM) 2024 being held in Nagpur. The festival is underway [] The post Ram Mandir inspires spiritual awakening, says Dr Vishwas at KSM in Nagpur appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News .

Why is Akshay Kumar feeding the monkeys of Ayodhya? Watch viral video

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, in collaboration with the Anjaneya Seva Trust, is feeding over 1,250 monkeys daily in Ayodhya. This eco-friendly initiative uses a dedicated van, honors his parents and late father-in-law, and incorporates a unique waste management system involving cows and banana peels. The project addresses the growing monkey population and promotes peaceful coexistence with the local community.

When Nepal Army Chief Visited Ram Temple

The glimpses when Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army, General Ashok Raj Sigdel visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, in Ayodhya on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

MP Gurumurthy appeals for railway development in Tirupati region

Tirupati: Tirupati MP Dr Maddila Gurumurthy on Monday voiced concerns over various railway-related issues in the Tirupati parliamentary constituency during Parliaments Zero Hour. He brought several critical matters to the attention of the Central government, emphasising the urgency of addressing them. Highlighting the increasing railway traffic, Gurumurthy stressed the need for constructing a third railway line between Renigunta and Gudur. He explained that this line would reduce the burden on existing tracks and facilitate faster travel. He also urged the government to expedite the completion of the new railway line between Pudi and Yerpedu which would enhance connectivity and play a vital role in boosting local economic resources. The MP pointed out that several train stoppages were discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic and requested their restoration, particularly at Vendodu, Naidupeta and Sullurpeta stations. He argued that reinstating these stops would improve transportation facilities for passengers in the region. Additionally, he called for MEMU train services between Tirupati-Nellore and Tirupati-Kadapa to benefit daily commuters. Raising concerns about the narrow underpass at Gudurs Ambedkar Nagar, Gurumurthy highlighted the severe traffic problems it causes. He urged its expansion to ease the situation. He also proposed introducing a Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Tirupati and Visakhapatnam to provide faster travel options for passengers. The MP appealed for the launch of a new train service connecting Tirupati with Varanasi and Ayodhya which would serve pilgrims and travellers efficiently. By presenting these issues, Gurumurthy urged the railway minister to prioritise these projects and expedite their implementation to address the regions pressing needs.

Temple modelled after Ram Mandir to be constructed in US

Thiruvananthapuram: A temple modelled after Ayodhyas Ram Mandir will be constructed in the US by the Swami Satyananda Saraswati Foundation in Pearland, Houston, for the global Hindu community. As part of the Kerala Hindus of North America conference, the foundation aims to perform a Balalaya Pratishta ceremony at a powerful, divine location on November 23, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Ayodhya's Ram Mandir Project Bags Sword of Honour Award For Safety Excellence

Ram temple project in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya bagged the prestigious Sword of Honour award, one of the highest accolades in safety management.

Adityanath backs Allahabad HC Justice Shekhar Yadav, says ' those who speak truth are threatened with impeachment'

MUMBAI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hit out at the Opposition for initiating impeachment notices against Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Allahabad High Court's Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, saying whoever speaks the truth is threatened in this way. Speaking at the World Hindu Economic Forum 2024 on Saturday, he also accused the Congress of practising double standards. Whoever speaks the truth, these people will pressurise him with impeachment (motions), and still they talk about the Constitution.Look at their double standards, he said. An Allahabad High Court judge said there should be a Uniform Civil Code, and the world over feelings of the majority community are respected, the UP chief minister said. What was a person's crime if he voiced these opinions, he asked. Shouldn't there be a Uniform Civil Code in the country? The world over, the system runs as per what the majority community says, and India is saying the discrimination between majority and minority communities should end. They (the Congress) will pressurise, because it is their old habit of strangulating the Constitution and managing the system of the country, Adityanath alleged. 'Country will run as per wishes of majority,' says Allahabad HC judge at VHP event; backs UCC As to the notice to impeach Dhankhar for his alleged partisan role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the BJP leader said the Vice President is doing his duty as presiding officer of the Upper House. The Opposition is worried how a farmer's son has reached this position. If someone as a judge and a citizen of the country puts forth truth on a social and cultural platform, he is threatened with impeachment, Adityanath added. Members of several opposition parties on Friday moved a notice in the Rajya Sabha for the impeachment of Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav over his alleged controversial remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event on December 8. The Supreme Court has sought details pertaining to the controversy from the Allahabad High Court. Adityanath, meanwhile, said society and the country need to expose those who want to suppress the truth. Those who spurn India's legacy should be exposed, he said, alleging that the Opposition says that Lord Ram never existed. The Sanatan religion never claimed it is great, or it never said its supremacy must be accepted, Adityanath said, adding that it neither controlled anyone with a sword nor did it stake a claim on anyone's land. You have PM Modi showering flowers on workers who built the Ram Temple in Ayodhya for their hard work, and there will also be rulers who chopped the hands of workers who built the Taj Mahal, he said. India cannot establish itself as a strong economy by forgetting its legacy, the UP chief minister said. India's economy stood at 10th or 11th position after 70 years, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it the fifth largest economy in 10 years, and in 2027, India will be the third largest economy, the BJP leader said. Uttar Pradesh is now the country's second-largest economy and is on its way to grow to USD 1 trillion, Adityanath said.

Those Who Speak Truth are Threatened with Impeachment: Adityanath

Mumbai : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday hit out at the Opposition for initiating impeachment notices against Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Allahabad High Court's Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, saying whoever speaks the truth is threatened in this way.Speaking at the World Hindu Economic Forum 2024, he also accused the Congress of practicing double standards. Whoever speaks the truth, these people will pressurise him with impeachment (motions), and still they talk about the Constitution. Look at their double standards. An Allahabad High Court judge said there should be a Uniform Civil Code, and the world over the feelings of the majority community are respected, the UP chief minister said. What was a person's crime if he voices these opinions, he asked. Shouldn't there be a Uniform Civil Code in the country? The world over, the system runs as per what the majority community says and India is saying the discrimination between majority and minority community should end. They (the Congress) will pressurize, because it is their old habit of strangulating the Constitution and managing the system of the country, Adityanath alleged. As to the notice to impeach Dhankhar for his alleged partisan role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the BJP leader said the Vice President is doing his duty as presiding officer of the Upper House. The Opposition is worried as to how a farmer's son has reached this position. If someone as a judge as well as a citizen of the country puts forth truth on a social and cultural platform, he is threatened with impeachment, Adityanath added. Members of several opposition parties on Friday moved a notice in the Rajya Sabha for the impeachment of Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav over his alleged controversial remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event on December 8. The Supreme Court has sought details pertaining to the controversy from the Allahabad High Court. Adityanath, meanwhile, said the society and country need to expose those who want to suppress the truth. Those who spurn India's legacy should be exposed, he said, alleging that the Opposition says that Lord Ram never existed. The Sanatan religion never claimed it is great, or it never said its supremacy must be accepted, Adityanath said, adding that it neither controlled anyone with a sword nor did it stake a claim on anyone's land. You have PM Modi showering flowers on workers who built the Ram Temple in Ayodhya for their hard work, and there will also be rulers who chopped the hands of workers who built the Taj Mahal, he said. India cannot establish itself as a strong economy by forgetting its legacy, the UP chief minister said. India's economy stood at 10th or 11th position after 70 years, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it the fifth largest economy in 10 years, and in 2027 India will be the third largest economy, the BJP leader said. Uttar Pradesh is now the country's second largest economy and is on its way to grow to USD 1 trillion, Adityanath said.

In The Deep Freeze

The special bench constituted by the apex court to hear a clutch of pending petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Act has forbidden the filing of any new petitions challenging the current status of places of worship. The Act under fire had left only the Ayodhya issue to be decided by the courts and froze the status of any place of worship as it was on the day of Indias independence The post In The Deep Freeze appeared first on India Legal .

BJP announces Ram temple construction in Bengal amid row over TMC MLA's Babri Masjid remarks

The BJP announced the construction of a Ram Temple in West Bengal to mark the Ayodhya Ram Temple's one-year anniversary. This follows a TMC MLA's remark about the Babri Masjid's reconstruction.

Some in higher judiciary compromising court's integrity: Mahua Moitra

TMC MP Mahua Moitra criticized certain members of the higher judiciary, alleging compromise of judicial independence and integrity. She targeted ex-CJI DY Chandrachud's prayed to God remark regarding the Ayodhya verdict, arguing judges should rely on reason and logic. Moitra's comments sparked uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to a temporary adjournment.

Governor RN Ravi lays foundation for Ayya Vazhi centre in Kumari

KANNIYAKUMARI: We should learn and spread the messages of the religious book Akila Thirattu Ammanai everywhere, said Governor RN Ravi while laying the foundation stone of the Ayya Vazhi Research Centre at Guru Parambarai Trust premises in Thamaraikulam Pathi. The governor also inaugurated the ceremony of sending sacred water and sand of 108 Pathis to the Ayodhya temple in Uttar Pradesh. Later, participating in the Akila Thirattu Ammanai Udaya Thina function at a hall in Swaithoppu organised by the International Ayya Vazhi Service Foundation, he released the holy book Akila Thirattu Ammanai. The governor said, Sanatana Dharma means all are equal without any differences and all are included in its principle. We all were from the same family, and we should learn from the Akila Thirattu Ammanai to spread the messages of Ayya Vaikundasamy everywhere. The governor said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been following the teachings of Ayya Vaikundasamy and taking the country forward. He also offered prayers at the Thamarikulam Ayya Vaikundasamy Pathi (temple) at South Thamaraikulam on Thursday.

BJP's Ram temple counter to TMC's Babri Masjid proposal

The BJP's Murshidabad unit in West Bengal announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, days after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir proposed to set up a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Beldanga. The temple construction, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore, is expected to begin on January 22, 2025, one year after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Kabir's announcement sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing him of attempting to polarise communities for political gain. The BJP's counterproposal is seen as a strategic move to strengthen its presence among the Hindu community in Murshidabad.

BJP announces Ram temple project in Bengal after TMC MLA's proposal for Babri Masjid-like mosque

In West Bengal's Murshidabad, a proposed Babri Masjid replica mosque by a TMC MLA has ignited a political row. The BJP responded by announcing plans for a Ram temple, mirroring the Ayodhya design, slated to begin construction on January 22, 2025.

Want To Own A Home In Ayodhya For Rs 10 Lakh? Apply For This Scheme By January 8

The Vashishth Kunj Residential Scheme has been launched near Ferozepur Uphar village on the Lucknow Highway in Ayodhya, and the plot prices range from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 64 lakh

Shree Jagannath temple to implement AI to manage pilgrims, enhance security

BHUBANESWAR: Shree Jagannath temple in Puri will soon join the league of popular ancient shrines of India that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to manage crowds and enhance security of devotees. The 12th century shrine spread over an area of 10.7 acre gets a daily footfall of 30,000 to 50,000. But, during days of religious significance or special occasions like New Year, this number goes up to two to five lakh. With the temple administration and police facing the difficult task of managing teeming crowds ever since the four gates were reopened six months back, the former has decided to install a comprehensive AI-driven footfall counting and security detection system across critical zones within the shrine. The temple administration on Thursday asked six companies shortlisted for the project to conduct proof of check of the entire system to check its functionality and accuracy in the shrine. Under this project, officials said AI-based high-resolution camera and sensors will be installed at 41 points of the entire shrine premises to count devotees accurately. The system will include data visualisation on a centralised dashboard and a mobile application for easy access to the real-time footfall data. Temples like Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Mahakaleswar in Ujjain and Venkateswara Swami temple in Tirupati are using AI solutions.

SC: Trial courts not to pass orders on religious places

The Supreme Court halted legal battles over temple reclamation claims, freezing existing and barring new 'mosque-temple' lawsuits. This includes the Gyanvapi and Mathura disputes. The order stems from challenges to the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which fixed religious sites' status as of Independence Day 1947, excluding the Ayodhya case.

Stone Pelting In JNU Over Screening Of Sabarmati Report | English News | JNU News | News18

Ahead of the screening of the film The Sabarmati Report, based on the Godhra incident, posters of the film were torn on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus. The incident has sparked a major controversy, further fueling tensions on campus. The screening was organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).The Sabarmati Report, Directed by Dheeraj Sarna and also starring Rashii Khanna and Ridhi Dogra, claims to reveal the truth behind the fire incident in the Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 59 devotees returning from Ayodhya after participating in a religious ceremony. n18oc_breaking-news

Not January 22, First Anniversary Of Ram Temples Consecration To Be Held On This Date

The consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya was held on January 22 this year

Ayodhya: First anniversary of consecration ceremony at Ram temple to be held on January 11

The first anniversary of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya will be celebrated on January 11. Construction of 18 new temples within the complex is underway, dedicated to various deities and figures. Temple trust chief Champat Rai clarified that 'prasad' offered to Ram Lalla is prepared within the temple complex and designed for longevity, dismissing rumors of external offerings.

Maha Kumbh Special Train from Tirunelveli to Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya...

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is all set to operate a Bharat Gaurav tourist train named Maha Kumbh Special from Tirunelveli to Varanasi in January 2025. This exclusive train tour is designed to provide a convenient and comfortable travel experience for pilgrims visiting Varanasi, Prayagraj (Kumbh Mela), and Ayodhya. Key Details of the Train Tour The Maha Kumbh Special will depart from Tirunelveli on January 16, 2025, and return on January 24, 2025, covering prominent spiritual destinations. The train comprises one AC three-tier coach, ten sleeper coaches, a pantry car, and two power cars, ensuring a smooth and well-equipped journey. Package Details and Costs The journey is available in two packages: Economy Package: Rs.28,100 per person Comfort Package: Rs.44,850 per person Both packages include the following services: Train travel in AC or sleeper coaches Accommodation in AC or non-AC hotels or tents Road transfers in non-AC vehicles Onboard and off-board South Indian vegetarian meals Tour escort and security on the train Two one-litre water bottles per person daily Travel insurance Stopovers and Boarding Points The train will halt at various stations for passenger convenience, including Tenkasi, Rajapalayam, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Chidambaram, Tiruppadiripuliyur, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Tambaram, and Chennai Egmore. Additional Information Central and state government employees are eligible to avail themselves of the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) facility for this tour, subject to their entitlements. P. Rajalingam Basu, the Group General Manager of IRCTCs South Zone, stated that this tour is part of a series of Bharat Gaurav trains aimed at enhancing spiritual tourism in India. The South Zone will also operate Bharat Gaurav trains from Puducherry and Coimbatore for the Kumbh Mela. Reservations and Contact Details For reservations and further details, travelers can reach out to IRCTCs tourism information and facilitation centres: Chennai: 90031-40739 / 82879-31964 Madurai: 82879-31977 / 82879-32122 Tiruchi: 82879-32070 Coimbatore: 90031-40655 Bookings can also be made through the official website: www.irctctourism.com. This thoughtfully curated tour package offers pilgrims a chance to explore sacred destinations with ease and comfort, making it a memorable spiritual experience.

Direct Flight Service Launched Between Rajahmundry and Delhi

Rajahmundry : A direct flight between Rajahmundry and Delhi was inaugurated on Thursday at Rajamahendravaram Airport. The flight was officially launched by Union Minister of Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu, MP Daggubati Purandeswari, and Kakinada MP Thangella Uday Srinivas, who were also onboard the inaugural flight. Recently, a direct flight to Mumbai from Rajahmundry was also introduced. Speaking on the occasion, MP Purandeswari called the day unforgettable for Rajahmundry and highlighted the significance of connecting the city to other major destinations in the country. She also announced that direct flights to Shirdi, Tirupati, and Ayodhya would be launched soon. Rammohan Naidu emphasized that Rajahmundry is now well-connected to major cities across India.

SC to hear pleas against Places of Worship Act today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a batch of PILs challenging the validity of certain provisions of a 1991 law that prohibits filing a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter. The top court is seized of the pleas, including one filed by Ashwini Upadhyay who has prayed that sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, be set aside. Among the various reasons submitted was the contention that these provisions take away the right of judicial remedy to reclaim a place of worship of any person or a religious group. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Satish Awhad have also filed pleas against several pending petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, saying the law protected public order, fraternity, unity and secularism of the nation. The matter will be heard in the backdrop of several suits filed in various courts, including those related to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, claiming these were built after destroying ancient temples and seeking permission to allow the Hindus to offer prayers there. The Muslim side, in most of these cases, has cited the 1991 law to argue that such suits are not maintainable. As many as six petitions, including those filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, have been filed against the provisions of the 1991 law. Swamy wanted the apex court to ead down certain provisions to enable Hindus to stake claim over the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, while Ashwini Upadhyay claimed the entire statute was unconstitutional and no question of reading down arises. The doctrine of reading down a law is generally used to save a statute from being struck down entirely subject to adjudication over its constitutionality. On the other hand, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had cited the five-judge Constitution bench judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case, noting the reference to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, to argue that the law cannot be set aside now. The top court had on March 12, 2022, sought the Centre's response to the plea filed by Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law. The petition alleged the 1991 law creates an arbitrary and irrational retrospective cut-off date of August 15, 1947, for maintaining the character of the places of worship or pilgrimage against encroachment done by fundamentalist-barbaric invaders and law-breakers. The 1991 law prohibits converasion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The law had made only one exception -- on the dispute pertaining to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid in Ayodhya.

Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging Places of Worship Act-1991 today

The Supreme Court is hearing PILs challenging the Places of Worship Act, 1991. Petitioners argue it infringes on their right to reclaim religious sites, while opponents emphasize its role in preserving secularism. The Act prohibits altering the character of places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, excluding the Ayodhya dispute.

SC to hear pleas challenging provisions of Places of Worship Act 1991 on December 12

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a batch of PILs challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship Act 1991, a law that prohibits filing a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter. The top court is seized of the pleas, including one filed by Ashwini Upadhyay who has prayed that sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, be set aside. Among the various reasons submitted was the contention that these provisions take away the right of judicial remedy to reclaim a place of worship of any person or a religious group. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Satish Awhad have also filed pleas against several pending petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, saying the law protected public order, fraternity, unity and secularism of the nation. The matter will be heard in the backdrop of several suits filed in various courts, including those related to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, claiming these were built after destroying ancient temples and seeking permission to allow the Hindus to offer prayers there. The Muslim side, in most of these cases, has cited the 1991 law to argue that such suits are not maintainable. As many as six petitions, including those filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, have been filed against the provisions of the 1991 law. Swamy wanted the apex court to ead down certain provisions to enable Hindus to stake claim over the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, while Ashwini Upadhyay claimed the entire statute was unconstitutional and no question of reading down arises. The doctrine of reading down a law is generally used to save a statute from being struck down entirely subject to adjudication over its constitutionality. On the other hand, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had cited the five-judge Constitution bench judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case, noting the reference to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, to argue that the law cannot be set aside now. The top court had on March 12, 2022, sought the Centre's response to the plea filed by Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law. The petition alleged the 1991 law creates an arbitrary and irrational retrospective cut-off date of August 15, 1947, for maintaining the character of the places of worship or pilgrimage against encroachment done by fundamentalist-barbaric invaders and law-breakers. The 1991 law prohibits converasion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The law had made only one exception -- on the dispute pertaining to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid in Ayodhya. (With inputs from PTI and ANI) Sambhal killings: SC's observations on Places of Worship Act helped 'some groups to incite discord': Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind

Ayodhya-Kashi pilgrimage special train flagged off at Secunderabad

Maharashtra bhavan in ayodhya: 119.50 crore contract awarded for pilgrim facility

Bombay High Court grants bail to 14 accused in Mira Road communal violence case

The men were charged with rioting and injuring a Hindu family on the eve of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 21, 2024

Nepal Army Chief visits India, will be conferred with the Indian Army Rank of General

NEW DELHI: General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Nepali Army, commenced a significant four-day official visit to India on Tuesday. Apart from the important meetings, Nepali COAS will be also conferred with the honorary rank of Indian Army General. The Indian Army said, The visit, which is set to run from 11th to 14th December 2024, aims to enhance bilateral military cooperation and explore new avenues for defence collaboration. The COAS of Nepal is scheduled to meet the political and military leadership of the country. On 11th December 2024, the Nepali COAS will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi and will be given a Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns, followed by an interaction with the General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, Indian Army. General Ashok Raj Sigdel will also be briefed on India's Security Perspective by Director General Strategic Planning (DGSP) and on the Indian Defence Industry by Additional Director General, Army Design Bureau. Thereafter, General Sigdel is scheduled to Call-on S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM), Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor (NSA), General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary and Vikram Misri, Indian Foreign Secretary. It is on 12th December, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will be attending the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, wherein as per unique tradition between Indian Army and Nepali Army, he will be conferred with the Honorary Rank of General of Indian Army by Draupadi Murmu, the President of India. He will also call on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A Reciprocal Lunch is being organised by the COAS, Nepali Army at the Embassy of Nepal, New Delhi. Later in the day, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will plant a sapling at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. In the evening, he will depart for Pune. On 13th December 2024, the Nepali COAS will visit Defence Industries and witness Static Equipment Display at Pune. He will engage with representatives of the Indian Defence Industry. Thereafter, he would depart for Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun same day. On 14th December 2024, General Ashok Raj Sigdel will Review Parade of the Gentleman Cadets and will take the Reviewing Officers Salute. He will be presenting awards to Colour Party and Cane Orderlies and will present Reviewing Officer Plate and Sword at the IMA. He will also participate in Piping and Oath Taking and interact with the newly commissioned officers, which includes two Nepali Army Gentleman Cadets, who are getting commissioned. General Ashok Raj Sigdel is also scheduled to visit Ayodhya, wherein he will pay obeisance at the Shri Ram Mandir. In the evening, he will depart for New Delhi and will be hosted for dinner by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff. COAS, Nepali Army will depart for Kathmandu on 15th December 2024. The visit by General Ashok Raj Sigdel aims at strengthening military cooperation between militaries of India and Nepal, besides exploring new avenues of collaboration between the two nations, said the Army.

Bombay HC grants bail to 14 accused in Mira Road communal violence case

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has granted bail to 14 Muslim men arrested for their alleged involvement in the communal violence in Mira Road on the eve of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, noting that their further detention appeared enuous. A single bench of Justice N J Jamadar on Monday noted that prima facie, it cannot be inferred that there was a premeditated conspiracy to assault people part of the convoy taken out to celebrate the temple consecration ceremony in January this year. The bench also highlighted that no CCTV footage showed the accused persons assaulting the complainant or anyone else. The court said the probe in the case was complete, and since the accused have roots in the society, the possibility of fleeing from justice was remote. The bench also took note of the fact that the accused have been in custody since January, and it appears extremely unlikely that the trial will be concluded soon. Hence, further detention would be unwarranted. The accused, booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act, moved the high court after a sessions court in neighbouring Thane district denied them bail. According to police, the accused were part of a mob of 50 to 60 persons that surrounded the complainant and others who were part of the convoy started raising slogans and assaulted them. The high court, in its order, said there has to be prima facie material to show that the accused were members of the unlawful assembly. The bench also noted that the convoy's entry into the locality where the alleged incident took place was a matter of chance, and hence, it cannot be inferred that there was premeditation or a prior meeting of mind to attack the members of the rally. In the case at hand, the alleged rioting was committed by more than 50 to 60 persons. Where the guilt of the accused would hinge upon their identity as members of the unlawful assembly, who shared the common object to commit the alleged offences, their further detention as undertrial prisoners appears tenuous, the court said.

Ram temple effect: Land in Ayodhya at premium price tag

Justice Shekhar Yadavs comments on Hindus, Ayodhya and more: The hypocrisy of liberal reaction and how they supported a Parsi priest calling Hindus tyrants

The same left-liberal cabal crying foul over Justice Yadavs remarks lauded former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Nariman for his sharp critique of the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, delivered just days before the VHP event.

CPM criticises temple lawsuits, Centre's indifference to Kerala landslide relief, repression of farmers

NEW DELHI: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) on Monday expressed serious concern over the spate of lawsuits being filed and entertained in lower courts claiming that there were temples where centuries-old mosques stand at present. It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not intervened to put a stop to such litigation by upholding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, l991. The 2019 five-member Bench judgment of the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya dispute categorically upheld the validity of the law and its enforcement. Given this direction, it is incumbent on the apex court to intervene to put a stop to legal proceedings, which are violative of the Act, read the statement issued by the Polit Bureau. The statement further said that after Varanasi and Mathura, in Sambhal, a survey was ordered of a 16th-century mosque by a lower court and it had resulted in violence in which four Muslim youth have been killed. The party also mentioned a similar petition that was filed in the civil court in Ajmer regarding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. On situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, the party reiterated that the Bangladesh interim government and authorities must ensure the safety and full protection of religious minorities. The administration seems to be ignoring the activities of the Islamist fundamentalist forces in this regard, the CPM said. At the same time, the Polit Bureau decried the efforts of the BJP-RSS and Hindutva outfits in India, which are seeking to whip up passions by incendiary propaganda. Such an approach will not help the interests of the minorities in Bangladesh, said the party. The Polit Bureau further called upon secular and democratic forces in both countries to come out strongly against all forms of communalism which will harm the interests of the people on both sides of the border. It alsk sharply criticized Government's callous indifference in denying Kerala the rightful assistance for the victims of the devastating landslide disaster in Wayanad. Despite the state's urgent plea for Rs 214.68 crore in immediate relief and Rs 2,319.1 crore for comprehensive recovery and reconstruction, the Centre has failed to approve the funds even after four months. The refusal to classify the landslide as a calamity of severe nature and the unwillingness to waive loans for the affected families also reflect a deeply unjust and inhumane approach, undermining the principles of federal support in times of crisis, the CPM stated The Polit Bureau also called upon the Centre to immediately release the funds claimed by the state government. Through the statement, the CPM also condemned the police 'repression on the farmers' of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Around 150 leaders and activists of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and other organisations have been jailed, the party said. The arrested farmers have started a hunger strike in jail. House arrests of many activists are going on. The attack on women who have been in the forefront of the struggle by the police is shocking...The CPI(M) fully supports this struggle, demands that repression must be stopped forthwith and the government must accept and implement the just demands of the struggle, said the party. The statement was issued after the pilot bureau meeting held in New Delhi. In the meeting, the Polit Bureau discussed a Draft of the Political Resolution to be taken up at the 24th Congress to be held in the first week of April 2025. Based on the discussion in Polit Bureau, the Draft will be placed for adoption in the next meeting of the Central Committee to be held in January in Kolkata.

Supreme Court's Ayodhya Verdict Key to Places of Worship Act Challenge; CJI Khanna Set To Hear Case On 12 December

Work On For Ram Temple Shikhar

Glimpses of the construction of the Shikhar and upper floors of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya verdict likely to be in frontlines of the battle for Places of Worship Act in SC

Observations made in the judgment impress, in less than 10 pages, the necessity to keep alive a Central law so intrinsically related to the obligations of a secular state

Driving Dreams

BHUBANESWAR: At the tender age of 16, Santoshi Deos life took a terrible turn when she was married off to a Brahmin family in Haryana. What followed was a harrowing tale of dowry torture and domestic violence that nearly crushed her spirit. But she refused to bow down to the circumstances and chose to fight back. Two decades later, this school drop-outs journey from mineral-rich Keonjhar district is a remarkable story of resilience, grit, and determination. Santoshi left her in-laws house, worked in a spinning mill in Tamil Nadu, drove an auto-rickshaw, bus and did whatever she could to eke out a living. This gritty woman, sixth among nine children of her parents, is an inspiration for many as she drives a 40-tonne Volvo truck, once a men-only job, through the uneven patches of an iron ore mine in Koida in Sundargarh district. After her return to her parental home at Badamuni village under Handibhanga panchayat in Sadar block, she, however, faced humiliation instead of family support. Undeterred, she resolved to forge her own path and migrated to Tamil Nadu in search of livelihood to work at a spinning mill. A couple of months after I left my in-laws house, I got the opportunity to work in the spinning mill. There, I gave birth to my daughter in 2012. For the next three years, I toiled hard, saving every penny to raise my daughter and build a better future, she said. In Chennai, she came across a woman driving an auto-rickshaw and it sparked a dream. If she can drive, why cant I, she thought and this became the turning point in her life. In 2015, with her savings and a small loan, she bought an auto-rickshaw and returned to Keonjhar. It was not long before she moved to Bhubaneswar in 2017 to secure a better future for her daughter. She enrolled her child in a government primary school in the city and began driving an auto to support their modest living, earning praises from the then chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority Subroto Bagchi and many top bureaucrats. In 2015, with her savings and a small loan, she bought an auto-rickshaw and returned to Keonjhar. However, her ambitions did not stop there. She trained herself to drive heavy vehicles. Her hard work paid off when she was hired as a driver for Mo Bus, a city bus service run by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), in 2021. For a brief moment, she became the face of women empowerment as Odishas lone woman bus driver. Surprising though, her success story led to her dismissal. I was deployed as a driver of Mo Bus for the Railway Station-Patrapada route. As I was the first woman bus driver, local media highlighted it. A month later, my authorities disengaged me. I am yet to comprehend what was my fault, she said. Yet again, life tested her resolve. She returned to auto-rickshaw driving to sustain her family. Six months ago, a mining company recognised her perseverance and courage. She was offered to drive a Volvo truck, a role predominantly dominated by men. She now earns a monthly salary of Rs 22,000, proving that with determination, no dream is unattainable. Her personal life, however, remains a battle. Trapped in a marriage she wants to leave behind, she has filed for divorce from her husband, who refuses to grant it. In 2017, she even drove her auto-rickshaw all the way to New Delhi to track her husband and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking justice for herself and her daughter. I could not meet him. But I met Union Minister Jual Oram and submitted my representation, she said. Santoshi has built a house in her native village where she stays with her mother while her daughter stays in the hostel. She still drives auto during her off-days for some extra bucks. She drove it to Ayodhya to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ram Mandir in January and drew appreciation at different locations during her journey from Odisha to Uttar Pradesh.

Ayodhya Verdict: Why Did Justice Nariman Recuse Himself Instead Of Preventing A 'Travesty' Of Justice?

SC forms special bench headed by CJI to hear PILs challenging 1991 Places of Worship law

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has constituted a special bench to hear a batch of PILs challenging the validity of certain provisions of a 1991 law that prohibits filing a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter on December 12 at 3:30 pm. The top court is seized of the pleas, including one filed by Ashwini Upadhyay who has prayed that sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 be set aside. Among the various reasons submitted was the contention that these provisions take away the right of judicial remedy to reclaim a place of worship of any person or a religious group. The matter will be heard in the backdrop of several suits filed in various courts, including related to Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, claiming that these were built after destroying ancient temples and seeking permission to offer Hindu prayers there. The Muslim side in most of these cases have cited the 1991 law to argue that such suits are not maintainable. As many as six petitions, including those filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, have been filed against the provisions of the 1991 law. While former Union minister Swamy wanted the apex court to ead down certain provisions to enable Hindus to stake claim over the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura, Upadhyay claimed the entire statute was unconstitutional and no question of reading down arises. The doctrine of reading down a law is generally used to save a statute from being struck down on account of its unconstitutionality. On the other hand, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had cited the five-judge Constitution bench judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case, noting the reference to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, to argue that the law cannot be set aside now. The top court had on March 12, 2022, sought the Centre's response to the plea filed by Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law. The petition alleged that the 1991 law creates an arbitrary and irrational retrospective cut-off date of August 15, 1947, for maintaining the character of the places of worship or pilgrimage against encroachment done by fundamentalist-barbaric invaders and law-breakers. The 1991 law prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The law had made only one exception -- on the dispute pertaining to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid in Ayodhya.

Travesty of Justice that secularism not given its due in Ayodhya Verdict: former SC Judge Nariman

Justice Nariman criticises 2019 Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid judgment, calls for strict implementation of the Places of Worship Act to prevent disputes

Travesty of justice that secularism not given its due in Ayodhya verdict, says ex-SC judge Nariman

NEW DELHI: Former Supreme Court Justice R F Nariman has criticised the top court's 2019 judgement in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, describing it as a great travesty of justice that did not do justice to the principle of secularism. Speaking at the First Justice A M Ahmadi Memorial Lecture on 'Secularism and the Indian Constitution', Justice Nariman, however, said the judgment had a silver lining as it upheld the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991. He said the Places of Worship Act should be strictly implemented to end disputes over religious places which are popping up every day across the country like hydra heads. In my opinion, a great travesty of justice was that secularism was not given its due by these judgements, Justice Nariman said. He also disagreed with the reasoning given by the court to grant the disputed land despite holding that the demolition of the mosque was illegal. Today we find hydra heads popping all over the country. We find suits after suits not only against mosques but also against dargahs. All this, according to me could lead to communal disharmony. The only way to scorch and cauterize all this is by applying these five pages in this very judgement and having it read out in every district court and high court. As these five pages are a declaration by the Supreme Court which binds each of them, he said. The former apex court judge also pointed out how a special CBI judge -- Surendra Yadav -- who acquitted all the accused in the mosque demolition case, got a post-retirement job as deputy Lokayukta in Uttar Pradesh. This is the state of affairs in this country, he said.

Travesty of justice that secularism not given its due in Ayodhya verdict: Ex-SC judge Nariman

Former Supreme Court Justice R F Nariman criticized the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, calling it a great travesty of justice for undermining secularism. While acknowledging the judgment's upholding of the Places of Worship Act as a silver lining, he urged its strict implementation to curb rising disputes over religious sites.

Ayodhya verdict did not uphold secularism: Ex- SC judge RF Nariman

Ayodhya Turns Into Virtual Fortress On 32nd Anniversary Of Babri Demolition

This years anniversary was particularly significant as it was first after the consecration of the Ram temple earlier this year

Hindus demanding temple are dictators-tyrants, always against the law: Retired SC judge cries foul over SC verdict on Ram Mandir

On Thursday, 6th December, former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Nariman criticized the 5 judge bench that delivered the Ayodhya verdict 5 years ago and said that the verdict was nothing but a 'mockery of justice' that violated the basic principle of secularism.

Dhankar orders probe after Rs.500 notes found at Singhvis seat in RS

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar ordered a probe into the currency notes that were recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was elected from Telangana, Rajya Sabha. I hereby inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a apparently a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway, he said. In a tweet, Singhvi said, Heard of it for the first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yesterday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Ayodhya Rami Reddy then I left parl!

Dhankar orders probe after Rs.500 notes found at Singhvis seat in Rajya Sabha

The degree to which Dhankharji appears to have become partisan, and the blatancy of his partisanship, sets a new benchmark of gubernatorial indiscretion. (PTI) The degree to which Dhankharji appears to have become partisan, and the blatancy of his partisanship, sets a new benchmark of gubernatorial indiscretion. (PTI) New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar ordered a probe into the currency notes that were recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was elected from Telangana, Rajya Sabha. I hereby inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a apparently a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway, he said. In a tweet, Singhvi said, Heard of it for the first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yesterday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Ayodhya Rami Reddy then I left parl!

Cash found from seat allotted to Abhishek Singhvi, claims RS chair Dhankhar; Congress MP hits back

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said a wad of currency notes was recovered by security staff from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Uproar was witnessed from both treasury and opposition benches over the issue. The currency was recovered from seat no.222, which is allotted to Singhvi, on Thursday after the sitting of the House, he said. After adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was apparently recovered by security officials from seat no 222 presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said. Dhankar said as per practice, an investigation has been ordered. Ruckus erupted in Parliament after Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said that security officials recovered 'bundles of currency notes' from the seat allotted to MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Sansad TV. pic.twitter.com/ALVwKONE7L The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) December 6, 2024 The Chairman said the wad is of Rs.500 notes, and appears to have 100 notes. He also said it was not clear if the currency notes were real or fake. It was my duty and I'm obliged to inform the House. This is a routine anti-sabotage check which takes place, he said. Dhankhar added that he was expecting someone would claim the currency notes, but no one has claimed it so far. Does it reflect the state of the economy that people can afford to forget it, he said. In response to the RS Chairman's statement, Singhvi said that he was astonished to hear this, adding that if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed. I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1:30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1:30 pm, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even on such issues politics is raised, the Congres MP said. Of course there must be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat where the seat itself can be locked and the key can be carried home by the MP because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this. If it was not tragic and serious it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this and if there is a failing in the security agencies that must also be completely exposed, Singhvi added. The assertion triggered an uproar from the Opposition benches, with Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge saying the Chairman should not have named the member without the investigation being completed. You said that this matter is under investigation then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named. Can he do like this? Aaisa chillar kaam krti hai aur deshj ko of barbaad kr rahe hai yeh log (BJP), Kharge said. Why should there be objection to the name being taken? Chairman has pointed out seat number and member who occupies that, what is the problem with that, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded. He said carrying bundles of notes in the House is not appropriate, adding that he agrees there should be a serious investigation. Dhankhar added that the step taken by him was 'minimal'. The winter session of the Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20.

Security Heightened In Ayodhya On Babri Masjid Demolition Anniversary

Security has been heightened in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Friday in view of the 32nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.

Uttar Pradesh: Sambhal And Bangladesh Rioters Have Same DNA, Says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

Addressing the Ramayan Melas opening ceremony at Ayodhyas Ram Katha Park on December 5, Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath drew a comparison between the rioters in Sambhal and those who had attacked minorities in Bangladesh. Yogi Adityanath said, Remember what Baburs man did in Ayodhya Kumbh 500 years ago. The same thing happened in Sambhal, Continue reading Uttar Pradesh: Sambhal And Bangladesh Rioters Have Same DNA, Says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath The post Uttar Pradesh: Sambhal And Bangladesh Rioters Have Same DNA, Says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .

IndiGo to launch Bengaluru-Ayodhya direct flights from December 31

IndiGo has also announced the resumption of its daily flights between Bengaluru and Gorakhpur effective December 31, 2024.

'DNA Of Ayodhya Temple Destruction, Sambhal And Bangladesh Same': Yogi Adityanath Cautions Against Divisive Politics

What Babur did in Ayodhya and Sambhal...: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Opposition parties of trying to divide society, drawing a parallel between the violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh and historical events in Ayodhya and Sambhal. He criticized those who indulge in caste-based politics and said they are responsible for the current situation. Adityanath's comments come amid widespread violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh following the toppling of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Yogi Adityanath: What happened in Ayodhya, Sambhal in Babur's era, now in Bangladesh

Yogi Adityanath Draws Sambhal-Ayodhya-Bangladesh Parallel Amid Mosque Row

Amid the political storm over the violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today drew a parallel between the western UP town, Ayodhya and Bangladesh, saying that people creating social divisions are everywhere.

Trade union demands disbursement of pending dues to RINL workers

Visakhapatnam: Visakha Steel Plant Parirakshana Porata Committee, affiliated with CITU, has called upon the management to disburse 185 per cent of the salaries owed to the employees of RINL for the past three months. A dharna was staged on Wednesday in front of the RINL main administration building under the auspices of CITU. They also highlighted the need for enhancements in hospital and cafeteria facilities. Unions honorary president J. Ayodhya Ram criticised the MPs from the Telugu states for failing to address the Centre regarding its persistent lack of support for RINL. He urged the state government to pressurise the Centre to ensure full production at the steel plant. CITU leaders, including K. Gangadhar, Krishnamurthy, Maridaya B. Apparao, Srinivasaraju, V. Prasad, Mahesh, Toudanna, Srinivas, M.V. Ramana, K. Bhanumurthy, Satyanarayana and Poornachandra Rao took part in the protest.

'Jai Shri Ram': Little kid dressed as 'Ram Lalla' steals hearts online, WATCH viral video

The kid, featuring in the clip, painted his body in black and donned yellow Dhoti, exactly like the idol of Shri Ram Lalla placed at Ayodhya's Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, which was inaugurated this year.

BJP gears up for campaigning efforts in Ayodhya's Milkipur ahead of by-poll

LUCKNOW: After sweeping seven out of nine seats in the recently held by-poll, BJP has intensified its efforts to wrest the high-stake Milkipur seat in Ayodhya where the bypoll is scheduled soon. The party has deputed two more key organisational functionaries UP minister JPS Rathore and MLC Dharmendra Singh who led the party win in Kundarki (Moradabad) and Katehari (Ambedkarnagar) assembly bypolls, respectively where the lotus bloomed after three decades. Both Rathore and Dharmendra Singh are mandated to work alongside state ministers Surya Pratap Shahi, Mayankeshwar Singh, Girish Jatav, and Satish Sharma. Rathore, a known strategist in the party, is an MLC and UP cooperative minister in Yogi cabinet. He joined the state government after the BJP returned to office in 2022. He was tasked with ramping up BJP poll preparation in the Kundarki seat which has over 50 per cent of Muslim voters. Kundarki also faced a bypoll following the election of SP MLA Zia-Ur-Rehman Barq to Lok Sabha from Sambhal. BJPs victory in Kundarki consolidated Rathores position in the party. On the other, Dharmendra Singh being entrusted with Milkipur bypoll is equally significant. Singh has been a key organisational leader in the Gorakhpur region, the turf of Yogi Adityanath. Just over a year ago, Singh was anointed partys state vice-president while being nominated for the legislative council. Singh, an OBC, was deployed in Katehari, which has a sizable population of OBC and Dalits. As per the political experts, the BJP wants to capitalise on its victory in the bypolls. Milkipur, the reserved seat had fallen vacant following the election of SP nine-time MLA Awadhesh Prasad who had emerged as the master killer by defeating BJPs sitting MP Lallu Singh in Faizabad (Ayodhya) seat in recent Lok Sabha elections. However, the EC had postponed the bypoll since an election petition concerning Milkipur in Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court. The HC dismissed the pending petition last week, thereby clearing the decks for bypoll in Milkipur. Milkipur may well turn out to be another battle of prestige between the BJP and the SP since the BSP has opted out and Congress has decided to back SP. A per the party sources, ground-level preparation have already intensified in Ayodhya while revamping its organisational structure at the booth and mandal level. The Milkipur assembly seat has 414 booths and five divisions, which are scheduled to have a new set of functionaries. Analysts said that the BJP is expected to play on its tried and tested Hindutva pitch with a focus on Yogis Batenge toh katenge call to counter SPs caste narrative of Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (PDA).

Madhya Pradesh pilgrims bus, returning from Ayodhya, overturns in Chhindwara, 27 injured

At least 27 pilgrims were injured when a private bus overturned near Chourai in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district here on Tuesday, police said.

Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Takes Part In Protest For Bangladeshi Hindus In Ayodhya | News18

Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Takes Part In Protest For Bangladeshi Hindus In Ayodhya | News18 | Ram Temple Trust Gen Secy takes part in protest for Bangladeshi Hindus in Ayodhya. News18's Siddhant Mishra shares detailsAkanksha Swarup | n18oc_breaking-newsNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

Shikha Mukerjee | Digs and gigs: Ajmer Sharif & archaeology of Hindutva

It is a snowball gathering speed. Or may-be its a mudslide gaining momentum. Or maybe its a virus. Whatever it is, it seems to be birthing more and more litigation across mostly North India. It certainly seems that keeping the country on the boil is back in favour as a tried, tested, easy and successful strategy for the Hindu Right, led by the BJP and the nearly 100-year-old voluntary social service outfit RSS. On a mission to hoist India to the pinnacle of glory by reorganising history, chronically litigious Hindu outfits like the International Hari Har Sena Sri Ram Sena, Hindu Sena and a bevy of lawyers and fervent petitioners have filed a slew of cases, in war mode in district courts across North India. The demand is straightforward: demolish and dig up 30,000 sites where believers are certain temples were built over and mosques established. By adding Ajmer Sharif, the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, that needs to be dug up to reportedly uncover a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hindu Right has outdone itself. Among the devout, it is usual to place chadars, a sheet, on the grave of the Sufi mystic. Among those who have done so in recent times are Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tens of thousands of devotees from all across the world. When Mr Modi sent the chadar, duly captured on camera, it was believed he was trying to appease Muslim voters ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Others, however, have prayed and visited Sufi shrines, including the Fatehpur Sikri dargah near Agra, like former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his partner Carla Bruni, who prayed for a child and indeed had one. Hindutva or Hindu fundamentalism, or Hindu revival though why something that flourished for millennia needs rev-ival is a mystery, because it never faded, verged on extinction, though it was in danger of being eclipsed by Buddhism around and after Emperor Ashoka's times. But in twenty-first century In-dia, some people believe it needs kindling to keep it burning. Reviving temples suspected or believed to have been destroyed is the new and supplementary agenda of Hindutva. A new archaeology has been established in service of Hindutva. Thanks to former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, the starter or spark or kindling was his 2022 decision to overturn the 1991 law, which sought to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947, otherwise known as the Places of Worship Act. While the law was meant to be tamper proof, the former Chief Justice, who seemed to fuse his piety with his professional responsibilities, decided that digging into the foundations of Varanasis Gyanvapi Masjid to uncover a Shiva linga was perfectly in order. The outcome of the reversal and its consequences are four dead and several injured in UPs Sambhal over a dispute on what lies below the Shahi Jama Masjid. The claim by a mahant was followed up by a lawyer, who is involved in other places of worship disputes, starting with the Gyanvapi, Mathuras Shahi Idgah Mosque and the Sambhal dispute. Having retired and thus free to presumably pursue his pieties in private, instead of in front of a camera that turned his devotions into a public spectacle, the retired Chief Justice can now watch from the sidelines the consequences of his decision. The Hindu Right in pursuit of Hindu revival, aided and abetted by a judiciary that brandishes God to support its decisions that are fundamentally flawed, as in the Ayodhya land dispute, is now part of the archaeology of Hindutva. To legitimise the digs and gigs, advocates and various litigants have a judiciary that is willing to overturn the law to enable what the law said could not be done. So, claims can be confidently made that legal proceedings will progress faster than a bullet train and that justice, as defined by them, will be done. Hindutva archaeology is essential to the project of de-Islamisation, as Mujibur Rahman calls it in his recent book, Shikwah e Hind. Digs and gigs are the window dressing required to legitimise the supplementary project to avoid committing what the apex court led by former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi described as a heinous crime, of mosque demolition in the Ayodhya case. The law and the taxpayer are vulnerable to being used as a tool of cynical exploitation of sentiment since the Hindu revivalists are essentially a bunch of freeloaders ra-ther than philanthropists or zealous crusaders. With the courts turning into the revivalists fa-vourite tool, the changes proposed to the law on Waqf properties will certainly add to the thousands of cases that are already in the judicial system over land and other disputes relating to Waqf-administered properties. The choice for the Narendra Modi government is simple: it can support the supplementary project of mosque demolition-temple rebuilding and do so by abandoning the Constitution and its basic structure of which secularism is a part. Or, he can rein in the Hindu Right and demolish the supplementary project. He can follow the route he has adopted on the Waqf issue or duck responsibility, albeit temporarily. If that is a choice too stark for the Prime Minister, he can resort to playing cat and mouse with the secularism project and the supplementary project of Hindutva. Legalising the demolition of Muslim places of worship on the pretext of unverified claims to temples buried under them is a political problem; it is not a problem that the judiciary can solve. The choice and decision that the Modi government has to make is simple. It can either amend the 1991 Places of Worship Act and open the floodgates to the new archaeology that Hindutva is trying to establish; or, it can, in Parliament, in this Win-ter Session, unequivocally declare its commitment to upholding the 1991 law. Any waffling on this as a government is unacceptable. Flawed and weak as the attempt may have been, from within the ranks of the BJP there was a move to throw out the words secular and socialist added through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. The Supreme Court, currently headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has thrown out the petition. It does not mean that another petition will not be filed at a different time to which the apex courts response could be different. The Places of Worship Act reversal is a case in point; mischief can be made whenever there is a convergence of ideas, ideologies, politics and petitioners.

BJP MLA stirs controversy by calling for 'Ayodhya-like movement' to re-establish Anubhava Mantapa site

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal wants a movement to reclaim the original site of Anubhava Mantapa, a historic Lingayat community academy. The site is believed to be beneath a dargah in Basavakalyan. Yatnal seeks support from Lingayat leaders and plans to meet BJP leaders to discuss concerns over the existing Waqf law impacting farmers, temples, and mutts.

Did Trumps FBI nominee Kash Patel voice his support for the Ayodhya Ram Temple?

Kashyap 'Kash' Patel has been appointed as the new Director of the FBI by US President-elect Donald Trump. Known for his strong stances on US-India relations and national security, Patels appointment follows his previous roles in Trumps administration. He has been an advocate for strong US-India ties, counterterrorism, and emerging technologies. Patels views challenge mainstream political narratives, particularly on issues such as the Ram Temple and immigration.

Ayodhya Temple Trust To Take Part In 'Shri Ram Premier Cricket League'

The temple town of Ayodhya is all set to witness four teams, including one representing the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, compete in a cricket league tournament here.

Five killed, six critically injured in SUV-auto crash in UP

Shravasti: Five people died after a speeding SUV hit an autorickshaw from behind, with both vehicles falling into a ditch along the road in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti district on Saturday, police said. The crash left six other persons, including a woman, critically injured and they have been hospitalised for treatment, a senior officer said. Superintendent of Police Ghanshyam Chaurasia said the incident took place around 12 pm at a place between Gilaula and Ikouna on the Bahraich-Shravasti road. An autorickshaw full of passengers going at normal speed from Bahraich towards Ikouna was hit from behind by a vehicle going at a speed of 90-100 kmph, the district police chief told PTI. He said the collision was so strong that the auto flew in the air and fell into the ditch on the side of the road, while the SUV also lost balance and fell into the same ditch. There were nine people, including the driver, in the auto and two in the car. Two people travelling in the auto died on the spot and three died during treatment at Ikouna CHC, he said. Chaurasia said the condition of the remaining six injured was critical and they were referred to the district hospital for better treatment. I (SP) reached the spot to oversee the rescue operation and to the district hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured, he said. The police identified the dead as Lallan Pandey (42), Ayodhya Prasad (60), Rafiq (50), Muralidhar (42) and Nanke Yadav (30). Among the six injured, there is one woman and five men. The hospital administration has been asked to provide better treatment to the injured, the SP said. Post-mortem of the bodies will be conducted, the police said, adding that legal proceedings in the case have been initiated.

Questions on Places of Worship Act remain pending in SC for four years

Muslim parties in the case had pointed out that how the Ayodhya judgment had observed that the 1991 Act spoke to our history and to the future of the nation

Hyderabad RPO to Increase Passport Slots

Hyderabad : The Regional Passport Office (RPO), Hyderabad, has agreed to consider increasing appointment slots at the 14 post office passport seva kendras (POPSK), to reduce waiting times and cater to the growing demand for passport services in rural areas. This followed a coordination meeting with the Chief Postmaster General, Telangana, and director, UIDAI. The meeting agreed to upgrade amenities and to display publicity material to promote awareness at 14 POPSKs and 265 Post Office Aadhaar Enrollment Centres. Dr P.V.S. Reddy, Chief Postmaster General, Telangana, convened a meeting on Thursday along with Sumitha Ayodhya, Postmaster General, Hyderabad, Snehaja Jonnalagadda, Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad, and R.V. N. Srinivas, Director, UIDAI. The UIDAI said it would extend support to make POAECs fully functional and expressed readiness to support training and ensuring maximum operator certification. highlighting the pending Aadhaar coverage for child enrollments in 0 to 5 years age category and mandatory biometric updates for children aged 5-7 years and 15-17 years.

Ram Mandir's First Anniversary Celebrations Moved to January 11

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has announced that the first anniversary of the 'pran prathishtha' (consecration) ceremony for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be celebrated on January 11, 2024, instead of the previously planned January 22. This announcement comes as part of the continued buildup to the temple's opening and the significant religious milestones marking the construction's progress. The Trust has planned special events and religious rituals in honor of the occasion, with activities beginning from January 16. The anniversary will include a series of ceremonies that culminate on January 11. Notably, the temple's idol, weighing around 150-200 kg, will be formally consecrated on that day. The consecration ceremony will be held with great reverence, marking an important step in the temple's journey to completion. In addition to the ceremonies, the Trust has confirmed that the Ram Mandir will open for public worship starting January 23. The event is expected to draw large crowds, including invited dignitaries from across the country and abroad. Several key political and religious figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to participate in the anniversary events and later unveil the temple to devotees. This decision to advance the anniversary celebration reflects the momentum surrounding the Ram Mandir's construction, a project that has garnered significant attention since the groundbreaking ceremony. The ongoing development of Ayodhya, with infrastructure projects and other amenities, is expected to enhance the experience for millions of visitors who will soon be able to visit the temple.

From Ayodhya Ruling To PM's Visit, Former CJI DY Chandrachud Sets The Record Straight In New Interview

Places of Worship Act meant to prevent incidents like Babri: Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi, on Wednesday, November 27, stated that the Places of Worship Act 1991 was introduced to prevent incidents similar to the Babri Masjid demolition. However, he added that the Ayodhya judgment and the proceedings in the Gyanvapi case have emboldened Hindutva outfits to target any and every Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

'I Practice My Faith, Don't Make No Bones About It': Former CJI DY Chandrachud Clarifies Remarks On Ayodhya Verdict

What is the controversy around the Sambhal mosque?

How did the issue around the 16th Century Jama Masjid in Sambhal break out? Are there common threads with the Gyanvapi and Ayodhya Ramjanmabhoomi disputes?

Akasa Air redefines travel experience with industry-first offerings

November: Akasa Air, Indias fastest-growing airline, is reshaping the aviation landscape through its suite of unique, industry-first offerings that put passengers at the heart of their service, setting new benchmarks for comfort, convenience, and customer satisfaction. With a bold new vision of what it means to travel in the modern era, Akasa Air has several initiatives, from gourmet in-flight dining to pet-friendly travel, all driven by a commitment to inclusivity and service excellence. Akasa Airs empathetic and youthful personality, employee-friendly culture, customer-service philosophy, and tech-led approach have made it the airline of choice for millions of customers. Since its inception, Akasa Air has redefined flying in India with its multiple industry-first and customer-friendly offerings. Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, Akasa Air, said, At Akasa Air, service excellence is a key culture pillar and a part of our DNA. Two years ago, we had set out with a promise to offer a dependable experience, and we are pleased that team Akasa has delivered on the promise through our warm and efficient flying experience. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do at Akasa Air, and we continue to use customer feedback to build on the strong foundation of the Akasa experience. We are now an international airline, and we are proud to take the Akasa experience and Indian hospitality to the world. Vibrant and fresh in-flight experience Every airplane features the Boeing Sky Interior, highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls, window reveals and LED lighting that enhances the cabin experience. Inside the cabins, flyers are treated to softer seat cushions and spacious legroom, made possible by its innovative seat design. A majority of its aircraft are also equipped with USB ports to charge devices for the duration of the flight. Moreover, the spacious overhead space bins ensure that cabin baggage of up to 7 kg can be comfortably and securely carried on board. The fresh cabin environment creates a relaxed atmosphere and a sense of spaciousness, easing the flying experience.Akasa Air introduced SkyBeats by Akasa to offer a unique musical experience during aircraft boarding and deplaning. Crafted by local Indian musicians, the airline presents three distinct sets tailored for different times of the day Morning, Afternoon, and Evening blending contemporary tunes with Indian undertones. Akasa Air also introduced SkyLights by Akasa to enhance the customer experience by innovatively using the lightning features of the Boeing Sky Interior. Through these offerings, Akasa Air aims to create comfortable and calm surroundings for its customers. Moreover, Akasa Air also provides updates on match scores of major sporting events throughout the year on board its flights through its initiative called SkyScore by Akasa. A gourmet in-flight dining experience with Caf Akasa Caf Akasa recently unveiled a refreshed menu thoughtfully curated to include a variety of gourmet meals, snacks, and refreshing beverages to ensure there is something to cater to a wide range of dietary and culinary preferences. The new menu offers 45+ meal options, including fusion meals, appetizers with a regional twist, and decadent desserts, all exclusively curated by reputed chefs from across India. Akasa Air has been committed to offering specially curated meal options that reflect regional specialities associated with various celebrations. From Makar Sankranti to Valentines Day, Holi, Eid, Mothers Day, International Yoga Day, Monsoon season, Navroz, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas, Caf Akasa continues to enhance the flying experience with festive meals. The airline also offers a pre-selection of cakes on its regular menu for flyers who want to celebrate the birthdays and special occasions with their loved ones in the skies. Created an inclusive travel experience for pet parents with Pets on Akasa Pets on Akasa, Akasa Airs pet-friendly carriage policy has received an extremely encouraging response from travellers across the network. Keeping customer feedback in mind, the airline enhanced its service to extend the weight limit of pets allowed in the cabin to 10Kgs from the previous limit of 7Kgs. Since the launch of the service in November 2022, Akasa Air has flown over 4800 pets across its domestic network. Peaceful late-night and early-morning flights with QuietFlights For flights operating between 22:00 hrs to 06:00 hrs, Akasa Air has minimised announcements to essential safety messages and adjusted cabin lighting to create a calming environment, allowing passengers to enjoy uninterrupted relaxation and privacy. All-inclusive, customised travel experiences with Akasa Holidays Akasa Holidays provides an extensive range of affordable, and customised holiday packages across India and overseas holiday destinations. Designed to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of travellers, Akasa Holidays can be customised for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or even a corporate retreat. It provides comprehensive services from air travel and hotel stays to transfers, activities, and 24/7 on-tour assistance, allowing passengers to explore holiday destinations with ease. 25+ ancillary products to deliver on its promise of exceptional customer service Akasa Air continues its focus on service excellence with a customer-first approach that ensures a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience. With services such as Akasa GetEarly, Seat & Meal Deal, Extra Seat, the airline is constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of todays travellers. Commitment to inclusivity Inclusivity and empathy are the core values of Akasa Air. Since its inception, the airline has endeavoured to proffer a cohesive travel experience to all its passengers. Akasa Air partnered with Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) to develop the airlines safety manual and in-flight dining menu in Braille to ensure customers with visual impairments have a seamless experience on board. By incorporating Braille, passengers with visual impairments can independently understand the safety instructions and select their meal preferences, enhancing their overall travel experience. Sustainability is at the heart of Akasa Air Akasa Air is the greenest airline with sustainability deeply ingrained in its DNA. In its effort to integrate sustainability into daily operations, the airline has introduced several initiatives to reduce environmental impact and offer passengers an all-round environmentally progressive travel experience since its inception. These include fuel-efficient engines, sustainably curated crew uniforms and eco-friendly inflight meal packaging. Since inception, a key decision was to move away from the ceremonial water cannon salutes at flight and route inaugurations to manage water wastage which has resulted in saving approximately 4,64,000 litres of water to date. Akasa Air remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in and giving back to the planet in every possible way. Akasa Airs consistent on-time leadership, operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback have made it a preferred carrier in India, serving over 13 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air currently connects with 22 domestic and five international cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Kuwait City (Kuwait).