Page 23 - Uttar Pradesh

Whitewashing of Sambhal's Jama Masjid outer wall likely to begin on Sunday

The whitewashing of the outer wall of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal is likely begin on Sunday, a mosque official said. Secretary of Shahi Jama Masjid Masood Farooqui on Saturday said an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team came to the mosque around noon and held a discussion about how much labour and material is required. We are trying to start it today, otherwise it will begin tomorrow," he said. The Allahabad High Court on March 12 directed the ASI to undertake and complete the whitewashing at the mosque within one week. Following the High Court order, an ASI team carried out measurements and assessments on March 13. After this the Shahi Jama Masjid's president Zafar Ali had said that the painting work will begin at the mosque after Holi. Farooqui said, "These people (ASI) are saying that they will start from tomorrow. We have told them that the High Court has given seven days, out of which three days have passed." Three people have come here as a part o

UP revels in Holi festivities; Barabanki dargah becomes symbol of harmony

Holi festivities went off peacefully across Uttar Pradesh with people from different faiths coming together in Barabanki to celebrate the festival of colours. In some areas, the celebrations were held amid tight security due to Holi coinciding with the second Friday prayers of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated Holi by applying 'gulal' (powder colour) to cows and calves at the Gorakhnath temple cow shelter. Wearing his signature saffron attire, a multicolour turban and black sunglasses, the chief minister also showered flower petals and 'gulal' on the crowd during a Holi procession. Actor and MP Ravi Kishan added to the festive spirit by singing folk songs. Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya celebrated Holi in Lucknow. Pathak joined a Holi procession on a camel. Lucknow's Chowk area was packed with revellers, who danced to Bollywood songs and smeared bright colours on each other. Some German tourists also joined

Friday prayers conclude in Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid amid tight security

Friday prayers concluded peacefully in Sambhal's Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid amid tight security, an official said. Ulemas and mutawallis had fixed the time for 'Jumma Namaz', extending it by about an hour to 2:30 pm, because of Holi. District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said both Holi and the Namaz concluded peacefully. He said tight security arrangements were made in view of Holi and the Friday prayers. Personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Provincial Armed Constabulary and the local police remained fully alert. Surveillance was also conducted through drones.

No other religion has such rich tradition of festivals: Adityanath on Holi

No country and religion has such a rich tradition of festivals as Sanatan Dharma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday on the occasion of Holi and asserted that India moves ahead through festivals. Addressing the traditional "Narsingh Shobhayatra' in Gorakhpur, he stressed that Holi gives out the message of an maintaining an "Akhand" (intact) country through unity. "The vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat' will be fulfilled," he stressed. "No country in the world, no caste, no religion has such a rich tradition of festivals as Sanatan Dharma. We have faith in Sanatan Dharma and the faith is the soul of festivals. India moves ahead through festivals." Adityanath said. "You have seen that those who oppose Sanatan Dharma have seen the ability ('saamarth') of Sanatan Dharma as well as that of India through the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Over 66 crore devotees came together and got blessings in the mega bathing rituals at Sangam. There was no discrimination based o

Sambhal police conduct flag march, monitor Holi celebrations with drones

Other than police, paramilitary forces also conducted a flag march in Sambhal, whereas the administration is using drones for proper monitoring of the situation in the district

Holi processions in Sambhal to end by 2:30 pm for Friday prayers: Official

Earlier on Thursday, Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary led a flag march with police personnel to ensure law and order

UP CM urges people to celebrate Holi in harmony, avoid forcing colours

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday appealed to people to celebrate Holi in harmony by following the centuries-old traditions of Sanatan Dharma. Speaking at the Bhakt Prahlad Shobha Yatra organised by the Holika Dahan Utsav Samiti here at Pandeyhata, the chief minister also said Holika Dahan should symbolise the burning away of ego and negative tendencies. Aditanath's remarks assume significance in view of the controversies over Holi celebrations and Friday prayers coinciding on Friday. Muslims of Sambhal in UP have decided to hold Jumma namaz (Friday prayers) at 2.30 pm because of Holi. The city has been tense after riots broke out on November 24 last year following a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Four people were killed and several including police personnel were injured in the clashes. Adityanath emphasised that festivals bring greater joy when celebrated with mutual respect and urged people not to forcibly apply colours on others, especially those who ar

UP Police Constable final result 2024 out, over 60,000 candidates selected

UPP Result Out: After a long wait, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) has finally announced the UP Police Constable Final Result 2025. Here's how to check and download

210 cr trees planted in 8 years, state's forest cover has increased: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said 210 crore trees were planted across the state in the last eight years, leading to a significant increase in forest cover despite rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. Speaking at the National Conference on the National Clean Air Programme here, he emphasised the importance of ensuring the survival of these trees. The government, he said, has engaged the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand and a university in Chhattisgarh for third-party monitoring of plantations. These institutions periodically assess the survival rate and report their findings to the state government. "In last eight years, 210 crore plantations have taken place in the entire state and also ensure their survival," Adityanath told the gathering. The chief minister said nearly 70-75 per cent of the trees planted by state government have survived, while the survival rate of plantations done by private and voluntary organisations stands at

Sacred sites encroached under 'land jihad' now free of mafias: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that under previous governments, land mafias had illegally occupied several sacred sites in Prayagraj, severely undermining their sanctity. He emphasised that during the Maha Kumbh, these sites, including Akshay Vat, Saraswati Koop, Patalpuri, Shringverpur, Dwadash Madhav, and Bhagwan Beni Madhav, were freed from mafia control, allowing devotees to visit them throughout the year. Speaking at the 'Manthan: Kumbh and Beyond' event organised by RSS-linked media 'Panchjanya' and 'Organiser' in Lucknow, CM Adityanath said that the Maha Kumbh showcased India's cultural strength and the true essence of the Sanatan Dharma while also transforming Uttar Pradesh's "negative image". Adityanath said that Prayagraj, the land of the world's first Gurukul, had been overrun by mafias under past governments. He said that Akshay Vat was confined and nearly destroyed during the colonial rule, depriving devotees of its darshan for 500 ...

UP CM Adityanath distributes Rs 1,890 cr gas subsidy under Ujjwala Yojana

The scheme saw an allocation of Rs1,890 crores, as part of a larger effort to improve the lives of beneficiaries in the state

Security tightened in Sambhal to maintain peace ahead of Holi celebrations

A peace committee meeting was also held at the Sambhal Kotwali police station on March 6 in view of the upcoming Holi festival on Friday

UP CM's photo at pro-monarchist rally sparks controversy in Nepal

The rally was intended to demonstrate support for the reinstatement of monarchy in Nepal. Hundreds of loyalists riding motorbikes carrying Gyanendra's picture

UP govt shifts land allocation for HCL-Foxconn chip unit to cut down delays

HCL requested YEIDA to allocate land at a different location due to the anticipated delay due to the ongoing land acquisition process

What prejudice will whitewashing walls of Sambhal mosque cause: HC asks ASI

Hearing a matter related to the whitewashing of the Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, the Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the counsel appearing for the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to come up with specific averments as to what prejudice would whitewashing the outer walls of the mosque cause. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed the direction while hearing an objection raised by the mosque committee saying it sought permission only for whitewashing and lighting the outer side of the masjid, for which no specific reply was received from the ASI. The ASI is only talking about the interior side of the mosque, S F A Naqvi, counsel for the committee, argued. Posting the matter for next hearing on March 12, Justice Agarwal directed the Sambhal district magistrate to produce the original agreement entered in 1927 between the administration and the mosque committee to handover the masjid to the ASI. On February 28, the ASI submitted a report stating that the interior of

UP CM supports Sambhal CO remark; rejects charge of hiding Kumbh deaths

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday supported the remarks of a Sambhal police officer that while Holi comes once a year, Friday prayers take place every week. Adityanath said the official may have spoken as a "pehelwan", but what the Arjun awardee said was correct. The chief minister, speaking at the India Today Conclave here, thanked religious leaders for deciding to hold Friday namaz after 2 pm. He said namaz could be offered after 2 pm, and people who wish to do so before that can pray at home. Whoever wants to go to a mosque should mind the Holi colours, he said. Holi this year will be celebrated on a Friday. Sambhal Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhury had said that Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times in a year. If anyone feels uncomfortable with the colours of Holi, they should stay indoors on that day. Sambhal had witnessed communal violence in November last year. The opposition Samajwadi Party has accused t

UP minister plays down circle officer's remarks on Holi, Jumma namaz

Uttar Pradesh minister Gulab Devi on Saturday played down the remarks of a circle officer that Holi comes only once a year, whereas the Jumma namaz takes place 52 times a year and said in a democracy, everyone is entitled to an opinion. The secondary education minister, who is the MLA from the Chandausi Assembly constituency (reserved for Scheduled Castes) in Sambhal district, also said all communities should celebrate their festivals together and maintain peace and order. Talking to reporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) district office here, Gulab Devi, when asked about the remarks of Sambhal CO Anuj Chaudhary, said, "In a democracy, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I think there is no such thing in it. How many times do we get the opportunity to have Jumma in a year and Holi comes once a year, so both sides should celebrate their festivals together and also maintain peace and order." The minister also said that "Dharam Yogis are sitting in the country and in the state

Omaxe to invest Rs 2,700 cr to modernise 6 bus terminals in Uttar Pradesh

Real estate firm Omaxe Ltd's subsidiary will invest Rs 2,700 crore to upgrade six bus terminals in Uttar Pradesh. In a regulatory filing on Friday, Omaxe said that Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has awarded it a contract to modernise six key bus terminals in the State Ghaziabad, Lucknow (Gomti Nagar), Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Ayodhya and Lucknow (Amausi) under public-private partnership (PPP) model. Omaxe will undertake the modernisation of bus terminals through its newly established wholly-owned subsidiary 'BeTogether'. These projects aim to enhance public transport infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh while integrating state-of-the-art commercial spaces. "With a total investment of around Rs 2,700 crore, these projects are expected to generate over Rs 4,700 crore in revenue," Omaxe said. The total saleable area across the projects is 45.59 lakh sq ft and the combined built-up area for the six projects stands at 70.80 lakh sq ft. The modernisation of the six bu

SC takes exception to UP govt's high-handed case of demolition in Prayagraj

The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over demolition of houses in Prayagraj without following proper legal procedure and said the action sends a "shocking and wrong signal". A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and N Kotishwar Singh took exception to "high-handed" case of demolition and said the demolished structures will have to be reconstructed. "Prima facie, this action sends shocking and wrong signal and this is something that needs to be corrected. You are taking such drastic action of demolishing homes... We know how to deal with such hyper technical arguments. After all there is something known as Article 21 and Right to Shelter," the bench said. Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the action of the state government saying that reasonable time was given to the petitioners to respond to the demolition notice. He said the matter should be sent to the high court for consideration. The counsel appearing for the petitioners stated that the state ...

Uttar Pradesh govt's market borrowings may reach Rs 6.43 trn in FY26

The country's federal policy think tank NITI Aayog has ranked UP among the front runners in the fiscal health index of states