Latest news with #VHP
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Pastor held for illegal conversion of 200 people
Lucknow: Ambedkarnagar police on Tuesday arrested a pastor on charges of allegedly attempting illegal religious conversion during a prayer session at Billiards church in the Akbarpur area of the district. The incident came to light on Sunday when over 200 men and women gathered at the church for what was claimed to be a "healing prayer" session. Police said the pastor, Pramod Kumar , was allegedly urging attendees to abandon their faith in Sanatan deities and embrace Christianity. Some members of the VHP reported this to the police. A team from Kotwali police station arrived at the church. Initially, police denied allegations of religious conversion, stating that the gathering was only a prayer meeting conducted without prior permission. However, after the matter gained media attention, sub-inspector Ashraf Khan filed an FIR on Monday, leading to the pastor's arrest the next day. Kotwali in-charge Srinivas Pandey said that the accused was produced in court and later sent to jail. In a related complaint, Karamjeet Singh, a resident of Paikolia in Tanda, alleged that he was approached by Pramod, who claimed to be trained in Lucknow and Kerala to carry out conversions. Singh said Pramod promised Rs 20,000 upfront, free education and medical treatment for his children, a monthly allowance of Rs 10,000, and an additional Rs 2,000 per new convert. Singh, who belongs to the SC community, said he refused the offer, after which Pramod allegedly assaulted him and hurled caste-based slurs. Singh's statement led to the addition of relevant sections under the SC/ST (Prevention of atrocities) Act. Police officials have said that investigations are underway.
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
VHP cadre to protect Kanwariyas from anti-social elements
Lucknow, July 22(UNI) With reports of clashes and incidents during ongoing Kanwar Yatras in Uttar Pradesh , Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has now decided to deploy its cadre for protecting the Kanwariyas from anti-social elements. After the appeal of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, VHP has decided that during the Kanwar Yatra, it will deploy Bajrang Dal workers on the main routes who will keep an eye on the outside elements. VThe VHP claims this move will also assist the police in ensuring the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. According to the VHP, Bajrang Dal workers have been instructed to set up Bhandaras (community kitchens), health camps, service centers, and rest areas along the Kanwar Yatra routes. VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal, said that Bajrang Dal workers have been given the responsibility of monitoring the Yatra, identifying external disruptive elements, and alerting the police when necessary. He emphasized that the workers have been instructed to remain restrained and act responsibly during the process. VHP has taken this step after the statement of CM Yogi in which he had urged the social organizations to keep an eye on the anti-social elements disrupting the religious yatra and to immediately inform the administration if any wrongful activity is reported. Yogi also said that a conspiracy is being hatched to defame this religious yatra and emphasised for increased urged Kanwar Sanghs and social organizations to actively fulfill their responsibilities in maintaining peace. The VHP believes that attempts are being made to disrupt the Kanwar Yatra. Before Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand government had also launched Operation Kalanemi to identify those vitiate the atmosphere during Kanwar Yatra under which about 300 people have been detained. UNI MBD AAB
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Motion to impeach justice Yadav stalled due to forged signature: Dhankhar
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday informed the House about an ongoing enquiry related to an alleged forged signature in a motion for the removal of justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad high court, suggesting that this was the reason for the hold-up in a process initiated in December. His comments came hours before he unexpectedly resigned as Vice President. The notice was submitted by the MPs on December 13, 2024, after a controversial speech by justice Shekhar Yadav at a VHP event was widely criticised for promoting hate speech and majoritarian rhetoric. (HT) Addressing the House, he said, 'In December, a motion under Article 124 was submitted for my consideration for removal of a judge of the high court of Allahabad. That motion was purportedly from 55 members. I examined that and found one particular member has signed at two places. The result was the representation of the motion indicating 55 members seeking removal, but, actually it was only 54 and not 55.' The notice was submitted by the MPs on December 13, 2024, after a controversial speech by the judge at a VHP event was widely criticised for promoting hate speech and majoritarian rhetoric. A motion for the removal of a judge has to be signed by not less than 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha. Dhankar said that the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have received the requisite numbers. He said that an enquiry was conducted about the second signature. 'The honourable member declined his second signature. That made the matter a little more serious, because it was required of me to get to the bottom and find out whether the representation merited consideration. The process was initiated for verification of signatures and authentication. That process is in progress. I will get a full update and come back to the House. If a motion carries two signatures of the same member and the honourable members declines by saying it was signed at only one place and not two, then the matter becomes serious and culpable.' Dhankhar said that the Rajya Sabha has to set high standards and live up to the expectations of the people. 'If we do not live up to the highest expectations of the people, then we'll be putting things under the carpet and not subjecting them to deep investigation. I will discuss with the floor leaders as to the steps that this House needs to take with respect to such kinds of transgressions.' he said. Opposition MPs have complained about the delay in acting on a notice by the parliamentarians calling for an impeachment motion against the judge. On December 17, the apex court collegium, comprising the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and Abhay S Oka, summoned Justice Yadav for a 30-minute closed-door meeting to ascertain whether his public comments violated the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct or judicial ethics outlined in internal codes. While Justice Yadav reportedly assured the collegium judges he would apologise publicly, he failed to do so in the weeks that followed. Instead, in a January letter to the chief justice of the Allahabad high court, the judge doubled down on his remarks, claiming they had been misrepresented by vested interests and asserting that his speech reflected societal concerns 'consistent with constitutional values'. Appointed in 2019, Justice Yadav is set to retire on April 15, 2026. People cited above said that the then CJI Khanna subsequently sought a fresh report from the Allahabad high court chief justice, referring to additional complaints against Justice Yadav from a law student and a retired IPS officer. But, in March 2025, the Supreme Court administration received a formal communication from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, informing it that the matter of Justice Yadav's conduct, arising out of the December 13 impeachment motion signed by 55 MPs, was already under active consideration. The letter followed Dhankar's comments in Parliament. In February, he said that only Parliament and President have the jurisdiction over the matter 'The jurisdiction for the stated subject matter constitutionally lies in exclusivity with the chairman Rajya Sabha and in an eventuality with the Parliament and honourable President. Taking note of public domain information and inputs available, it is expedient that the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha shares this information with the Secretary General, Supreme Court of India,' he said in Parliament on February 13. On Monday, Dhankar also spoke about the recovery of ₹500 notes from the seat allotted to a member in the House. The Rajya Sabha Chairman said that no member had come forward to claim ownership of the notes. 'I must also inform the House that there was an occasion in this house where on seat number 222, a pad of ₹500 notes was found. What is more surprising is and is deeply concerning is not that a pad of notes was found but no one has owned it. No one has claimed it. This is quite serious . I had asked authorities to get into the matter seriously, but, it appears now that the matter will have to be dealt with. And that too I will put before the floor leaders for further consideration and guidance,' he said. On December 6, Dhankhar had informed the House that during a routine anti-sabotage check the previous day, security personnel had found a wad of currency notes on a seat number 222, allotted to Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Singhvi has denied any involvement, terming the situation 'bizarre'.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
VHP deploys activists to rein in miscreants tarnishing Kanwar yatra image
Lucknow: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has deployed Bajrang Dal activists across Kanwar routes in UP to identify and help police rein in "miscreants" indulging in hooliganism and thus tarnishing the image of the religious yatra. The activists assigned with the task are either carrying Kanwar themselves or are stationed at various camps --- bhandaras, health camps, sewa kendra, and 'Shayan' kendra (night shelters) --- along the routes. "They have been asked to spot the miscreants and help police in tracking them down," VHP national spokesperson Vind Bansal told TOI on Monday. He said that the workers have been asked to remain disciplined in the process. The development comes close on the heels of CM Yogi Adityanath stepping up monitoring of the Kanwar Yatra in a bid to hunt down miscreants posing as Kanwariyas allegedly to incite violence. Yogi issued clear instructions to paste posters of miscreants in public once the yatra is over. The state govt is also keeping a close watch on the yatra with the help of CCTV cameras. VHP's overdrive regarding the Kanwar Yatra follows its recent push for keeping a check on miscreants posing as seers. This recently prompted the Uttarakhand govt to launch 'Operation Kalnemi', under which more than 300 'fake' people pretending to be seers were arrested by police across six districts of the Kumaon division.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Ganesh idol makers seek govt protection from ‘non-Hindu' lenders
Hyderabad: The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi on Friday urged the government to protect Ganesh idol makers from what it described as "the clutches of private money lenders of non-Hindus" and to provide them with necessary support. Samithi leaders called on the government to halt alleged "theft by other religions" in the Ganesh idol making business, emphasising that all possible help should be extended to the artisans. This demand was raised at a meeting of Ganesh idol makers held in Uppal-Nagole on Friday, organised under the auspices of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi. Dr Ravinutala Shashidhar, VHP National Spokesperson and Ganesh Utsav Samithi Secretary, was the chief guest. Speaking at the event, Shashidhar announced, "Bhagyanagar is getting ready for the 46th mass Ganesh Festival and arrangements were being made to organise the Ganesh festival on a grand scale from 27 August to 6 September." Shashidhar stated that middlemen entering the business at the last minute were exploiting the hardships faced by Hindu idol makers, who have come to the city from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other places and have been engaged in making Ganesh idols for the past 25 to 30 years. He alleged that these middlemen, associated with Muslim and Christian organisations, have also entered the business. Shashidhar asserted that this issue relates to the religious beliefs of Hindus, and that organisers were experiencing difficulties due to the low rates offered by traders from other religions. He further claimed that these middlemen were harassing idol makers by providing loans at high interest rates. The Ganesh Utsav Samithi is seeking a permanent solution to this problem, with plans being formulated. "The makers of idols and the people who sell them must be entirely Hindus, but people of other religions are allowed to do so," Shashidhar concluded.
