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‘Ram Mandir is being built 4 km away from Ram Janmabhoomi?’ Opposition spreading misinformation on Ayodhya, know where Ram Lalla will be installed

OpIndia Staff
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‘Ram Mandir is being built 4 km away from Ram Janmabhoomi?’ Opposition spreading misinformation on Ayodhya, know where Ram Lalla will be installed

The Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha is scheduled to take place on 22nd January in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. The entire country is waiting for this, yet opposition leaders continue to spread hatred against the event. In this latest set of statements, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut has made misleading claims about the temple. Raut claims that the Ramlala temple is being constructed 4 kilometers away from the original birthplace, the Ram Janmabhoomi.

According to media reports, Sanjay Raut has claimed that the place where BJP is building the Ram temple is not the original place of the temple. The temple is being built 3-4 kilometers away from the place of birth of Lord Ram. He said that BJP people used to say ‘Ramlalla we will come and the temple will be built there’, but the temple is not being built there. Raut questioned the construction and pondered why is the temple not being built in the original birthplace. He said that anyone could have built a Ram temple away from the original place and indicated that nothing great is happening as claimed by the BJP.

Sanjay Raut stated that the disputed location is still the same. Opposition leaders have taken Raut’s statement and begun spreading misinformation about it on social media. A video of Sanjay Raut’s statement was also uploaded by Vikas Bansal, a Congress worker.

Talking to OpIndia regarding Sanjay Raut’s statement, Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Vinod Bansal said that politicians making such claims are anti-Hindu. Bansal added that people making such allegations are crossing the heights of mental bankruptcy.

Vinod Bansal told OpIndia, “Respected saints… great people… senior people have decided this place. If any person has doubts about this place, that too a political person, then he should take refuge in the saints.” He completely rejected Sanjay Raut’s claim.

Here is the truth behind Sanjay Raut’s statements

Actually, Sanjay Raut is attempting to spread blatant misinformation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the significant Ram temple on August 5, 2020. He performed the rite while singing mantras. This was the same site where Lord Ram’s temple had always existed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram temple in the same location where Lord Ram had lived in a tent for decades.

This was the same place where the Kar Sevaks had demolished the Babri structure, leveled it, and made a platform. Ramlala had been kept on this platform. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said, “Now a grand temple will be built for ‘our Ramlala’ who has been living under sackcloth and tents for years.”

Lord Ram was shifted to a temporary temple in March 2020

In fact, even before construction of the grand temple at Lord Ram’s birthplace began, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath relocated Lord Ram to a temporary shrine. Yogi Adityanath accomplished this task early in the morning on March 25, 2020.

He stated on the social media platform X, “The first phase of construction of the grand Ram temple was completed today. Maryada Purushottam Prabhu Shriram is seated on the new seat from Tripal. Relocated the idol of ‘Ramlalla’ to a temporary structure near Manas Bhawan. Offered a cheque for 11 lakh to build a big temple.”

Actually, Ramlalla was liberated from the tarpaulin and moved to a temporary temple near Manas Bhawan. This information is also publicly available.

World’s largest open-air theatre: Krishna’s childhood comes alive as annual Dhanu Yatra begins in Bargarh, Odisha

Sanghamitra
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World’s largest open-air theatre: Krishna’s childhood comes alive as annual Dhanu Yatra begins in Bargarh, Odisha

On Monday, January 15, the annual Dhanu Yatra started in Odisha’s Bargarh city. Widely regarded as the world’s largest open-air theatre, the festival celebrates the childhood of Lord Krishna in a unique way.

Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari inaugurated the festival on Monday. On the inaugural night, artists showcased the wedding of Maharaj Basudev and Devaki. King Kansa, the brother of Mata Devaki, hears a divine prophecy that he will be killed at the hands of his nephew, the child of the very same sister whose wedding procession he is carrying out.

As per Hindu legends, the theatre then showcased an infuriated Kansa usurping his father Ugrasen’s throne in Mathura and putting his sister Devaki and her husband Basudev in jail.

In this unique festival, the entire city of Bargah is transformed into the legendary ‘Mathura Nagri’, the capital of Kansa’s kingdom and Krishna’s birthplace. The Jeera River is made into Yamuna and the adjoining village of Ambapali, on the other side of the Jeera River, becomes ‘Gop and Vrindavan’, where the child Krishna and Balram grow in Nanda and Yashoda’s household.

Bargarh’s Dhanu Yatra is unique in several ways. During the 11-day-long festivities every year, Kansa Maharaj, or rather the artist playing the Kansa Maharaj, becomes the de-facto ‘ruler’ of the city. Kansa Maharaj even summons the local police officers, DM, and other government officials and ‘orders’ them to perform their duties well.

Government officials also play along, in honour of the festival. They regularly arrive to report to Kansa Maharaj in his Darbar, to provide details of government works and ‘obey’ his orders.

Dhanu Yatra sees Krishna’s childhood enacted in a large-scale, open-air play. Krishna and Balram are welcomed into local households and worshipped. Even the villagers cry when they depart for Mathura. Kansa Maharaj carries out Nagar Parikrama, or tours of the city, like an actual king, and entertains guests at his darbar.

This year, 14 different stages have been built all over the city where Kansa Maharaj will showcase his performance and hold his darbars. On the concluding day, Kansa dies at the hands of his nephew Krishna. The festival will conclude on January 25 this year.

Interestingly, the artist who plays the role of Kansa is the main attraction of this festival. The Dhanu Yatra festival came into existence in Bargarh in 1947-48, as per reports, as a part of enthusiastic celebrations for India’s independence.

In another interesting tradition, the artist who plays Kansa embarks on a pilgrimage to Puri after the festivities of Dhanu Yatra are over. As he has to use derogatory and insulting words for Lord Krishna as a part of his roleplaying, the artist takes a holy dip in the sea and visits the Jagannath temple. There he begs forgiveness from Lord Jagannath for his sins.

This year, the 76th edition of this unique open-air theatre is taking place, attracting thousands of visitors from all over Odisha and neighboring states.

Mumbai: Dead rat, cockroaches found in food ordered online from Worli-based Barbeque Nation by Prayagraj lawyer, hospitalised

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Dead rat, cockroaches found in food ordered online from Worli-based Barbeque Nation by Prayagraj lawyer, hospitalised

A Prayagraj lawyer visiting Mumbai was hospitalised after consuming food he ordered online from a Worli-based restaurant Barbeque Nation.

35-year-old Rajeev Shukla was shocked to find a dead rat and cockroaches in his Classic Veg Meal Box Regular which he ordered online from Barbeque Nation.

Unfortunately, Rajeev had already tasted the Dal Makhni when he noticed a dead rat and cockroaches in it. As per reports, he began to develop gastric trouble and was rushed to the civic-run BYL Nair Hospital.

He took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “I Rajeev shukla from prayagraj visited Mumbai, on 8th jan’24 night ordered veg meal box from BARBEQUE NATION, worli outlet that contained a dead mouse,hospitalised for 75+ hours.complaint has not been lodged at nagpada police not filing my FIR yet.”

Complaining that the Nagpada Police has not filed his FIR yet, Rajeev shared images of the bill. The address displays the Mumbai Central branch of Barbeque Nation.

He also shared images of the food parcel, the dead rat in the dal and a photo of himself in the hospital.

He was quoted by Free Press Journal as saying that he had come to explore Mumbai but this may be his last trip. He said that he is a pure vegetarian and has suffered food poisoning due to the food

“I wanted to explore Mumbai and so I did, coming from Prayagraj but possibly, this might be my last trip. I am a Brahmin and a pure vegetarian, but when my Barbeque Nation order arrived, it gave me the shock of my life. The food contained a dead rat and cockroaches. I suffered food poisoning and got admitted to Nair hospital,” he said.

Rajeev reportedly emailed Barbeque Nation complaining about the food.

“Received food with rat and insect and unfortunately I consumed its major portion. This is just not done since I am a vegetarian, also this is intolerable and I feel like puking; vomited already and it’s continuously running in my head and giving me nausea. Food business is (intended) to keep us alive and not to kill us, Shukla wrote, sharing an image of the rat floating in the dal,” he wrote in the email.

Shukla received a response from the restaurant but no one from the establishment came to pay a courtesy visit to the hospital and he had to bear the hospital expense.

A Manor CRS Team replied for the restaurant, “Dear Guest, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and appreciate you taking the time to bring it to our attention. I would like to assure you that your concerns are of the utmost importance to us. Mr Paresh from our Regional Team is already in touch with you to understand the details of the situation and work towards a resolution. Please be assured that we are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and effectively. Our team is actively working on finding a resolution that meets your expectations. Regards.”

6 days later, Shukla filed an FIR against the owner, manager and chef of Barbeque Nation at Nagpada Police Station.

Just 4 days ago, a Jain passenger was served chicken in her vegetarian meal onboard an Air India flight and when she complained on X, she was told to delete her tweet by the airlines.

In July 2023, a mouse dropped dead on the table of some visitors at the IKEA store in Bengaluru.

SC allows cleaning of ‘wazukhana’ inside the disputed Gyanvapi edifice where Shivling was found, Hindu petitioners had filed a plea

OpIndia Staff
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SC allows cleaning of ‘wazukhana’ inside the disputed Gyanvapi edifice where Shivling was found, Hindu petitioners had filed a plea

On Tuesday, January 16, the Supreme Court allowed the cleaning of the ‘wazukhana’ inside the disputed Gyanvapi mosque where the ‘Shivling’ was found on May 16, 2022, during a court-mandated survey. The area of ‘wazukhana’ was sealed in 2022 on a Supreme Court order after the discovery of the Shivling.

On January 2, an application was filed in the Supreme Court by the Hindu petitioners seeking direction from the District Magistrate of Varanasi for cleaning the entire area of ‘wazukhana’ of Gyanvapi mosque where the Shivling was found and maintaining hygienic condition.

The application said fish in the water tank died between December 12 to 25, 2023 and due to the same, there is a putrid smell emitting from the tank.

“Since there exists Shivlingam which is sacred to Hindus and should be kept away from all dirt, grime, dead animals, etc. and must be in clean condition, is currently amid dead fish which is hurtful to the sentiments of the devotees of Lord Shiva,” the application stated.

The application filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said fish in the water tank have died and due to the same, there is a putrid smell emitting from the tank.

It is further submitted that the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages the mosque in the Gyanvapi complex is responsible for the condition of fish due to which they have died.

“In case, the fish would have been transferred as requested by District Magistrate, Varanasi the present unfortunate situation would have not occurred,” the application said while seeking direction to clean ‘wazukhana’.

‘Wazukhana’ is the reservoir where devotees perform ablutions before offering namaz. On May 16, 2022, the Shivling was discovered within the disputed Gyanvapi edifice. The Shivling was reportedly discovered after the water inside a pond-like well, which is used as Wuzukhana by Muslims, was pumped out of it. The area of ‘wazukhana’ was sealed in 2022 on a Supreme Court order after the discovery of what was said to be a ‘Shivling’.

‘Congress has lost cultural connect with people’: Milind Deora slams Congress for shunning the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress has lost cultural connect with people’: Milind Deora slams Congress for shunning the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony

Former Union Minister Milind Deora slammed the Congress party for declining the invitation for the historic Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha event on 22nd January. In an exclusive interview with News18, the Former Congress leader stated that Ram Mandir’s inauguration was not a political event. He asserted that Congress’ decision to skip the consecration ceremony underscores that it has lost cultural connection with the people of India. 

Speaking with News18, Deora said, “The Congress has certainly lost its cultural connect with the people of India. In my opinion, the Ram Temple inauguration is the issue that has been settled after 500 years by the Supreme Court of India. This issue is not a political event. It’s not an event for the Hindu community or the Muslim community. It is an event for the world. It’s an event for humanity. The story of Ramayana transcends religion. It transcends nationality. You can argue it transcends even species. It’s a spiritual story. It’s a moral story. I don’t know why the party did what it did.” 

Notably, hours after resigning from the Congress party, Milind Deora on 14th January shared a letter listing reasons why he ended his decades-long association with Congress and joined Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. In a stinging criticism of the current Congress leadership, in his letter, Deora accused the Congress party of creating a division on caste and an artificial North-South divide while brandishing Business houses as ‘anti-national’. 

On the same day, he asserted that opposing Modi is the only agenda Congress has. He had said that if Modi says that Congress is a very good party, the Congress would oppose it. 

Further in the Interview with News18, Deora also criticised the Congress party for “not understanding the aspirations of young India”. 

He noted, “Economically, India is changing today. Indians are aware. Common people, whether they are highly educated or not highly educated, know what’s happening. Everyone has a smartphone. Everyone has an internet connection. Everyone has WhatsApp. Everyone has YouTube. Everyone has access to information. People are aware of what’s happening around the world. People have aspirations. People want to do some things. People want India to move forward. The Congress should have aligned with those aspirations with a more constructive agenda.” 

According to him, Congress has deviated from its ideological and organisational roots, Deora had claimed that Congress lacks appreciation for honesty and constructive criticism. Additionally, the Congress party has not only failed to attain power but also it has failed to effectively serve as a constructive opposition at the centre.

He told News18 that he had failed to convince the Congress leadership that it should not deviate from its core stand including on issues like the Uniform Civil Code and Article 370.

He added, “I was unable to convince the powers that be that the Congress should maintain its stand on certain issues. It shouldn’t deviate from its core ideology. UCC, Article 370… these are the issues that the Congress espoused back in the day and look at where the party has moved today.”

He admitted that his decision to resign from the Congress party’s primary membership was deeply emotional. He stated that he aspires to collaborate with a leader who values constructive ideas, acknowledges his credentials, and aims to leverage his abilities in Parliament for the progress of the nation and state. 

He said, “Eknath Shinde ji believes in my potential and embodies the belief that hard work can achieve the impossible.” 

Sumit Nagal creates history at Australian Open, becomes first Indian since 1989 to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam

OpIndia Staff
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Sumit Nagal creates history at Australian Open, becomes first Indian since 1989 to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam

On Tuesday, January 16, Indian Tennis star Sumit Nagal created history when he became the first Indian since Ramesh Krishnan in 1989 to beat a seeded opponent at a Grand Slam. Nagal defeated World number 27 Alexander Bublik, who is seeded 31st, in the first round of Australia Open 2024. 

Sumit Nagal completed a convincing win against highly rated Bublik in straight sets, ultimately winning 6-4, 6-2, 7-6. While the first 2 sets were fairly routine affairs for the Indian, in the 3rd set, he had to face still opposition from his opponent Bublik. Facing a chance to serve out for the match at 5-4, Nagal lost his serve as Bublik took the 3rd set to a tiebreak. However, the Indian ultimately emerged victorious 7-5 in the tiebreak to take the match in straight sets.

The last Indian to beat a seeded player at the Grand Slam was the Indian legend Ramesh Krishnan, who reached the 3rd round of the Australian Open with that win, the furthest any Indian has reached at the Grand Slam. Krishnan beat World Number 1 Mats Wilander at Australian Open in 1989 in a massive upset. Ramesh Krishnan had qualified for the third round a total of five times in his career at the Australian Open. The last Indian to reach the second round of a singles competition at a Grand Slam was Somdev Devvarman in 2013 at the Australian Open.

Notably, Sumit Nagal reached the main draw of the tournament after getting through 3 tough qualifying rounds. World Number 139, Nagal has reached the main draw of Australian Open for the second time in his career, having earlier done so in 2021. He also made it to the main draw of the US Open in 2019 and 2020, making it to the second round in 2020.

Sumit Nagal will now face Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng on Thursday, January 18 in the second-round clash. Shang Juncheng defeated his opponent Mackenzie McDonald in 5 sets 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

PM Modi visits Veerbhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Lepakshi: Read why the place holds special significance in Ramayana

Jinit Jain
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PM Modi visits Veerbhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Lepakshi: Read why the place holds special significance in Ramayana

Ahead of the much-awaited Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, PM Modi is on his visit to ‘Lepakshi’ in Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister will visit the Veerbhadra Temple in ‘Lepakshi’, which holds profound significance in Ramayana.

Besides visiting the hallowed temple, PM Modi also heard verses from the Ranganatha Ramayan, a Telugu rendition of the great Hindu epic.

Located in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, around 120 km from the southern metropolis of Bengaluru, Lepakshi is a backwater town infused with mythological splendour, speaking to the confluence of India’s rich architectural and spiritual heritage. As per the Valmiki Ramayana, it is believed to be the site where Lord Ram met the dying Jatayu, who valiantly fought with Ravana when he was on his way to Lanka after abducting Lord Ram’s wife, Goddess Sita.

It was this town, according to Valmiki Ramayana, where the mortally injured Jatayu informs Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman that Goddess Sita had been abducted by the King of Lanka, Ravana, and that they should move towards the seashore in the south to reach Lanka.

The name ‘Lepakshi’ in Telugu means ‘Rise, oh bird’, a tribute to Jatayu, who made the supreme sacrifice to stop Ravana from abducting Goddess Sita. The town is replete with ancient temples that serve as a treasure trove of narratives from Hindu mythology.

A picture from Jatayu Park in Lepakshi (Image Source: NDTV)

House to several shrines devoted to Shiva, Vishnu, Papanatheswar, Raghunath, Ram, and other revered deities, the intricate carvings and larger-than-life sculptures leave the visitor spellbound and transfixed. The finely detailed carvings on the pillars of the Veerabhadra Temple or beholding the colossal Nandi acclaimed as the world’s largest monolithic bull, the craftsmanship of the artisans from the Vijayanagara dynasty is unmistakable in the sculptures that grace the entire town.

One of the major centres of attraction in Lepakshi town is the Veerabhadra Temple, commonly known as the Lepakshi temple, which stands as a testament to the marvels of ancient Indian architecture. Created from rock, the intricately carved masterpiece attests to the historical grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire.

The Lepakshi temple is a totem of timeless art, adorned with exquisite frescoes and murals. A substantial portion of the temple complex perches upon a small, rocky hill known as Kurmasailam, influenced by its resemblance to the shape of a tortoise.

Veerbhadra Temple (Image Source: The Hindu)

One of the much-vaunted features of the temple is the Hanging Pillar, indistinguishable from the surrounding pillars but miraculously suspended without resting on the ground. The temple is also believed to have preserved the footprints of Goddess Sita.

Hanging Pillar (Image Source: Ancient Origins)

The temple’s beauty and grandeur exemplify the magnificence of the Vijayanagara Kingdom, a powerful realm that reined in large parts of southern and peninsular India for a considerable period in the medieval era. The Kingdom, known for commissioning temples across the length and breadth of its empire, also sponsored artists in crafting the extraordinary pictorial depictions that line the walls of the Veerbhadra Temple.

The temple’s walls portray the images of musicians, saints, and celestial entities, featuring captivating sculptures of dancing Ganesha, Mata Parvati, and Lord Shiva. An inner cave chamber is believed to be the abode of Sage Agasthya, while the temple itself is adorned with 70 pillars. Of particular interest is the renowned snake sculpture on the Nagalinga, reputedly carved from a single stone during a sculptors’ lunch break. Furthermore, the adjacent hillocks, known as Kurma Saila, host temples devoted to Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Srirama, and Durga, adding to the vibrant legacy of Lepakshi.

While AAP-Congress announce alliance for Chandigarh, Congress leader Navjot Sidhu attacks AAP ministers for allowing illegal mining in Punjab

OpIndia Staff
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While AAP-Congress announce alliance for Chandigarh, Congress leader Navjot Sidhu attacks AAP ministers for allowing illegal mining in Punjab

Amid a seat-sharing tussle at the national level, arch-nemesis turned alliance partners in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, agreed on Monday (15th January) to field a joint candidate for the annual Mayor election in Chandigarh. 

As part of the deal, AAP will fight for the Mayor’s post while Congress will be contesting for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar Tita will be the joint candidate of AAP-Congress for the Mayor post against BJP’s Manoj Sonkar. Congress’ Gurpreet Singh Gabi and Nirmala Devi will fight for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor respectively. BJP has fielded Kuljeet Sandhu, and Rajinder Sharma for the posts of senior deputy mayor, and deputy mayor, respectively. 

Notably, the Chandigarh mayoral elections are slated for Thursday (18th January). Every year, elections are conducted for the three posts during the five-year term of the House. In the current cycle, the mayor’s position is designated for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The BJP has held the Mayor’s post for eight consecutive years.

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP holds 14 council seats. Additionally, the party has an ex-officio member MP with voting rights. The AAP has 13 councillors, while the Congress has seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal is represented by one councillor in the House. 

On previous occasions, the Congress abstained from voting in 2022 and 2023, leading to the BJP’s success in the mayoral elections. 

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu accuses AAP’s Punjab ministers of allowing illegal sand mining and corruption

Meanwhile, on Monday (15th January), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notice to the Government of Punjab and its officials on a plea filed by Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and others. The plea sought directions from NGT to “direct the Punjab government to immediately halt illegal mining and initiate stringent action against violators, constitute a high-level committee to investigate past violations, assess environmental damage and fix compensation.” 

Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “We cannot allow our hills and rivers to be sacrificed for illegal profiteering.”

Addressing media persons, Sidhu said that illegal sand mining was being carried out in Punjab under the patronage of the AAP Ministers. Sidhu said, “Apart from Ropar, the issue has come to fore from Moga and Pathankot too and people have testified as eyewitnesses with proof.” 

Navjot Sidhu stated that the Punjab government has been imposed with a penalty of Rs 630 crore, which it has not paid so far. He pointed out that ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in the state, AAP had “given a guarantee of generating Rs 20,000 crore revenue” from mining claiming that the money will be distributed among women who were promised Rs 1,000 per month allowance.

The Congress leader added, “This makes it Rs 40,000 crores in two years, but only Rs 300 crore made it to the beneficiaries. The remaining Rs 39,700 crore went into their pockets. This is a serious matter involving the economy. Illegal sand mining is going on under the nose of Punjab ministers. We can also say that with their facilitation, illegal mining is being carried out.”  

Launching a scathing attack on his alliance partner’s government in Punjab, Sidhu’s petition reads, “Punjab’s rivers and environment is being ravaged under the watch of a corrupt and compromised government…This petition seeks to hold the government and authorities accountable for their inaction and compel them to enforce environmental safeguards.” 

The petition further read, “It is shocking that illegal mining is being carried out on the ED attached government land of an NDPS accused Jagdish Bhola… AAP, which came to power with on record guarantee…of institutionalising mining…promised a fortune and delivered a dead mouse.”  

He further wrote that “a sand trolley which was available for people at Rs 3,000 during Congress government in Punjab is today being sold at Rs 21,000 by AAP government.” 

Navjot Sidhu argued that the “issue of sand mining is a double-edged sword which is not only damaging our environment but has also derailed the economy” of Punjab.

The constant fights between alliance partners AAP and Congress in Punjab

While AAP and Congress have tried to put together a joint front at the national level, there have been constant allegations and counter-allegations between the two I.N.D.I.A. bloc partners at state level.

Punjab Congress leadership has previously denied any possibility of contesting elections with the Kejriwal-led party. On 26th December, it was reported that the majority of Punjab Congress leaders stood against the idea of an alliance with AAP for the General Elections during a meeting of Punjab’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) chaired by All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting.

Earlier, On 17th December, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s chief and Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, expressed his desire to contest all thirteen Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one Lok Sabha seat in Chandigarh in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

State units of both parties has stated multiple times that they want to contest Lok Sabha elections alone in Punjab, leaving 0 seats for their supposed alliance partner.

‘Organised crime committed at the behest of ruling CPM leaders’: ED probing the multi-crore Karuvannur bank scam files affidavit in Kerala HC

OpIndia Staff
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‘Organised crime committed at the behest of ruling CPM leaders’: ED probing the multi-crore Karuvannur bank scam files affidavit in Kerala HC

On Monday, January 15, the Enforcement Directorate investigating the money laundering case linked to the Rs 312 crore fraud at the ruling CPM-controlled Karuvannur Co-operative Bank, filed an affidavit in the Kerala High Court. In the affidavit, ED said that the irregularities were committed at the behest of the party leaders of the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the state.

The agency further asserted that the bank fraud was “an organised crime”.

“It was found that many of the accused are office-bearers and members of the ruling political party CPI(M) and there was a deep-rooted conspiracy to embezzle money from the public and make gains for the party as well as its leaders,” the agency said in an affidavit filed in court. 

Furthermore, the ED asserted that the bank fraud was “an organised crime,” and the results of its investigation to date have identified high-profile links including politicians, police officials, and individuals in local, district, and state-level administration.

“It is one of the biggest scams the state of Kerala has ever seen in terms of money, political links, and public fraud. The transactions undertaken by these individuals are in ‘benami’ names and cash-based operations, which are easy to dispose and conceal from the investigation.” the ED added.

Party committees were operating accounts in the society without membership, the ED further stated, alluding to the CPI(M)’s purported involvement in the scam.

“Further, it is also revealed during the investigation that such accounts are maintained by CPI(M) party committee for different purposes including for collecting funds for the purchase of land, construction of party office, for raising funds for election expenses and souvenirs etc.

“The money flow out of these transactions is being investigated and it is revealed from the investigation so far that senior political leaders of the party are involved in these transactions and unprecedented money laundering has been carried out by them,” the agency said.

The affidavit was filed in response to an appeal by one of the accused in the case challenging the ED’s provisional attachment order and seeking de-freezing of his bank accounts.

In its affidavit, the ED requested that the plea be dismissed, arguing that because the amount at stake was substantial and ordinary citizens had lost their deposits, the agency had a duty to look into the cash-based money trail and benami properties to identify the real offenders.

It further accused the state’s Registrar of Cooperative Societies of “turning a blind eye” to the irregularities committed by different societies in Kerala.

“During the investigation, from the copy of the audit reports of the bank for the past 10 years, it was revealed that the audit objections reported the irregularities to the joint registrar. However, the office of the registrar, after knowing the above fraud and embezzlement, appears to have not taken these into observation and no actions were initiated.

“This practice of inaction on the audit observations and complaint appears to be in most of the cooperative societies regarding which the registrar had earlier been summoned. The timely action by the office of the registrar could have avoided such a big scam. In the investigation conducted by the ED, it is revealed that the Registrar of Cooperative Societies turned a blind eye to the irregularities by the societies,” the affidavit stated.

Karuvannur bank scam

The scam was unearthed in Kerala in 2021. On July 14, 2021, the Irinjalakuda police registered a complaint against the accused persons. Soon after, the case was handed over to the state crime branch. There were allegations that board members of the bank were aware of the ongoing fraud, and rampant forgery of signatures and documents carried out.

The governing committee of the bank with 12 CPM members was disbanded after the details of the scam were released in the public domain. 

The Bhartiya Janata Party’s state unit complained to the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department alleging the involvement of top CPM leaders in the scam.

In 2019 too there were complaints filed against the same bank alleging fraud.

ED raids residence of Kerala CPM MLA in connection with the party-controlled Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam case

In August last year, the Enforcement Directorate raided the residence of CPM MLA AC Moideen at Wadakkancherry in Thrissur district as part of an investigation in a money laundering case linked to the Karubannur Co-operative Bank scam case.

Moideen, who was reportedly under ED scanner over benami assets, was a State Minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government-2016-21.

According to reports, after the scam was unearthed it was revealed that Moideen, who is a senior CPI(M) leader who represents the Kunnamkulam constituency in the state Assembly, shares a close relationship with those who ran the bank.

Gita Press Gorakhpur uploads digital version of Shri Ramcharitmanas in 10 languages amid surge in demand for print copies

OpIndia Staff
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Gita Press Gorakhpur uploads digital version of Shri Ramcharitmanas in 10 languages amid surge in demand for print copies

Ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, Gita Press Gorakhpur has uploaded the digital version of Shri Ramcharitmanas for free on its website gitapress.org. The Holy book is available for free reading in 10 languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Bangla, Nepali and Assamese.

Source: gitapress.org

The renowned publisher has witnessed a surge in demand for Ramayana-related scriptures ahead of the Pran Pratishtha which has led to a shortage of Shri Ramcharitmanas. The online edition cannot be downloaded and is for online reading only.

Lalmani Tripathi, Manager of Gita Press, said that after the Ram Mandir inauguration was announced, demands for Ramcharitmanas, along with Sundar Kand and Hanuman Chalisa have gone up substantially.

He said that press has no stock left for Ramcharitmanas. Tripathi said that as soon as copies are printed, they are shipped immediately due to the demands, and have no inventory of the copies of the Ramayana version by Tulsidas.

He said that generally Gita Press prints 75,000 copies of the scripture, this year they published 1 lakh copies, and still all stock were exhausted. He said that apart from Ramcharitmanas, demands for Sundar Kand and Hanuman Chalisa have also increased.

Reports suggest this is the first time that the primary publisher of Hindu scriptures has run out of Shri Ramcharitmanas.  Gita Press is also getting orders from its branches to distribute the scriptures, which the press is unable to fulfil.

By uploading the scripture on its website, Gita Press is making up for the shortage of the physical copies of Shri Ramcharitmanas.

The publisher is expecting that the demand for the scripture will increase manifold after 22nd January.

Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem in Awadhi language composed by bhakti poet Tulsidas based on Valmiki’s Ramayana. It made the story of Ramayana available to the common men as most people didn’t know Sanskrit. Sundar Kand is the fifth book in Ramayana, which tells the story of Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

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