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Partying then, silent now: How Rahul Gandhi continues to insult the victims of 26/11 carnage

OpIndia Staff
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Partying then, silent now: How Rahul Gandhi continues to insult the victims of 26/11 carnage

On 26th November 2008, 10 terrorists from Pakistan had held the country to ransom for 4 long, un-ending days. Shooting and bombing several locations in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, the terrorists left a trail of blood. Between 26/11 and 29th November 2008, at least 174 people were killed (the numbers are suspected to be far more) and 300 people were injured. While the country remembers 26/11 in horror and mourns the trail of dead bodies, Rahul Gandhi has maintained a stoic silence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the victims of the carnage while addressing both Houses of Parliament on Constitution Day, he said that while November 26 is a happy occasion as India celebrates Constitution Day, it is also a reminder of the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008. “I pay tributes to those killed in the Mumbai terror attacks,” he said.

In fact, even the Congress party Twitter handle tweeted remembering the terror attack. Congress tweeted, “Today as we pay our respects to the victims & martyrs of the deadly Mumbai attack on 26th November 2008, we remember the strength & unity of our people that helped our nation get through this difficult period. It is a true testament to what we can achieve when we come together”.

However, Rahul Gandhi, the part-time politician and the crowned prince of the Congress party has maintained silence. He is yet to make any statement too the media or on his Twitter handle, which is otherwise rather active, remembering the carnage that was unleashed by Pakistan or the victims that fell to the terror.

Read: ‘The party chose to pander to Muslim fears’: Wikileaks cable on Congress’ dangerous politics over 26/11 terror attack

The last tweet from Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter handle was at 10:40 AM where he wished the nation on Constitution Day.


So while his Twitter account is active, not one tweet or statement has been made by the part-time politician.

Rahul Gandhi’s conduct, however insensitive, is not surprising. While citizens of India were being slaughtered by Pakistani terrorists, Rahul Gandhi was partying.

India Today news

Rahul Gandhi was partying in the outskirts of Delhi at the ‘sangeet’ for the wedding of Samir Sharma, his childhood friend. They were at a sprawling farmhouse at Radhey Mohan Chowk.

Read: Tales of betrayal and Congress’ insensitivity as the 26/11 terror attack left 166 dead

According to India Today’s 2008 article, “Saturday night’s ‘sangeet’ was a lavish affair. It was hosted by Leena Musafir, sister of the woman with whom Samir is getting married, and her husband Inder. The party was attended by over 800 guests, including regulars at Page 3 dos. “When everyone is cancelling parties or just keeping them low-key, Rahul Gandhi had no business to be celebrating. His action makes us lose faith in future leaders,” said Ajay Bahl, a leading corporate lawyer who was trapped in the thick of the action on 26/11 at The Oberoi, Mumbai, but managed to escape with the help of the hotel staff. The Gandhis, including Sonia Gandhi’s mother Paola Maino, were present in strength at the 2004 wedding of Samir’s sister, Sarika, who is married to actor turned- TV producer Rahul Bhatt. Sarika and Rahul now manage a television production house”.

With the kind of insensitivity that Rahul Gandhi displayed even as the 26/11 siege was on-going, it is not surprising that 11 years on, he would pretend like the carnage did not even take place. That though he aspires to be a serious leader, he doesn’t really care about extending a word of support to the country while they remember the horror that Pakistan unleashed.

Uttar Pradesh: Congress party expels 11 senior leaders, including Indira Gandhi’s trusted aide, on charges of ‘indiscipline’

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Congress party expels 11 senior leaders, including Indira Gandhi’s trusted aide, on charges of ‘indiscipline’

The internecine conflict within Uttar Pradesh Congress has come out in open as the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee(UPCC) on Sunday ousted 11 veteran leaders including former ministers. One of the expelled leaders, Ram Krishna Dwivedi, 87, once a trusted aide of former Indian PM Indira Gandhi, was unceremoniously suspended from the party for 6 years.

Reports say that the veterans have been expelled from the part under Priyanka Gandhi’s orders.

The expelled leaders have been accused of publicly lambasting the top leadership for its decisions concerning the overhaul of the UPCC, holding separate meetings and unilaterally interacting with media to tarnish the party’s image.

A statement issued by the Congress party announcing the expulsion of 11 leaders said that the concerned personalities indulged in anti-party activities, convening independent meetings and opposing the decisions taken by the party leadership.

The leaders who were expelled included Santosh Singh (former MP), Siraj Mehndi (former MLC), Ramakrishna Dwivedi (former home minister, UP), Satyadev Tripathi (former minister), Rajendra Singh Solanki (member AICC), Bhudhar Narayan Mishra (former MLA), Hafiz Mohammad Omar (former MLA), Vinod Chaudhary (former MLA), Nekchandra Pandey (former MLA), Swayam Prakash Goswami (former Speaker, Youth Congress), and Sanjeev Singh (former Congress district President Gorakhpur).

The leaders were earlier issued a notice by the UPCC over ‘indiscipline’. According to the sources, senior Congress leaders were upset with Priyanka Gandhi’s decision to replace old guards with young faces in the state organisation. Some veteran leaders have also objected to the appointment of Ajay Lallu as the state Congress chief.

Addressing a press conference, the senior leaders lamented that they are being sidelined while efforts are being made to sabotage the party’s organisation in UP. Former minister Ramkirshna Dwivedi said, “As per the party’s constitution, our suspension for 6 years is unlawful and condemning. We are AICC members and any decision regarding expelling us can only be taken by the central disciplinary committee. Priyanka is our leader but she even cannot order the UPCC for any action against us.”

Once amongst the most trusted men of Indira Gandhi when she served as Prime Minister, Dwivedi had pulled off a surprising victory by defeating the chief minister in a byelection in 1971. Against formidable odds, Dwivedi had scored an unlikely win against Tribhuvan Narain Singh in a byelection from Maniram Assembly constituency in Gorakhpur.

On the allegations that the senior Congress leaders are meeting separately and undermining the party, Dwivedi reasoned that the only reason they met separately because they were being ignored by the current crop of party leadership appointed by Priyanka Gandhi.

Read: Congress ‘Old Guard’ shunning Priyanka? Out of 350 invitees, only 40 tuned up

“We paid separate tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary in the Gomti Nagar area. The party had organised an event at the state headquarters. We met independently to discuss the strategy to strengthen the party because we were being ignored at the party office. We are not rebels but now it is obvious that some leaders want to sabotage the organisation for their personal interests. We have not received any notice to reply within 24 hours as claimed by the UPCC in a statement” said Dwivedi.

Read: ‘Congress should introspect’: UP leader who once worked closely with Rahul Gandhi refuses to be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s adviser

Other expelled leaders too expressed their discontent with the party’s decision to oust veterans. Bhudhar Narayan Mishra said that there is a prevailing feeling among senior leaders in the party that they are being ignored by the new leadership and it is reflective in their abysmal participation in UPCC meetings.

Another expelled leader Santosh Singh rubbished the rumours of insecurity among senior leaders due to the inclusion of youth leaders in the organisation. The leaders have demanded immediate intervention from the interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Constitution Day: Opposition parties boycott President Kovind’s address to joint houses, stage protest

OpIndia Staff
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Constitution Day: Opposition parties boycott President Kovind’s address to joint houses, stage protest

The winter session of the parliament is in progress. President Ramnath Kovind is to address the joint houses today on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Indian constitution.

As per reports, the opposition parties have boycotted the President’s address. Opposition parties are currently staging a protest outside the parliament house near the Ambedkar statue.


On the occasion of the 70th Constitution Day, President Kovind and PM Narendra Modi are attending a commemorative event at the parliament today. PM Modi, President Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and all other members are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Indian Constitution at the central hall of the Lok Sabha.


Parliamentary Affairs minister Prahlad Joshi initiated the event earlier with a welcome speech. PM Modi hailed the Indian constitution as a guiding light and added that dignity for Indians and ‘unity for India’ are two messages that our Constitution has propagated.

The Opposition parties are protesting outside the parliament house calling then developments in Maharashtra as ‘Murder of Democracy’. Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh are also a part of the protests.

Rahul Gandhi had arrived in the Lok Sabha yesterday after missing it for several days due to his prolonged absence from the political scene after Maharashtra and Haryana elections.

Rajdeep ‘vulture’ Sardesai who thought Parliament attack was a ‘great day’, compares 26/11 carnage to Maharashtra politics

OpIndia Staff
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Rajdeep ‘vulture’ Sardesai who thought Parliament attack was a ‘great day’, compares 26/11 carnage to Maharashtra politics

While the nation remembers in horror, the nights of terror unleashed by Pakistan on Mumbai for 4 days starting from 26th November 2008, Rajdeep Sardesai was up to his ‘vulture’ ways all over again. While the nation mourned the loss of over 174 lives in 2008, Rajdeep ‘vulture’ Sardesai compared the carnage of 26/11 to Maharashtra politics.


Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted “Today is also 26/11 anniversary.. brave men were ‘martyred’ to save citizens from terrorists in Mumbai’s 5-star hotels.. today, netas stay in 5-star hotels to ‘save’ themselves from a new form of terror: political poaching. Then it was about courage, now it’s about cash..”.

11 years ago, on 26th November 2008, Pakistani terrorists crossed the border and unleashed nights of carnage and terror on the financial capital of India – Mumbai. In a series of terror attacks on 26/11, 10 terrorists from Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated shootings and bombings that held the city captive for 4 days.

The attacks occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier’s College. There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai’s port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.

Between 26th November and 29th November 2008, at least 174 people were killed (the numbers are suspected to be far more) and 300 people were injured.

Read: Media has no right to pontificate about 26/11 after SC’s observations on their irresponsible coverage

Rajdeep Sardesai compared a carnage of this level unleashed by Pakistan on India to Maharashtra politics where political parties are vying for power. To make the comparison, Rajdeep foolishly tries to say that in 2008, martyrs were fighting to save religions, while today, politicians are trying to save themselves in 5-star hotels. While then, it was about courage, now it’s about cash. The comparison itself is ridiculous where he compares the valour of soldiers during a terror attack to that of politicians vying for power.

For Rajdeep Sardesai, though, the insensitivity displayed while talking about a terror attack is not new. In 2018, Rajdeep Sardesai had admitted that when the Parliament was being attacked in 2001, he was ‘excited’ and that journalists are like vultures.

After severe backlash, Rajdeep had apologised for his remark and tried to insinute that it was a one-off slip of the tongue and a bad choice of words. In 2013 too, Rajdeep had expressed glee at the Parliament attacks.

Read: Rajdeep says sorry for calling Parliament attack a ‘great day’, but then, it WAS a great day for vultures

He reiterated that it was a “great day”. He said media persons are like vultures and in fact, he went as far as to say that for journalists, ‘terror is exciting’. This was not a one-off remark and Rajdeep implying so is him being dishonest.

What Rajdeep Sardesai tells us here is that what makes a journalist great is not merely doing his job, but to harbour that mindset that makes terror attacks seem exciting for the sake of TRPs. After all, that is what the 26/11 told us, as well. That is what the media’s conduct during those harrowing hours that left hundreds of people dead told the world, as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s observations. Today, that same mindset has got Rajdeep Sardesai to compare a terror attack with what is happening in Maharashtra.

Remembering the role Barkha Dutt played in endangering the lives of 100s of civilians during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

OpIndia Staff
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Remembering the role Barkha Dutt played in endangering the lives of 100s of civilians during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

On 26th November 2008, ten terrorists from Pakistan wrecked havoc in Mumbai. They held the country on ransom for almost three days as some of them holed up inside star hotels in Mumbai, holding hostages, many of them foreign nationals, as the ghastly scenes were telecast live in our living rooms.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement in Md. Ajmal Md. Amir Kasab vs the State Of Maharashtra on 29 August 2012, had dedicated an entire section and several pages to the conduct of the media and how it endangered operations during 26/11. In a 2012 interview with leftist media outlet Newslaundry, controversial journalist Barkha Dutt had admitted television channels’ role in endangering lives of civilians as well as security personnel by not restraining themselves during telecast.

Read: Book reveals that Army was spooked by Barkha Dutt’s reporting in Kargil

In the video, Newslaundry co-founder Madhu Trehan quizzes Barkha on the allegations levelled against her for the role she along with NDTV where she was associated with back then, played on endangering lives of people. Barkha is being asked about her bullying of blogger Chaitanya Kunte who had questioned her journalistic ethics. Barkha says she does not regret sending Kute a legal notice (following which he was strongarmed by the media house to apologise) as the blog accused her of being complicit in death of someone in Mumbai during that terror attack.

Trehan asks Dutt about allegations that the latter called up someone whose relative was held hostage who inadvertently ended up disclosing location which was used by the terrorists after it was telecast on TV. Barkha denies the allegations by saying that she wasn’t the one who reported it. Another allegation was about her calling up the Oberoi hotel management which was under siege by the terrorists who confirmed that there were hostages in the hotel the terrorists weren’t aware of.

Read: Meet the journalism student who almost lost his career for shouting anti-Barkha Dutt slogans

In her defence, Barkha says that like in Kargil war, during Mumbai attack, she became the ‘symbol’ for something every other journalist was doing. Barkha adds, “Chaitanya Kunte said I was responsible for Hemant Karkare’s death. Hemant Karkare died the first night, I was in Delhi. The Chambers’ conversation that you report, that happened with other set of journalists as well. There were other reporters. I know who they were, I am not going to name them. The Oberoi story, I do remember having said at some point… not the exact number but when they was confusion over the fact that the hotel has been cleared, I did say that no, we still have reasons to believe that there are people who are trapped as hostages. That I did say. I don’t believe I was the only one who said it. Journalists across the board said that.”

Barkha admits that perhaps in hindsight did journalists made mistakes during the Mumbai siege. However, she does add quickly that when they ‘realised’, from the second day they started deferring visuals of live coverage of the attacks by 15 minutes. She ups her defence by saying that media wasn’t aware that the handlers of the terrorists were monitoring news channels.

Maharashtra: SC orders floor test on 27th November, to be live telecast

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: SC orders floor test on 27th November, to be live telecast

The Supreme Court has ordered the floor test of the Maharashtra assembly to be held tomorrow, on 27 November. As per reports, the 3 member bench of Justices has just pronounced its verdict on the petition filed jointly by NCP-Sena and Congress against the BJP-led government’s formation in Maharashtra.


A bench headed by Justice Justice NV Ramana and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Ashok Bhushan has pronounced the verdict a short while ago. The floor test is to be live telecast.

It is notable here that the clear picture of Maharashtra assembly is yet to emerge. The Sena-NCP-Congress alliance had held a ‘parade’ of its MLAs in the Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai last evening. The Sena-led alliance claims that it has the support of 162 MLAs, a comfortable majority over the halfway mark of 145.

Read: Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress MLAs made to swear a pledge of loyalty for Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray

Sena-NCP and Congress had also submitted a letter to Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari yesterday claiming that they have the numbers and they can form the government.

On Saturday, 23 November, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis had taken oath as the CM of Maharashtra in a surprise development. NCP’s Ajit Pawar had also taken oath as the Deputy CM, claiming the support of a faction of NCP MLAs.

A confusion has since broken out in the state, with the Sena claiming that Ajit had backstabbed them, and NCP claiming that no MLAs are in support of Ajit Pawar.

Did Manish Tewari rightly call out Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh for not acting against Pakistan post 26/11?

OpIndia Staff
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Did Manish Tewari rightly call out Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh for not acting against Pakistan post 26/11?

11 years ago, on 26th November 2008, Pakistani terrorists crossed the border and unleashed nights of carnage and terror on the financial capital of India – Mumbai. In a series of terror attacks on 26/11, 10 terrorists from Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated shootings and bombings that held the city captive for 4 days.

The attacks occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier’s College. There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai’s port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.

Between 26th November and 29th November 2008, at least 174 people were killed (the numbers are suspected to be far more) and 300 people were injured.

Read: Media has no right to pontificate about 26/11 after SC’s observations on their irresponsible coverage

While the terror attacks drew widespread condemnation from all across the globe, Congress, who was in power back then, had a lacklustre response to the heinous nights of terror that Pakistan had unleashed on India.

Today, on the attacks 11th anniversary, Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted wondering what would have become of Pakistan had the 26/11 attacks taken place in the USA.


What Manish Tewari was essentially saying that is that had an attack like 26/11 taken place in the USA, USA would have reacted much differently than India did. One can judge the USA’s response to terror on its soil by its reaction after the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. Following the 9/11 attacks, the USA launched a hot war against terror. In the aftermath, 762 suspects were arrested and laws like the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act were passed. Eventually, Osama Bin Laden was hunted and neutralised dealing a massive blow to terror organisation Al-Qaeda.

In his tweet, while Manish Tewari rightly wonders how would the USA react, the corollary of that argument is how India did react. It would seem that Manish Tewari is rightly holding Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh responsible for not acting adequately against Pakistan post 26/11.

Read: Tales of betrayal and Congress’ insensitivity as the 26/11 terror attack left 166 dead

After the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks, it is worthy to note that the Indian Air Force was ready to take action against Pakistan, however, the Congress government decided against it. After the Balakot airstrikes, retired IAF personnel said, “After the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, we had planned a similar airstrike on Muzaffarabad. I was leading the Sukhoi squadron. Our plan was kept under wraps and I had to lie to my boys that we were going somewhere else”. “We were deployed and waited for nearly a month. But government approval never came… Today, I am glad the strike happened”. This revelation was made by then Wing Commander Mohonto Panging who was all set to lead a squadron of Mirage 2000s and Su-30s in a precision airstrike on Muzaffarabad in PoK but did not get Congress government’s nod.

Read: ‘The party chose to pander to Muslim fears’: Wikileaks cable on Congress’ dangerous politics over 26/11 terror attack

Not only did the Congress government not let the Indian Air Force act against Pakistan, but rather shamelessly undermined India’s interests as well.

A leaked WikiLeaks document reveals how the Congress party played politics over the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It did not escape the notice of even the then U.S. ambassador to India, David Mulford.

Antulay, the UPA minority affairs minister had said,  “Superficially speaking, they (terrorists) had no reason to kill Karkare. Whether he (Karkare) was a victim of terrorism or terrorism plus something I do not know.” “Karkare found that there are non-Muslims involved in acts of terrorism in some cases. Any person going to the roots of terrorism has always been the target,” Antulay had said, adding: “There is more than what meets the eye.”

“The Congress party, after first distancing itself from the comments (of Antulay, the then Minority Affairs Minister), two days later issued a contradictory statement which implicitly endorsed the conspiracy. During this time, Mr Antulay’s completely unsubstantiated claims gained support in the conspiracy-minded Indian—Muslim community,” Mulford wrote in his secret cable to the State Department on December 23, 2008. “Hoping to foster that support for upcoming national elections, the Congress Party cynically pulled back from its original dismissal and lent credence to the conspiracy,” he added.

Mulford also said that Congress party chose to pander to Muslims post 26/11.

This is not all, Congress leader Digvijay Singh had tried to exonerate Pakistan and somehow, put the blame on the Hindus of India. He had released a book called 26/11 – RSS Ki Saazish.

Read: Indians and our short memory: Why we remember Hemant Karkare, not Tukaram Omble and how it puts our lives at risk

One has to wonder what would have happened had Kasab not been captured alive. It is interesting to note here that Ajmal Kasab, who was captured alive by martyred Tukaram Omble was wearing a Kalawa (sacred red thread worn around the wrist by Hindus). Essentially, Pakistan had ensured that when Kasab is killed, seeing the Kalawa, the theory that Hindus carried out the terror attack would be furthered in India. Though Kasab was captured alive, Congress still peddled that theory regardless of overwhelming evidence against Pakistan.

Contrasting this to how the Modi government reacted after the Pulwama attack and the Uri attack, one can certainly conclude that Congress pussyfooted after the ghastly 26/11 terror attacks and tried their best to exonerate Pakistan.

Sabarimala: One of the women who entered temple last year wants to go again, attacked with chilli spray

OpIndia Staff
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Sabarimala: One of the women who entered temple last year wants to go again, attacked with chilli spray

Bindu Ammini, one of the two women who were sneaked into Sabarimala last year by the communist government, wants to enter into the shrine this year too. As per reports, she was attacked with chilli spray by an unidentified person while she waited near a police station.

As per reports, Bindu Ammini was near the Ernakulam police commissioner’s office on Tuesday morning when an unidentified person sprayed chilli powder on her. Bindu had gone there to seek police protection as she wants to enter the Sabarimala shrine again this year.

The portals of the hill-top shrine were opened for the two-month-long pilgrimage season on November 16.


Bindu later told to media persons that the police were very irresponsible and they did not try to arrest the miscreant who had attacked her. Bindu added that even after she requested the police to arrest the man, the police did not proceed immediately.

Bindu and another woman named Kanakadurga were sneaked into the Sabarimala shrine last year by the communist government to forcibly break the traditions of the temple. Both of them were reportedly CPM workers and they were accompanied by policemen dressed in plain clothes inside the shrine.

The devotees at Sabarimala had later alleged that the women were sneaked in via the VIP entrance early in the morning on January 2 last year.

Read: Four policemen dressed in plain clothes accompanied two women to Sabarimala on Jan 2: Police to Court

The HC appointed monitoring committee had slammed the Kerala police and Patthanamittha administration for taking unauthorised steps to facilitate the entry of the two CPIM female activists Bindu and Kanakadurga causing huge embarrassment for the Pinarayi Vijayan led Kerala government.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government had faced severe protests and outrage by Hindus for its use of force to blatantly disregard the traditions and sentiments of a community and go out of its way to escort activists and atheists inside the temple.

The Kerala government’s excesses were slammed by the High Court. The Sabarimala excesses had also made the CPM face a massive electoral rout in the 2019 general elections.

Read: Sabarimala opens today for annual ‘Mandala Pooja’, no police protection for women activists entering the shrine

This year, the Kerala government has been on a cautionary mode. They have made it clear that the SC’s decision to take on the review petitions for the September 2018 order and its statements on the regard have de facto stayed the earlier order and they will not provide state protection to women within the restricted age-group who are seeking entry into the shrine.

In another development, activist Trupti Desai has also arrived at Kochi and has declared that she will go to Sabarimala whether Kerala government provides her protection or not.

Last year, Trupti had to go back from Cochin airport after a complete non-cooperation from the locals. Even the taxi drivers had refused to take her and her entourage of activists from the airport.

The efforts of non-Hindus, activists and atheists to forcibly enter a Hindu religious shrine under the garb of democratic rights and disregarding the faith and traditions of the devotees have been criticised widely by Hindus around the world.

It is notable here that the Sabarimala temple is the seat of Lord Ayyappa who is worshipped there in his ‘Naishtika Brahmachari’ form. Hence, only the devotees who had observed a rigorous 41-day penance and are carrying the ‘Irumudi’ are traditionally allowed into the shrine. Women of menstruating age are barred.

We share the unhappiness but keeping ‘dispute’ alive will harm the community: ‘Prominent’ Muslims oppose review petition in Ayodhya case

OpIndia Staff
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We share the unhappiness but keeping ‘dispute’ alive will harm the community: ‘Prominent’ Muslims oppose review petition in Ayodhya case

Islamic scholars, social activists, lawyers and even Bollywood celebrities like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi and other prominent Muslims have issued a statement opposing review petition in Ram Janmabhoomi case that while they share the unhappiness of the Indian Muslim community, keeping the ‘dispute’ alive will only harm the community.

The statement also lamented over the ‘unhappiness’ of ‘constitutional experts’ and ‘secular organisations’ that the Supreme Court put ‘faith over law’ in favouring the Hindus. “While agreeing that the court order is judicially flawed, we strongly believe that keeping the Ayodhya dispute alive will harm, and not help, Indian Muslims,” the statement read.

Read: Once a mosque is always a mosque: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madni on Ram Janmabhoomi verdict

The statement does not give any suggestion on whether the Muslim party should construct a hospital or school at the 5 acre plot the Supreme Court has given to them to construct a mosque if they so wish.

The Sunni Waqf Board is reportedly scheduled to hold an important meeting at 11 AM on Tuesday to discuss the further course of action following the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict.

Read: Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Hind Chief says SC should have given alternate land to Hindus for Ram Mandir, lies in the process

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (JuH), a key Muslim litigant in the Ayodhya title suit which has been indulging in constant rabblerousing since Supreme Court’s historic verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, recently took a U-turn and said that it will not file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict. Prior to that, both AIMPLB and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani had announced that that they will file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict as it was not based on the ‘evidence and logic’.

Ram Mandir trust should be headed by RSS chief: Ayodhya Mahant Paramhans Das

OpIndia Staff
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Ram Mandir trust should be headed by RSS chief: Ayodhya Mahant Paramhans Das

Paramhans Das Maharaj, the mahant of Tapaswiji ki Chhawani in Ayodhya, has said that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should head the trust to be set up for the construction of Ram Mandir.

“The RSS chief should be made the ex-offico head of the trust so that he automatically takes that post. Sangh Parivar should be given the responsibility of Ram temple’s construction,” the mahant told reporters at Sita Samahit Sthal in Bhadohi on Monday.

In a historic judgement on November 9, the Supreme Court of India had handed over the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya to Hindu parties, allowing the construction of a Ram Mandir at the place believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. In its order, the apex court had ordered the central government to form a trust to construct and maintain the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Paramhansji Maharaj has been a vocal critic of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief Nritya Gopal Das and its member Ram Vilas Vedanti, alleging that both have a very narrow mindset. “Be it the issue of rashtra nirman or temple construction, what the RSS has done from village level to the cities, no one else can do,” he said. He also added that the prime minister, the home minister and the defence minister, all have their origins in the Sangh.

Also Read: Struggle for Ram Mandir at Ayodhya will remain a high point for Hindu civilization

“When the Supreme Court asked for setting up a trust for temple construction, mahant of Ram Mandir Nyas, Nritya Gopal Das said that his Nyas would construct it and this showed his lure for the post. Similarly, Ram Vilas Vedanti opposed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that ‘Nath Sampraday’ cannot construct the temple,” he said criticising the Nyas office bearers.

Ever since the Supreme Court order, a cold war has been brewing among prominent Hindu seers over leading the trust to be set up as per court direction.

An audio clip had emerged a few days ago containing alleged conversation between Ram Vilas Vedanti and Paramhans Das, where Vedanti was heard urging Paramhans Das to propose his name for the chairman of the trust. He was also heard opposing Yogi Adityanath’s name for post because he belonged to a different sect of saints, saying that a person from Gorakhnath sect can’t become chairman of a temple of Ramanandi sect. In the audio clip, both Vedanti and Paramhans Das were heard making objectionable comments about Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.

On the other hand, Nritya Gopal Das has said that there no need for a separate trust for the Ram Mandir as the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas already exists. “The trust (Ram Janambhoomi Nyas) already exists. We can give a shape to it and new members can be added as per need,” he had said after the Supreme Court order. Adityanath is the head priest of the Gorakhnath Temple of the Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur and belongs to the Nath sect of the saints. The Nyas is an organisation run up by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Several other Hindu saints have opposed the views of Das, saying the Supreme Court order clearly talks about setting up a new trust. Chief of Digambar Akhara Mahant Suresh Das said that it is the responsibility of the central government to set up the trust and not of the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas. But Nyas representatives should be included in the trust. Nirmohi Akhara chief Mahant Dinendra Das said the trust must be formed as per the directions of the court but expressed reservations over Akhara members joining it. “Nirmohi Akhara is also a trust so the members will decide on whether or not to join the government trust,” he said.

VHP’s Triloki Nath Pandey, who represented the deity in the court, said, that the trust must be formed by the government and must have the members from the government.  He also demanded that Mahant Nritya Gopal Das should be appointed as the president of the trust. Pandey also said that the temple should be built according to the model prepared by VHP and the stones prepared by the organisation should be used in its construction.

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