Home Blog Page 1411

132 Padma Awards 2024: Venkaiah Naidu, Chiranjeevi, among 5 Padma Vibhushan recipients, Foxconn CEO awarded Padma Bhushan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
132 Padma Awards 2024: Venkaiah Naidu, Chiranjeevi, among 5 Padma Vibhushan recipients, Foxconn CEO awarded Padma Bhushan

Former Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, along with four other recipients, including the late social worker and founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak, was honoured with the country’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, on the eve of Republic Day.

Popular Indian actress Vyjayantimala Bali; actor, film producer, and former politician Konidela Chiranjeevi; and classical Bharata Natyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam have also been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan on Thursday.

Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty, Indian pop and playback singer Usha Uthup, former Supreme Court justice M Fathima Beevi (posthumous), and consultant in the department of cardiology Ashwin Balachand Mehta are among the 17 recipients who were given the third-highest honor–the Padma Bhushan.

Khalil Ahamad, Badrappan M, Kaluram Bamaniya, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Naseem Bano, and Ramlal Bareth are among the 110 recipients who have been awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest honour.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Taiwanese technology giant Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), Young Liu, was honoured with the Padma Bhushan on Thursday. Foxconn is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and a leading global science and technology solutions provider.

As per Foxconn’s official website, Liu is a recognised entrepreneur and innovator with over four decades of industry experience. He has founded three companies– a motherboard company in 1988 known as Young Micro Systems; a northbridge and southbridge IC design company in 1995 focused on the PC chipset and an ITE Tech and an ADSL IC design company, ITeX in 1997.

Foxconn has rapidly expanded its presence in India by investing as part of its supply chain diversification from China in an evolved post-pandemic world order.

Megastar Konidela Chiranjeevi has been awarded with Padma Vibhushan. He is regarded as one of the most successful stars of Indian cinema.

There are 132 names on the list of Padma Awardees this year, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one), as per the list below. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri Awards. 30 of the awardees are women, and the list also includes 8 persons from the categories of foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), and nine posthumous awardees.

The Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, are one of the highest civilian honours of India and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

Last year, the government announced 106 Padma Awards, including three duo cases. The list then comprised six Padma Vibhushans, nine Padma Bhushans, and 91 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees were women, and the list also included two persons from the category of foreigners: NRI, PIO, OCI, and seven posthumous awardees. (ANI)

(With agency inputs)

75th Republic Day: Kartavya Path to witness Nari Shakti, all-women Tri-Service contingent, all-women Armed Forces Medical Service contingent to march

OpIndia Staff
-
0
75th Republic Day: Kartavya Path to witness Nari Shakti, all-women Tri-Service contingent, all-women Armed Forces Medical Service contingent to march

Kartavya Path in the national capital is set to witness the nation’s Aatmanirbhar military prowess and growing ‘Nari Shakti’ on the occasion of the Republic Day tomorrow.

The marching contingents that will roll down the Kartavya Path include an all-women Tri-Service contingent led by Captain Sandhya of Military Police, with three supernumerary officers Captain Sharanya Rao, Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav and Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Rao, and an all-women Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, headed by Major Srishti Khullar with Captain Amba Samant of Army Dental Corps, Surgeon Lieutenant Kanchana of Indian Navy and Flight Lieutenant Dhivya Priya of Indian Air Force.

The first Army contingent leading the Mechanised Column will be of 61 Cavalry, led by Major Yashdeep Ahlawat. Raised in 1953, the 61 Cavalry is the only serving active Horsed Cavalry Regiment in the world, with the amalgamation of all the ‘State Horsed Cavalry Units’.

It will be followed by 11 Mechanised Columns, 12 marching contingents, and a fly-past by Advanced Light Helicopters of Army Aviation Corps, the Defence Ministry said in a release.

Tank T-90 Bhishma, NAG Missile System, Infantry Combat Vehicle, All-Terrain Vehicle, Pinaka, Weapon Locating Radar System ‘Swathi’, Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System, Drone Jammer System, and Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile System among others will be the main attractions in the mechanised columns.

The Army Marching Contingents will include The Madras Regiment, The Grenadiers, the Rajputana Rifles, the Sikh Regiment and the Kumaon Regiment.

The Indian Navy contingent will consist of 144 men and women Agniveers, led by Lt Prajwal M as Contingent Commander and Lt Mudita Goyal, Lt Sharvani Supreiya and Lt Devika H as Platoon Commanders. It will be followed by the Naval Tableau, depicting the themes ‘Nari Shakti’ and ‘Sea Power Across the Oceans Through Indigenisation’.

The first part of the tableau showcases the women in the Indian Navy in All Roles and in All Ranks across the Navy while the second depicts the very first indigenous Carrier Battle Group, comprising the Aircraft Carrier Vikrant, her highly capable escort ships Delhi, Kolkata and Shivalik, the Light Combat Aircraft and Advanced Light Helicopter, the Kalvari Class Submarine and the GSAT-7, Rukmani Satellite.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will comprise 144 airmen and four officers, led by Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur. Squadron Leaders Sumita Yadav & Pratiti Ahluwalia and Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil will march past as supernumerary officers behind the Contingent Commander. The IAF tableau is on the theme ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar’.

The tableau depicts LCA Tejas and Su-30 flying over the IOR, and a C-295 transport aircraft being flown by women aircrew in the cockpit. The GSAT-7A positioned on the tableau represents the IAF’s incorporation of space technology in its operations. The tableau shows that IAF has been at the forefront of rendering humanitarian aid, both within and across borders.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) contingent will be led by Assistant Commandant Chunauti Sharma followed by officers of the guard Assistant Commandants Priya Dahiya, Hardik and Pallavi. The ICG, with a fleet of 154 ships and 78 aircraft, is capable of countering threats at & to the sea. It is also the nodal agency for coordinating Maritime Search and Rescue in the 4.6 million square km Indian Search & Rescue Region. It has saved about 11,516 lives at sea since inception which translates to saving one life every second day.

The contingents of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Delhi Police will be led by women personnel.

“Border Security Force marching contingent will be headed by Assistant Commandant Monika Lakra; Central Industrial Security Force by Assistant Commandant Tanmayee Mohanty; Central Reserve Police Force by Assistant Commandant Megha Nair; Indo-Tibetan Border Police by Assistant Commandant Moniya Sharma; Sashastra Seema Bal by Deputy Commandant Nancy Singla; and Delhi Police by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta K Sugathan,” Defence Ministry said.

The Camel Contingent of Border Security Force will be led by Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee. For the second time, female camel riders on their decorated camels will be taking part in the parade.

Various contingents of the NCC will witness female representation. For the first time, there will be an all-girl Tri-Service Marching contingent, which will be headed by Senior Under Officer Tanu Tevatia of Uttar Pradesh Directorate.

The Girls Marching contingent (Army), comprising 148 cadets, will be led by Senior Under Officer Punnya Ponnamma from Karnataka & Goa Directorate. The NCC band will also have an all-girl representation. The Combined Band consisting of Girls from Birla Balika Vidya Peeth Pilani, Rajasthan and the North-Eastern Region will be headed by Senior Under Officer Yashasvica Gaur and Ankita Sharma.

Two hundred (200) female volunteers will form the National Service Scheme (NSS) contingent. It will be led by Ragina Tamang from Sikkim, Regional Directorate of NSS, Guwahati.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

A large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the existing structure, pillars and plasters were reused: ASI report on Gyanvapi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
A large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the existing structure, pillars and plasters were reused: ASI report on Gyanvapi

A day after the Varanasi District Court allowed to make the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi structure public, the report released by the Hindu said that the study and survey of the structure strongly suggests the existence of a substantial Hindu temple structure at the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

This was revealed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, while giving details about the ASI study to the media. It is notable that the court had asked ASI to give hard copies of the report to both the Hindu and Muslim sides.

Reading from the ASI report, Jain quoted, “The pillars and plasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically. For the enlargement of the mosque and constructing sahn, parts of preexisting temple including pillar and plasters were reused with little modification”. This means that pillars of an existing Hindu temple were used in the construction of the mosque, Jain explained.

The report further states that the carvings on the pillars and stones make it clear that they were originally parts of a Hindu temple, which was demolished to construct the mosque. “Minute study of the pillars and pilasters in the corridor suggests that they were originally part of the pre-existing Hindu temple,” ASI says.

OpIndia has accessed relevant pages of the report, which states that it can be said that there existed a large Hindu temple, prior to the construction of the existing structure. The study states that for the reuse of pillars in the existing structure, vyala figures carved on either side of lotus medallion were mutilated and after removing the stone mass from the corners that space was decorated with floral design. This observation is supported by two similar plasters still existing on the northern and southern wall of the western chamber in their original place.

Central chamber and entrance

The pre-existing structures noted in the report included the Central chamber and main entrance of the pre-existing structure in existing structure, Western chamber and western wall, reuse of pillars and plasters of pre-existing structure in the existing structure, inscriptions on the existing structure, Arabic and Persian inscription on the loose stone, Sculptural remains in cellars, etc.

As per the ASI report, the Hindu temple had a big central chamber and at least one chamber to the  north, south, east and west respectively. Remains of three chambers to the south and west still exist but the remains of the chamber to the east and any extension of it could not be ascertained physically, as the area is covered under a platform with stone flooring.

It states that the Central chamber of the pre-existing structure forms the central hall of the existing structure. This structure with thick and strong walls, along with an architectural components and floral decorations was utilised as the main hall of the mosque. Animal figures carved at the lower ends of decorated arches of the pre-existing structure were mutilated, and inner part of dome is decorated with geometric designs.

Main entrance to the central chamber of the temple was from the west which was blocked by stone masonry, says the report. This entrance was decorated with carvings of animals and birds and an ornamental torana. This large arched gateway had another smaller entrance. Figure carved on the lalatbimba of this small entrance has been chopped off. A small part of it is visible as most of it is covered with bricks, stone and mortar which were used to block the entrance.

Talking about the Western wall of the existing structure which was clearly a part of a Hindu temple, the ASI report states that Eastern half of the western chamber still exists whereas the superstructure of western half has been destroyed. This chamber was also connected with north and south chambers through a corridor accessible from its north and south entrances respectively. Remains of this corridor in the northwest side came to light on removal of garbage and debris.

The western wall of the existing structure is the remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple, the ASI report categorically states. This wall, made of stones and decorated with horizontal mouldings, is formed by remaining parts of western chamber, western projections of the central chamber and western walls of the two chambers on its north and south. Central chamber attached to the wall still exists unchanged whereas modifications have been made to both the side chambers, the report states.

All these chambers had an opening in all the four directions. Decorated arched entrances of central, north and south chambers towards west have been blocked. The arched openings of north and south halls were converted into steps leading to the roof. Steps made in arched entrance of the north hall are still in use. Steps made in arched entrance of the south hall were blocked by stone masonry at some later date, however one can still enter from roof.

Inscriptions

The ASI report also gives details of the instructions found in the structure that proves the existence of a Hindu temple. During the survey, a number of inscriptions were noticed on the existing and pre-existing structures. A total of 34 inscriptions were recorded during the present survey and 32 estampages were taken. These are, in fact, inscriptions on the stones of the pre-existing Hindu temples, which have been re-used during the construction/ repair of the existing structure. They include inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada scripts, as per ASI.

ASI says that that the reuse of earlier inscriptions in the structure suggest that the earlier structures were destroyed and their parts were reused in construction/ repair of the existing structure. Three names of deities such as Janardhana, Rudra, and UmeSvara are found in these inscriptions.

ASI further states that terms such as Maha-muktimarfapa mentioned in three inscriptions is of significance.

Talking about the inscription on Loose Stone found in the structure, ASI said that they contain recorded of a construction of the mosque in the 20th regnal year of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb corresponding to year 1676-77. This inscription also recorded that in the year 1792-93 CE, the mosque was repaired with sahan, etc.

ASI said that the inscriptions on the loose stones matches with contents of the biography of Emperor Aurangzeb, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, which mentions that Aurangzeb “issued orders to the governors of all the provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels (Jadu-Nath Sarkar (tr.) 1947, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, pp. 51-52). On 2nd September, 1669 “it was reported that, according to the Emperor’s command his officers had demolished the temple of Viswanath at Kashi” the ASI quotes.

Study of cellars

The report then says that a series of cellars were also constructed to the east to create additional space and a large platform in front of the mosque for accommodating large number of people for prayers. It states that pillars from earlier temples were reused while making cellars in eastern part of the platform. A pillar decorated with bells, niches for keeping lamps on all four sides, and bearing an inscription of Sarhvat 1669 (corresponding to 1613 CE, January 1, Friday) is reused in cellar N2.

Sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural members were found buried under the dumped soil in cellar S2, ASI report says.

Nature and Age

Talking about the nature of the earlier structure, ASI said that the existing architectural remains, decorated mouldings on the walls, karna-ratha and prati-ratha of central chamber, a large decorated entrance gate with torana on the eastern wall of the western chamber, a small entrance with mutilated image on lalatbimba, birds and animals carved for decoration in and outside suggest that the western wall is remaining part of a Hindu temple. Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu temple, it categorically mentions.

The Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room mentions that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1676-77 CE). Hence, the pre-existing structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure, the ASI report says.

The report concludes by saying that based on scientific studies/ survey carried out, study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure.

Supreme Court grants protection to Jamiat Ulama e-Hind Halal Trust over ban on Halal certification by UP govt, orders no coercive action by police

ANI
-
0
Supreme Court grants protection to Jamiat Ulama e-Hind Halal Trust over ban on Halal certification by UP govt, orders no coercive action by police

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted protection from any coercive action against Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Halal Trust chief Mahmood Madani and other office-bearers in connection with a criminal case lodged in Uttar Pradesh in 2023 over the ban on halal-certified products.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered no coercive action by Uttar Pradesh police against Madani and others.

The bench also issued notice on its plea challenging the Uttar Pradesh government’s ban on the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of halal-certified products.

Earlier in January the apex court had issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on two pleas by Halal India Private Limited and Jamiat Ulam e-Hind Halal Trust Maharashtra seeking quashing of notification wherein manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of halal-certified products were banned in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The counsel appearing for Jamiat argued that despite the organisation having already joined the investigation and duly supplied all documents sought, the State government has summoned the president of the trust and asked him to be present in person, without specifying what is needed from him.

To this, Justice Gavai said, “Show them that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter.”

“We have pointed it out that the Supreme Court is seized of this matter. They want the president to be present. He is a former Rajya Sabha member… This is completely extra-judicial. Please protect him,” counsel told the bench.

The two petitions filed earlier sought direction to quash the November 18 notification Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety and Drug Administration and FIRs registered against them subsequently.

Petitions challenged a ban imposed by the Uttar Pradesh government on the “manufacture, sale, storage, and distribution of halal-certified products” on November 18.

Lucknow police had registered an FIR on November 17 at Hazratganj police station against some organisations, production companies, their owners and managers as well as other unidentified people involved in unnecessarily extorting money in the name of halal certification and promoting enmity in the name of religion and also funding different anti-national, separatist and terror organisations.

Petitioners said they have been implicated despite the fact that they have no role whatsoever to play in connection with the issuance of halal certification.

One of the petitions stated that FIR levies serious allegations against the organisation for promoting halal products by which the companies are trying to bring communal differences among the consumers.

The petition stated that notification is “arbitrary and based on unreasonable classification”, and that manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of halal-certified products were banned with immediate effect in Uttar Pradesh from the view of “public health”.

“The notification is manifestly arbitrary as it capriciously excludes only halal certification while other certifications such as Jain, Satvik and even kosher have not been included within the purview of the said notification, indicating that it arbitrarily singles out one certification based on religion which is an impermissible classification,” the petition said.

The notification has been issued without any adequate principle to determine how halal certification is adversely affecting public health, which is again vague, arbitrary and unreasonable, it added.

“It is submitted that the notification disincentivises the food preference of one particular religion without any rational basis and is therefore contrary to the secular fabric of the nation,” the plea further said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

US Supreme Court allows Biden government to cut razor wire put up by Texas at Mexico border, massive influx of illegal migrants possible before elections

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US Supreme Court allows Biden government to cut razor wire put up by Texas at Mexico border, massive influx of illegal migrants possible before elections

On Monday (22nd January), the US Supreme Court allowed the Biden government to cut razor wire fences installed by Texas state at the Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration. This decision may cause a massive influx of illegal migrants possible before the 2024 elections. The Supreme Court, in a tight 5-4 decision, has approved an emergency appeal from the Biden administration. The ruling mandates that the Texas State must adhere to the Biden administration’s directive, requiring it to permit federal authorities access to the border. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asserted that Texas will still exercise its right to self-defence per the constitutional provisions.

Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor, aligned with the Biden administration. On the opposing side, Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas sided with Texas. None of the justices provided explanations for their votes.

The concertina wire, strategically placed under the guidance of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, spans approximately 48 km along the Rio Grande River near the border city of Eagle Pass. This deployment is a component of Abbott’s wider disagreement with the Biden administration regarding immigration enforcement and what he characterises as “Biden’s reckless open-border policies.”

It has evolved into a symbol of the wider political clash in America over the management of the nation’s border. Numerous Republicans applaud it as a robust yet essential policy, while many Democrats condemn it as inhumane. Border security and immigration are officially within the domain of the federal government, as established by the 2012 Supreme Court case, Arizona v. United States. In that case, the court ruled that federal immigration law takes precedence over Arizona’s immigration laws.

Texas officials have contended that federal agents deliberately severed the wire to assist groups crossing the river unlawfully before bringing them in for processing. In a recent development, a federal appeals court mandated a halt to the practice of federal agents cutting the concertina wire. Earlier this month, Texas officials defied an order from the Biden administration, refusing to grant U.S. border patrol agents access to a section of the U.S.-Mexico border currently under the state’s jurisdiction.

Tucker Carlson of Fox News posted from his X handle, “So it’s unanimous: everyone in power, from the White House to the hedge fund managers, to the Supreme Court of the United States has decided to destroy the country by allowing it to be invaded. That leaves the population to defend itself. Where are the men of Texas? Why aren’t they protecting their state and the nation?”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott asserts the right to self-defence

In a statement dated 24th January, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, “The federal government has broken the compact between the United States and the States. The Executive Branch of the United States has a constitutional duty to enforce federal laws protecting States, including immigration laws on the books right now. President Biden has refused to enforce those laws and has even violated them. The result is that he has smashed records for illegal immigration.”

He added, “Despite having been put on notice in a series of letters one of which I delivered to him by hand-President Biden has ignored Texas’s demand that he perform his constitutional duties. President Biden has violated his oath to faithfully execute immigration laws enacted by Congress. Instead of prosecuting immigrants for the federal crime of illegal entry, President Biden has sent his lawyers into federal courts to sue Texas for taking action to secure the border. President Biden has instructed his agencies to ignore federal statutes that mandate the detention of illegal immigrants. The effect is to illegally allow their en masse parole into the United States. By wasting taxpayer dollars to tear open Texas’s border security infrastructure, President Biden has enticed illegal immigrants away from the 28 legal entry points along this State’s southern border- bridges where nobody drowns and into the dangerous waters of the Rio Grande.”

Greg Abbott also described the scale of illegal immigration seen as a result of Joe Biden’s policies. He said, “Under President Biden’s lawless border policies, more than 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border in just 3 years. That is more than the population of 33 different States in this country. This illegal refusal to protect the States has inflicted unprecedented harm on the People all across the United States.”

He also quoted from the 2012 Supreme Court case, Arizona v. United States to assert the constitutional right of self-defence. He wrote, “James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the other visionaries who wrote the U.S. Constitution foresaw that States should not be left to the mercy of a lawless president who does nothing to stop external threats like cartels smuggling millions of illegal immigrants across the border. That is why the Framers included both Article IV, § 4, which promises that the federal government “shall protect each [State] against invasion,” and Article 1, § 10, Clause 3, which acknowledges “the States’ sovereign interest in protecting their borders.” Arizona v. United States, 567 U.S. 387, 419 (2012) (Scalia, J., dissenting).”

Expressing his resolve to protect the borders of Texas from the illegal immigrants entering the US from Mexico, he said, “The failure of the Biden Administration to fulfil the duties imposed by Article IV, § 4 has triggered Article I, § 10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defence. For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article 1, § 10, Clause 3 to invoke Texas’s constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary. The Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and other Texas personnel are acting on that authority, as well as state law, to secure the Texas border.”

The governor also said that The Texas National Guard continues to hold the line in Eagle Pass. He further shared a report saying that more razor wire was being installed in Eagle Pass by Texas National Guard soldiers. He said, “Texas’ razor wire is an effective deterrent against the illegal border crossings encouraged by Biden’s open border policies. We continue to deploy this razor wire to repel illegal immigration.”

Talking about the issue, Elon Musk posted on X, “Texas is absolutely right. This administration is deliberately breaking the law by aiding and abetting illegal immigration at an unprecedented scale!”

“Hold The Line” also trended on X where several people posted in support of the Texas stand.

Notably, the Supreme Court order only authorises Federal agents to cut the wire fencing, it does not bar Texas from putting up the wires. Using this opportunity, the Texas govt is installing more fences. However, they can’t stop border agents from demolishing them. The Supreme Court said that the fence was preventing Border Patrol agents from accessing the state’s border along the river, and that’s why authorised them to cut the fences.

Arfa Khanum cites SC order to claim BJP govt was ordered to build the mosque in Ayodhya but they only built the Ram Mandir: Here is how she is lying

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Arfa Khanum cites SC order to claim BJP govt was ordered to build the mosque in Ayodhya but they only built the Ram Mandir: Here is how she is lying

The grand Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya has ruffled the feathers of the Islamist-left liberal cabal and the one person who appears to be shaken the most is The Wire’s senior editor Arfa Khanum Sherwani.

Earlier in the day, OpIndia reported how Arfa Khanum Sherwani, the senior editor of The Wire, speaking at a book launch event organised by India International Center on January 23, highlighted her frustration with the way the people in the society she lives in celebrated Ram Lalla’s homecoming by hoisting saffron flags.

She also vented her hatred at the ruling dispensation for making the Ram Mandir possible and did everything in her power to incite people against Hindus and their beliefs.

Arfa’s anti-Modi propaganda, however, did not end at this. During the same speech, the Muslim ‘journalist’ deftly concocted some blatant lies to bait her audience against the current BJP regime. In yet another attempt to make the Modi-led government appear intolerable and prejudiced towards Muslims in the country, Arfa Khanum Sherwani went on to claim that the BJP government, at both the state and central levels, moved quickly to construct the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, but ignored to lay even a brick at the five acres of land that they anyways provided as a ‘charity’ for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya in accordance with Supreme Court orders.

In her hate-filled speech, Arfa claims, “In the Supreme Court judgement it was clearly stated that when the state and central government build the Ram Mandir, they must also build a mosque on the 5 acres alternate land provided to the party contesting for Babri Masjid.”

In her effort to poison the minds of her viewers against the ruling dispensation, Arfa goes on to lie that the Muslims were given this small piece of land as a charity by the ruling dispensation, which mobilised all its effort and money to build the Ram Mandir but did not even bother to place a brick for the construction of the mosque. And what is most alarming is that Arfa cites the Supreme Court judgement to propagate her lies.

First things first: The senior editor of The Wire needs to be informed that government funds were not used to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The Centre announced the creation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in February 2020, tasked with constructing and managing the temple in Ayodhya. Since its establishment, the trust has collected donations which in turn has been utilised to construct the Ram Mandir.

Secondly, the Supreme Court of India in a historic judgment granted the then contentious piece of 2.77 acres of land to Hindus for building a Ram Temple while offering a 5-acre land to Muslim plaintiffs to build a mosque at an alternative site. The Supreme Court, in its judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, clearly stated that 5 acres of alternative land in Ayodhya should be provided to the Sunni Waqf Board by the Central government out of the acquired land or by the Uttar Pradesh Government at an alternate site in Ayodhya itself.

Nowhere did the order state that the central or the state government would construct the Mosque on this alternate land. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the Sunni Waqf Board were responsible for the construction of the Ram Mandir and the mosque on the 5 acres of alternate land respectively.

Page 923 of the Supreme Court’s 1045 pages judgement clearly states, “Having weighed the nature of the relief which should be granted to the Muslims, we direct that land admeasuring 5 acres be allotted to the Sunni Central Waqf Board either by the Central Government out of the acquired land or by the Government of Uttar Pradesh within the city of Ayodhya. This exercise, and the consequent handing over of the land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board, shall be conducted simultaneously with the handing over of the disputed site comprising of the inner and outer courtyards as a consequence of the decree in Suit 5. Suit 4 shall stand decreed in the above terms.”

It also stated that both parties should form committees which would look into the construction of the Ram Mandir as well as the mosque.

The construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya began in August 2020, almost a year after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case and allotted 5 acres of separate land to the party contesting for Babri Masjid. The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), was set up for the construction of the mosque.

Following the SC verdict, the central government had asked the UP government to allot five acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board. The allotment was made after the UP cabinet’s meeting on February 5. As per the allotment letter, the Board has been allocated a plot at Dhannipur village in Ayodhya’s Sohawal area, on the Ayodhya-Lucknow highway about 20 km from the district headquarters.

After this, months of drama followed, with the Board showing reluctance in accepting the court offer after suggestions poured in from several quarters asking it to reject the offer made by the apex court. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi too had requested the Board to reject the offer, saying that they were fighting for their rights and they don’t need any land in charity.

However, months after being in the limbo of indecision, the Sunni Waqf Board has “graciously” accepted the 5-acre land offered by the court. Stating that the rejection of 5-acre-land as “out of option”, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board said it would build a mosque as well as an Indo-Islamic research centre, a hospital and a library on the five-acre plot allotted to it.

So, the question here is when the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board accepted the 5 acres of land in February 2020, and agreed to build the mosque, how is it the central government or the state government’s fault if the Sunni Waqf Board has not yet started constructing the mosque and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has completed the construction of the temple’s ground floor and the first and second floors are expected to be finished by December 2024. 

Uttar Pradesh: Muslim man Fakhruddin Qureshi gets death threats for distributing saffron flags on Pran Pratishtha, seeks justice

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: Muslim man Fakhruddin Qureshi gets death threats for distributing saffron flags on Pran Pratishtha, seeks justice

On 24th January, a man named Fakhruddin Qureshi released a video seeking security from the UP government and police as he was getting death threats for distributing saffron flags on the occasion of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha.

In the video shared by Bharat Samachar on X, Qureshi said he was depressed. He said he distributed the flags for the unity of Hindus and Muslims. However, after distributing flags, he started getting abusive messages and threats. “I am not leaving my home. Please get me justice. Punish me if I have done something wrong.” Lucknow Police sought the victim’s address in reply to the post by Bharat Samachar.

Bharat Samachar published a video of Qureshi distributing saffron flags on 22nd January. In the video, Quereshi wore a Bharatiya Janata party scarf on his neck. As per the post on X, Qureshi distributed saffron flags with the name of Bhagwan Ram written in different parts of Lucknow.

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha

On 22nd January, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla took place at Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ‘Yajmaan’ at the ceremony. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, and hundreds of saints, seers, priests, VIPs, celebrities and people across the globe witness the ceremony. Three Ram Lalla’s Murtis were made by three different scupturists, out of which Arun Yogiraj’s Murti was selected for Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha. Ram Lalla Virajmaan, the old idol at the disputed structure in the late 1940s, has also been placed at the Ram Mandir.

Karnataka: Contractor who found the stone for sculpting Ram Lalla idol by Arun Yogiraj was fined Rs 80,000 for alleged illegal quarrying at private property

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Karnataka: Contractor who found the stone for sculpting Ram Lalla idol by Arun Yogiraj was fined Rs 80,000 for alleged illegal quarrying at private property

Even as the nation rejoices over the “return of Bhagwan Ram” to his rightful abode in Ayodhya after the Pran Pratishtha, Srinivas Nataraj, the local quarry contractor who found the Krishna Shila used for sculpting the Ram Lalla idol was left in tears. Srinivas was fined Rs 80,000 by Karnataka government’s mines and geology department for alleged illegal quarrying.

Srinivas Nataraj, a local quarry contractor who was given the contract to clear the rocks from the farming land belonging to a farmer named Ramdas, stated that one enormous rock was separated into three blocks and Arun Yogiraj – the Mysuru-based sculptor – chose one of the blocks for the idol for Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. However, the mines and geology department penalised him Rs 80,000 for allegedly illegally quarrying the land. He said that some informants had conveyed the word to the department prior to the stone block delivery and he was then fined.

According to a Vijayapatha report, Srinivas Nataraj, a resident of Harohalli-Gujjegoudanapura village, had to pawn his wife’s gold jewellery to pay the fine imposed on him. Srinivas said that he only cleared the rocks and moved to the next farmland. However, the mines and geology department accused him of illegal mining and levied a Rs 80,000 fine. The quarry contractor lamented that no one stepped forward to help him. “I am waiting for someone to help me too,” Srinivas said.

Notably, the land from where the black granite stone was procured is owned by a Dalit farmer Ramdas, who recently pledged to donate a part of his land for the construction of a temple of Bhagwan Ram. The 70-year-old farmer is a resident of Gujjegowdanapura village near Mysuru. He said that out of the 2.14 acres of land he owns, he wanted to clear the rocks for agricultural usage. Ramdas said that he decided to remove the rocks after failing to level the ground for farming. For this, he gave the contract to Srinivas Nataraj who cleared the stones.

Subsequently, sculptor Arun Yogiraj selected the stone block found in the cleared rocks, which he wanted to use for making the Ram Lalla idol. Later, stone blocks from the same property were again taken to carve idols of Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, Srinivas Nataraj said.

Speaking about his pledge to construct a Ram Mandir on his land, Ramdas said, “We have an Anjaneya temple facing south, making it look like the Anjaneya idol is looking at the site from where the stone was mined for the Ram Lalla idol. I have, thus, decided to donate four guntas of land to construct a temple dedicated to Lord Ram here. We will meet Arun Yogiraj to carve the idol of Lord Ram for the temple.”

Notably, the Ram Mandir trust had appointed three sculptors to sculpt the Ram Lalla idol from stone. Out of the three, the one by Arun Yogiraj was selected by the trust as the idol to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of Ram Mandir. The two idols not selected, a black stone sculpture by Ganesh Bhatt from Karnataka and a white marble idol by Satyanarayan Pandey from Rajasthan, will be placed in prominent places in the temple complex.

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha

The Pran Pratishtha of Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was conducted by the hands of PM Narendra Modi on 22nd January 2024. The grand idol of Shri Ram’s Baal Swarup (childhood form) is now the revered God of over a billion Hindus across the world. There were 15 “Yajmans” for the consecration ceremony with RSS leader Anil Mishra and his wife Usha being the mukhya or pradhan yajman.

PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron hold mega roadshow in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, visit Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar

ANI
-
0
PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron hold mega roadshow in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, visit Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron held a mega roadshow in Rajasthan’s Jaipur on Thursday.

The French leader is in India on a two-day state visit at the invitation of PM Modi.

People in large numbers welcomed PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during their roadshow in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Macron waved at the people who gathered there, acknowledging the warm welcome.

As PM Modi and French President Macron held the mega road show, a floral shower for the leaders also took place.

Following the roadshow, PM Modi and French President visited Hawa Mahal. Hawa Mahal, also known as “Palace of Breeze”, was built in 1799 as an extension to the Royal City Palace of Jaipur.

Prior to the road show, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at Jantar Mantar in Pink City, Jaipur.

Prime Minister Modi was pictured extending him a warm welcome at Jantar Mantar. The two leaders warmly greeted each other and posed for the cameras. They then headed to see Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar is a famous solar observatory established by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2010.

Earlier, Macron arrived at Amber Fort in Rajasthan’s Jaipur. He also met school students who gathered there to welcome him.

On his visit to the fort, the French President was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari. At the fort, Macron also posed for a picture with Jaishankar and Diya Kumari.

As the French President walked around the Royal fort and took in the unique architecture, he was also given an overview of the history the fort carries. Macron appreciated Rajasthani painting and art and also interacted with artists at Amber Fort.

The French President will be the chief guest at the 75th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi tomorrow.

Macron’s state visit marks France’s sixth participation, the highest of any other nation, as chief guest on India’s Republic Day.

Furthermore, it comes months after PM Modi’s Paris trip on France’s Bastille Day on July 14, last year. The French President arrived in Jaipur earlier today as part of his two-day state visit to India.

His visit caps the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the India-France Strategic Partnership.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘Breaking Hanuman idol is akin to cutting the neck of Sanatanis’: BJP’s Giriraj Singh fumes at CM Nitish Kumar over Hanuman idol vandalisation in Bihar’s Katihar

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Breaking Hanuman idol is akin to cutting the neck of Sanatanis’: BJP’s Giriraj Singh fumes at CM Nitish Kumar over Hanuman idol vandalisation in Bihar’s Katihar

On January 25, Thursday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh issued a stern warning to the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar over the incident where an unknown miscreant broke a Hanuman idol in the state’s Katihar district. Accusing Bihar’s ruling dispensation of turning a blind eye towards the attack on Hindus and their religious symbols, the Union minister said that the attack on the Hanuman idol is akin to the attempt to annihilate Sanatanis.

The BJP MP from Begusarai further warns Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav that if this issue is not taken seriously and a probe is not launched into the incident then he will have to suffer the consequences.

According to a report by ABP News Hindi, the idols of Lord Hanuman were vandalised in two different places in Bihar’s Katihar district. The incident happened on Tuesday (January 23) night, a day after the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The first incident happened in the Manoharpur Ward-16 of Bihar’s Katihar district. In the second incident, the Hanuman idol installed in the temple just below Mahiyarpur railway station was damaged.

After the incident, locals staged a protest by blocking roads and railway tracks. As per ABP News locals were so enraged that they set a railway track on fire and blocked National Highway 31A. Seeing the tension, the administration deployed additional police force in the area and the situation was brought under control. Protestors dispersed only after the police assured prompt action in the case.

Meanwhile, the police began investigating by filing a case against an unknown person based on the written request of the temple committee. SDO Kumar Siddharth said that an investigation is being conducted into the incident and the situation in the area is completely under control.

Notably, since January 22 as many as 18 Hindu processions taken out to celebrate the homecoming of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya have come under vicious attack from Islamists. OpIndia chronicled the list of the attacks unleashed by the Islamists on Hindu processions.

1...1,4101,4111,412...7,655Page 1,411 of 7,655