Home Blog Page 2532

Odisha governor backs non-Hindu entry into Puri Jagannath Temple despite devotees’ opposition: Here is why they are barred

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Odisha governor backs non-Hindu entry into Puri Jagannath Temple despite devotees’ opposition: Here is why they are barred

On Friday, January 13, the Governor of Odisha, Ganeshi Lal urged Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb and Adi Guru Shankaracharya to permit foreign devotees to enter the Jagannath Temple in Puri and offer prayers.

While speaking at the inaugural function of the Odisha Vision 2036 Conclave on Friday in Bhubaneswar, Governor Lal said, “Foreign devotees are allowed to meet Puri Gajapati, Adi Shankaracharya, and servitors and as a result, they should not be barred from paying obeisance to the Lords at the 12th-century shrine.”

Governor Lal stated that despite knowing that many people are opposed to allowing entry to non-Hindus into the temple, he proposed to allow them entry due to his association with Odisha. 

It is pertinent to know that the term Hindu includes all the communities that are covered by the Hindu Marriage Act that is Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs other than the followers of Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism). It means that the temple allows entry to followers of Indic religions.

What Supreme Court said

In 2018, the management of the Jagannath Temple was asked by the Supreme Court to consider allowing non-Hindus entry, with the caveat that they adhere to a dress code or promise to uphold the traditions of the temple

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A K Goel and S Abdul Nazeer had said back then that, “we also discussed the issue whether the Temple Management can consider allowing every visitor, regardless of his or her faith, to pay respects and make offerings to the Deity, subject to such regulatory measures with regard to dress code, furnishing of a declaration, or such other prerequisites as found necessary.”

The Supreme Court’s ‘consideration’ however, was opposed by the Sevayats (servitors) of the temple. “This is a conspiracy by a group of mischief mongers to deny sevayats their rights,” Binayak Dasmohapatra, joint secretary of the Chhattisa Nijog ( a group of servitors of the temple).

What the  Sevayats and the Gajapati Maharaj of Puri said

It is notable that those in favour of continuing the restriction argue that allowing entry to non-Hindus into the Jagannath temple is against the temple’s traditions. 

The Gajapati King (Gajapati Maharaja) of Puri Dibyasingha Deb who is also the first servitor of Lord Jagannath and chief of temple management had also opposed Supreme Court’s consideration back then. He said that the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, and Devi Subhadra bless all their devotees regardless of their religion during the annual Rath Yatra, adding lakhs of devotees also get the Darshan of the deities during  ‘Snan Utsav’ (bathing festival).

Besides, he also raised concerns over the security of the temple. “Let me say for the sake of argument that if the Shankaracharya implies there is no issue with allowing entry of people of all faith into the temple, then also the government has to think carefully while keeping the temple’s security in mind, the Gajapati King said. 

When the world is under the threat of terrorism, he questioned, “Can the government provide total security to Temple?”

18 invasions of the Jagannath Temple and restriction on entry of non-Hindus

Destroying the temples and idols of the Kafirs was upheld by the invaders as their “religious duty” during the Islamic invasions of India. Two temples, Somnath in Gujarat and Jagannath in Odisha, have each been invaded 17 and 18 times, respectively, while vast numbers of temples have been desecrated, plundered, and destroyed during that time.

Illias Shah, the Sultan of Bengal, launched the first Muslim invasion of the Jagannath temple in 1340. Around 1360, Firoz Shah Tughlaq destroyed the Jagannath temple and desecrated the idols. In 1509, Ismail Ghazi, the commander of Bengal’s Sultan Husain Shah seized Puri and demolished the idols in the Jaganath Temple. Although Hindu King Prataprudradev chased out Ismail Ghazi, the temple witnessed multiple invasions even after this. Amir Fateh Khan conducted the fifteenth invasion in 1647. It was only after the Marathas made their way into Odisha that the constant invasions of the Jagannath temple stopped. 

During the repeated invasions and pillages, the temple’s idols were moved and hidden at distant places. The repeated attacks and destruction of the temple have led the people of Odisha to protect their temple and restrict entry only to the Hindus. 

The restriction is followed so strictly that even a Gajapati King was not allowed to enter the temple since he was married to a Mughal soldier’s daughter. 

As per Madala Panji, the palm leaf chronicles of the Jagannath temple, one of the Gajapati King Ramachandra Deb was denied entry into the Shri Mandir despite being the first servitor of Lord Jagannath as he was married to Rejiya, who was a Mughal soldier’s daughter. 

In 1984 When Indira Gandhi was prime minister, priests objected because she was married to a non-Hindu, consequently, she had darshan from the Raghunandan Library. Even Vinoba Bhave and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi were refused entry into the temple in 1934 when they tried to do so while traveling with foreigners and non-Hindu followers.

Delhi: Suspected Khalistani and Islamist terrorist arrested from Bhalswa Dairy area over links with terror outfits, two hand grenades recovered

ANI
-
0
Delhi: Suspected Khalistani and Islamist terrorist arrested from Bhalswa Dairy area over links with terror outfits, two hand grenades recovered

The Delhi Police arrested two ‘suspicious’ men and recovered two hand grenades from their house in the Bhalswa Dairy area of Jahangirpuri in the national capital.

The Special cell of the Delhi police arrested the two — identified as Jagjit Singh (29) and Naushad (56) — on Thursday. They were produced before the Patiala House Court on Friday and sent to police remand for 14 days. Amid the interrogation of the suspects, the police said they carried out a raid at their rented house at Shradha Nand Colony in the Bhalswa Dairy police station limits on Friday, under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and recovered the hand grenades.

The police also recovered three pistols and 22 live cartridges from the suspects.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) also visited the house and collected blood samples.

According to sources, it is alleged that the suspects killed a person in the house and shared a video of the killing with their handler.

The police said they were in the process of finding out who was killed.

Further, Delhi Police said it has information that Jagjit Singh has links to Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dall. He is also a member of the notorious Bambiha gang and has been receiving instructions from anti-national elements based abroad, the city police said, adding that he is also a parole jumper in a murder case in Uttarakhand.

Naushad is also associated with Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA), a terror group which is based in Pakistan and primarily operates in Jammu and Kashmir.

He has been a life convict in two counts of murder and has also served a 10-year sentence in connection with a case under the Explosive Act.

Their neighbours alleged that the accused took up residence at the rented house last year, during Diwali, adding that the construction of their own house is ongoing.

Quoting their neighbours, the police said they bought a new refrigerator only to return it a week later. On being asked why they were returning the refrigerator, they said it was not functioning properly.

The police suspect that they killed the person, chopped off the body and stored it in a refrigerator, adding that further investigation was underway.

More details are awaited.

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

Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal disqualified from Lok Sabha after being convicted in an attempt to murder case: Details

Jhankar Mohta
-
0
Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal disqualified from Lok Sabha after being convicted in an attempt to murder case: Details

On January 13, Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification disqualifying Mohammed Faizal, NCP MP from Lakshadweep, after he was convicted in an attempt to murder case by a court in the union territory. As per the notification, the MP’s disqualification came into effect on January 11, the day he was convicted by the sessions court in Kavaratti.

The decision to disqualify the MP from the Lok Sabha was taken under the provisions of Article 102 (l) (e) of the Constitution, read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

“Consequent upon his conviction by the Court of Sessions, Kavaratti, Lakshadweep in Sessions case no. 01/2017, Shri Mohammed Faizal P.P., Member of Lok Sabha representing the Lakshadweep Parliamentary Constituency of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 11 January 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(l)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the notification read.

Notification issued by Lok Sabha Secretariat (source: @arvindgunasekar)

Notably, the court in Lakshadweep had on Wednesday sentenced four people, including the NCP MP Mohammed Faizal, to 10 years in jail after they were found guilty in an attempt to murder case.

The others convicted in the case are Sayed Mohammed Noorul Ameen and Faizal’s brothers Mohammed Hussain and Mohammed Basheer Thangal. Besides awarding a 10-year jail term, the court also fined the convicts Rs 1 lakh each for attempting to kill Mohammed Salih, son-in-law of late Congress leader and former Union Minister PM Sayeed, during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

CBI had registered a case against NCP MP Mohammed Faizal in tuna fish scam

Notably, in July last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lodged a complaint against Lakshadweep MP and NCP leader Mohammed Faizal, his nephew, and others over charges of corruption and irregularities. The allegations included an alleged scheme about the shipment of tuna fish to a Sri Lankan business. The CBI conducted searches at six locations linked to MP Mohammed Faisal across Delhi, Calicut, and Lakshadweep.

It is important to note that amid the progressive reforms brought up by the Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel in the year 2021, MP Mohammed Faisal declared that beef-eating was a constitutional right of the Lakshadweep people.

Abrogation of Article 370 helped in lifting the economic state of people of Jammu and Kashmir: Report

ANI
-
0
Abrogation of Article 370 helped in lifting the economic state of people of Jammu and Kashmir: Report

The Indian government has been successful in changing general perceptions around the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and lifting its people from their erstwhile economic state since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Asian Lite, an Asian daily published in the United Kingdom reported.

According to the report, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently claimed that the UT administration has removed all obstacles to the implementation of people-friendly policies and setting up new businesses and industries in the region. The L-G said the steps taken by his administration have found favour with locals, the report stated.

With reference to developments in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, the report quoted the L-G as saying, “Article 370 was the root cause of secessionism, terrorism, nepotism, discrimination & corruption and kept J&K underdeveloped. Three years after breaking from the past, it is moving forward on a new developmental journey.”

Citing a local media report by Kashmir Observer, the Asian Lite further quoted the L-G as saying, “We have removed the difficulties that had cropped up in the implementation of people-friendly governance, setting up new businesses and industries. It is our responsibility to provide equal opportunities to all.”

“Article 370 was the root cause of secessionism, terrorism, nepotism, discrimination & corruption and kept J&K underdeveloped. Three years after breaking from the past, it is moving forward on a new developmental journey,” the L-G was further quoted as saying in the report.

He also mentioned that the policies of the administration have been designed to empower the youth and each and every section of society while providing equal opportunities, the report stated further.

“Accelerated pace of development, improved socio-economic parameters, unprecedented progress in all priority sectors, massive tourist influx, and industrial investment is the testimony of peaceful and prosperous Jammu Kashmir,” the report quoted the L-G as saying.

Also, to put the poultry sector on the path of sustainability and self-reliance, the Agriculture Production Department of Jammu and Kashmir approved a ‘Roadmap for Poultry Development in J&K’ under its mission for Holistic Development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors, in the UT on Friday, the report stated.

“Every year, the Union Territory experiences a flight of capital on account of poultry imports in the state. The amount totals Rs. 1273 crore per year. Among these, eggs account for Rs. 473 crores, day-old chicks for Rs. 110 crores, poultry feed worth Rs. 300 crore and broiler birds for Rs. 390 crores,” Atal Dulloo, additional chief secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department (APD), was quoted as saying in the report.

He said under the roadmap for poultry development, a total of 420 enterprises and 4,250 direct jobs would be created in the next five years, the report stated further.

‘Roadmap for Poultry Development in J&K’ is one among 29 projects approved by the administration.

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

Pakistan: 3 police officials killed in Peshawar after terrorists attack a police station

ANI
-
0
Pakistan: 3 police officials killed in Peshawar after terrorists attack a police station

At least three police officials have been killed, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in exchange of fire with terrorists in Peshawar on Saturday, ARY News reported.

The assailants attacked the police station in Peshawar’s Sarband area with long-range rifles and hand grenades in the early hours, ARY News reported. The deceased were identified as DSP Badaber Sardar Hussain, Irshad and Jehanzeb, according to ARY News.

The attack on the Sarband police station was confirmed by senior superintendent of police operations Kashif Aftab Abbasi.

He stated that “terrorists attacked the police station from two sides with hand grenades and sniper rifles equipped with night vision goggles,” as per the local media.

14 police officers were present at the police station at the time of the attack, according to SSP operations, and at least six to eight terrorists were part of the attack. The attackers, however, fled the scene later.

At least six police officers were killed in a similar attack on November 16 in the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Wanda Shahab Khel neighbourhood, ARY News reported.

With the rise of TTP in Pakistan, attacks on security personnel and explosions across the country have become a regular affair. 

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

‘Liberal’ Salafism, UCC being ‘election propaganda’, ‘not letting secular votes get divided’: Shashi Tharoor playing with fire to become Kerala CM?

Editorial Desk
-
0
‘Liberal’ Salafism, UCC being ‘election propaganda’, ‘not letting secular votes get divided’: Shashi Tharoor playing with fire to become Kerala CM?

Shashi Tharoor has been busy meeting several religious leaders in Kerala recently and is now getting wider support from the Muslim community after his recent meetings. On the 14th of January, Shashi Tharoor tweeted about his meeting with leaders of the “liberal” Salafi organisation Nadvathul Mujahideen.

“Along with my LokSabha colleague @mkraghavaninc, called on TP AbdullaKoya Madani, chief of the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, a liberal Salafi organisation, & his senior team. Our warm welcome included a book on the Kerala Muslim Renaissance, in last pic”, he tweeted.

In another tweet, Shashi Tharoor spoke about meeting Sayyid Muhammed Jifri Muthukkoya Thangal, President of the Samastha Kerala Jem’iyyathul Ulema, a major body of Sunni scholars.

Shashi Tharoor has, rather openly, voiced his wishes to become to Chief Minister of Kerala, ruffling feathers within the Congress ranks in the state. AICC General Secretary has taken strong opposition to Shashi Tharoor saying he would be willing to become the Kerala CM. KC Venugopal said, “Congress is the most democratic party. Series of meetings happen in the party every month. Leaders can raise any issues in meetings and have discussions. All leaders have the responsibility to ensure that open debates do not spoil the dreams of party workers to come back to power”.

While Shashi Tharoor has maintained that he was only responding to queries by journalists and since the assembly election is far away, there is no point of such a discussion at this point of time, it is clear that Tharoor is trying to consolidate his base in the state by reaching out to specifically the Muslim population of the state.

On Friday, after Tharoor’s meeting with the “sunni scholar”, Samastha president Jifri Muthukoya Thangal hailed Tharoor saying that he is the leader who is trying to achieve a cordial relationship with the Muslim community, something which has been ignored by other leaders in the state of Kerala. He said that Tharoor’s endeavours would strengthen Congress.

“Tharoor possesses the wisdom of understanding the world well. People like him are global citizens. Tharoor has been making interventions to bring Congress back to the mainstream politics”, he said after his meeting with the Congress leader.

While Tharoor is trying to win brownie points in Kerala with the Muslim community, what is far more concerning is what this “liberal” politician seems to have endorsed during this endeavour.

Meeting leaders of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) at the Mujahid Centre, Tharoor told them that the renaissance movement in Kerala is an example for all communities. He hailed the renaissance efforts of the Mujahid movement and opined that effective steps should be taken to counter the efforts to divide people communally, according to a report by The New Indian Express.

Interestingly, what Shashi Tharoor seems to have hailed is the further Islamisation of the Muslims of Kerala. The Mujahid renaissance movement propagated against Sufism, calling it corrupt, polytheism etc, and called for the revival of true Islamic practices in the Muslim community in Kerala. The Mujahids consider themselves proponents of authentic Islamic reform. They believe in the principle of Tawhid, which refers to the belief that there is no God other than Allah and that Muhammad was his Prophet.

While hailing this effort which is a campaign against every religion other than Islam, one wonders how Shashi Tharoor wanted these very Islamic scholars to counter “efforts to divide people communally”.

Interestingly, KNM Markazudawa leaders also raised concerns with Shashi Tharoor about the BJP government contemplating the implementation of Uniform Civil Code and said that all “secular” parties must stand with the Muslims and their organisations in oppositing this movie. Dangerously, Shashi Tharoor seems to have voiced his opinion against UCC and said that the intention to implement UCC was merely an “election propaganda” by the government.

Speaking at Wisdom Islamic Organisation (WIO), Tharoor further urged that “secular” votes must not be split across states.

Interstingly, in his tweets, Tharoor, in his desperation to get the Muslim support perhaps for his own Chief Ministerial ambitions, also made the oxymoronic claim that he met “liberal” Salafi leaders. It is pertinent to note that there is no “liberal” version of Salafism. Salafism itself means the return to the most pure form of Islam ordained by Prophet Muhammad himself. Salafism is a extremely traditional and restrictive movement. In fact, Salafism also endorses the full implementation of Sharia (Islamic law). It is therefore inexplicable what Shashi Tharoor means by “liberal” Salafism.

It appears evident that Shashi Tharoor is playing with fire and emboldening, even whitewashing, the most extreme elements of the Muslim society in his bid to become the Congress’ CM face in Kerala. What is far more concerning is that he is attempting to rewrite established knowledge about Salafism and the Mujahid movement to paint it as “liberal” reformative campaigns, which they were certainly not. In all, from his recent interaction, it would appear that Shashi Tharoor has ended up endorsing the implementation of Sharia and his opposition to the Uniform Civil Code.

Body of missing woman cricketer found hanging from a tree, family blames Cricket Association of Odisha for her death

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Body of missing woman cricketer found hanging from a tree, family blames Cricket Association of Odisha for her death

Rajashree Swain, a 26-year-old Odisha woman cricketer, was discovered hanging from a tree in a deep forest in Cuttack district on Friday (January 13), according to authorities. She was missing since January 11.

The police said that the deceased Rajashree also left a suicide note, in which she alleged mental harassment.

“A case of unnatural death has been registered in the matter. We found her body hanging from a tree in the Gurudijhatia forest in the Athagarh area. We will probe the death from all angles,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pinak Mishra said.

Rajashree’s family, meanwhile, claimed that she was murdered. “She was murdered since the body exhibited injury marks and her eyes were damaged,” Rajashree’s relatives alleged.

Further accusing the Cricket Association of Odisha of being prejudiced, her family said that Swain was denied a spot in the team despite outperforming several others who were chosen.

As per reports, the Odisha state team was announced on Tuesday (January 10, 2023) and Rajashree Swain was not selected for the tournament’s 16-woman roster. As per her roommate, she was observed crying when the names of team members were announced on Wednesday evening, and she went away from the hotel where they had all stayed for the training session shortly after.

Rajashree had reportedly told her coach, Pushpanjali Banerjee, that she was going to meet her father at her home in Puri. On Thursday, January 12, when she did not return home and her phone was found switched off, Pushpanjali Banerjee filed a missing person’s report at the Mangalabag police station in Cuttack.

Following this, the police launched an inquiry into the matter. The last known location of Rajashree’s mobile was discovered in the forest during the initial investigation. The cops began searching in the forest based on this information. Meanwhile, the police retrieved Rajashree’s scooty and helmet abandoned near the forest, based on information provided by the locals. Following that, the police conducted searches throughout the forest. Finally, the cops found Rajashree’s body in the forest under the Gurudijhatiya police station area of Cuttack district.

Jayashree, Rajashree’s sister, blamed the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) administrators and coach for Rajashree’s untimely death. Jayshree stated that Rajashree had called her on January 10th and was sobbing because she had not been selected for the Odisha team. When Jayashree congratulated Rajashree on her incredible performance, the latter complained that the Cricket Association was biased against her.

Jayashree alleged that her sister was in acute distress and had told her though she had performed well, she could not make it to the final list due to alleged unfair means adopted in the selection procedure by the OCA.

Speaking to the media, Rajashree’s mother said, “She had come to Cuttack for a selection camp. She was living at Palace Hotel. After 10 days of selection camp, she was intentionally excluded from the final team although she was the best player. She was under stress and had called up her sister. She informed that she was not included in the team despite being an all-rounder.”

“My daughter has been missing since then. But, they (the camp organisers) did not inform us anything. When we contacted them they claimed that Rajashree has gone missing,” her mother added.

Meanwhile, Rajashree’s father Gunanidhi also raised questions about how his daughter could reach the dense forest area, which is a habitation for elephants, and nearly 30 km away from the hotel where she was staying along with her teammates. He alleged that his daughter was killed and then hung to give an impression of suicide. “The OCA authorities have killed my daughter and hung her body from the tree inside the forest to suppress their wrongdoings,” alleged Gunanidhi.

Subrat Behera, the CEO of the association, while expressing shock over the demise of the cricketer, refuted the family’s claims saying that the selection was done in a very transparent manner. “If there was prejudice, how did she find a place in the 25-member probable team, which attended the camp,” Behera added.

BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai, vocal about Islamic extremism, gets Z-category security cover after threat analysis report by IB

OpIndia Staff
-
0
BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai, vocal about Islamic extremism, gets Z-category security cover after threat analysis report by IB

Amidst threats from religious extremists and Maoists, the Ministry of Home Affairs has accorded ‘Z’ category security cover to the president of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit, K Annamalai. Annamalai will now be provided security cover by about 30 to 33 commandos working in different shifts. 

This comes after Intelligence Bureau (IB) in a threat analysis report recommended enhancing Annamalai’s security cover after evaluating threats received by the Tamil Nadu BJP chief. Following this, the Union Home Ministry directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to provide ‘Z’ security for the leader. Annamalai will now be authorized to have a pilot and an escort vehicle in his convoy during his travels across the country. 

It is pertinent to note that the 38-year-old IPS turned politician has been vocal about rising Islamic extremism in Tamil Nadu, especially after the Coimbatore car bomb blast on October 23 last year. 

In recent months, particularly during violent protests against the NIA raids at the premises of the now-banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), the state has also seen a number of Molotov Cocktail attacks on the offices and homes of leaders of Hindu organizations. In September last year, petrol bombs were hurled at the houses and offices of several RSS members. K Annamalai had then written to Home Minister Amit Shah informing him about the targeted petrol bomb attacks on RSS leaders. 

Other than this, petrol bombs were thrown at “Kamalalayam,” the state BJP headquarters in Chennai’s T. Nagar, in February 2022.

Feast of the Ass: All you need to know about the Christian festival celebrated on 14th January, condemned later by the Church as ‘blasphemous’

Dibakar Dutta
-
0
Feast of the Ass: All you need to know about the Christian festival celebrated on 14th January, condemned later by the Church as ‘blasphemous’

The Feast of the Ass (also called the Festum Asinorum in Latin) was an ancient Christian festival that was observed on January 14 each year until the 15th Century. It was celebrated primarily in France to pay tributes to the ‘donkey’ that carried Mother Mary from Israel to Egypt, following the birth of Jesus Christ. The Holy family, at that time, was trying to escape King Herod the Great’s killing of young children.

The Feast of the Ass (or Fête de l’âne in French) is believed to have been the adaptation of the Roman pagan festival of ‘Cervulus.’ While donkeys were first domesticated between 4600-4000 BC, it was not until 1000 CE that the festival was observed.

As part of the celebration, the most beautiful girl in the village would be paraded, with a child, on a donkey through the length and breadth of the village. The residents of the village would then sing about her carrying a baby or her pregnancy.

The journey would end at the village church, where a special ‘Mass of the ass’ was observed. The donkey would then be strapped to the altar and decorated with fine linen and jewellery. It would then be fed good food and water.

And the Mass would commence with an introit (saying) that went as –

“From the Eastern lands the Ass is come, beautiful and very brave, well fitted to bear burdens. Up! Sir Ass, and sing. Open your pretty mouth. Hay will be yours in plenty, and oats in abundance.”

As per an article by Ucatholic, the Catholic Christians in the Northern French city of Beauvais would ‘bray like a donkey’ instead of saying ‘Amen’. They would also chant ‘hee-haw’ thrice instead of the traditional chant of Deo gratias. Even the Priest at the Church would bray thrice on the occasion of the “Feast of the Ass.’

However, the celebration went out of practice after the Catholic Church condemned the ‘Feast of the Ass’ and ‘Feast of the Fools’ (observed on January 1) for being ‘improper, extravagant and blasphemous’ towards the end of the 15th century.

Back in the day, donkeys held both spiritual and symbolic importance. In Christianity (New Testament), they are viewed as the embodiment of human suffering and salvation. They are known for their defiance and advanced sense of self-preservation.

As such, it comes as no wonder why the donkey was the favourite mode of transport for the Messiah and his family.

Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary passes away after suffering a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra, 5th death so far

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary passes away after suffering a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra, 5th death so far

On Saturday, January 14, Congress MP from Jalandhar Chaudhary Santokh Singh died during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab’s Phillaur. Chaudhary was walking alongside Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, suddenly he felt uneasy as his heartbeat increased.

The Congress leader was brought to Phagwara’s Virk hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. After learning about Chaudhary’s death, Rahul Gandhi left the Bharat Jodo Yatra and went to the hospital.

It is notable that other than Santokh Chaudhary, four people have so far reportedly died during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Senior Congress leader and General Secretary of Congress Seva Dal, Krishna Kumar Pandey, died at the age of 75 during Bharat Jodo Yatra on November 8, 2022. Reportedly, Pandey was walking with Rahul Gandhi in the district of Nanded, Maharashtra, when he collapsed on the road. He was carrying the Tricolour earlier during the Yatra. At one point, he handed over the Tricolour to another person and collapsed after 15 minutes. Pandey was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. 

On November 12, 2022, another person died during Yatra. Reportedly, a 62-year-old Congress worker from Tamil Nadu, identified as Ganesan Ponraman of Thanjavur, was hit by a truck in Nanded, Maharashtra. When the incident happened, he was walking back to Pimpalgaon Mahadeo village in Ardhapur tehsil for the night camp. He was hit by a truck.

On November 25, 2022, a Sub-Inspector (SI) identified as Bhupendra Singh Gurjar, who was rehearsing for Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ahar-Malwa, was hit by a car.

On December 3, 2022, Congress worker 55-year-old Mangilal Shah of Zirapur, district Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, died of a heart attack. He was on his way to join Bharat Jodo Yatra. 

1...2,5312,5322,533...7,602Page 2,532 of 7,602