Page 89 - Religion Belief
Fresh protests in Sabarimala, 28 devotees taken into preventive custody
Twenty-eight people were taken into preventive custody at the Sabarimala Temple late Sunday night after fresh protests broke out at Nadapanthal area in Sannidhanam where hundreds of devotees agitated against the police restrictions. On the second day of the two month-long pilgrimage season, the devotees gathered at the covered pathway to the temple when they were asked to leave Sannidhanam. Due to the early incidents of violence at the hill-top shrine, the police had imposed strict restrictions for devotees at Sannidhanam, including not allowing them to stay back in the night. Superintendent of Police (special officer) Pratheesh Kumar said the 28 people were detained for violating Section 144 that prohibits assembly of more than four people at a spot. "Section 144 had been declared in the area. We had asked them to disperse after the Harivarasanam but most of them refused," the SP said. He said the police was not against devotees offering prayers. "Those who have to offer ...
Vedanti wants Ram temple's construction to start before Dec 6
Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti has hoped that the work on construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya will start before December 6, the day when the Babri Masjid was pulled down by karsevaks in 1992. The former parliamentarian expressed the hope while disapproving of promulgation of any ordinance or enactment of a law to build the Ram temple and said an amicable settlement between the Hindus and Muslims to the Ayodhya dispute would be its "best possible solution." Speaking to reporters here Saturday at the Kalki Mahostsava, Vedanti said, "I want that the construction work for the Ram temple in Ayodhya should commence before December 6." "From the scenario which is visible, it seems that this month itself, there will be some grounds on which an agreement will be reached. On any date in December, we will start the construction work. We will not wait for 2019," he said. The former BJP MP, however, disapproved of any ordinance or law to build the Ram temple. "Bringing an ordinance or enacting .
UP DGP issues instructions to step up security in all religious locations
Following a grenade attack on a prayer hall in Amritsar, UP Director General of Police O P Singh issued instructions Sunday for stepping up security at all the religious places in the state. In a statement issued here by the UP Police, a spokesperson said, "As per the directives of the UP DGP, instructions have been issued to maintain and step up security at various religious places and institutions across the state." "Apart from this, steps must be taken to ensure that continuous vigil is maintained at the religious places. Intensive checking must be carried out in the western UP districts bordering other states, so that no untoward incident takes place," it said. Three people were killed and at least 10 injured in a grenade attack on a prayer hall brimming with around 200 devotees on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab Sunday. The blast occurred during a religious gathering of the Nirankari sect at Nirankari Bhavan in Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, which is close to the .
CJI Ranjan Gogoi offers prayers at Lord Balaji shrine
Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi Sunday offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala. On arrival at the ancient shrine, he was accorded a traditional reception by priests and top officials of the shrine, a temple official said. Justice Gogoi, on his maiden visit to the temple after becoming the CJI last month, was accompanied by his family members. He offered prayers at the hill shrine this evening, the official said. Earlier, the CJI and his family members visited the Sri Padmavathi temple at Tiruchanoor near here and offered prayers. Justice Gogoi, hailing from Assam, was sworn in as the 46th chief justice of India on October 3, becoming the first person from the Northeast to reach the top position of the judiciary.
Ayodhya issue: NCM chief to mediate for out-of-court settlement, asks Muslims to be 'big-hearted'
National Commission for Minorities chairperson Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi on Sunday made a strong pitch for mediation in the Ayodhya issue, saying he will speak with all stakeholders for an out-of-court settlement of the matter. He also appealed to Muslims to be "big-hearted" as it was a matter of faith for the Hindus. Rizvi said in his mediation bid, he will make efforts to get an assurance for Muslims that if they agree to settle the Ayodhya issue, no dispute over mosques in other places such as "Kashi and Mathura" will arise. In an interview to PTI, Rizvi said the commission, in its monthly meeting on November 14, authorised him, as the chairperson, that if he wants to mediate, he can hold talks with all the stakeholders for an out-of-court settlement. Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. "I believe that the court judgment will be in ...
Amritsar attack: Rajnath assures strong action
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, assuring "strong action" against those responsible for a grenade attack at a religious gathering on Nirankaris in Amritsar which killed three people.
Himachal CM participates in Renuka Fair
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday participated in six-day International Renuka Fair being organised in Sirmaur district.
Imran Khan begins UAE visit
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday embarked on a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Hopeful of law for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya: BJP MP
A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has said he was hopeful of enactment of a law during the winter session of Parliament for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. BJP MP from Salempur Lok Sabha constituency Ravindra Kushwaha, while addressing party workers on Saturday during Kamal Sandesh Bike Rally here said: "The winter session of the Parliament which commences on December 11 will witness enactment of a law for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Referring to the Rafale issue, Kushwaha said, "Rahul Gandhi has failed in politics, and is misleading the public. He is raking up the Rafale issue to share information with Pakistan and China." Meanwhile, A BJP MLA from the state said that faith is above Constitution, and termed it unfortunate that "Lord Ram is forced to live in a tent in Ayodhya. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, BJP MLA from Bairia in Ballia Surendra Singh said, "God is bigger than the Constitution. Faith is linked to God, and hence it is above ...
Three dead in grenade attack on religious meet in Amritsar
At least three people were killed and 10 others injured when two motorcycle-borne masked youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation in Rajasansi area in Punjab's Amritsar district on Sunday, police said.
Pak's Tableeghi Jamaat chief Abdul Wahab dies
Pakistan's Tableeghi Jamaat chief Haji Muhammad Abdul Wahab died here Sunday morning after prolonged illness. He was 95. He was being treated for dengue fever at a private hospital in Lahore. Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noor ul Haq Qadri have expressed grief over the demise of the nonagenarian cleric, Radio Pakistan reported. Wahab was born in January 1923 in Delhi and migrated to Pakistan after the partition. According to Tableeghi Markaz in Raiwind, timing of his funeral prayers will be announced later. The Tableeghi Jamaat is one of the largest organisations of Sunni Muslims in the Indian subcontinent with its headquarters, referred to as the Markaz, in New Delhi. The organisation was founded by Indian Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhalvi in 1920.
Phool Waalon Ki Sair: An offering of communal unity at altar of secular India (IANS Special Series)
When Syed Fariddudin Qutbi, the "khadim" (attendant) of the shrine of 13th century sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Meharauli, stepped out after offering a floral "chhatra" (a flower-embellished umberella) at the ancient Yogmaya temple located at a stone's throw from the dargah, all he had to say was that in the small temple sanctum sanctorum suffused with a strong incense and jasmine fragrance, he felt the same tranquility and a "magnificent, invisible power" he feels at the dargah.
Panama prisoners build confession boxes for papal visit
Amid swirling sawdust and the smell of fresh paint, the inmates of a grim Panamanian prison are diligently preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis, hoping for forgiveness and praying for freedom. The sound of nails being deftly hammered into wood mingles with music in the makeshift workshop of the overcrowded La Joya prison, northeast of Panama City. Around 30 inmates are busy making confession boxes that will be used by pilgrims to confess their sins to priests during the pope's January 22-27 visit to mark the Catholic World Youth Day festival. A painting on one of the walls at the entrance to La Joya seems oddly prophetic: "God impacts your life, let yourself be led to him." Inmates like Felix Salinas hold out hope that a papal visit will impact their lives in some concrete way. "I would ask him to give me a chance. A pardon at least. Because that is what we all want here," said Salinas, a 50-year-old driver locked up here since 2015. Justino Hernandez, 62 and a devout ...
'Modi ji is PM and Yogi ji is CM, but Lord Ram is in a tent'
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Surendra Singh has joined the chorus demand for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya while criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for failing to build the temple despite being in positions of power.Speaking to media, Singh said "We have a great Prime Minister like Modi Ji and a great Chief Minister like Yogi Ji, who are both believers of Hinduism. But unfortunately, during their governance, Lord Ram stays in a tent. This is unfortunate for India and the Hindu society. One should create such situation that Ram Temple must be created in Ayodhya itself."Singh further opined that no delays should occur in the construction of the temple, as god and faith are beyond the Constitution."God is beyond the Constitution. There should be no delay. Ram Temple should be constructed in its designated place Ayodhya," he added.The Supreme Court on October 29 had adjourned the Ayodhya title suit till next year
If Hindus unite, then no one can stop construction of Ram temple: Subramanian Swamy
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Saturday if the Hindus unite then no one could stop the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said it was the fundamental right of Hindus to offer prayers at the birthplace of Ram and added that even the Supreme Court would agree on the issue of their faith. Swamy was addressing a conference at the BHU's Swatantrata Bhavan organised in the memory of former Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal. He said Muslims can offer prayers at any other place but Hindus sentiments were associated with the place where Lord Ram was born and so the temple must be built there. He said if the Hindus unite then no one could stop the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. Swamy said efforts would be made to declare "Ram Setu" as a national heritage. Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Champat Rai appealed to the students to unite for building the temple. He said the Ram temple was matter of prestige for Hindus.
Telangana polls: NTR's granddaughter files nomination
Telugu Desam Party(TDP) founder NT Rama Rao (NTR) grand-daughter Nandamuri Suhasini, on Saturday filed her nomination for the upcoming state assembly polls.Suhasini has been fielded as a candidate of 'Mahakutami' (Grand Alliance) from Kukatpally constituency. Mahakutami is a grand alliance of Congress, TDP, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS).Suhasini's nomination witnessed huge crowd as fans of NTR family took part in a rally to support her candidature.She is the daughter of film actor and politician Hari Krishna, and sister of well-known young Tollywood actors Kalyan Ram and Junior NTR.Suhasini's father Krishna was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly in 1996. He also served as a transport minister in combined Andhra Pradesh and as the Rajya Sabha member from TDP. Krishna died in a road accident at Narketpalli, Nalgonda District on August 29 this year.Suhasini's brothers have also extended their support to her political debut. As of now, Suhasini ..
46-year-old woman en route to Sabarimala sent back
: A 46-year-old woman, who had made a vain bid to trek to the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala when it was opened last month, Saturday tried her luck once again, but had to beat a hasty retreat after protesters prevented her. Mary Sweety, from Kazhakootam in Thiruvanathapuram, took a train to Chengannur, about 30 km from Pampa at the foothills of Sabarimala, and boarded a Kerala Road Transport Corporation bus when she was stopped by police. Protesters chanting "Swamiyae Ayyappa" soon gathered in front of the bus and asked her to return. She has been sent back to Thiruvananthapuram, police sources said. The shrine had witnessed high drama after around a dozen women in the 10-50 age group were prevented by protesting devotees from entering it after the temple doors were opened for monthly pujas between October 17 and 22.
Powerful Kuwaiti IOC member to be tried in Switzerland for forgery
Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, a former Kuwaiti minister and one of the most powerful officials in international sports, has been charged in Switzerland with forgery, according to a corroborated media report Saturday. Le Temps newspaper said Sheikh Ahmad stands accused with four others of an intricate forgery scheme linked to his efforts to prove that Kuwait's former prime minister and speaker of parliament were guilty of coup-plotting and corruption. Two lawyers for different plaintiffs in the case confirmed to AFP that Sheikh Ahmad, a member of the International Olympic Committee who is close to IOC president Thomas Bach, and head of the powerful Association of National Olympic Commitees (ANOC), had been charged in the affair. The Sheikh, who is also president of the Olympic Council and chair of the Olympic Solidarity Commission which is in charge of distributing millions of dollars to help athletes, has been accused with three lawyers and one other person of staging a fictitious ..
Hundreds gather for Krishna's concert in Delhi
Hundreds of Delhiites, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and CPI (M) head Sitaram Yechury, gathered at the Garden of Five Senses on Saturday as a performance by Carnatic musician T.M. Krishna brought together the two ends of music and politics together after an earlier cancellation of a scheduled event.
Sabarimala: Lord Ayyappa devotees begin trekking from Pampa
On Friday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to people to cooperate in ensuring a peaceful two-month long pilgrimage season at Sabarimala.The Chief Minister, in a Facebook post, said that the objective of the state government is to uphold the esteem of Sabarimala Temple, which is a major pilgrim centre in the country and is a place of worship for all people.Vijayan also assured the people of Kerala that the state government is committed to protecting the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.The Sabarimala Temple and its surrounding areas witnessed a string of protests in October over the Supreme Court's decision to quash restrictions on the entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the shrine.This is the third time that the temple has opened after the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on the entry of women into the shrine. So far 3,505 protestors have been arrested and around 529 cases were registered in connection with a series of incidents of violence in .