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Terrorist Pannun assassination plot: New York court directs US govt to provide documentary evidence on ‘murder for hire’ charges against Nikhil Gupta

OpIndia Staff
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Terrorist Pannun assassination plot: New York court directs US govt to provide documentary evidence on ‘murder for hire’ charges against Nikhil Gupta

On 8th January (local time), the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, directed the US Prosecutors to begin providing defence counsel with discovery material. The prosecutors have to file a reply within three days of the day of the order.

The order came after the defence counsel filed a motion to compel the discovery production on 4th January. Nikhil Gupta was arrested in Prague six months ago on 30th June 2023, allegedly based on the inputs from the US claiming he was involved in the assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun is a terrorist wanted in India under the UAPA law. but he has been under the protection of the US government.

The US government sought the extradition of Gupta, currently under custody in the Czech Republic in December 2023. The Czech Ministry of Justice verified 52-year-old Gupta’s extradition request.

A representative for the Czech Ministry of Justice, Vladimir Repka, revealed that Nikhil Gupta was captured at the US government’s request, after which it made an extradition request. The US authorities have detailed the charges against him, including conspiracy to “murder for hire.” They submitted the extradition request in August 2023, citing the accusation above.

Gupta was sent to solitary confinement following a threat to life

Reportedly, Gupta was sent to solitary confinement after a threat to his life was received via an email to the jail authorities. As per the Indian Express report, an email was written by the head of the prison guard department of the Prison Service of the Czech Republic, Rudolf Sedlacek, to the Municipal Court in the last week of October 2023. In the email, he revealed that Gupta was facing a threat to life and requested an appearance in court via video conferencing.

While the Czech prison authorities refused to comment on the matter, Gupta’s lawyer in Prague, Petr Slepika, told Indian Express that Gupta was indeed kept in solitary confinement. He said, “Yes, he is now in a cell alone. Two prison guards always accompany him whenever he moves outside his cell. Even when I have to meet him now, a glass wall separates him and me.”

Accusations of plotting assaissnation of Pannun

Nikhil Gupta is being prosecuted with charges of murderer for hire, a crime which carries a potential 10-year sentence. According to the claims of the Justice Department, an Indian government employee known as CC-1 was in charge of the murder plot from India. Nikhil Gupta is also believed to be involved in the global trafficking of drugs and firearms. Furthermore, he allegedly attempted to hire a hitman who was an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.

“An Indian government employee, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City,” claimed a statement released by the US officials. He had allegedly given an assassin $100,000 to carry out the murder with a $15,000 down payment already received on 9 June of this year. However, the person he reached out to recruit the hitman was a confidential informant for US law enforcement.

New Delhi responded to the accusation and asserted that it was against government policy and was concerned that one of its officials was associated with the conspiracy. Afterwards, the Indian government formed a high-level inquiry committee to probe into “all the relevant aspects of the matter.”

Notably, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated Khalistani terrorist and founder of the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice, has repeatedly threatened India with terrorist actions, including blowing up an Air India flight as well as attacking the Indian parliament as a retaliation for the alleged plan of the Indian government to eliminate him. He described himself as a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. However, no action has been taken against him by either nation despite his regular terror threats and assaults on Indians, including diplomats living on their soil by his followers and supporters.

London: Hindu temple of Sri Lankan Tamils desecrated, witness suspects India’s support to Israel in war against Hamas may have motivated attacker

OpIndia Staff
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London: Hindu temple of Sri Lankan Tamils desecrated, witness suspects India’s support to Israel in war against Hamas may have motivated attacker

The Eelapatheeswarar Alayam temple in London’s Wembley was allegedly attacked on 6th January when an “aggressive intruder” desecrated the idols of the temple. The Metropolitan Police has been called for the protecion of the temple.

As per a report, a man entered the temple of Bhagwan Shiva while wearing his shoes, which is prohibited inside temples as a sign for respect for the deity. The man was told by the devotees and temple volunteers to not do so.

The man broke out in anger and threw one of the murtis (idols) out of he sanctum sanctorum and smashed a diya (oil lamp) which was lit in the sanctum sanctorum. The man was restrained.

Rajasingham Jayadevan, the Founder of the temple and the General Secretary of its Board of Trustees reportedly said, “One of the devotees and our volunteers managed to restrain him after he became extremely aggressive, and were successfully able to catch the murti which was thrown.”

Jayadevan said the accused was being very aggressive towards the people present at the temple and also towards the police, one of whom was also assaulted.

He said, “He was being very aggressive, not only towards the people present there but also towards the police after they arrived. I believe he assaulted one of the police officers too. We are very thankful and appreciative of the swift and effective response of the police. We really welcome their extra support after the truly terrifying incidence.”

Jayadevan said that the actions of the accused may be relaed to the Israel-Gaza conflict. “I feel like this individual’s actions may be in relation to India’s support towards Israel in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”

A statement by the police read, “It was reported that the 22-year-old man was causing a significant disturbance inside the temple. Officers attended and the man was detained. He was taken to hospital as a precaution due to his elevated heart rate and subsequently arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and taken into police custody.”

A netizen pointed out that the temple was built by Eelam Tamils who had fled Sri Lanka owing to decades-long civil war.

Jayadevan said that the community has lived peacefully and in harmony with the local mosque for the past 20 years and enjoy a relationship of mutual respect.

However, the incident has sparked concern within the local Hindu community.

Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation passes proposal for name change: Read what are the three names under consideration

ANI
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Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation passes proposal for name change: Read what are the three names under consideration

Adding to the sequence of name changes in Uttar Pradesh since the Yogi government took shape, a proposal to change the name of the Ghaziabad district was passed with a majority by the municipal corporation on Tuesday.

According to sources, two members of the corporation voted against the motion to rename Ghaziabad.

During the meeting, three names: Gaj Prastha, Doodheshwar Nath Nagar or Harnandipuram were finalised, which would now be sent to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Speaking on the development, Ghaziabad Mayor Sunita Dayal said a lot of people have been demanding a name change for the district.

“A proposal will be sent to the CM after the discussion with the board. The final decision on the name change rests with the CM,” the Mayor said.

Meanwhile, the head priest of Doodheshwar Nath temple in the district, Mahant Narayan Giri, said he had a meeting with CM Yogi last month during which the latter assured him that he would consider the request for name change.

“Back in the day, Ghaziabad used to be known as Gaj Prastha. Mughal emperor Akbar’s brother-in-law, Ghazuddin, renamed it Ghaziabad. Our first demand was that the name of this city be changed to either Gaj Prastha, Doodheshwar Nath Nagar or Haranandipuram. We also spoke to the chief minister and proposed these three names. He assured us that he would consider the matter,” he said.

The priest added that names that carry a colonial tag or the legacy of slavery should not be persisted with post independence.

“We consider it as our good fortune that the municipal corporation of Ghaziabad has passed this proposal. We are confident that Yogi-ji will restore the glory of the old times to the city,” he 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)

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urges China to send more tourists amid self-created diplomatic tensions with India

OpIndia Staff
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Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urges China to send more tourists amid self-created diplomatic tensions with India

On Tuesday (9th January), Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urged China to “intensify” its efforts and send more tourists to the archipelago. The request comes at a time when Indian tourists are reportedly cancelling their trips to the Maldives en-masse in a backlash to his Ministers’ disparaging remarks against India and Indians.  

On the second day of his ongoing five-day state visit to China, Muizzu addressed the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province. During his address, he urged China to increase the influx of Chinese tourists to the Maldives. According to a readout posted on his official website, Muizzu said, “China was our (Maldives’) number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position.” 

At the event, he described China as the archipelago’s “closest” ally. He said, “China remains one of our closest allies and development partners.” 

As per Maldivian media, Maldives has signed a USD 50 million project with China to develop an integrated tourism zone in the Arabian Sea islands.

According to Muizzu speech, he also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. He claimed that the project “delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history.” 

Meanwhile, the Maldives Tourism Ministry shared data indicating that in 2023, the highest number of visitors to the Maldives came from India, with 209,198 Indian tourists. Russia came second with 209,146 arrivals, and China was in third place with 187,118 arrivals.

In 2022, Maldives received the highest number of tourists from India with 240,000 arrivals. Russia followed India closely with 198,000 tourists, and Britain ranked third that year with over 177,000 arrivals.

Before COVID, China occupied the leading position in Maldives with over 280,000 tourists. But Beijing is currently struggling to revive its domestic and foreign tourism because of a nearly four-year lockdown policy which was coupled with the continued slowdown of its economy.

It is important to note that the Maldivian President appealed to China to send more tourists as it is facing a backlash from India. Its tourism sector is taking a hit after several ministers and members of the ruling party made derogatory remarks against Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter’s visit to Lakshadweep. 

While Indian social media users argued that Lakshadweep has the potential to replace Maldives, PM Modi had made no mention of it or any other nation during his trip. Yet the jittery Maldivian Ministers and users perceived it as a threat to its tourism potential and made uncouth commentary triggering a backlash from India.  

Maldives government facing criticism from its opposition

Earlier, it was reported that Maldivian opposition has demanded the removal of their President Muizzu after several ruling leaders mocked India and PM Modi. Evidently, the minority leader in the Maldivian Parliament, Ali Azim, on Monday, called for the sacking of the archipelago’s President Mohamed Muizzu. 

Azim called for steps to remove the Maldivian President from office including initiation of a vote of no confidence against him. 

In response to Maldivian users’ and politicians’ uncalled-for racial commentary, trends like #BoycottMaldives, and cancellation of trips to Maldives are picking steam in India. In a firefighting bid, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry tried to distance itself from its Minister’s disparaging remarks against India and the Indian PM. It said that the government is aware of “derogatory remarks” on social media platforms against foreign leaders adding that the personal views do not represent its position.

Click here, to read details about the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives and how a post by Mr Sinha, following PM Modi’s trip to Lakshadweep, triggered a sequence of events leaving the Maldivian President under dock.   

Further, the Maldives government had suspended three of its ministers – Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid amid diplomatic tensions with India. 

Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts invites controversial ‘mythologist’ Devdutt Pattanaik, cancels invite after netizens highlight his deranged views

OpIndia Staff
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Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts invites controversial ‘mythologist’ Devdutt Pattanaik, cancels invite after netizens highlight his deranged views

On Tuesday (9th January), the Vadodara Centre of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) extended an invitation to controversial mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik as a speaker for its upcoming event. Taking to its official X account, the IGNCA made this announcement. The event is slated to take place on 17th January at Ravi Varma Studio in Laxmi Vilas Palace compound, Vadodara. 

The post, which was later deleted after outrage, read, “Regional Centre Vadodara invites you to a talk by the renowned mythologist, author, and speaker Devdutt Pattanaik at Ravi Varma Studio, Laxmi Vilas Palace compound, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 5 p.m…” 

Later, the institute posted that the talk has been cancelled.

As per the invite shared in the post, later deleted, Pattanaik was slated to deliver a talk on the subject – Exploring the stories of Ramayana in the works of Raja Ravi Varma. Although the post has been deleted, there is a shroud on details of the event as reportedly the invitation to Pattanaik has been cancelled after outrage.

(IGNCA’s post which was later deleted shared the invitation letter extended to controversial Mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik)

It is important to note that IGNCA is an Autonomous Trust under the Ministry of Culture. 

However, the invitation to controversial mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik led to a massive outrage. Netizens started sharing screenshots of his vile, abusive, and sexually derogatory tweets against women. 

Initial, the popular Twitter user Shashank Jha, while responding to invite to Devdutt Pattanaik, wrote, “Shocking to see that this anti-Hindu Devdutt Pattanaik has been invited to speak on Shri Ram by the Ministry of Culture. Dear Kishan Reddy: kindly look into this asap and take action.” 

He, however, thanked the Minister when the post was deleted.

Sharing controversial claims and tweets of Devdutt Pattanaik, Hindu post wrote, “Why is IGNCA inviting this abusive man Devdutt Pattanaik who is a known distorian who has hurt millions through his perverted interpretations of Dharma and our itihaas, and is also facing legal action for spreading canards like ‘Dalits are not allowed in Jagannath Puri’?”

Hindu Post added, “Casteist slurs, abusive jibes, sexist rants – this is how Pattanaik responds whenever his views are critiqued and challenged. Some of his gems are posted as screenshots.” 

Another user wrote, “I seriously hope you will not offer such a prestigious platform to an uncouth misogynist and sexist like Devdutt Pattanaik” along with tagging several Union Ministers in the post.

Responding to the IGNCA post which was later deleted, Hindu Rights activist and popular X user, Shefali Vaidya wrote, “Seriously? What’s wrong with IGNCA, Min of Culture, Kishan Reddy? inviting perverted, abusive, illiterate folks like Devdutt for a talk? Waste of taxpayers’ money! Who makes these decisions?” 

Devdutt Pattnaik has a history of publishing anti-Hindu tweets and mocking everyone who counters his left-leaning ideology against Hindus. The self-proclaimed mythologist has found himself caught in controversies multiple times by making bizarre comments on the History of Sanatan Dharma. In July 2020, he echoed Nepal’s PM’s claim that Bhagwan Ram was from Nepal and called India a “land of Monkeys” while mocking Bhagwan Hanuman. He has often restored to using filthy language against those who disagree with him on social media.

In January 2022, Devdutt Pattnaik took to social media platforms to tender an apology over derogatory and misogynistic tweets posted by him in the past. However, in doing so, he admitted to using rape as a tool to exact revenge.

‘Trial court has rightly convicted the appellants’: Gujarat HC upholds conviction, life term of ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in custodial death case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Trial court has rightly convicted the appellants’: Gujarat HC upholds conviction, life term of ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in custodial death case

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of ex-Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjiv Bhatt and upheld his conviction and life sentence handed down by a Jamnagar sessions court in a case related to custodial death.

The decision of the sessions court was affirmed by a division bench comprising Justices Ashutosh Shastri and Sandeep Bhatt.

“The trial court’s decision to convict the appellants is justified. We affirm this verdict and reject the appeals,” declared the bench during the judgment pronouncement.

The case revolves around an incident from 1990, during Bhatt’s tenure as the additional superintendent of police in Jamnagar district.

As the additional superintendent of police in Jamnagar district, he detained approximately 133 individuals under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in the aftermath of a communal riot that erupted in a town in Jamnagar. The riots ensued following a Bharat Bandh called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on October 30, 1990, in protest of the arrest of Lal Krishna Advani, then BJP chief, who had initiated a Rath Yatra procession to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir issue.

Among those detained, Prabhudas Vaishnani died after being released from custody. His family alleged that he had endured custodial torture at the hands of Bhatt and his colleagues. The family claimed that the detainees were indiscriminately beaten with sticks and coerced into various acts, such as crawling on their elbows. It was further alleged that they were denied access to water, leading to kidney damage in Vaishnani’s case.

Vaishnani spent nine days in police custody. After being released on bail, he succumbed to renal failure. Subsequently, an FIR was filed against Sanjiv Bhatt and other officers for custodial death, and a Magistrate took cognizance of the matter in 1995.

A total of seven police officers were implicated in the case, including two sub-inspectors and three police constables. The accused in the case were Sanjivkumar Bhatt IPS, Dipakkumar Bhagwandas Shah PSI, Shaileshkumar Labhshankar Pandya PSI, Pravinsinh Bavubha Zala PC, Pravinsinh Jorubha Jadeja PC, Anopsinh Mohbbatsinh Jethva PC, and Kesubha Dolubha Jadeja PC.

‘Don’t know those who came to invite’: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rejects Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha invitation

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t know those who came to invite’: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rejects Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha invitation

While thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society are gearing up to attend the auspicious Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has reportedly turned down the invitation.

On January 9, media outlets quoted the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sources as confirming that a VHP functionary had approached the SP chief with the invitation to attend the ceremony but Akhilesh did not “accept” the invitation saying that he did not know the person (VHP functionary) who went to invite him.

“We do not accept invitations from those whom we do not know,” Akhilesh was quoted as having told the VHP functionary.

Meanwhile, reacting to Akhilesh Yadav’s offensive behaviour, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Alok Kumar said, “Invitation has been sent to him…let’s see if Lord Ram calls him.”

The Trust also retorted by saying that any devotee could pay obeisance at the Ram Temple whether he was invited or not.

When asked about Alok Kumar’s comments on a TV news channel in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, Yadav criticized the BJP-led administration, claiming it is anti-minorities. “This government is against minorities. Our Gods are PDA – Pichhade, Dalit and Alpasankhayak (Backward, Dalit and Minority).” The SP chief neither confirmed nor denied receiving the invitation.

Earlier, VHP international working president Alok Kumar had said: “Sometime back, I read his (Akhilesh’s) statement wherein he was quoted as saying that ‘If he gets an invitation for the ceremony, he will go’, so we have invited him; then I read another statement saying ‘If Bhagwan Ram Ji calls, then I will go’. So, now I am eagerly waiting to know if Ram ji calls the Samajwadi Party and its president or not. If not called, then it will be clear to people that Bhagwan Ram does not want (them).”

Notably, Akhilesh Yadav has over the months been very vague about attending the Ram Temple consecration ceremony. Recently, while SP MP and Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav has stated unequivocally that she will attend the Ram Temple consecration event if invited, Akhilesh gave a vague response as to whether he would go for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir. He stated that he would visit the Temple “whenever God wants him to”.

Some party officials then stated that the party’s position is still ambiguous because the situation is a Catch-22 for the SP. Knowing that the SP relies heavily on Muslim votes in the state the party does not want to irritate the minority community. At the same time, it does not want to turn its back on the Temple event, knowing that a large section of UP’s population is celebrating the historic event.

Akhilesh Yadav and his party have criticised the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for years

In November 2019, the Supreme Court had delivered the judgment in the Ayodhya case and handed over the Ram Janmabhoomi site to Hindus to build the temple of Lord Ram. Saints and devotees across the country had launched ‘Shri Ram Mandir Nidhi Samarpan’ campaign to raise funds for the grand temple.

A simmering wave of resentment swept the devotees of Lord Ram after Akhilesh Yadav derided the donation collectors, calling them “Chanda jeevi” or professional donation collectors. People responded to him with disdain and called him “Babar-Jeevi“.

Akhilesh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when he banned the 84 koshi parikrama in Ayodhya under pressure from his minister Azam Khan to please fundamentalist Muslims.

Moreover, back in 2013 when the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh had suspended the then Home Secretary for convening a meeting to discuss aspects of the reconstruction of the Ram Mandir.

Akhilesh Yadav inherited hate for Hindus and the Ram Janmabhumi from his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. He was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when had ordered firing upon the Karsevaks who had gathered at Ayodhya in November 1990 to demand the construction of a Ram temple. Mulayam Singh Yadav earned the nickname of ‘Mullah Mulayam’ for his atrocities on Hindus.

West Bengal: Mother of BJP worker raped at knifepoint in Baruipur, accused TMC leader on the run

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Mother of BJP worker raped at knifepoint in Baruipur, accused TMC leader on the run

On Friday (5th January) morning, a local Trinamool Congress politician reportedly raped the mother of a BJP worker in Baruipur town in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

As per a report by ETV Bharat, the accused was identified as Malay Naskar aka Gora. He attacked the victim in the wee hours of the morning when she left her home to collect firewood.

Gora reportedly shoved the victim into a nearby bush and raped her at knifepoint. He then thrashed the woman, tied her hands with a cloth and dumped her into a nearby pond. The accused also threatened the victim against telling anyone about the crime.

Following the incident, the victim filed a complaint with the Baruipur police. However, no arrests have been made so far in connection to the rape case. The accused TMC politician has been reportedly absconding since the incident.

Miffed over the inaction of the police, the BJP Mahila Morcha staged a demonstration and blocked a road in Baruipur on Sunday (7th January). They have demanded immediate action against Malay Naskar aka Gora.

While speaking about the matter, BJP leader Anirban Ganguly told ETV Bharat, “The cops are not arresting the accused because he is a member of the Trinamool Congress. Everyone in this area knows who committed the crime.”

“Let the police arrest the accused without looking at his political affiliation. Otherwise, we will start a larger demonstration. Tomorrow I will go to Delhi and file a complaint with the Women’s Commissioner,” he concluded.

‘Seeking your assistance for fostering positive relations’: Maldives Travel Association writes to Ease My Trip CEO asking him to resume flight bookings

OpIndia Staff
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‘Seeking your assistance for fostering positive relations’: Maldives Travel Association writes to Ease My Trip CEO asking him to resume flight bookings

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has written to Ease My Trip CEO Nishant Pitti seeking his assistance in fostering positive relations between the two countries in the wake of a diplomatic row over derogatory comments made by Maldivian politicians, public figures against India, Indians, and PM Modi.

“It is with a heavy heart that MATATO acknowledges the regrettable and derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers on social media platforms. These individuals, now suspended from their roles, do not reflect the sentiments of Maldivians in general. MATATO extends its sincere apologies for the hurt caused by these remarks,” the letter read.

Emphasising that they treat Indian counterparts not just as business associates but as brothers and sisters, the letter read, “Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work directly in the tourism sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy, affecting the lives and well-being of many.”

“In response to recent social media exchanges, MATATO feels compelled to underscore the paramount importance of fostering positive ties with all countries, especially our South Asian neighbours,” it further added, referring to the uncharitable comments against India passed by some Maldivian politicians, who were later suspended.

“The Indian market remains an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that depend on the influx of Indian visitors. Together, we can ensure the continued growth and prosperity of both our nations,” it further said.

Asking Nishant Pitti to resume flight bookings to Maldives, the association said, “In conclusion, MATATO humbly seeks your assistance and support in fostering positive relations and dispelling any misunderstandings that may have arisen and reopening EaseMy Trip flights to Maldives.”

Ease My Trip CEO Nishant Pitti announces suspension of all flight bookings to Maldives

In the wake of derogatory comments made by some Maldivian politicians against India and PM Modi, Ease My Trip, an Indian online travel company, suspended all flight bookings to Maldives.

The development was confirmed by the company’s CEO Nishant Pitti on X (formerly Twitter). In a tweet, he stated, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”

“Embark on a journey with EaseMyTrip to discover the enchanting beauty of Ayodhya and the pristine allure of Lakshadweep! Immerse yourself in rich culture and breathtaking landscapes. Say no to Maldives bookings and explore the wonders of Ayodhya and Lakshadweep,” he further added.

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: Yogi Adityanath declares a holiday for all educational institutions in the state on January 22, declares it a dry day

OpIndia Staff
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Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: Yogi Adityanath declares a holiday for all educational institutions in the state on January 22, declares it a dry day

The Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is preparing for its Pran Pratishtha ceremony set to take place on January 22, 2024. Amid the elaborate arrangements, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday (January 9), declared a holiday on January 22 for all schools and colleges in the state. The CM also said that there would be no sale of liquor across the state on the day of the event.

The CM has further directed that all government buildings be decked on January 22nd, along with fireworks to commemorate the occasion.

Further, Yogi Adityanath ordered the application of the ‘Kumbh Model’ of cleanliness in Ayodhya.

On January 14, he announced the commencement of a cleanliness campaign in Ayodhya, emphasizing the need to keep the city hygienic and clean while preparing for the consecration ceremony.

The Chief Minister also instructed authorities to plan ahead of time where VVIPs would rest, ensuring the ceremony runs smoothly and efficiently.

The Chief Minister has urged the people of the state to mark the historic event with peace, harmony, and Covid-appropriate behaviour. He has also directed officials to provide adequate security, traffic management, and sanitary facilities in Ayodhya and other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, one lakh laddoos are being prepared in Andhra Pradesh for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Bhagwan Ram in Ayodhya. The ceremony is scheduled for 22nd January 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, saints and devotees have been invited to the mega event. As per reports, ‘Srivari laddu’, a Prasadam that is offered to Bhagwan Venkateswara in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is being prepared for the devotees of Bhagwan Ram for the auspicious day. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams are preparing the laddoos. 

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