Home Blog Page 3305

IPL: Rohit Sharma back among runs as Mumbai Indians set up an imposing target for table-toppers Gujarat Titans

OpIndia Staff
-
0
IPL: Rohit Sharma back among runs as Mumbai Indians set up an imposing target for table-toppers Gujarat Titans

Indian captain Rohit Sharma rediscovered his form after a lean season as he smashed 43 runs off 28 balls to power Mumbai to an imposing total of 177 runs against runaway leaders Gujarat Titans. This IPL season had been a nightmare thus far for the Indian selectors as their 2 biggest stars, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, kept struggling for runs. However, this performance from Rohit would have eased some of their concerns as the Indian skipper looked in imperious touch throughout his stay on the crease.

Having been put into bat by Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya, Rohit, and his fellow opener Ishan Kishan looked confident from the start, and gave Mumbai the sort of positive start they have been craving for throughout this season. The duo scored at nearly 10 runs per over during their stay together as they put together 74 in their 7.3 overs partnership.

However, once Rohit was dismissed by the very impressive Rashid Khan, Gujarat managed to claw their way back into the game as they took 4 wickets for 45 runs off 45 balls in the middle of the innings. That brought Tim David to the crease and the Singapore all-rounder’s big-hitting brought some momentum back to Mumbai’s innings as he smashed 44 runs off 21 balls, punctuated with 4 sixes.

For Gujarat, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan was once again the standout bowler as he conceded just 24 runs off his 4 overs taking 2 wickets. Rashid was also the star on the field as he took 3 catches to go with his 2 wickets.

Irrespective of the result tonight, Mumbai Indians will stay at the bottom of the table while Gujarat will stay on top of the table.

Vande Bharat trains to use made-in-India wheels as supplies from Ukraine halted due to the war

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Vande Bharat trains to use made-in-India wheels as supplies from Ukraine halted due to the war

The made in India Vande Bharat Express train will get Indian made wheels, as a result of the war in Ukraine. While the semi-high speed train is designed and made in India, its wheels were planned to be imported, including from Ukraine. But the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has halted the import of the wheels, forcing the Railways to make the wheels also in India.

The wheels will now be made by Railway Wheel Factory in Bengaluru, and the factory has already issued tenders for parts needed to make the wheels. The factory is already making the axels for the wheels, and will now make the wheels also.

Reportedly, the first batch of 128 wheels were already made in Ukraine, but they are stuck in Romania due to the war. Now efforts are being to bring them to India, and it is expected that the Ukraine made wheels will be air-lifted to India later this month. The wheels will be brought to Chennai in batches between May 15 and May 20, and then will be taken to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai where the Vande Bharat trainsets are being assembled.

The 128 wheels will be enough for one Vande Bharat train, because the train has 16 coaches, and each railway coach runs on 8 wheels, fitted on two bogies at each end.

Other than the 128 wheels from Ukraine stuck in Romania, other wheels ordered with two other foreign companies will also reach India by next month. These wheels will be used for the trial of the new version 2 of the Vande Bharat Express trains, and subsequently for the trains ordered by Indian Railways. After that, wheels made in the Indian plant will be used, as the manufacturing of wheels in Ukraine has stopped.

An official said that the goal is to have enough wheels not only for the 75 Vande Express trains planned to be rolled out by August 15 next year, but also surplus wheels for future productions. The required number of wheels will be made withing 2-3 months by Railway Wheel Factory. Railway Wheel Factory in Yelahanka in Bengaluru will give priority to these wheels for now. A total of 36,000 wheels have been ordered for the trains.

At present only two Vande Bharat Express trains are operating, between Delhi and Varanasi and Delhi and Vaishno Devi Katra. From this year, the version 2 of the train will be launched in several other routes.

At present, Indian Railways imports nearly 60-70% of the wheels needed by it, but it may change following the fallout of the Ukraine war.

Train wheel making is a specialised process, only some plants across the world made them. The wheels are made from a single piece of steel, which is heated to a high temperature, and then pressed to give them the shape of the wheel. Such forging technique produces very strong wheels.

In this year’s budget speech, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that 400 new Vande Bharat trains will be introduced in the nest three years. The govt plans to introduce 75 trains by August 2023. The Railways has already started identifying routes to deploy the advanced trains. In most routes, initially the Vande Bharat trains will replace existing Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains, as the Vande Bharat trains only have chair cars. However, Railways has already started the process to develop sleeper versions of the coaches, to replace Rajdhani Express and similar long-distance trains.

Tenders for development of 200 such trains already have been invited, which will be version 3 of the Vande Bharat train. These trains will have AC-3 Tier, AC-2 Tier and AC-1st class coaches, like the Rajdhani Express trains. Bids have been invited for 3200 such coaches.

Originally referred to as Train 18 during development, Vande Bharat Express does not have dedicated locomotive. Instead, every alternate coaches of the 16 coaches are motorised. Both ends of the train has driver cabins, which makes turning around the train at terminating stations faster and easier.

Jharkhand Illegal Mining Case: ED recovers crores in cash from CA of IAS Pooja Singhal

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Jharkhand Illegal Mining Case: ED recovers crores in cash from CA of IAS Pooja Singhal

On Friday 6th May 2022, Enforcement Directorate (ED) recovered crores of rupees in cash from the house of IAS Pooja Singhal’s Chartered Accountant (CA). The house was raided in connection with the illegal mining case. According to the latest reports, cash of 25 crores was recovered.

The ED is also raiding the Pulse Hospital in Ranchi and 20 other places in the country. This hospital belongs to a close relative of Pooja Singhal. Pooja Singhal is the secretary of the mines and geology department of the Jharkhand. The search operations are on since the morning.

Raids which started at 6 AM under the leadership of a joint director spread to New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Faridabad, Gurugram, Muzaffarpur, Ranchi, and other cities. Pooja Singhal is a 2000 batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre. ED recovered rupees 25 crores in cash from the office of her chartered accountant at Ranchi. 

Six places in Ranchi were raided by ED, one of which is a super specialty hospital of her second husband. Her first husband is a 1999 batch IAS officer in Jharkhand.

The case pertains to a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by the Enforcement Directorate in 2020 against Jharkhand junior engineer Ram Binod Prasad Sinha. Ram Binod Prasad Sinha was arrested by the ED on June 17, 2020, in the 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

The central probe agency had taken cognizance of 16 FIRs and a charge sheet filed by the Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau against Sinha, according to which Sinha was accused of misappropriating government funds worth Rs 18.06 crore. Ram Binod Prasad Sinha was a junior engineer in Khunti when Pooja Singhal was the District Collector of Khunti.

Sinha is reported to have told the investigators that Pooja Singhal had obliged two NGOs, Welfare Point and Prerna Niketan with Rs 6 crores fund and had granted a mining lease on 83 acres of forest land in contravention of the environmental regulations. As deputy commissioners in Chatra, Palamu, and Khunti districts, she is alleged to have committed irregularities in the MNRGEA.

In Ranchi, Panchayati residency, block number 9, Chandni Chowk Hariom Tower, New Building, Lalpur, and Pulse Hospital in Ranchi have been raided. The Jharkhand High Court had ordered that the ED should file a counter affidavit in the case. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nishikant Dubey tweeted, “She is the blue-eyed bureaucrat of chief minister Hemant Soren. She had obliged the chief minister, her brother, and close relatives with the allotment of mines.”

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren holds the Mining and Environment portfolios in the state. In a related update, on May 2, the Election Commission sent a notice to Hemant Soren over a mining lease granted in his name in alleged violation of Section 9A of the Representation of Peoples’ Act 1951. 

Delhi court frames charges against Tahir Hussain, 5 accomplices in 2020 Delhi Riots, says had made elaborate preparations to target Hindus: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi court frames charges against Tahir Hussain, 5 accomplices in 2020 Delhi Riots, says had made elaborate preparations to target Hindus: Details

On Friday (May 6), a Delhi court framed charges against former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in connection to the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots of 2020.

The Court observed that Tahir Hussain was an active participant in the riots and not a mute spectator. It was hearing a petition filed by a man named Karan, whose godown was gutted by a frenzied mob led by Tahir Hussain in the Khajuri Khas in the Chand Bagh area of Delhi.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat stated, “Tahir Hussain’s house throwing stone, patrol bombs etc. from there… He was not a mute spectator but was taking an active part in the riots and instigating the other members of the unlawful assembly to teach a lesson to the persons belonging to other community.”

The Court stated that Hussain and 5 others, namely, Shoaib, Gulfam, Javed, Firoz and Anas had an agreement to engage in arson and vandalism of properties belonging to the Hindu community. As such, the former AAP councillor had made ‘elaborate preparations’ to ensure that his plans became a reality.

“The above-referred circumstances nowhere indicate that it was a spontaneous act but clearly reveal that there had been an agreement between the accused herein to commit vandalisation and arson in the properties belonging to Hindu community from the building E-17 belonging to accused Tahir Hussain and elaborate preparations had been done to fulfil the object of the agreement/conspiracy,” the judge emphasised.

The Court had framed charges against the 6 men under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting), 148 (armed rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 395 (dacoity), and 427, 435, and 436. Tahir Hussain was also additionally charged with IPC 109 and 114, besides the other IPC Sections.

Role of Tahir Hussain in Delhi riots

OpIndia had earlier reported how Tahir Hussain had confessed in a disclosure statement that he chose his own house as a launchpad for the riots. Given that his house was a high-rise building and was under construction at that time, it was easy to collect stones and bricks without raising any suspicion. 

He confessed that he and his co-conspirators had started collecting stones, bricks and other ammunition, well in advance so that they could teach those, who were in support of the CAA, a lesson when the time was right. To that end, 2-3 days before the riots broke out, he had also got his licensed pistol released from the police station.

While gearing up for the riots and collecting ammunition to teach Hindus a lesson, Tahir Hussain said that he had instructed his supporters to be “ready for anything and in every manner” and also ensure that all the CCTV cameras, private and government installed, in the area, were broken so the evidence of the riots could not be captured.

It must be mentioned that all of this was done well before the anti-Hindu riots broke out in Delhi. Tahir Hussain admitted that he, along with his brother Shah Alam, Arshad, Abid, Shahid, Irshad and several others were present at his residence.

How Alt News tried to whitewash Tahir Hussain

After it had emerged that AAP leader Tahir Hussain was one of the main conspirators behind the riots in North East Delhi, Islamists and left-liberal ecosystem went overboard in defending him.

Leftist propaganda site AltNews had jumped the bandwagon to give a clean chit to Tahir Hussain. They have published an article to refute allegations that the AAP leader had posted an edited video, but now several people have questioned the arguments they have used to defend Tahir Hussain.

On February 27, 2020, AAP spokesperson Prince Soni posted a video where Tahir Hussain was seen making an appeal to the police to control the riots. He had alleged that rioters forcefully entered and vandalised his house. Prince claimed that the video was recorded on the day of the riots.

When netizens pointed out the obvious discrepancies in the video, Alt News came to shield the former AAP councillor. Opindia had reported in detail about how Alt News had no solid proof to back its claim and instead relied upon its dubious methodology to bolster its claims.

Big setback to Aaditya Thackeray as Bombay HC declares his pet project Powai Cycling and Jogging Track illegal, orders to stop work and revert changes

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Big setback to Aaditya Thackeray as Bombay HC declares his pet project Powai Cycling and Jogging Track illegal, orders to stop work and revert changes

In a major setback to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election (BMC) and Maharashtra Tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, the Bombay High Court has ruled that the Powai Cycling and Jogging Track being constructed by BMC is illegal. The court has ordered the civic body to stop works in the project, and also directed to restore land already reclaimed for the project.

The High Court had earlier stayed the work in the Cycling and Jogging Track project while the matter was being heard, and today delivered its verdict saying that the project is illegal as it violates rules. The court agreed with the petitions filed against the project saying that it violates the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, as the Powai Lake is classified as a wetland.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice VG Bisht of the Bombay High Court ruled that the project is illegal, and ordered BMC to remove all construction work done until now and restore the ground to its original position.

Two petitions were filed in the court against the project, by IIT Bombay student Omkar Supekar and NGO Vanashakti. Another intervention petition was also filed by green activist Zoru Bhathena, who had argued that around 40% of the Powai lake is already surrounded by a road used by IIT Bombay, and the same can be declared a public property and used as a cycling track.

Another environment group Sahyadri Rights Forum had also petitioned with the National Green Tribunal alleging exploitation of Powai Lake due to the project. The group had written to NGT after receiving complaints against the project from IIT-B students, saying that the constructions were being carried out in a clandestine manner without due environmental clearances and in violation of judicial orders.

Apart from violation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, the petitioners had also argued that the project also violated evelopment Control Regulation 2034, [34 3.3 clause 7], which said that no construction can take place withing 100 meters from the periphery of the lake.

The BMC advocate had requested the court to stay its earlier order staying work in the project, but the court rejected by saying, “If the court stays its own order then that shows that the court is not sure of its order. We don’t pass order like that.”

The High Court then stressed that the project is illegal and it is being stopped. The bench said, “We are sure it is illegal and so it has been stopped.”

BMC had tried to claim that there is ecological impact of the project by claiming that Powai Lake is not a natural water body. They said that it is a man-made reservoir and not a designated wetland, therefore no rules were breached. They also clamed to have used ‘gabion technology’ which is porous and doesn’t prevent the flow of water’ during the monsoon.

However, the High Court bench rejected BMC’s arguments and declared the project as illegal.

The Powai Cycling and Jogging Track is a part of cycling tracks the BMC plans to build in entire Mumbai. It is a pet project of Aaditya Thackeray, who had visited the Powai lake site several times to take stock of the progress of the project. Last year, he had tweeted that BMC and the state tourism department were working together to create a 10.2 km walking/ cycling eco friendly track around the Powai lake.

“It not just open up a natural urban space to citizens and tourists alike, but also help us interact with nature better. The Powai lake is a gem of our city with its beautiful surroundings. Every aspect of this track will be eco friendly,” the minister had claimed.

Explained: Charges filed by Delhi Police against Punjab police in Tajinder Bagga arrest case and the rationale behind the kidnapping charge 

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Explained: Charges filed by Delhi Police against Punjab police in Tajinder Bagga arrest case and the rationale behind the kidnapping charge 

The arrest of BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga by Punjab Police has touched off a massive controversy, with critics slamming the Aam Aadmi Party for launching a political witch-hunt against opponents who are courageous enough to voice criticism of their supreme leader Arvind Kejriwal. 

Bagga, who was picked up on Friday morning by a team of Punjab Police, was arrested on the charges of threatening Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The Punjab Police furtively reached the BJP leader’s residence on Friday—with the intent of detaining him and transporting him to Punjab—the state where AAP emerged victorious in the assembly elections that granted them the agency to use the state’s police force at their will.

In response to Bagga’s arrest, Delhi Police filed a kidnapping case against Punjab Police under sections 452, 365, 342, 392, 295/34 of the Indian Penal Code. While the Delhi Police is bringing Bagga back to the national capital, it is worth examining the charges slapped against the Punjab Police for the arrest of the BJP leader.

Details of charges pressed against Punjab Police

Section 452 of the IPC deals with trespass to the house with the motive to hurt someone or assault any person or restrain someone wrongfully, or put someone in fear of hurt or of assault or wrongful restraint. For the offence committed under this Section, the trespasser is punishable with a minimum sentence of 7 years and with a fine. 

Besides, the said offence is categorised as a cognizable, bailable offence and triable by any magistrate. This section provides higher punishment where trespassing to a house causes harm, assault, or restraint on someone. 

Another charge slapped by Delhi Police against Punjab Police is Section 365, which concerns kidnapping or abduction with the intent of secretly and wrongfully confining a person. The Section says whoever kidnaps or abducts any person with the intent to cause that person to be secretly and wrongfully confined, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

The Punjab Police is also slapped with Section 342 that pertains to wrongful confinement and recommends punishment with imprisonment of a term which may extend to one year, or with a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or both.

Still another charge that is levelled against Punjab Police is Section 392—punishment for robbery—which states committing offences under the Section shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine; and, if the robbery is committed on the highway between sunset and sunrise, the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.

Furthermore, the Delhi Police have also included Section 295 in the charges pressed against the Punjab Police for arresting BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his Delhi residence. The section pertains to injuring or defiling a place of worship with the intent to insult the religion of any class. 

The Section categorically states whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defile­ment as an insult to their religion, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

The rationale behind slapping Punjab Police with kidnapping charges

While it may appear bizarre that Delhi Police has filed charges against Punjab Police, they are, however, on strong legal grounds for the action they have initiated against the police force of another state. In October 2021, the Delhi HC pulled up UP Police for arresting citizens in the national capital without informing the Delhi Police. 

“You can’t take away anyone as per your will without following the due process,” the Delhi HC had sharply observed. 

The UP police had arrested the brother and father of a boy who got married to a girl against her family’s wishes without informing the Delhi Police. The HC came down hard on the UP police saying that such illegal acts are not permissible and will not be tolerated in the national capital.

Since the Delhi Police was not taken into confidence and informed about the arrest of Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, it, therefore, became a case of the Punjab Police abducting an individual in defiance of the due process of law, and thus, the kidnapping charge against the Punjab Police is justified.

Social media influencer risks six years in prison and a fine after she poses naked for a picture session under a holy tree in Bali

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Social media influencer risks six years in prison and a fine after she poses naked for a picture session under a holy tree in Bali

An influencer from Russia might face a £55,000 fine and jail for up to six years after posing naked under a holy tree on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Alina, a yoga influencer with over 17,000 followers, posted the naked photo on Instagram, but entrepreneur Niluh Djelantik swiftly reported her to local authorities. He snarled at her and demanded that the police intervene. According to Djelantik, the Russian beauty stood naked in front of the 700-year-old weeping paperbark tree known locally as Kayu Putih.

If proven guilty under local porn laws, the influencer, who has over 17,000 Instagram followers, could face up to six years in prison. The photographs show her positioned on the trunk, her gazing over her side.

The tree is located at Babakan Temple in Tabanan in Bali, Indonesia. Because the massive tree is revered by the people, the naked photographs provoked outrage. Immigration officers are now on the lookout for the Russian.

Alina deleted the naked images off her account and made a U-turn apologetic video on May 4 in response to the uproar. In an apologetic post, Alina stated that she was “embarrassed” and had no prior awareness of the significance of the tree. 

The latest video, which showed her fully dressed and worshipping at the base of the sacred tree, came with the message: “I apologise to all Balinese and Indonesian people, I regret my actions.”

The post.

In another Instagram post, she wrote, “I unknowingly made a big mistake for which I regret and I want to tell you so that you don’t repeat it. There are a lot of sacred places in Bali and not all of them have information signs about it, as in my case…”

“I love Bali with all my heart and once again I apologize to all residents of Bali and ask for forgiveness,” it further added.

Punjab & Haryana High Court rejects Punjab govt’s plea to keep Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga in Haryana, BJP leader on his way to Delhi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Punjab & Haryana High Court rejects Punjab govt’s plea to keep Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga in Haryana, BJP leader on his way to Delhi

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday rejected the Punjab government’s request to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga in Haryana. After the Delhi police took custody of Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, the Punjab police reached the high court trying to stop the Delhi police from taking him back to Delhi.

Advocate General (AG) Anmol Rattan Sidhu said that the intervention by Haryana Police is ‘a violation of law’. He also argued that everything was going as per procedure but the Haryana police delayed the process. The Punjab government also urged the court to not let the Delhi Police cross the Haryana border with Bagga.

The Punjab Police objected to the Haryana Police’s actions when it stopped the Punjab Police team which had arrested BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga. The Haryana Police halted the Punjab Police team in Kurukshetra on their route to Punjab after arresting Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his Delhi residence.

SSP SAS Nagar (Mohali, Punjab) wrote to SSP Kurukshetra (Haryana) complaining that their police party was halted by Haryana Police in Kurukshetra. In his letter, he argued that it amounted to illegal imprisonment and interference with the operation of the criminal justice system, and he requested that his police team should be liberated.

The letter reads, “That It has come to notice of the undersigned that the police party has been stopped by Haryana Police on Karnal-Kurukshetra highway. This tantamounts to illegal detention and interference in the administration of the criminal justice system.”

“It is submitted that the police party along with the arrested accused may be released so that he may be produced before the court of Hon’ble Sh. Ravitesh lnderjeet Singh, JMIC, Mohali (S.A.S Nagar) well within time as per law,” it further added.

In a high-voltage drama, Delhi police brought Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga back to Delhi after the intervention by Haryana Police. An FIR accusing the Punjab Police team of kidnapping Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga has been registered by the Delhi Police. He was arrested by Punjab Police on 6th May 2022 in the morning for his remarks against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The reports indicate that 50 policemen in several cars came to arrest Tajinder Bagga from his residence.

Ban on Pattina Pravesam ritual: Madhurai Adheenam claims threat to life after he accused DMK-led govt of encroaching rights of Hindu temples

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ban on Pattina Pravesam ritual: Madhurai Adheenam claims threat to life after he accused DMK-led govt of encroaching rights of Hindu temples

Days after the Tamil Nadu government courted controversy by banning the ‘Pattina Pravesam’ ritual at the Dharmapuram mutt in Tamil Nadu, the chief of Madurai Adheenam Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal has stated that there is a threat to his life for speaking out against the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government’s order.

According to the reports, Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal of Madurai Aadheenam alleged that he was being threatened for posting questions to the MK Stalin-led government over their encroachment on the rights of Hindu temples.

The Hindu seer said he would meet PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to convey to them the threat to his life. He added that he would meet PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to convey to them the concerns regarding danger to his life.

“Since I am posting more questions to them, I am being threatened. They constructed houses in the temple property area but are not giving any rent. They are in control of the temple land and threatened me, saying that I cannot enter the town and do my ritual to God,” he said.

Speaking to reporters in Kalimedu near Thanjavur on Wednesday, Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal of Madurai Aadheenam said that members of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are busy enjoying temple properties that belong to the Adheenam.

The Hindu seer also condemned the Mayiladuthurai district administration’s decision to ban the ‘Pattina Pravesam’ ritual saying that the ritual is a 500-year-old tradition and that the country which claims to be secular should not target and harass customs of a particular religion in this manner.

“The Hindu religion is targetted. Are they trying to destroy the Hindu religion? Even the British were not successful in doing that, what can these people do? God will take care of everything,” he said.

DMK govt over bans ‘Pattina Pravesam’ of Dharmapuram Adheenam

A huge controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu after the Mayiladuthurai collectorate refused permission to conduct the traditional ritual of ‘Pattina Pravesam’, a tradition of devotees paying reverence to the seer of the Dharmapuram Adheenam by carrying him on a palanquin.

The Mayiladuthurai Collectorate in Tamil Nadu had refused permission to ‘Pattina Pravesham’, claiming that it would create law and order problems. The Revenue Divisional Officer of Mayiladuthurai J Balaji had issued the ban order and had also claimed that the practice was a “violation of human rights”.

The order was issued after the Dravidar Kazhagam, and other far-left outfits had objected to the traditional ritual. The Dravida Kazhagam and different outfits had cautioned the district authorities against permitting the event.

Following the order issued by the Mayiladuthurai Collectorate, Hindu organisations and devotees have reacted strongly, demanding the withdrawal of the order. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai had responded strongly against the order and had challenged the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government, saying he will personally carry the pontiff on the palanquin on his shoulders.

The former IPS officer-turned-politician also hit out at the MK Stalin-led DMK government, saying that the DMK party is built on sheer sycophancy.

Varanasi: Muslim mob protests, raises slogans as the survey and videography of Gyanvapi disputed structure starts

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Varanasi: Muslim mob protests, raises slogans as the survey and videography of Gyanvapi disputed structure starts

A mob of Muslims gathered near the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and raised religious slogans as the advocate commissioner reached the site for surveying the mosque and doing the videography as per the court orders. The security persons were able to contain the agitating mob and things became normal within a while. However, as the police personnel step back and settle, every time a group of Muslims is coming back from the adjoining lanes to raise slogans.

The Muslims initially pretended that they have come there to offer their Friday Namaz. It is notable that Gyanvapi mosque is a place not known for offering Namaz on a regular basis. Muslims gather there once in a while, mostly on Fridays. It is being said that a mob of around 600 to 700 Muslims is standing in those lanes. Anjuman Intezamiya Committee of Gyanvapi mosque is opposing the survey being carried out as per the court orders saying that no non-Muslim can enter a mosque. The survey started at 3 PM on 6th May 2022 and it is expected to last till 6 PM. If the task is not completed on the 6th of May, it will continue on the next day.

The points to be covered in the survey and videography include the Shringar Gouri idol, the things related to Shringar Gouri in the Gyanvapi mosque premises in the basement, and the other structural details like the pillars and the decorative inscriptions there. Hindu petitioners have already stated that the mosque was originally a very important part of the temple complex of Kashi Vishwanath and Mata Shringar Gouri. The survey process is expected to take 3 to 4 days, when both the basements of the temple-turned-mosque will be surveyed.

The Hindu petitioners in this case will be represented by 15 persons in the team of the court commissioner. Besides, 2 associates of the court commissioner and 3 photographers and videographers will also be present at the time of the survey and videography. Respondents from Anjuman Intezamiya Committee will also be present along with five lawyers. Security of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple complex has been increased.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute is pending in Varanasi’s local courts since 1991. After the orders of the high court, that suit is transferred to the Allahabad high court. But the Shringar Gauri case is just seven months old.

On August 18, 2021, five women from Varanasi filed a suit in the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Varanasi along with other demands, including the demand for daily darshan puja at the Shringar Gauri Temple. The court, while admitting the plea, had not only ordered the setting up of a commission of lawyers to know the situation on the spot but also appointed an advocate commissioner. Not only that, the opposition was issued notices, as well as the next date of hearing, was fixed. But due to the court commissioner going on the back foot a couple of times, the disputed site could not be inspected.

Varanasi Civil Judge (Senior Division Fast Track) Justice Ravi Kumar Diwakar, while reiterating his earlier order of 18th August 2021, had again allowed the survey and videography proceedings to be taken up by appointing court commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra on 8th April 2022. After this, the Varanasi district administration and police, among the respondents, objected. To prevent the action, they argued that there need to be better security arrangements, and only Muslims and security persons can go inside a mosque. The court, while rejecting the plea after the hearing, continued with its earlier order and sought a report on taking action of survey and videography after Eid before May 10 and also fixed May 10 as the date of hearing.

According to the reports, the image of the goddess Shringar Gauri is located within the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. Following the demolition of the Babri mosque during the Ram Janambhoomi movement, regular entry of devotees was forbidden, and worshiping this deity was only permitted on the fourth day of Chaitra Navratri.

1...3,3043,3053,306...7,677Page 3,305 of 7,677