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Israel on high alert after deadly Jerusalem synagogue shooting, thousands of Palestinians celebrate the attack with firecrackers, sweets and Allah hu Akbar chants

OpIndia Staff
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Israel on high alert after deadly Jerusalem synagogue shooting, thousands of Palestinians celebrate the attack with firecrackers, sweets and Allah hu Akbar chants

42 people have been taken into custody by Israeli police in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at a synagogue in East Jerusalem on Friday. Seven people were massacred and at least three others sustained injuries in the deadliest assault of its kind in recent years.

Gunshots are clearly heard in videos of the moment when the attack took place.

A 21-year-old Palestinian terrorist opened fire at the synagogue in East Jerusalem, killing seven people and wounding three others. According to police, the terrorist arrived by car at 8:13 pm. in the Jewish East Jerusalem area and opened fire at people outside the synagogue and others on the road.

Five men, aged 20, 25, 30, 50, and 60, and two women, aged 60 and 70 were killed in the attack.

The terrorist then fled by car towards the Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Hanina, but he was confronted by police around 5 minutes later. He got out of the car and opened fire on the police while trying to escape on foot. The police returned fire and he was shot dead in the firing. A handgun used in the attack was seized. The terrorist has been identified by the Shin Bet security agency as 21-year-old Alqam Khayri,a resident of East Jerusalem with no prior terror-related offences.

Israeli police described it as a “terror attack”, and said that it took place in a synagogue in Neve Ya’akov, which is considered by Israelis as a neighbourhood within Jerusalem. But Palestinians and several countries consider it occupied territory, which was annexed by Israel after a war in 1967.

Following the tragic terrorist assault on Friday evening, Israel’s Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai was ordered to increase the alert to the highest level on Saturday morning. A police spokeswoman had said that beginning on Saturday morning, officers will perform 12-hour shifts.

Chief Superintendent Yaakov Shabtai, the commissioner of police, issued a statement requesting, that the public immediately report any suspicious individuals or objects to the police hotline 100.

In another ghastly incident, two individuals were hurt in a shooting on the exterior of the Old City in the Silwan area, just outside the old and walled city of East Jerusalem, according to Israeli Army Radio and Israel’s rescue emergency response service Magen David Adom (MDA).

A 47-year-old father and his 23-year-old son were described as having “gunshot wounds to their upper torso,” as per an MDA representative. The son was an off-duty officer in the Paratroopers Brigade, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who had managed to shoot and hit the assailant despite his injuries.

According to a police spokesman, the incident on Saturday was a “terrorist attack,” and the perpetrator, a 13-year-old Palestinian, named Muhammad Aliyat, a resident of Silwan was “neutralized and injured.”

After the two incidents, Kobi Shabtai directed that a squad of officers from the prestigious Yamam counter-terrorism unit be stationed in Jerusalem.

Senior police officers promised to beef up their presence nationwide, especially in the capital, they told Kan public broadcaster. IDF head Herzi Halevi also gave orders to enhance force levels in the West Bank and along its security fence in order to fortify against potential regional escalation. These orders were in addition to the police’s reinforcement.

Additionally, police have stated that they are worried about potential “price tag” retaliation attacks against Arabs.

Palestinians celebrate the attack

Hamas and  Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the attack, calling the victims terrorists. But none of them took responsibility for the attack. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem lauded the attack, saying it proved “the resistance knows how to find the appropriate response” to Israeli “crimes.” 

Celebrations broke out in Gaza after the news of the death of 7 Israelis in the attack emerged. Several videos have emerged on social media showing Palestinians celebrating the terror attack by distributing sweets, bursting firecrackers, and dancing on the streets.

Large crowds of Palestinians on the streets of Gaza can be seen celebrating, and raising anti-Israel slogans. Videos showed fireworks, celebratory gunfire, drivers honking horns, bonfires and crowds chanting Allah hu Akbar in the streets. At several locations across the Gaza Strip, dozens of Palestinians came out to the streets to celebrate the attack, with some coming out of dessert shops with large trays of sweets to distribute.

In Gaza City, Allah Hu Akabar chants were played on loudspeakers, while people fired guns in the air and honked car horns. Similar celebrations were also seen in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Sharing such a video of celebrations, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called it ‘disgusting’. “Disgusting! On the day that the world remembers the horrors of the Holocaust, Palestinians are celebrating the murder of innocent Israelis in Jerusalem with fireworks and dancing. This is the result of decades of Palestinian incitement and hate that the world ignores,” he tweeted.

Vandalism, violence, and stone-pelting reported during the Saraswati Visarjan in several places across Bihar and Jharkhand: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Vandalism, violence, and stone-pelting reported during the Saraswati Visarjan in several places across Bihar and Jharkhand: Details

Tensions gripped several cities and towns across Bihar and Jharkhand after Saraswati idol immersion witnessed vandalism, violence, and stone-pelting.

As per reports, violence took place in Patna, Saharsa, Nalanda and other regions in Bihar during the immersion of the Saraswati idol.

Earlier yesterday, a firing incident took place during the Saraswati Puja idol immersion procession near Gandhi Maidan in the capital Patna. A young man died of a bullet injury. The incident took place after a stampede broke out between gate number four and five of Gandhi Maidan during the Saraswati Idol immersion.

The police later said they had scoured through CCTV footage and identified the man responsible for firing in the crowd. The accused will soon be arrested, said a senior Patna Police officer.

Similarly, Jharkhand, too, witnessed violence and vandalism as anti-social elements attacked devotees participating in the Saraswati Idol immersion procession.

Officials announced that Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in a village in Jharkhand’s Jamtara district on Saturday following an incident of stone-throwing that injured two police officers during a Saraswati idol immersion procession.

The incident occurred in Dokadih village on Friday evening when a community blocked the procession’s path. When police tried to resolve the situation, the crowd pelted stones and injured four officers. Police then fired into the air to disperse the crowd, according to a police officer.

Jamtara Deputy Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz stated to PTI that the attack on police was likely premeditated by anti-social elements, resulting in two officers being injured. The suspects are being identified and face severe consequences. The situation is stable and Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the village.

The recurrence of attacks during Saraswati immersion

Significantly, Jamtara also saw a scuffle between the Hindu and Muslim communities last year during the Saraswati Visarjan. Some local Muslims had reportedly stopped the procession of Saraswati Murti Visarjan in Firkoria village, Karmatand Police Station area, Jamtara, leading to tensions between the two communities. The locals informed the police, which deployed a large contingent of law enforcement officials to clear the path for the procession. 

Violence during Saraswati Puja and Murti Visarjan, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand, has become alarmingly common in the past few years. In February 2022, violence erupted in different parts of Jharkhand during Saraswati Puja and Moorti Visarjan. A minor lost his life in Naitand village, Hazaribagh, eight people got injured as Muslims stopped the Saraswati Visarjan procession that was allowed only after the police’s intervention.

Markachao in Jharkhand was similarly in the grips of violence last year when a Muslim mob attacked a Saraswati Visarjan procession. As per reports, the violence erupted when members of the Muslim community objected to overplaying DJ during the procession. Eight people, including a child, were injured during the violence. The police said the situation was under control.

My top agenda is to convince India and Pakistan to play Hockey with each other: New FIH president Tayyab Ikram

ANI
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My top agenda is to convince India and Pakistan to play Hockey with each other: New FIH president Tayyab Ikram

India and Pakistan have enjoyed a great rivalry in hockey. Both teams have a great legacy in the sport and they are both fierce competitors but due to political differences, these two teams do not play often. They only play in multi-nation tournaments like Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asia Cup, Asian Champions Trophy, etc but not in bilaterals.

The International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) newly appointed president Tayyab Ikram wants to revive the rivalry between the two arch rivals. 

“In my previous role in Asia that was my top agenda. Now in FIH, it is on my top agenda to convince both countries to play together. It is great for countries and people will really welcome it in Pakistan or India. I think it is an opportunity for all of us for bilateral or we can have some events where both countries are qualified or representing themselves,” said International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) president Tayyab Ikram while speaking to ANI.

These two teams meet each other in multi-nation tournaments but the last time they met each other in bilaterals was way back in 2006 when Muhammad Saqlain led Pakistan played Ignace Tirkey led India. Since then these two arch-rivals have never played a bilateral match.

“It is something which you should continue pushing and convincing. We are on this journey and I believe we can always do better in order to achieve this,” said FIH president Tayyab Ikram.

Four-time hockey world champion Pakistan though are a pale shadow of their old self as they failed two qualify for FIH Hockey World Cup 2023 in India and they also failed to make it to consecutive Olympics in Rio 2016 and in Tokyo in 2021.

“I am leading 140 countries and for me it is really a priority as Pakistan was the top nation before and now they are at this moment standing in difficulty. We are working closely with them. After the 2010 World Cup in Delhi we launched the Hockey India programme and I was very privileged to be a part of it and this can also be done in Pakistan which is really a requirement for us. It is a pressing need for Asia and global hockey,” said Tayyab Ikram.

The FIH president is amazed with the way this ongoing Hockey World Cup is being hosted in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. The facilities and infrastructure have been world class.

“As a President of the FIH I am delighted to see the Hockey World Cup being played in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. It is a great experience for our athletes and that is the most important thing for us. We had fantastic feedback from our athletes. They are so delighted to be back in Bhubaneswar and for having this wonderful infrastructure, two stadiums in Bhubaneswar and the new one in Rourkela. It is an addition to our hockey infrastructure,” said Tayyab Ikram.

The FIH Hockey World Cup 2018 was held in Bhubaneswar but this year Rourkela is also hosting World Cup matches and the newly built Birsa Munda Stadium has the highest seating capacity for spectators in the world.

“Rourkela stadium from many angles if you see. It is a state of the art facility. Athletes have the best accessibility to enter the arena and particularly for fans and spectators. It is built in the smart way that fans feel that they are very close to the action. So, that is a very successful achievement Rourkela is presenting. We are very delighted and of course about the local fans and community. I think they are super happy to have action in their city. We see that because of hockey, because of that infrastructure there is a very significant change and transformation in hockey. We value it a lot,” explained Tayyab Ikram.

India hockey team lost to New Zealand in the cross-over match 4-5 in shootout at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar. This defeat meant that India was out of the race for a podium finish but despite that fans came in large numbers to watch and enjoy the game as fans came in big numbers to watch the match.

“This is very unique, which you see. It is not about non India matches or India matches. The way the local community in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela appreciates. They are not watching as spectators, they are feeling it. So, that tells you the story that they have come to watch those skills, those executions. No matter whose playing and that concludes the crowd in Rourkela had a packed stadium,” said Tayyab Ikram.

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

Indian Mujahideen terrorist, convicted in 2008 Batla House encounter case, dies at AIIMS

ANI
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Indian Mujahideen terrorist, convicted in 2008 Batla House encounter case, dies at AIIMS

An Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative, accused in the 2008 Batla House encounter case, died during treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Saturday.

IM terrorist Shehzad Ahmad alias Pappu (33) was convicted in the 2008 Batla House encounter case for murdering Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and assaulting other officers.

According to Delhi Police, Shehzad Ahmad, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh was serving a life sentence in multiple cases registered in Delhi and Bengaluru. He was first lodged in Tihar jail on February 6, 2010. He was later transferred to Central Jail Mandoli, Delhi on July 7, 2022 from Tihar.

Shehzad was admitted to Delhi’s GTB Hospital on December 8, 2022 for a diagnosis of gall bladder stone-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis with modified crsi 10/10″ and referred to Safdarjung Hospital on December 27, 2022, thereafter again he was referred to AIIMS hospital on January 11. He expired in AIIMS at 7:42 am on Saturday.

The Batla House Encounter by Delhi Police took place when terrorists of the Indian terror outfit Indian Mujahideen were reported to be hiding in a flat in the area of Jamia Nagar, Okhla, on September 19, 2008.

The operation resulted in the deaths of two terrorists and one police officer, Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, with the remaining terrorists arrested. On March 15, 2021, one of the arrested Ariz Khan alias Junaid, was sentenced to death for the murder of Inspector Sharma.

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

As Pakistan’s economy crashes, read about the time Pakistan vowed to eat grass if needed to get nuclear bombs

Dibakar Dutta
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As Pakistan’s economy crashes, read about the time Pakistan vowed to eat grass if needed to get nuclear bombs

In the early 1970s, former Pakistani President and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto vowed to develop the atomic bomb to fight India after its humiliating loss in two major wars (one in 1965 and one in 1971).

“Pakistan will fight, fight for a thousand years. If India builds the (atom) bomb.. (Pakistan) will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (atom bomb). We (Pakistan) have no other Choice!” he had infamously said.

He repeated the same lines on learning about the success of ‘Operation Smiling Buddha’, India’s successful testing of the nuclear bomb in Pokhran, Rajasthan. His firm resolve indeed paved the way for Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation programme.

Before the ‘ambitious’ Pakistani politician could see the end of the decade, he was executed by his own military general Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. And thus followed a harrowing tale of Islamism, foreign debt and the Pakistani military drying out the coffers of the State.

The ‘Land of the Pure’, as envisaged by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has nuclear bombs today but not enough resources to feed its impoverished citizens. Such has been the prophecy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto 5 decades earlier.

Pakistan is experiencing its worst economic crisis amidst food shortages, flash floods, and poverty. As the government of Pakistan failed to end the economic crisis in Pakistan, over 7 million workers in its textile industry have been laid off.

Deteriorating economic condition of Pakistan

Other than this, Pakistan, which was declared South Asia’s weakest economy by a report is also hit by a severe food crisis. The situation in several cities of Pakistan is so grave that flour is being rationed and guarded by armed guards. Prices of flour and wheat have witnessed a dramatic surge. 

Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan are among the worst sufferers as tens of thousands spend hours daily to get the subsidized bags of flour that are already short in supply in the market.

Incidents of clashes and stampedes have been reported in markets in many areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan. The situation is so dire that flour-loaded mini trucks and vans are escorted by armed guards to avoid clashes. As these vehicles reach the markets, people gather around these vehicles. 

Recently, the people of Pakistan took to Twitter to voice their woes as a nationwide power outage left almost all regions without electricity on January 24, 2023.

No way out other than Allah’s grace

A cash-strapped and desperate Pakistan in a bid to revive the long-awaited International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme has agreed to accept all the conditions laid down by the IMF.

Islamabad has also requested the IMF to send its mission to conclude the USD 6 Billion bailout programme which was initially agreed upon in 2019. It is, however, highly unlikely that the IMF would release the funds, at least not till the Pakistani government fulfils its pledges.

As such, the government has now surrendered itself to Almighty Allah. Pakistani Finance minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said that the government was praying, that Allah would bring prosperity back to Pakistan.

Bihar: Ankit killed, Hariom severely injured in a knife attack by Mohammad Shahadat and Mohammad Sonu; police say the fight was over cricket

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Ankit killed, Hariom severely injured in a knife attack by Mohammad Shahadat and Mohammad Sonu; police say the fight was over cricket

Chaos swept Bihar’s Gopalganj after clashes erupted between two groups in a fight over a cricket match. As per local reports, a tense atmosphere prevailed in Gopalganj after one man was killed and another severely injured during the clashes between the two groups. 

Two young men, Ankit and Hariom were stabbed by two other youths, Mohammad Shahadat and Mohammad Sonu Miyan in Gopalganj, Bihar, following an altercation over a cricket match. Ankit died on the spot and Hariom is in critical condition in the hospital.

However, many on social media claimed that the fight erupted during Saraswati Puja. A report published on TV9 Hindi too said that the clashes erupted during Saraswati Puja.

Following the incident, chaos erupted throughout the area and police had to use firearms to regain control. The knife attack resulted in a riot-like situation. Gopalganj is the birthplace of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Angry residents protesting Ankit’s murder carried his body to a demonstration near Basdila village, where they were then attacked. It is claimed that the protesters retaliated by throwing stones. Some police officers were also injured during the attack. BJP leader Shalabh Mani Tripathi tweeted that Bihar was in a state of turmoil.

Mohammad Shahadat and Mohammad Sonu Miyan allegedly killed Ankit and critically injured Hariom with knives in front of a mosque, Tripathi tweeted. “The RJD-JDU government has ruined Bihar and is shooting at those seeking justice.”

Several media houses, including TV9 Hindi, mentioned that dispute was during Saraswati puja immersion. However, this report had been updated with the Bihar police version.

2013 Bengaluru blast case: Zulfikar, Shihabuddin, and Bilal among 5 jail inmates booked for assaulting an accused who wished to plead guilty

OpIndia Staff
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2013 Bengaluru blast case: Zulfikar, Shihabuddin, and Bilal among 5 jail inmates booked for assaulting an accused who wished to plead guilty

Following their alleged attack on a fellow prisoner who was awaiting trial on December 16, the administration of Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara filed a complaint against five inmates on January 25. In a bombing case that took place on April 17, 2013, close to the BJP office in Bengaluru, the victim had decided to enter a guilty plea.

According to officials, all of the defendants in the bombing case are awaiting trial. They claimed that Jail Superintendent Mallikarjun B reported the assault to the Parappana Agrahara police.

A key accused from Coimbatore in the blast case, Kichan Buhari, and four of his colleagues, Zulfikar Ali, Shihabuddin, Ahmed Bava, and Bilal Ahmed Kyuta, allegedly beat up undertrial prisoner Syed Ali after he allegedly planned to enter a guilty plea in the blast case.

The superintendent stated that the jail administration had not been informed of the issue earlier. As per police sources, Syed was scheduled to enter a guilty plea in the bombing case alongside another defendant and had already submitted an application to the court.

Buhari’s family claimed in this month’s court proceedings, that he had been held in solitary confinement. An attorney for Syed notified the trial court on January 10 that the other accused in the case and he were at odds over his decision to file an application under Section 229 of the Criminal Procedure Code to enter a guilty plea.

The lawyer for Syed had asked the judge to move his client to a different prison cell. A second accused, who also wanted to enter a guilty plea, is reportedly ill.

Up to 25 people have been charged in connection with the bombing on April 17, 2013, which occurred close to the BJP office in Malleswaram, north Bengaluru, and is associated with the banned Al Ummah group in Tamil Nadu and its affiliates. The 2013 election-related blast that took place while the BJP was in government in Karnataka was reported to cause 16 casualties.

R Ashoka, the then-home minister for Karnataka, had labelled the blasts as “terrorist activity” and claimed that BJP members were the intended target.

‘We don’t wear surma, skull caps and tawiz’, Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui claims Siddharth Malhotra’s Mission Majnu was ‘factually incorrect’

OpIndia Staff
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‘We don’t wear surma, skull caps and tawiz’, Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui claims Siddharth Malhotra’s Mission Majnu was ‘factually incorrect’

Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui has taken to his official Instagram handle to criticise the Bollywood film ‘Mission Majnu’ starring Sidharth Malhotra for ‘misrepresentation’ of Pakistanis in the movie.

In a post written on Thursday, January 26, the Pakistani actor who starred in the Hindi film ‘Mom’ starring late actress Sridevi, lambasted the makers of the movie claiming that Pakistanis “don’t wear skull caps, surma and tawiz”, which Sidharth was seen donning to play his character Tariq. Siddharth plays an undercover RAW agent in the film who heads to Pakistan to investigate Pakistan’s nuclear program.

“There’s so much in Mission Majnu that’s distasteful and factually incorrect,” the Pakistani actor added.

The Pakistani actor wrote, “How much misrepresentation is too much misrepresentation? Bollywood has the answer. I mean come on, yaar with all the money you have, hire some good researchers to do homework on us. Or allow me to help.”

“Make sure to take notes—no, we don’t wear skull caps, surma, tawiz; no, we don’t ask janab about their mijaz; no, we don’t go around throwing adaab,” the Pakistani actor added.

“There’s so much in #MissionMajnu that’s distasteful & factually incorrect. The hero’s saviour complex would’ve accentuated more if the villain was shown at par. A weak antagonist embellishes even weaker protagonist,” Adnan Siddiqui continued.

He further added, “Poor story, poorer execution, poorest research. Next time, come and visit us. We are good hosts. Will show you how we look like, dress up and live.”

Mission Majnu was released on Netflix on January 20, 2023. The spy-thriller also features Rashmika Mandanna and is directed by Shantanu Bagchi. The movie, which is set in the 1970s, is “inspired by real events,” as per the makers. It shows Sidharth as a RAW agent, Amandeep Ajit Pal Singh aka Tariq, who is tasked to complete India’s “deadliest covert operation” in Pakistan. It shows how India used intelligence to counter Pakistan’s growing interest in nuclear weapons.

‘Sanatan Dharma is Rashtriya Dharma’: UP CM Yogi Adityanath calls for campaign to restore religious places

OpIndia Staff
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‘Sanatan Dharma is Rashtriya Dharma’: UP CM Yogi Adityanath calls for campaign to restore religious places

On Friday, January 27, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath called the Sanatan Dharma as the ‘national religion’ and said that every citizen of the country should respect it. CM Yogi also asserted that for the religious places that were destroyed or desecrated in the past, a campaign should to started to restore them, as was done in the case of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 

CM Yogi said, “Our Sanatan Dharma is India’s “Rashtriya Dharma”. We establish a connection to “Rashtriya Dharma” when we rise above selfishness. Connecting to the national religion makes our nation secure. Symbols of our honour should be re-established, and the cow and Brahmins should be protected. If our religious places were desecrated in any era, then there should be a campaign to restore them, like the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya. After 500 years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts, Bhagwan Ram’s grand temple is being built in Ayodhya.”

Yogi Adityanath was visiting the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Jalore. Along with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Uttar Pradesh CM also planted Rudraksha during this event.

CM Yogi also stated that the restoration of Lord Neelkanth’s temple in a grand manner after 1400 years is an illustration of respect for and preservation of heritage.

“The country is developing. Recall that Prime Minister Modi-ji gave us all “paanch pran” (five pledges) in the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” year, one of which was respect for our cultural heritage. The program today reflects that same pledge,” the UP CM said.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced earlier this month that Shri Ram Temple will be ready by 1st January 2024. While speaking at a rally in Sabroom in South Tripura, Amit Shah said, “During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, I was the president of the BJP and Rahul Baba (Rahul Gandhi) was the president of the Congress. He used to ask every day – the date of construction of the temple there will never be told. So Rahul baba, open your ears and listen, on January 1, 2024, you will have the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya ready.”

Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan renamed ‘Amrit Udyan’, to open for visitors on 31st January

OpIndia Staff
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Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan renamed ‘Amrit Udyan’, to open for visitors on 31st January

The iconic Mughal Gardens inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises has been renamed ‘Amrit Udyan’. The garden’s name has been changed on the occasion of celebrations of 75 years of Independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

Like every year, this year also the famous gardens in the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises will be opened soon for visitors. But this year the visitors will witness a new name for the sprawling garden, Amrit Udyan instead of earlier name Mughal Gardens.

Navika Gupta, Deputy Press Secretary to President, said that the president of India has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens as ‘Amrit Udyan’. The Deputy Press Secretary further informed that the Amrit Udayan will be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday, January 2.

It is notable that although called Mughal Gardens, the garden on the Raisina Hill was not built by Mughals, as the entire complex was built by the British. But the garden was built in the style of Mughal gardens built by Mughals in several places in the country, and therefore it has been called Mughal Gardens. The garden is known for several varieties of Tulips and Roses, along with flowers.

Photographs posted on social media showed signage for Tulips carrying the name Amrit Udyan in place of Mughal Gardens.

Visuals also show workers installing a direction signage for Amrit Udyan somewhere near Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan, along with Amrit Udyan, will open for visitors from 31st January. Every day 17,500 tickets will be issued for visits from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain open for visit till 31st March this year. New additions in the garden include selfie points.

The president’s deputy press secretary said, “the gardens will be open this time for the general public for two months, from 31st January to 31st March. Besides, one day each will be dedicated for the special categories, which includes women, differently-abled among others.”

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