Page 28 - Religion Belief
Goa Church expresses regret over priest's 'hate speech'
The influential Catholic Church in Goa on Monday expressed regret over a recent hate speech by a Catholic priest criticising the BJP, party's national President Amit Shah and late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, which went viral and is being investigated by election authorities.
Declare public holiday on Good Friday in two UTs: HC
Observing that Good Friday was commemorated by all communities and Easter eggs and chocolates enjoyed by all, the Bombay High Court Monday directed that the day be declared as an official public holiday in the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N M Jamdar directed the administration of the two Union Territories (UTs) to declare Friday, April 19, a public holiday. The administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had earlier issued a notification marking Good Friday as an optional holiday at government offices. The Christian community from the UTs approached the HC earlier this month with a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the notification. Their counsel Harish Jagtiani argued that while the Christian population in these UTs accounted for just 2 per cent of the total population, the "principles of secularism" mandated that one consider the "sentiments of the minority ..
Adityanath didn't provoke religious sentiments, he only took name of God: UP BJP chief
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey came out in support of Yogi Adityanath, who has censured by the EC for his communal remarks, saying the chief minister only took the name of God. The statement came hours after the Election Commission "strongly condemned" Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati for their communal remarks and barred them from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours respectively. In a statement issued here, Pandey said, "The BJP is a disciplined political party and we respect the decision of the Election Commission. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath did not in any way provoke religious sentiments, nor did he make any statement which could spread communal unrest. He only took the name of God." "On the other hand, BSP supremo Mayawati and SP leader Azam Khan are seeking votes in the name of religion and also trying to spread communal unrest. "Azam Khan resorted to use of vulgar and undignified language, and hence action should be initiated against Azam Khan and .
Adityanath, Mayawati censured, barred from campaigning for 72, 48 hrs respectively
The Election Commission on Monday "strongly condemned" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati for their communal remarks and barred them from campaigning for different periods. While Adityanath was barred for 72 hours, Mayawati has been barred for 48 hours, separate EC orders said. The two have also been "censured". Mayawati was issued the notice for her speech in Deoband appealing to Muslims to not vote for a particular party. The BSP chief had prima facie violated the model code of conduct, the poll panel found. Adityanath was served the notice for his "Ali" and "Bajrang Bali" remarks while addressing a rally in Meerut. He compared the Lok Sabha elections to a contest between 'Ali', a revered figure in Islam, and Bajrang Bali, the Hindu god Hanuman.
Dubai Gurudwara to hold daily iftar during Ramadan
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) only Sikh temple will host iftar for workers throughout the upcoming month of Ramadan, the chairman of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara said.
This shows BJP's arrogance: Mayawati hits out at Maneka, Adityanath
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday hit out at BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Yogi Adityanath over their recent comments and said this "anti-people attitude" of the BJP needs to be defeated in the Lok Sabha elections."After Union Minister Maneka Gandhi threatened the voters, now the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has given an open warning of 'living unemployed for the lifetime' on being shown black flags and banners during his meetings. This is not only BJP's arrogance but it is an anti-people attitude which needs to be defeated in the elections," she tweeted in Hindi.Despite having received a notice by the Election Commission for making speeches which allegedly violated the Model Code of Conduct, Adityanath on Sunday said: "Those who did not recognise Shri Ram and Shri Krishna are now coming to the shelter of Bajrang Bali. Even Mayawati is showing faith in Bajrang Bali now."On April 12, Maneka had said that her win from the Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency is certain ...
TDP files complaint over shifting of EVMs in Andhra Pradesh's Nuzvid
TDP candidate for the Nuzvid Assembly seat M Venkateswara Rao Sunday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, saying polling equipment have been shifted from strong room without any intimation. He said the equipment were from the Nuzvid Asembly segment and were stored in the strong room at Machilipatnam Krishna University campus after polling was held on April 11. Election authorities, however, said the equipment that have been shifted were either not used on the election day or defective. "114 VVPATs, 104 ballot units and 102 control units that were unused in the election or defective have been shifted from the Krishna University campus to the EVM godown," Returning Officer Swapnil P Dinakar told PTI. He added that the unused equipment were stored in a separate room and not along with those used for polling. "We have not touched the sealed strong rooms," he said.
Adityanath takes dig at Mayawati's 'Bajrang Bali' remark
In an apparent dig at BSP supremo Mayawati, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday said those who did not have faith in Lord Ram and Lord Krishna were now taking refuge in 'Bajrang Bali'. Mayawati had on Saturday said her party wanted both Ali and Bajrang Bali -- particularly Bajrang Bali -- as the deity was "linked with my own Dalit caste". "Those who did not have faith in Shri Ram and Shri Krishna have now come to the refuge of Bajrang Bali," Adityanath said. He also paid homage to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. Hitting out at the Congress, the priest-turned-politician said the party had done politics on the basis of religion and caste in the country. "The BJP government led by Narendra Modi, on the other hand, has always worked on the policy of development of all. It gave a befitting reply to terrorism, Naxalism and separatism," Adityanath said. "Whether it was China's conspiracy in Doklam or terrorism funded by Pakistan, the Modi government has ..
Goa CEO orders probe into priest's viral speech
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Goa has ordered a probe into a viral video, in which a Catholic priest is seen slandering the BJP as an anti-minority party and saying that the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar suffered from pancreatic cancer as a wrath of God.
Baisakhi festival concludes at Pak's Gurdwara Panja Sahib; over 2K Indian Sikh pilgrims participate
The three-day annual Baisakhi festival -- which was participated by thousands of Sikhs from across the world, including over 2,000 from India -- concluded at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal city of Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday. Baisakhi is celebrated to mark the beginning of a new harvest season. Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, every year, large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions. A total of 2,206 Sikh pilgrims arrived at Hasan Abdal from India on Friday to attend the festival at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, even as tensions between the two neighbours remain at fever pitch. Special security arrangements were made for the pilgrims to ensure law and order. The Panja Sahib gurdwara at Hasan Abdal, which is about 35 km from Islamabad, has a handprint of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, on a boulder of the shrine. Addressing the pilgrims, Prime ...
SL Prez Sirisena to offer prayers at Venkateswara shrine on
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will offer prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here on April 17. Accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari and other family members and Lankan officials, Sirisena would land at Renigunta airport 20 km from here from Hyderabad at noon on April 16 and reach the hills by road. After an overnight stay at the TTD guest house on the hills, he would take part in the 'Suprabhatha' ritual (the recitation of Sanskrit hymns by priests to wake the Lord) in the early hours on April 17, a temple official told PTI. After offering prayers at the ancient hill temple, Sirisena would fly to Bangalore, the official said, adding that it would be his third visit to the shrine as President of Lanka Earlier, he had visited the holy hills in August 2016 and February 2015.
BJP wants EC to probe speech by Goa priest
The BJP on Sunday wrote to the Election Commission demanding a probe in a controversial sermon delivered by a Catholic priest which it said could destabilize religious harmony in Goa.
Passion Week begins as Palm Sunday observed in Kerala
Churches across Kerala on Sunday morning were crowded as a large number of devotees took part in the 'Palm Sunday' service which marks the beginning of 'Passion Week'.
Times Square inundates with Sikh culture as thousands tie turban on Turban Day
A sea of colours and tradition of the Sikh culture inundated Times Square, the crossroads of the world, as members of the community tied turbans to thousands of New Yorkers and tourists in an annual fixture aimed at spreading awareness about the Sikh identity. Sikh organisation 'The Sikhs of New York' organised the annual Turban Day on Saturday in association with the Consulate General of India in New York. This year's Turban Day also marked the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and the festival of Baisakhi. Deputy Consul General of India in New York Shatrughna Sinha said the Consulate is commemorating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak with Gurubani recital programmes. As part of the commemoration of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary as well as to mark Baisakhi, this year the Consulate associated with The Sikhs of NY on Turban Day, Sinha said. "This is a great environment and ambience and the crowd is fantastic," Sinha said, sporting a blue turban as he took part in
My productions have universal appeal: renowned classical dancer
Renowned Bharatanatyam exponent and scholar Bala Devi Chandrashekar, who recently performed her latest production Brihadeeswara - form to formless' in the city, has said that her productions have universal messages culled out from India's epics that do not require any language. Chandrashekar was speaking before the premiere at the leading performing arts center Symphony Space at Broadway last week. She presented her production through the eyes of an ancient Indian Temple dancer - Devaradiyal. It is a story based on the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The temple, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an architectural marvel, historically significant and dedicated to Lord Shiva. When your message is universal, you don't have to be worried whether the culture is coming from the Asian continent or from Europe or the Middle East, she told PTI in an interview ahead of her performance. It is a very common language especially when it is demonstrated through dance. It is visually ...
Kaila Devi temple: Mulayam Singh Yadav's lucky charm
To win elections politicians leave nothing to chance. There are many religious places as well which are known for their importance in politics. Maa Kaila Devi Mandir in Sambhal district is one such place.The temple has a special significance for the people coming from the Yadav community as she is their family deity. Irrespective of their political parties, politicians throng to this temple to perform rituals, especially those hailing from the Yadav community.The devotees claim that the temple has changed the fate of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and that is why the family has deep faith in the powers of the Devi.When seen from a political angle, it is apparent that the parties keep in mind the caste equations while coming to the temple.The whole area is dominated by the Yadav community, making the area important during election season.Uttar Pradesh, where 80 seats are at stake, saw voting in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections for eight seats. The polling
Digvijaya Singh commits DCC land to Ram Temple Trust in Bhopal
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh on Saturday announced to give the land of District Congress Committee (DCC) to the Ram Temple Trust."I want to tell you that land for the Ram temple was provided during our term. The land was provided for the DCC office as well. The Congress party has decided that this land will also be allotted to Ram Mandir Trust," Singh said while talking to reporters here.Asked about the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Singh, who is contesting Lok Sabha seat from Bhopal, said, "The matter is in the court. Let there be a decision."The Ram temple lies in front of the District Congress Committee office.The polling for 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to be held in four phases from April 29 to May 19. The results will be announced on May 23.
Lynchings will be commonplace under Shah: Kejriwal
If BJP President Amit Shah ever becomes the Union Home Minister, lynchings will be commonplace in India, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.
Gowda fears Modi would ruin the country if given a second
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda Saturday expressed apprehension that a second chance to prime minister Narendra Modi would ruin the country and its Constitution. Speaking at a joint public meeting addressed by Congress and JD(S) leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Gowda said, "Under the ego of having won 282 seats, Narendra Modi is out to destroy the nation." He insisted that the country did not belong to the people of one faith, but of all those who practised different religions, whether be it Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Hinduism. Gowda also reminded the people to understand the "hollowness" in Modi's speech. "With folded hands I want to tell you that Modi's talks are hollow. You please understand this. If by chance Modi becomes prime minister again, there will be a situation where the Constitution written by B R Ambedkar would be destroyed. I am saying this with experience.I can give many examples how the system has been destroyed in the ...
Quebec proposes ban on religious clothing for public workers
A proposal to ban many public employees from wearing religious clothing is creating a fiery debate in the Canadian province of Quebec, where people are fighting to freely practice their religion or to be free of it. The measure introduced late last month would prohibit civil servants, teachers, nurses, bus drivers, lawyers and other people who interact with the public from wearing symbols of religion while at work. It would apply to Sikh turbans, Christian jewelry and Jewish yarmulkes, but the focus of the controversy has been over hijabs worn by many Muslim women in Quebec. "The proposed legislation will affect Muslims more than other groups as they are the fastest growing religious group," said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. Muslims represent about 3 per cent of Quebec's 8.3 million people. Thousands of demonstrators attended a recent march in Montreal to protest the measure, with some holding signs saying, "No one tells women what they .