Page 122 - Religion Belief
VP, CM greet Odia people for 'Nuakhai' fest
Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal, chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday greeted the people of Odisha on the occasion of 'Nuakhai', a harvest festival. "The festival reminds us of the important role of agriculture in our lives from time immemorial. Let us salute farmers of the country on this auspicious day and take a pledge to improve their lot," Naidu said in a twitter post. "May this festival bring cheer, joy, prosperity and happiness to all! #NuakhaiJuhar ... My greetings to the people in Odisha and Jharkhand on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai, the harvest festival," the Vice-president said. While Governor Ganeshi Lal greeted the people on the occasion in a special message and wished them happiness and prosperity, the chief minister extended wishes to the people by tweeting in Sambalpuri. A number of distinguished persons and union ministers including Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Culture ...
Shivraj Chouhan lauds Bohra community for propagating equality
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday lauded the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Muslims, for propagating a sense of equality and uplifting the poor.Addressing the community on the occasion of 'Ashara Mubaraka' here at the Saifee Mosque, Chouhan said: "After Prime Minister Narendra Modi started Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, this (Bohra) community made it a point that they will help poor people to get homes and will support them in setting up a business by providing funds. If there is a sect that is disciplined, loves and respects society, and helps those in need, it is the Bohra community. They help create a sense of equality inside us, which is essential for social harmony."Furthermore, Chouhan lauded the Bohra community for their efforts to make Madhya Pradesh clean and green under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan."The contribution of the Dawoodi Bohra community in the development of the country and Madhya Pradesh has been ...
Concept of 'world is one family' gives India distinct identity: Modi
Praising the Dawoodi Bohra community for its honesty in trade and business, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the world is one family, gives India an identity different from all other countries. The prime minister was speaking at a function organised by the community at the Saifee Mosque where its religious head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, was present. "The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam gives a distinct identity to India from the rest of the world and the Bohra community is an example of it," he said. Lauding the Bohra community for their honesty in trade, the prime minister said they have set an example for others.
PM Modi reaches Indore to attend 'Ashara Mubaraka'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning arrived in Indore to attend 'Ashara Mubaraka', the commemoration of the death anniversary of Imam Husain.'Ashara Mubaraka' is observed at the beginning of the Islamic year. The period is dedicated to the remembrance of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Husain.The Prime Minister, who was received at the Indore airport by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, is also scheduled to meet 53rd religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, whose sermon Prime Minister Modi will attend. This is the first meeting between the Prime Minister and the Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leaderDawoodi Bohra is a miniscule community within the Shia sect of Islam.
Kerala Govt not taking proper action against Bishop: Nun's family
The brother of the Kerala nun who has accused the Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakka of allegedly raping her on several occasions between 2014 and 2016 on, Thursday blamed the state government for not taking any action into the matter in view of the state elections.Speaking to ANI, the nun's brother claimed that Kerala police have not done anything so far and added that some influential politicians are supporting the Bishop."Kerala government is not taking any action as they do not want to break the cordiality between the church and the authorities as elections are approaching. Police have not done anything in 78 days. Influential politicians are supporting him," he said.Meanwhile, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Sinha said that Kerala Police is already looking into the matter and that they would help the latter if they need any assistance. "According to the Supreme Court, in one case, there cannot be trials at two different places at the same time. The nuns have ...
Modi to meet head of Dawoodi Bohra sect in Indore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque here on Friday and address the community members, officials said. The prime minister will meet Syedna Saifuddin at the Saifi Nagar mosque here, where the head of Dawoodi Bohra community is holding a nine-day religious discourse since Wednesday, they said. Dawoodi Bohras are a sub sect within the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam. Thousands of community members have arrived here from various parts of the world to hear their religious head's sermons. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also be present during Modi's visit. The prime minister's visit here also assumes significance as Assembly polls are due in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh by year-end. Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in the state, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts. In view of the prime ..
Turkey court rejects plea to open Hagia Sophia for Islamic prayer
Turkey's top court on Thursday turned down a plea to open the Hagia Sofia, an Istanbul landmark that is now a museum after serving as both a church and a mosque over its long history, for Muslim worshipping. The Constitutional Court rejected an association's demand that the Hagia Sophia be opened for Muslim prayers on "non-competence" grounds, indicating it was not the proper instance to allow any change, the official Anadolu news agency reported. In its plea, the association had claimed that barring prayers at Hagia Sophia was breaching the right to freedom of expression and conscience. The Haberturk website said that the demand had come from an independent Turkish heritage association. The Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum accessible to all by the secular founders of modern Turkey in the 1930s. Secular Turks are wary of any moves to re-Islamise the building or have it reconsecrated as a mosque. There has in recent years under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan been an ...
Nuns say stir will continue till justice done in rape case
The group of nuns seeking action against a Bishop accused of rape by one of their fellow sisters said Thursday that they would continue their six day old protest till justice was done. They said their agitation was not against the Church or its rules, but a cry, seeking justice for their victimised fellow nun. The nuns said they would not have come out in the open had the Church authorities delivered justice. Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court Thursday expressed satisfaction over the police investigation in the case. The court stated this while considering three separate petitions, alleging that the police probe against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese was 'ineffective'. It asked them to have some patience as shown by the nun and said the petitions would be considered after the Bishop was interrogated by the Special Investigation Team probing the case on September 19. The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) had Wednesday slammed the nuns' protest, saying ...
Modi to attend Dawoodi Bohra event in MP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a religious event organsied by the Dawoodi Bohra community in Madhya Pradesh on September 14, an official statement said on Thursday.
Victim's family was offered money to back off: Kerala nun's lawyer
The family of the nun from Kerala, who has accused Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakka, of allegedly raping her on several occasions between 2014 and 2016, was threatened and offered money to take the case back, said the nun's counsel Sandhya Raju in the Kerala High Court on Thursday."Money was offered to the members of the family and they are also being threatened by the accused side," Raju said before the High Court.The public prosecutor, however, stated that "round the clock security has been provided to the victim since July 2018 at St Francis Convent."Meanwhile, the Kerala Police submitted a sealed affidavit before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar.Earlier today, the court heard two petitions - one by V Rajendran, who sought for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter and the other by George Vattakulam, who demanded the arrest of Bishop Mulakka.The High Court observed that the investigation by the .
Attempt to drive wedge between Krishna, Balram: Tej Pratap on 'differences' with brother
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav Thursday dismissed speculations that he has distanced himself from the party due to "family strife" and because he was "overshadowed" by younger brother Tejashwi, alleging attempts were being made to drive a wage between "Krishna and Balram". The mercurial RJD leader, who had been away from the public eye for some time and whose absence at a meeting of top party leaders here earlier this week triggered fresh speculations of trouble within the Yadav family, was speaking to a regional news channel outside his residence in the state capital. "I had gone to Mathura on a pilgrimage and fallen ill. Upon return, I spent my time recuperating and that is the only reason why I was not present at the meeting. Otherwise all people know that I do attend all RJD functions," the state's former health minister said. Tej Pratap's comments came after remarks by some ruling JD(U) leaders that his absence at the party meet on Tuesday at the residence of his .
Nun rape: Panel to examine MLA 'prostitute' remark
Kerala legislative assembly Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan on Thursday said that the ethics committee will examine "prostitute" remark made by the assembly member PC George.Talking to the media, Sreeramakrishnan said, "Kerala Legislative Assembly's ethics committee to examine the remarks made by Kerala MLA (Independent) PC George against the nun (who was allegedly raped by Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal). If there is any complaint against any MLA, member or a minister inside or outside the Assembly, the ethics committee is bound to examine the matter and submit a report to the Speaker."George, an Independent MLA from Poonjar constituency in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, recently stoked a controversy after he called a nun, who accused the Bishop of alleged rape, a "prostitute". He had said, "No one has doubt that the nun is a prostitute. Twelve times she enjoyed it and the thirteenth time it is rape? Why didn't she complain the first time?"Earlier, the National Commission of ...
US bishops to meet pope amid crisis in confidence over abuse
A delegation of US Catholic cardinals and bishops is to meet Thursday with Pope Francis amid a crisis of confidence in church leadership following new sex abuse and cover-up revelations that have also implicated Francis himself. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, requested the audience last month following revelations that a now-disgraced ex-cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, had risen through church ranks despite allegations of sexual misconduct that were known in US and Vatican circles. As well as requesting a full-fledged Vatican investigation into the McCarrick affair, DiNardo wants answers to allegations that a string of Vatican officials including Francis have known of McCarrick's misdeeds since 2000, but turned a blind eye. DiNardo is heading the US delegation and is accompanied by Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Francis' top sex abuse adviser, and other officials from the US conference. The Vatican hasn't responded to allegations by its former .
China, Vatican agreement imminent: Taiwan ministry
Taiwan said Thursday that a historic agreement between China and the Vatican was likely to be imminent, but remained hopeful the move would not result in it losing its only diplomatic ally in Europe. The foreign ministry said it had obtained information from "various sources" that an agreement between the Vatican and China on "religious affairs" was most likely to be signed in September or October. Speculation has been rife that the Vatican is moving closer to an agreement with China over the major stumbling bloc of who ordains bishops. But there are fears that would put Taiwan's official ties with the Vatican at risk, as Beijing makes a concerted effort to poach its allies. The Vatican is one of only 17 countries around the world that recognises Taipei instead of Beijing, but Pope Francis has sought to improve ties with China since he took office in 2013. China still sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and demands that allies of Beijing must give up any official ties ...
Ker HC expresses satisfaction over police probe into nun rape case
The Kerala High Court Thursday expressed satisfaction over the police investigation in the case of alleged rape of a nun by a Roman Catholic bishop. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and A K Jayasankaran Nambiar was considering three separate petitions alleging that the police investigation in the case against Jalandhar diocese Bishop Franco Mulakkal was "ineffective". One petitioner has sought a CBI probe into the case. Asking the petitioners to have some patience as shown by the nun in the case, the bench said the petitions would be considered after interrogation of the bishop by the Investigation Team on September 19. It then posted the case for September 24. On September 10, the court had sought to know the steps taken by the state government to ensure the safety and security of the nun. During the hearing Thursday, the bench observed that if a hasty investigation was conducted, the accused would be allowed to go scot-free. Noting that the issue should ...
Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrated with fervour across TN, Pondy
Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated across Tamil Nadu Thursday with religious fervour as the faithful thronged various temples to offer prayers. Devotees, dressed in new clothes, offered 'Kozhukattai,' a sweet delicacy in south India, to Ganesha, believed to be the remover of obstacles and provider of knowledge. Idols of Lord Ganesha have been installed in many places across the state for people to offer prayers before they are immersed in the Bay of Bengal after week-long celebrations. In Chennai, police have identified designated spots for immersion of idols. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami extended greetings to the people on the occasion and wished them prosperity and wellness. In Puducherry, devotees thronged the over 350-year-old Manakula Vinayakar temple in the heart of the town since early morning to offer prayers to the presiding deity. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha at the temple and distributed 'laddus' among the devotees. Puducherry
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated in TN
Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated across Tamil Nadu on Thursday with people offering prayers to idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god.
Breaking barriers: Hindus, Muslims unite for development
Hindus and Muslims in Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh have transcended communal barriers to help the local administration in relocating some religious structures which had held up building of a flyover for 14 long years. In all, two temples, seven mazaars (tombs) and a mosque have been relocated, while a portion of a boundary wall of a dargah (the grave of a revered religious figure) was removed to facilitate construction of the flyover. Superintendent of Police, Jalaun, Dr Aravind Chaturvedi, told PTI Thursday, "On the Kanpur-Jhansi National Highway, the stretch between 242-km landmark and 244-km landmark is called Kalpi Khand. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to construct a 1.5 km long flyover for smooth movement of traffic". "But the NHAI faced a grave problem when it had to lay a service road (almost 5.5 metres wide on either side of the flyover) before they commenced the main construction in Jalaun, 220 kms from the state capital Lucknow" he said. "It was on ..
Germany's Catholic Church 'dismayed, ashamed' by child sex abuse
A new report from Germany's Catholic Church admits to "at least" 3,766 cases of child sex abuse by the clergy between 1946 and 2014, according to media outlets Die Zeit and Spiegel Online.
Missionaries of Jesus sets up panel to probe rape allegations
Following the rape allegations levelled against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese, Missionaries of Jesus on Wednesday constituted an enquiry commission to probe the alleged "conspiracy to defame the missionary and the bishop."In its latest press release, the Missionaries of Jesus have expressed doubts over the authenticity of the complaint and said that the commission would also investigate the source of revenue of the protesting nuns.A nun from Kerala has accused that she was raped by a 54-year-old priest on several occasions between 2014 and 2016.The nun has even appealed to the Vatican seeking justice.In a seven-page letter addressed to the Apostolic Nunciature- the representative of the Holy See in India- the victim has described the ordeal she allegedly went through at the hands of the Bishop.The victim also marked the plea to 21 other high ranking authorities of the Roman Catholic Church in India.The nuns in Kochi, have been protesting from past four days, against