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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.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No fees will be charged from devotees visiting Dalma shrine during Shravan: Forest dept
Jamshedpur: Under pressure from the Hindu outfits and public representatives, the state forest department has withdrawn its order pertaining to charging entry fees from the devotees walking to the ancient Shiva temple atop the Dalma forest hills in the holy month of Shravan. The Dalma forest department was charging Rs 5 from the faithful walking to the temple in Shravan besides Rs 50 for the entry of two-wheelers, Rs 100 for three-wheelers and Rs 150 for four-wheelers, respectively. When this matter reached the right wing groups, they vigorously took up the issue with the DFO, Dalma, Saba Alam on Tuesday. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Singhbhum president, Arun Singh, had threatened to launch a mass protest on streets if entry fees is not revoked. JMM's Jugsalai MLA Mangal Kalindi also met the DFO and proposed to pay devotees and vehicles entry fee from his salary. Amid the growing opposition, the department stopped taking entry fees from Wednesday. "The order to charge entry fees from devotees and vehicles is now cancelled. Nobody will be charged during Shravan," DFO Alam said. Notably, the Dalma shrine, which is situated at an altitude of 3,000 feet, draws huge crowds from the vicinity of Dalma foot hills. Besides, the devotees and enthusiasts from different parts of the state and adjoining Bengal and Odisha visit the temple during Shravan. The DFO, however, said that the entry fees for the vehicles will remain the same after the Shravan month ends.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tripura BJP activists visit CPM ex-MP Sankar Prasad Datta to protest his Hanuman remark: ‘We'll pray he gains knowledge'
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal protested in Agartala on Tuesday against an allegedly derogatory remark about Lord Hanuman made by former CPM MP Sankar Prasad Datta. They burned Datta in effigy and demanded that he apologise for the remark he allegedly made while speaking at a CITU conference two days ago. 'A few days back, the CPM leader called Lord Hanuman 'shonda' (bully). Hanumanji is our deity. Protesting against this, we burnt his effigy. We will recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of his home and we will compel him to seek an apology in front of Hanumanji and God in our presence,' said a VHP leader. A group of BJP activists visited Datta's home and offered him a portrait of Lord Hanuman and Hanuman chalisa. 'They (CPM) have made derogatory remarks about Hindu religion on several occasions. The BJP brings out people from darkness to light. We came to his house today with Hanuman Chalisa. We will pray that he gains knowledge and may Lord Hanuman forgive him,' said a BJP activist. The BJP's youth wing, the Tripura Pradesh Yuva Morcha, also protested against the remark in the capital city. 'The entire state has condemned the incident. We demand Sankar Prasad Datta should be immediately arrested. We have seen earlier that they tried to hurt our religious sentiments. After the rally, we will recite Hanuman chalisa near the Kali temple at Melarmath,' a protester said. Datta or the CPM has not reacted to the controversy.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
Jalabhishek Yatra held peacefully in Nuh amid internet ban, security measures
Chants of 'Bum Bum Bholenath' and 'Har Har Mahadev' were interspersed with the usual greetings of 'Radhe Radhe' and 'Ram Ram' among devotees as the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra began from the Nalhar Shiv Temple in Haryana's Nuh on Monday. Vishram Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Nuh, who was present at the site to oversee welfare and security measures for devotees, told The Indian Express that by noon, some 9,000 devotees had thronged Nuh, including some who were still on their way to the temple. 'By the end of the night, we expect the number to cross 30,000.' Additional arrangements were in place as violence had broken out during the yatra two years ago, in which six people were killed. On Sunday night too, a small Muslim shrine in Tauru was partially vandalised. 'I went to the site with a sub-divisional magistrate and a deputy superintendent of police at 6 am and we spoke to the shrine's caretaker, who is a Hindu, and he filed a complaint. It was an attempt by miscreants to disturb the peace here, but we spoke with the people living there and the situation did not escalate,' DC Meena said. The Jalabhishek Yatra, held on the first day of Sawan (a holy month for Lord Shiva devotees) began at around 12.30 pm and passed three Shiva temples, located in Nalhar, Ferozepur Jhirka and Singar, in Nuh. However, amid grey clouds and occasional spells of rain post 2 pm, the devotees were largely seen to be returning home after their visit to the first temple. School kids handed out booklets about the yatra and the temples to passersby, while filming the drones overhead with their phones. 'We are very happy with all the arrangements and to be here to pray to our Lord,' said a woman devotee who had reached Nalhar temple with her infant and friends. Late on Monday afternoon, the temple at Jhirka was teeming with devotees as shower spells brought some respite from the heat. Even as a 24-hour mobile internet ban was in place in the region from 9 pm on Sunday evening, internet was still partially accessible, courtesy signals from towers in the bordering state of Rajasthan. Meat and liquor shops along the route were kept closed to ensure that no sentiments were hurt, Meena added. 'We have been here and ready since 4 am when the first devotees came,' said a member of the Nalhar temple committee while handing out steel jugs to a flood of devotees who then poured over the water from it onto the Shivling as part of the prayers. Violence during Jalabhishek Yatra in 2023 The Jalabhishek Yatra was started by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) three years ago to 'revive holy Hindu sites' in the district where Muslims constitute 79.2% of the population as per the 2011 Census. In 2023, violence had broken out during the yatra, during which six people, including Bajrang Dal members and a cleric at a mosque in Gurgaon, were killed after bullets were fired from the hills behind the Nalhar temple. This time, one of the accused in the case, Faridabad resident and cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, was directed by the police to stay at home and not leave. 'We did not detain or arrest him. Only told him to stay home and he complied. The request was in view of possible law and order issues,' said a spokesperson for the Faridabad police. The move, along with coordination with peace committees, seems to have ensured peaceful congregations. Bajrangi could not be reached for a comment. 'All communities and sects came together harmoniously and provided all help to devotees, including water, and welcomed them with petals. All devotees said they were very happy and this was a showcase of the religious harmony here, notwithstanding what happened two years ago,' said Aazad Mohammad, former Haryana cabinet minister and Ferozepur Jhirka peace committee president. He ran at least eight of the 41 welcome points in Nuh, kiosks of sorts providing water and soft beverages to devotees. Mohammed added that after discussion and consultation with peace committees and the district administration, most shops and businesses along the route voluntarily kept their shutters closed for the day to ensure that the yatra faced no hassles.
India.com
14-07-2025
- India.com
Schools Closed, Internet Suspended In Haryanas Nuh Ahead of Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra; Security Heightened
Closed Internet in Nuh: In preparation for the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, the Haryana government has heightened security across the Nuh district. The authorities have suspended internet along bulk SMS services in the area for the next 24 hours in the city, till 9 PM today. However, SMS services for banking transactions, mobile recharges, and voice calls will remain active. Schools Closed Today Additionally, the authorities ordered that all the schools, private and government will remain closed today, i.e. July 14, 2025, Monday because of Yatra. Ban on Meat The authorities have also announced a ban on the sale, open display, and public hanging of non-vegetarian food items, including meat, fish, and related products along the designated route of the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra. The meat shops will remain closed till July 24, 2025. Ban on Drones, Aircraft, and Fireworks As part of the enhanced security arrangements, the administration has prohibited the use of drones, microlight aircraft, gliders, powered gliders, hot air balloons, kites, Chinese microlights, and fireworks. This suspension aims to prevent any potential disruptions or threats during the yatra. Ban on Provocative Audio Content Authorities have strictly prohibited the use of DJs, loudspeakers, and other sound-amplifying devices that play sensitive content or community-offensive content, to maintain communal harmony during the yatra. Why All This? All these restrictions and high security have been imposed to avoid any violence and clashes during the Yatra. According to Hindustan Times reports, Two years ago, in 2023, violence broke out during the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra when a Vishwa Hindu Parishad procession was attacked by a mob. Five people, including two home guards, lost their lives in the incident. In Gurugram, a naib imam was killed at a mosque during a series of arson attacks. The clashes in Nuh also left more than 200 people injured.
