Page 120 - Religion Belief

Chicago Congress: Paeans to Hindu unity in shadow of 'nemesis' long deceased (Comment)

At its best, speeches at the recently concluded World Hindu Congress echoed the soaring spiritual ideals evoked by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago 125 years ago.

BJP MP tells Bishop that missionaries should not try

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Tuesday told the Bishop of Dumka Catholic Mission, Julius Marandi that the missionaries should work with the motto of service and not try conversion of people. Dubey called on the Bishop and informed him about the 1935 Act which says that conversion could not take place without the permission of the deputy commissioner. "I have told the Bishop that let the missionaries work with the motto of service and not try conversion," Dubey told reporters after meeting the Bishop. The BJP MP alleged that the missionaries are active in spreading conversion in the Santhal Pargana region. He claimed that on July 7, 16 persons were sent to jail in connection with indulging in conversion. Later addressing a press conference the Bishop said Dubey met him and asked him to adhere to the 1935 Act. The Bishop said he had talks with the MP for about half-an-hour. He said that Catholic Mission are engaged in its works and not calling anybody for conversion. The Bishop, ...

Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean it has no place for Muslims: Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Tuesday said a 'Hindu Rashtra' does not mean it has no place for Muslims as this concept is inclusive of all faiths and religions. "The Sangh works towards universal brotherhood and the cardinal principle of this brotherhood is unity in diversity. This thought comes from our culture, which the world calls Hindutva. That's why we call it a Hindu Rashtra," he said. Asserting that the RSS' philosophy is to take everyone along, he said, "Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean there's no place for Muslims. The day it is said so, it won't be Hindutva any more. Hindutva talks about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam." Hindutva is the essence of Indian cultural values and is aimed at fostering brotherhood among people of different faiths and views, Bhawat said on the second day of his three-day lecture series here. The RSS chief said that in one of his speeches in the constituent assembly, B R Ambedkar talked about universal brotherhood and emphasised on promoting fraternity among ...

Controversy over cash shower on Congress MLA in Mumbai

Senior Congress legislator Naseem Khan on Tuesday courted controversy as a video clip showing him being showered with currency notes at a religious event here went viral.

Nun's rape: Bishop's anticipatory bail hearing on Sep 25

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear an anticipatory bail plea from Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, and posted the matter for hearing on September 25.

Kerala nun rape: Accused Bishop files anticipatory bail

Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, accused of allegedly raping a Kerala nun, has filed for an anticipatory bail in Kerala High Court on Tuesday. The court postponed the bail plea to September 25.The Kerala Police has summoned the Jalandhar Bishop for questioning on September 19 in reference to the case. Earlier, Bishop Mulakkal wrote a letter to the Pope Francis, expressing his desire to temporarily step down from the responsibilities of the diocese.In another development, Mahila Congress State General Secretary M. Haripriya started her indefinite hunger strike here demanding the arrest of the Bishop.The nun has accused Bishop Mulakkal of allegedly raping her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The Bishop, however, refuted the allegation terming it "baseless and concocted".

Nun rape case: Jalandhar bishop files anticipatory bail plea in Kerala

Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, Tuesday filed an anticipatory bail application in the Kerala High Court, claiming that the allegations against him were a "cooked up" story to "wreak vengeance" against him. The bishop moved the anticipatory bail plea apprehending arrest in the non-bailable offence a day before his appearance before the special investigation team of the Kerala Police Wednesday in connection with the case. The 54-year-old clergyman claimed that the allegations levelled by the nun, serving in a congregation under the Jalandhar Diocese, is "wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance" for the actions taken by him on various complaints received against her. Claiming innocence, the bishop also said the complaint was "nothing but a fictional story" by the nun. The nun had accused the senior catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and ...

Muharram sawari, Ganesh idol installed under one roof in Maha

A non-descript village in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, which earlier witnessed communal unrest, has now set an example of brotherhood by installing both the 'Muharram sawari' and Lord Ganesh's idol under one roof. Prayers are being held uninterruptedly by both the Hindu and Muslim communities at the same venue at Vidul village in Yavatmal's Umarkhed tehsil. The unifying initiative, taken by Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Megnathan Rajkumar, is significant as the area had in the past witnessed several incidents of communal disharmony during the Ganesh festival celebrated by Hindus and the Ramzan Eid and Muharram of Muslims. Since the Ganesh festival and Muharram are coinciding this year, Rajkumar instructed the Umarkhed police station inspector, Hanumant Gaikwad, to call a peace meeting of villagers on September 8 in the gram panchayat office. Gaikwad conveyed the SP's suggestion to villagers that they should think of holding the Ganesh and Muharram functions ...

Ukrainian Church to become independent of Russia: envoy

An envoy of Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, told Ukraine's leader Monday that his country's church would soon be declared independent of Russia, a move set to infuriate Moscow. Istanbul-based Bartholomew I is expected to rule in the coming months on a Ukrainian appeal to sever spiritual bonds with Moscow amid a simmering military conflict in the east of the former Soviet country. An incensed Russian Orthodox Church last week cut ties with Bartholomew I, regarded as "first among equals" of the world's estimated 300 million Orthodox Christian believers, after he sent two representatives to Ukraine ahead of the independence decision. One of those envoys told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during a meeting that granting his country's church independence was essentially a done deal. "We have come with an extraordinary mission," said Archbishop Daniel. "The process of granting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church autocephaly has begun," he added. "We ..

PM Modi offers lotus flowers, milk at Kashi Vishwanath temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday offered lotus flowers and 11 litres of milk at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple here on his birthday, a priest said. Modi, who turned 68, offered a special prayer at the Shiva temple. The prime minister also made a surprise visit to the Manduadih Railway Station and spent a few minutes at platform number 1. He then went to the Diesel Locomotive Works guesthouse, where he will spend the night. Modi, who was on a day-long visit to his parliamentary constituency, reached the temple to worship Lord Shiva after interacting with the students of Kashi Vidyapith and Banaras Hindu University who teach poor children at the DLW. Modi also interacted with children at a primary school in Narur village, where he received a greeting card from them. The prime minister gifted a bag containing study material to the children. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey accompanied the prime minister and offered prayers ..

SC nixes Swamy's plea on Tirumala trust

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea to free the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) from the control of the Andhra Pradesh government but granted him liberty to approach the High Court.

Swamy seeks Tirupati temple to be taken out of govt control; SC asks him to move HC

The Supreme Court Monday asked BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to move the Andhra Pradesh High Court with his plea challenging the provisions of a state law by which the administration and control of Hindu religious institutions are taken over by the state government. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra asked the BJP leader to approach the high court for remedy. Swamy in his plea has challenged the constitutional validity of various provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. He has contended that the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD), including Sri Venkateswaraswamy Temple at Tirumala, Sri Padmavathy Temple in Tiruchaanur and another 11 temples in Andhra Pradesh, were the richest temple in India in terms of annual income and asset holdings. "For two generations, the temple has been under total control of the State Government," he said in his plea. Swamy said that under the guise of sanction provided in the law .

Mathura gearing up for 'Chappan Bhog Mahotsava'

Mathura is gearing up for 'Chappan Bhog Mahotsava', a three-day festival during which devotees make lavish offerings comprising 56 dishes to Lord Krishna in Goverdhan. Elaborate preparations are being made for the festival beginning September 21, according to the organisers. The festival will begin with circumambulation of the sacred Goverdhan Hill by thousands of pilgrims, said Murari Agrawal, the founder president of Sri Giriraj Seva Samiti. Prior to the main event slated for September 23, activists of Sri Giriraj Seva Samiti will make a human chain to move 'prasadam' (religious offering) from Annapurna Prasad Bhandar to the seat of the principal deity, he said.

Indian arrested in Nepal with banned currency notes

A 55-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Nepal's Kanchanpur district with banned Indian currency notes, the police said.

Gujarat police bust fake currency printing racket; one held

Police here in Gujarat Tuesday busted a fake currency note printing racket and arrested a person in this connection from his residence. Counterfeit notes in Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 denominations with a total face value of Rs 66,500 were also seized after Crime Branch sleuths raided the house of one Zahid Sheikh, who has been arrested, the police said in a press release. A colour printing machine and scanner along with papers used to print fake currency notes were seized from the house of Sheikh, who works in a city hotel, the police said. "The Jamnagar LCB (Local Crime Branch) busted a fake currency note printing racket and arrested one Zahid Sheikh with Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes with face value of Rs 66,500, along with a colour printer and scanner as well as papers used to print currency from his residence in Shastrinagar," the release said. "The accused resided in Africa before returning to Jamnagar some 10 years ago. He worked in the management department of a hotel in the

Nun case: Jalandhar Bishop writes to Pope, offers to "step aside temporarily"

Senior Catholic priest Franco Mulakkal, accused of rape by a nun, has written to the Pope offering to "step aside temporarily" as Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, a move which comes ahead of his appearance before the Kerala Police on Wednesday to join the investigation in the case. A spokesman of the diocese told PTI that the Bishop wrote to the Pope Sunday. The bishop has written "a letter to Holy Father Pope Francis expressing his desire to step aside temporarily and requested to be relieved from the administration of the diocese," the Jalandhar diocese said in a release. The bishop's move came ahead of his appearance before the Special Investigation Team of Kerala Police on September 19 in response to the summons asking him to join the investigation and amid continued protests seeking his arrest. The Kerala-based nun had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her 13 times between 2014 and 2016 during his visits to the Jalandhar-diocese run convent at Kuruvilangad in Kottayam .

Jalandhar Bishop writes to Pope, offers to "step aside

Senior Catholic priest Franco Mulakkal, facing probe after a nun accused him of rape, has written a letter to the Pope, offering to "step aside temporarily" as Bishop of the Jalandhar Diocese, the Church said Monday. A spokesman of the diocese told PTI that the Bishop wrote to the Pope Sunday. Bishop Franco Mulakkal has written "a letter to Holy Father Pope Francis expressing his desire to step aside temporarily and requested to be relieved from the administration of the diocese," the Jalandhar diocese said in a release. The Bishop's move came ahead of his appearance before the Kerala Police team on September 19 in connection with the case. The nun had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The bishop had, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled those as the Catholic order had rejected her demand for favours.

Rape accused Bishop seeks Pope Francis' permission to step down temporarily

Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a Kerala nun, has written a letter to the Pope Francis, expressing his desire to temporarily step down from the responsibilities of the diocese. The letter has been handed over to Pope's representative in India."Bishop Franco Mullakal has written to the Pope on 16 Sep expressing his desire to step down temporarily from the responsibilities of the diocese and has sought permission for the same", Jalandhar diocese said in a statement.The decision is being attributed to bishop requiring more time to fight his case and his repeated travels to Kerala, where the case is lodged.Elaborating further on the details of latest development in the case, the statement reads, "Bishop requires to spend more time to fight his case, to even to travel to Kerala several times, and thus has expressed his willingness to absolve himself from the responsibilities of the diocese temporarily and has handed over a letter to the representative of the

Sikhs struggle to save their culture in Pakistan through informal school

There was a semblance of fear in the eyes of Taranjeet Singh when he was asked about an informal school he was reportedly running with his brother in their apartment in Pakistan's commercial hub Karachi to teach Sikh religion, culture and history to children of the community. Twenty-two boys and girls aged between seven and 14 reportedly study in the small classroom of the school located on the sixth floor of a residential building on M A Jinnah Road. "The classes are no longer being held now because children are not coming, Taranjeet wearing a red turban told PTI when asked about a report in a Pakistani daily about the school. But he was not comfortable answering questions. The reason behind Taranjeet's reluctance to speak about the school was explained by Manoj Singh, a volunteer at the main Sikh Gurdwara located on the Jinnah road. Manoj said they hold classes five times a week for Sikh children because it is mandatory for them to get education according to the Sikh Rehat Maryada, .

Hope to see grand Ram temple in Ayodhya: VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad Sunday expressed hope that a grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya. "We are hopeful that a grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya," secretary general of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Milind Parande told reporters here. He added that Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini and Matri Vahini had began a membership drive on September 15. On October 5, a meeting of seers on Ram Janmabhoomi issue is likely to take place in Delhi, further there will be a 'Dharm Sansad' in Allahabad during the Kumbh on January 31 and February 1, he said. Milind Parande on the occasion urged the state governments to take steps to stop religious conversion, which are offered to people in lieu of lucrative offers. When asked to comment on Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent Mansarovar Yatra, Parande said, "Whether Rahul is a Hindu or not I don't know, but if he behaves as per Hindu religion, I would be happy.