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BS Yeddyurappa steps down as the chief minister of Karnataka

OpIndia Staff
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BS Yeddyurappa steps down as the chief minister of Karnataka

Amidst speculations of his resignation, BS Yediyurappa on Monday stepped down from the office of Karnataka Chief Minister. He will meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot later in the day to submit his resignation. 

Yediyurappa announced the decision at the event to commemorate the second anniversary of the BJP government.

Speaking at the commemoration of two years of BJP government in the state, Yeddyurappa said, “I have gone through agni pariksha always. For two months (in 2019) I didn’t get to make my Cabinet. There were floods and I roamed like a mad man. Later the Cabinet was formed.” Yeddyurappa took oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka after the dramatic collapse of JDU and Congress government in Karnataka in 2019. 18 rebel leaders had quit the alliance government and later joined the BJP.

On Sunday, the top Lingayat leader had announced that he The towering Lingayat leader had on Sunday announced that he would take the decision on his future as Karnataka CM on July 26 when his government completed two years in the state.

“We will see tomorrow. I haven’t received any information from high command yet. By tonight or tomorrow morning I’ll get to know. Tomorrow we will celebrate the two-year anniversary (of the Karnataka government that was elected to power in 2019),” BS Yeddyurappa said on Sunday.

The new Karnataka Chief Minister will likely be decided in the meeting to be held later in the evening.

Javed Akhtar gets schooled on difference between citizens and invaders: Here is what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Javed Akhtar gets schooled on difference between citizens and invaders: Here is what happened

Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar was at the receiving end of criticism on Twitter on Monday after he drew a perverse comparison between citizens of a country to marauding invaders.

In a tweet, Javed said just like Barack Obama, who has Kenyan ancestors, was allowed to contest US elections, similarly, Shah Jahan should also be treated as a citizen of India because his grandmother and mother were Rajputs.

”Obama’s father was a Kenyan his paternal aunts still live in Kenya but since Obama was born in US he had the right to contest the presidential election Shah Jahan was the 5th Gen in India his grand mom n mom were Rajputni ( 75 %blood Rajput) but they call him a foreigner,” Akhtar tweeted.

However, Akhtar’s preposterous tweet did not sit well with netizens, who schooled the lyricist for his ludicrous comparison between an immigrant and an invader.

Netizens slam Javed Akhtar for likening Shah Jahan with Barack Obama

One Twitter user asked Javed Akhtar to invest in a dictionary since he was unable to distinguish between a foreigner, an immigrant and an invader.

Another user responded saying Shah Jahan did not become the ruler of the country by the will of people. Rather his ancestors used violence to conquer India and establish their rule. And for this reason, he could not be called a ‘Bhartiya’.

Yet another Twitter user said Barack Obama became the US President through democratic process whereas the Mughals reigned supreme with the help of conquest and murder. Obama served his countrymen, while the Mughals ruled, the user said.

Another social media user rubbished the claims made by Javed Akhtar that Shah Jahan was 75 per cent Rajput. He pointed out how Shah Jahan and Jehangir harboured hatred for indigenous people and their faith, which was predominantly Hinduism. Shah Jahan ordered demolition of 76 under-construction temple in Varanasi. Similarly, his father Jehangir and his son Aurangzeb were also known for wreaking havoc on Hindus and destroying their temples.

Writer and columnist Saket succinctly highlighted how Shah Jahan was not raised as a Rajput and in turn raised an Islamic fanatic in Aurangzeb.

It is a historical fact that Mughal rulers, including Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Jehangir and others ordered large-scale persecution of Hindus and destruction of their temples. Yet, Javed Akhtar proceeded to claim Shah Jahan was 75 per cent Rajput and drew a false equivalence with an immigrant and democratically elected leader.

It must be noted that the history books chronicling Mughal history seldom refers to the Rajput wives of Mughals by their Hindu names.

And these atrocities are glorified by the likes of Akhtar as ‘romance’.

Maharashtra: Man booked for demanding 21-nailed tortoise and black Labrador as dowry

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Man booked for demanding 21-nailed tortoise and black Labrador as dowry

On Tuesday (July 20), the Aurangabad police booked a man and his family members for demanding a 21-nailed tortoise in dowry from his fiance.

As per reports, the accused has been identified as one Army jawan from Nashik. With the help of common contact, he was engaged to a woman from Aurangabad on February 10 this year. Before the engagement, he solicited 10 grams of gold and ₹2 lacs in cash from her family as a token of dowry. He also took ₹10 lacs with the false assurance of getting his fiance a permanent government job. The accused failed to keep his promise and began escalating his demands with each passing day, the girl’s family have stated in the FIR.

He had also asked his future in-laws to arrange for a tortoise with 21 nails, a black Labrador, a Buddha statue, and a Samai oil lamp. The woman and her family began searching for the rare tortoise but failed to find one. It is believed that the cost of one such tortoise ranges between ₹5 lacs and ₹ 10 lacs. The woman’s father informed the accused that he couldn’t arrange for the animal. This led to a disagreement between the two families, with the accused threatening to call off the marriage. Meanwhile, the woman had asked her parents to not give in to his demands.

As per the TOI report, wildlife activists have stated that there is some superstitious belief that the 21-nailed tortoises bring ‘good fortune’ and guide the owner to ‘hidden treasure’. Hence there is a demand for the rare animals in some areas.

Woman’s family files complaint, accused booked for cheating and criminal breach of trust

The woman’s family asked the man to return all the valuables that were paid to him as a token of dowry. They also lodged a complaint against him and his 5 family members at the Osmanpura police station. While speaking about the matter, Inspector Dilip Tare said, “Based on the complaint lodged by would-be bride’s father, the jawan and five of his family members have been booked on the charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating.”

He added, “Following the engagement ceremony, would-be groom and his parents, citing auspiciousness, asked the bride’s family to get a 21-nailed tortoise, a black canine, and traditional lamp as part of the dowry.” The accused has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 34 (criminal act in furtherance of common intention), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 420 (cheating). Reportedly, the accused army is posted in Assam while his family members live in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra.

No Russian flag, no Russian anthem at Olympics. Know why Russia is competing in Tokyo 2020 under a new name

OpIndia Staff
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No Russian flag, no Russian anthem at Olympics. Know why Russia is competing in Tokyo 2020 under a new name

Russia- historically known for being among the world’s top sporting nations, has sent a contingent of 335 participants to the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Participating with a pseudo name, Russia has been banned from using the country’s name compelling them to use the acronym ROC, meaning Russian Olympic Committee.

Why is there a ban on Russia?

In December 2019, a ban of four years was imposed on Russia by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This bars Russia from competing in international events, including the Tokyo Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The ban was enacted after Russia was accused of a doping program.

From manipulating data to cheating, Russia has been time and again accused of running a sophisticated doping program, forcing international federations to stop its athletes from competing in major events.

Russian players to pay under the name ROC

In the Tokyo Olympics, Russian sportspersons are playing under the name of ROC, or the Russian Olympic Committee. Russian flag, national symbols and national anthem are all banned at the Olympics. Even the ROC’s full name cannot be spelt out during events and the gold medal winners will have music played by Russian composer Tchaikovsky, not the Russian national anthem.

However, the current contingent of players are using uniforms with Russian national colours blue, white and red.

Whistleblowers lift the lid off the doping scam

In 2014, 800m runner Yulia Stepanova and her husband Vitaly, a former employee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, RUSADA, featured in a German documentary to reveal the ‘most sophisticated doping program’ in the history of sports. 

Grigory Rodchenkov, a former head of the RUSADA came out in 2016 to disclose that Russia ran a carefully planned, state-sponsored doping scheme. Detailing the modus operandi, Rodchenkov said that the country’s anti-doping and members of intelligence services substituted urine samples of the athletes through a hidden hole in the wall at the agency’s lab during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. For additional security, the lab was guarded by members of Russia’s state security services.

In the latest, two swimmers from the Tokyo Olympics team have been suspended for cases dating back years and two rowers tested positive last month.

After several allegations were unearthed, the accreditation of Russia’s anti-doping lab was suspended in 2015. Subsequently, the International Olympics Committee debarred more than 100 sportspersons before imposing a complete ban. 

A namesake ban?

As per reports, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) reduced the initial ban of four years to two in 2020. After the sanctioned term ends on December 16, 2022, Russia can once again participate if it respects and observes all imposed sanctions, pays its fines and contributions and starts adhering to WADA regulations.

However, the ban is not outright and participants who have been able to prove that they are not a part of the doping scam have been allowed to participate. As per the conditions laid out, they are allowed to compete as neutral participants, barred from using their country name, colours, flag and anthem. 

WADA not happy with CAS

Commenting on the so-called ban, WADA President Witold Bańka said, “We at WADA remain disappointed that CAS has decreased the level of the sanctions from four years to two years and that CAS allows Russian athletes to compete with the colours of the flag in the uniforms.”

History of doping

Russia has been infamous for its doping scam since 2012 and the country continues to remain in news for the same to date. 

As per a report from the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee said, “all Russian athletes … are considered to be affected by a system subverting and manipulating the anti-doping system.”

Rahul Gandhi drives a tractor to Parliament to protest against farm laws, triggers hilarious jokes

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi drives a tractor to Parliament to protest against farm laws, triggers hilarious jokes

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday drove a tractor to Parliament to protest against the farm laws.

While it is not yet clear if the senior Congress leader is in violation of traffic rules over licence to drive an agricultural tractor on roads of Delhi, his stunt led to a flurry of jokes on the Wayanad MP.

Netizens also tagged Delhi Traffic Police to issue challan to Rahul Gandhi in case he is in violation of traffic rules if he does not have the licence to drive the tractor.

Netizens also pointed out the hypocrisy of Rahul Gandhi for driving a fuel guzzler tractor even as prices of fuel skyrocket.

And how this is a family tradition.

That Rahul Gandhi chose to do petty politics on Kargil Vijay Diwas was also noted by netizens.

Did you know between 2004 and 2009 during the first term of the UPA led by Congress, there was no celebration of Kargil Vijay Diwas?

People also pointed out how the stunt by Rahul Gandhi appears more like a buildup to more protests ahead of India’s 75th Independence Day on 15th August.

Gandhi claimed that the union government is ‘suppressing’ voice of ‘farmers’ who have been blocking Delhi borders since over 7 months now. He again claimed that the new laws, which allows the farmers the freedom to sell their produce to anyone they wish to, while maintaining to keep the minimum support price option intact, is to benefit only 2-3 businessmen. This allegation has no basis but has been repeated over and over that rebutting it also seems pointless.

Entire fleet of Delhi govt run DTC buses is ‘overage’, way past their ‘use-by’ date: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Entire fleet of Delhi govt run DTC buses is ‘overage’, way past their ‘use-by’ date: Report

In a first, about 3760 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses have been officially declared ‘overage’, reported Hindustan Times (HT). This is the first time when an entire fleet of buses has been dubbed as ‘overage’ since the inception of DTC in 1971. The DTC falls under the Government of NCT, Delhi ruled by Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal.

HT reported that 99% of DTC buses have surpassed the technical limit for low-floor CNG buses. It must be mentioned that a bus is deemed as ‘overage’ when it remains in operation for more than 8 years. As per Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a low-floor CNG bus can run for a maximum of 12 years or 7.5 lac km (whichever comes later). The situation is so alarming that none of the 3760 buses are 6-8 years old.

HT reported that the use of ‘overage buses’ have led to low productivity. The average number of daily trips has reduced from 33,497 trips (2015- 2016) to 30,000 now. Given that DTC is only allowed to operate low-floor CNG buses by the Supreme Court, the number of breakdowns have increased drastically. Such buses are prone to breakdowns due to poor condition of roads and flooded stretches.

DTC running overage buses, maintaining fleet far lower than required

According to Hindustan Times, only 32 buses are 8-10 years old while a whopping 3072 buses are 10-12 years old. More than 656 buses, plying on the roads of Delhi, are older than the maximum operational limit of 12 years. DTC is mandated to maintain a fleet of 5,500 buses but the current strength of 3760 buses is far lower than the approved number. To add salt to the wound, the Delhi government had submitted an affidavit before the Delhi High Court in 2018 and claimed that the city needs a whopping 11,000 buses.

Even if private cluster buses were to be added to the existing fleet, the total strength comes to around 6750 (far lower than the required 11000 buses). HT reported that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was able to approve tender for new buses in 2008 for the last time. Between 2013 and 2019, it floated 5 tenders but none could be finalised due to stringent Annual maintenance contracts (AMCs). As such, getting a successful tender for new buses has been a major challenge for DTC. Given that the entire fleet of DTC buses have now become ‘overage’, they are ideally supposed to be scrapped.

Operating overage buses have led to high maintenace costs, lower productivity

Due to no procurement of new buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation has been operating ‘overage’ buses and risking lives. The number of scrapped buses has been negligible. Only 2 buses were scrapped between 2020-2021 and none in the current financial year. About 80 buses were withdrawn between 2019-2020 while 2209 vehicles were withdrawn between 2011-2017 at an average of 368 buses/ year. Nevertheless, the maintenance cost of running old buses is extremely high.

While speaking about the matter, DTC Managing Director Vijay Bhaduri told HT that they need to add new buses to DTC’s fleet because the expenditure on maintaining these old buses is also increasing. “Even as we are running overaged buses, we cannot compromise on safety and have to keep the buses in their best possible condition, which is an expensive affair,” he said. He added that the State Transport Authority (STA) has now allowed to use the overage buses upto 15 years (almost double of the prescribed operational limit). He claimed that it has given DTC a 2-3 years window to replace the entire fleet of buses.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot conceded, “Yes, it is true, and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also expressed concern as our state-run buses are the lifeline of Delhi’s public transport. Our DTC and cluster buses together carry at least one million passengers more than the Delhi Metro every day. So, we planned a revival of the DTC by pumping in 1,300 new buses in the next seven months,” he said.

L-G constituted committee asks DTC to scrap ₹3,412 crore AMC for new buses

On July 10, a three-member committee constituted by the Lt Governor of Delhi directed the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to scrap the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) awarded for low-floor buses due to ‘procedural lapses’. The committee was constituted by Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on June 16 to probe the alleged scam in the procurement and AMCs of the new fleet of buses. The DTC had floated separate tenders for the purchase and AMC for the buses.

Although the initial plan was to award a ₹4265 crore contract for AMC for 1250 buses, the number was reduced to 1000 buses. The maintenance contract of ₹3412 crores was kept for 1000 buses for a 12-year period. However, the committee found that the tender conditions ensured that there were not many bidders for the AMC contract.

The committee noted, “While separate bids for purchase and AMC can be justified with a view to get greater competition and a larger number of bids, the efforts made to get more bids is not apparent.” In its report, the committee said that the tender for AMC was ‘too restrictive’ and the rates were ‘far higher’ than the previous contracts floated by the Delhi Transport Corporation. Due to the restrictive nature of the eligibility criteria for AMC, the objective behind splitting the tender failed. The report added, “The process of discounting for a longer duration contract was not undertaken and only a total cost evaluation was done.”

Samyukt Kisan Morcha suspends Kisan Union leader Ruldu Singh for criticising Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale and SFJ’s Pannu during his speech

OpIndia Staff
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Samyukt Kisan Morcha suspends Kisan Union leader Ruldu Singh for criticising Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale and SFJ’s Pannu during his speech

On July 25, Samyukt Kisan Morcha suspended Punjab Kisan Union President Ruldu Singh Mansa for 15 days for speaking against Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale without taking his name during one of his recent speeches. He had also condemned Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Chief of banned Khalistani organization Sikhs For Justice, for brainwashing Sikh youth.

The decision of his suspension was taken on Sunday after 32 Sikh groups submitted their objection to Mansa’s statement. They alleged that Mansa had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. Union leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal presided over the meeting of 32 Sikh groups, and Jagjeet Singh Dallewal presided over the meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

While talking to the press at the Kundli border, Dallewal said that Mansa’s speech from the stage of Samyukt Kisan Morcha had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs which is against the policy of the organization. Lakhowal said that his speech was against Sikhs and martyrs. Mansa has been banned from giving any statement from any platform for 15 days.

Mansa’s speech against Bhindranwale and SFJ’s Pannu

On July 21, while addressing the protesting farmers, Mansa spoke against the Khalistani forces trying to infiltrate the protests. Though he did not take the name of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale or Khalistan movement per se, his speech was clearly against him.

He said, “They are sitting in America. I would call them dogs hired by the government. They keep barking, but we know how the one who was sitting there [Amritsar] and kept provoking youth in Punjab. Because of his provocation, our 25,000 youth were martyred in the hands of the Police. Now this dog named Pannu is barking, do this and do that. There is one more who has been speaking against Kisan leaders. My friends, why are your earning dollars? Come here, and you will know the reality of the battle. It is easy to give suggestions while sitting in a foreign country.”

Interestingly, Sikh groups were “hurt” by what Mansa said against designated terrorists, but they were okay with what he had said against the union government and PM Modi during his speech. While they had objections over mere 45 seconds of the speech, in the rest of the 9 minutes 30 seconds long speech, Mansa kept talking against the union government and PM Modi. He kept provoking the farmers against the three agriculture laws that have been passed to provide them better infrastructure and more options to sell the produce.

Mansa also kept talking about saving the land and hinted that new laws would take away the land of the farmers. However, in reality, it gives power to farmers to have agreements of contract farming without involving the land as security. He also talked about fighting against BJP in Uttar Pradesh and gave a vague hint about farmer leaders contesting upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.

Farmer protests

Since November 2020, protesting farmers have been sitting at Delhi borders against the three agriculture laws that were passed in September 2020. The protests have not only caused losses worth thousands of crores to the business owners in Delhi and in nearby states, but it has also resulted in riots on Republic Day. Over 300 police personnel were injured in those riots. Now so-called protesting farmers have threatened not to let any minister hoist the national flag on independence day and have a tractor rally in Haryana on August 15.

Gujarat: Congress leader and police officer arrested for murdering latter’s live-in partner, held after 49 days

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Congress leader and police officer arrested for murdering latter’s live-in partner, held after 49 days

Police Inspector Ajay Desai and his accomplice Congress leader Kiritsinh Jadeja were arrested by the Gujarat police on Saturday, 24 July, for murdering the former’s partner and burning her body.

As per reports, Desai- a Police Inspector heading the Vadodara rural Special Operations Group (SOG), was in a live-in relationship with one Sweety Patel (37). On June 04, the two had a fight over Desai’s legal marriage to another woman. On the same night, Desai smothered Sweety in their bedroom while she was asleep next to their two-year-old son.

Desai then wrapped the dead body in a quilt and loaded it in his commando jeep early in the morning. He then drove to an under-construction structure co-owned by Congress leader Kiritsinh Jadeja in Atalia village of Bharuch district. 

Jadeja reportedly was aware that Desai had murdered Sweety and assisted him in getting a place to dispose of the body. Jadeja offered his land to Desai to burn Sweety’s body. 

Desai searches ‘missing partner’

After murdering Sweety, Desai called her brother to come over and take care of their son as Sweety had “gone missing”. After burning Sweety’s body at Jadeja’s land, Desai returned to Vadodara to be with his legal wife but also pretended to be in search of Sweety. 

Jadeja, a candidate of the Congress party from Karjan Assembly Constituency in the bypolls in November 2020 and Desai have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. 

Desai could not handle the ‘social pressure’

Sweety’s murder case was transferred to the Crime Branch a week back. The matter was being investigated with the state’s Anti Terrorism Squad assistance.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad DCB Chaitanya Mandlik in an interview to the Indian Express informed that Desai refused to undergo a narco test after which the officers counselled him to confess his crime.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Desai had planned to ditch Sweety as he could no longer handle the social pressure.

Desai and Sweety began living together in 2016 and have a two-year-old son together, However, in 2017, he also legally married an Ahmedabad-based woman, with whom he has a three-year-old daughter.

“It was going on fine for him for the first few years because his wife was based in Ahmedabad and would visit him at their Vadodara residence sometimes and on the rest of the days, he stayed with Sweety in Karjan. But about three months ago, his wife shifted to the Vadodara apartment and he was facing the music as Sweety was upset that he had to stay with his wife. She wanted him to divorce his wife and legalize their relationship. His wife, however, was unaware about his relationship with Sweety until the investigation into her missing case began, which is when he confessed to his wife that he had a live-in partner,” said Mandlik. 

The police are now awaiting DNA test results and examining the bloodstains found at their home. “We are examining whose blood it is that we found in the house. The reports are awaited. The further investigation in the case will continue with the DCB after we file a case of murder against the two accused at Karjan police station and formally arrest Desai and Jadeja,” Mandlik added. 

The Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch detained Desai and Jadeja 49 days after the alleged crime took place. The two have been booked under 302 for culpable homicide amounting to murder, 204 for causing disappearance of evidence, and 114 for committing the crime in presence of an abettor of the IPC.

Uttarakhand: 14 booked for entering Har Ki Pauri for Kanwar Yatra, action against two for selling goods to Kanwariyas

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarakhand: 14 booked for entering Har Ki Pauri for Kanwar Yatra, action against two for selling goods to Kanwariyas

14 individuals were booked in Uttarakhand for entering Har Ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar, in an apparent attempt to collect Ganga Jal for Kanwar Yatra. Haridwar Police said that the individuals have been quarantined in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a report by Amar Ujala, the Kanwariyas were from Haryana and were chanting ‘Bum Bum Bhole’. Action has also been taken against two shop owners selling garments to Kanwariyas. The individuals have been identified as Brijmohan Yadav, Suraj, Anshul, Aman, Vikas Pandey, Bhanu Singh, Pramod Sahu, Omveer, Dharmesh, Pradeep, Susheel, Shailesh Kumar, Arvind Kumar and Ankur Sharma. They are from Sonepat, Haryana.

Action has been taken against Rahul Saini and Totaram Saini for selling items to people on Kanwar Yatra. Authorities had said earlier that Kanwariyas will not be allowed to enter Haridwar for Kanwar Yatra this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As Kanwar Yatra is banned, no person will be allowed to enter Haridwar border for celebrations. The same applies to buses and trains,” said Ashok Kumar, Uttarakhand director general of police. “Police forces have been stationed on the borders of Haridwar district. They have been instructed to request those coming to the border to go back. If anyone persists, action will be taken,” Kumar had said.

Tamil Nadu: Miscreants disrobe idols and burn the sarees at Hindu temple, ejaculate semen on the disrobed idols

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Miscreants disrobe idols and burn the sarees at Hindu temple, ejaculate semen on the disrobed idols

In another horrible attack on a Hindu temple, the deities of a Hindu temple in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, were found to be desecrated by miscreants. The idols of Goddesses Amman and Durga were found to be disrobed by the unknown miscreants, with semen ejaculated on the deities. This was the third time the temple was desecrated in recent times, causing widespread outrage among the devotees, who are also alleging police inaction.

The incident took place last month at Pancha Lingeswarar temple in Kondapuram village near Kaveripakkam in Tamil Nadu. Pancha Lingeswarar temple Nadu is a Shiva temple under the control of HRCE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments) department of the Tamil Nadu government.

According to reports, when a caretaker reached the temple on June 20 to open it in the morning, he found that the locks of the Kamakshi Amman and Durga sannidhis were broken. When he looked inside, he was horrified to find that the murtis were disrobed and their sarees were found burnt on the floor. Moreover, the miscreants had also ejaculated on the disrobed murtis.

After the incident was discovered, devotees and members of Hindu Munnani lodged a complaint with the police, and also staged a protest demanding the arrest of the culprits.

According to them, this was the third time the tome was desecrated in recent times. They alleged that while the temple is visited by devotees from various communities, some neo-converts living in the area could be behind the incident. Hindu Munnani and Viswa Hindu Parishad have also accused the HRCE Dept of failing to protect the temple despite repeated attacks on it. The departmental official responsible for the temple even refused to visit the temple after the incident, saying she had other more important works to do.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad state organizer Saravana Karthik said, “Whenever the DMK comes to power, crimes against Hindus and Hindu temples become rampant”.

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