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‘Aarti’ performed at Shiva and Hanuman temple discovered and reopened after 46 years in Sambhal, govt to restore the original structure

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Aaarti was performed on Sunday morning at the recently reopened Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple in Sambhal.

UP Police personnel were also deployed outside the Lord Shiv and Hanuman temple that reopened after decades in Sambhal district.

This comes after the district administration discovered the temple on Saturday during the inspection being carried out in connection to the issue of electricity theft in the area. The temple has been reopened after 1978, Nagar Hindu Sabha Patron Vishnu Sharan Rastogi had claimed.

The temple premises have been cleaned and arrangements for electricity have been made. Moreover, CCTV cameras have been installed for security reasons.

“I came to see the temple and performed the Pooja. This temple is around 400 years old. I had come here years ago and there were dharamshalas around the temple. But now only houses remain. I had seen it on TV and WhatsApp. Thus, I came to see the temple. This is a Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple,” Rajiv Kumar Gupta, a devotee, told ANI.

“We came in the morning and cleaned the temple to perform the aarti. A Brahmin should be appointed here so that he can stay here. Till the time caretaker (for this temple) is appointed, we will take responsibility,” Acharya Brahm Shukla, who performed the prayer ceremony, told ANI.

Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandana Mishra announced plans to restore the original structure of a temple that reopened on Saturday after 42 years.

SDM Vandana Mishra stated, “The temple premises have been cleaned, and electricity arrangements have been made. CCTVs are being installed for security. The anti-encroachment drive targeted only structures built on public property. We will restore the temple to its original structure.

“She added, “We have written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)… Police will be deployed near the temple.”

Earlier, Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Kumar Chaudhary revealed that the temple was discovered during an inspection related to encroachment complaints.

“We received information about encroachment on a temple in the area. Upon inspection, we discovered a temple at the site,” Chaudhary told ANI.

Sambhal District Magistrate (DM) Rajendra Pensiya, who visited the site, reported that an ancient well was uncovered after the removal of a ramp constructed over it.

“The (ancient Lord Shiva) temple is being cleaned. A ramp had been built over the ancient well. When we dismantled the ramp, the well was revealed,” DM Pensiya said.

The DM further explained that the ancient Lord Shiva temple was discovered during a district administration inspection for electricity theft. “The temple will be handed over to the community it belongs to, and action will be taken against those who encroached on it,” he added.


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

Kerala: Maulvi Umar Faizi Mukkam makes offensive remarks about Shiv-Parvati, apologises later

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Controversial maulvi from Kerala, Umar Faizi Mukkam, has once again sparked controversy with his statements. This time, he has made derogatory remarks against Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati during his speech at a public meeting in Areekode. His remarks have sparked outrage and widespread condemnation from Hindu organisations. Mukkam is a member of the prominent Sunni Muslim organisation, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama. The event where he made the derogatory remarks was organised by the Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation.

During his speech, he talked about the ongoing surveys of mosques in North India and made derogatory remarks against Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati. He said in Malayalam, “In North India, mosques and places of worship are being demolished one after the other. They say there was a Shiva lingam and Parvati’s vulva there, and based on this claim, mosques are being demolished. The courts are even suggesting that surveys be conducted in this regard.” He also referred to the case filed against Ajmer Dargah and claimed such incidents are escalating.

Amid the backlash, Faizi reportedly issued an apology and claimed that he did not intend to offend anyone or insult Hindu beliefs. He said, “I did not intend to demean or insult the sacred objects of Hindus. I merely referred to their names in my speech, without any malicious intent. Unfortunately, some people have twisted my words and are trying to incite communal discord by misinterpreting them on various platforms. I deeply regret if anyone’s feelings were hurt because of this. I assure you, as far as I am concerned, there was never, nor will there ever be, any intent to cause pain to my Hindu brothers and sisters.” He further claimed that he stands for religious harmony.

Despite his apology, the statement has caused significant uproar among Hindu organisations, who have accused Faizi of disrespecting the Hindu faith and culture.

Apart from Faizi, the state secretary of Samastha’s youth wing, Abdussamad Pookkottur, also apologised for the remarks. He said, “Islam strictly prohibits mocking objects worshipped by other religions. If Faizi’s remarks have hurt the sentiments of people from other faiths, we deeply regret it. Such statements are unacceptable and go against the principles of Samastha, which has always stood for religious coexistence and mutual respect.”

Earlier in January 2024, he was booked over his alleged remark “Muslim women who did not wear hijab were persons of loose morals” during a television debate. The accused Islamic scholar has been booked under sections 295A (outraging the religious sentiments) and 298 (uttering words to insult religious feelings).

Faizi allegedly made comments about women who do not wear the ‘thattam’ (headscarf worn by Muslim ladies in Kerala) during a television programme last year, sparking a major controversy in the state as a large number of women leaders and activists spoke out against it. According to the Samastha leader, women who do not wear hijab are of “questionable character”.

Pakistan: Section 144 imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of anti-polio campaign

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In preparation for the anti-polio campaign set to be launched on December 16, Section 144 has been imposed in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for seven days, as reported by ARY News on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed announced that the restrictions will be in effect immediately across the district for the next week. The measures include a ban on carrying firearms, prohibiting two people from riding on a motorcycle together and restricting the use of tinted windows in vehicles.

Hameed further explained that these steps have been taken in preparation for the anti-polio campaign, which is set to begin tomorrow. He also warned that anyone found violating the restrictions would face strict legal consequences.

Notably, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is launching the anti-polio campaign on December 16, addressing ongoing challenges such as vaccination refusals, missed targets, fake finger marking, and lack of cooperation from local health authorities and district administrations, ARY News reported.

Earlier on December 13, Pakistan reported four new polio cases, raising the total for 2024 to 63, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The new cases were detected in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Jacobabad, and Sukkur, with the case in Sukkur being the area’s first, The News International reported.

The EOC noted that the latest case marks the ninth in Dera Ismail Khan and the third in Jacobabad, while the affected child in Sukkur is a boy. This year, polio cases have been distributed across provinces as follows: 26 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio, a highly contagious viral disease, primarily impacts children under five, especially those with weak immunity or insufficient vaccination.

With over 60 per cent of children affected by polio in 2024 having not received routine immunizations, health authorities have formed a high-level committee to enhance coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

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

Kolkata: Atiur Rahman Laskar murders sister-in-law, cuts her body into 3 pieces, after she refused his sexual advances

On 14th December, Kolkata Police arrested a man named Atiur Laskar for killing his sister-in-law, Khadeja Bibi. Laskar, who works as a daily labourer, reportedly killed Khadeja and dismembered her body after she rejected his advances. The dismembered body was recovered on 13th December from a garbage dump. Laskar has been booked for her murder. According to media reports, Atiur Rahman Laskar confessed to killing his sister-in-law and cutting the body into three pieces before dumping them.

The case was solved by the police within 24 hours. The police reviewed CCTV footage and identified the person who dumped the severed head in the garbage. Relevant samples were collected from the scene. Injury marks and blood stains indicated that the murder had taken place 12 hours prior to the discovery of the body. Police used sniffer dogs to trace the body parts, and the dogs led them to an apartment a kilometre away from the scene.

During the investigation, the police found that it was Atiur Laskar who had killed the woman. Laskar was arrested from his native village, Basuldanga, in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas. Reports suggest that Khadeja worked as a domestic help in the Tollygunge area of South Kolkata. She had been living separately from her husband for the past two years. She used to commute with Laskar daily for work in Tollygunge. Laskar wanted to have a relationship with her, but she rejected his advances and distanced herself from him a week ago. Enraged by Khadeja’s refusal, on 12th December, Laskar forced her to accompany him to an under-construction building, where he strangled and beheaded her. He then cut her body into three pieces and disposed of them at different locations.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police (South Suburban Division), Bidisha Kalita, said, “Khadeja Bibi worked as a housemaid, and her brother-in-law, Atiur Laskar, pursued her. When she started avoiding him, he killed her.”

DCP Kalita further added that the accused had confessed to the crime. She said, “She began avoiding him a week ago, which intensified his rage. She also blocked his phone number. On Thursday evening, after finishing work, he forced her to accompany him to an under-construction building. There, he strangled her, beheaded her, and dismembered the body into three parts, which he dumped in different locations. The accused carried the dismembered body parts in sacks. He has confessed to the crime, and we are in the final stages of the investigation.”

Laskar was taken to the crime scene to reconstruct the chain of events. The police recovered the remaining body parts during the reconstruction. The head was reportedly dumped in a garbage dump on Graham’s Road, while the other two body parts were thrown away by Laskar behind a house.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Uttarakhand: Aman Qureshi poses as Aman Choudhary to marry Hindu woman from Rudrapur; booked

On 12th December, a man named Aman Qureshi from Delhi was booked by Rudrapur Police, Uttarakhand, for posing as a Hindu man to marry a Hindu woman. An FIR has been registered against Aman Qureshi, alias Aman Choudhary, on the complaint of Vinod Kohli under Sections 3 and 5 of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, and Sections 318(4) and 219 of Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita (BNS).

OpIndia has accessed a copy of the FIR registered in the case.

Fraudulent identity to arrange marriage

In his complaint, Kohli said that Qureshi had introduced himself as Aman Choudhary. He claimed to be from a Kumaoni Hindu family that was settled in Delhi. He further said that his sister, Menaka Kohli, and Aman met via an intermediary named Santosh Kumar, who vouched for Qureshi’s Kumaoni origins. In fact, Kohli’s family visited Aman’s residence in Delhi and found that it appeared Hindu and even had a small temple. As there was no reason to suspect the family, they mutually agreed on the arranged marriage of Aman and Menaka. Santosh has also been named as an accused in the FIR.

Source: Uttarakhand Police

Hindu wedding rituals and subsequent revelation

On 13th October 2024, the duo got engaged at City Club, Rudrapur, following Kumaoni Hindu customs. Aman’s family members, who attended the ceremony, were dressed in traditional Kumaoni attire. They participated in the rituals, further removing any chance of suspicion. On 10th December, the couple got married as per Hindu rituals. Kohli’s family spent around ₹18–20 lakhs on the wedding, which included 150–160 grams of gold given as gifts.

Kohli’s family, however, became suspicious when they visited Aman’s residence in Delhi after the wedding. They discovered that the environment of Aman’s house was completely different from what they had witnessed earlier. Most of the members of Aman’s family were in Muslim attire, and it was evident that Islamic practices were being followed. When they inquired, Aman’s family allegedly admitted that they were Muslims. They further told Kohli’s family that the bride would now be required to follow Islamic customs.

Allegations of forced religious conversion

Kohli stated in the complaint that Qureshi and his family intentionally concealed information about their religion to deceive and coerce his sister into converting to Islam after marriage. He emphasised that it was a deliberate attempt to disrupt their religion and force them to change their faith, which is a punishable offence under the law.

SSP Rudrapur Manikant Mishra took cognisance of the FIR and sent an SOG team to Delhi. The SOG team rescued Menaka from Aman’s house. Superintendent of Police (SP) Uttam Singh Negi said in a statement that the accused groom has been arrested by the police. Further investigation in the matter is underway.

PM Narendra Modi presents 11 pledges for India’s bright future, says politics should be free of “parivarvad”, zero tolerance for corruption

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday presented eleven pledges for India’s bright future in his speech during the discussion in Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution and said government and people should follow their duties and the country’s politics should be free of “parivarvad”.

The Prime Minister presented the 11 pledges towards the end of his speech in Lok Sabha. He laid thrust on inclusive development and zero-tolerance for corruption.

He wished that the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution would give more strength to the people’s commitment towards their duties.

“For India’s future and inspired by the spirit of the Constitution, I from the hallowed precincts of Parliament present 11 pledges. Whether it is a citizen or the government, everyone should perform their duties; every area, every section of society should get the benefit of development, it should be ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'” he said.

“There should be zero tolerance for corruption and no social acceptance of the corrupt. People should feel proud in following the country’s laws, rules, traditions…there should be a sense of pride,” he added.

Outlining the fifth pledge, PM Modi said there should be freedom from the mentality of slavery and people should feel proud of the country’s heritage.

“The country should be free of dynastic politics, there should be respect for the Constitution and it should not be made tool for political self-interest,” he said.

“Reflecting dedication to the spirit of Constitution, the benefit of reservation should not be taken away from those who are getting it and all attempts to give reservation on the basis of religion should be stopped.”

The Prime Minister said India should become an example of women-led development in the world.

“Development of the country through development of the states should be our development mantra,” he said.

Outlining the 11th pledge, the Prime Minister said that the goal of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ should be above everything else.

In his speech, the Prime Minister said that the dream of building a Viksit Bharat is the dream of all 140 crore citizens.

“Let’s move forward with the spirits of ‘We, the people…’, the very foundation of our Constitution. The dream of building a Viksit Bharat is the dream of all 140 crore citizens. Remember, when a nation moves forward with determination, results are guaranteed. I have immense faith in my fellow citizens, their capabilities, the youth, and the Nari Shakti of Bharat. Let’s resolve that when India celebrates 100 years of her independence in 2047, she will be celebrated and treasured as a ‘Developed India’,” he said.

The two-day discussion began in Lok Sabha on Friday.


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

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says he will speak with Railways for a solution after temple issued removal notice for Dadar station expansion

Amid controversy over a removal notice to a temple in Mumbai’s Dadar area, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that the state government will hold discussions with the railways to find a solution to the issue.

Speaking to the media in Pune, CM Fadnavis said, “The court’s order had categorised temples, and as per that order, old temple structures can be regularized. We will speak with the railway administration and try to find a solution to this issue. Whatever we can do within the rules to regularize the structure, we will do.”

The Central Railway had recently issued a notice to the temple committee for the removal of the temple structure, saying that it was coming in the way of the proposed expansion of the Dadar railway station.

Earlier, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya assured that no demolition would take place. “The temple in Dadar received the notice yesterday. We spoke to the railways they have assured us that no demolition would take place,” Somaiya said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also visited the temple near Dadar railway station after Central Railway issued a notice.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “The ‘Maha Aarti’ was started by Shive Sena in this country. It’s not a new thing for Aaditya Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) members to visit the temple here…We organized Maha Aarti in the 1990s.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant expressed shock over the railway’s notice.

“Their (BJP’s) Hinduism is fake… We don’t provoke hatred. If Central Railway issues a demolition notice for the temple, it would be shocking to us. Even the owners of houses over 20 years old have gained ownership, and this temple is around 80 years old,” he said.


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

Biggest Jumla in India was the Garibi Hatao campaign used by Congress in elections, the party reduced the importance of the Constitution: PM Modi

Hitting back at Congress over its frequent “jumla” jibes at the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the “biggest jumla in India” was ‘Garibi Hatao’ and alleged that it was used by four generations of Congress leaders in elections.

The Prime Minister made the remarks in his speech that culminated the two-day discussion in Lok Sabha on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution.

The “Garibi Hatao” slogan was first used by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections.

“Congress is very fond of one word. I want to use that word today. Their favourite word, without which they cannot live is ‘jumla’… The country knows that if there was any biggest jumla in India and it was used by four generations, that jumla was – ‘Garibi Hatao’. This was such a Jumla which helped them in their politics but did not improve the condition of the poor,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said his government has made sincere efforts to bring the poor out of poverty.

He also targeted the Congress-led UPA government over amendments to the Constitution and alleged that these were not aimed at the welfare of the people.

“Congress tasted the blood of amending Constitution, it started hunting Constitution from time to time. It tasted the blood. It kept bloodying the spirit of the Constitution. In almost six decades, the Constitution was amended 75 times. The poison that was sowed by the first PM of the country was nurtured by another Prime Minister – Indira Gandhi. Congress has constantly disrespected the Constitution, and reduced the importance of the Constitution. Congress is full of many examples of this,” he said.

PM Modi attacked the Congress over Article 370 concerning Jammu and Kashmir which was scrapped by his government in August 2019.

“Everyone knows about 370 but very few know about 35-A… If there is any first son of the Constitution of India, then it is the Parliament but they have strangled it too. They imposed 35-A on the country without bringing it to the Parliament… This work was done on the orders of the President and the Parliament of the country was kept in the dark,” he said.

The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress over the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975.

“It is 75 years of the Constitution. But 25 years also has an importance, so do 50 years and 60 years…When the country was witnessing 25 years of Constitution, at the same time Constitution in our country was razed. Emergency was imposed, democratic systems were finished, country was turned into a prison, citizens’s rights were looted, and press freedom was curtailed. This sin on the forehead of Congress can never be erased. Whenever democracy will be discussed across the world, Congress’ sin will never be erased because democracy was strangled,” PM Modi said.

Referring to the Nehru-Gandhi family, PM Modi alleged that it “has challenged the Constitution at all levels”.

“Highs and lows occurred, there were difficulties too, there were obstacles as well. But I bow before the people of the country once again that they strongly stood with the Constitution…I do not want to make personal criticism on anyone but it is important to place facts before the country. That is why, I would like to do that,” he said.

“One family of Congress left no stone unturned in hurling a blow to the Constitution. I am mentioning that one family because in 75 years of our journey, they ruled for 55 years. So, country has the right to know what happened. The tradition of this family’s ill-thoughts, bad policies is ongoing continuously. This family has challenged Constitution at all levels,” he added.

The special two-day debate in Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution began on Friday.

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

‘Every generation of the Gandhi family has violated the constitution’: PM Modi takes Congress to the cleaners in Lok Sabha

On Saturday (December 14), PM Modi scathingly attacked the Gandhi family during his speech on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha. Modi said that every generation of the Gandhi family, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul Gandhi, violated the Constitution.

Prime Minister Modi stated, “The present generation of the Gandhi family is continuing the tradition of undermining the Constitution, a practice they began long ago,” prompting strong objections from opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha.

He also remarked, “The Congress ignored its constitution and made Nehru the leader, even though state units had backed Sardar Patel.”

Modi said Nehru had advised his chief ministers to amend the Constitution if it came in their way and obstructed their plans. “The then Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, wrote a letter to the Chief Ministers stating, ‘If the Constitution comes in the way… we must amend the Constitution at any cost’.This was written in 1951, marking a controversial decision. However, the country did not remain silent. The then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, warned Nehru that it was wrong. Similarly, the then Speaker also cautioned him about his actions. Eminent Congress leaders like Acharya Kriplani and Jayaprakash Narayan also raised concerns and urged Nehru to reconsider. Yet, Pandit Nehru seemed to follow his version of the Constitution, dismissing the advice of such senior leaders,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi stated that former Prime Minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi also disregarded the Constitution. “Indira Gandhi’s election was even declared null and void. In a fit of anger, she imposed Emergency to cling to power, misusing the Constitution,” he said.

“It was a period of injustice, with hundreds of people being imprisoned. The apathetic government ignored the voices of the people,” PM Modi said.

He added that Indira Gandhi’s son, Rajiv Gandhi, overturned the Supreme Court’s decision in the Shah Bano case to appease vote banks.

“Rather than supporting a woman seeking justice, he sided with the wrong people. It began with Nehru Ji, continued with Indira Ji, and Rajiv Gandhi followed the same path. The next generation will be no different,” PM Modi said.

“They placed an unelected individual above former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the National Advisory Council. Later, to demonstrate authority, a member of the new generation publicly tore up an ordinance that had been approved by the Manmohan Singh-led cabinet. This arrogant act carried out in front of the media, forced the government to overturn its decision. I’m simply recounting what happened to the Constitution,” PM Modi said. He was referring to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who, in 2013, tore up an ordinance introduced by the UPA government to protect convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification.

PM Modi slams Congress over emergency in Lok Sabha speech, says ‘this sin on the forehead of Congress can never be erased’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the Congress over the Emergency and said whenever democracy’ is discussed, “this very sin” of Congress will be remembered.

Speaking in Lok Sabha during the discussion on the ‘Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,’ the Prime Minister launched a strong attack on Congress and said “one family of Congress left no stone unturned in hurling a blow to the Constitution”

PM Modi said when India was celebrating 25 years of the Constitution, it “was torn apart” and Emergency was imposed.

“It is 75 years of the Constitution. But 25 years also has an importance, so do 50 years and 60 years…When the country was witnessing 25 years of Constitution, at the same time Constitution in our country was razed. Emergency was imposed, democratic systems were finished, country was turned into a prison, citizens’s rights were looted, and press freedom was curtailed. This sin on the forehead of Congress can never be erased. Whenever democracy will be discussed across the world, Congress’ sin will never be erased because democracy was strangled,” PM Modi said.

Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Referring to the Nehru-Gandhi family, PM Modi alleged that it “has challenged the Constitution at all levels”.

“Highs and lows occurred, there were difficulties too, there were obstacles as well. But I bow before the people of the country once again that they strongly stood with the Constitution…I do not want to make personal criticism on anyone but it is important to place facts before the country. That is why, I would like to do that,” he said.

“One family of Congress left no stone unturned in hurling a blow to the Constitution. I am mentioning that one family because in 75 years of our journey, they ruled for 55 years. So, the country has the right to know what happened. The tradition of this family’s ill-thoughts, bad policies is ongoing continuously. This family has challenged the Constitution at all levels,” he alleged.

The special two-day debate in Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution concluded on Saturday.


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