New Delhi : The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a plea by 11 convicts in the case of gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 riots in Gujarat seeking an extension of time to surrender.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said the reasons cited by the convicts have no merits. “We have heard senior counsel and counsel for the applicants and the counsel for the non-applicants also. The reasons cited by applicants to seek postponement of surrender and report back to jail have no merit inasmuch as those reasons in no way prevent them from complying with our directions. Hence the miscellaneous applications are dismissed,” the bench said.
Apex court on January 8 had quashed the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the case, saying the orders were “stereotyped” and passed without application of mind. It had asked the convicts to surrender before jail authorities by January 21.
New Delhi : The School of Open Learning (SOL) has entered into an agreement with about 40-50 Delhi University colleges to conduct offline classes for its students starting January 28, an official release said on Thursday.
An MoU has been signed between the SOL and Delhi university colleges for holding these classes, the statement said.
The Department of Distance and Continuing Education, University of Delhi will organise the Personal Contact Program (PCP) classes for distance learning students in accordance with the UGC guidelines.
According to the statement, nearly four lakh students are enrolled with the SOL for distance learning.
The PCP classes of semester I/III and V of undergraduate courses and semester II/IV of postgraduate courses will be organised from January 28 to February 25, as per the statement.
New Delhi : The national capital on Thursday recorded a minimum temperature at 6.6 degrees Celsius, one notch below the seasonal average, the India Meteorological Department said.
The IMD’s forecast showed that the maximum temperature on Thursday is likely to hover around 18 degrees Celisus with minimum to be around 7.
The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, according to the weatherman, experienced dense fog with visibility 50m to 100m during 12:30 a.m. till 6:30 a.m.
“It has improved and currently moderate fog at 300m with RVR at 600m to 1200m at 8 a.m.” IMD said.
“Visibility(meters) at Airports at 0830 hrs IST, today (Dated: 18.01.2024): Amritsar-00, Jaipur-50, Cooch Behar-50, Shillong-100, Safdarjung-300, Gaya-300, Bengaluru-300, Tezpur-300, Palam-350, Agartala-350, Pantnagar-500, Dugbrugarh-500, ” it also posted on X.
Moreover, the air quality continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category at several stations across the city.
In the Anand Vihar area, at 9 a.m., PM2.5 levels were recorded to be in the ‘very poor’ category standing at 312 and PM10 reached 164 or ‘moderate’, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’; 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’; 101 and 200 ‘moderate’; 201 and 300 ‘poor’; 301 and 400 ‘very poor’; and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.
The IGI Airport T3 witnessed PM2.5 levels at 148, and PM10 was at 109, both falling under the ‘moderate’ category.
New Delhi : Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said that for the country’s youth, the cadets of National Cadet Corps (NCC) are the role models, who inspire them to excel in their respective field and contribute towards nation building.
The Defence Secretary visited the NCC Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantt on Wednesday.
He emphasised that the NCC, with its philosophy and vision, energises the youth and train them to become better citizens.
The objective to expand the NCC is to motivate more and more youth across the country to join the largest uniformed youth organisation and explore its benefits, he added.
Aramane urged the youth to shed mediocrity and aim big to achieve their goals, which inturn help the country to reach greater heights.
“The youth with lots of energy, when not properly directed, will end up doing anti-social activities. The youth has to be properly educated and should be given a task which is constructive and contributes to the nation’s economy and prosperity. NCC cadets can be their inspiration to achieve this objective, ” the Defence Secretary said.
During his visit, Aramane witnessed a mesmerising cultural programme, featuring group dances and ballets that showcased our nation’s rich cultural heritage by the NCC cadets.
The themes depicted by the cadets ranged from unity in diversity, the oneness of the Indian source, the scientific temperament and the improvement to the economy, a Defence Ministry official added.
The Defence Secretary also visited the ‘Flag Area’, prepared by 17 NCC Directorates showcasing various social awareness schemes depicted through sand models. He was also briefed on various projects undertaken by NCC cadets on ‘Waste to Wealth’.
New Delhi : Days after the Supreme Court struck down the premature release of 11 gang-rape and murder convicts in Bilkis Bano case, three of them have moved applications before the apex court seeking extension of time to surrender before the concerned jail authorities.
On Thursday, a bench presided over by Justice B.V. Nagarathna agreed to urgently list these applications on January 19 for hearing.
Justice Nagarathna ordered the registry to obtain directions from Chief Justice of India to constitute a special bench comprising herself and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan — which had earlier set aside the “stereotyped and cyclostyled” remission orders passed by the Gujarat government and gave a two-week deadline to convicts to surrender before jail authorities by January 21.
In his application, one of the convicts pleaded that his 88-year-old bedridden father is completely dependent upon him and his 75-year-old mother is also in poor health. Further, he is yet to undergo another operation for the treatment ‘Hemorrhoids’.
“That in light of the predicaments being faced by the Respondent (convict) and his family and in the interest of justice, an extension of four weeks be granted to the Respondent to surrender before the concerned Jail Authorities, ” the application said.
Another convict Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt said that he is about 62 years old senior citizen and has undergone eye surgery for cataract.
“As the winter crops produced by the applicant are ready for harvesting and other processes, the applicant needs 5 to 6 weeks for such harvesting and other processes, ” Bhatt pleaded in his application.
Likewise, another application seeks to extend the time period for surrender by four weeks saying that the young son of the applicant is of marriageable age and he bears the responsibility to look after this affair.
In its January 8 order, rejecting plea for protection of liberty of convicts, the Supreme Court had said that if remissions orders are set aside, “then the natural consequences must follow”.
“If ultimately rule of law is to prevail and the impugned orders of remission are set aside by us, then the natural consequences must follow, ” it said, ordering convicts to report back to the jail authorities concerned within two weeks.
Mokokchung (Nagaland): Senior Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi have said that as an Indian he felt ashamed that the Prime Minister of the country did not visit Manipur after what happened there.
Addressing a large public gathering en route his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here today, Gandhi said, the purpose of doing it (the Nyay Yatra) from the east to the west was to send a message that the North East is as important as any other part of India. “It does not matter if the population is less, importance has to be the same”, he remarked amidst cheers and loud applause from the crowd.
Referring to the violence in Manipur, he said, he felt ashamed that the Prime Minister of the country had still not visited Manipur after what happened there. “Their politics has torn the state apart. They have divided the state. They have weaponised the state. They have burnt the state and they cannot set a foot in the state”, he said, about BJP and RSS while referring to the violence in Manipur. He said, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is for fighting against this form of politics.
“I am feeling equally ashamed that the Indian Prime Minister made a commitment to the people of Nagaland nine years ago and has done nothing about it”, he said, while referring to the Prime Minister not fulfilling the promises made in the Naga Accord in 2015.
“If you don’t have a solution, you should not lie and say you have a solution”, he told the Prime Minister, adding, “sad having to say that what the Prime Minister committed nine years ago was an empty promise”.
At the same time, Gandhi assured, “we are committed to do the hard work required to get a solution for you”. He said, he understood that the issues concerning the Naga people are serious and there is a requirement for a solution.
Praising the people of Nagaland for their honesty, simplicity and straightforwardness, he said, once the yatra is complete, he will come back again to spend some time there. “You are straightforward, decent and honest people and I am also like you”, he told the crowd, drawing huge applause and cheers.
He said he had noticed discipline among people in Nagaland, as there was no pulling and pushing. “You respect other people’s space and we want to build such type of India”, he told the people gathered there, adding that he felt grateful to them and their ancestors for bequeathing such great and glorious traditions.
Spelling out the mission of the Nyay Yatra, he said, he sought parity in opportunities for different people; between the privileged and the less privileged pointing out how much difficulty students from the state will be facing in competing in various exams with those students who had better resources.
Besides, he added, the idea of the Nyay Yatra was to draw the attention of the rest of the country towards the people of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and to the people who are not part of the development taking place”.
Jaipur : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, on the Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh on Wednesday, performed a special puja at the City Palace, where she worshiped his 338-year-old sword kept there.
“The story of sacrifice, and bravery of Guru Gobind Singh will always inspire us all, ” she said.
A Shabad Kirtan was organised and prasad was distributed to everyone.
On the occasion, the sword has been kept for tourists to see at Sarvtobhadra Chowk of the City Palace.
Guru Gobind Singh spent some time in Nahan in what is now Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur and while leaving, had presented his personal sword to the then ruler as a memento.
Jaipur, titular Rajmata Padmini Devi, who is from Nahan, brought the sword to Jaipur a few years ago. Since then this sword has been in the City Palace.
Members of the Sikh community expressed their gratitude to Padmini Devi for giving them darshan of the Guru’s kirpan.
*Investment of Rs 98,500 crore made in the state during the financial year 2018-19 to 2022-23
Chandigarh: Punjab during the last FYs 2018-19 to 2022-23 has received new investment projects of Rs.98500 crore, completed projects of Rs.77810 crore and revived the pending projects worth Rs.8495 crore.
This has been revealed in a just concluded study undertaken by the MSME Export Promotion Council jointly with the Confederation of Organic Food Producers & Marketing Agencies (COII). The study was released by the MSME EPC Chairman Dr D S Rawat (former secretary general ASSOCHAM) today.
Punjab has registered the fastest implementation rate in completing the projects. As per the data available through Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE) as on 12 December 2023, the new investment projects announced in 2018-19 were of Rs.43323 cr, 2019-20 Rs.12267 cr, 2020-21 Rs.15761 cr, 2021-22 Rs.23655 cr and in 2022-23 Rs.3492 cr.
It was found that in 2022-23, total investment projects outstanding were of Rs.139099 cr and under implementation of Rs.103680 cr. Therefore, Dr Rawat said, there is urgent need for a high powered committee to review each project and are cleared with immediate effect without any further escalation in the cost.
Referring the private sector investment, it was stated that Punjab has received the new investment projects from the private sector during the period of reporting of Rs.28308 cr and completed the projects of Rs.33155 cr; some of them were on-going.
The government’s investment projects announced during the period were of Rs.70190 cr and completed the projects of Rs.44644 cr. It is stated that industry holds a prominent position in the state’s economy as it contributed about 25 percent of total gross state value added in 2022-23 and has various direct and indirect linkages with other sectors significantly contributing to economic growth and employment. It has strong base of over four lakh micro, and small scale units belonging to auto components, bicycle parts, hosiery, sports goods, agricultural implements, and is on way of transition from agro-based to a technology-driven economy and has identified IT/ITeS/ESDM as thrust setor. The state already has India’s only large scale ASIC fabrication laboratory in SCL Mohali. The study anticipates that in three years period towards the end of 2027, another 60,000 units shall be added generating direct and indirect jobs for over 2.5 lakh people. In Punjab, Ludhiana accounts for the highest number of MSMEs over 1.5 lakh followed by Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Dr Rawat while releasing the study said, Punjab is known for the enterprising spirit of its people which brought about the “green revolution” and also made the state a hub of small and medium enterprises. The state is now on a threshold of transition to a new culture of innovation and technology driven enterprises.
By building remarkable hype around the upcoming consecration of Ram temple, the BJP is strategically paving the way for a new narrative in the approaching LS polls. A report by Mudit Mathur
The BJP-led central and state governments along with its parent organisation, the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and its associate organisations are working round the clock to take credit for establishing Ram temple in Ayodhya, which is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024 at 12.20 pm amid much fanfare. With this, the groundwork has been laid by the BJP to set a new political narrative before the majority community for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, when the policies and programmes of the BJP government under PM Modi will be put to test.
The quaint and traditional city of Ayodhya, which has undergone a facelift, and is now equipped with international-level modern tourism and logistics facilities while reflecting ancient cultural symbolism all the same, is going to be the new “mantra” for Modi to regain power in 2024. Using this platform, the BJP is expected to launch its emotive poll campaign based on the theme of “Ram Rajya” (good governance) with an objective to push the opposition’s counter narrative of caste census to the background.
The invitation card mentions that consecration will take place in the august presence of “Prime Minister, Bharat”, Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and president of the temple trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while calling it “Rashtriya Utsav” (National Festival), announced that all the educational institutions will observe holiday on the day the temple will be inaugurated. He also announced closure of all the liquor and mutton shops on the day throughout the state.
The poll strategists of prime minister Narendra Modi have planned to project the mega event of consecration ceremony of Ram temple as a historic victory day after “500 years of struggle of Hindus” for regaining its reins as the biggest achievement of Modi government. The clamour of this emotive issue is anticipated to blow away the growing clouds of anti-incumbency and simmering questions of misgovernance that present government has to face over the record high rate unemployment, unrestrained price rise of essential commodities and privatisation of national assets and infrastructure allegedly to benefit a select few corporate houses.
BJP workers have been instructed to set up large screens for the streaming of live telecast of the Shri Ram temple consecration at every booth level. This campaign aims to provide a means to the common people to witness the live telecast of all the events relating to consecration of Shri Ram Lala. On this occasion, the BJP workers may choose to distribute blankets, organize community feasts (‘bhandara’), or contribute through donations in terms of food or fruits to help those in need as a part of a bid to make a direct connect at the grassroots.
The whole idea seems to be to propagate the view that BJP is the sole representative party of the majority Hindu community. As part of this exercise, RSS workers have already started distributing ‘Akshat’ door-to-door, inviting them to attend celebrations at their nearest temple on January 22, to mark the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya where big screens will be installed to stream the temple opening ceremony by BJP workers and local leaders.
After Makar Sankranti, a week-long Vedic rituals for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla (childhood statue of Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16 until the main ceremony. Ayodhya will mark the entire week as Amrit Mahotsav. A 1008 Kundiya Mahayagya will also be held in which thousands of devotees will participate and there will be round the clock “Bhandras” to offer food and prasad. An eminent priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit has been entrusted to perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22.
The media is expected to give round-the-clock coverage of various events and set the tempo by highlighting the achievements of the Modi government. These events are precisely planned in such a way to change the narrative for the 2024 general elections by sidetracking the core issues of the people of India. The results of recently held state elections have encouraged the BJP to toe the idea of religious–communal polarisation to pre-empt the possibility of the caste-centric politics of opposition making any dent in its poll prospects.
The Ram temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, is 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width and 161 feet in height. Each floor of the temple is 20 feet high and the temple has a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town for the grand consecration event.
The event has garnered global attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad extended invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya. The Trust has invited over 4,000 Sants and 5000 eminent citizens on the occasion of consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, said Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai. The Trust also invited Shankaracharyas of six ‘Darshans’ (ancient schools of Religious Philosophy). The trust has made arrangements to accommodate 10000-15000 guests even as the district authorities are gearing up to meet the exigencies in view of the anticipated surge of visitors during and after the grand ceremony. The authorities are ready with enhanced security measures and are making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees.
Several political leaders, celebrities and business personalities have been invited for the consecration ceremony. Prominent cricketers, film stars, industrialists and seers from different parts of the country figure on the guest list. While many political leaders have agreed to attend the event, others have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of using the occasion to set a narrative for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Veteran leaders of the BJP, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who have been extended invitations, have expressed their desire to attend the mega event. Advani and Joshi are not only the founders of BJP, but are pioneers of Ram temple movement, who had actively led the masses during the demolition of Babri mosque on December 6, 1992 and had brought the issue to the mainstream political discourse of the nation. Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda may join the event in view of his recent tie up with BJP in Karnataka.
“Lord Ram is worshiped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/ BJP have long made a political project of a temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of an incomplete temple by the leaders of BJP and RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gains. While abiding by 2019 Supreme Court judgement and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Sri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Choudhary have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/ BJP event,” he added.
“Congress never opposed Ram temple,” said Avinash Pande, who replaced Priyanka Gandhi as national general secretary incharge of UP last month. A group of party leaders from UP will visit Ram temple in Ayodhya not as a political move but as a matter of faith on 15 January, he said.
The Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth, Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati is also unhappy about the lavish event being planned for the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and criticised the way it’s being turned into a political show of power. “It’s because of the upcoming general elections, the event is being made so splendid. It’s not appropriate to sit outside a temple, clapping, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be unveiling the idol. I will not attend the event,” the seer said at Shankaracharya Ashram in Rawabhata in Raipur.
Addressing his devotees, Shankaracharya said, “It’s the responsibility of priests and sadhus to consecrate Lord Rama’s idol. Why are so many politicians expected to be present? I don’t feel it’s right to sit outside and clap while the idol is being consecrated inside the ‘garbhagriha.” Visibly annoyed, Shankaracharya said that he has received a ‘plus one’ invitation to the temple inauguration, but has decided not to go.
Shankaracharya questioned the “hurry” to inaugurate the temple when it is going to take more than a year and half to complete. “It’s because they are eyeing the general elections. Those who are materialistic only see the present. Ram Lalla becoming famous is a good thing, but I did not give my consent as the work going on at the temple is not traditional in nature,” he remarked while talking to the media.
On the other hand, in a strategic counter political move, the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has planned an equally grand inauguration of the “Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project” in Puri. The idea seems to check BJP which expects to gain a tremendous political dividend from the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
With an aim to counter Narendra Modi’s Ayodhya narrative, Naveen has meticulously planned a series of month-long activities to create awareness and reach out to all households in Odisha. The project includes improvements in Jagannath Temple and other shrines in Odisha. Naveen would be seeking re-election for a sixth term as chief minister in the state assembly election to be held simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls. The government will flag off ‘raths’ to create awareness about the Rs 943 crore project in villages.
Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar defended his government’s decision to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, stating “ultimately we all are Hindus.” He emphasised that religious symbols are public property and criticized the BJP for selectively inviting leaders to the event. “They (BJP) are picking and choosing leaders. There are so many leaders and chief ministers in the country. It is not a private property. It is public property. Every religion and symbol does not belong to any individual,” the Karnataka Deputy CM said while replying to a question as to why the Congress high command had not decided to take part in the ceremony at Ayodhya.
Shivakumar further said, “We respect the sentiments of all the people,” adding that his government has departments for the minorities, SC/STs, OBCs and Hindu religion. The Supreme Court had in a historic verdict in 2019 backed the construction of the Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the town considered holy by Hindus.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said he has not received an invitation for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple. “I have not been invited to the inauguration of Ram Temple…BJP is doing politics in the name of Ram temple…The ruling party does not have any concrete programme to garner people’s support, so it seems they are trying to create a different opinion.”
BJP’s gimmick: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the BJP for its bid to take the political mileage out of the purely religious issue. Addressing a public programme at Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district, Mamata Banerjee said that the saffron party was indulging in a “gimmick show” through the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Banerjee said she did not believe in dividing masses on religious lines. She is unlikely to attend the ceremony. “I believe in festivities that take along people from all communities and speak about unity. The BJP is doing it (Ram Mandir inauguration) under court instruction but doing it before Lok Sabha polls as a gimmick show,” she alleged.
CPI (M) leaders too will not be attending the event. Party leader Brinda Karat said, “No, we will not go. We respect religious beliefs… but they are connecting a religious programme with politics. Using religion as a political weapon or to advance a political agenda is not right.”
Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya has also extended invitations to cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Billionaire industrialists Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani are among India’s top business leaders who will also be seen at the ceremony.
Among other business leaders who have been invited are Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, Piramal Enterprises chairman Ajay Piramal, Raymond Group chairman Gautam Singhania, TVS chairman Venu Srinivasan, Bharat Forge promoting family’s Baba Kalyani and Amit Kalyani, Satish Mehta, CEO and MD, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Sanjiv Mehta, former CEO of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and L&T CMD SN Subrahmanyam.
A galaxy of film personalities have also been invited by the trust. The invitees include Rajinikanth, Madhuri Dixit, Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Dhanush, Rishab Shetty, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Deol, Prabhas, Yash, Tiger Shroff and Ayushmann Khurrana besides Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia Topiwala (who essayed the roles of Ram and Sita in the popular 1987 TV serial Ramayan). Newly-weds actor Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram have also received an official invitation for Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
Heads of major temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Vaishno Devi and representatives of religious and constitutional institutions, spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mata Amritanandamayi of Kerala and Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev have also been invited. Painter Vasudev Kamat, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) director Nilesh Desai and many other eminent personalities also feature in invitees’ list.
“The Trust has invited one representative each from 50 foreign countries. Invitations have been extended to the families of kar sevaks who lost their lives in the Ram Mandir movement. Invitations have also been sent to scientists, judges, writers and poets,” added secretary of the Trust, Champat Rai. Invitations have also been sent to revered seers from different traditions, along with all prominent individuals contributing to the country’s prestige in every domain. The Trust also invited 80 distinguished individuals from various fields in Allahabad, including spirituality, literature, culture, as well as seers and saints associated with 13 prominent Akharas.
The responsibility of security of Ram temple will be handed over to UP STF and central security forces and Ayodhya has been divided into red and yellow zones. About 25,000 security personnel including military personnel will be deployed for the security of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. Crash rated bollards have been installed in the Red Zone to prevent suicide attacks. NSG commandos along with paramilitary forces of 6 company CRPF, 3 company PAC, 9 company SSF, 300 policemen, 47 jawan fire service, 38 jawan LIU, 40 jawan radio police, two team bomb squad, one commando unit PAC, one-unit STF along with central investigative agencies and NSG commandos will be there for the security of dignitaries.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the consecration ceremony in the Ram Temple at Ayodhya on January 22 has taken centre-stage. Some opposition leaders have accused the ruling party of “politicising” the religious event and refused to accept the invitation to the ceremony while the latter has termed it as disrespect to Hindu religion. To add fuel to fire, there are reports that four ‘Shankaracharyas’ decided not to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and there have been differences among them. However,Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati has reportedly said: “It’s false; there are no differences between the four ‘Shankaracharyas’ over the Ram Temple ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya.”
Tehelka cover story in this issue “Ram Mandir: BJP braces for new poll pitch”, is about how Ayodhya is now gearing up for the grand ceremony at the temple with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing he would undertake an 11-day ritual and dedicate himself to the will of God. The PM has said God has chosen him as an instrument to represent all Indians during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ exercise and that he is undertaking the special religious exercise keeping this in mind before the grandeur of divine task.
As it seems, all roads in Ayodhya will, proverbially, lead to the Ram temple and the revamped city, which now has a new infrastructure including a modern airport, a railway station, the Ram Path, Dharma Path, Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Path and Bhakti Path. As a journalist with the Indian Express group at Lucknow, I was witness to the narrow and congested streets that existed there previously. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, responsible for the Ram Mandir, has extended invitation cards for ‘pran pratishtha’ featuring a silhouette of the temple to over 7,000 individuals including 4,000 seers from various parts of the country. For those who would not be able to reach on the day itself, have been asked to light ‘diyas’ in their houses on January 22 so that the whole country basks in glory. How the frenzy has gripped the populace, could be understood from another fact that the social media handle of the temple in X has surpassed the number of followers of any other Hindu temple in India or elsewhere.
Amidst all the religious frenzy it should not be forgotten that the construction of the temple is the logical result of the Supreme Court judgment. For those who struggled for the Ram temple at Ayodhya which they believe is the exact spot of Sri Ram’s birth where a Muslim place of worship stood there for 464 years before it was demolished in 1992, it is time to forget the acrimonies of the past and look forward to a secular co-existence and harmonious living among all the religious communities!
