Page 24 - Religion Belief
Will file defamation suite against Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Hans Raj Hans
BJP candidate from North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat and famous Punjabi folk singer Hans Raj Hans on Friday said that he will file a defamation suite against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders for maligning his image.
Lanka mosques conduct Friday prayers with no breaches of security
Mosques across Sri Lanka held Friday prayers with no untoward incident, authorities said. Last week, most mosques shunned Friday's prayers due to security fears whereas in some areas the Buddhist majority temples were offered as locations to conduct them. Despite the mosques resumed Friday prayers, the Catholic community has cancelled this weekend's prayers at churches for fear of security. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, instructed on Thursday that no public mass will be held until further notice. He cited foreign intelligence information on more attacks despite an assurance from the government that adequate security would be provided to conduct Sunday masses. Last Sunday, a televised mass was held at the Archbishop's House here with the country's top leaders in attendance. The Ministry of Education is all set to resume schools on May 6. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said security would be provided at schools. The police warned not to park vehicles ..
Christian persecution close to genocide in Middle East
Pervasive persecution of Christians, sometimes amounting to genocide, is ongoing in parts of the Middle East, and has prompted an exodus in the past two decades, said a UK-commissioned report.
Will sue Kejriwal for maligning my image: Hans Raj Hans
Punjabi singer and BJP candidate from the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat Hans Raj Hans Friday said he will take a legal action against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders for "maligning" his image. The AAP has accused Hans of allegedly converting to Islam in 2014, and said he cannot contest the general election from the North West Delhi reserved seat. Hans refused the charge and said he would have been ousted by his own family if he had converted his religion. "I was born in a Valmiki family and my mother worships saint Valmiki. She would have killed me had I converted to Islam," he said. Hans said he was deeply hurt by the accusations of AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, and will take a legal action against them.
Kerala Minister endorses burqa ban by MES
The Muslim Educational Society (MES) in Kerala, which came out with a circular banning all face covering attires, on Friday got support from Kerala Minister of Higher Education K.T. Jaleel.
Plea against Mayawati: Court directs complainant to approach authorities for prosecution sanction
A Delhi court on Wednesday directed a person to approach the authorities concerned for requisite sanction on his plea seeking registration of an FIR against BSP supremo Mayawati for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by comparing herself to Lord Rama. Metropolitan Magistrate Puneet Nagpal directed the complainant to approach the Distict Magistrate in order to get the sanctions from Uttar Pradesh and the central governments to prosecute Mayawati. It has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 31. The plea has referred to Mayawati's affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in which she said that if the ruling party in UP can make an idol of Lord Rama in Ayodhya measuring 221 metres by using government funds, then why can't she get her own idol made. It alleged that through her "sarcastic comments" in the affidavit, Mayawati has attempted to prompt disharmony or feelings of enmity, hurt or ill-will between different religious communities. "It is a clear cut preplanned ...
TN temples to have special ragas, prayers for rains
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to propiate the gods for rain with special prayers and playing certain ragas in temples that it administers.
Anti-Semitic attacks spike, killing most Jews in decades
Israeli researchers reported Wednesday that violent attacks against Jews spiked significantly last year, with the largest reported number of Jews killed in anti-Semitic acts in decades, leading to an "increasing sense of emergency" among Jewish communities worldwide. Capped by the deadly shooting that killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, assaults targeting Jews rose 13 per cent in 2018, according to Tel Aviv University researchers. They recorded nearly 400 cases worldwide, with more than a quarter of the major violent cases taking place in the United States. But the spike was most dramatic in western Europe, where Jews have faced even greater danger and threats. In Germany, for instance, there was a 70 per cent increase in anti-Semitic violence. "There is an increasing sense of emergency among Jews in many countries around the world," said Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, an umbrella group representing Jewish communities ..
Person sitting on PM's chair most unfit ever: Mamata
Attacking Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has labelled him as the "most unfit Prime Minister ever"."I have earlier seen lots of prime ministers in my career. I was a Union minister... I have served under many prime ministers. But the person on the Prime Minister's chair is the most unfit," she said at a rally here on Tuesday.Banerjee alleged that Modi did not know basic political courtesies and does not know "a trace" of Bengali culture."Just see what language he (Modi) uses for his opponents. He does not have basic political courtesies. He cannot respect any culture. He does not know a trace of Bengali culture. He thinks that everyone is his servant," the TMC supremo said.On Monday, Modi had claimed that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him and there was nothing that could save Banerjee."Didi, on May 23, when the results will come, the lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you. Didi, your 40 MLAs are in contact with me even now," he had said at .
Shiv Sena demands ban on burqa in public places
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday called for a ban on the use of burqa as it threw its weight behind a similar plan being mulled by the Sri Lankan government in the wake of the Easter terror strikes which claimed over 250 lives.
Jairam Ramesh pens biography of diplomat-politician V K Krishna Menon
Former union minister and writer Jairam Ramesh is penning the biography of celebrated Indian nationalist, diplomat, and politician V K Krishna Menon, publisher Penguin Random House has announced. Titled "Chequered Brilliance: The Many Lives of V K Krishna Menon", the book will hit stands in the first quarter of 2020. It will chronicle Menon's early life, moving through his agitational career in the UK for a quarter of a century, and his political and diplomatic innings from 1947 to 1974, culminating in his resignation as the country's defence minister in November 1962. "This new full-length biography of V K Krishna Menon, a compelling political personality in the emergence of modern India, will give me the chance to tell his story in all its complexity and depth through primary sources. "It will bring out Krishna Menon in all his various roles and incarnations," Ramesh said. The book draws extensively, for the first time, on material that has become available in archives in India and .
World nearing 'pivotal moment' in battle against hatred: UN chief
After a synagogue shooting in the United States and a church attack in Burkina Faso, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that the world is nearing a "pivotal moment" in the battle against hatred. "As crime feeds on crime, and as vile views move from the fringes to the mainstream, I am profoundly concerned that we are nearing a pivotal moment in battling hatred and extremism," Guterres said in a statement. A teenage gunman opened fire at a synagogue in California on Saturday, killing one person and injuring three others including the rabbi as worshippers marked the final day of Passover. On Sunday, gunmen killed four worshippers and a pastor in a small town in Burkina Faso, the first attack on a church since jihadist violence erupted in the African country in 2015. On March 15, 160 people were killed in attacks on mosques in New Zealand. Guterres deplored a "disturbing groundswell of intolerance and hate-based violence targeting worshippers of many faiths," saying such
Muslims show solidarity with Christians in wake of Easter bombings in Sri Lanka
Members of the Muslim community in Bengaluru and Mysuru came out in large numbers in a show of solidarity with Christians following the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka that targetted churches and hotels and left over 250 people dead. Maqsood Imran Rashidi, the Imam of Bengaluru Jamia Masjid, said a large number of Muslims Sunday gathered in front of a church in the city and townhall to show that the community stood by the Christians at this hour of grief. "We want to convey the message that Muslims share the pain of the Christians and we express full solidarity with them," Rashidi told PTI. Munawwar Pasha, the head of the Mysuru chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said that following an appeal by him, Muslims and members of other communities Sunday gathered outside the main church of the city, St Philomena, to extend solidarity with the christians. "We want to convey the message that the Muslims and others are with the Christian brothers and sisters," he said. Pasha said a large ...
Case registered against one more person in "fake" letter case
A case was registered Monday against a woman for allegedly sharing on her Facebook page the 'fake letter' purportedly written by State home minister M B Patil to Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi two years ago on religious minority tag to the Lingayat sect. Sharada 'Diamond' is the fourth person to come under thepolice scanner in the last five days for allegedly sharing and talkingabout the letter, according to police sources. Police said the case was registered against her under the Information Technology Act-2008 based on a complaint by J Saravana. The post has been removed but the content is now part of the FIR registered by Srirampura police in the city, according to police. Patil had termed the letter fake and alleged that it was a conspiracy against him by his rivals. A journalist Hemanth Kumar, who is reportedly a BJP sympathiser, has already been arrested for allegedly circulating the 'fake letter' though social media. Prior to this, a BJP woman supporter ...
EC issues notice to Giriraj Singh over his 'Muslim' remark, asks him to reply within 24 hours
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued a notice to Union Minister Giriraj Singh for allegedly making a derogatory remark against Muslims and asked him to submit an explanation within 24 hours.The Commission raised objections over Singh's statement made on April 24 in Begusarai from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha election.In an apparent attack on Muslims, Singh had reportedly said: "...Whosoever does not say Vande Mataram, cannot worship motherland. My father and grandfather died at Simaria ghat and no grave was built for them. But you need three-arm's-length of land. If you could not do it, then the country will never forgive you..."A section of the Muslim is against saying Vande Matram calling it un-Islamic.The Commission in its notice quoted a Supreme Court's order where the top court held that religion and caste cannot be used by anyone while making any statement during electioneering.The police have registered an FIR under relevant sections."It has been ...
Pope urges hairdressers to cut gossip
Pope Francis on Monday welcomed hairdressers, hairstylists and beauticians to the Vatican but warned them not to indulge in gossip while feathering locks or painting fingernails. "Practise your profession in a Christian style, treating customers with kindness and courtesy, and always offering them a good word and encouragement," he said. Snip split ends and wax limbs while "avoiding giving in to the temptation of chatter that easily creeps into your work environment," he urged them during an audience in the Vatican. He said the cosmetologists should be guided by their patron saint, Peruvian Martino de Porres, a 16th-century barber-surgeon whose miracles include levitation, being in two places at once, instant cures, and an ability to communicate with animals. De Porres, who is also the patron saint of mixed-race people, innkeepers and public health workers, was a barber-surgeon in Lima, an ancient trade which covered everything from haircuts to amputations and bloodletting. "Each of ..
Turnout in Rajasthan is in BJP's favour: Rathore
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday expressed confidence that all the crowd queuing up outside various polling stations in Rajasthan is in favour of the BJP.
7 people shot at, 1 killed as gunman opens fire in Baltimore
At least one person lost his life when an unidentified gunman opened fire in a neighbourhood in southwest Baltimore on Sunday evening, police said.CNN quoted police spokeswoman Chakia Fennoy as saying that the incident took place on the 2500 block of Edmondson Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.The state media noted that in the incident, reported after 5 p.m., around seven people were indiscriminately shot at.One person was found dead near Perkins Square Baptist Church, while the six others, including men and women, were shifted to the hospital.However, no additional details of the shootings have been reported.Further details are awaited.
Cheetah Mehrat community: Hindus, Muslims in same family; water scarcity main poll issue
Voters may be getting polarised on religious lines in many parts of the country, but a community in Rajasthan has Hindus and Muslims in the same family and the main election issue for them is not religion, but water scarcity. It is not odd in India to find villages with members of both the Hindu and Muslim community living together, but in Ajaysar village -- about 140 km Jaipur -- in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, one may find members of both the religions in a family. "This has been our culture since centuries," said Jawahar Singh, a Hindu, whose son, Salahuddin, is a Muslim. He is among the nearly 10-lakh Cheetah Mehrat community spread over Ajmer, Bhilwara, Pali and Rajsamand districts. Like most of the voters, this election season, Cheetah Mehrat community is closely monitoring the parties. Anand said the community is now divided between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "But, our vote will go to the party who solves the problem of water scarcity here," he ...
Children born to IS fathers not considered Yazidi: Council
Children born to Yazidi women as a result of rape by Islamic State group fighters will not be permitted to join the community in northern Iraq, the faith's Supreme Spiritual Council said. The Yazidi community once numbered around 500,000 members in the mountainous Sinjar region of northwest Iraq, but it was ravaged by IS's 2014 sweep into the area. Jihadists killed Yazidi men, forced boys to join their ranks as fighters and abducted and imprisoned thousands of Yazidi women as sex slaves. The children born of those rapes have been the subject of fierce debate in the insular community, which only recognises children as Yazidis if both their parents hail from the sect. Last week, the head of the Supreme Spiritual Council Hazem Tahsin Said issued what appeared to be a landmark shift, publishing an order "accepting all survivors (of IS crimes) and considering what they went through to have been against their will". The decision was hailed as "historic" by Yazidi activists, who understood ..