Page 15 - Religion Belief
'Disgraced' Owaisi behind terrorism, anti-India slogans: Ayodhya priest
"Disgraced" people like Asaduddin Owaisi are responsible for terrorism, raising of anti-India slogans and bringing a bad name to Islam, Chhawani Temple priest Pramhans Das on Saturday said here."There are some disgraced people like Owaisi in the society who help extremism to grow. Aatankwadiyon ka agar kahin network milta hai to usme kahi na kahi usme Owaisi ka hath hai (Owisi is, somehow, responsible for the terrorism.) People like Owaisi are behind the raising of anti-India slogans. People like him bring a bad name to Islam," Das said.He slammed Owaisi for his statement that Muslims need not fear by Modi returning to power and said that every citizen is respected in the country. "There was never. It seems Owaisi wants to say that Muslims lived in fear ever since," the priest said.He said: "People like Owaisi live in the country but keep anti-India ideology. People should rescue themselves from these people."AIMIM chief Owaisi had on Friday said Muslims are free to follow their faith
Kerala Ramadan congregation ends with pledge against terrorism
A Ramadan congregation near here which is billed as one of the country's largest and held annually on the 26th night of the Muslim holy month, ended on Saturday with a pledge against terrorism and prayers for universal peace.
If Modi can visit temple, we can visit mosques : AIMIM chief asks Muslims not to worry about BJP's return to power
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said Muslims are free to follow their faith and visit mosques and should not be worried about the BJP's return to power, as the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to every citizen."If Modi can visit a temple we can visit our mosques, if Modi can go sit in a cave, we Muslims can also proudly say our prayers in mosques. Securing more than 300 seats is not a huge thing, Because India has a living Constitution. The 300 seats (of the BJP) cannot take away our rights," said Owaisi.The AIMIM chief, who was re-elected from Hyderabad for the fourth consecutive term, was addressing a Jalse-e-Youm-ul-Quran on the occasion of Jumat-Ul-Vida (last Friday of Ramzan) at Macca Masjid here on Friday.The Hyderabad parliamentarian said: "Even in Uttar Pradesh, BJP won, at least public should understand what happened there. If BJP thinks that by winning 300 seats they can rule over India, they are wrong. I promise that Asaduddin Owaisi will fight for India.
Sheila Diskshit participates in Roza Iftar at DPCC
Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit, Congress workers and a large number of people from the Muslim community, took part in the Roza Iftar party organized by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) here on Friday.Besides Dikshit, prominent among those who took part in the Iftar party were All India minority President of Congress Nadeem Javed, Ex-MLA Haroon Yusuf, Devender Yadav, Mateen Ahmed, Mangat Ram Singhal etc.Sheila Dikshit said: "Roza fast teaches people self control and moderation, and the Roza Iftar party gives an opportunity for people from different religious faiths to congregate and strengthen their bonds and brotherhood"."On this pious occasion, people from all walks of life and all communities meet each other and extend greetings to uphold the hoary tradition of India in fostering brotherhood and religious amity," she added.
Muslims are shareholders, not tenants in India: Owaisi
Stating that Muslims are shareholders and not tenants in India, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said their fight to get the rights guaranteed by the country's Constitution will continue.
Don't worry about BJP's return to power: Owaisi to Muslims
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Friday said the country's Muslims should not worry about the BJP's return to power as the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to every citizen. The Hyderabad MP also hit out at the perpetrators of the April 21 Easter Sunday serial bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, which left more than 250 people dead. The Bharatiya Janata Party capped a massive mandate by winning a total of 303 seats while the NDA has 353 MPs in the recently elected 17th Lok Sabha. "India's law, Constitution gives us this permission that we follow our religion," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief said in his address to a gathering at the Makkah Masjid here. "When India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi can go to a temple, you can proudly visit a mosque," he told the gathering. Slamming those behind the terror attacks on churches and luxury hotels in the island nation, Owaisi said there was no place for violence in Islam. The Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for
Pope praises 'sacrifices' of Romanians seeking fortune abroad
Pope Francis on Friday praised the "sacrifices" of Romanian emigrants on the first day of his trip to the country, where rampant unemployment and poverty have pushed millions of youngsters to seek better lives abroad. Francis said the exodus had led to the "depopulation of many villages" in Romania, which still faces major socio-political problems despite joining the EU in 2007. "I pay homage to the sacrifices endured by so many sons and daughters of Romania who... have enriched those countries to which they have emigrated, and by the fruit of their hard work have helped their families who have remained at home," he said in a speech broadcast on national television. Francis arrived in Bucharest earlier Friday with a message of integration for faith communities and a post-election European Union following nationalist gains. Thousands of people had gathered along the capital's main boulevards to wave to Francis on his way to the presidential palace, with many TV channels broadcasting ...
Politics and prayers for the last days of Ramadan in Mecca
Islam's holiest city Mecca is abuzz with pilgrims in the last days of the fasting month of Ramadan, despite tight security for high-profile gatherings of Muslim and Arab dignitaries. At a palace overlooking the Grand Mosque, Saudi Arabia's King Salman hosted back-to-back emergency summits of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League in the early hours of Friday. Some roads remained blocked as Mecca geared up to host a third meeting later in the day, a long-scheduled gathering of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. As the flags of participating countries fluttered in the streets, worshippers in white flocked towards the Grand Mosque that surrounds the Kaaba stone towards which Muslims pray. Mecca sees an influx in the last 10 days of Ramadan, which believers consider the holiest month. Pilgrims from all over the world spend those days praying in the Grand Mosque as well as other places of worship in the holy city, entry to which is forbidden for non-Muslims. Emirati visitor ...
Pope visits Romania 20 years after John Paul's historic trip
Pope Francis is heading to Romania for a three-day, cross-country pilgrimage that in many ways is completing the 1999 trip by St. John Paul II that marked the first-ever papal visit to a majority Orthodox country. Francis' visit starting Friday comes on the heels of the European Parliament elections that hollowed out the political middle in the bloc, and Francis is expected to speak about issues confronting the continent during the trip. Key moments are Francis' Mass for the largely Hungarian-speaking Roman Catholic faithful at the country's most famous Marian shrine, Sumuleu Ciuc, in eastern Transylvania. He will also beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops who were martyred during communist rule, when Catholics were brutally persecuted.
US lesbian couple sues after foster agency turns them away
A lesbian couple in South Carolina is challenging the US state's practice of letting taxpayer-funded foster care agencies reject prospective parents who don't share their religious beliefs.
Maharashtra: Hindu officer observes 'roza' on behalf of ailing driver
Keeping religious beliefs aside and placing humanity first, Sanjay N Mali, a Divisional Forest Officer in Buldhana, is observing 'roza' (fast) in place of his driver Zafar during the holy month of Ramzan.Speaking to ANI, Mali said, "On 6 May, I asked him if he will keep roza. He said he won't be able to as his health does not support him because of duty. So, I told him I will do it in his place.""Since May 6, I have been keeping roza. I wake up at 4 am and eat something. Then I break my roza after 7 pm," he said while detailing about his schedule.Mali believes that every person should do his/her bit to spread communal harmony.Calling the practice an 'ideal example of communal harmony', he said, "I believe every religion teaches us something good. We must spread communal harmony. We first see humanity, religion is secondary. After keeping roza, I am feeling very fresh."The Ramzan fast begins with a pre-dawn meal called 'sehri'. At sunset, when it's time to mark the end of the daylong ..
Italian Foreign Minister hosts Iftar meal in Rome
Rome, May 31 (IANS/AKI) Italy's Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi on Wednesday hosted diplomats from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and representatives of Italy's Muslim community for an Iftar meal, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Two ministers differ from the rest
Two ministers differed from the other ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi by taking oath of the office and secrecy at the swearing-in ceremony, held in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, by not doing it in the name of 'God'.While Modi and 55 others took the oath in the name of God, most of them in Hindi, Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP and Rao Inderjit Singh of BJP did it by "solemnly affirming".
Kerala's V. Muraleedharan to join Modi ministry
Kerala BJP President V. Muraleedharan is set to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new ministry.
Nikhil Dwivedi to produce 'Shrimad Bhagwad Mahapuran' on TV
Producer Nikhil Dwivedi is all set to bring "Shrimad Bhagwad Mahapuran" to the small screen.
Hindu names commonplace in Maharashtra's Tadvi Bhil Muslims
The suicide of 26-year-old doctor Payal Tadvi, allegedly due to casteist slurs by three seniors, has put the spotlight on Hindu names commonly used in Tadvi Bhil Muslim tribal community, found in parts of Maharashtra. The Tadvi community is listed under Scheduled Tribes and is also found in pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Payal belonged to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community. The gynaecology PG student had secured admission in a state-run medical college and hospital in Mumbai last year through a reserved category seat. Tadvi Bhils are a sub-caste of the Bhil community and among them, those who adopted Islam are known as Tadvi Bhil Muslims, said a social activist from Payal's home district Jalgaon in north Maharashtra. Jalgaon district has over 60,000 Tadvi Bhil Muslims, the largest number in Maharashtra. The community is mainly spread in Raver, Yawal and Chopda regions of the district, the activist said. Asked about the tribal community following Islam as .
Muslim worshipper injured in UK hit-and-run
A Muslim worshipper was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash after coming out of a mosque in the UK city of Leicester, the media reported on Thursday.
Ahead of swearing-in, Jagan Reddy visits Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada
Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-elect YS Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Kanakadurga temple on Indrakeeladri hill here on Wednesday.Reddy, along with party leaders, visited the temple and offered special prayers to Goddess Durga. He was received by the temple priests and officials on his arrival.Jagan, who is slated to take oath as Chief Minister on Thursday, visited various religious places today. He offered prayers at the Lord Balaji temple in Tirumala, after which he went on to visit the Peda Dargah at Kadapa. He also offered prayers at CSI church situated in his hometown Pulivendula.Jagan had steered YSRCP to a four-fifths majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state. His party also managed to win 22 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Jaganmohan Reddy visits church ahead of swearing in ceremony
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday offered prayers at CSI church situated here in his hometown Pulivendula.The soon to be Chief Minister, before the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, is visiting religious places today. Reddy, on Wednesday morning, started by going to the Tirumala Temple to offer his prayers to Lord Balaji after which he went on to visit the Peda Dargah at Kadapa.He is further slated to visit the Kanakadurga temple at Vijayawada.YSRCP had secured a landslide majority in the assembly and parliamentary elections in Andhra Pradesh. Reddy had steered YSRCP to a four-fifths majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state.Reddy is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on May 30.
Chinese authorities issue 'secret' document for crackdown on Christian churches
Chinese authorities have issued a "secret" document directing the local administrations to launch a nationwide crackdown on Christian churches having ties with foreign religious communities.According to an article originally published by Bitter Winter and republished in Chinascope- a media research company- the document has been issued by United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Ministry of Public Security of the Liaoning Provincial Government.It is titled as 'Work Plan for Investigating and Handling Foreign Christian Penetration in Accordance with the Law'.The CCP's secret document gives the government agencies special powers to "resolutely crack down on foreign religious believers, resolutely destroy the religious activities of foreign religious groups in the local area and resolutely prevent organisations from attending training in neighboring countries and regions."It also directs them to tighten restrictions on the use of .