Mathura (UP): An Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) leader was arrested on Tuesday while allegedly going to recite Hanuman Chalisa at the Shahi Masjid Idgah on the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi complex.

Officials said that seven-eight other leaders of the organisation were also detained in their houses at different police stations of the city.

The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha had given a call for reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside the Shahi Masjid Idgah to mark the anniversary of the Babri Mosque demolition.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Martandey Singh said the police arrested the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha’s Agra region in-charge Saurabh Sharma, when he was making an attempt to go towards the Idgah mosque on the complex.

He said the Mahasabha’s president Rajshri Chaudhary and treasurer Dinesh Sharma were not among those confined at their homes, and that there was no information from the police about the two.

The Babri mosque in Ayodhya was demolished by ‘Kar Sevaks on December 6, 1992.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said that the law-and-order situation would not be allowed to be disturbed. A strict watch is also being kept on social media, he said.

The orders of the Supreme Court would be followed and the implementation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in letter and spirit would be ensured, he said.

The organisation had given a similar call last year but their plan was scuttled by the district administration.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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New Delhi: TMC MP Derek O’Brien has invited stand-up comedian Vir Das to Kolkata, a day after his show in Bengaluru was cancelled at the last minute following protests by Hindu right-wing groups.

The protesting groups alleged that the show, scheduled to be held on Thursday, would hurt Hindu religious sentiments.

“Hello @thevirdas Come to #Kolkata. We would love to have you here this winter. DM me please. Let’s get this going,” the TMC’s leader of the House in Rajya Sabha said in a tweet.
 

Hello @thevirdas

Come to #Kolkata. We would love to have you here this winter. DM me please. Let’s get this going. https://t.co/P9taO0dewq

— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) November 11, 2022

Das later uploaded a video on Twitter to deter any assumptions made on his content.

“I made this video after one of my shows, Just in Case. I have no interest in media spectacles or being used for headlines. I’m an artist. I shouldn’t be on the news. Many assumptions are made about my content. I trust my art and my audience to speak for me. #TrustTheAudience,” Das tweeted.

Das’ monologue “I come from two Indias” had stirred a row a year ago when he was criticised for allegedly defaming the country.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed that all FIRs against expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal lodged across the country in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad be transferred to Delhi Police.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh also extended interim protection to Jindal till the probe is concluded by Delhi police.

The top court allowed Jindal to move Delhi High Court for quashing of FIRs lodged over his alleged remarks and said all future FIRs would also be transferred to Delhi Police for investigation.

“All FIRs to be transferred to Delhi Police IFSO Unit. No precipitative action or further FIRs against the accused for eight weeks so he can pursue his appropriate remedy before the Delhi High Court,” the bench said.

The apex court had earlier provided similar relief to suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in connection with FIRs/complaints lodged against her in several states over her remarks on the Prophet during a TV debate.

It had said the FIRs would be probed by the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) of Delhi Police.

Sharma’s remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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The government withdrew a notification on Tuesday after it sparked outrage and a sense of astonishment among media covering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-day visit to Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

A list of all press writers, photographers, and videographers was requested in the letter dated September 29 ” along with a certificate of their character verification.”

Even journalists working for the government-run Doordarshan and All India Radio had to abide by this.

By October 1st, the journalists were requested to submit the certificates “positively.” “Their access within the rally or meeting will be decided by this office,” the notification said.

The Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur, issued a new notification on Tuesday with apologies.

“It is regretted that the letter was inadvertently issued by this office. The letter stands withdrawn,” the notification said. It also added that all media are ‘welcome’ and their coverage will be facilitated.

The new letter said that passes would be given to everyone who was suggested by the government’s media department.

The Himachal Pradesh police chief, Sanjay Kundu, also tweeted his regrets.

“All journalists are most welcome to cover Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visit to Himachal Pradesh tomorrow 5th October, 2022. Himachal Pradesh Police will facilitate their coverage. Any inconvenience is regretted,” the tweet said.

Journalists called attention to the strange demand, which led to the retraction.

AAP Spokesperson Pankaj Pandit responded to the police notification by telling India Today TV that this is the first time in his 22-year journalism career that he has seen such an absurd demand.

Naresh Chauhan, the principal spokesperson for the Himachal Congress committee, also denounced the administration’s demand and said that it violated press freedom.

In addition to opening an AIIMS campus in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi will speak at a public gathering there. He’ll also take part in the Dussehra festivities in Kullu.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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Belagavi: Allegedly pained at his name being dragged into a sex scandal involving Chitradurga Murugha mutt seer, Guru Madivaleshwara Mutt Pontiff Basava Siddalinga Swamiji committed suicide in his room by hanging in the Neginahala village of Karnataka’s Belagavi district, police sources said on Monday.

The audio clip containing an alleged conversation between two women discussing how women and girls were exploited at Chitradurga mutt went viral on social media. The two women brought up the name of deceased Basava Siddalinga Swamiji in the discussion which cast aspersions on his reputation and honour, said police sources.

The seer, who ended his life, was pained with the development and devotees of the mutt had lodged a complaint with Deputy Superintendent of Police of Bylahongala in Belagavi district seeking action against vested interests who were targeting Lingayat pontiffs.

The police said that Basava Siddalinga Swamiji was talking to devotees till late night Sunday. He told his devotees that he had been pained that his reference was made in a demeaning way in the purported audio and he is not feeling like living anymore.

The incident came to light on Monday morning. Police said that they were searching for the death note of the swamiji and the exact cause of the suicide was yet to be investigated. Further investigation is on.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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Bengaluru: In a setback to the ruling BJP, the Lokayukta has initiated an investigation against Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra in connection with the allotment of a site to him by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) in violation of rules, Lokayukta sources said on Saturday.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has recently announced that his government would give full powers to the Lokayukta as per the orders of the High Court.

In the complaint, AAP said the Supreme Court has orally reprimanded the Karnataka government’s policy to allot sites worth crores of rupees to Jnanendra and other influential leaders.

The allotment was made despite the fact that G category sites cannot be allotted as it gives room for corruption.

The state government on Friday transferred BDA Commissioner M B Rajesh Gowda in the wake of the Apex Court’s ruling.

Even though lakhs of families of the state have been left on the streets due to heavy rains for the last four years, the BJP government has failed to build suitable houses for them, but now the way in which they have allotted sites worth crores of rupees to their minister and influential leaders show another face of BJP government, alleged of taking 40 percent commission from contractors on all projects,” the AAP claimed.

“It is clear from this case that Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who has destroyed the entire law and order in the state, has misused his power and is immersed in nepotism and corruption, Mohan Dasari, AAP Bengaluru Unit President, said.

State spokesperson and senior former K A S officer K Mathai stated that Araga Jnanendra should be dismissed from the Cabinet immediately or he should respectfully resign himself.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

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The Students’ Association of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) on Friday announced its decision to hold demonstrations on the campus on July 30 against alleged irregularities in the admission of students from the reservation categories

In a press release, the students’ association stated, “FTII published their final merit list for the academic year 2021 on 26/07/2022. It is painfully visible for us to see that yet again, the authorities have made a gross mockery of the provisions of Reservation by which these admissions are to take place. Many seats as well as waitlist positions in the OBC, SC and ST categories have not been filled, citing reasons of ineligibility.”

SC, ST, OBC students are protesting against Film & Television Institute of India authorities for not following reservation policy in admission of students for its current academic year. Please amplify. If the protest were against a BJP nominee, the news would have everywhere. pic.twitter.com/02DeAQ81dN

— sagar choudhary (@sagar_reporter) July 29, 2022

“When questioned, the authorities mentioned that many candidates did not pass their cut-off percentages (45% for OBC (NCL) and Gen EWS, 40% for SC and ST and Gen PwD and 50% for General). There is no transparency about how these figures are arrived upon and by whom, not to mention that the validity of this criteria is questionable by itself,” it further said.

The student body said that due to this ‘arbitrary rule’, every year the authorities can claim that they did not find suitable candidates in the reserved categories and fill in the seats set for them with students from the General category.

The body said that the orientation and interview process accounts for 80% of the total grade for admission to the institute and that leaves the process ambiguous to those who want to question the reasons for which some candidates have been deemed ineligible. “Even so, it is evident that a bias exists in how candidates are evaluated and deemed ineligible as our reserved seats remain unoccupied by aspirants from those categories across different departments. Additionally, the orientation and interview were conducted online this time, highlighting further inequalities with which candidates were attempting their admission,” it said.

The press release called this phenomenon a ‘growing trend’ that they observed consistently over the years in an effort to put a ‘filter’ on the incoming members of the institute as well as to mute the voices of students against ‘attacks’ on basic social rights. “The student community considers this a blatant violation of the laws of reservation hiding under the garb of self-made rules of the institute. We firmly stand against their values reflected in the merit list and ask that they re-evaluate the result,” it said.

“It is also highly questionable why only candidates from the General category are able to clear their cut off, while those from other categories aren’t. By this process, the seats supposed to be left open for all in the General category also remain closed for those from other categories,” it said.

Courtesy: Siasat

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Aakash Hassan, an independent Kashmiri journalist alleged being stopped from travelling abroad on Tuesday at IGI airport, New Delhi.

“Immigration officials at IGI airport New Delhi barred me from boarding a flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. I was headed to report on the current crises in the country. The immigration officials took my passport, and boarding pass and made me sit in a room for the last four hours. The officials are not giving any me any reason for why I am not allowed. A staff from the airlines I was travelling in told me that officials have directed them to offload my luggage from the aircraft. I was questioned by two officials about my background, travel purpose,” he tweeted.

“After making me wait for five hours, without providing even water to drink. I have been handed over my passport and boarding pass with a red rejection stamp: “Cancelled Without Prejudice”,” he further said.

Immigration officials at IGI airport New Delhi barred me from boarding a flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. I was headed to report on the current crises in the country.

The immigration officials took my passport, boarding pass and have made me sit in a room for last four hours. pic.twitter.com/G36kx3oYQK

— Aakash Hassan (@AakashHassan) July 26, 2022

Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a Pulitzer award-winning Kashmiri photojournalist was also reportedly not allowed to fly from Delhi to Paris here on July 2, 2022.

Courtesy: https://www.siasat.com

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