Page 11 - Varanasi

Varanasi court reserves order for Jul 21 on plea for Gyanvapi mosque survey

A court here on Friday reserved its order for July 21 on a petition seeking a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The petition filed by the Hindu side of the case had sought a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey the entire Gyanvapi mosque complex. "We had put before the court the demand for an archaeological and scientific investigation of the entire Gyanvapi complex except the 'vajukhana'. After hearing both sides, the court reserved the verdict for July 21," said Vishnu Shankar Jain, the counsel for the Hindu side. Jain said he argued that the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute can be resolved only by an archaeological investigation of the entire mosque complex.

Varanasi grocer hires bouncers to guard tomatoes as prices continue to soar

A vegetable seller in the Lanka area of Varanasi has deployed two bouncers to prevent buyers from getting aggressive while haggling the tomato prices, which have soared almost across the country, virtually making them a luxury item. Ajay Fauji, a Samajwadi Party worker, had earlier cut a tomato-shaped cake in Varanasi on the birthday of Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav. "I kept hearing about arguments over the tomato price among people. People at my shop too tried to haggle. So to put an end to the constant arguments, I decided to deploy bouncers in uniform at my cart," Fauji told PTI. Fauji, who is selling tomatoes at Rs 140-160 per kg, has bouncers deployed at his cart from 9 am to 5 pm. He, however, refused to reveal how much he hired them for. "No one will provide bouncers free of cost." Asked how keeping bouncers at his cart has helped him, Fauji said even though people are coming in same numbers, they are less militant about the pricing now. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

PM Modi unveils 29 development projects worth Rs 12,000 crore in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled 29 development projects worth Rs 12,100 crores in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Arriving here from Gorakhpur, the prime minister launched the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction-Son Nagar railway line of the Dedicated Freight Corridor. Built at a cost of more than Rs 6,760 crore, the new line will facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods. He also laid the foundation stones or inaugurated several other projects for Varanasi and adjoining districts. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present during the programme. Earlier in Gorakhpur, the prime minister attended the centenary celebrations of Gita Press and launched two Vande Bharat Express trains.

PM Modi to address public meeting during two-day visit to Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, beginning Friday to address a public meeting and announce funding for projects. The PM will address a rally in Wajidpur and announce Rs 12,148 crore in funding towards several projects underway in the district. He will stay the night in Bareka and will attend a "tiffin meeting" with the BJP workers. "The PM will lay the foundation stone of schemes worth Rs 1,800 crore and inaugurate schemes worth about 10,000 crore," Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma said. "Rejuvenation of Manikarnika Ghat, an International Cricket Stadium, three railway overbridges, repair and construction of 96 roads, and a 10-storey international hostel built in BHU will be dedicated to the public," he said. The Prime Minister is also likely to flag off water taxis, he said. BJP District President Hansraj Vishwakarma said the entire city has been spruced up ahead of the PM's visit. Vishwaka

Now you can use FASTag on car to pay for parking spot at Varanasi airport

Airtel Payments Bank, a FASTag issuer, has collaborated with Park+ to enable FASTag-based smart parking solution at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. The FASTag-based smart parking solution enables automatic cashless payments at airport parking, making vehicle movement in the parking zone frictionless and time efficient. The parking fee payment is deducted through the valid FASTag associated with the vehicle, a process that reduces time required to make the payment. A statement announcing the collaboration between Airtel Payments Bank and Park+ said with this, the local residents can now use the FASTag on their car to pay for a parking spot at the Varanasi airport. The two entities are working together to streamline the payment process by reducing the time spent in queues at major parking lots across the country and will soon make the service live at other city airports also. Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Chief Operating Officer of Airtel Payments Bank said with the partnership,

PM Modi to visit Varanasi on July 7, to inaugurate various projects

At the same time, the Prime Minister may also lay the foundation stone for the restoration and redevelopment work of Manikarnika Ghat, which is considered to be the salvation place in Kashi

Land acquisition for cricket stadium in Varanasi completed: UP govt

Land acquisition has been completed for the proposed international cricket stadium in Varanasi that is expected to be ready by the end of 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement here on Monday. The stadium in the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a seating capacity of 30,000 and will be built at a cost of nearly Rs 350 crore. The land acquisition process got expedited in September 2022. The UP Cabinet had approved Rs 120 crore for the purchase of land from 31 farmers, the statement said. The stadium will be operated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Under a long-term lease agreement, the BCCI will assume responsibility for the stadium's operation and management. The Board will also contribute a fixed annual amount to the government in exchange for the lease. "Approximately Rs 350 crore will be spent in the construction of this stadium, which is being built on a wide campus of about 31 acres," the statement said.

Jaishankar welcomes delegates at G20 Development Ministers' Meeting

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed delegates at the venue for the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. The event that began on Sunday will continue till June 13

Jaishankar meets UN trade official on sidelines of G20 meeting in Varanasi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held meetings with various dignitaries on the sidelines of the G20 development ministers' meeting in Varanasi

India to host G20 development ministers' meeting in Varanasi from Jun 11-13

India will host a three-day meeting of development ministers of the G20 member nations in Varanasi beginning Sunday that is expected to focus on disruptions in global supply chains, food and energy security challenges and impacts of climate change among other issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a special video address at the beginning of the meeting which will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Around 200 delegates are expected to attend the meeting, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). India is hosting the meeting in its capacity as the current chair of G20. The G20 development ministers' conclave follows the Voice of the Global South Summit that was hosted by India in January, and the decisions taken at the Varanasi meet will also contribute to the UN summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September, the MEA said. In a statement, it said the Varanasi meeting is taking place amid mounting developmental challenges that ha

Key litigant to withdraw from Gyanvapi mosque case due to lack of resources

Vishen said he took the decision due to lack of resources required for contesting the case and "harassment by anti-religious people"

Gyanvapi row: HC to again hear mosque committee's plea on July 14

The Allahabad High Court will further hear on July 14 a plea moved by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and the Gyanvapi mosque management committee that has challenged the maintainability of a suit filed before a Varanasi court, seeking the restoration of a temple at the site where the mosque exists. The petitioners have also challenged a Varanasi court order dated April 8, 2021, directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex. After a brief hearing on Friday, Justice Prakash Padia directed that the matter be put up for further hearing on July 14. Justice Padia had reserved his judgment in the matter on November 28, 2022 after hearing both sides at length. The court had also directed that its earlier interim order that had stayed the aforesaid direction of the Varanasi court will continue till the delivery of the judgment. However, in its order dated May 24, Justice Padia said certain clarifications were required

Gyanvapi row: Allahabad court to hear petition filed by waqf board today

The Allahabad High Court had previously reserved its judgment on the maintainability of the lawsuit pending in the Varanasi court. The court will now hear all related matters together

UP court agrees to hear plea seeking ASI survey of entire Gyanvapi complex

A court here on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea for a survey by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Accepting the petition filed by lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represents the Hindu side, District Court Judge A K Vishvesh asked the Gyanvapi mosque committee to file its reply to the plea by May 19, District Government Counsel Mahendra Nath Pandey said. The court fixed the next hearing in the matter on May 22. On Friday, the Allahabad High Court ordered determination of the age of the structure claimed to be a shivling in the Gyanvapi mosque using modern technology. It set aside an October 14 order of the Varanasi District Court that rejected a plea for scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the structure found in May 2022 during a court-mandated survey of the Gyanvapi mosque. The high court directed the Varanasi district judge to proceed, in accordance with law, on the application

Varanasi- Kolkata Expressway: Travel From Delhi to Kolkata in 17 hours

At present, the Purvanchal, Lucknow-Agra, and Yamuna Expressways make it possible for a traveller to cover the Delhi-Varanasi journey in just over 10 hours

BJP wins big in Ayodhya-Mathura-Varanasi municipal polls amid makeover

The makeover of religious cities, including Ayodhya and Mathura, along with the push to religious tourism, has already reaped rich dividends for the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh

SC asks Varanasi collector to hold meet to provide wazu' at Gyanvapi mosque

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Varanasi district collector to hold a meeting for providing congenial working arrangements for 'wazu' (ritual ablution) for Muslim devotees at the Gyanvapi mosque complex. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala was apprised by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, that the meeting would be held on Tuesday and the decision will be implemented for providing facilities for wazu' on the premises. The court was hearing a plea by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee seeking permission for 'wazu' at the mosque complex in Varanasi during the month of Ramzan. The top court referred to its order of May 20 last year where it had directed that facilities for wazu' and washrooms be provided to devotees following the sealing of certain areas inside the premises. The solicitor general assures the court that a meeting shall be convened tomorrow by the district collec

Varanasi-bound IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Telangana

A Varanasi-bound IndiGo flight made an emergency landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad airport in Telangana on Tuesday, due to a technical problem.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that IndiGo Flight 6E897 had taken off from Bengaluru for Varanasi but made an emergency landing at 6:15 am after diverting to Shamshadabad airport.Officials have cited a "technical problem" for the diversion.There were 137 passengers on board and all are safe, DGCA said.The DGCA has ordered an inquiry into the incident, said a senior official.Further details are awaited.

Varanasi court issues notices to Akhilesh, Owaisi on Gyanvapi remark

The court of Additional District judge Anuradha Kushwaha has issued notices to defendants in the revision petition filed, that seeks filing of a case against Akhilesh Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi

Centre developing 60 jetties along Ganga from Varanasi to Haldia: Minister

The Centre is developing 60 jetties on the banks of Ganga between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Haldia in West Bengal, Union MoS for Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday. Inaugurating four such jetties on both sides of the river at Nadia's Kalyani and Tribeny in Hooghly district of West Bengal, he said the Centre was also developing 118 waterways in the country. "The 118 new waterways will reduce distance, lower transportation costs and benefit small traders, daily passengers and students. It will strengthen the economy," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focussing on the infrastructure development of the country which has been neglected for a long, he said. "We want the cooperation of the West Bengal government for infrastructure development as the state needs it," he said. Thakur said the four jetties he inaugurated were built at a cost of Rs 8 crore. He also initiated various development along the Ichamati river -- National Waterway 44, in the North 24