Home Blog Page 1457

Amid Oppn claims of top seers boycotting Jan 22 event, Shankaracharya of TN mutt announces 40-day worship

ANI
-
0
Amid Oppn claims of top seers boycotting Jan 22 event, Shankaracharya of TN mutt announces 40-day worship

Amid Opposition claims that the Shankaracharyas of four Peeths have turned down invites to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Vijayendra Saraswat Swamigal, the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, on Friday said the Yagyashala in Kashi will hold a 40-day worship programme to mark the January 22 event in the temple town.

The worhsip programme will coincide with the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22 and will continue for 40 days.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have claimed that the Shankaracharyas have decided against attending the January 22 event after objecting to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at an ‘incomplete temple’.

“With the blessings of Lord Ram, the ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony in Ayodhya will take place on January 22. Our Kashi-based Yagyashala will also hold a special worship over 40 days, coinciding with the grand event. The ceremony will be held under the guidance of Vedic intellectuals, including Lakshmi Kant Dixit,” the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt said.

“More than 100 scholars will perform ‘puja’ and ‘havan’ at the Yagyashala for 40 days, starting from the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pushing for the development of pilgrimage sites across the country and the premises of Kedarnath and Kashi Vishwanath temples have been expanded under his leadership,” the Shankaracharya added.

A ‘Yagyashala’ is used to perform a wide range of Vedic rituals, including ‘Havan’.

The country, meanwhile, is counting down to the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha ceremony’ at the Ram Temple in over a week’s time.

Preparations are underway in full swing for the grand temple opening, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the ceremonial installation of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Earlier, on Friday, PM Modi announced a special 11-day ‘anushthan’ (ritual) ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple.

In an audio message, PM Modi said he was fortunate to be a witness to what he described as a “historic” and “auspicious” occasion.

“There are only 11 days left for the pran prathishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. I am fortunate that I, too, will witness this auspicious occasion. The Lord has made me a medium to represent all Indians during the consecration. Keeping this in mind, I am starting a special ritual 11 days from today. I seek blessings from all of you,” PM Modi said in an audio message on social media platform ‘X’.

Prime Minister Modi said he has decided to rigorously follow all the rituals despite his hectic schedule and responsibilities. As a result, he has embarked on an 11-day anushthan. PM Modi further said that he is fortunate to witness the ceremony.

“I am going through this feeling for the first time in my life. I am experiencing a different kind of devotion. For me, this emotive journey (bhav yatra) is a moment of realisation, not expression. I am unable to express its depth, prevalence and intensity in words. You are able to understand my situation. The dream with which several generations lived, I have the opportunity to attain this,” the PM added. (ANI)

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

“Did not intend to hurt sentiments”: Cong chief Kharge amid BJP salvos over temple snub

ANI
-
0
“Did not intend to hurt sentiments”: Cong chief Kharge amid BJP salvos over temple snub

Amid discordant notes within a section of the party and perceived public anger over the refusal by top leaders to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla at his birthplace in Ayodhya on January 22, Congress national president Mallikatjun Kharge on Friday said the decision wasn’t intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments or any religion.

Earlier, Congress bigwigs – Kharge, former national president Sonia Gandhi and the party’s Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury – turned down the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, calling it a ‘BJP-RSS’ event.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the Congress president said, “We have already said that if anyone wants to visit Ayodhya (for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ event on January 22), they are free to go anytime they want. However, the BJP has been targeting us relentlessly over our decision not to attend the event. This is unfair. Our decision was not intended to hurt the sentiments of any person or religion.”

“We want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi: what steps has he taken to curb inflation and unemployment? We would also like him to list out the steps he has taken to secure our borders. These are issues that directly affect the country and its people,” Kharge added.

Ever since the Congress’s snub to the Ram Temple invite, the BJP has been taking pot shots at the grand old party, accusing it of denying the country’s identity and soul.

Coming down heavily on the Congress on Friday, former Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Ram Mandir is our Rashtra Mandir (national temple) and Prabhu Shri Ram is intrinsic to our existence and faith. He represents the country’s identity and soul. So, by turning down the invitation to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ at Ayodhya, they have denied our civilisational roots and national identity. This is unfortunate.”

The grand old party has been questioning the timing of the mega ceremony, with the Lok Sabha elections around the corner.

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday queried whether the event would be held under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the four peeths–the major shrines in the country.

“There is a system and set of rituals around ‘Pran Pratishtha’. If this event is religious, then why is it not happening under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the Four Peeths? All four Shankaracharyas have said clearly that the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ cannot be done in an incomplete temple. So, if this event is not religious, then it has to be political. I cannot accept some leaders of a party serving as middlemen between me and my avowed deity. Some of our politicians are acting like ‘Thekedars’ (contractors). Which ‘Panchang’ did the BJP refer to before finalising the date? The date was chosen keeping the (lok Sabha) elections in mind,” Congress leader Pawan Khera said on Friday.

Earlier, on Thursday, senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo questioned the timing of the ‘Pran Patishtha’ ceremony at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, close to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He alleged that the event is not ‘purely religious’ and has distinct ‘political undertones’.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister claimed that the temple was being inaugurated even before completion, with an eye on the upcoming general elections.

Asserting that no leader in the opposition has any objection to the opening of the Ram Temple and is respectful of the deity and the public sentiments around him, the Congress leader said, “If this (‘Pran Pratishtha) was purely religious, then nobody would have had any objection. But this is totally political. Why did they (BJP) have to schedule the ceremonial function on January 22, before the completion of the temple construction? It has all been done with an eye on the (Lok Sabha) elections. Why was the event scheduled for January 22? Why is it being done with the elections around the corner? That is what people have objections to. Nobody objects to Lord Ram.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to preside over the ‘Pran Pratistha’ and ceremonial opening of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Vedic rituals for the ‘Pran-Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav.

A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.

According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people.

Local authorities are also gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the grand ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees. (ANI)

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

Terrorists fire at security forces’ convoy in Poonch, search operation launched by Army

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Terrorists fire at security forces’ convoy in Poonch, search operation launched by Army

On Friday, January 12, an episode of gunfire transpired in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting security forces to initiate a search operation.

The gunfire was documented in the Dhara Dhullian area within the Lower Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, reports said.

As per reports, the firing was aimed at a convoy of security forces’ vehicles, and it is suggested that the assailants may have fled following the initial exchange of gunfire. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported thus far.

The Army provided a statement, stating, “At approximately 1800 today, suspected terrorists fired upon a convoy of security forces’ vehicles from a jungle near Krishna Ghati in the Poonch sector. No casualties were incurred by our troops. Joint search operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army are currently underway.”

A spokesperson for the defence department mentioned that they are in the process of gathering details about the incident.

This occurrence follows closely on the heels of a terrorist ambush on two army vehicles in Dhatyar Morh of Surankote in December, resulting in four soldiers losing their lives and three sustaining injuries. The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, claimed responsibility for the December attack.

The report on this recent incident emerged after the Northern Army Commander conducted a review of the anti-terror operational plan for the year 2024, taking into account the prevailing security situation in the Jammu region.

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the Northern Army Commander, conducted a comprehensive review of the operational plan, outlining strategies to neutralize terrorists, according to officials.

All stakeholders pledged to collaborate seamlessly to achieve the desired outcome, aiming to eradicate the roots of terrorism in the Poonch–Rajouri region. This marked the fourth high-level review meeting in response to the evolving situations in the Rajouri-Poonch area.

General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff, underscored the security concerns in the Rajouri-Poonch region. He expressed that the situation is a cause for “concern,” highlighting measures such as increased troop deployment, reinforced intelligence capabilities, and community outreach to contain terrorist activities in the region.

The Army Chief noted a surge in terrorist activities in Rajouri-Poonch over the last five to six months. He remarked, “In the last five to six months, in Rajouri and Poonch, there has been an increase in terrorism. Terrorism in that area was eradicated in 2003, and peace was there till 2017-18.”

Gita Press sees huge surge in demands for Ramayana-related scriptures ahead of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha, runs out of Ramcharitmanas stock

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Gita Press sees huge surge in demands for Ramayana-related scriptures ahead of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha, runs out of Ramcharitmanas stock

Ever since the date of Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was announced, the country has witnessed huge surge in materials and scriptures related to Lord Ram and Ramayana. The demand for Ram-related scriptures has gone so high that Gita Press in Gorakhpur, the premier publisher of Hindu scriptures, have now run out of copies and finding it difficult to meet demands.

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.

As per PTI, this is the first time that Gita Press is facing a shortage of Ramcharitmanas in its stock.

Lalmani Tripathi said that there was a demand for 50,000 copies of Ramcharitmanas from Jaipur, and 10,000 copies were ordered from Bhagalpur, but they could not fulfil the orders. Gita Press is also getting orders from its branches to distribute the scriptures, which the press is unable to fulfil.

He said that when there will be a massive crowd in Ayodhya after 22 January, the demand for the scripture will also go up. He added that when people will visit the Ram Mandir Ayodhya, they will want to buy a copy of Ramcharitmanas to bring home as prasad. Tripathi also added that the press is facing a shortage of places given the increased volume of printed books.

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.

Destiny had decided that Ram Mandir would be built, Modi will represent every Indian citizen: LK Advani ahead of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Destiny had decided that Ram Mandir would be built, Modi will represent every Indian citizen: LK Advani ahead of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha

On 22nd January, Bharatiya Janata Party’s stalwart Lal Krishna Advani is scheduled to travel to Ayodhya to witness the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Ahead of the grand ceremony, he said that fate had decided that Ram Mandir would be built, and PM Modi would be representing 140 crore Indians at the event. Talking about his Rath Yatra that led to the massive Ram Mandir movement, he said that he was just a charioteer.

LK Advani congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accomplishing the dream of building the grand temple in a special interview with the monthly Hindi publication “Rashtra Dharma” which will be published on 15th January. Furthermore, he referred to PM Modi as “the devotee chosen by Lord Ram to renovate his temple” for overseeing the construction of the sacred place.

The former deputy prime minister added, “Now when PM Modi consecrates the temple, he will represent every citizen of India” and hoped that the temple would “inspire all Indians to adopt the qualities of Lord Ram.”

He declared that destiny had already decided there would be a Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya long before it happened. He identified himself as the “charioteer” who led the “rath yatra” which started in Gujarat’s Somnath on 25th September 1990 and ended with the demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992 while he was at the site.

He stated, “At that time (in September 1990, a few days after the yantra began) I felt destiny had decided that one day a grand Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya. Now it is only a matter of time. And, a few days after the ‘rath yatra’ began, I realised I was just a ‘charioteer.’ The main messenger of the Rath Yatra was the chariot itself and was worthy of worship because it was going to Shri Ram’s birthplace Ayodhya to fulfill the sacred purpose of building the temple.”

The ‘rath yatra’ spearheaded by him and another seasoned party member Murali Manohar Joshi turned into a major movement that ultimately resulted in the demolition of the disputed structure. They had no idea at the time that the initiative spurred on by the belief in Lord Ram would become a national movement with PM Modi supporting him as a karsevak at the time. LK Advani appreciated his vital participation during the 10,000-kilometer journey corresponding to his persistent devotion to the construction of Shri Ram Lalla’s temple.

The ex-minister of home affairs called it “the most decisive and transformative event of his political career” and noted that it allowed him to “re-discover India” and himself. He talked about the support he received on the first leg of his journey from Gujarat to Maharashtra as well as in later stages. “We did not know (then) that our faith in Lord Ram, with which we started the yatra, would take the form of a movement in the country,” the Bharatiya Janata Party veteran mentioned.

He highlighted, “During the yatra, there were many experiences which influenced my life. Unknown villagers from remote villages would come to me, overwhelmed with emotion after seeing the chariot. They would salute and chant ‘Ram’ and go away. This was a message that there were many people who dreamt of a Ram Mandir.”

The article is titled “Building Ram Mandir-Realization of a Divine Dream.” A special edition of the magazine featuring the interview will be prepared and distributed to those who have been invited to the consecration event.

Ram devotees’ long-suppressed faith was rekindled across the country by the historic “rath yatra.” The Bharatiya Janata Party statesman, a prominent member of the Ram Janmbhoomi campaign and a former head of the party was instrumental in reawakening people’s passion and belief. He is now looking forward to visiting Ayodhya in order to observe the temple’s magnificence and its auspicious inauguration event.

There had been earlier claims that 90-year-old Murli Manohar Joshi and 96-year-old LK Advani weren’t going to attend the program due to health issues. However, Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Alok Kumar confirmed that the latter is going to be a part of the monumental event.

On 22nd January at noon, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will install the Ram Lalla idol at the temple’s sanctum sanctorum in the presence of a select few including Hindu saints and seers, important figures from the fields of movies, sports, business and politics as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Family members of karsevaks who sacrificed their lives in the Ram Mandir movement along with families of the labourers who erected the temple will also be present there.

NIA files charge sheet against 8 Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres for radicalising youths in jail and conspiring ‘fidayeen’ attacks

ANI
-
0
NIA files charge sheet against 8 Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres for radicalising youths in jail and conspiring ‘fidayeen’ attacks

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday charge-sheeted eight persons in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) cadres, including a life convict and two absconders, in the terror outfit’s prison radicalization and ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) attack conspiracy case.

Among the charge-sheeted accused, T Naseer of Kerala’s Kannur has been serving a life sentence in Begaluru’s Central Prison since 2013, while Junaid Ahmed, alias JD and Salman Khan are suspected to have fled abroad.

The others have been identified as Syed Suhail Khan alias Suhail, Mohammed Umar alias Umar, Zahid Tabrez alias Zahid, Syed Mudassir Pasha and Mohammed Faisal Rabbani alias Sadath.

All eight accused persons have been charge-sheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosives Substances Act and the Arms Act.

The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police on July 18 last year following the seizure of arms, ammunition, hand grenades and walkie-talkies from the possession of seven of the accused persons. The recovery was made while the seven men were gathered in the house of one of the accused.

Investigations into the case, which was taken over by the NIA in October 2023, revealed that T Naseer, who was involved in several blast cases, had come in contact with the other accused while they were all lodged in Bengaluru Prison during 2017, said the NIA.

While Salam was in prison in a POCSO case, the others were involved in a murder case, the anti-terror agency further said.

“Naseer had managed to get them all shifted to his barracks after a careful assessment of their potential with a view to radicalising and recruiting them into the LeT. He first managed to radicalise and recruit Junaid and Salman to further the activities of the LeT; thereafter, he conspired with Junaid to radicalise and recruit the other accused,” said the NIA.

Junaid, following his release from prison, was believed to have fled abroad after committing some more offences, it said.

As per NIA investigations, Junaid began sending funds to his co-accused from abroad to promote LeT activities within and outside the prison. “Junaid also conspired with Salman to deliver arms, ammunition, hand grenades and walkie-talkies to the others as part of a plot to carry out a ‘fidayeen’ attack and help Naseer escape from police custody en route to court.”

Junaid also instructed his co-accused to steal used police caps for the attack and to commit arson on government buses as a practice run. The plot was foiled with the seizure of the arms, etc., in July last year, said the agency. 

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

eBay employees harassed blogger couple by sending cockroaches, pig mask etc, put up their names on Craigslist as sex workers, company agrees to pay $3 million penalty

OpIndia Staff
-
0
eBay employees harassed blogger couple by sending cockroaches, pig mask etc, put up their names on Craigslist as sex workers, company agrees to pay $3 million penalty

EBay has agreed to pay a $3 million criminal fine after employees harassed a blogger couple for their coverage of the company, including sending them live cockroaches and a foetal pig, a bloody pig mask, live insects and a book on surviving the death of a spouse. The victims were David and Ina Steiner, a married couple from Natick, Massachusetts, who publishes the newsletter EcommerceBytes and had sued eBay for what they claim is a relentless campaign by eBay employees to “terrorise” them. 

eBay has settled into a deferred prosecution deal after being charged with two counts of stalking through interstate travel, two counts of stalking through electronic communications services, one act of witness tampering, and one count of obstruction of justice. According to the deal, eBay consented to a comprehensive recitation of all pertinent facts concerning its conduct and agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty, which is the statutory maximum amount for these six criminal offences.

Ina Steiner and David Steiner (Image source: Boston Globe/Getty Images)

Moreover, eBay will be compelled to keep an independent corporate compliance monitor for three years and to significantly enhance its compliance program.

“The company’s employees and contractors involved in this campaign put the victims through pure hell, in a petrifying campaign aimed at silencing their reporting and protecting the eBay brand,” acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said.

The newsletter’s publisher and editor, the Steiners, have also filed a federal lawsuit against the e-commerce giant, alleging how cyberstalking and distressing deliveries of anonymously supplied goods affected their lives.

Ina Steiner received unsettling and occasionally threatening tweets, as well as dozens of weird emails from organisations such as an IBS patient support organisation and the Communist Party of the United States.

Alongside a box with live spiders and cockroaches, the couple received a funeral wreath, a bloody pig mask, and a book “Grief Diaries” about surviving the loss of a spouse. Their home address was also advertised online, along with invitations to yard sales and parties.

A grief-themed book and a bloody pig mask sent to Steiners by eBay employees (Image source: US Justice Department website)

“Take her down”, eBay chief executive told another official referring to Ina Steiner

The harassment began in 2019 after Ina Steiner published a piece about a lawsuit filed by eBay that accused Amazon of poaching its sellers.

According to prosecutors, top executives considered the Steiners’ newsletter to be critical of eBay, and in August 2019, then-Chief Executive Devin Wenig told another executive that it was time to “take her down,” referring to Ina Steiner.

Notably, Wenig, who stepped down as CEO of eBay in September 2019, was not charged, and his spokesperson stated that Wenig had “absolutely zero knowledge” of the actions taken by eBay employees.

According to the US Department of Justice, “between approximately August 5, 2019, and Aug. 23, 2019, Jim Baugh, eBay’s former Senior Director of Safety and Security, and six other members of eBay’s security team targeted the victims for their roles in publishing a newsletter that reported on issues of interest to eBay sellers. Senior executives at eBay were frustrated with the newsletter’s tone and content, and with the comments posted beneath the newsletter’s articles. The harassment campaign arose from communications between those executives and Baugh.”

eBay employees put up names of Steiners on Craiglist for sexual activities

eBay’s Baugh, a former CIA operative along with accomplices ran a vicious harassment campaign “intended to intimidate the victims and change the content of the newsletter’s reporting.” Shockingly, other than sending live insects etc, the eBay employees made Craigslist posts inviting the public for sexual encounters at the residence of the victim couple.

Jim Baugh (Image source: Reuters)

eBay employees gave false statements to police, attempted to mislead the investigators

The victims noticed the surveillance squad and alerted local authorities. Upon learning of the investigation by the Natick Police Department, Baugh lied to both police and internal investigators. He and his accomplices deleted digital evidence associated with the cyberstalking campaign and fabricated documents to divert the attention of the investigating authorities.

eBay CEO apologises to Steiners for harassment campaign by its employees

In a statement issued on 11th January, eBay’s present CEO Jamie Lanone apologised for the wrongdoing of its employees in the past and said that “the company’s conduct in 2019 was wrong and reprehensible.” Lanone further apologised to the victim couple and said, “We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners for what they endured. Since these events occurred, new leaders have joined the company and eBay has strengthened its policies, procedures, controls and training. eBay remains committed to upholding high standards of conduct and ethics and to making things right with the Steiners.”

Notably, eBay’s former Senior Director of Safety and Security Jim Baugh was sentenced to 57 months in jail in September 2022. Others in the case have been sentenced to house confinement to two years in prison.

‘Pran Pratishtha can happen as Garbhagriha is completed’: Author Amit Tripathi rebuts Congress’ allegations

ANI
-
0
‘Pran Pratishtha can happen as Garbhagriha is completed’: Author Amit Tripathi rebuts Congress’ allegations

Responding to the Congress’ accusations of BJP conducting the ceremony in an incomplete Ram Temple at the January 22 event and labelling it as ‘Paap’ (sin), author Amish Tripathi stated that in ancient times, temple construction often spanned centuries, emphasizing that the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is done then an idol is placed and ‘Pran Pratishtha’ can happen.

Responding to a question over Congress allegations that the Pran Pratishtha is being done in an incomplete temple and the word used by the Congress is ‘Paap’, Amish Tripathi pointed out three major pooja ceremonies that happen.

“I don’t want to comment on politics. But in my understanding, my grandfather was a Pandit in Varanasi, he used to do Pran pratishtha poojas and he was a teacher too at Banaras Hindu University. What I learned from my grandfather was that at the beginning of the construction itself, a major ceremony that happens is to mark out the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). That’s the first major Pooja and the second is that when the Garbhagriha is complete, then the idol is placed in there and once that is done, ‘Pran Pratishtha’ can happen,” he said.

He emphasized that ancient temples, such as the Kailasa Mahadev temple, often took decades or even more than a century to build. In these cases, the architects knew they wouldn’t be alive to see the completion.

“There are no ancient temples in Northern India as they all were destroyed but you can find them in the South. It’s not about just one temple, it’s about multiple temples in the complex. So the third ceremony is when the entire temple complex gets completed and the main temple spires also get completed, one can perform the ‘Purna Kalasha’ at the top. I am assuming that the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is complete. From my understanding, I think Pran Pratishtha can happen,” he added.

Further, he cleared the difference between the ‘Consecration’ and ‘Pran Pratishtha’.

“Consecration is a Western term. In their interpretation of their religion, they divine something that exists outside of the universe and it is when you make something divine. In Hinduism, everything is already divine. That’s what Namaste means. ‘Pran Pratishtha’ is when a particular type of ‘Devi’ or ‘Dev’ that was there, that force is infused into the idol. At Ayodhya Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’, it would be taken into account that Lord Ram is depicted as a child,” Amish Tripathi added.

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

FIR filed against YouTube channel, YouTube India representative, and others for streaming content showing child sexual abuse: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
FIR filed against YouTube channel, YouTube India representative, and others for streaming content showing child sexual abuse: Details

The Maharashtra State Cyber Cell has filed a first information report (FIR) against a YouTube channel, its administrator, and a YouTube social media platform Indian representative after the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) discovered an alarming trend of CSAM on YouTube, with challenges depicting potentially sexually abusive acts involving mothers and their minor children.

The case was filed against the YouTube Representative under the POCSO Act, 678 of the IT Act (transmitting obscene movies), and IPC section 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to offend a woman’s modesty). A preliminary investigation by the state cyber unit revealed that the films of mother-child kissing were posted from Palghar.

“An investigation has been launched based on the FIR. People should exercise caution while sharing anything on social media,” said State Cyber Cell Special Inspector Inspector General Yashasvi Yaday.

The commission has identified an alarming trend of CSAM on YouTube, with challenges depicting suspected sexual abuse acts involving mothers and their minor children. These films attract viewers, especially minors, which presents serious problems.

Recently, the commission discovered a YouTube video named “XXXX vlogs” that depicts a troubling situation. In one of the films, a woman is shown taking part in a “XXXX challenge” with her minor child. Further investigation found that the operator of this channel lives in Maharashtra. This discovery raises serious worries about the child’s health and safety.

Last week, NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo summoned Mira Chatt, YouTube’s Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy in India regarding certain videos portraying minors indecently. Kanoongo has asked Chatt to appear before the Commission in person on 15th January.

The NCPCR chief has stated that the organisation has observed an alarming trend of various challenges on YouTube portraying potentially indecent acts involving mothers and sons. “This raises serious concerns about the potential harm it could inflict on the child’s well-being and safety. These videos further are seen by minors which also raises significant concerns,” the letter by NCPCR read.

Kanoongo has asked Chatt to get a list of all indecent challenges being run on YouTube “portraying potentially indecent acts involving mothers and sons” and a list of channels on YouTube that further such challenges involving minors.

CPI leader D Raja says his party will not participate in Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla, calls it state-sponsored BJP-RSS event for electoral considerations

ANI
-
0
CPI leader D Raja says his party will not participate in Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla, calls it state-sponsored BJP-RSS event for electoral considerations

The Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja said on Friday that his party will not participate in Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22, stating that “it is a state-sponsored political event being organised by the BJP and RSS combine for electoral considerations” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to ANI, D Raja, said, “Our party will not participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. It is a state-sponsored political event organized by the BJP and RSS combined. It is known to the whole world and all countries. The BJP and RSS have combined, making it a political event for their electoral gains.”

“The Constitution makes it clear that the Indian state should remain a secular democratic state. The Indian state should be neutral towards all religions. Indirectly, it should not take steps to provide de facto official religious status to any particular religion. But here, what we are witnessing is the PM is going and along with him, there will be RSS’s chief participating in that event,” he added

The CPI General Secretary also questioned the timing of the Ram Temple event just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

“What is happening in our country? The temple event is being done while keeping an eye on the Lok Sabha elections. Because they (the BJP) think they can convert this event into a huge electoral campaign–a political campaign to hoodwink people at the time of elections,” he said.

“And we are not in for such things. So we will not participate…”, Raja added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22.

The event has garnered significant global attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to attend the ceremony.

Vedic rituals for the ‘Pran-Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. 

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

1...1,4561,4571,458...7,654Page 1,457 of 7,654