All eyes are set on the holy city of Ayodhya as the Ram Lalla idol will be consecrated here on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several distinguished guests. Families of thousands of karsevaks who gave their lives for Ram Mandir have also been invited. Among numerous such Rambhakt karsevaks was one Sanjay Kumar Singh.
On November 2, 1990, Sanjay Kumar Singh sacrificed his life in the massacre carried out by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government. Sanjay Singh could not even be seen for the last time by the family. He was cremated on the banks of the same Saryu, on which he struggled for Lord Ram’s temple. His fellow karsevaks immersed his ashes in the sacred Saryu River, returning only with his memories.
Singh’s 35-year-old daughter who lives on Dahod Road in Banswara, Rajasthan, has been invited to Ram Lalla’s consecration ceremony. She is the daughter of the same Sanjay Singh who, along with five other Karsevaks sacrificed his life on November 2, 1990, during government-ordered firing on Karsevaks. Smriti lived with her father in Kanti Sain, or Muzaffarpur, Bihar. His father was the Bhartiya Janata Party’s divisional vice president.
According to a Bhaskar report, Sanjay Kumar Singh left his house quietly on October 30, 1990, leaving two daughters and his wife behind. He had left his two infant daughters, two-year-old Smriti and two-month-old Kriti, with his wife. The government was on high alert to ensure that no karsevak reached Ayodhya. In such a scenario, he travelled from Gonda to Ayodhya with other Karsevaks, traversing fields and barns.
In Ayodhya, he was joined by his friend Naresh Kumar. They both joined the karsevaks who arrived in Ayodhya under the leadership of Uma Bharti. Karsevaks marched in the direction of the Hanuman Garhi Temple. Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav government ordered firing on them. Bullets fired from behind their backs killed five Karsevaks.
Sanjay Singh’s family received the invitation for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony (Image credit: Bhaskar)
Sanjay Kumar Singh was one of the five martyrs on that fateful day. Sanjay Kumar Singh’s mortal remains never reached his home. His last rites were performed on the banks of the river Saryu. His ashes were immersed in the holy river. The campaign for a Ram temple continued. On December 6, 1992, the Babri structure was demolished.
“During the Kar Seva, a bullet was fired on the orders of the then government and he died. After this, his family faced a lot of trouble, but now Ram Lalla consecration is happening there, they are happy with it,” said Arvind Singh, a friend of Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Sanjay Singh’s wife has also passed away. His elder daughter Smriti has been invited to Ram Lalla’s consecration ceremony. She intends to take part in this programme with her family. She says that if her younger sister had been invited, she would have come with her family as well. She said after getting the invitation, “Had my mother been alive on this auspicious occasion, the happiness would have been double. My father had gone to the holy land of Ayodhya with the dream of building a Ram temple. I have also received an invitation to attend the Pran Pratistha.”
In Sanjay Singh’s hometown of Kanti Sain, a trust has been established in his honour. A statue of Singh has also been installed in his village. A park is also being constructed. This park will also be dedicated to the public following the consecration of the Ram temple. “My friend’s sacrifice will not be in vain,” says Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh, President of the Sanjay Singh Memorial Trust. Arvind Singh has also served as a karsevak in the Ram Mandir movement alongside Sanjay Singh.
As 22nd January is approaching, the holy city of Ayodhya is decked up for the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir. The construction of Shri Ram’s holy abode is ongoing in full swing and preparations for the grand welcome of the God are underway. As the temple town gears up for welcoming Lord Ram, Swati Goel Sharma of Swarajya has reported about an interesting ritual that dates back to the installation of Ram Lalla and continues to this day.
Following India’s independence from British rule, an event changed the course of the centuries-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri structure dispute in Ayodhya in favour of the Hindu community. Back in December 1949, a idol of Lord Ram appeared inside the Babri structure.
The installation of the Ram Lalla’s idol in the Babri edifice was less of a “miracle” and more of a story of human genius and eternal devotion.
For more than a century, Ayodhya’s saints had diligently sought to reclaim the disputed site, which is a sacred Hindu place of worship before the construction of a mosque by Babur’s general, Mir Baqi in 1528. In their reclamation efforts, the Hindu saints planned to place an image of Lord Ram beneath the central dome of the Babri Masjid, perform “pran pratishtha,” and declare it “achal” (immovable).
Mahant Abhiram was the priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, a small temple built on a chabutra just outside the domes of the Babri structure, as well as the head priest of Ayodhya’s historic Hanuman Garhi temple. Das used to reside near the Singhdwar of the Hanuman Garhi Temple. Notably, the chabutra was used by Hindus to offer prayers and prasad to Shri Ram. It is said that Mahant Abhiram often dreamed about a grand Ram Mandir “replacing” the Babri ‘Masjid’. The plan was prepared, and the auspicious Tithi of Shukla Tritiya of the Hindu calendar’s Poush month, which fell on December 22, was chosen to execute it.
According to the Swarajyareport, continuous hymn singing, or akhand kirtan and Ramcharitmanas recitations began outside the illegal Babri structure weeks before the placement of Ram Lalla’s image, causing tension among local Muslims. The Muslims then approached the district magistrate, who ordered an investigation by the city magistrate. Thakur Gurudutt, the city magistrate, directed the sadhus to stop their activities but was told that his orders were overlooked.
Amarnath Pandey, 62, a resident of Panji Tola, told Swati Goel Sharma that visiting sadhus, including those from Gorakhshpeeth, questioned the local Mahants about limiting Ramcharitmanas recitations to Hanuman Garhi and not holding them at Ram Janmabhoomi. Pandey recalled his father telling him that the Mahants encouraged the public to attend the recitations in large numbers, ensuring a crowd of at least 1,008 people at all times. “The Mahants said low attendance would hurt their goal of reclaiming Ram Janmabhoomi and leave them humiliated,” Pandey said.
In conversation with Sharma, Shakti Singh, grandson of Thakur Gurudutt said that since a 1934 communal clash, Hindus had been barred from the Babri structure’s domes, which were secured with an iron gate and a Muslim man used to guard the site during the night.
Entering the mosque and placing Shri Ram’s idol was fraught with danger, however, Ram Bhakts have been no cowards in facing any danger to uphold the honour of their God. A sadhu named Ram Das was given a bag containing a idol of Lord Ram and ritual items such as diya-batti, a bell and camphor on the midnight of 22nd-23rd December 1949. He, however, was confronted by the Muslim guard at the Babri site. Ram Das is said to have injured the guard with the bell and proceeded to install the image of Lord Ram and perform the pooja rituals.
Meanwhile, announcements were made that Lord Hanuman had summoned his devotees to Hanuman Garhi Temple. Achyut Shukla told Swarajya that some others, including Mahants Abhiram and Paramhans, secured Shri Ram’s idol with iron nails and mesh, making it difficult to remove.
The next morning, rumours spread like fire that a miracle unfolded last night. “The story went like this: late at night, the Muslim guard at the ‘mosque’ witnessed a blinding light, so bright that he lost his vision for some time. Moments later, the light dimmed and he saw a child playing under the central dome. After witnessing the miracle, the guard fell unconscious. When he awoke, the Ram Lalla idol and worship materials were present,” Swarajya report reads.
Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the removal of Ram Lalla’s idol, how local officials cleverly resisted
As the miracle infuriated the local Muslims, they informed Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s office in New Delhi about the incident. Subsequently, Nehru entrusted Govind Ballabh Pant, then chief minister of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), with removing the idols and locking the Babri structure again. Nehru reportedly sent a note to the Uttar Pradesh government, directing the administration to remove the idols of Ram Lalla immediately from the precincts of the Babri edifice. The note had mysteriously vanished in 2005.
While Nehru was bent on getting the idols removed, Thakur Gurudutt prevented Pant from entering Ayodhya. When Pant reached Faizabad, Gurudatt asked him to go back saying that there could be a threat to his life and riots might erupt. Although Pant returned, he was angered by this and said that only those who could ensure his security deserved to be in service.
Days before resigning, Thakur Gurudutt initiated proceedings under Section 145 of the CrPC, ordering the attachment of the Babri structure and effectively restricting the entry of Muslims there. After he tendered his resignation, Gurudutt was made to vacate his government residence. It is said that his grandfather’s luggage was thrown out of the house. The Swrajya report says that the same Lorpur House had served as the meeting point for planning the event. Later, Gurudutt joined the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and became the party’s Faizabad district chief.
Portraits of Mahant Paramhans and Thakur Gurudutt kept near the entrance of VHP’s Mandir Nirmal Karyashala (Image credit: Swarajya)
Interestingly, the District Magistrate of Faizabad, K.K. Nayar played a significant role in stalling the orders to remove the Ram Lalla image from the disputed site. Nayar said that since the site was ‘disturbed’, removing the idol of Lord Ram could trigger riots in the city.
Nayar told the central and state government that there was a popular demand to open the Temple’s gates. He also appeared distressed that a popular slogan had become “Nayar anyay karna chhod do, Nayar Bhagwan ka phatak khol do.”
The outcome of Nayar’s efforts was that the idols were not removed and remained in the same spot they were originally placed. Later, on January 19, 1950, an injunction was issued preventing the government from removing them, which was later upheld by the High Court five years later. Although permission to conduct worship was granted, the inner courtyard was locked. After Nayar resigned from his post, he joined the Bhartiya Jana Sangh and became a member of parliament from Baharaich in 1967 receiving 100,203 votes. A comprehensive OpIndia report on KK Nayar’s role in the cause of Dharma can be read here.
Amarnath Pandey told Swarajya that the local Hindus pressured the administration to allow offering Bhog to Bhagwan Ram and slogans like “Bhagwan ka tala kholo, Bhagwan hamare bhookhe hain” (‘open the locks of Babri, our God is hungry’)” were raised. Following this, a bhandari (cook) was allowed inside the Babri structure.
On 23rd December 1949, an FIR was registered over the break-in, installation of the Ram Lalla image and the subsequent gathering of Hindus. The FIR named Ram Das, one Ram Shukla Das and later, Mahant Abhiram Das, Mahant Ram Chandra Das Param Hans and Mahant Vrindavan Das as accused.
According to the FIR, the accused placed an idol of Lord Ram and wrote ‘Sita Ram’ on the mosque’s outer and inner walls. Early in the morning, a crowd of 5,000-6,000 people chanting bhajans gathered at the site and attempted to enter the Babri structure.
The miracle of human ingenuity celebrated to this date as “Bhagwan Pratakya Mahotsav”
Since the image of Ram Lalla was placed in the masjid premise in 1950, an annual celebration called “Bhagwant Prakatya Mahotsav” has been held in Ayodhya uninterrupted.
A picture from the celebration of ‘Bhagwan Prakatya Mahotsav’ in Ayodhya in the 1990s (Image credit: Swarajya)
A grand shobha yatra is taken out in the sacred city, with children dressed as Lord Ram and his three brothers – Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan before ending at Ram Janmabhoomi, where a pooja of Lord Ram’s idol installed there is performed. According to Achyut Shukla, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Sewa Samiti, the murti of Ram Lalla was presented by a princess from a royal family from Balrampur.
Notably, this year the Shukla Tritiya of the Poush month, the Tithi that was chosen to place Shri Ram’s idol at the disputed site is falling on January 14. On this day, the rituals at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence in addition to the observance of the “Prakatya Mahotsav”.
The idol of Shri Ram Lalla (Lord Ram in his childlike form) will be consecrated on 22nd January. On January 22, Shri Ram will be seated in his divinely grand temple in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Thursday (4th January), the Malegaon Police in Maharashtra’s Nashik district booked Sushma Andhare from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) for giving a derogatory speech insulting Lord Rama. The Police booked her under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Team OpIndia has obtained the FIR copy and the video of the hateful speech. As per the FIR copy, the derogatory speech came to light only after the complainant, Aman Pardeshi, saw the speech’s video accidentally on one India TV YouTube channel on 26th December.
In the video, the woman questioned Lord Rama for allegedly not trusting Goddess Sita and sending her into exile. “I don’t want a husband like Lord Rama. Who wants a husband like Lord Rama who showed mistrust of his wife and sent her to exile while she was 7 months pregnant? If people raised questions about Goddess Sita’s character for being in Ravana’s captivity for years, why did nobody question Lord Rama’s character? He was also alone in the jungle while she was held hostage, right?” Andhare said in the speech.
FIR copy obtained by OpIndia
She added that Goddess Sita was sad in Ravana’s captivity but Lord Rama at that time in the jungle was eating half-eaten fruits with Shabri. “Sita didn’t raise questions then? Neither did the society. Lord Rama has set the standard of demeaning women since then and treating them worse than lower caste people. I won’t worship such a man,” she said, as mentioned in the FIR.
The FIR further states that the accused Uddhav Sena leader also used derogatory words about Lord Krishna. She questioned why people worship Lord Krishna even when he ‘molested’ women during his life. “He (Lord Krishna) used to watch women while they showered, he used to steal their clothes and molest them in the markets,” she said as mentioned in the FIR.
The complainant demanded strict punishment against the accused.
It is to be noted that Andhare belongs to the Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena. Earlier, party leader Sanjay Raut had shown disrespect towards the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya scheduled to take place on 22nd January. He had called the ceremony a private event by BJP and also had said that there was no devotion in the event.
“This is all politics, who wants to attend an event by the BJP? This is not a national event. This is BJP’s program, this is BJP’s rally. ‘Usme pavitrata kahan hai?’…We will visit (Ayodhya) after BJP’s program is over,” Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut was quoted as saying.
Also, NCP’s Jitendra Awhad had courted a massive controversy after he claimed that Lord Ram used to eat meat and he belonged to ‘Bahujans’. “Ram is ours. Ram belongs to the Bahujans. Ram who hunts and eats is ours, we belong to the Bahujans. When you people go to make us all vegetarian, we follow the ideals of Ram and today we eat mutton. This is the ideal of Ram. Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian,” Awhad said while addressing an event in Maharashtra’s Shirdi on Wednesday.
However, later he apologized for hurting religious sentiments but stated that he stands by his statement and there are mentions of Lord Ram eating meat in the Valmiki Ramayan. NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress are in coalition in Maharashtra and none of these party members seem to be happy ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya scheduled to take place on 22nd January.
On Friday (5th January), a team comprising officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CRPF, and journalists was attacked and their vehicles were targeted in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The incident occurred when the ED team reached to execute a raid on the residence of Shahjahan Sheikh – a block-level official of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) – as part of an investigation into the ration scam.
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attacked during a raid in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.
The agency commenced raids early on Friday morning at the properties of two block-level leaders, Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, along with their relatives in North 24 Parganas, under the protection of central security forces. Over 200 residents reportedly encircled the ED officials and the central armed paramilitary forces that were accompanying the ED team.
According to reports, as the ED team attempted to enter Shajahan Sheikh’s house following multiple unanswered calls, a large group of men and women converged at the location, raising slogans. They also assaulted the officials and damaged their vehicles. The presence of Shahjahan Sheikh or his family members inside the house at that time could not be ascertained.
A news correspondent of News18 Bangla was also reportedly attacked. His car was also damaged and the camera of the journalist crew was also broken by these goons. Due to the assault by Shahjahan Sheikh’s supporters on the ED officials, the planned raid on the TMC leader could not be completed.
Meanwhile the BJP has alleged the involvement of Rohingyas in the attack.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari wrote on his X handle, “Horrific. The Law and order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles. ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting Raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present among the anti-national attackers. I urge the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Director of ED and CRPF to take cognizance of this grave situation and take appropriate action to crush this anarchy. NIA should also probe this matter.”
Horrific. The Law & Order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles.
ED Officials & CRPF Jawans brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting Raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present amongst the Anti National… pic.twitter.com/XHboQsBVSX
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) January 5, 2024
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, “There are complaints and corruption charges against all of them. Naturally, ED will take action. It is quite obvious. The attack on ED in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali shows what the Rohingya are doing to the law and order in the state.”
#WATCH | On the alleged attack on ED, West Bengal BJP Chief Sukanta Majumdar says, "There is a complaint & corruption charges against all of them. It is natural that ED will take action. It is quite obvious. The attack on ED in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali shows what the Rohingya… pic.twitter.com/Xwo0oKaoSA
On 26th October, ED raided the residence of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in Kolkata in connection to a corruption case related to ration distribution. Mallick is a senior TMC leader serving as the forest minister. Previously, he held the food minister portfolio. In response to the raid, Banerjee strongly criticised the central agency and accused the BJP-led government at the centre of using such actions as part of a “broader strategy” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Interestingly, Mallick’s daughter Priyadarshini reportedly deposited Rs 3.37 crores in her bank account after the 2016 demonetisation. Being a school teacher, she draws an annual salary of 2.48 lakhs. During ED’s interrogation, she claimed to have earned the money as tuition fees. Furthermore, ED found a deposit of Rs 4.3 crores in the IDBI bank account of Mallick’s wife, Mandipa. ED arrested Mallick over an accusation of laundering Rs 95 crores using shell companies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep on the 2nd and 3rd of January, as part of his South India visit which also included programs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Prime Minister inaugurated various development projects on the Union Territory island. He also shared several photographs on X, showing that apart from attending public programs, he also participated in some adventurous activities in the scenic islands.
Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated several developmental projects in Lakshadweep
According to a press release by the Press Information Bureau, on 3rd January, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than Rs 1150 crores in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep. The development projects cover a wide range of sectors including technology, energy, water resources, healthcare and education. The Prime Minister gave students laptops under the Laptop Scheme and gave away bicycles to school students under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. He also handed out PM Kisan Credit Cards to farmer and fishermen beneficiaries.
Our focus in Lakshadweep is to uplift lives through enhanced development. In addition to creating futuristic infrastructure, it is also about creating opportunities for better healthcare, faster internet and drinking water, while protecting as well celebrating the vibrant local… pic.twitter.com/BsXwP1mQcW
One major project is the inauguration of the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project, which he announced in his Independence Day speech in 2020. This will lead to an increase in internet speed of more than 100 times, from 1.7 Gbps to 200 Gbps, in the UT. This is the first Submarine Optic Fibre Cable connection for Lakshadweep.
Our Government stands committed to ensuring all-round progress of Lakshadweep. From Kavaratti, launching projects aimed at enhancing 'Ease of Living.' https://t.co/SnnhmPr0XH
PM Modi also dedicated the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination plant at Kadmat to the nation, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day. Other projects dedicated to the nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, the first-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep.
Had excellent interactions with the beneficiaries of various government schemes. It's inspiring to see firsthand how these initiatives are fostering better health, self-reliance, women empowerment, improved agricultural practices and more. The life journeys I heard were truly… pic.twitter.com/JEYFHb1ZaZ
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the renovation of the Primary Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.
Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep will boost tourism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular public figure in the world. His visit to Lakshadweep therefore brings a different dimension to the future of tourism on the island. PM Modi not only shared his views about the tourism potential of the Union Territory during his speech but also posted his experience on his X handle. His post on X included stunning photographs of the picturesque beauty of the island.
PM Narendra Modi at Lakshadweep Beach. Image Source: X handle of Narendra Modi
In his speech addressing the beneficiaries of various government schemes in Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The union government is making efforts to place the Union Territory on the international tourism map. Lakshadweep has gained international recognition due to the recent G20 meeting held here. Today, India is focusing on increasing its share in the global seafood market. Lakshadweep is significantly benefitting from this.
PM Narendra Modi at Lakshadweep Beach. Image Source: X handle of Narendra Modi
PM Modi added, “A destination-specific master plan is being drafted for Lakshadweep under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Lakshadweep is home to two blue-flag beaches. Lakshadweep is turning out to be a prime destination for cruise tourism. The tourist footfalls here have increased fivefold in the last five years and we will see that it grows further.”
Comparing Lakshadweep with other similar tourist destinations, he said, “Those wanting to visit the island nations in foreign lands should once visit Lakshadweep and experience the beauty of this place. Once you witness the beauty of Lakshadweep, other destinations in the world will appear pale. I assure the people of Lakshadweep that the central government will continue to take every possible step to ensure their ease of living, ease of travel and ease of doing business. Lakshadweep will play a strong role in creating a Viksit Bharat.”
PM Modi’s tourism experience inspires millions
Apart from attending public programs, PM Narendra Modi also took part in some adventurous activities in the scenic islands. He tried snorkelling and shared photographs of the same. PM Modi also shared two underwater photographs of coral reefs and other marine life. He also shared images of enjoying some time on the beach. After PM Modi posted those images, the number of searches for the terms Lakshadweep and snorkelling skyrocketed.
For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.
During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was! pic.twitter.com/rikUTGlFN7
In his X post, PM Narendra Modi wrote, “In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep’s tranquillity is also mesmerising. It allowed me to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling – what an exhilarating experience it was!”
Rajiv Gandhi used INS Vikrant as a personal taxi for his Lakshadweep picnic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands stands in sharp contrast to Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous picnic at Lakshadweep. PM Modi inaugurated several projects and laid the foundation stones of many others. He interacted with the people of Lakshadweep. His recreational activities like snorkelling and relaxing at the beach were also put in public to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination.
Rajiv Gandhi enjoyed the Lakshadweep picnic with many others. Image Source: India Today
On the other hand, Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Lakshadweep was nothing but a merrymaking affair with friends and families exploiting the public facilities for personal holiday picnics. This included using an aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy INS Viraat as a personal taxi. This infamous holiday celebration by Rajiv Gandhi with his wife Sonia Gandhi, kids Rahul and Priyanka, his in-laws from Italy, and his friends from Bollywood took place in 1987. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India at that time. PM Narendra Modi had criticised this exercise in an election rally in Delhi in May 2019.
Rajiv Gandhi having coconut water at Lakshadweep. Image Source: India Today
The holidaying group included Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi’s mother, her brother and a maternal uncle. Also present were then MP Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya Bachchan and their two children, the daughter of Amitabh’s brother Ajitabh, and former minister Arun Singh’s brother Bijendra Singh’s wife and daughter.
Rajiv Gandhi stayed at this cottage in Lakshadweep. Image Source: India Today
The location for the vacation was Bangaram, a small uninhabited island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. INS Viraat, the lone carrier of the Indian navy at that time, was used to transport the Gandhi family and their companions, who moved in the Arabian Sea for 10 days for this vacation.
An aircraft carrier does not move alone in the sea, a carrier is the nerve centre of a carrier battle group and it is always surrounded by several warships. Even a submarine was present during the trip. This means huge expenditure, blatant misuse of defence resources and putting national security at potential risk.
Helicopter taking the Gandhis back to Cochin. Image Source: India Today
As the island was uninhabited, everything needed for the guests was needed to be transported from other places. The Lakshadweep administration looked after the logistics of the 10-day vacation, and their helicopter was pressed into service for this purpose. A shipment of wines and spirits arrived from the capital. In Agatti, a poultry farm with 100 chickens was established. The island contributed its specialities: Lakshadweep papaya, sapota, small yellow bananas, and guavas, along with sugar and freshly caught fish.
Amitabh Bachchan was spotted at Cochin airport. Image Source: India Today
Kavaratti dispatched butter and 100 loaves of bread, while from Cochin, a variety of items were sent including Cadbury’s chocolates, 40 crates of soft drinks, 300 bottles of mineral water, Amul Cheese, cashews, sweet limes, various condiments, 20 kg of flour, 105 kg of basmati rice, and a selection of fresh vegetables. The initial batch of non-perishable goods was shipped to Bangaram on 23rd December 1987. A second shipment followed three days later, with further restocking occurring on 1st January 1987.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshwadeep was intended to celebrate development and boost tourism, it is evident that the then-prime minister of India, a country which was then dealing with severe poverty, starvation, unemployment, and a host of other problems, was using a large portion of its defence budget for a lavish holiday for his friends and extended family.
An encounter between security forces and terrorists broke out on Friday morning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian is underway, officials said.
In the early hours, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Chotigam area of the Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials, the encounter in the Chotigam area of Shopian district is currently underway. Police, Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials are on the spot, they said.
“Encounter has started at Chotigam area of #Shopian district. Shopian Police, Army & CRPF are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X.
Further details are awaited. (ANI)
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
New high-profile names have emerged in the second batch of court filings related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday (4th January), unsealed court documents revealed new details about the case. The second list names several rich and famous public figures including Bill Clinton, former US Senator George Mitchell and former US Ambassador and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
The court documents comprise 19 exhibits totalling 327 pages of previously sealed documents filed in a Manhattan federal court lawsuit filed by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
As per reports, the name of former US President Donald Trump is mentioned, but in the context that he never visited Epstein’s islands or his houses. Clinton is said to have visited Epstein’s island over 25 times. One mention cites Clinton saying he “liked the girls young”.
I know the libs were hoping, but Trump was never on Epstein island, Epstein’s NM Ranch, or his NY apartment.
Of course anyone with a brain already knew that, because if he ever was it would have leaked within .000001 seconds. Now let’s throw those who did take part in jail!!! pic.twitter.com/41mfXJIThq
The big names earlier revealed include former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, Stephen Hawking and Alan Dershowitz. Moreover, Doug Band, a former aide to ex-President Bill Clinton, Yucaipa Companies co-founder Ron Burkle, journalists Vicky Ward and Sharon Churcher, and Eva Dubin, wife of billionaire Glenn Dubin, were among those mentioned in the new documents released on Thursday.
Clinton had threatened Vanity Fair magazine not to publish anything against his ‘good friend’ Epstein back in 2011, the second batch of documents reveal.
Jeffrey Epstein’s associates and victims were referred to as John Doe and John Dane in the court proceedings. Following the release of the first batch of documents, the names of some 170 of them have now become public. Pertinently, the mere fact that a celebrity is mentioned in the document does not imply they were involved in or were aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. There are a few references to Richardson in the new documents, including a deposition in which Giuffre claims she had been told to give him a massage. Giuffre’s claims were fabricated, according to Richardson, who died last year. In 2019, a Richardson spokesperson denied ever meeting Giuffre.
Former US Senator George Mitchell is also said to have abused Giuffre. Mitchell had also denied ever meeting her. Mitchell’s name finds limited mention in the new records.
Former US President Donald Trump is mentioned four times in the records. Trump has socialised with Epstein but is not accused of any wrongdoing. Following Epstein’s federal indictment in 2019, NBC News released video footage of the two chatting. The video was said to be from a party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992, shortly after Trump’s divorce. The video also showed young women surrounding the former President, whom NBC identified as Buffalo Bills cheerleaders.
Subsequently, in the video, Epstein can be seen arriving at Trump’s Florida estate, where the two can be seen conversing and gesturing at the women on the dance floor. Later, when confronted about the video, Trump stated that he, like everyone else in Palm Beach, knew Epstein.
Epstein allegedly contacted Trump after a plane diversion to Atlantic City in one of the incidents where Trump’s name appears in the records. Johanna Sjoberg, a key figure in the testimony, recounted a time when Epstein called Trump and visited one of his casinos. She, however, clarified that she never gave a massage to Trump.
Some reports mentioned that much before he entered politics, Trump had already ‘banned’ Epstein from his estates and clubs, after Epstein was once caught hitting on the daughter of one of Trump’s friends.
?TRUMP KICKED EPSTEIN OUT OF MAR-A-LAGO
Donald Trump BANNED Jeffrey Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club after Epstein began hitting on another member’s daughter
The documents made numerous references to Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modelling agent and Epstein’s close friend who committed suicide in a Paris jail last year while awaiting trial on charges of raping minor girls. Giuffre and others accused Brunel of having sexual encounters with minors and others under the pretext of modelling contracts.
Brunel’s estate was sued in California this week by a woman who claimed Brunel and others sexually assaulted her while she worked as a model in New York. The woman also claimed that she was driven to a home in Canada and held there for several days while men abused her. Meanwhile, Brunel’s lawyers have maintained his innocence, claiming that his suicide was not due to guilt but due to a sense of “injustice”.
The newly released records also name Leslie Wexner, the founder of Victoria’s Secret, The Limited, and other store chains. Epstein had managed Wexner’s money for years, but their relationship soured after Epstein was arrested and sentenced in Florida in 2006 for paying a minor girl for a sexual act. Notably, Wexner’s name appears six times in the recently released document.
Wexner admitted to being embarrassed by his ties to Epstein after his suicide. He also publicly accused Epstein of stealing “vast sums” of his fortune, but provided no details. In 2019, a lawyer appearing for Epstein’s victims said it was likely Wexner was unaware of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities.
Notably, Giuffre has alleged that she was coerced into having sex with billionaire Glenn Dubin. Dubin, however, denies the accusation. In a deposition, Giuffre stated that Maxwell “told me to go to Glenn Dubin and give him a massage, which means sex.” Meanwhile, Dubin claims to have flight records and other evidence proving Giuffre’s claims are false.
Eventually, it turned out that Dubin’s wife, Eva Andersson, former Miss Swede, dated Epstein on and off in the mid-1980s. After their relationship ended, the two remained friends. Eva and Dubin had three children. Eva testified in Maxwell’s federal trial, saying she trusted Epstein with her two young daughters and denying participating in a group sexual encounter with one of the key accusers.
Alan Dershowitz, a former Epstein attorney and retired Harvard University law professor, is mentioned around 100 times in the records. Giuffre had accused Dershowitz of sexually abusing her in Florida, New York, New Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands. It is notable that Dershowitz has denied the accusations levelled against him.
In 2022, withdrew her claim against Dershowitz saying she “may have made a mistake” in identifying him as one of the men she had sex with at Epstein or Maxwell’s request.
There is only one reference to the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the new records. Hawking’sname appears, misspelt, in an email Epstein sent offering a reward for anyone who could disprove a bogus claim that Hawking had participated in “an underage orgy.” In 2006, Hawking attended one of Epstein’s academic events. The physicist died in 2018.
Notably, Epstein killed himself in 2019 as he awaited trial for sex crimes. As per the reports, the records are one of numerous batches of files in Giuffre’s lawsuit that have been unsealed as a result of the Miami Herald’s relentless campaign to make them public.
The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned the chief secretaries (CS) of 11 states and union territories (UTs) for the delay in complying with its directive to identify non-Muslim children, including Hindu children, studying in madrassas so that they may be admitted to schools.
About a year ago, the NCPCR ordered the action stating that enrolling non-Muslim children in madrassas is a blatant violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution.
The summons has been issued to CS of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The central body stated that the Article prohibits educational institutions from obligating children to participate in religious teaching without parental assent.
It stated that madrassas, as institutions, are primarily responsible for providing religious education to children and that it has been learned that those madrassas funded or recognized by the government provide religious education as well as some formal education to children.
According to Commission Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, the child rights body has been asking all states and union territories (UTs) for the “last one year to identify Hindu and other non-Muslim children going to madrassas or living in madrassas and getting them shifted and admitted to schools.”
The panel further requested that all governments and territories “make arrangements to provide basic education to children enrolled there by mapping all unmapped unrecognized madrassas.”
The chief secretaries of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have been summoned to appear before the Child Rights Commission on January 12, while the top bureaucrats of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been summoned on January 15.
Jharkhand’s chief secretary has been summoned on January 16, while Karnataka and Kerala’s chief secretaries have been summoned on January 17. The chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Telangana have been summoned on January 18.
The NCPCR had previously requested that states investigate all government-funded and recognized madrassas that allow non-Muslim youngsters. The NCPCR had requested that the investigation include physical verification of the youngsters before admitting them to schools.
A class 2 student mistook a bomb for a toy which was lying out in the open leading to his death and leaving others injured. The incident occured in West Bengal’s Murshidabad on Thursday (4th January).
8-year-old Muklesur Rahaman of Chaudanga village, a student of Chaudanga Primary School, spotted a ball-like object sometime in the afternoon. He picked up the bomb thinking it was a toy and threw it at a wall in front of him sparking a loud explosion that took his life.
According to a report by etvbharat, local police and sources said that the incident happened during school hours after the mid-day meal break. Several other children were left injured.
Some other reports say that the incident happened after the boy returned home from school and found a “metal object” lying by a pond nearby.
Muklesur was taken to the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Three other injured students have been admitted to the hospital.
“I rushed to the spot after hearing the sound of the bomb blast and was shocked to see. The act of keeping a bomb near the school is unforgivable,” said Ansar Sheikh, a local.
The incident has reportedly angered the locals. The Daulatabad police rushed to the spot and conducted a search operaion.
Murshidabad is notorious for bomb blasts and bomb making. Several blasts rocked the city after the state panchayat elections leading to several casualties and severe injuries.
In November 2023, three children mistook a bomb lying near a pond for a ball and picked it up. They began walking with it to the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) centre for their daily meal when it dropped and went off.
Similarly, in September 2023, a child was killed while playing with a bomb mistaking it for a toy in the Salar area.
Five children were injured in Murshidabad in June 2023 while playing with a bomb mistaking it for a toy.
In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the idol of Ram Lalla will be installed within the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 22nd January 2024. The entire nation will be in the festive spirit of Diwali on this particular occasion. Since the last week of December 2023, the OpIndia team has been stationed in Ayodhya. In the series of field reports, we desire to inform readers not only about the forgotten places that are related to Lord Ram but also about the unsung sacrifices of Hindus.
Several karsevaks sacrificed their lives during the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement. Ramesh Chandra Mishra, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, is one of those martyrs. OpIndia visited Ramesh Chandra’s home to learn about the current situation of his family and his home. Mishra’s family during the visit remembered the incidents that occurred during the Ram Mandir movement.
He sacrificed his life, but kept his devotion alive
Ramesh Chandra Mishra was born in the Tikri region of Gonda district. Barisalpur, his village, is around 15 kilometres from Ayodhya. When we arrived at his house, it was closed. Outside the home, a Shivalinga is placed, and Lord Krishna images are carved into the skylights. Vedic symbols such as Om and Swastika were visible on the house’s walls.
We discussed his family with the villagers. According to villagers, after Ramesh Mishra’s sacrifice, his family left Barisalpur and relocated to Ayodhya. We discovered that the name Ramesh Mishra, who gave his life to Ram Janmabhoomi three decades ago, is still fresh in the thoughts of the Gonda villagers.
Image of Lord Rama on one of Mishra’s home wall
BJP honored by placing a hoarding in name of Mishra
We discovered a memorial honouring Ramesh Chandra Mishra on the connection road linking Bhogchand and Tikri as we left the village. This gate was installed by BJP MLA Ramapati Shastri with a prayer that people’s journeys would be pleasant and safe.
The names and pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Gonda’s local MP Kirtivardhan Singh are embossed on this gate. This gate has been named the ‘Late Shri Ramesh Chandra Mishra Memorial Gate’. According to the family members of Ramesh Mishra, this gate was installed about 3-4 months ago.
The family shifted close to the Ram Janmabhoomi
Ramesh Chandra Mishra’s family has now relocated to Ayodhya, just three kilometres from Ramjanmabhoomi. However, they continue to make trips to the village. Ramesh Chandra Mishra has four sons. His wife, Sushila Devi is no longer alive. Ramesh Chandra’s son today supports the family by farming in addition to working for the government and in the private sector.
Prabhakar Mishra, Ramesh Mishra’s son, told OpIndia that his mother was mentally shattered when his father died. However, after witnessing the expressions on her children’s faces, she mustered the confidence to survive. Sushila Devi died approximately 8 years ago.
Was employed in a government job
Diwakar Nath Mishra, another son of Ramesh Chandra Mishra, told OpIndia in great detail about the October 30, 1990 incident. He said that kar sevaks from Delhi, Punjab, and many other states had gathered in his village Barisalpur. They all wanted to reach Ayodhya at any cost, but the police force was catching them on the way.
He stated that the people had made preparations for his lodging and food, among other things. Ramesh Chandra used to be a postman in the postal service. He was familiar with many of the village’s back roads that the cops were unaware of. Ramesh Mishra organized a march to Ramjanmabhoomi with the help of karsevaks from his village and adjacent areas.
Sacrifices near Ram Janmabhoomi
Diwakar Nath Mishra told us that his father had left the house after telling everyone. He reached Ayodhya City by taking various routes, avoiding the policemen deployed on the road. Bullets were also fired on the orders of the then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. These bullets hit Ramesh Chandra in his stomach and he lost his life. His body was kept in Shri Ram Hospital in Ayodhya.
When Diwakar Mishra’s father, Ramesh Chandra Mishra, did not return home, his family members began looking for him. The following group was questioned, and it was eventually learned that Ramesh Chandra Mishra had been martyred. According to reports, he was killed by gunfire within a short distance from Ram Janmabhoomi. The bullet had penetrated and went through his stomach.
Not allowed to perform final rites as per Sanatan tradition
Ramesh Mishra’s son Diwakar also told us that he headed for Ayodhya with his mother, but the police stationed on the city’s border refused them entry. Some individuals were ultimately allowed to enter Ayodhya after much screaming and pleading. He arrived at Shri Ram Hospital. Many dead bodies were kept there, including Ramesh Chandra’s lifeless body, which was lying in a corner.
When Sushila Devi set out for the village with her son, bearing her husband’s lifeless bones, she was halted again at the Ayodhya border. Diwakar Mishra would have been roughly 20 years old at the time. He went on to say that he and his mother kept appealing to the police to let them move the body back to the village. This plea, however, did not affect the deployed cops.
Diwakar said, “A police officer threatened my mother and said that either burn the body here and now, otherwise they will snatch it and throw it in the river.” Ramesh’s family members appealed to the Vedic tradition that cremation should not take place at night, but the policemen ignored them. Ultimately, Ramesh Chandra’s widow and his son accepted defeat and took the body to the nearby crematorium as per the instructions of the administration.
The police force continued to accompany the dead body even while it was being taken away. Ultimately, contrary to the Sanatan tradition, Ramesh Chandra Mishra was cremated in the crematorium of Ayodhya at midnight without completing the procedures like washing etc. Diwakar Mishra became emotional while talking to us. He stated that he could comprehend what his mother, who was present at the moment, was going through.
The police force continued to accompany the dead body even while it was being taken away. Ultimately, contrary to the Sanatan tradition, Ramesh Chandra Mishra was cremated in the crematorium of Ayodhya at midnight without completing the procedures like washing etc. Diwakar Mishra became emotional while talking to us. He stated that he could comprehend what his mother, who was present at the moment, was going through.
Ramesh Chandra Mishra’s sons are disappointed that he has been forgotten during the last three decades. Diwakar sighed, “There is no one who can help us.” The family was overjoyed with the establishment of the Ram temple because it fulfilled their father’s final wish. However, their family hopes that the government would also build a memorial to honor the sacrifice of their ffather in Ayodhya, which will encourage future Ram devotees to make the ultimate sacrifice for the religion.
