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‘Only Lord Ram is God’: PM Modi says after the tenth crore beneficiary of Ujjwala Yojana refers to him as ‘God’ during his visit to her residence

OpIndia Staff
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‘Only Lord Ram is God’: PM Modi says after the tenth crore beneficiary of Ujjwala Yojana refers to him as ‘God’ during his visit to her residence

On Saturday (December 30), Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to Valmiki Airport after inaugurating the Ayodhya railway station. On his way, PM Modi paid a surprise visit to Meera Majhi’s home and had a tea. It is to be noted that Meera Majhi is the tenth-crore beneficiary of the Centre’s flagship Ujjwala Yojana.

PM Modi was seen greeting the beneficiaries and inquiring about their well-being over tea. As PM Modi walked through the temple town’s narrow lanes, many people gathered to greet him. He also met two children in Ayodhya and took pictures with them, as well as signed autographs for them.

After meeting the tenth crore beneficiary of the Ujjwala Yojana in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that when they started this scheme, no one could have imagined that it would reach such heights of success. 

“Today I am happy to say that I got a chance to go and have tea at the house of the 10th crore beneficiary sister of Ujjwala Gas Connection. When we started this scheme from Baliya in Uttar Pradesh on May 1, 2016, no one could have imagined that it would reach such heights of success,” he said.

Further, PM Modi mentioned that till 2014 only 14 crore gas connections were given but under his government, 18 crore gas connections have been given.

“This scheme has changed the lives of crores of mothers and sisters forever. They have been freed from being trapped in the woods. The work of providing gas connections in our country was started 60-70 years ago. But till 2014 only 14 crore connections were given. In our government, 18 crore new gas connections have been given in a single decade, out of which 10 crore connections have been given for free, under the Ujjwala scheme,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi also inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya Dham Railway Station and flagged off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains. The six Vande Bharat trains were inaugurated virtually by PM Modi from Ayodhya Dham Railway Station.

Meanwhile, Meera Majhi expressed her joy over meeting Prime Minister Modi. Speaking to PTI she said, “I was overjoyed, never did I imagine that ‘God’ would visit my home like this. My happiness was beyond control.”

It must be mentioned that the beneficiary of the Ujjwala scheme had also referred to PM Modi as ‘God’ during her one-on-one interaction with him. The Indian Prime Minister promptly intervened and said, “Only Lord Ram is God.”

Notably, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was started in May 2016 to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households across the country. Under PMUY, a deposit-free LPG connection is provided to adult women from poor households.

‘Nitish Kumar has become a burden’: Prashant Kishor says the JDU chief is in the last phase of his political career

OpIndia Staff
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‘Nitish Kumar has become a burden’: Prashant Kishor says the JDU chief is in the last phase of his political career

On Friday (December 29), poll strategist Prashant Kishor said that chief minister of Bihar and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has become a “burden” in politics. During a media interaction on Friday, Prashant Kishor said Nitish Kumar has no option but to contest the upcoming elections as a part of INDI Alliance, adding that this is the last phase of Nitish Kumar’s political career.

“This is the last phase of Nitish Kumar’s political career. He himself does not know where he is and where he will be. However, I can say, that before the Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar has no option…he would have to contest the elections as a part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’. Not because he is unwilling to switch sides, but because even if he does, no one will welcome him. Nobody is left today to welcome him (for political alliance). Nitish Kumar, as a political leader, and the JDU, as a political party, have become a huge burden. Anyone who tries to bear this burden will be crushed beneath it,” Prashant Kishor said during a media interaction in Darbhanga on Friday.

Regarding the JDU’s national executive meeting, Prashant Kishore stated that Nitish Kumar has his own style of doing things and that he keeps shuffling the leaders in his party like a deck of cards. This is why, despite being Chief Minister for 18 years, he failed to build a second line of leadership or organisational structure in his party.

Kishor further stated that he would never join hands with Nitish Kumar again. “After Nitish Kumar cheated once, there is no question of allying with him even if he comes to us twenty times,” Prashant Kishor said.

Notably, Nitish Kumar took over the reins of the Janata Dal (United) for the second time after Lalan Singh stepped down at the party’s national executive meeting in the national capital Delhi on Friday.

Lord Ram is coming, wait of 500 years to end soon: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath ahead of consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir

OpIndia Staff
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Lord Ram is coming, wait of 500 years to end soon: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath ahead of consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new airport and the revamped railway station in Ayodhya on Saturday (30th December). His visit to Ayodhya came weeks before the much-awaited consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on 22nd January. On this occasion, Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that on 22nd January, Lord Ram is coming to the New Ayodhya of the New India. He added that the wait of 500 years will end soon.

Yogi Adityanath said, “The Lord is coming. And on 22nd January, the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji will consecrate the Lord Ram in His grand temple. Dear brothers and sisters, the wait of 500 years will end soon.”

He added, “It was the resolve of the honourable Prime Minister that we shall establish Ayodhya as the most beautiful city in the world. And dear brothers and sisters, today you might have seen the grandeur with which the people of Ayodhya welcomed the honourable Prime Minister. This reflects the New Ayodhya of the New India.”

CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Ayodhya now has better connectivity of four-lane, six-lane, and even eight-lane roads. The inauguration of these projects will take place at the hands of PM Modi Ji. Ayodhya now has better railway facilities. It has a grand new railway station, a new Vande Bharat train, and two new Amrut Bharat Trains as well. The Prime Minister has started the new trains to connect Ayodhya – the birthplace of Lord Ram – with Sitamarhi – the place where Goddess Sita was incarnated. In Treta Yug, Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya by Pushpak Viman. But today, the Prime Minister has gifted the people of Ayodhya an international airport which he has inaugurated today.”

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. He also inaugurated the revamped railway station of Ayodhya Dham. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnav and Jyotiraditya Scindia, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath were also present in the ceremony.

The Indian Prime Minister appealed to all 140 crore countrymen to light a ‘Shri Ram Jyoti’ in their houses on 22nd January 2024 when the Ram temple consecration takes place in Ayodhya.

Iqbal Ansari, who was the principal plaintiff in the Ram Janmbhoomi title suit, showers flowers on PM Modi in Ayodhya, lauds govt for development work

OpIndia Staff
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Iqbal Ansari, who was the principal plaintiff in the Ram Janmbhoomi title suit, showers flowers on PM Modi in Ayodhya, lauds govt for development work

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a road show in Ayodhya on 30th December from the airport to the railway station, which has been named Ayodhya Dhaam Railway Station. A large number of people were gathered on both sides of the road to welcome him. One of them was Iqbal Ansari, who was a litigant in the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir land dispute case. Moreover, several people from the Muslim community were there with him showering flowers on the prime minister.

In an interview with TV9, Iqbal Ansari asserted that anyone visiting Ayodhya is their guest. It is their dharma and tradition to greet and assist them. He said that our nation’s prime minister arrived and we showered him with flowers. He claimed that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and all others were present there to welcome PM Modi.

He said that Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of everyone in the country and a lot of development has taken place in Ayodhya under his leadership. He mentioned that once Ayodhya had a small train station which has since been refurbished and added that there is now an airport but it didn’t have one before. He further said that he would most certainly like to be part of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on 22nd January 2023. He stressed, “People are being invited and I will attend if I am extended an invitation.”

Iqbal Ansari responded that since Narendra Modi is the prime minister of India and is visiting Ayodhya, therefore, he should be received warmly when asked if he had already decided to greet the latter. Everyone in the country should follow Ayodhya’s example. We all live together with one another and participate in religious rituals as well. He remarked that it is a matter of pride for the people of Ayodhya that the PM is currently there and conveyed that the latter was the reason behind Ayodhya’s beauty.

Notably, the initial invitation to the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan event was sent to Iqbal Ansari. “It may be the divine wish of Lord Ram that I get the first invitation. I accept it,” stated the visibly overjoyed man. He had previously pointed out that the construction of the temple in Ayodhya is comparable to the beginning of a new phase in the city’s development.

He highlighted, “I am very happy to have a temple in Ayodhya. There has been mutual harmony and no discrimination with anyone from the beginning. The temple will encourage positive sentiment and provide employment to the people of the city. The way many plans have been prepared here it seems that Ayodhya will also have a lot of industries.”

Hashim Ansari, Iqbal Ansari’s father was the main plaintiff in the Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute. He had carried on the legal battle before the Supreme Court after his father’s death, however, applauded the court’s judgment after it granted Hindus ownership of the Ram Janmbhoomi site in a landmark ruling in November 2019.

As NIA cracks down on ISIS Maharashtra module, read how Muslim mobs rioted in 2015 over an article about ISIS funding

OpIndia Staff
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As NIA cracks down on ISIS Maharashtra module, read how Muslim mobs rioted in 2015 over an article about ISIS funding

On 9th December, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced that it raided 44 locations in Maharashtra and Karnataka in which they arrested 15 ISIS terrorists of the ISIS Maharashtra module.

The arrested accused had self-declared the village of Padgha in rural Thane as a ‘liberated zone‘ and as ‘Al-Sham’. Seemingly areas in Syria are referred to with such notations. They were motivating impressionable Muslim youth to relocate to Padgha from their place of residence to strengthen the Padgha base, NIA revealed in its official press release.

The security agency shared a press release that revealed shocking details about the terror module. According to the press release, the arrested accused include the leader and head of the ISIS module 63-year-old Saquib Nachan. As per NIA, he was administering ‘Bayath’ – an oath of allegiance to Khalifa of ISIS to the recruits. He is a radical Islamist with a history of involvement in multiple terror cases.

NIA investigations have further revealed that the accused, all members of the ISIS Maharashtra module, were operating from Padgha-Borivali. From there, they had hatched the conspiracy to spread terror and carry out acts of violence across India, the agency noted. 

The NIA also pointed out that the accused were also aiming to wage a war against the Indian government. The press release reads, “Pursuing the path of violent Jihad, Khilafat, ISIS, etc., the accused had aimed to disturb the peace and communal harmony of the country and to wage a war against the Government of India.”

Muslims backing ISIS is not new in Maharashtra

While this crackdown by NIA came in the last month of 2023, the silent backing of Muslims in Maharashtra for this terror outfit is an old phenomenon. In 2015, Muslims in Maharashtra rioted in various cities of the state under the guise of protesting an article about ISIS published by the Marathi daily newspaper Lokmat.

On 29th November 2015, the Sunday supplement named ‘Manthan’ of the Marathi daily newspaper ‘Lokmat’ published an article named ‘ISIScha Paisa’ which translates to ‘The ISIS Money’. It was focused on the money trails of the terror outfit ISIS. The article detailed various monetary sources of ISIS. It said that ISIS had money reserves worth $300 Crores. The article said that oil smuggling, loans, and loot contribute to its major sources.

Besides, this article also featured a cartoon along with the text. This cartoon was a piggy bank picture. On that piggy bank, Muhammad Rasul Allah was written in the Arabic script. It means – ‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’. This line is also a part of Islamic Kalma. Pig is considered prohibited in Islam. Muslims in Maharashtra rioted under the guise of protests saying that writing the Islamic Kalma on a pig cartoon was an insult to the Prophet Muhammad.

Notably, almost every Muslim in India distances itself from ISIS when in public discourse. ISIS has written the whole Islamic Kalma on its flag but no Muslim mob comes to the streets saying that the violence of ISIS in the name of Islam is an insult to their religion. However, a cartoon in the Marathi daily newspaper provoked them so much that they damaged the properties of the newspaper offices in multiple cities forcing the media group to furnish an apology.

In its apology, Lokmat said, “Lokmat sincerely apologises for the distress caused to the entire Muslim community due to the use of Arabic words in the graphic design accompanying the article ‘ISIS’s Money’, published on the front page of the Lokmat’s Sunday supplement Manthan on 29th November. This mistake occurred due to an oversight and was never intended to hurt the religious sentiments of anyone. Lokmat has always believed in and upheld the principle of equality and respect for all religions. Prompt action has been taken against those responsible for this oversight.”

Apology by Lokmat. Image Source: NDTV

Riots in Maharashtra over the article in Lokmat

Offices of the Marathi newspaper Lokmat witnessed angry protests by Muslim mobs who claimed that the newspaper had insulted their faith by publishing a blasphemous picture. Copies of the newspaper were burnt in various cities in Maharashtra and the protesting men demanded the arrest of the editor and the artist who drew the illustration. A few offices of the newspaper were also attacked.

These protests took place in Malegaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Yavatmal, and other places including Akola. To keep the situation in control, the police registered cases against the editor and the writer of the article at Aurangabad, Jalna, Pune, Jalgaon, Parbhani and Yavatmal.

Muslim mobs burnt the Lokmat newspaper copies. Image Source: Twocircles.net

Piggy bank has been historically used as a popular depiction to show banking and financial activities and it has hardly anything to do with the actual pig or its ways, however, such artistic explanations fell on deaf ears as hundreds of protestors turned up at various offices to burn copies of the newspaper, sending the staff into panic mode.

Muslims led by Ghulam Mustafa Rizvi, Dr. Raees Rizvi, Yusuf Ilyas, and Mufti Naeem Raza Misbahi, staged a massive protest in Malegaon. They blocked the main road near the New Bus Stand for approximately thirty minutes, demanding prompt action against the newspaper for its offensive content.

The demonstration gained further momentum when they were joined by local MLA Asif Shaikh. Together, they proceeded to the Malegaon City Police Station, where they filed a complaint against the editor of Lokmat, as well as the artist and graphic designer who made the cartoon.

The violent protesters pelted stones at the offices of the newspaper in many cities in the state. Jalgaon office of Lokmat experienced a significant stone pelting attack. Later, all the offices of the publication in the state were provided police protection. Political parties also joined in these protests with Dhule unit chief of Samajwadi Party Minority Cell taking the lead and asking Lokmat’s resident editor Milind Kulkarni to publish an apology in the newspaper’s earliest issue. Another organization called the All India Momin Conference called for protests against the newspaper after Friday prayers in Jalna on 4th December 2015. The offended groups decided to withdraw their FIRs and the scheduled protests after the media group apologised.

Jharkhand: Irritated with 2-year-old son’s crying while on call, Afsana Khatoon kills own child, family suspects murder by strangulation

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: Irritated with 2-year-old son’s crying while on call, Afsana Khatoon kills own child, family suspects murder by strangulation

On Friday (29th December), a woman named Afsana Khatoon was arrested in Jharkhand’s Giridih district for allegedly killing her two-year-old son. The woman killed her baby because she was reportedly irritated with his crying while on a phone call. The incident reportedly occured in Golgo of Bengabad Police Station area.

According to the family, the woman was talking to someone on the phone. During this time the child started crying out loud. The family alleged that instead of pacifying him, she got enraged and strangulated her son to death.

As per reports, Afsana Khatoon was married six years ago to Nizamuddin, who is deaf and mute. Afsana is a resident of Suggasar village of Pachamba police station area. The couple had two sons. The elder son is four-years-old while the younger son was two-years-old. 

On Thursday (28th December) night, an argument broke out between the husband and wife. After this, Afsana expelled the husband from the room and locked herself in along with her younger son. She got irritated by the baby’s crying and pushed him off the bed dropping him on the floor.

The murder came to light when she called her husband inside the room to sleep. But when he arrived, he found their son unconscious. Subsequently, they rushed the toddler to the hospital, but he had died by then.

Afsana Khatoon defended herself claiming that she had no intention of killing the child. She reportedly said she was angry after she the quarrel with her husband.

When she was talking to someone over the phone, the child started crying loudly. This angered her and she beat the child and pushed him.  

However, her father-in-law Rojan Ansari said that her family members are labourers and natives of Uttar Pradesh. A few days ago Afsana had returned from U.P after which, she kept talking to someone over the phone. Rojan Ansari suspects that Afsana strangulated his grandson.  

Police station in-charge Vikas Paswan stated that after receiving the information, the woman and the deceased child were brought to the police station from Golgo on Friday morning. The body of the baby was handed over to the family after post-mortem at Sadar Hospital.

A case has been registered and Afsana has been sent to jail.

Passengers on inaugural flight to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, thank PM Modi

ANI
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Passengers on inaugural flight to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, thank PM Modi

Ahead of the grand consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple on January 22, the passengers boarding the first flight to the newly built Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham on Saturday were heard chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

‘Jai Ram, Shri Ram’ rent the air in the terminal building at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi as the first group of passengers boarded the inaugural flight to Ayodhya.

Passengers from across the country will reach Ayodhya by the flight on Saturday.

“We are very excited about visiting Ayodhya and brought our children along. We are going to see Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, seek his blessings,” a passenger from Rajasthan who boarded the inaugural flight to Ayodhya told ANI.

Another passenger from Karnataka thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity to be onboard the first flight to the temple town.

Jain Peethadhish Ravindra Kirti Swami, who is among the large group of the Jain community travelling on the first flight, called it a historic day.

“This is a historic day. An aerodrome has now been opened at Ram-ji’s birthplace. We are a large group from the Jain community going on the inaugural flight to meet Ram Lalla. We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for this opportunity,” the Jain Peethadhish said.

Another passenger from the Jain community said it would be a dream coming true.

“The grand Ram Temple is nearing completion. It had been a dream for long. Now, it’s close to becoming a reality. We are going to get Ram Lalla’s blessings,” she added.

The pilot on command of the inaugural IndiGo flight, Captain Ashutosh Shekhar, welcomed all passengers on board, calling it a proud moment.

“We are grateful and blessed for the opportunity given by IndiGo to command the inaugural flight to Ayodhya. This is a proud moment for us and Indigo. We hope your journey with us is safe and pleasant,” Shekhar said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in the temple city.

PM Modi received a grand welcome after he landed in the city, with a large number of supporters chanting his name as his motorcade passed and showered him with petals.

The Airports Authority of India undertook the development of Ayodhya Airport as per the MoU signed with the Government of Uttar Pradesh in April last year.

The state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1450 crore.

The airport’s terminal building has an area of 6500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.

The facade of the terminal building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya. The interiors of the terminal building are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram.

The airport will improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism and business activities while generating new employment opportunities. 

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

PM Modi launches projects worth ₹15,700 crore in Ayodhya, inaugurates Maharishi Valmiki International Airport & Ayodhya Dham Railway Station

ANI
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PM Modi launches projects worth ₹15,700 crore in Ayodhya, inaugurates Maharishi Valmiki International Airport & Ayodhya Dham Railway Station

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth Rs 15,700 crore in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Station and flagged off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains. He also dedicated several other railway projects to the nation.

PM Modi received a grand welcome after he landed in the city with a large number of supporters showering petals at his connvoy as he waved hands at the crowd.

The Prime Minister dedicated numerous development projects worth more than Rs 15,700 crore to the state, aligning with his vision to create modern, world-class infrastructure while preserving Ayodhya’s rich history and heritage. These include projects worth about Rs 11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about Rs 4600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh.

Additionally, the Prime Minister also initiated the development and beautification of tourist facilities spanning from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat, the construction of a visitor gallery for events like Deepotsav and the strengthening and renovation of the pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple.

An ambitious greenfield township, valued at over Rs 2180 crore and the Vashishtha Kunj Residential Scheme, with an estimated cost of around Rs 300 crore, was also launched, promising a significant boost to Ayodhya’s urban landscape.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of infrastructure projects, including the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (new NH-27), modification of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET centre, and the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation Ayodhya and Ayodhya Development Authority.

He inaugurated the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in the temple city of Ayodhya after inaugurating the Ayodhya Railway Station.

Ayodhya’s grand airport has been built by the Airports Authority of India after signing a MoU with the Government of Uttar Pradesh in April last year.

Phase 1 of the state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1450 crore.

The airport’s terminal building has an area of 6500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.

The facade of the terminal building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya. The interiors of the terminal building are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram.

The terminal building of Ayodhya Airport is also equipped with various sustainability features, like an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, landscaping with fountains, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant, a solar power plant and many other such features have been provided to meet GRIHA – 5-star ratings.

The airport will improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism and business activities while generating new employment opportunities.

Ayodhya has been regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (Mokshdayini Sapt Puris) for Hindus.

Prime Minister Modi has broadly outlined his vision to develop modern, world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya, improve connectivity and revamp its civic facilities while also conforming to the rich history and heritage of the city. In realisation of this vision, a new airport, a new redeveloped railway station, newly redeveloped, widened and beautified roads, and other civic infrastructure are being inaugurated in the city.

The foundation stones for a number of other new projects will be laid, contributing to the beautification and revamp of civic facilities in and around the temple town.

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

Light ‘Shri Ram Jyoti’ in your houses on 22nd January: PM Modi makes special appeal to countrymen for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony

OpIndia Staff
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Light ‘Shri Ram Jyoti’ in your houses on 22nd January: PM Modi makes special appeal to countrymen for Ram Mandir consecration ceremony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new airport and the revamped railway station in Ayodhya on Saturday (30th December). His visit to Ayodhya came weeks before the much-awaited consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on 22nd January. In his address, PM Narendra Modi appealed to all 140 crore Indians to light a Shri Ram Jyoti in their houses on 22nd January 2024 when the Ram temple consecration takes place in Ayodhya.

PM Narendra Modi said, “I urge the 140 crore people of India from Ayodhya – the holy city of Lord Ram – and I urge them all with folded hands to light a ‘Shri Ram Jyoti’ in their houses on January 22 when the Ram temple consecration takes place in Ayodhya. I urge all the countrymen to celebrate Deepawali on that evening. On the evening of 22nd January, the whole of India should be illuminated.”

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. He also inaugurated the revamped railway station of Ayodhya Dham. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnav and Jyotiraditya Scindia, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath were also present in the ceremony.

Notable individuals who have been invited to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple include actors Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia who played Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in the hit TV series ‘Ramayana,’ industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Ratan Tata, cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan among other actors.

Over 7,000 guests comprising 3,000 VIPs have received invites from the Ram Mandir Trust. There will also be an invitation sent to the families of the karsevaks who lost their lives in the temple movement.

Further invitees consist of 4,000 seers, writers, journalists, scientists, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) president Mohan Bhagwat, yoga guru Ramdev and esteemed figures from all around the nation.

After incessantly writing about being sued by rape and murder convict Ram Rahim, propagandist Shyam Meera Singh agrees to delete tweets

OpIndia Staff
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After incessantly writing about being sued by rape and murder convict Ram Rahim, propagandist Shyam Meera Singh agrees to delete tweets

On 30th December 2023, YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh told the Delhi High Court that he will delete the tweets posted by him on Friday regarding the defamation case filed by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh against him.

Shyam Meera Singh’s counsel Kapil Madan assured the court that he will not tweet on the matter while it is sub judice. This came after Justice Manoj Jain expressed his displeasure over the tweets posted by him.

“No further tweets while the matter is sub judice… I want your client (Shyam Meera Singh) to be responsible. If he is a journalist, he needs to be responsible. Please do not make any tweets which interferes with the justice delivery system,” Bar and Bench quoted Justice Jain as saying.

Notably, Ram Rahim’s counsel Mohit Mathur told the court that in one of his tweets posted on Friday, Shyam Meera Singh asked his followers to download his YouTube video titled: “How Gurmeet Ram Rahim fooled his bhakts?” before it is taken down. Advocate Mathur said “every second that the video is available on YouTube, it is damaging his reputation.”

Shyam Meera Singh’s counsel told the Court that the video was based on a book authored by another journalist named Anurag Tripathi in 2018, and that Ram Rahim has not included him as a party in the lawsuit. He further contended that Singh is a ‘journalist’ and that ordering the video to be removed without the court reviewing it and reaching a prima facie conclusion would set a wrong precedent.

Meanwhile, the Court stated that it will hear Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s interim relief plea seeking directions to Shyam Meera Singh to remove the video on January 4 after Singh’s counsel files their reply.

In one of the tweets, Shyam Meera Singh wrote in Hindi, “Ram Rahim has demanded a ban on this video in Delhi High Court. Its urgent hearing is tomorrow. You may not be able to watch this video after tomorrow.”

In another tweet, he wrote, “I fear that in tomorrow’s hearing the court may not put a stay on the video or order its deletion. Ramdev has already got my Rajiv Dixit video removed from India by showing a court order. People living in India can never see him again. You download Ram Rahim video.”

Moreover, Shyam Meera Singh had posted another contentious tweet in Hindi which read, “Those are the two people whom Ram Rahim got murdered. 1. Ranjit Singh (former manager of Dera Sacha Sauda Ashram). 2. Journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati. After years of hard work, CBI was able to prove it. Gather evidence. Proved. The court gave punishment. But the government releases Ram Rahim free on parole.”

It all started after YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh received a legal notice on 29th December on a plea by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan which was filed in response to a video dubbed “How Gurmeet Ram Rahim Fooled his Bhakts”. The thumbnail of the YouTube video read “Ram Rahim’s real truth”. It was uploaded by Shyam Meera Singh on his official YouTube channel on 17th December. The plaintiff demanded financial recompense for the alleged slander in addition to pursuing that the controversial footage be taken down.

As reported earlier, YouTube was also delivered a notice after Justice Shalinder Kaur heard the case. The court stated that notice must be sent by WhatsApp and email. The case was then scheduled for another hearing the following day. Attorney Rajat Aneja represented Ram Rahim and alleged that Shyam Meera Singh was a repeat offender who failed to remove the video even after receiving a legal notice. He cited a post on 24th December on X (Twitter) in which the journalist admitted receiving a notification but declared he would not remove the video and would instead take the matter to court. The counsel contended that the video was slanderous and insulting.

Notably, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017 for the rape of two disciples. Furthermore, he is serving a life sentence for his role in the 2002 killings of Dera Manager Ranjit Singh and Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

It is worth mentioning that former AajTak journalist Shyam Meera Singh was dismissed in 2021 for his derogatory comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The media outlet stated in the termination letter that he had continued to express his opinions on social media platforms in violation of their social media policy, even after receiving two formal warnings in the past.

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