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West Bengal: SFI goons attack Hindu man for interrupting the tirade of Communist leader Dipsita Dhar against Ram Mandir

On Saturday (13th January), goons associated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) attacked a Hindu man for questioning the tirade of a Communist Party leader Dipsita Dhar against Ram Mandir.

The incident took place during an SFI rally in Rampurhat city in Birbhum district of West Bengal. The unidentified Hindu man interrupted the speech of Dipsita Dhar and questioned her fixation on the Ram Mandir and the Hindu community

Hindu der bepare comment kore jacchen tokhon thake…Ekta Muslim niya komen karun eta dekhi (You are ranting against Hindus from that time. I dare you to comment something about the Muslim community as well),” the man was heard saying.

Muslim der diya ekta comment korchen na tokhon theka…Sudhu Ram Mandir niye (You did not make a single remark about Muslims but have been fixated on the construction of Ram Mandir), he further added.

Although the man did not pose any physical harm to Dipsita Dhar, a mob of her supporters gheraoed and assaulted him. The Student Federation of India (SFI) goons manhandled and pushed him away from the venue of the public meeting.

Dipsita Dhar did not make any effort to stop the goons from assaulting the Hindu man. Instead, she played the victim card and claimed that the victim only listened to one part of her speech and ignored the rest of it.

“There is a word in English called myopia. It means you cannot see everything. You can see only a little. I think he also had a similar condition. I spoke about many things…But he could only hear my remarks about Ram Mandir,” the Communist party leader brazened out.

It must be mentioned that Dipsita Dhar serves as the Joint Secretary of Students’ Federation of India and contested the 2021 Lok Sabha elections on a CPIM ticket. She came a distant third in the elections.

Ram Mandir is being inaugurated after 500 years of struggle but naysayers want to pick up on petty issues. Here’s a word of advise for them

Two once-in-a-century events will unfold simultaneously on 22nd January. One, the Ram Mandir inauguration and Pran Pratishtha after a 500-year-long wait for Hindus and two, the undoing of the Hindu-hating narrative of Leftists, Islamists and their political masters.

The ecosystem knows this too well, so they have been whimpering and whining left, right and centre every time there is a development about Ram Mandir.

Earlier the Opposition including the Congress has taken a jibe at the BJP saying “Mandir wahin banayenge, tareekh nahin batayenge” (will make the mandir but won’t give the date). Now that there is a countdown to the day of inauguration on 22nd January, the same peopel are asking the BJP why it is in a hurry to inaugurate the temple.

Then there’s the criticism that the Ram Mandir is structurally incomplete, cannot be inaugurated yet and is being inaugurated for political reasons. It is shameful how the Congress is shooting its gun off the shoulders of Dharmagurus, simply for the pleasure of criticising PM Modi.

With all due respect and reverence for the Divine Seat and capacity of Joshimath Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya Shri Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji, the fact that Bhagwan Shri Ram is returning to his birthplace symbolises that Dharma is being reinstated and the adharma that prevailed 500 years ago has lost.

What we are witnessing in this life and time before our eyes is the manifestation of the victory of right over wrong, the manifestation that truth always prevails – these words which we read in our scriptures through our historical tales; moreover, we are witnessing this manifestation in Kali Yuga!

So even if the means to this end was political, which it isn’t, then so be it. If politics has led Bharat and Bharatiyas to uphold Dharma today, then my naman to such politics.

I do, at the same time apologise to the Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya for taking the undeserved liberty to criticise the Divine knowledge of The Dharmaguru. The akhandta (completeness) of the Ram Mandir is surely key and tradition would want that due process be followed. But so long as the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) is complete, the temple is set to be inaugurated.

But then again, we are living in times where the ecosystem (not including Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya Ji) will leave no stone unturned in wanting to delay the welcome of our Prabhu Ram. Hasn’t He been denied the loving arms of His Dashrath Mahal for too long now? Hasn’t His existence been questioned enough?

After defeatist insults, exhausting court battles, and propaganda that jolted our faith for decades only for Dharma to prevail stronger, this is certainly not the time to question the architectural technicalities of the Ram Mandir.

Moving on to the most central objection of the ecosystem, that is, the presence of the Prime Minister at the event.

Who else do these anti-Hindus expect to attend the grand ceremony? The Congress which has declined the invite, thank you so much; the SP whose chief says he doesn’t know who came to invite; the Leftists for their “religion is the opium of the masses” faith or Islamists who want to blow up kafirs (infidels)?

Moreover, how conveniently are they ignoring that representative heads of all religions have been invited to the grand ceremony, as they were on 5th August 2020 for the Ram Janmabhoomi Bhoomi pujan?

A sad liberal on X, formerly Twitter, also went on to say that he finds it scary that kar sevaks are visiting to distribute the Holy Akshat (rice) and pamphlets of the Ram Mandir for the inauguration on 22nd January.

“How many of you have had kar sevaks ring your bell and give you pamphlets and a small token of the upcoming Ram Mandir to keep at home? Happened in both Ahmedabad and Bangalore and it is scary,” wrote peeleraja on X.

These are the kind of people who have demonised Holy Hindu terms and concepts like kar seva and kar sevaks. And to do so, they have used the Babri demolition, with precisely edited news visualisation and news headlines to support their narrative to show Ram, Ram Mandir, Ram Bhakts and Sanatana Dharma in a bad light.

Although, all of the above appears like deja vu. Ahead of Bhoomi pujan in 2020, the same ecosystem objected to it citing covid, objecting to PM Modi’s presence, CM Yogi Adityanath’s presence, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s presence, Home Minister Amit Shah’s presence; the muhurt (timing of Bhoomi pujan) and the sculpture of Shri Ram.

Irrespective, the auspicious Bhoomi pujan went on and now, finally, the inauguration day is fast approaching. Similarly, no excuses, comments, political statements or objections can interrupt the inauguration from happening, the haters should know as much by now.

The repetitive petty objections by the ecosystem is tiring and unbelievable at the same time considering that Hindus have won, perhaps for the first time, in Kali Yuga with the return of Ram Lalla after 500 years. This is the time to celebrate Shri Ram and not try to find excuses to whine about.

Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya: 2,500 folk artists to perform on 100 stages, artists from over 15 countries to stage Ramlila

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The Culture Department is making extensive preparations for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to be held in Ayodhya on January 22. To make the event unique and unforgettable, 2,500 folk artists will perform on 100 stages in Ayodhya on January 22, according to an official statement from the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday.

Besides, over 5,000 artists from across the country and the world will perform in Ayodhya over a period of 70 days from January 14 to March 24.

Artists from over 15 countries will stage Ramlila during this period. Also, 25 Ramlila troupes from Uttar Pradesh and 10 from other states will showcase the grandeur of the Tretayug through their performances, added the offical statement.

On January 22, Lord Ram will be seated in his divine and majestic temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM will be accorded a grand welcome on the occasion. For the performance on 100 stages by 2500 artists on January 22, a rehearsal will take place on January 21. Additionally, artists at many other locations will spread the fragrance of Indian culture through their performances.

Notably, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to provide a platform for both new talents and established artists to perform.

Over 5,000 artists will perform at 10 public locations over a period of 70 days. The finalized locations for the cultural programs include Bharatkund, Suryakund, Guptar Ghat, Jhunki Ghat, Badi Devkali, Gulabbadi, Ramghat Halt- Saptarangi Bridge, near Saket Petrol Pump, Parag Dairy, and near Ayodhya Dham Railway Station, read the official statement further.

In Ayodhya, artists from Uttar Pradesh and other states will participate. In Tulsi Udyan, Haryana’s Rakesh Ganguli will present Shiv Stuti, Odisha’s Ashok Behera will present Shriram Natya, Maharashtra’s Yashwant Madhav, Tamil Nadu’s T.S. Morgan, and Punjab’s Jaswant Singh will present Jhumar. The team led by K.S. Satyanarayana from Karnataka will present a Bal Yatra of the entire Ramayana. In addition to this, there will be presentations by many other artistes as well.

Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, MP and film actor Ravi Kishan from Gorakhpur, and Kanhaiya Mittal, will present their performances on the evening of January 22 from 5 to 8 PM. Malini Awasthi and Ravi Kishan’s program will take place at Tulsi Udyan.

On Ram Ki Paidi, Sharma Brothers from Ujjain and Kanhaiya Mittal from Chandigarh will present their performances. Ram Katha Park in Nagpur will witness a presentation by the Watekar Sisters.

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

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: UP and three other BJP-ruled states declare 22nd January a dry day

As the nation is gearing up for the much-awaited Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, several BJP-ruled states have announced a ban on the sale of liquor and meat on that day. Recently, while announcing the school holiday on 22nd January to celebrate the historic occasion, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also declared that liquor shops will remain closed in the state on that day.

On Thursday (11th January), the Uttar Pradesh Excise Department also issued directions for all the liquor shops to remain closed on 22nd January. The Excise Commissioner issued directions to all the District Magistrates of Uttar Pradesh regarding keeping all the liquor shops of UP closed on 22nd January 2024.

“You are aware that on January 22, 2024, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be held in the Ram Mandir at Shri Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya. Given the above, under a government order dated 11-01-2024, it has been decided that all the liquor shops in the state will remain closed on January 22, 2024. The licensee will not be entitled to any compensation or claim for the closure. Please ensure compliance accordingly,” read the notice by the UP Excise Commissioner. 

Currently, UP and three other BJP-ruled states have announced to observe a dry day in their respective states on 22nd January when the nation will be celebrating ‘Diwali ’-like festivities to mark Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.

Assam

On 11th January (Thursday), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that various programmes have been undertaken by Assam BJP to celebrate Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ to be held on 22nd January and the state will observe a dry day on the occasion. 

Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Today, a meeting of state BJP was held where the MPs, MLAs, district presidents, in-charges, co-incharges, office bearers, BJP Yuva Morcha’s district presidents and state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita were present. From January 18 to January 21, we will observe Swachh Tirtha Utsav in various religious sites across the state. On January 22, we all will see the historic moment of the Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’, we will go to different religious sites across the state for this.” 

He added, “Big screens will be installed at various places for this. On January 21 and 22, the BJP workers will illuminate the market and other areas. January 22 has been declared as a ‘dry day’ in the state.”

Uttarakhand

On 12th January, in a virtual meeting with District Magistrates from the Secretariat, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed that grand events should be organised in the state under the cultural festival from January 14 to 22, 2024. CM Dhami also gave instructions to keep 22nd January as a dry day in the state.

He said, “We have to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country. Ram Lala is going to sit in Ayodhya on January 22 and this is an opportunity for which we have waited for years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided an opportunity to 140 crore countrymen to celebrate Ramotsav.” 

The Uttarakhand CM further said that people should be motivated to celebrate Deepotsav in all homes on January 22, as Lord Surya is entering Uttarayan and on this auspicious occasion, Ram Lala’s Pran Pratishtha is taking place in Ayodhya. This occasion will be celebrated like the festival of Diwali in the entire state, he added.

Chhattisgarh

Earlier on 3rd January, the Chhattisgarh government declared to observe a ‘dry day’ on January 22 on the occasion of the consecration of Shri Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. Back then, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that the state will observe a ‘dry day’ on January 22 to mark the ‘Shri Ram Lala Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony that will be organised in Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya.

“The people of Chhattisgarh are enthusiastically looking forward to this mega event, as Chhattisgarh is the maternal birthplace of Lord Shri Ram. In consideration of the zeal and fervour of the people, this auspicious day will be declared a dry day in Chhattisgarh,” said CM Vishnu Deo Sai in a video message.

A day later, the Excise Department issued instructions to ensure the implementation of the aforementioned announcement.

Meanwhile, the sale of liquor has been prohibited completely in Gujarat for years. 

(With inputs from ANI)

Downloading or watching child porn not a crime under POCSO and IT Act, Gen Z kids grappling with porn addiction, need education not punishment: Madras HC

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The Madras High Court recently pronounced that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act do not render it illicit to access or see child pornography on a personal electronic device. The legal proceedings against a man named S Harish who was charged under the POCSO Act and the IT Act for downloading and watching two child pornographic footage on his phone were dismissed by Judge N Anand Venkatesh.

The Court also emphasised the surge in youth porn addiction at the conclusion of the ruling. Justice Venkatesh called for a methodical approach to address the matter and stated, “The Generation Z Children are grappling with this serious problem and instead of damning and punishing them, the society must be mature enough to properly advise and educate them and try to counsel them to get rid of that addiction.”

It shed light on the surge in teenage addiction to porn and stressed, “There is adult material, which also draws the attention of the children whose mental faculty is at a growing stage. There used to be an addiction to smoking, drinking, etc. and there is a growing rise in addiction to watching porn photos/videos. This is easily available and by repeatedly watching the same, it becomes a habit and ultimately, the person gets addicted.”

According to a recent study cited by him, six out of ten girls and nine out of ten boys are exposed to pornography before the age of eighteen. Pornography viewership can have a significant impact on a teen’s physical and psychological health in the long run. It mentioned, “The education must start from the school level since exposure to adult material starts at that stage itself.”

The High Court observed that although the accused acknowledged being dependent on porn, he had never viewed any child porn. Furthermore, it pointed out that the individual had not shared or distributed any pornographic videos which is a prerequisite for an offence under the two Acts to be committed. The Court further mentioned that he had offered to go through counselling to overcome this obsession.

The judge proclaimed, “To make out an offence under Section 14(1) of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, a child or children must have been used for pornography purposes. This would mean that the accused person should have used the child for pornographic purposes. Even assuming that the accused person had watched child pornography video, that strictly will not fall within the scope of Section 14(1) of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.”

The court added, “In order to constitute an offence under Section 67-B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the accused person must have published, transmitted, created material depicting children in sexually explicit act or conduct. A careful reading of this provision does not make watching child pornography, per se, an offence under Section 67-B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.”

It remarked, “This Court hopes that the petitioner will listen to the advice and get rid of the addiction for a happy and healthy future. Quashing the criminal proceedings by itself will not help the petitioner and the petitioner has to help himself by getting rid of the addiction.”

In response to the file of the Sessions Judge, Mahila Neethi Mandram (Fast Track Court), Tiruvallur District the court asserted, “In the light of the above discussion, the continuation of the proceedings against the petitioner will amount to abuse of process of Court. That apart, it will be a stumbling block for the petitioner’s career in future. Therefore, this Court is inclined to quash the proceedings.”

Referencing a Kerala High Court decision, the judge highlighted that the components of a charge under Section 292 ( public exhibition of explicit matter) of the Indian Penal Code would only become active if someone attempted to print, distribute or display such recordings in public.

The judge stated that the concepts of “operant conditioning” can be used to understand the development of a pornographic addiction much like other substances or “things” that individuals can get dependent on. “This is where a certain behaviour, watching porn in this case, is ‘reinforced’, or rewarded, which in turn makes you want to do it again (and again). Lots of different things can be reinforcing, and thus influence our behaviour, but porn can be especially reinforcing because the reward taps into a very basic instinctual drive – sex. Therefore, it is very easy to become addicted to porn – it is accessing a fundamental (and very enjoyable) natural drive. It is also much easier to obtain than going out and finding a ‘mate’ to fulfil this drive.”

Attorney JN Naresh Kumar represented the petitioner while Additional Public Prosecutor A Damodaran appeared for Ambattur Police.

‘Missionaries carrying out religious conversion will not be allowed in Bastar’: BJP leader Bhojraj Nag says a conspiracy going on to destroy Sanatan Dharma

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The Yatra of Janjati Suraksha Manch recently arrived in Dantewada from Narayanpur to safeguard tribal culture and customs. Former MLA Bhojraj Nag, who is leading this yatra, has stated that people who convert to Christianity will not be allowed to reside in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

According to a Bhaskar report, the former MLA said that Sanatan Dharma is in danger. People coming from outside are making the locals fight against their own. Religious conversion is widespread in Bastar in the name of education and health. He added that those who have converted to other religions from Hinduism should not be eligible for tribal reservations.

Notably, the Janjati Suraksha Manch travelled from Jagdalpur to Geedam in Dantewada. This Yatra received a warm welcome at the intersection in Haram Para. Social workers Om Soni and Santosh Sahu, as well as members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, as well as Dantewada MLA Chaitram Atami, were among the many in attendance. Former MLA Bhojraj Nag, who was conducting the yatra at the time, lashed out at the conversion conspiracies allegedly being undertaken by missionaries in the region. 

In his address, Bhojraj Nag stated that a massive conspiracy is being hatched against Sanatan Dharma. It is now time to respond appropriately to the adversaries of Sanatan Dharma. “In the same way that Lord Shri Ram conquered Lanka with the monkey army and destroyed demonic domination, we are reaching out to all of society in every district and spreading awareness to save Sanatan. We are going to expose the conspiracy against Sanatan,” Bhojraj said.

According to the former MLA, Bastar is a fifth schedule area. The locals are dedicated to preserving their culture, heritage, and religion. If the administration makes no provision to safeguard Hindu Gods and Goddesses, it should be amended. Bhaskar reported that a large number of people have congregated at the Mata Danteshwari Temple to raise concerns about the same.

Meanwhile, Bhojraj Nag declared that he would not allow the conspiracy against Hindu gods and goddesses to succeed. He added that such missionaries who come to convert local tribals to Christianity “come from outside, eat our food and work against our religion. Such missionaries will no longer allowed to stay in Bastar.”

Core inflation declines to a 48-month low in December 2023, reaches 3.89% in December from 6.1% in January: NSO data

On 12th January (Saturday), the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the latest economic data (pdf). As per the NSO data, Core inflation has eased to a sub-4 percent level which has happened for the first time in the post-pandemic period. It has declined to 3.89 percent in December from 4.1 percent in November. With this, the core inflation has declined to a 48-month low in December 2023. 

As per reports, reducing core inflation has been a key objective of the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee. It has brought it down from 6.1 percent at the start of 2023 to the 48-month low in December 2023.  Notably, core inflation is the inflation excluding food and fuel items.

Moreover, miscellaneous inflation, a broad indicator of price changes for services, decreased from 4.38 percent in November to 4.07 percent in December. However, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has increased to a four-month high of 5.69 percent in December but it continues to remain within the RBI’s tolerance range of 2-6%. The CPI was 5.72% in December 2022, so there has not been much change on a year-on-year basis.

Food inflation remained high, which was 9.53% in December 2023, up from 4.19% in the same month previous year.

As per the statewide inflation rate, North Eastern states have achieved greater success in controlling inflation. The following map depicts the state-wide inflation rate for December month –

(NSO released statewide inflation rates for December month)

Nonetheless, nations across the globe have been facing the brunt of turbulent events including the Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas wars, and attacks on the busy shipping lanes in the Red Sea which have resulted in higher costs of living across the globe. Consequently, India’s payments outgo for oil, gold, and other commodities have increased leading to a rise in the cost of raw materials and commodities. 

A day after NSO released the economic data, Rajya Sabha MP and Uddhav Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on 13th January (Saturday), targeted the Modi government.

In her post, she shared screengrabs of a media article taking a ‘Mehngai Dyan’ jibe at the Union government. However, netizens called her out for selectively sharing screenshots of a media report and omitting the part where the media portal had highlighted that core inflation has declined further in the country. 

Sharing a screenshot of the same article which the Rajya Sabha MP omitted, an X user wrote, “The Same article mentions that ‘Core inflation’ for the 1st time post-pandemic, eased further to 3.9% in December from 4.1% in November. Selective SS posting won’t help in any way, except for the X payout.”

Earlier, the government estimate showed that the Indian economy is expected to expand by 7.3 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24, surpassing the predictions of most economists.

Midnight mayhem in Delhi: Miscreants hurl petrol bombs and fire shots at a house in Adarsh Nagar

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On the midnight of 11th January in the Adarsh Nagar area of Delhi, a fierce clash erupted between two rival gangs, reminiscent of the film ‘Gangs of Wasseypur.’ The confrontation in the capital involved the Gopi and Sahil gangs, both active in the Lal Bagh area, and has left the neighbourhood shaken.

The clash ensued following a longstanding dispute between the Gopi and Sahil gangs. Approximately fifty miscreants from Sahil’s group targeted Gopi’s residence in Mochi Bagh, launching a violent assault. The assailants’ faces were concealed with cloth masks. They unleashed a barrage of petrol bombs and fired 12 rounds into the air, causing panic in the vicinity. The entire 20-minute ordeal, including the hurling of petrol bombs and gunfire, was captured by a nearby CCTV camera.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the family members of Kishan, the homeowner, who had a previous dispute with the attacking group. PCR calls were made six times by locals, leading senior officials from the Adarsh Nagar police station to the scene. Upon investigation, Delhi police recovered eight empty cartridge shells.

A minor has been apprehended in connection with the audacious attack, as seen in the viral CCTV footage where four youths, faces covered, hurled petrol bombs and fled. The victim, Kishan, confirmed the dispute with the attacking group, all of whom have prior criminal records. A case has been registered under sections 336, 436, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, involving charges related to endangering life, mischief by fire, and criminal intimidation.

The incident has stirred public concern, with social media users expressing dismay over the apparent deterioration of law and order in the national capital. As the investigation unfolds, the Delhi Police are diligently pursuing leads to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the violent clash. The clashes between the Gopi and Sahil gangs underline an ongoing feud, showcasing the challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing such instances of hooliganism in the city.

All members agreed that I.N.D.I. Alliance should be headed by Mallikarjun Kharge and Nitish Kumar should be convenor: Sharad Pawar after opposition bloc’s meeting

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Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that all the members of the opposition’s INDIA bloc agreed to the proposal that the alliance, formed to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, should be headed by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

The senior opposition leader said that ‘everyone’ suggested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s name for the post of the alliance’s convenor. “But the Janata Dal (United) national president’s opinion is that the one who is already in charge should continue,” Pawar said.

The NCP patriarch was speaking after attending the virtual meeting of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders, which began this afternoon to review the seat-sharing agenda, participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and other matters.

“A meeting of the INDIA bloc was held under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge. We had a discussion that we will all take a decision on seat sharing as soon as possible. It was suggested by some that the alliance should be headed by Mallikarjun Kharge and everyone agreed. We also formed a committee to make plans in the coming days. Everyone suggested that Nitish Kumar should take responsibility as the convenor, but his opinion is that the one who is already in charge should continue,” Pawar said.

On declaring the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate, he said, “After the elections, if we get the majority, then we would be able to give a better option to the country.”

Meanwhile, soon after the virtual key meeting, Kharge said that the seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way.

In a post on X, Kharge also invited all the INDIA bloc parties to join Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, which is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, at their convenience.

“Leaders of the INDIA Coordination Commitee today met online and had a fruitful discussion on the alliance. Everyone is happy that the seat-sharing talks are progressing positively. We also discussed about joint programs in the coming days by INDIA Parties. I, along with Rahul Gandhi ji invited all INDIA Parties to join ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ at their convenience and use the opportunity to raise the social, political and economic issues plaguing the common people of this country,” Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X.

INDIA or ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress.

The parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May. 


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

Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable: India registers ‘strong protest’ against British envoy’s visit to PoK

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Terming the visit by the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Jane Marriott, to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as “highly objectionable”, India has registered a ‘strong protest’ with the British High Commissioner in India.

This comes after British envoy Jane Marriott visited Mirpur city in the PoK region along with an official of the UK Foreign Office.

“India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 10 January 2024,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

“Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” it added.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this ‘infringement’.

The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been and shall always remain an integral part of India,” MEA added.

In October last year, the US envoy to Pakistan, Donald Blome, visited the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region.

New Delhi conveyed to Washington its ‘strong objection’ to the visit and urged the international community to respect its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.


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