Page 139 - Religion Belief
President tweets in Malayalam
President Ram Nath Kovind today tweeted in Malayalam about his engagements in Kerala. Kovind, who greeted the audience in Malayalam at the inauguration of "Festival on Democracy", in a series of tweets in the mother tongue of Keralites highlighted some of the points of his address at the function. He also expressed his happiness on his meeting with veteran communist leader K R Gowri, an official release said. The "Festival of Democracy" programme was held at the state assembly complex as part of the valedictory of diamond Jubilee celebration of the Kerala assembly.
Prez Kovind voices concern over political violence in Kerala
Violence has no place in the Constitution, President Ramnath Kovind said today, and voiced concern over recurring political clashes in Kerala on a day the news came of a CPI-M youth wing activist being stabbed to death allegedly by BJP-RSS cadre. Inaugurating the 'Festival of Democracy', a conference to mark the conclusion of diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, Kovind said all parties and enlightened citizens should do their best to check political violence. He said the history of "debate, mutual dignity and respect" for each other's point of view has been the "hallmark" of Kerala society, prominently placing Malayalees among the thought leaders of the country. "Nevertheless there remains the paradox of political violence in Kerala, especially in some regions of the state. This is unfortunate and does little justice to the glorious traditions of the state and its people. "Debate, dissent and disagreement are perfectly acceptable ...
Will convert you to Islam: Owaisi to accused who cut Muslim man's beard
Few days after a Muslim man was forced to shave off his beard following an altercation in Gurugram, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi has threatened the accused that he would be "converted to Islam".Strongly reacting to the Haryana incident, Owaisi further said that he would make the accused grow a beard."Muslim man's beard was shaved off. Those who did it, I am telling them and their fathers, even if you slit our throat, we'll be Muslims. We will convert you to Islam and will make you keep a beard," he said.On August 2, Gurugram Police arrested three accused after an FIR was registered by the victim, Yunus in this regard.The incident took place in Gurugram's Sector 29 when three people allegedly dragged a Muslim man to a salon and forced him to shave off his beard.This has come at a time when many political parties are cornering the Centre over rampant incidents of mob lynching, alleging that atrocities against the Muslim community are on a ...
Kerala priest arrested for issuing death threat to President
Jayaraman, a priest at Chirakkal Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala's Thrissur , was arrested after he allegedly called up the police control room and threatened to assassinate President Ram Nath Kovind.Soon after receiving the call, a police team traced the details and took Jayaraman into custody.According to Thrissur Superintendent of Police (SP), MP Dinesh, the temple priest was under the influence of alcohol when he called the cops and did not remember anything on regaining consciousness the next day.President Kovind is currently in Trivandrum to inaugurate the 'Festival of Democracy' as a part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.He is also scheduled to visit the Guruvayoor Temple in Thrissur on Tuesday.The caller will be kept in police custody till the time President leaves the state.
Temple priest threatens to plant bomb at Prez function venue,
A temple priest was arrested for allegedly threatening to plant a bomb at St Thomas College here where President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to attend a function tomorrow, police said today. At around 1 am last night, the man, who was in an inebriated state, called up the police control room here and threatened to plant a bomb at the college where the president would inaugurate the centenary celebrations tomorrow, they added. Thrissur District Police chief Yatish Chandra said the accused, Jayaraman, was picked up after his mobile phone was tracked down. During interrogation, he admitted to have made the call in an inebriated state. He is a priest at the Chirakal Bhagavathy temple here. A case was registered against him for criminal intimidation, the police said. The president, who was on a three-day visit to Kerala, arrived in the state capital yesterday. Kovind would be inaugurating a function at the Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram to mark the conclusion of the diamond ...
Kerala church flays NCW proposal to ban confession
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church today flayed the proposal of National Commission for Women (NCW) to prohibit the churches from practising confession, saying it went against the spirit of religious freedom envisaged in the Constitution. A resolution read out in most of the Orthodox churches in the state today said the proposal was against the spirit of ancient Indian culture and rich values, which respects all religions and faiths with tolerance. "We request the government of India to reject this unilateral immature proposal of the National Women's Commission which is against the spirit of religious freedom as envisaged in the constitution," the resolution said. The NCW's recommendation came in the backdrop of a rape case against four priests of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church who were accused of sexually exploiting a married woman. The matter came to light after the victim's husband wrote to the church alleging that the priests 'blackmailed and raped' his wife
Ban on church confessions recommendation: Orthodox Church observes 'protest day'
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on Sunday protested against a recommendation of the National Commission For Women (NCW) seeking ban on the sacrament of confession in churches.Priests of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church said they are against this proposal of NCW as it is against the spirit of ancient Indian culture which respects different faiths with tolerance.The church has also urged Centre to reject the aforementioned recommendation.The commission for woman made the proposal following a rape case involving four priests of the Orthodox Church.Also, the commission recommended abolishing the practice as it can lead to the blackmailing of women.The church authorities in their statement said confession was one of the sacred sacraments of the Church and that NCW's proposal was immature and taken without proper consultation and discussion.NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma had called for a thorough investigation by a central agency into the increasing incidents of rape and sexual ...
Steering their way to empowerment: Women drivers in Allahabad turn rickshaw owners
From walking 10 km each day to pick up the rickshaw she rented for the day to driving her own, it has been a happy seven-month ride to independence and empowerment for Allahabad girl Maria. The 23-year-old final year history honours student doubles up as an e-rickshaw driver in Allahabad, dropping off not just neighbours to their destination as she leaves her home in Ramapur, about 10 km from the city, in the morning but ferrying other passengers as well. "Now that I own the rickshaw, I don't have to worry about returning it to the owner without having made enough money for the day. Also, I can ride it at hours convenient to me, where I can manage both my studies and household works," the spunky young woman told PTI over the phone. The turnaround started in December when she was recruited by SMV Green Solutions to be part of Project Vahini. The Allahabad based start-up, working with the rickshaw community to provide affordable, clean and safe mobility, has brought on board six women ..
Odisha MLA performs last rites of destitute woman
Bringing in a glimmer of hope in the day and age of caste and religious divide, a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Rengali performed the last rites of an old woman, who was ostracised by her community, in Amnapali village of Jharsuguda district.The deceased woman, who earned a living by begging, was staying with her brother-in-law. However, the latter was unable to perform the last rights of the woman on account of health issues.With the family member unable to perform rituals and the fear of ostracisation of other members of the community after performing the last rites of a woman from a lower caste, the MLA, Ramesh Patua, stepped forward to be the deceased's pall-bearer, and helped perform the last rites along with his son and nephew on Saturday."According to a practice in the village, if a person touches the body of someone from another caste, he is ostracised by his own community. Therefore, I sent my son and nephew to take the body to the burial
Report: Man taking part in Iran protest fatally shot
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reports that a man taking part in a protest in the northern province of Alborz was fatally shot. The Saturday report says a protest was taking place a day earlier in Karaj, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Tehran, when someone fired from a car. There were no additional details. Fars reported authorities arrested 20 protesters and many of the protest leaders were women. There have been several demonstrations in Iranian cities in recent days over economic conditions and public buildings have been damaged. The Iranian rial has dropped to a record low amid growing concerns about renewed US sanctions, which kick in on Monday. Also on Friday, about 500 protesters attacked a seminary in Karaj and broke windows with stones and bricks.
We should have the right to criticise religion: Bangla writer
Bangladeshi-American human rights activist and writer Rafida Bonya Ahmed, whose husband Avijit Roy was hacked to death by Islamic extremists in February 2015 while they were visiting Dhaka, has called for citizens right to critique the religion.
BJP misleads people in the name of religion: Pilot
Accusing the BJP of misleading people in the name of religion, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president Sachin Pilot today asked if the saffron party shows concern and talks about temples only to seek political advantage in elections. Hitting out at the BJP and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Pilot said the BJP has emotionally exploited people and misled them. "BJP has been doing politics with temples at the centre of it. The party has always worked to force its divisive thought and mislead people in the name of religion," Pilot said in a statement here. He said over 300 temples were demolished in the state capital for the construction of the metro corridor. Pilot alleged that while some of the idols sustained damages in the process of shifting of temples, a number of them were stolen. He said Chief Minister Raje, who began her "Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra" after offering prayers at the Charbhujanath temple in Rajsamand district today, should reply to the questions raised by the ...
Kerala Police fail to take Bishop's statement in sex abuse case
A Kerala Police team -- probing the case relating to a Catholic Bishop accused of sexually abusing a nun -- arrived here on Saturday to record the statement of the Vatican representative, but they failed to as they had not taken prior permission for it.
Prez on 3-day visit to Kerala from tomorrow
President Ram Nath Kovind would arrive here tomorrow on a three-day visit to the state. On August 6, the President will inaugurate the 'Festival of Democracy' to mark the conclusion of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Governor P Sathasivan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala would also attend the function to be held at the Legislature complex here. he inaugural function would be followed by a two-day National Legislators Conference on 'Challenges in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Independent India.' On August 7, the President will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of St Thomas College, Thrissur, before returning to Delhi. The president's itinerary also includes offering prayers at the Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayoor on Wednesday, official sources said.
Book explores higher realms of self-discovery, inner peace
A new book acts as a meditation guide and explores ways to integrate realisation into everyday life by addressing the complex issues created by the influx of inner energy. According to Sarada Chiruvolu, the purpose of her book "Home At Last: A Journey To Higher Consciousness" is to delineate the truth pertaining to the spiritual dimension of life as she has experienced it. The book provides simple tips to maintain a healthy and effective daily life like proper food and exercise, restful sleep, outdoor activities, spiritual activity, decreasing inessential activities and overall busyness, and meditation. "Although it has been said by many that the realisation of higher consciousness so-called mystical experience - is much the same no matter one's religious or cultural background, each experience differs in its details," the author says. "What I have tried to recreate in this book are the precise details of the experience, from extraordinary states of consciousness that left me feeling
Anti-Semitism rises when populism lurches to the Right (Comment)
Call it coincidence or mysterious design, there are moments in world affairs when disparate societies have the same experience.
Is size of turban part of Sikh religion, asks SC
The Supreme Court on Friday sought to know if the topknot/ half or bun turban (patka) can be worn by Sikh athletes with helmets during participation in sporting events such as cycling, if it doesn't affect their faith".
Petition in HC seeks speedy probe into rape charge against Bishop
A writ petition seeking a speedy investigation into the rape charge levelled by a nun against a Jalandhar-based Bishop of the Roman Catholic church was filed in the Kerala High Court today. The petition was filed by the Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement (KCRM). In its petition, the KCRM complained that the police were not taking speedy action in the case. Justice Sunil Thomas recused himself from hearing the matter when it came up for his consideration today. The petition is likely to come up before another bench on Monday. Meanwhile, a special police team probing the case today reached New Delhi. Kerala Director General of Police Loknath Behera, who reviewed the progress of the probe two days ago, had said the team, headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash, would visit Jalandhar, New Delhi and other places for further investigation. In her complaint to the Kottayam district police chief, the nun had accused Mulakkal of raping her and having unnatural sex ..
Priests should be the models of sanctity: Archbishop
With a string of Christian priests facing accusations of sexual misconduct in Kerala, Archbishop Soosa Pakiam today said clergymen should be the models of sanctity in life. "Sanctity is one of the most vital component of the church. Priests should be the models of sanctity. We, the clergymen, have the responsibility to uphold and protect sanctity in life," he said at a function near here. Pakiam, who is also president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, said the recent incidents in the Catholic Church were a matter of shame for it. A woman's husband had accused five Orthodox priests of using his wife's secret confession to "blackmail and sexually abuse" her. The crime branch had slapped rape charges against four clergymen named by the alleged victim while the name of the fifth cleric was not included for want of substantial evidence. Two priests had been arrested in connection with the case. In another case, a nun had levelled rape charges against Jalandhar Bishop ..
Kerala Police to question accused bishop in Jalandhar
A Kerala Police team left for Jalandhar on Friday to question a Catholic bishop accused of sexually abusing a nun.