Page 13 - Religion Belief
Italian Foreign Minister hosts Iftar meal in Rome
Rome, May 31 (IANS/AKI) Italy's Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi on Wednesday hosted diplomats from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and representatives of Italy's Muslim community for an Iftar meal, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Two ministers differ from the rest
Two ministers differed from the other ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi by taking oath of the office and secrecy at the swearing-in ceremony, held in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, by not doing it in the name of 'God'.While Modi and 55 others took the oath in the name of God, most of them in Hindi, Ram Vilas Paswan of the LJP and Rao Inderjit Singh of BJP did it by "solemnly affirming".
Kerala's V. Muraleedharan to join Modi ministry
Kerala BJP President V. Muraleedharan is set to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new ministry.
Nikhil Dwivedi to produce 'Shrimad Bhagwad Mahapuran' on TV
Producer Nikhil Dwivedi is all set to bring "Shrimad Bhagwad Mahapuran" to the small screen.
Hindu names commonplace in Maharashtra's Tadvi Bhil Muslims
The suicide of 26-year-old doctor Payal Tadvi, allegedly due to casteist slurs by three seniors, has put the spotlight on Hindu names commonly used in Tadvi Bhil Muslim tribal community, found in parts of Maharashtra. The Tadvi community is listed under Scheduled Tribes and is also found in pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Payal belonged to the Tadvi Bhil Muslim community. The gynaecology PG student had secured admission in a state-run medical college and hospital in Mumbai last year through a reserved category seat. Tadvi Bhils are a sub-caste of the Bhil community and among them, those who adopted Islam are known as Tadvi Bhil Muslims, said a social activist from Payal's home district Jalgaon in north Maharashtra. Jalgaon district has over 60,000 Tadvi Bhil Muslims, the largest number in Maharashtra. The community is mainly spread in Raver, Yawal and Chopda regions of the district, the activist said. Asked about the tribal community following Islam as .
Muslim worshipper injured in UK hit-and-run
A Muslim worshipper was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash after coming out of a mosque in the UK city of Leicester, the media reported on Thursday.
Ahead of swearing-in, Jagan Reddy visits Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada
Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-elect YS Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Kanakadurga temple on Indrakeeladri hill here on Wednesday.Reddy, along with party leaders, visited the temple and offered special prayers to Goddess Durga. He was received by the temple priests and officials on his arrival.Jagan, who is slated to take oath as Chief Minister on Thursday, visited various religious places today. He offered prayers at the Lord Balaji temple in Tirumala, after which he went on to visit the Peda Dargah at Kadapa. He also offered prayers at CSI church situated in his hometown Pulivendula.Jagan had steered YSRCP to a four-fifths majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state. His party also managed to win 22 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Jaganmohan Reddy visits church ahead of swearing in ceremony
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday offered prayers at CSI church situated here in his hometown Pulivendula.The soon to be Chief Minister, before the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, is visiting religious places today. Reddy, on Wednesday morning, started by going to the Tirumala Temple to offer his prayers to Lord Balaji after which he went on to visit the Peda Dargah at Kadapa.He is further slated to visit the Kanakadurga temple at Vijayawada.YSRCP had secured a landslide majority in the assembly and parliamentary elections in Andhra Pradesh. Reddy had steered YSRCP to a four-fifths majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state.Reddy is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on May 30.
Chinese authorities issue 'secret' document for crackdown on Christian churches
Chinese authorities have issued a "secret" document directing the local administrations to launch a nationwide crackdown on Christian churches having ties with foreign religious communities.According to an article originally published by Bitter Winter and republished in Chinascope- a media research company- the document has been issued by United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Ministry of Public Security of the Liaoning Provincial Government.It is titled as 'Work Plan for Investigating and Handling Foreign Christian Penetration in Accordance with the Law'.The CCP's secret document gives the government agencies special powers to "resolutely crack down on foreign religious believers, resolutely destroy the religious activities of foreign religious groups in the local area and resolutely prevent organisations from attending training in neighboring countries and regions."It also directs them to tighten restrictions on the use of .
HRD, Minority Affairs ministries' response sought on plea over madrasas, gurukuls
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the ministries of Minority Affairs and Human Resource Development (HRD) to file a response to a plea seeking regulation of education imparted in 'madrasas' and 'gurukuls'.
BJP demands withdrawal of FIR against Kannada editor
Condemning the intolerance of the Karnataka government towards the media, BJP leader S.M. Krishna on Wednesday urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to withdraw the FIR filed against a Kannada editor over an article criticizing the Chief Minister's son Nikhil.
Cong leader urges Kerala govt to reopen schools after Ramzan
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala Wednesday wanted reopening of schools in Kerala to be delayed till June 6 instead of earlier decided June 3 in view of Ramzan. Opposition leaders including Chennithala, UDF leaders M K Muneer, P J Joseph and Anoop Jacob shot off a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Education Minister seeking extending the vacation by three more days keeping in mind the festival date. "There are chances that the Ramzan may be celebrated on June 4 or 5 and hence it would be better if the schools would reopen on June 6," the leaders said in the letter. Chennithala had also demanded this in the Assembly. The government is yet to take or announce any decision in this regard.
PIL to regulate education imparted in madrasas, gurukuls: HC seeks Centre's reply
The Delhi High Court sought the Centre's response on Wednesday on a plea seeking directions to it to regulate the education being imparted in the madrasas and gurukuls in the country. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Brijesh Sethi issued notice to the ministries of human resource development and minority affairs, seeking their stand on the joint plea moved by a Congress MLA from West Bengal and an RTI activist from the state. Right to Information (RTI) activist Sunil Saraogi and Congress MLA Akhruzzaman, in their petition filed through advocate Vidhan Vyas, have claimed that the academic syllabus followed in these institutions "are still stuck in the 18th century with the Holy Quran, Urdu and Persian being the only subjects". "This severely impacts the job prospects of the students studying at these madrasas," the petition has alleged. It has also alleged that the "children attending such institutions are unable to compete with their peers with respect to job and ...
Jagan Mohan Reddy prays at Tirupati temple
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister designate Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala here.
Delhi HC notice to ministries on PIL seeking regulation of education in Madrasas, Gurukuls
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Human Resource and Development (HRD) on a PIL seeking regulation of education in Madrasas and Gurukuls, clarification on certificates issued by them and mapping of all recognised and unrecognised Madrasas and Gurukuls in the country.A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra and justice Brijesh Sethi issued notices to HRD and Minority affairs ministeries, directing them to give an exact status of regulations of such institutions in the country. The court fixed the next date of hearing in the matter on July 8.The petition stated that in India there are more than 30,000 Maktabahs and Madrasas and approximately 2000 Gurukuls. Such Maktabahs, Madrasas and Gurukuls are acting as a primary source of education to more than 15 lakh young individuals in the country.Petitioner Sunil Saroagi through counsel Vidhan mentioned that no comparison can be made of the education provided in such institutes to the one ...
BJP library gets Quran after PM's appeal to win over minorities
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to his party to win the trust of minorities, Quran - the holy book of Muslims - has arrived at the library of the BJP's Uttarakhand headquarters here.
Smriti Irani offers prayers at Kamakhya temple
Union Minister and newly elected BJP MP from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, Smriti Irani Tuesday visited the Kamakhya Temple here and offered prayers. Irani who defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, arrived here from Mumbai and drove straight to the Nilachal Hills, the abode of Goddess Kamakhya and the seat of Shakti cult and offered prayers, a party spokesperson said. She also visited the Bogala Temple further up the hill and also offered prayers. Irani did not speak to waiting mediapersons at the temple.
TN CM offers prayers at Lord Venkateswara temple
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Tuesday offered prayers at the famous Lord Venkateswara near here. He took part in the Astadala Paadapadmaradhana ritual conducted for the presiding deity inside the sanctum sanctorum this morning, a temple official told PTI. Palaniswami was accompanied by his wife and other family members. After offering prayers, he was honoured with a sacred silk cloth and prasadam by the temple management. He later left for Chennai. Security was tightened in view of Palaniswami's visit.
Cleric files police complaint against Pak minister over moon-sighting website
A Muslim cleric has filed a police complaint against Pakistan's Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, alleging that he had deliberately violated norms of Islam and Sharia by introducing a moon-sighting calendar. Chaudhry Sunday launched Pakistan's first ever moon-sighting website - pakmoonsighting.pk - in a bid to end controversy over the start of key lunar months that decides the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan and Eid festivals. Mufti Inamul Haq has filed a complaint with the Secretariat Police Station here, alleging that Chaudhry had deliberately violated norms of Islam and Sharia by introducing a moon-sighting calendar, Dawn reported. In the complaint, it is stated that the minister had also used derogatory remarks against the religious figures and hurt the sentiments of the masses. Haq has requested the Secretariat Police to lodge a First Information Report against the minister. The website features sections such as Islamic calendar for the next five years, a
Ramadan in Mideast is for fasting and Facebook, data shows
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with its long days of fasting and prayer meant to draw worshippers closer to God and away from worldly distractions, is being reshaped by technology. People in the Middle East spend close to 58 million more hours on Facebook during Ramadan and watch more YouTube videos everything from beauty tips and recipes to sports and TV dramas than any other time of the year, making the holy month not only the most important one for Muslims, but also the prime time of the year for advertisers. For Facebook, which also owns Instagram, and Google, which owns YouTube, Ramadan brings a welcome boost of business in the region. "Consumption and time spent on our platforms does indeed increase," said Ramez Shehadi, Facebook's managing director for Mideast and North Africa. People stay up a lot more at night during Ramadan and have more downtime especially before iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daylong fast, and the "suhoor," when people gather to eat before ..
