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Idol of Lord Narasimha and devotee Prahlada, said to be 1200 years old, identified in Qutub Minar complex: Here is what an archeologist said

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Idol of Lord Narasimha and devotee Prahlada, said to be 1200 years old, identified in Qutub Minar complex: Here is what an archeologist said

For the last two months, the so-called Qutub Minar in Delhi has been in the news across the country, as there are reports of idols of gods and goddesses and various symbols related to Hinduism and Jainism being found here. According to the reports, a pillar of the disputed structure currently known as Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in the so-called Qutub Minar complex has a statue. There was an attempt to identify it for years, but now archaeologist Dharamveer Sharma has identified this idol as that of Narasimha Bhagwan and devotee Prahlad.

Dharamveer Sharma, who has been the regional director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), claims that the statue dates back to the period of the Pratihara kings in the eighth-ninth centuries. It was being tried to be identified for years, and after a lot of effort now the archaeologist has identified this statue.

It is being claimed that the idol is 1200 old, and it dates back to the time of the Pratihara kings or King Anangpal. It has been identified by Dharamveer Sharma, former regional director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He claimed that the idol dates back to the eighth or ninth century. At that time it was the regime of the Pratihara kings and King Anangpal I. Mihir Bhoja has been the most majestic king among the Pratihara kings. The photographs of this idol have been sent to the expert archaeologists of the country for special study. He said that this is the rarest idol of Lord Narasimha.

Renowned archaeologist Sharma said, “So far we have been seeing only the statue of Lord Narsinmha in which Hiranyakashyapu is shown to be kept on his knee and the Asura is shown to be being ripped off by Lord Narasimha with his nails. But in this idol, it is shown that when the angry Lord Narsinmha killed Hiranyakashyapu, the earth started burning due to his anger. The gods then prayed to the devotee Prahlada because he was the beloved of Lord Narsimha and he only could calm the anger of Lord Narasimha. Prahlad then started praying to Lord Narsinmha. So pleased, Lord Narsinmha took Prahlad on his lap and calmed down.”

Dharamvir Sharma has been the regional in-charge of the excavation in Delhi. Talking about the idol, Tarun Vijay, chairman of the National Monuments Authority, said that the statue identified in the Qutub Minar is amazing. This idol is a point of special attraction for the religious and researching community. The photographs of this idol have been sent to the expert archaeologists of the country for special study.

It is notable that Narasimha Puja is performed with great devotion all over India. All the special pujas of Lord Jagannath in Puri are performed in the nearby Narasimha Temple. Lord Narasimha is also a symbol of punishing the evil and the decorum breaker in every situation.

“Coloured scarves not allowed”: Taliban issues new dictate in Afghanistan, prevents burqa-clad female students from entering university for wearing coloured hijabs

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“Coloured scarves not allowed”: Taliban issues new dictate in Afghanistan, prevents burqa-clad female students from entering university for wearing coloured hijabs

After making head-to-toe burqa mandatory for women, now the Taliban has issued a new dictate on Islamic veils. Today the Taliban authorities have declared that women will not be allowed to wear coloured Hijab.

According to reports on social media, female students who were wearing coloured hijab or scarves were not allowed to enter a university in Kabul today. Reportedly the Taliban authorities said that “coloured scarves are not allowed”.

Videos posted on social media showed Taliban operatives standing near the gate of the university and guiding the women out who were wearing coloured Hijab. Only women with black veil were allowed to enter the university, the video suggests. Despite the fact that all the women were wearing burqa, those who were covering their head with coloured scarves were not allowed to enter the university.

Reportedly, the Taliban prevented any woman wearing coloured clothing or coloured scarf from entering the university. According to the students, the Taliban told them that only black clothing is allowed for female students, and they will not be allowed to enter the university if they come in any other coloured cloths.

A Taliban member addressed the students in coloured Hijabs in front of the university and explained them why they should only wear black scarves. But the women objected to this, saying that it is difficult to wear black scarves during hot weather. But the Taliban didn’t relent and the women were forced to leave the university.

This action by the Taliban authorities came on the same day when a senior minister had claimed that they are not forcing women to wear Hijab. In an on-camera interview with CNN, acting interior minister of Afghanistan Sirajuddin Haqqani had said that his govt has not imposed mandatory Hijab in the country, but rather it is a religious order and they are only advising women to follow it.

“Hijab is an order according to the Islamic Sharia,” he had said. Claiming that they are not forcing anyone to wear Hijab, Haqqani had added, “Within the Islamic government, we are committed to the rights of everyone. We are not forcing women to wear hijab, but we are advising them and preaching to them from time to time. Hijab is also (to) create a dignified environment for women’s education and work, hijab is not compulsory but is an Islamic order that everyone should implement.”

Earlier this month, Taliban chief and Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had issued a decree making an all-covering burqa mandatory for women in Afghanistan. The decree was released by Taliban authorities at a function in Kabul. “They should wear a chador (head-to-toe burqa) as it is traditional and respectful”, the decree said.

Rajasthan: Congress MLA Ganesh Ghogra resigns from the party, says ‘was being ignored’

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Congress MLA Ganesh Ghogra resigns from the party, says ‘was being ignored’

Rajasthan Congress MLA and State’s Youth Congress president Ganesh Ghogra has resigned from the party alleging that he is being ignored even after being MLA of the ruling party. Ghogra is a 38-year-old MLA from Dungarpur in the state assembly and is known to be a close aide of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Congress MLA Ganesh Ghogra’s resignation letter. Courtesy: Yatharth Mishra on Twitter

In a letter directed to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Ganesh Ghogra complained that the administration does not listen to him when he brings up people’s problems. He said that even after sitting on the administerial posts in the government, his concerns were not being addressed. In his letter, he states that after being sidelined by the people in the administration, he has been prompted to take such a step.

According to news reports, Ghogra was miffed when local authorities did not pay heed to issues raised by him over land distribution. His resignation letter, which has been published on social media mentions Congress stalwarts including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, state representative Ajay Maken, and State Congress Chief Govind Singh Dotasra among others. Ghogra, who was anointed as the Rajasthan State President of the Indian Youth Congress in April 2020, has parted ways from the Congress while state assembly elections are due next year.

Amidst the polarising rivalry between CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, Ghogra remained an important apostle of the CM’s causes in the Gehlot faction. It is said that in 2020, Ganesh Ghogra was made the State Youth Congress President after removing MLA Mukesh Bhakar, a Pilot aide. Ghogra’s resignation comes hours after Hardik Patel from Gujarat resigned from Congress just months ahead of Gujarat’s state assembly elections. Patel’s discontent with Congress too emerged from a similar reason of being neglected in the party.

In the coming months, it would be difficult for the Congress party to hold together the sentiment of its youth leaders given that assembly elections in many states are around the corner.

Mathura: Hindu Mahasabha seeks permission for consecration of Laddu Gopal in Shahi Idgah, court admits plea

OpIndia Staff
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Mathura: Hindu Mahasabha seeks permission for consecration of Laddu Gopal in Shahi Idgah, court admits plea

Dinesh Kaushik, National Treasurer of All India Hindu Mahasabha, submitted a plea with Civil Judge Senior Division Mathura on Wednesday seeking permission to consecrate Laddu Gopal at Shahi Idgah. After accepting his petition, the court set July 1 as the date for the next hearing.

The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha had previously announced Laddu Gopal’s Jalabhishek at Shahi Idgah in Mathura on December 6, 2021. However, due to the administration’s strictness, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha was unable to perform the Jalabhishek. Now, the Mahasabha has petitioned the Mathura Civil Court for permission, which will be heard on July 1.

It is pertinent to note that on Friday, two applications were submitted in the civil judge’s court in Mathura requesting the appointment of an advocate commissioner to conduct a survey at the Shahi Idgah masjid next to Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi. Another plea has also been filed in court, seeking that the Shahi Idgah Masjid be sealed and security be provided to preserve Hindu sacred artefacts from vandalism.

The Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case

The Shahi Idgah mosque was established after a portion of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, which encompassed 13.37 acres of land, was demolished, according to the petitioners. They want the mosque to be demolished and the land surrounding the temple restored to them.

In one case, a petition was made to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque, which was built in Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. The court-filed complaint sought the demolition of a mosque established in 1669-70 on the instructions of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 13.37-acre complex of Katra Keshav Dev Temple near Lord Krishna’s birthplace. The hearing in this case in Mathura’s Sessions Court ended on May 6. The court postponed its decision in this matter until May 19.

On Thursday, the Allahabad high court also directed the Mathura court to decide within four months on petitions claiming ownership of the whole property on which the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi stands and seeking to demolish the adjacent Shahi Idgah Mosque.

Hanuman Chalisa Sacrilege: Burnt copy of Hanuman Chalisa found in Bathinda in Punjab, probe initiated

OpIndia Staff
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Hanuman Chalisa Sacrilege: Burnt copy of Hanuman Chalisa found in Bathinda in Punjab, probe initiated

On May 16, a case of sacrilege was reported in Bathinda as a burnt copy of Hanuman Chalisa was found in Bathinda near Qila Sahib. As per reports, some miscreants burnt the religious book and threw the remains in the garbage. The Police were informed about the incident, after which they confiscated the burnt pages and initiated a probe.

Hindu organizations staged a protest against the incident of sacrilege of Hanuman Chalisa. Leaders of Hindu organizations and BJP leaders received the information late evening about the incident. Speaking to OpIndia, BJP leader Sukhpal Saran said, “In most probability, those who left Hindu and Sikh religions are involved in these incidents. Such incidents of sacrilege have been happening for a long time. They choose days like Dusherra, Diwali, Gurupurab and other festivals for such incidents to provoke Hindus and Sikhs. Cases were registered against such elements.”

Blaming Aam Aadmi Party for inaction, he said, “I would like to point out that since Kejriwal became active in Punjab politics, such incidents have increased. I feel this is political propaganda to defame religious groups and political parties like BJP and Akali Dal.”

Saran added, “Notably, in the previous cases, no concrete solution was provided by the previous governments as per law. People are angry, and AAP is getting benefitted from the anger. He promised to take strict action against incidents of sacrilege, but nothing happened since AAP came to power.”

He said the failure of previous governments brought AAP to power, and the results are still the same. He said,d “When sacrilege incident happened during the time when Akali Dal was in power, they could not take proper action. The people voted for Congress out of anger and hoped that they would take some action, but the result was the same. The frustrated people of Punjab ditched both parties and voted for AAP this time. If you notice, 20 such incidents have taken place since Kejriwal got active in Punjab.”

Saran said AAP is trying to divert attention from the inability of fulfilling mountainous promises the party made before the elections. He said, “AAP had made mountainous promises like Rs 1,000 to every female above age of 18 and free 300 units of electricity. They are trying to take away the attention of the people from the fact that they failed to fulfil the promises.”

Speaking to Hindi Daily, Dainik Bhaskar, J Elanchezian, SSP Bathinda, said that the Police are investigating the matter. “The CCTV footage is being checked, and those who insulted Hanuman Chalisa will be arrested soon.”

Sacrilege of Gutka Sahib

Another incident of sacrilege was reported on May 17. Unknown miscreants tore pages of Gutka Sahib and threw them from the tenth floor of DD Mittal Tower. The Police reached the spot after getting information about the incident and confiscated the pages.

The incident was first reported by a child who lives on the fourth floor of the building. When the elders living in the building noticed that the pages thrown were of Gutka Sahib, they gathered at the spot in large numbers. DSP Chiranjeev said the investigation is underway.

Uttarakhand AAP’s Chief Ministerial face Col. Ajay Kothiyal resigns from membership of the party

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Uttarakhand AAP’s Chief Ministerial face Col. Ajay Kothiyal resigns from membership of the party

Aam Aadmi Party leader Col. Ajay Kothiyal, who was the Chief Ministerial candidate for the party from Uttarakhand, has resigned from the party membership on Wednesday. He announced his resignation publicly on Twitter stating that he is doing so keeping in mind the sentiments of ex-servicemen, elderly, women, youth and intellectuals.

Posting his resignation letter from AAP on Twitter, Col. Kothiyal wrote, “Keeping in mind the sentiments of ex-servicemen, ex-paramilitary, elderly, women, youth and intellectuals, I am giving my resignation from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party.” It was last year in April 2021, that Col. Ajay Kothiyal joined the Aam Aadmi Party in the wake of the upcoming 2022 Assembly elections in the state.

Keeping in mind the fact that the state of Uttarakhand has a large ex-servicemen population, the Aam Aadmi Party had made Kothiyal its CM face. The party had banked on the military service credentials of Kothiyal apart from the promise of providing 300 units of free electricity if it comes to power. It should be noted that Kothiyal had an illustrious career in the military with a host of awards including the Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Vishishta Seva Medal, and Parakram Padak to his name.

While AAP failed to win a single seat in the elections, a barrage of revolting leaders from the party including Sagar Bhandari blamed Kothiyal for AAP’s defeat in the state. “Elections were fought in the name of Colonel Kothiyal in the state. Every banner had his photo. So he should also take responsibility for the defeat. But till now he has neither done this in front of the media nor to any party workers,” AAP leader Bhandari had commented after the party’s defeat.

After facing internal opposition within the party and its lacklustre electoral performance, Col. Ajay Kothiyal has decided to part ways with AAP while tendering his resignation from the party’s primary membership.

DU professor booked for making derogatory comments on Shivling found inside Gyanvapi disputed structure, seeks AK-56 rifles after mocking Hindus

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DU professor booked for making derogatory comments on Shivling found inside Gyanvapi disputed structure, seeks AK-56 rifles after mocking Hindus

Supreme Court advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a case with the Delhi Police against Delhi University professor Dr Ratan Lal for offending religious sensitivities. The case follows a social media post by him in which Ratan Lal had made vile derogatory statements directed toward the Shivling inside the Gyanvapi disputed structure, which came to light during the Court-ordered survey.

According to the Delhi Police, a complaint was filed yesterday night against Ratan Lal. Cyber PS North District has filed a case under sections 153A/ 295A of the IPC. Here is the offensive post made by the professor.

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The post.

Ratan Lal, an Associate Professor of History at Hindu College in Delhi University, has faced widespread condemnation from netizens after the offensive remark was posted. Many people who responded angrily to the article also tagged the Delhi Police’s Twitter handle, demanding action.

RP Singh, a spokesperson of the BJP wrote “This hurts my religious sentiments. I will appreciate if Dr Ratan Lal is booked under section 153A IPC & other provisions of IPC and the case be pursued against him. @CPDelhi @DelhiPolice”

Notably, Ratan Lal also wrote a letter to the central government and the President of India requesting two AK56 rifle-equipped bodyguards or an arms licence so that he could obtain an AK56 gun. Mocking the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the President of India, He also said that commando training should be provided to him.

The tweet with the letter.

A Shivling was unearthed during the court-ordered study of the disputed Gyanvapi structure adjacent to the Kashi Vishvanath Mandir in Varanasi after the Wuzukhana in the premises was drained out. After the discovery, Civil Judge Varanasi (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar ordered the sealing of the disputed Gyanvapi structure on Monday, May 16th.

NCPCR summons Twitter India executive for not filing ‘Action Taken’ report on Kunal Kamra’s doctored clip on a minor boy

OpIndia Staff
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NCPCR summons Twitter India executive for not filing ‘Action Taken’ report on Kunal Kamra’s doctored clip on a minor boy

On Tuesday, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) summoned Twitter India’s communications director for not taking any action against ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra who had posted a doctored video of a minor boy singing a patriotic song for PM Modi in Germany.

The NCPCR said that the social media company had not yet filed an action taken report against Kamra. On May 5, the child rights body sent a letter to Twitter India seeking action against Kamra for tweeting the purported video. “A letter in this regard was sent to your good offices, calling for an ATR (action taken report) in the instant complaint within seven days or receipt of the letter. However, no such ATR has been yet received by the commission,” the NCPCR said on May 17.

“It has been 15 days but Twitter is yet to submit an action taken report with us. They haven’t even informed us if the video has been removed. This is not an isolated case with Twitter, but a repeating occurrence. If they want to operate in India, they will have to follow the law of the land,” NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo stated.

The NCPCR had taken the cognizance of the video in which Kamra had edited a song sung by a 7-year-old boy amid his interaction with PM Modi. The boy had sung the song named ‘Hey Janmabhoomi Bharat’ which was replaced by Kamra with lyrics ‘Mehengayi daayan khaaye jaat hain’. The NCPCR had written to the social media company and had sought immediate removal of the video. The organization said that the minor was being allegedly used by the ‘comedian’ to purport his political agenda.

It added that Kamra had practiced crime by using minors for propagating political ideologies which is a violation of the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It also stated that using children for such promotional purposes was harmful and detrimental to their mental well-being.

According to the reports, the father of the boy also lashed out at Kamra for editing the video and asked him to keep his son out of politics. “He is my 7-year-old son, who wanted to sing this song for his beloved Motherland. Though he is still very young certainly he loves his country more than you Mr. Kamra or Kachra whatever you are. Keep the poor boy out of your filthy politics and try to work on your poor jokes”, the father had tweeted.

Reacting to the tweet Kamra argued that the video was in the public domain and posted by a news organization. “The joke is not on your son, while you enjoy your son singing for his motherland to the most popular son, there are songs that he should listen to from people of his country also,” Kamra tweeted.

The NCPCR has demanded strict action against the ‘comedian’ who has violated the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The doctored video has, however, been deleted by Kamra.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Somaiya files Rs 100-crore defamation suit against Sanjay Raut over his allegations of ‘Rs 100 crore Toilet Scam’

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BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Somaiya files Rs 100-crore defamation suit against Sanjay Raut over his allegations of ‘Rs 100 crore Toilet Scam’

Maharashtra BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Somaiya has filed a defamation case against Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut in Mumbai’s Shivdi Court. She has accused Sanjay Raut of harassing and defaming her over the allegations of a said ‘Toilet Scam’.

Medha Somaiya had earlier lodged a complaint against Raut at the Mulund police station in Mumbai. Reportedly, a notice was also sent to him. Speaking to the media after filing a defamation suit against Sanjay Raut, Kirit Somaiya said that Sanjay Raut had made false allegations against him and his wife. This came after Raut on April 15, this year had challenged Somaiya to expose him over an allegedly committed ‘Toilet Fraud’. However, Raut as claimed by him earlier, failed to produce documents over the alleged scam.

In his accusations, Sanjay Raut had claimed that Medha Somaiya had committed a fraud of Rs 100 crore in the Toilet Scam. He also said that he has some documents in the case, which will expose the BJP leader. After lodging a complaint against Sanjay Raut last week, Kirit Somaiya had said that his wife Medha Somaiya was defamed and humiliated in this case. Medha Somaiya had demanded actions under IPC 503, 506 and 509 for character assassination against Raut in her complaint with the police.

However, after supposed inaction from the Mulund Police, the Somaiya couple reached the court and filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Sanjay Raut today. “If I do not get justice from the Shivdi court, I am ready to take this matter to High Court as well,” Somaiya asserted while talking to the media. He had already announced taking legal action against Sanjay Raut earlier on his Twitter.

With the Somaiyas taking the legal route, the matter will now be heard on May 26 in the local court. “We have filed this petition to teach Uddhav Thackeray a lesson. The Thackeray government is trying to intimidate us,” Kirit Somaiya alleged.

The matter has taken a u-turn which started when Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in April had claimed that Medha Somaiya and the Yuva Pratishthan, a non-government organisation managed by the Somaiya family were involved in a Rs 100 crore toilet scam. “It is just hilarious how he’s come from INS Vikrant to such levels of fraud and committed a toilet ghotala. I was amused when I looked at the papers. How documents were made up. I will soon come out with the details. The NGO Yuva Pratishthan which they are running and the family is involved and we have all the fake bills that were made,” Raut said last month.

Maharashtra: RTI activist murdered in Yavatmal, accused Danish Sheikh and 3 others arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: RTI activist murdered in Yavatmal, accused Danish Sheikh and 3 others arrested

In a shocking incident that came to light on Monday 16th, May 2022 in the Parva village in the Ghatunji Taluka of Yavatmal in Maharashtra, an RTI activist who had asked for the information regarding the employment guarantee scheme was brutally killed by four men, including the contractor of the employment guarantee scheme. The police have arrested four accused in this case including the contractor.

Anil Ochawar (age 28) of Parva worked as an RTI (Right to Information) activist. He also used to run a xerox center in the village. On Sunday, at 12:30 AM in the night, he was called upon and killed. His dead body appeared near a public dust bin on the road near a local lake.

Anil Ochawar had filed an RTI application in the name of his wife to inquire about the works done under the employment guarantee scheme in the years 2019-20 and 2020-21 in the Parva forest section. It has now become clear that he was killed because he asked the concerned forest officials for the said information.

On Sunday 15th May 2022, accused Danish Sheikh Israel (age 24) called the deceased Anil Ochawar as late as 12:30 in the night. He told Anil Ochawar that he is being summoned for an important meeting. His wife let go of her husband believing his presence was important for an ongoing meeting.

However, on Monday morning, Anil Ochawar’s dead body appeared. Anil Ochawar’s wife registered a complaint at the local police station. The police arrested the four accused. The contractor Vijay Narasimhalu Bhashanwar (age 38), Javed Maula Katate (age 35), Danish Sheikh Israel (age 24), and Sumit Shankar Tippanwar (age 27) are taken under custody in connection with Ochawar’s murder. It is now clear that the four conspired and executed the murder.

Anil Ochawar’s body had marks of severe blows on his throat, chest, and stomach by a sharp weapon. Post mortem was performed at the Pandhar Kavda hospital and the dead body was cremated on Monday afternoon.

Anil Ochawar also used to work for the Nationalist Congress Party. Yavatmal district’s Superintendent of Police Dr. Dilip Patil Bhujbal arrived in Parva on Monday to ensure that the situation did not slip out of control. Upper SP Dr. Khanderao Dharne, Deputy SP of Pandhar Kavda Pradip Patil, Sanjay Pujjalwar, and cyber cell officer Amol puri were among other officers who were present in the village at the time. This case was solved by Vinod Chavhan, police station in charge of the Parva village.

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