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Expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s office says bungalow vacated before 10 am, no eviction took place

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Expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s office says bungalow vacated before 10 am, no eviction took place

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra’s office informed reporters that the government bungalow occupied by the TMC leader in the national capital, was vacated by 10 am on Friday before the ‘authorities’ arrived and ‘no eviction’ took place.

“House number 9B Telegraph Lane occupied by Mahua Moitra, was fully vacated by 10 am this morning (January 19, 2024) and the possession was handed over by her lawyers to the Directorate of Estates, who are inspecting and engaged in due process. Premises were vacated before authorities arrived and no eviction took place at all,” Moitra’s office said in a statement to ANI.

Earlier, on Thursday, the Delhi High Court refused to grant relief to the TMC leader and denied her stay on the operation of eviction of the government bungalow.

Moitra challenged the eviction order and sought a stay.

The high court noted that her eviction was not stayed by the Supreme Court. Justice Girish Kathpaliya dismissed the interim application seeking a stay of operation of the eviction order of January 16, 2024.

Dismissing her application the high court stated, “In view of the pendency of the issue of expulsion of petitioner before the Supreme Court and the issue of extension of time to vacate the government accommodation being inextricably linked with that, coupled with the fact that as on date petitioner has no right.”

“This court is not inclined to invoke jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to restrain the operation of the impugned eviction order. Accordingly, the application stands dismissed,” the HC stated in its order.

“The petitioner having been allotted the government accommodation incidental to her status as a Member of Parliament and that status having ceased upon her expulsion, which expulsion has not been stayed by the Supreme Court despite hearing afforded to her, presently she has no right to continue in the said government accommodation and accordingly, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, she cannot be granted protection as sought,” Justice Kathpaliya said in the order pronounced on Thursday.

The court stated further that the allotment of government accommodation to the ‘petitioner’ was a co-terminus with her status, which has come to an end upon her expulsion as a member of the Lower House of Parliament.

The court pointed out that no specific rule had been brought before the court pertaining to the eviction of MPs from the government accommodation after they cease to be members.

The petitioner sought retention of her government accommodation on the ground that her expulsion as a Member of Parliament was “contrary to law and the procedure laid down by Section 3B of the Act was not followed and despite the respondent no. 1 (Estate officer) having deferred the decision till resolution of representation of the petitioner by authorities the eviction order was passed”.

It was also submitted that in view of her medical condition and the difficulties she would face during campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, she deserves an extension of time to vacate the government bungalow allotted to her. (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)

Maharashtra: PM Modi launches several projects in Solapur worth over ₹2,000 crore, dedicates over 90,000 houses under PMAY

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: PM Modi launches several projects in Solapur worth over ₹2,000 crore, dedicates over 90,000 houses under PMAY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid down the foundations for several development initiatives in Solapur in Maharashtra today (19th January). The PM laid the foundations for eight AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) schemes in the state worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore at a public event in the southern Maharashtra city.

He also dedicated over 90,000 residences created through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

Furthermore, PM Modi dedicated 15,000 houses to the Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur, which would benefit thousands of handloom workers, merchants, powerloom workers, rag pickers, Bidi laborers, and drivers, among others.

Modi also began distributing the first and second instalments to 10,000 PM-SVANIDHI beneficiaries in Maharashtra during the program.

Solapur is a major textile centre in the country and globally, known for its manufacturing and export of Turkish towels and the characteristic Solapuri chaddars or bedsheets. As per the Urban India Research Faclity report, located near the boundary of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Solapur was historically significant as a religious and trade city under the Bahmani Kingdom and the Mughals, and then as an industrial, trading, and defence centre under the British. This is largely owing to its advantageous location. The city has connections to all of the state’s major regions as well as numerous religious and historical monuments.

The British solidified Solapur’s identity as a town by forming one of four Municipal Corporations in 1852. The British built the Railway Station, which remains an important junction of Central Railways today, as well as a network of highways. Solapur now has three National Highways (NH-9, NH-211, and NH-13) going through it. Given its ideal location, the British supported the establishment of the textile industry, which has played an essential role in Solapur’s socioeconomic and political development, as well as its positioning on the world industrial map.

Since then, the dominant sector of the economy, estimates of employment in the textile industry have ranged from one-third to one-half of the city’s residents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also launch Boeing’s new cutting-edge global engineering and technology innovation center at Devanahalli, near Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.

Following that, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the Prime Minister will officially inaugurate the Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre and launch the Boeing Sukanya Programme in Bangalore.

According to the reports, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate a revolutionary Boeing project aimed at increasing the engagement of Indian women from all areas of life in the Indian aviation sector.

The Prime Minister is inaugurating the new, cutting-edge Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru. The 43-acre campus, which cost Rs 1,600 crores to build, is Boeing’s largest investment outside of the United States. Boeing’s new campus in India will serve as a hub for collaboration with India’s thriving startup, private, and government ecosystems, assisting in the development of next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defense industry.

The Prime Minister will also introduce the Boeing Sukanya Programme, which intends to encourage more young Indian girls to pursue careers in the nation’s expanding aviation industry. The program will enable girls and women from throughout India to master vital STEM skills and prepare for careers in aviation.

For young girls, the program will establish STEM Labs in 150 selected locations to assist and encourage interest in STEM fields. The program will also offer scholarships to women preparing to be pilots.

Shri Ram Lalla Virajman: As Jyotirmath Shankaracharya tries to question new idol in Ram Mandir, here is what the Trust said about original Murti

OpIndia Staff
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Shri Ram Lalla Virajman: As Jyotirmath Shankaracharya tries to question new idol in Ram Mandir, here is what the Trust said about original Murti

With the Pran Pratishtha just two days away, Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Shri Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has sparked a new controversy over the grand ceremony.

In a letter addressed to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, he objected to the Pran Pratishtha of a new idol of Shri Ram in place of the existing idol of Shri Ram Lalla which was discovered at the Ram Janmabhoomi in 1949.

Notably, a clarification has already been issued by the trust in this regard nearly a year ago. This row comes at a time when the controversy over the Shankaracharya’s refusal to attend the Pran Pratishtha has barely settled.

The letter written by the Shankaracharya states, “The question that arises is that if the new idol will be consecrated then will happen to Shri Ram Lalla Virajman? Till now the devotees were of the impression that the new temple is being made for Shri Ram Lalla Virajman but now the installation of some new idol in the sanctum sanctorum for consecration has raised doubts about whether this will be disrespectful to Shri Ram Lalla Virajman.”

He has appealed to the trust only Shri Ram Lalla Virajman’s idol should be consecrated “otherwise it will be considered injustice to Shri Ram Lalla Virajman”.

Moreover, the letter also addresses Ram Mandir’s Chief Architect Chandrakant Sompura asking why he allowed for the temple to be available for Pran Pratishtha when it is not yet complete.

The trust had issued a clarification about a year ago

In April 2023, when the initial information about Shri Ram’s new idol was released, a question that struck the mind of many Hindus was that when one Ram Lalla idol is already present, why do we need the second idol?

OpIndia spoke to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (South Bihar) district head Kameshwar Choupal, also a member of the trust, to understand the rationale behind the decision.

Choupal said that there are two types of idols; one is known as ‘Utsav Murti’ and the other is known as ‘Pran Pratishtha Murti’. “Pran Pratishtha idols cannot be moved anywhere, they stay where they are installed. At the same time, ‘Utsav Murti’ is taken out in events like Jhankis or Shobha Yatras,” he said.

He said that the new idol of Shri Ram placed on a pedestal in the Garbha Griha would give devotees a clear sight of the idol right from head to toe from a distance of 19 feet.

It must be noted that the existing idol of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman will be placed in the temple during the Pran Pratishtha.

Since Shri Ram Lalla Virajman’s idol is smaller in size, it is evident that it will be enshrined as the ‘Utsav Murti’ and will be taken out for Jhankis and Shobha Yatras while the new idol will be placed as the ‘Pran Pratishtha Murti’.

Notably, the existing idol of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman is merely six inches in height and the idols of his brothers and his Supreme devotee Hanuman are even smaller. This was also one of the reasons why the trust decided to make a bigger standing idol.

So where will Shri Ram Lalla Virajman be?

As per reports, the new idol of Shri Ram has been installed in the sanctum sanctorum while the existing idol of Shri Ram Lalla Virajman along with his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna will installed right in front of the new idol inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Yet another controversy coming from a Dharmaguru ahead of the most pious ceremonies and celebrations in the country is in bad taste.

Netizens have been openly expressing their displeasure with the Shankaracharya who first refused to attend the Pran Pratishtha citing that the Ram Mandir structure was incomplete and hence Pran Pratishtha was against rituals.

However, many experts, the most primary being the renowned Hindu astrologer Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid Ji, have cited several Hindu scriptures providing evidence as to why the Pran Pratishtha can indeed be performed even if the temple structure is not entirely constructed.

Moreover, Jyotirmath Shankaracharya has also gone on to make borderline political statements implying that the government is in a rush to conduct the consecration owing to political reasons.

Ramotsav in Ayodhya: Day 4 rituals begin as Ram Lalla idol is installed in sanctum sanctorum of Mandir, doors to remain closed till Pran Pratishtha

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Ramotsav in Ayodhya: Day 4 rituals begin as Ram Lalla idol is installed in sanctum sanctorum of Mandir, doors to remain closed till Pran Pratishtha

As the Vedic rituals ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s temple have entered their fourth day on Friday, the holy fire was lit, which will be followed by the establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and a ‘Havan’.

The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla at the historic temple will take place on January 22.

The fourth-day rituals began at the temple today at 9 a.m. with the lighting of holy fire.

The idol of Shri Ram Lalla, which was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya on Thursday, will be given ‘Aushdhadhiwas’ (medicinal abode), ‘Kesaradhiwas’ (saffron abode), ‘Dhritashiwas’ (Dhrita abode), and ‘Pushpadhiwas’ (flower abode).

Following this, the idol will be kept in saffron and later in grains.

The temple doors will be closed to visitors until January 22 and will be reopened the next day.

Meanwhile, as ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Day approaches, the security in Ayodhya’s Karsevakpuram has been beefed up, the area where Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai resides.

Visuals showed posters of Ram Lalla installed in several places in the city as it gears up to hold the grand ceremony. Selfie points have been established in several places near the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, situated near the Naya Ghat at the intersection of Ram Path and Dharm Path.

Posters and banners featuring Ram Lalla were seen illuminating the ‘Ram Nagri’.

As the celebrations of ‘Amrit Mahotsava’ continue, the ‘Vishwa Hindu Parishad’ has set up tea stalls to provide free tea and biscuits to the visitors coming to Ayodhya.

Ayodhya is observing ‘Amrit Mahotsava’ ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.

The idol of Lord Ram was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya on Thursday. Covered with a veil, the first photo of the idol was revealed during the placement ceremony in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday.

The photos were shared by Sharad Sharma, media in-charge of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.Vedic Brahmins and revered Acharyas were seen leading worship ceremonies inside the sacred precincts of the Sri Ram Temple.

According to the VHP, members of the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra also participated in the prayers.

The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ was carved by Arun Yogiraj, a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.

The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the ‘Pran Pratishtha’; however, a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals.

Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday announced that all central government offices will be closed for half-day on January 22 for the ‘Pran Patishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

As per the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, all Central Government offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments across the country shall remain closed for half a day till 02:30 pm.

“The Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated on January 22, 2024, across India. To enable employees in the celebrations, it has been decided that all Central Government Offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments throughout India will be closed for half a day till 14:30 hours on January 22, 2024,” the notification read.

Various activities have been planned by organizations and groups of people across India and abroad to coincide with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya.

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

Maharashtra: Bajrang Dal members in Manchar thwart cattle smuggling attempt, 3 calves rescued, smuggler booked

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Bajrang Dal members in Manchar thwart cattle smuggling attempt, 3 calves rescued, smuggler booked

On Tuesday (16th January), the Bajrang Dal members of Manchar in the Pune district of Maharashtra foiled an attempt of cattle smuggling and saved three calves. One Shankar Shalaya Wani (age 40) was arrested in this case. The alleged mastermind of this cow trafficking nexus Mahipati Bhosle is absconding. Both were booked under section 11(A) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

On 16th January, Gorakshak Suraj Dharam – a member of the Bajrang Dal Ambegaon Section – received information that some young calves would be loaded in sacks and taken for slaughter in a mini tempo from Mahaluge Padwal. He and his fellow activists shared this information with the Manchar police station inspector Balwant Mandge.

Bajrang Dal members rescued three calves. Image Source: Suraj Dharam

As soon as the information was received, police officers were immediately sent to help the Gorakshaks. When the police inspected the vehicle, they found three calves stuffed in sacks and the sacks were tied from outside. The accused Mahipat Bhagwant fled the spot after learning that the police vehicle was approaching. The police arrested his driver Shankar Shalaya Wani. A complaint was filed by police constable Firoz Momin and an FIR was registered in which both the accused were implicated under section 11(A) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. A copy of this complaint is with OpIndia.

Gorakshaks and Bajrang Dal members Amol Barave, Atul Thorat, Shubham Gholap, Piyush Thorat, Suraj Lokhande, Sachin Lokhande, Atul Nighot, Sagar Renukadas, Aniket Rajguru, Akshay Rajguru, Babu Dethe, Sujal Dolas, Pawan Lokhande, Ayush Kadam, Monu Pokharkar worked for this action. They took the rescued calves to a Goshala in Bhosari. An activist at Mahaluge Padwal intercepted the vehicle, but one of the accused fled before the team arrived with the police force.

Gorakshaks from Manchar are members of the Bajrang Dal Ambegaon section. Image Source: Suraj Dharam

In an interaction with OpIndia, Gorakshak Suraj Dharam said that Mahipat Bhosle has several cases of cow smuggling registered against him in all four talukas surrounding Manchar. Suraj Dharam said, “Mahipat Bhosale runs a large-scale cow smuggling nexus in Khed, Ambegaon, Junnar and Shirur talukas. The man buys or steals native cows, bulls, jerseys, buffaloes and small calves from various places and delivers these destitute animals to slaughterhouses. He carries some women with him while transporting the smuggled cattle. When someone stops the vehicle, these women protest and fight with Gorakshaks. On several occasions, they have carried out deadly attacks on our fellow Gorakshaks.”

Accused Mahipat Bhosle has many cases of cow smuggling against him. Image Source: Suraj Dharam

Suraj Dharam further said, “Using these women as a shield, false cases have been filed on several occasions against Gorakshaks who came to save the cows. In some cases, hundreds of cow killers and traffickers gather at the spot as well as at the police station and put pressure on the administration. Since Mahipat Bhosle has been in this business for many years, he made a lot of money. His agents work everywhere in the four talukas and come to his aid from time to time. He has set up unauthorised sheds at the foot of the hill behind Annasaheb Awte College at Shindewadi. Cows and calves are brought and tied to this place and taking advantage of the darkness of the night, the animals are taken for slaughter to Junnar, Ale Phata, Belhe and other places.”

Suraj Dharam added, “If someone asks, they are told that the animals are looked after at this place. These issues are dealt with by lying in a very brazen manner. Hundreds of people travel there every day on the road but no one takes pity on these cows and calves. No one objects. People don’t even give simple sneaky information. There is a demand from the people to take strict action against Mahipat Bhosle for a long time.”

Suryavanshi Thakurs of UP finally don turbans after almost 500 years: As Ram Lalla’s return to his Mandir is fulfilled, here is how the community fought Mughal tyrants

OpIndia Staff
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Suryavanshi Thakurs of UP finally don turbans after almost 500 years: As Ram Lalla’s return to his Mandir is fulfilled, here is how the community fought Mughal tyrants

On Thursday (18th January), members of the Suryavanshi Thakur community donned their turbans (padgdi) in anticipation of the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

It must be mentioned that the community had vowed to not wear a turban until a majestic Ram Mandir was reconstructed at the site where a disputed structure was built by Mughal tyrant Babur.

The wait of almost 500 years ended for the Suryanshi Thakur community on Thursday (18th January) when they finally wore their turbans at the Sarairasi village of Ayodhya.

Residing in approximately 115 villages along both banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya and the neighboring Basti district, the Suryavanshi Thakurs identify themselves as the descendants of the Lord Ram.

Their belief is rooted in the historical account that around 90,000 of their ancestors fought a war against Mir Baqi, the commander of the first Mughal tyrant Babur who demolished an ancient Ram temple and built a disputed structure atop it.

While speaking about the matter, a 63-year-old Suryanvanshi Thakur named Dayaram Singh told The Print, “A total of 76 battles were fought for the liberation of the Ram janmabhoomi from Babur’s era till British rule. When our forefathers heard about Mir Baqi having brought down the temple, they were incensed and decided to liberate the Ram janmabhoomi. They gathered an army of 90,000 Suryavanshi Thakurs and decided to wage a war against the Mughal army.”

He added, “As they marched towards the Ram janmabhoomi, the warriors gathered at Surya Kund where they took a vow that they would not wear a pagdi on their heads, neither wear a panahi [leather shoes] on their feet nor cover their heads with an umbrella till they liberated Lord Ram’s janmabhoomi”

During the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1990s, the Suryavanshi Thakurs played a crucial role in supporting the karsevaks (Lord Ram drboteee) who arrived from various parts of the country. They provided food, shelter, and assistance to these karsevaks and ensure their safe passage to the janmabhoomi site.

Shiv Singh, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and a resident of Sarairasi village, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to extend an invitation to at least one representative from the Suryavanshi Thakur community to Ram Mandir consecration ceremonu.

‘Jai Shri Ram’: Actress Nayanthara apologises for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus in her film ‘Annapoorani’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Jai Shri Ram’: Actress Nayanthara apologises for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus in her film ‘Annapoorani’

Amidst the outrage around the Tamil film ‘Annapoorani’ for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community, the film’s actress Nayanthara has issued an apology. In a note posted on her Instagram on Thursday (18th January), the actress said that she did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments.

Nayanthara began her apology with “Jai Shri Ram” and said that the makers of the film attempted to give a “positive message”, however, in the process they may have “inadvertently caused hurt.”

Further, the actress added that the film’s team did not expect a film passed by the censor board and already released in theatres, to be removed from an OTT platform.

“We did not expect the removal of a censored film, previously showcased in theatres, from the OTT platform. My team and I never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments and we understand the gravity of this issue,” Nayanthara wrote.

Moreover, Nayanthara asserted that she is a firm believer of God and often visits temples across the country adding that causing hurt to religious sensibilities intentionally would be the last thing she would do.

“Being someone who wholely believes in God and frequently visits temples across the country, it is the last thing I would intentionally do. To those whose feelings we’ve touched, I extend my sincere and heartfelt apologies,” she added.

Towards the end of her apology note, the actress said that the film Annapoorani was meant to “uplift and inspire, not to cause distress.”

Notably, Nayanthara’s apology comes just days after Zee Studios issued an apology to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for hurting Hindu religious sentiments of the Hindu community in their film ‘Annapoorani’. The letter stated that Zee has urged the film’s co-producers, M/s Trident Arts, to take appropriate action against the problematic parts in the film, as well as Netflix to remove the movie from its OTT platform till the film is not altered. Zee apologized for offending the religious sentiments of the Hindu and Brahmin communities.

‘Annapoorani’ was released on Netflix on 28th December last year and is the 75th film of Tamil actress Nayanthara. The movie is produced by Trident Arts, Zee Studios and Naad Studios. However, Netflix de-platformed the movie on January 11.

As reported earlier, the film garnered a lot of criticism on social media recently for its anti-Hindu content. The film was accused of promoting conversion to Islam, misrepresenting the revered Hindu deity Bhagwan Ram and offending the religious sentiments of Hindus.

On 6th January, former Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Solanki filed a police complaint against the makers of the film ‘Annapoorani’. Solanki, the founder of Hindu IT Cell, wrote to the Chief Inspector of the Lokmanya Tilak police station, seeking action against the anti-Hindu nature of the feature film.

According to the Hindu activist, the movie ‘Annapoorani’ featured several objectionable scenes. Those include the offering of Namaz (Islamic prayer) by the daughter of a Hindu Brahmin temple priest, glorification of love jihad, and falsehoods about Lord Ram and Maa Sita devouring meat in Ramayana. On 10th January, another FIR (First Information Report) was registered against the film’s makers and actors in Madhya Pradesh by the Hindu Seva Parishad.

Gujarat: 14 killed after boat capsizes in Vadodara’s lake, CM Patel orders high level probe

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Gujarat: 14 killed after boat capsizes in Vadodara’s lake, CM Patel orders high level probe

As many as twelve school children and two teachers were killed after a boat capsized in Vadodara’s Harni Motnath Lake on Thursday.

A total of 20 people have been rescued in the operation.

“12 school children and two teachers died in the incident. 20 people were rescued and 14 people died. To ensure justice to them, the Chief Minister has ordered a strong inquiry and IPC sections 304, 308 and 114 have been invoked against the accused. Two accused have been nabbed and a magisterial inquiry has been handed over to Vadodara District Collector,” Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi told ANI.

Harsh Sanghavi further stated that an FIR has been registered and teams have been formed to arrest the remaining accused.

“FIR has been registered and 9 teams have been formed to arrest the accused. PM has announced Rs 2 Lakhs each for the next of kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The state Govt has announced Rs 4 Lakhs each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured,” he said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel arrived at the accident site of Harani Lake, inspected the relief and rescue operations and gave necessary instructions to mobilise the operation. He also visited the postmortem centre located at SSG hospital in Vadodara. He also met the families of the children who lost their lives in the boat capsize incident of Vadodara.

A relative of a child who was rescued, said, “They were being taken for a picnic. The children were not given safety wear (life jackets). The capacity of the boat was 12 but 27 people were seating there.”

Vadodara District Magistrate will submit a detailed report to State government within 10 days.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday called the incident ‘heart-wrenching’ and urged the state government to expedite relief measures.

“The news of the death of many students, including teachers, due to the boat capsizing in Vadodara, Gujarat is extremely heart-wrenching. Many students are still reported missing in this accident. The Gujarat government and administration are requested to expedite the relief and rescue operations and make every possible effort to save the lives of the students. In this hour of grief, we stand with the bereaved families and express our deepest condolences,” Kharge said.

Vadodara MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt said that strict action will be taken in this regard.

“The NDRF team is carrying out the rescue operation. The children have been taken to different hospitals. Strict action will be taken in this matter,” Vadodara MP said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives and also announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.

“Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. (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)

Centre asked UP govt to remove Ram Lalla idol in 1949 after Pakistan Radio claimed that Hindus were capturing places vacated after partition: Ex-Secretary Raghvendra Singh

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Centre asked UP govt to remove Ram Lalla idol in 1949 after Pakistan Radio claimed that Hindus were capturing places vacated after partition: Ex-Secretary Raghvendra Singh

Centre asked UP govt to remove Ram Lalla idol in 1949 after Pakistan Radio claimed that Hindus were capturing places vacated after partition: Ex Secretary Raghvendra Singh

The Uttar Pradesh government under the then Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant was asked by the Central government in 1949 to ensure the removal of the idol of Ram Lalla days after the news percolated of its sudden appearance and Pakistan Radio showed the news stressing that Hindus are capturing the space vacated by a certain community after Partition, recalled Raghvendra Singh, former Union Culture Secretary and ex-director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library while explaining the pressure his grandfather Guru Dutt Singh, the then Faizabad city magistrate and additional district magistrate faced.

He (Guru Dutt Singh) obviously took cognisance of that and reported to the state government and which wanted that the ‘murti’ (the idol of Ram Lalla) which appeared on the night of December 22-23 of 1949 be removed forthwith “that it was not possible”, Raghvendra told ANI.

Raghvendra said it was all due to Pakistan Radio’s announcement which would obviously whether it was Kashmir or another major issue in our country keep on coming up with really false, sensational and mischievous reports.

“So, they (Pakistan Radio) came out with the report and that is how perhaps Delhi got to know…Pakistan Radio showed the Indians are now trying to occupy the space vacated by one section of the community since the Partition has taken place,” said Raghvendra.

The former secretary pointed “When this happened (Ram Lalla idol appeared) on the night of December 22-23 of 1949, the news percolated around in the morning and it spread like fire.”

“A point in fact which had to be taken under consideration by the then City Magistrate who happened to be my Baba (grandfather), he obviously took cognisance of that and reported to the state government and which had wanted that the murti be removed forthwith that it was not possible.”

As per Raghvendra, the state government had asked for the “removable of the ‘Ram Lalla’ idol because they were being asked by the Central government to do that.”

“So, when he (my grandfather) reported the way he did, that went against him. When it was reported back to the centre, certain clear directions came and based on which the then UP Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant made an immediate dash to the district Headquarters Faizabad.”

“Before Pant could come to Faizabad, as of the protocol, the government officials would go and receive him at the boundary of the district. So, my grandfather went to receive him at the boundary of the district and told him that it was not possible for him to be brought over to the spot because the devotees had gotten an impression that the state government as well as the Central government wanted to remove the statue of Ram Lalla, and they would resist that,” Raghvendra explained the situation his grandfather faced.

“If they resist that and we try and implement the order, there would be a law and order situation. And Pant’s presence at that time would be a risk that my grandfather would not want to take.”

Raghvendra said, “Debate got heated up and Mr Pant said basically what Guru Dutt ji was suggesting that neither would you take responsibility for mine neither would you carry out my orders for the removal of this statue.”

“So, this will actually lead to some serious repercussions which you understand what is going to happen,” the clear message, Raghvendra said, his grandfather was conveyed.

“My grandfather stood his ground and he did not allow CM to go to the spot, which I think was the big decision in itself, and not satisfied at all with what had transpired, the CM returned to the state headquarters,” he added.

Knowing fully well what was to follow and before it could follow, Raghvendra said, “My grandfather decided to tender his resignation.” “He immediately tendered his resignation.”

“But before he did that, he passed two orders: one was an executive order that the ‘puja-archana’ (prayer) at the Ram Chabootara and at the ‘garbh-grah (sanctum sanctorum) where Ram Lala idol was there should be carried on without any obstruction, and secondly that there should be promulgation of Section 144 of CrPC which would ensure that there would be no assemblage of a kind which would lead to confrontation with the other set of people who were already there. And these two orders were implemented. But, my grandfather tendered the resignation.”

“My grandfather’s luggage was removed at midnight and was put on the road and he was asked to leave his official residence,” said Raghvendra, who got emotional while speaking to ANI.

“He (my grandfather) spent the whole night on the road with his family. Thereafter, he shifted to the flat of one of his friends Bhagwati Babu, and also his pension was stopped. So that was the small prize he paid for the decision he had taken. But, looking back, I think it was a brave and crucial decision that he had taken. People of that area know about it,” he added.

Asked what kind of pressure the then Central government would have faced, Raghvendra, “It was a muse which was relayed. The pressure which was being exerted… Fully knowing the sentiments of the large majority of people, but the fact that a certain section of the community may actually not like the idea and may bear a grudge against the party of that time and power at the Centre or the state. I think that was the pressure the then Prime Minister must have faced or the then CM of the United Province must have faced.”

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

‘It will have to pay the price, we announce war on Pakistan’: Balochistan Liberation Army warns after Pakistan’s ‘precision strikes’ in Iran

OpIndia Staff
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‘It will have to pay the price, we announce war on Pakistan’: Balochistan Liberation Army warns after Pakistan’s ‘precision strikes’ in Iran

On Thursday (18th January), Pakistan launched “precision military strikes” against what it claimed “terrorist hideouts” of armed rebel groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province leaving seven people dead. Now, the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has been active in the region since 2000, has released a statement where it has sworn to avenge the attack launched by Pakistan, reports India Today.

“Pakistan will have to pay a price for it,” the group warned.

“Now the Baloch Liberation Army will not remain silent. We will avenge it and we announce war on the state of Pakistan,” the ethnic group was further quoted as saying by India Today.

Meanwhile, a statement claimed to be issued by the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is also doing rounds on social media. X user @RealBababanaras posted the BLF statement and said that the rebel group has refuted Pakistan’s claims and said that they do not have any hideouts in Iran.

Aljazeera also quoted the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) as saying that it “has no hideouts in Iran” and none of “our Saramchar [fighters] was martyred in the recent attacks by Pakistan”.

This comes after the Pakistan army today (Thursday, January 18) released operational details of its strikes and said it carried out precision strikes in Iran using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions and stand-off weapons that struck ‘terrorist’ groups Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front

On January 18, Pakistan launched “precision military strikes” against what it claimed “terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province leaving four children and three women dead in its “intelligence-based operation” named “Marg Bar Sarmachar”. Subsequently, Iran summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires to protest against the missile attack.

Pakistan’s ‘precision strike’ came after on 16th January, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group with drones and missiles inside Pakistan’s territorial borders. Two important headquarters of Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were destroyed. The strikes were concentrated in an area in Pakistan’s Balochistan region where “one of the largest headquarters” of Jaish al-Adl was located. Following the air strike by Iran, Pakistan expelled the Tehran envoy and recalled its ambassador.

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