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Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin gets death threats from ‘upset’ Pakistan ISI for not ‘delivering results’ in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin gets death threats from ‘upset’ Pakistan ISI for not ‘delivering results’ in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370: Report

After the Indian government repealed Article 370, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is allegedly ‘upset’ with one of its closet aid and Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin for failing to produce ‘favourable results’ in Kashmir and has threatened him with death, a report by News 18 quoted a source from the banned terror group as confirming.

According to News 18, the tension between ISI and the Hizbul chief escalated after Syed Salahuddin declined to take part in the drug trade with the Pakistani Army in lieu of money.

Pakistan’s terrorist activities in Kashmir practically came to an end when Article 370 was repealed because of how tough the security forces were. Salahuddin was instructed by ISI to reactivate Hizbul activities in the Valley.

The situation deteriorated after the ISI ordered Salahuddin to transfer or hand over control to Hizbul commander Amir Khan during a recent meeting in July.

According to the News18 report, the ISI no longer provides financial support to the outlawed terror organisation and its office in Islamabad has also been sold. According to the sources, Salahuddin is being threatened with death by the ISI. He recently increased his security to include up to 12 guards.

The report stated that after the fallout, Salahuddin approached Raja Farooq Haider and other leaders of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for support and to form a front against the ISI.

Meanwhile for the Pakistani Intelligence, not having prior information about the abrogation of Article 370 and even significant events like the G20 in Kashmir was an “absolute failure” of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Sources quoted by News18 have said that Pakistan has decided to make Mushaal Hussein Mullick the special assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on human rights mainly to teach Salahuddin a lesson. Mullick is Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front’s chief Yasin Malik’s wife.

The report also quoted top Indian intelligence sources as saying that, India has “successfully managed the Kashmir issue and the government is clear that it is a done deal. The only issue which is going to be considered is the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. No infiltration and foreign interference is our motto.”

The sources further said Pakistan is a “failed state” and there are no reasons to discuss or consider the Kashmir issue with them. “The people of POK wanting a merger with India is their own failure and we have got nothing to do with their internal issues.”

“Salahuddin should have taken a cue long back and we don’t rule out his killing by the ISI in the coming days because his utility is over,” the sources were further quoted as saying.

Syed Salahuddin was listed as a ‘bonafide official working with the ISI’ until 2020

Notably, in 2020, the Indian security agencies had recovered a crucial piece of document that linked the Pakistani Intelligence to the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. The document was issued by the Directorate of Intelligence in Islamabad and certified Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as the “bonafide official working with the ISI”. The document was valid until December 31 2020 and bore the name and signature of the Director Wajahat Ali Khan. 

Salahuddin operates in India through NGOs and charities

Syed Salahuddin is the key mastermind of the attack on Pathankot Air Base in Punjab in 2016. Born in 1946, Salahuddin is a graduate of the SP College in Srinagar and a Post Graduate in Political Science from the Kashmir University in 1971. He had contested the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in 1987 from the Amirakadal constituency on a Muslim United Front ticket but lost.

The Hizbul terrorist also operates the United Jihad Council (UJC) which serves as an umbrella organisation for other radical Islamist groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. As per reports, Salahuddin works in India via proxy NGOs and ISI-backed charities such as Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART). The Hizbul terrorist uses these organisations for recruitment by offering financial benefits to the newly hired terrorists. Interestingly, JKART has its headquarters in Rawalpindi and branches in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad and others.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier filed cases against Salahuddin and 11 other accused in a case related to terror financing. It also alleged that Jammu Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART) was a front through which Hizbul Mujahideen received Rs 80 crore between 2004 and 2011 to carry out terror activities in India.

Salahuddin was declared a specially designated global terrorist by the US Department of State in June 2017 on charges that he “vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, threatened to train more Kashmiri suicide bombers, and vowed to turn the Kashmir Valley into a graveyard for Indian forces.”

Vadodara: Rejected by a girl, Iqbal Mian creates fake social media accounts for ‘revenge’, posts derogatory images of Lord Rama in her name

OpIndia Staff
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Vadodara: Rejected by a girl, Iqbal Mian creates fake social media accounts for ‘revenge’, posts derogatory images of Lord Rama in her name

A case of misuse of social media has emerged in the Vadodara city of Gujarat. The accused, identified as Iqbal Mian, made a false ID in the name of a girl on social media and posted objectionable images of Lord Shri Ram, which went viral.

The accused was in touch with the said girl but was furious after she married someone else. He attacked the girl online with the intention to take revenge.

According to the reports, the girl’s husband came across the objectionable social media post uploaded from the fake ID and filed a police complaint. The post intended to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. The police took cognisance of the post and arrested the accused, Iqbal Mian, immediately after the complaint was filed.

As per the complaint filed, the complainant studies in a college in Dabhoi. He recently got married to a girl from Petlad in May this year. The complainant was made aware of the derogatory photos by his sister. She said that some objectionable posts were being uploaded from the Snapchat account created in the name of his wife.

The sister of the complainant sent some screenshots of the account to him proving that a fake ID had been created in the name of his wife. The photos were made viral through the fake ID showing pictures of Lord Rama and a pig and it also contained some objectionable text underneath.

Apart from Snapchat, the accused also happened to create a fake account in the name of the girl on Instagram. The complainant took cognisance of the event and filed a police complaint. PSI AR Mahida of Shinor police station told OpIndia, “The complainant is a resident of Puniyad village in Shinor taluka. The accused created 3 fake accounts on Snapchat and Instagram in the name of the complainant’s wife. The accused made a terrible post on Snapchat using a photo of Lord Shri Ram. In this post, the accused also posted a picture of the complainant’s sister and wife. Further, the number of the complainant’s sister was disclosed and a text was written asking people to contact that number.”

PSI further said, “When the youth filed the complaint, we checked Snapchat and Instagram, and by doing technical analysis we got a mail ID. We checked the email ID and then the number of the accused was found. The accused was then identified as Iqbal Mian Malek, a native of Bakrol village in Kheda. After that, a team was immediately dispatched and the accused was arrested.”

“All these fake accounts and posts made by the accused were also found on his phone. The accused did this out of revenge. His marriage was fixed with the wife of the complainant earlier. The duo were also in touch. But the girl’s marriage later was fixed somewhere else. That’s why he did all this in revenge,” the police added.

The Shinor police have arrested the accused and have assured to take further action.

Forced to smoke, consume alcohol, remove clothes: 10 MBBS students suspended for 1 year for ragging freshers in Hyderabad

OpIndia Staff
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Forced to smoke, consume alcohol, remove clothes: 10 MBBS students suspended for 1 year for ragging freshers in Hyderabad

Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy, Director of Medical Education (DME), suspended 10 senior MBBS students on 11 September from Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad for a period of one year for engaging in ragging at the men’s hostel. The perpetrators, five from each of the second and third years were ejected from the hostel on the same day.

The action was initiated in response to a communication from the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) anti-ragging cell on 8 September regarding an allegation from a group of first-year students which was received by Gandhi Medical College and the Telangana DME office. The victims had only recently begun attending the medical institution after their course had begun on 1 September.

He stated, “The anti-ragging committee has conducted an enquiry into the incident and found that 10 senior MBBS students were indulging in ragging juniors. All of the 10 students are suspended from the college for one year.”

The accused who admitted to the incident had called 30 freshers to their room at 2 in the morning and forced them to drink alcohol and smoke as well as take their clothes off. They were also made fun of and abused by the seniors. The new students had joined the institution only a week before and there was no animosity between the two sides.

The pupils revealed that they were summoned in two batches to the senior’s room. There were 10 students in one group while the other contained 20. Afterwards, obscenities were hurled at them and were asked to wear formal clothes throughout the day. They were also ordered not to enter the library.

Junior students brought up the issue with the anti-ragging cell of the University Grants Commission (UGC) immediately. It was reported that four students had complained. Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy declared that the investigation was completed and assured full support to the anti-ragging cell of the college.

The DME also sent a message to senior students at other government and private medical schools in Telangana and stressed that anyone found guilty of ragging would incur strict punishment in accordance with anti-ragging laws. He was quite clear that ragging would not be tolerated. Health authorities issued a clear warning a few days ago to a number of senior medical students that ragging will not be permitted at any medical college.

He mentioned, “In spite of telling very firmly that no ragging will be tolerated in any of the medical colleges, some senior students indulged in ragging 1st-year students in the Hostel of Gandhi Medical College in Secunderabad. A complaint was also sent by the UGC anti-ragging cell, New Delhi to take action.”

Most of the ragging was psychological and verbal which made the newcomers feel harassed and humiliated. A committee was established after receiving the UGC’s directive and discussions with the first-year students and the 10 seniors were held on multiple occasions. They were adjudicated liable for ragging.

The offenders received support from their batchmates who on 12 September organised a protest on campus. The authorities insisted that ragging, in any form, would not be condoned while the demonstrators claimed that proper procedures were not followed before the disciplinary action and demanded its annulment.

Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy who is also the principal of the medical college affirmed that the administration would not reverse its decision even if students staged a month-long demonstration to put pressure on them. Now, they want to speak with him to find out a solution.

Jadavpur University ragging case

In a shocking case at Jadavpur University a 17-year-old first-year student named Swapnodeep Kundu died after falling from the second floor of a hostel building on 9 August because he was being ragged by his fellow students. He kept repeating that he was not gay before his tragic demise.

According to the inquiry, he was “disrobed, bullied and abused with homosexual slurs.” He was forced to run naked from one room to another in the hostel facility before he fell to his death.

Police apprehended 13 people in relation to the unfortunate occurrence. All of them are either current or former Jadavpur University students. Twelve people, six present pupils and six graduates were captured on suspicion of murder and ragging while a graduate from the class of 2021 was nabbed on grounds of obstructing law enforcement from carrying out their duties.

Subenoy Chakraborty, dean of the science faculty at the institution and chairman of the 10-person committee probing into the student’s killing resigned from his position. Notably, cultivation of cannabis also came to the fore during the probe into the instance.

Several student and dormitory occupants’ cell phones were taken, according to police sources to gather electronic proof of ragging. The phones were sent for forensic analysis to try and recover any erased data, including chats. During the examination, a picture was discovered that raised the possibility of the JU campus’s cultivation of the prohibited narcotic.

Security enhanced in MP’s Bhojshala after Saraswati idol was ‘found’, 4 arrested: Read how another ancient Hindu temple was turned into a ‘disputed structure’

OpIndia Staff
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Security enhanced in MP’s Bhojshala after Saraswati idol was ‘found’, 4 arrested: Read how another ancient Hindu temple was turned into a ‘disputed structure’

Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh is famous for its ‘Bhojshala’. The ancient Hindu place of worship which has been turned into a mosque, has now found itself in controversy after the idol of goddess Vagdevi was found there by the guards between 9 and 10 September. However, the administration has denied the claim of the idols ‘appearing’ and has removed it.

According to reports, a video went viral on social media on the night of 9 September in which it was claimed that an idol of the goddess has ‘appeared’ in the 11th-century monument. The same night another message with a similar assertion went viral on WhatsApp as well.

It was taken from the Bhojshala premises at around 4 in the morning and stored in an undisclosed location after the clip gained traction on the internet. Furthermore, the Bhojshala was closed and its security was increased. Superintendent of Police Inderjit Bakalwar characterized it as a conspiracy by mischievous individuals and added that some people put the Saraswati idol there, after severing the wire installed for the security of the premises.

The issue is being investigated on the basis of CCTV footage. The senior official has talked about taking action against those spreading misleading news on social media.

Hindu organisations allegedly stated that the goddess Saraswati ‘appeared’ inside her old temple, just like Lord Ram did in the Ram temple at his birthplace of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Ashok Jain, convenor of the ‘Bhoj Utsav Committee’ mentioned that the idol which has been removed by the administration should be reinstalled. He conveyed, “Ma Vagdevi has manifested and she will be duly worshipped here. There will be protests if the idol is not put back.”

Arrest of the accused

The Dhar police arrested three people on 13 September in connection with placing the idol inside Bhojshala. They were presented before the court following the conclusion of the proceedings at the police station. All three were sent into judicial custody by the court until 26 September. Another perpetrator, Ravi Chaudhary was apprehended by the police on 12 September.

He informed the police everything about the incident during questioning and provided them with the identities of the other three individuals who were present with him. Afterwards, Shiv Kumar, a resident of Raisen, Manoj Tanwar, a resident of Naugaon, Dhar and Makhan Bairagi, a resident of Sagaur, Dhar were captured by the cops. Four persons have been nabbed so far in the case.

Background of the Bhojshala controversy

Hindu organizations consider the Bhojshala as the temple of goddess Vageshwari or Vagdevi who is 4th incarnation of goddess Saraswati. Hindus proclaim that the king of Dhar had given permission to some Muslims to offer namaz here. Therefore, they call it Bhojshala-Kamal-Maulana Mosque and argue that they have been offering Namaz inside the building for years.

It is believed that the Dhar State designated it a protected structure in the year 1909. The place used to be open only on Fridays and in 1935, the then-king allowed Muslims to pray here on the same day. Hindu outfits opposed the practice in 1995 after which permission was granted to Hindus to worship the goddess Vageshwari every Tuesday.

However, on 12 May 1997, the then-collector not only prohibited people from visiting the place but also banned the worship of the goddess there. Hindus can only worship at the temple when it opens on Basant Panchami. Notably, namaz regularly happened there during this time with no restrictions on Friday prayers. The ban on pooja was eventually lifted on 31 July 1997 after demonstrations.

The process of imposing and withdrawing the ban did not end there. The Archaeology Department forbade anyone from entering the area in 1998 but the restriction was once more repealed in 2003. Pooja was carried out here every year on Basant Panchami as well as on Tuesdays in addition to the namaz on Fridays. However, tensions rose high in 2013 and 2016 when Basant Panchami fell on Friday.

The history of Bhojshala

Raja Bhoj, ruler of the Parmar dynasty, established a college in Dhar which later came to be known as Bhojshala. He was a devoted follower of goddess Saraswati which might be the reason behind his great interest in education and literature.

He built a grand school in the form of Bhojshala in 1034 and erected a statue of the goddess there. It was then called Saraswati Sadan. Bhojshala is also considered to be the manifestation place of the deity.

The Bhojshala temple has several inscriptions which discuss grammar in Sanskrit that date from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Some of them praised the kings who succeeded Raja Bhoj and ruled whereas others have dramatic compositions in classic Sanskrit. The temple was described by poet Madan in his works. The London Museum currently houses the original statue of the goddess Saraswati that was discovered there.

In addition to being a temple, Bhojshala was home to one of India’s biggest universities. Moreover, it served as the first Sanskrit study centre in the world. Ayurveda, grammar, astrology, art, drama, music, yoga, philosophy and multiple other subjects were studied at the institution by thousands of students from India and outside.

Islamic invasion

Islamic invader Alauddin Khilji ravaged Bhojshala in 1305, according to historical records. Dilawar Khan built a mosque in a part of the structure in 1401. Mahmood Shah Khilji built a mosque on the remaining portion in 1514. As the debate grew over time, Bhojshala was designated a protected monument under British administration.

A report from the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti indicated that the professors and pupils of Bhojshala opposed Alauddin Khilji’s Islamic troops during the siege in 1305. Approximately 1,200 pupils and professors were imprisoned by the Muslim ruler and ordered to convert to Islam but none of them complied due to which they were murdered and their bodies were thrown into the huge Havan Kund of Bhojshala. Another Hindu temple was thus destroyed by Islamic extremism.

Afterwards, excavation was done in Bhojshala in 1875 and the magnificent idol of the goddess Saraswati was discovered. The British took it to Britain and now it is kept in a museum in London. The Bhojshala Mukti Andolan has pushed for the return of the idol and the release of the historic structure from Muslim control.

A petition regarding the same has been filed in the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court in which a demand has been made to stop Namaz here. Hindu organizations have also demanded a detailed videographic survey of the entire premises.

Mamata Banerjee asks everyone to stay fit as she jogs wearing chappals in Spain, plays the accordion during her ‘morning walk’: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee asks everyone to stay fit as she jogs wearing chappals in Spain, plays the accordion during her ‘morning walk’: Watch

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is currently on a 12-day tour of Spain and the United Arab Emirates. She left Kolkata on Tuesday and reached Spain on Wednesday, after spending a night in Dubai for connecting flight issues. She will spend 8 days in Spain seeking investments for her state, before moving to UAE for the next phase of the tour.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee posted two videos on Instagram today, where she is seen on the streets of Madrid. In the first video, the West Bengal CM can be seen jogging alongside members of her entourage in a park in Madrid. She wrote in the caption of the video post, “Refreshing morning. A nice jog can energise you for the day ahead. Stay fit, stay healthy everyone!”

Even though she was jogging, she was wearing her characteristic white saree and slippers. A smartwatch can be seen on her left wrist, keep track of her morning jog.

Mamata Banerjee is known to jog regularly. A few months ago she had shared a video showing her walking on a treadmill holding a puppy on her hands.

In another video posted on the official Instagram account of Mamata Banerjee, can be seen trying her hands on an accordion of a street musician at the park in Madrid. She played some portion of the ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ song on the instrument, after saying ‘thank you’ to the musician.

Mamata Banerjee is accompanied by Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi, other senior officials and one representative each from the football clubs of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal during her visit. Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is also scheduled to join her team in Madrid. Reportedly the CM will meet  La Liga president Javier Tebas during her stay in Barcelona.

“We will stay in Madrid for three days, during which we will attend a business summit and meet non-resident Bengalis. From there, we will take a train to Barcelona, where we will participate in a two-day meeting for the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS),” the CM told reporters at state secretariat Nabanna on Tuesday.

From Spain, she and her team will return to Dubai, where several meetings are scheduled including one on Bengal Global Business Summit scheduled later this year. The CM will return to Kolkata on 23rd September.

Mamata Banerjee had said that this would be her first foreign tour in five years as the “Centre had not given her necessary permission earlier”.

I.N.D.I Alliance releases list of 14 anchors including Arnab Goswami, Rubika Liaquat and Shiv Aroor, whose tough questions they don’t want to answer

OpIndia Staff
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I.N.D.I Alliance releases list of 14 anchors including Arnab Goswami, Rubika Liaquat and Shiv Aroor, whose tough questions they don’t want to answer

The I.N.D.I Alliance has released a list of 14 news anchors whom they have decided to ‘boycott.’ A copy of the list was shared on X, formally Twitter by Congress leader Pawan Khera on September 14, Thursday. The I.N.D.I alliance has decided that these are the anchors whose tough questions they are not willing to answer and would only perhaps entertain those anchors who ask Sonia Gandhi whether she knows how to cook pasta.

“In the list “The following decision was taken by the INDIA media committee in a virtual meeting held this afternoon,” Khera wrote while attaching a copy of the list of the names of news anchors on whose shows none of the INDIA parties will send their representatives.

The names included are as follows:

  1. Aditi Tyagi – Bharat Express
  2. Aman Chopra – News 18
  3. Amish Devgan – News 18
  4. Anand Narasimhan – News 18
  5. Arnab Goswami – Republic
  6. Ashok Shrivastav – DD News
  7. Chitra Tripathi – Aaj Tak
  8. Gaurav Sawant – India Today
  9. Navika Kumar – Times Now
  10. Prachi Parashar – India TV
  11. Rubika Liaquat – Bharat 24
  12. Shiv Aroor – India Today
  13. Sudhir Chaudhary – Aaj Tak
  14. Sushant Sinha

Yesterday (September 13, Wednesday), in an interesting decision, the alliance coordination committee authorised the sub-committee on the media to decide on the names of the TV anchors to be boycotted by the alliance. The I.N.D.I. Alliance bloc parties will not send their spokespersons to shows hosted by anchors selected by the sub-committee.

“The coordination committee authorised the Sub-Group on Media to decide upon the names of the anchors on whose shows none of the INDIA parties will send their representatives,” said the joint statement issued after the meeting. It is notable that there are 19 members in the working group for media.

The announcement was made by Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal at a press conference after the opposition bloc members held a meeting in Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar’s residence on 13 September to chalk out strategies to fight the elections together. Out of 28 member parties, there are 14 members in the coordination committee, and 12 of them attended the meeting.

It therefore appears that the I.N.D.I. alliance have launched their political masterplan of democracy and winning elections: boycotting media that they do not like. Before deciding on seat sharing formula and leadership, they have shared list of mediapersons they hate.

Kerala High Court denies request for saffron flags at Hindu temple, says temple premises not a place for political activities

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala High Court denies request for saffron flags at Hindu temple, says temple premises not a place for political activities

On September 5, 2023, the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition seeking approval to install saffron flags within the Muthupilakkadu Sree Parthasarathy temple premises. Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V emphasised that utilising sacred temple grounds for political purposes, particularly by displaying flags linked to specific political parties, is impermissible.

In the judgment, the court said, “Temples stand as beacons of spiritual solace and tranquillity, their sanctity and reverence being of paramount importance. Such hallowed spiritual grounds must not be diminished by political manoeuvrings or attempts at one-upmanship. The actions and intentions of the petitioners are clearly at odds with the serene and sacred atmosphere to be maintained in the temple.”

Two individuals, claiming to be devotees of the Muthupilakkadu Sree Parthasarathy temple, filed the petition. They established the “Parthasarathy Bakthajanasamithi” organisation in 2022, with a focus on the temple’s well-being and welfare of its worshippers. They asserted that their efforts to display saffron flags on the temple premises during special occasions and festivals were consistently thwarted by the respondents, who allegedly wielded political influence. Consequently, they sought a Court order to compel the police to provide them with protection, preventing any hindrance to their flag-raising activities. Advocates PT Sheehish, A Abdul Rahman, Aparna V Devassia, and Hemanth H represented the petitioners in the case.

In opposition to the plea, the Kerala State Government Pleader Appu PS contended that granting permission to the petitioners to adorn the temple with flags and decorations associated with a specific political party would equate to transforming the temple into a battleground for political rivalry. He further stated that several altercations within the temple premises had arisen due to the petitioners’ actions, with one of them having a history of involvement in multiple criminal cases. Additionally, the temple’s Administrative Committee had passed a resolution explicitly prohibiting the placement of flags, banners, or any materials affiliated with political parties or organisations within a 100-meter radius of the Kanikkavanchi.

The Government Pleader additionally cited a High Court judgment from 2020, wherein the court had instructed the police to eliminate all such installations from temple premises. After evaluating the opposing arguments, the Court ultimately rejected the petition.

The court said in its judgment, “The petitioners have not demonstrated any legitimate authority to conduct temple rituals as they have prayed for. Furthermore, they cannot be allowed to erect flags or festoons in or around the temple, in light of the orders issued by this Court and decision taken by the administrative committee.”

Significance of saffron flags seen in temple

The saffron flag, known as the “Bhagwa Dhwaj” or “Kesari Flag,” holds profound significance in Hinduism. It symbolises various spiritual and cultural aspects of the Sanatan Dharma. Saffron, representing purity and spirituality, is associated with the sacred fire, a central element of Hindu rituals. The flag often bears symbols like the Om, signifying the ultimate reality, and the Trishul, the divine weapon of Lord Shiva. It is seen during religious processions, ceremonies, and atop temples, signifying the presence of the divine. The saffron flag unifies devotees, fostering a sense of belonging and reverence, making it an essential emblem of Hindu faith and identity. The Kerala High Court has now rejected such flags at Hindu temples citing the reasons of politically motivated attempts of one-upmanship.

This is not the first incident when the saffron flags on temples are systematically banned in Kerala. In March 2023, the Karikkakam Chamundi temple in Thiruvananthapuram was banned by police from displaying the saffron flag. The move came soon after the Vellayani temple was banned from doing the same.

Birth Certificate to be ‘single document’ needed for Aadhar number, college admissions, driving license and more starting from October 1

ANI
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Birth Certificate to be ‘single document’ needed for Aadhar number, college admissions, driving license and more starting from October 1

 Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 allows the use of a birth certificate as a single document for admission to an educational institution, issuance of a driving license, preparation of voter list, Aadhaar number, registration of marriage, appointment to a government job and for any other purpose determined by the center will come into force from October 1.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs made the declaration in this regard in a notification issued on Wednesday, stating October 1 as the date on which the provisions of the Act shall come into force paving the way to help create a national and state-level database of registered births and deaths which eventually would ensure efficient and transparent delivery of public services and social benefits and digital registration. 

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 (20 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of October 2023, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the notification said.

Both the Houses of Parliament passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the Monsoon Session concluded last month.

The Rajya Sabha passed the the bill by voice vote on August 7 while the Lok Sabha has passed it on August 1.

The Bill, which sought amendment to the 1969 Act, was piloted by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.

The Act empowers the Registrar General of India to maintain a national database of registered births and deaths. The Chief Registrars (appointed by states) and Registrars (appointed by states for local area jurisdiction) will be obligated to share data of registered births and deaths to the national database. The Chief Registrar shall maintain a similar database at the state level.

Earlier, there was a requirement for certain persons to report births and deaths to the Registrar.

For example, the medical officer in charge of a hospital where a baby is born must report the birth. The new Act adds that, in cases of births, the specified persons shall also provide the Aadhaar number of the parents and the informant. This provision also applies to the jailor in case of births in a jail, and the manager of a hotel or lodge in case of births in such a place.

Further, it expands the list of specified persons to include adoptive parents for non-institutional adoption, biological parents for births through surrogacy, and the parent in case of birth of a child to a single parent or unwed mother.

The new legislation states that the national database may be made available to other authorities preparing or maintaining other databases. Such databases include population register, electoral rolls, ration cards, and any other national database as notified. The use of the national database must be approved by the central government.  

Similarly, the state database may be made available to authorities dealing with other state databases, subject to state government approval.

As per the Act, any person aggrieved by any action or order of the Registrar or District Registrar may appeal to the District Registrar or Chief Registrar, respectively.  Such an appeal must be made within 30 days from receipt of such action or order.  The District Registrar or Chief Registrar must give their decision within 90 days from the date of appeal. 

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

Advisor to Ukraine President Zelenskyy says his own video of him saying Indians and Chinese are stupid is ‘Russian propaganda’

OpIndia Staff
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Advisor to Ukraine President Zelenskyy says his own video of him saying Indians and Chinese are stupid is ‘Russian propaganda’

Ukrainian politician and advisor to President Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, on Wednesday, fell short of issuing a clarification a day after he said that Indians and Chinese have weak intellectual potential. Podolyak said that the people from India and China do not realise the consequences of their actions.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Podolyak blamed Russian propaganda for taking his words out of context. “Classic Russian propaganda: take it out of context, distort the meaning, scale it up to separate target audiences with conflict provocation. Of course, Türkiye, India, China, and other regional powers are increasingly and clearly justified in claiming global roles in the modern world – and there are all the reasons for this: historical, economic, cultural, scientific and political,” the Ukrainian politician wrote.

The politician added, “And these roles have long been much more extensive than Russia’s. But the global world is much broader than even the most thoughtful regional and national interests. The global world is based on stability and predictability, on rationality and strategy, on international law and clear rules of the game.”

“Today we see Russia demonstratively trying to undermine the foundations of the global world by trying to break international law. One way or another, it is irrational to ignore this due to situational and regional economic interests, as it has long-term consequences. The sooner Russia loses, the more chances the world has to return to stability and the rules of the game. The task of the great powers is to accelerate this moment,” Podolyak wrote.

The advisor to the Ukrainian President on Tuesday (12 September) drew widespread condemnation for his statement on India and China during an interview. “What’s wrong with India, China, and so forth? The problem is that they are not analysing the consequences of their steps, these countries have weak intellectual potential, unfortunately,” he remarked.

Mykhailo Podolyak further said, “Yes, they invest in science. Yes, India has launched a lunar rover presently and is now trekking on the surface of the Moon, but that does not indicate that this country fully comprehends what the modern world is about.”

Podolyak’s controversial statement came after the successful conclusion of the G20 Summit with the adoption of the historic New Delhi Declaration. The joint communique took a Global South-centric approach in its language pertaining to the war in Ukraine.

Issuing a statement during the Summit, Ukraine Foreign Minister pointed out that the declaration did not condemn Russia and said, “In terms of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, G20 has nothing to be proud of.” Meanwhile, India has maintained that the aim of its G20 Presidency did not revolve around the Ukraine war.

Moreover, on 30 April, the official X page of the Ukraine Ministry of Defense triggered a massive controversy by insulting Hindu sentiment. The Ukrainian ministry posted an artwork of the Hindu Goddess Kali in an objectionable manner hurting Hindu sentiments across the world. The post was shamelessly captioned, “Work of art”.

Bihar: Boat carrying 30 students overturns in Muzzafarpur’s Bagmati River, 10 students go missing

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Boat carrying 30 students overturns in Muzzafarpur’s Bagmati River, 10 students go missing

In a dreadful incident that has emerged from the city of Muzzafapur in Bihar, around 10 children have gone missing after a boat carrying 30 school students capsized in the Bagmati River on Thursday, September 14. The incident has spread panic in the city with locals and the administration struggling to save the children.

The incident happened when around 30-32 students boarded the boat to reach the school. However, the boat capsized and students fell into the river. The locals around the area rushed to the spot and 20 children were rescued from the water.

Meanwhile, around 10 students are still missing and massive efforts are underway to search and rescue them. The Madhurpatti region where the incident is said to have happened is crowded at present. The parents of the missing children are crying aloud and seeking help from the authorities to look for their children.

A report by Live Hindustan stated that 32 students were on the boat while other reports like India Today, and India TV stated that only 30 students were on the boat when the incident happened.

The children in the area regularly use boats to cross the river to attend school. NDRF and SDRF teams have been rushed to the site. Due to incessant rains, the river was torrential and the boat capsized midway.

Also, the SDRF teams have been called who are undertaking the rescue efforts amid the chaos. As per initial reports, it is believed that the boat carried more weight than its capacity and overturned in the water.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar commented on the issue and said, “Rescue operation is underway… I have asked the district magistrate concerned to look into the matter with urgency. The state government will provide all assistance to the affected families.”

Investigations and rescue operations are underway.

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