Page 39 - Religion Belief
Plea for TN poll dates change: EC tells HC it is sole authority to decide schedule
The Election Commission is the sole authority to decide election dates and courts have no jurisdiction to interfere with it, the poll body submitted in the Madras High Court on Thursday. State Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo stated this in a counter affidavit filed before a bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad on petitions seeking rescheduling of April 18 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu citing religious festivals and events. He said the Supreme Court in its various judgments had held that the framing of schedule or calendar for election was in the exclusive domain of the Election Commission (EC). The occurrence of a religious festival or season is common in the country and elections cannot be deferred solely on this ground, the counter said, seeking dismissal of the petitions. After hearing the arguments by the counsels for the EC and the petitioners, the bench reserved its order for Friday. The court had on Tuesday directed the EC to file the counter after ..
BJP first sent Advani to 'margdarshak mandal', has now snatched his constituency: Cong
The Congress Thursday took a swipe at the BJP for fielding Amit Shah from Gandhinagar in place of Lal Krishna Advani, alleging that first the party veteran was "forcefully" sent to the 'margdarshak mandal' and now his parliamentary constituency has been snatched away. The BJP Thursday announced its first list of 184 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, fielding Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi. The saffron party fielded its president Shah from Gandhinagar in place of 91-year-old Advani, who has won from the seat six times. "First Shri Lal Krishna Advani was forcefully sent to 'Marg Darshak Mandal and now his parliamentary constituency has been snatched," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. Advani was made a member of the 'margdarshak mandal' (group of mentors) after the BJP came to power in 2014. "When Modi Ji does not respect elders.Then why will he respect the people's trust? Get rid of BJP, save the country," Surejwala said.
Holi strengthens friendship among all sections of society:
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Thursday conveyed his best wishes for the well being of the people of the state on the occasion of Holi and said the festival was an opportunity to reaffirm peoples faith in the countrys cultural heritage. Tripathi said the festival of colour was to "strengthen the secular fabric of our country and spirit of friendship-fraternity among all sections of society." "May this joyous festival provide an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in the country's cultural heritage, strengthen the secular fabric of our country and spirit of friendship-fraternity among all sections of society", he said in a statement. "Holy festivity also marks as an occasion to reset and renew ruptured relationship, end conflicts and rid oneself of accumulated emotional impurities from the past. Holy reassures us of the power of the truth and that is the ultimate victory of good over evil," the governor added.
Dol Jatra/Holi celebrated with gaiety in West Bengal
West Bengal joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the festival of Holi - or Dol Jatra as it is called in this part of the country - with colours, song and prayers, amid stepped-up security on Thursday.
UK: Birmingham mosques attacked using sledgehammers
At least five mosques were reportedly attacked and vandalised on Wednesday night.Councillor Majid Mahmood, Labour party Councillor for the Bromford and Hodge Hill ward, Birmingham, tweeted confirming that sledgehammers were used to attack the mosques.Sharing the video portraying broken windows of a mosque, Mahmood tweeted, "This is Albert Road mosque (Jamia Masjid Ghousia) that was attacked overnight in the Aston part of Birmingham. I am here with the trustees and @WMPolice. I understand from locals 5 mosques were attacked overnight with sledgehammers. A disgusting attack on places of worship!!"In the wake of the recent New Zealand's Christchurch mosque shooting that claimed lives of at least 50 last week, this attack has once again questioned the safety of the community and the increase in Islamophobia across the globe.
Revellers hit streets during Holi celebrations in Bengal
Revellers hit the streets with sprinklers and threw 'gulal' in the air to the beating of drums chanting 'Holi Hain' as the festival of colours was celebrated with fervour across West Bengal Thursday. Groups of youths took to the roads in different localities since the morning hours and threw coloured water and smeared gulal on the faces of others to the accompaniment of chartbuster Holi songs like 'Rang Baroshe' and 'Khelbo Holi Rang Debona.' Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who wished the people of the state on the occasion, said in a tweet, "In memory of slain jawan in #PulwamaAttack % other brave martyrs, I have decided not to participate in Holi festivities this year." The day was also celebrated in Mayapur, global headquarters of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) where devotees from other countries converged danced merrily to the chanting of 'Hare Krishna'. Holi, better known as Doljatra in West Bengal, was also being celebrated by the Gaudiya .
Holi thoughts from Bollywood
Bollywood celebrities like Lata Mangeshkar and Dilip Kumar share their thoughts on Holi which was celebrated on Thursday.
Thousands converge for 'Hola Mohalla' celebrations
Tens of thousands of devotees converged in the Sikh holy town Anandpur Sahib on Thursday to offer prayers at Gurdwara Keshgarh Sahib during 'Hola Mohalla celebrations that coincides with Holi festival.
Vice president, PM greet nation on Holi
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday greeted people on Holi, saying the festival symbolises the victory of good over evil. In his message, Naidu said, "Holi is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. It is a festival that expresses joy and camaraderie." Modi hoped that the festival of colours will bring peace, harmony, prosperity and happiness in our lives.
President, Prime Minister greet people on Holi
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted people on the occasion of Holi festival.The President tweeted, "Greetings and best wishes to fellow citizens in India and abroad on the auspicious occasion of Holi. The festival of colours, Holi is a celebration of spring and fraternity in our society. May it bring peace, joy and prosperity to everyone's lives.""Best wishes to all the people of Holi's festival. This festival of joy and joy will deepen the color of our unity and goodwill," the Prime Minister tweeted.Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu also took to Twitter to convey his greetings to citizens on Holi."I convey my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Holi. It is a festival of colours. Celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm, the colourful festival celebrates change of season," he tweeted.
President, Vice President, PM extend Holi greetings
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday greeted the nation on the occasion of Holi.
As more are buried, emotional prayer service planned in NZ
Thousands of people were expected to come together for an emotional Friday prayer service led by the imam of one of the two New Zealand mosques where 50 worshippers were killed in a white supremacist attack. Six funerals took place Thursday, including for a teenager, a youth soccer coach and a Muslim convert who loved connecting with other women at the mosque. Imam Gamal Fouda said he is expecting 3,000 to 4,000 people at Friday's prayer service, including many who have come from abroad to be with members of Christchurch's Muslim community and to attend funerals. Fouda said he has been discussing plans for the prayer with city officials and lawmakers and expects it will take place in Hagley Park, a city landmark across from Al Noor mosque, where at least 42 people were killed. Members of the Linwood mosque, where the gunman killed at least seven people, also would attend the joint prayer, he said. Al Noor workers have been trying feverishly to repair the destruction at the mosque, ...
Trump says he uses Twitter to bypass corrupt media
US President Donald Trump has defended the frequent use of micro-blogging site Twitter to reach out to the public, asserting that it lets him bypass the "corrupt" and "fake" media. "I think that Twitter is a way that I get out the word when we have a corrupt media. And it is corrupt and it's fake. So Twitter is a way that I can get out the word," Trump told reporters at the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday. "On five sites, I have over 100 million people, and that includes Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and everything. And it's a way that I can get honesty out, because there's tremendous dishonesty with respect to the fake-news media," the US president added.
BJP not involved in Sabarimala Karma Samithi activities, says Kummanam Rajasekharan
BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan on Wednesday said his party had no active involvement in the activities of Sabarimala Karma Samithi in Kerala.This comes after Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor filed a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena against the BJP and the Sabarimala Karma Samithi.Rajasekharan said: "The BJP has no involvement or voice in the activity of Sabarimala Karma Samithi, which works on its own. It will answer to Tharoor's complaint.""BJP is working in compliance with directions of the EC. As a party, we are independent and not involved in the activities of Sabarimala Karma Samithi."Shashi Tharoor filed a complaint with the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer on Wednesday against the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sabarimala Karma Samithi, accusing them of making malicious attempts to foment religious sentiments of voters.
President Kovind greets citizens on eve of Holi
President Ram Nath Kovind has greeted citizens on the eve of Holi.In a message to people on Wednesday, President said, "On the occasion of the joyous festival of Holi, I convey my greetings to all fellow citizens in India and abroad."This festival is a celebration of spring and of our sense of fraternity and mutual goodwill. May the confluence of colours bring positive energy to all our families and our shared society," Kovind said.Holi will be celebrated across the country on Thursday.
Litigants of Ayodhya dispute case play Holi
Primary litigants of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute- Iqbal Ansari and Mahant Dharamdas played Holi here on Wednesday while contending that 'misunderstanding" must be eliminated to reach a "reasonable" outcome."In order to reach a reasonable outcome, misunderstanding must be eliminated. Those who are trying to fill their votes banks based on this must be alerted that their tactics will not work anymore. We want to give a message to the world that there should be no politics in the name of religion, caste, temple or mosques," Iqbal Ansari told ANI."To keep the feelings of brotherhood alive, we played Holi with our brother. We have blended with our brothers just like two colours mix together, effortlessly," he added.Another litigant Mahant Dharamdas echoed the same sentiments.Speaking to ANI, he said: "Humanity is our priority. You cannot divide us for your votes. Our aim is to be together."He also requested the Supreme Court to take a final call on the issue. "Our Muslim
President extends Holi greetings
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Holi, calling it "a celebration of spring and of our sense of fraternity".
Assam guv, chief minister greets people on Holi eve
Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Wednesday greeted the people of Assam on the auspicious occasion of Holi and hoped the festival of colours marks the onset of warmer season and victory of good over evil. "I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of Assam in particular and the country in general on the auspicious occasion of Holi-the festival of colours," the governor said in a message here on the eve of the festival of colours. He further hoped that this festival may bring peace, harmony, prosperity and happiness in everyone's life. The colours of Holi reflect the state's diversity and multi-cultural heritage, and may the "festival become a harbinger of joy, happiness and merriment for all cutting across all caste, creed and ethnicity", the governor added. The chief minister, in a statement Wednesday, said that the celebrations of Holi would strengthen the bond of brotherhood, friendship and harmony. The colours of Holi .
PC George's party in Kerala not to contest LS polls
Kerala Janapaksham headed by P C George, which supported protests by Hindu outfits over the Sabarimala issue, Wednesday said it would not contest the Lok Sabha elections but asked its workers to defeat "forces trying to humiliate and tarnish religious faith and traditions". Kerala Janapaksham will not field candidates in any constituency, including Pathanamthitta, party Chairman and Poonjar MLA P C George said in a statement here. This marks a shift in the party's stand as George had earlier said he would contest from Pathanamthitta constituency where the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa temple is situated. He had said the party would also field candidates in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Chalakkudi and Idukki seats. In his statement Wednesday, George said it was time for the Kerala Janapaksham party workers to ensure the defeat of the forces trying to humiliate and tarnish religious faith and traditions" in the April 23 elections. George had supported protests by various ...
Former hockey captain Sardar Singh named in OCA Standing Committee
Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh has been named in the Standing Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at its 38th General Assembly in Bangkok earlier this month. Sardar is part of a 10-member panel which has been nominated for a four-year term from 2019 to 2023. The OCA General Assembly was held in Bangkok on March 2 and 3. "As per the authority vested in me by the OCA Constitution and the OCA General Assembly, I have nominated the members of the OCA Standing Committees," OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in a statement. "I wish the Chair and the members of the OCA Standing Committees the very best of luck and look forward to cooperating with your good self in the coming 4 years to strengthen further," he added.