Page 32 - Religion Belief
Financial aid to churches, SC status to converted Christians among Naidu's poll sops
In an attempt to woo Christian voters, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday promised a number of sops for the community living in the state, including houses for pastors, financial support to churches and Scheduled Caste status to converted Christians if his party is voted to power again in the Assembly elections."We will build houses for pastors and give permission for construction of churches in villages. We will give financial support for the construction of churches," Naidu said in a meeting of Christian pastors and other preachers here.He also promised to give priority to Christians in nominated posts and "Scheduled Caste status to converted Christians."As of now, Christians get one per cent reservation under BC (C) quota in the state while the reservation for SC stands at 16 per cent. Reservation for converted Christians, however, is a complex and controversial issue as it allegedly promotes religious ...
VHP to organise 'Vijay Mahamantra Jaap Anushthan'
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which has decided not to hold any agitational programme on the Ram temple issue till the Lok Sabha polls, is all set to organise a "Vijay Mahamantra Jaap Anushthan" across the country on Saturday.
Indian Muslims can set an example of religious harmony for world, says Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Thursday said Indian Muslims could set an example of religious harmony before the world.At a press conference here, Lama said: "I have never heard a problem between Shia and Sunni in India, while in Muslim countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, they are fighting against each other.""India is a country with religious harmony despite so much diversity. I have suggested the government to do an international religious conference here," he said.The Tibetan spiritual leader said, "If an international Buddhist conference, headed by former President of India Dr Radhakrishnan, can happen here in the past, then why not an international conference on all religions be conducted here?"Commenting on Gurugram incident where a Muslim family was beaten up by some Hindus over an argument regarding a cricket match, Lama said: "There are misguided people in all religions.""Even some Buddhists are also misguided, but these people cannot symbolise the whole religion. ..
SC refuses to accord urgent hearing to Christian body's plea for rescheduling polling date in TN
"How long does it take to vote and can't people cast their votes on a holy day?" the Supreme Court asked Thursday while refusing to accord urgent hearing to a plea which claimed that holding Lok Sabha polls on April 18 in Tamil Nadu will cause "inconvenience" to Christians and sought its rescheduling. A bench headed by Justice S A Bobde made the observation when the lawyer representing a Christian body sought urgent hearing on their petition challenging the March 22 Madras High Court order which had dismissed their plea in this regard. The petition, filed by a managing trustee of 'Christuva Nallenna Iyakkam', said that the scheduled date of polling for the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry falls within the holy period, which begins with 'Maundy Thursday' and is followed by Good Friday and Holy Easter. "You can't cast your vote on a holy day?" the bench, also comprising justices S A Nazeer and Indira Banerjee, asked the counsel who sought an urgent hearing on the ...
Rahul's 'emotional' link with Wayanad
Congress President Rahul Gandhi has an emotional link with Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency from where he is contesting polls besides his family bastion Amethi, party leaders said here Thursday. An urn containing the ashes of his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was brought here in 1991 and they were immersed in Papanasini, a stream connected to a famous temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu in picturesque Thirunelli village, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala recalled. "The then chief minister K Karunakaran, myself, Mullappally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal had attended the ritual of immersing the ashes of Rajiv-ji in Papanasini," Chennithala told PTI here. Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb blast at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991 during an election campaign. The Congress leaders indicated that Rahul Gandhi is likely to offer prayers at the holy place when he visits the constituency for campaigning next ...
AgustaWestland deal case: ED files chargesheet against middlemen Christian Michel
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday filed a charge sheet against AgustaWestland deal alleged middlemen Christian Michel in a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here.In the more than 2000-page supplementary charge sheet submitted before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar, the agency has also included the statement records of Michel.The agency has named some fresh individuals and firms as accused in the case. The new additions include David Syms, alleged partner and director with Christian Michel in his firms.Michel, who was extradited from the UAE in December last year, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the CBI and ED cases against him related to the AgustaWestland deal scam.Hearing in the matter in underway.
Malaysia urged to reinvestigate 2 apparent police abductions
Malaysia's government was urged Thursday to reinvestigate the disappearances of a Christian pastor and a Muslim activist after a public inquiry concluded the duo were abducted by the police special branch over matters against Islam. Amri Che Mat, who ran a charity group, disappeared after he left his home on the night of Nov. 24, 2016. The Rev. Raymond Koh disappeared in broad daylight in central Selangor state on Feb. 13, 2017, while being investigated for proselytization of Muslims. The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday concluded after a two-year public inquiry that direct and circumstantial evidence showed the men were victims of "enforced disappearance by state agents" involving the special branch. It said the men had been targeted by religious authorities and police and abducted in similar fashion: their cars were cornered by several four-wheel drive vehicles before they were swiftly seized by men in black. It said Amri was under the watch of Perlis religious ...
YSR Congress workers clash with cops in Mylavaram
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) workers clashed with police on Wednesday after they were stopped from following the convoy of their leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy at Mylavaram in Krishna district.The party workers were lathi-charged by the police after they refused to follow orders and kept following Reddy's convoy.The workers also hurled footwear and pelted stones at the cops for stopping them.After receiving information about the clash, YSRCP leaders Vasanta Krishna Prasad and P Veera Prasad, who are in the fray for the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats from Mylavaram and Vyjayawada respectively, rushed to the place to control their cadre.Jagan is the president of YSR Congress Party and leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly since 2014.Simultaneous elections will be held in Andhra Pradesh on April 11 for 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly seats.
Book series on Indian spiritual leaders' teachings
Home to many spiritual and religious leaders, India abounds with their precious teachings. Bringing their wisdom, usually in form of aphorisms, to guide people is an upcoming 10-book series called 'Life Lessons' with its first four featuring Moinuddin Chisti, Guru Nanak, Adi Shankara and Mahavira set to soon hit stands in India.
Some North Dakota GOP lawmakers abstain from Hindu prayer
Some Republican North Dakota House members abstained Tuesday from an opening floor session prayer by a Hindu cleric, marking the second time in recent years some GOP representatives have objected to an invocation from a non-Christian. Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism in Nevada, offered prayer as the guest chaplain in the House, a day after he delivered the invocation in the Senate without incident. Lutheran pastor and freshman Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot sat at the back of the chamber to "protest" the prayer. A handful of other lawmakers also stood or sat at the back of the chamber during the prayer, which was the first in the chamber by a Hindu. The lawmakers returned to their seats on the floor when the prayer was over. Hoverson said he met with Zed prior to floor session to tell him his protest "was nothing personal." He said the two hugged, exchanged handshakes and business cards. The Senate and House convene daily with a prayer by the chamber's guest ...
I have worked on my consistency: Prasidh Krishna
Young Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Prasidh Krishna is looking to be consistent this season, an aspect he feels is the biggest attribute a bowler can add to his arsenal.
10 lakh first-timers among 4.51 crore voters in Gujarat
More than 4.51 crore voters, including 10.06 lakh first-timers, are eligible to exercise their franchise across the 26 Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat that goes to the polls on April 23, a top official said Wednesday. The figure, which saw a drop in third gender voters, was arrived at after revision of electoral rolls in the state. Between September 1, 2018 and March 25, 2019, a total of 10.05 lakh voters were added to the existing list in the revision carried out in two phases, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Murali Krishna said. The total number of eligible voters in Gujarat now stood at 4,51,25,680 -- 2,34,28,119 crore males, 2,16,96,571 crore females and 990 from the third gender, he said while addressing a press conference here. The revision of electoral rolls involved addition, deletion, updating of details and change in address. The number of third gender voters came down by 149 to 990 following the revision carried out between February 1, 2019 and ...
Aussie MP slammed for Christchurch attack remarks
The Australian Senate on Wednesday slammed a lawmaker for blaming Muslim immigration as the cause for the New Zealand mosque attacks that killed 50 people.
Maharashtra Cong chief accuses Shiv Sena of insulting religious sentiments of Jains
Accusing Shiv Sena of hurting the religious sentiments of Jain followers, Mumbai Congress president Milind Deora urged the community to teach them a lesson by not voting for them in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections."Shiv Sena has been against the minorities. A few years ago, the party insulted Jain religion by cooking meat outside Jain temples during Paryushana festival. Remember, you have to teach them a lesson through your votes," Deora said at a programme at Zhaveri Bazar on Tuesday.Paryushana, an annual event where Jain community observe fast for a period of eight days, is usually celebrated in August or September.It is worth mentioning that Deora was appointed as Mumbai Congress party unit last month replacing Sanjay Nirupam.Maharastra will go to polls for its 48 parliamentary constituencies in the first four phases of elections starting from April 11.
Agree or face consequences, Nayantara Sahgal on message from powers-that-be
Author Nayantara Sahgal on Tuesday said the message from those in power was clear -- either agree with them or suffer the consequences. Sahgal, who was conferred with the first Bhai Vaidya Smruti Gaurav Puraskar here, could not attend the award ceremony in person but a pre-recorded video speech was played at the event. The award was received by noted author Kiran Nagarkar on behalf of Sahgal. "We are living in an India that has no connection with our modern political past. Secularism is under attack. Equal rights and equal citizenship are in tatters, and Indians have been divided into Hindus and others," Sahgal said in the video clip. "The truth is that this divide is not between Hindus and others. It is between a militant creed called Hindutva and those whom it calls others, and it is a negation of all that Hinduism represents," she added. Sahgal asserted that many Hindus were opposed to this communal ideology and its political agenda of vengeance and violence against fellow Indians .
Outcry over Harry Potter book burning by priests in Poland
The burning of Harry Potter "magic" books by priests in Poland triggered a wave of protest in the majority Catholic country on Tuesday with critics making comparisons with totalitarian regimes and the Inquisition. The Episcopate has so far declined to comment on the burning in a parish at the Baltic port city of Gdansk after Sunday mass. A post detailing the incident on a Facebook page run by the Catholic "SMS from Heaven" evangelical group has gone viral, drawing heavy flak both online and off, but also pockets of support from internet users. Three priests burned books and other items they regarded as sacrilegious, including tomes from British author J.K. Rowling's famed Harry Potter series of fantasy novels. Father Jan Kucharski, the priest in the parish where the book burning took place, told the natemat.pl news website they had set fire to items "linked to the occult and magic" in line with Biblical exhortations against practising idolatry. Two altar boys are also shown standing ..
BJP will not give ticket to Muslims as they do not believe in
Senior Karnataka BJP leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa has said his party will not give tickets to Muslims to contest the elections as they do not believe in the party. "We will not give...We will not give ticket to Muslims in Karnataka. Why? (because) you do not believe in us. If you believe and vote us, if you understand us, we will see," Eshwarappa said on Monday at Koppal. He also alleged that the Congress party has only used Muslims as a "vote bank." However, the senior leader from the Kuruba community Tuesday clarified that he was not hater of any community including Muslims and his statement was in response to a specific question about Iqbal Ansari, a political leader fromthe district, getting ticket from the BJP. "Correction:I'm not the hater of any community including Muslims. My statement was about a question asked will Iqbal Ansari get ticket from BJP? Whenever a new person joins he is not given any post,he has to work hard and earn the ...
Brunei brings new sharia laws into force amid outcry
The tiny Southeast Asian nation of Brunei brings into force on Wednesday harsh sharia laws, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, that has sparked an international outcry and fears among some citizens.
Pope: Women have 'legitimate claims' for justice, equality
Pope Francis says women have "legitimate claims" to seek more justice and equality in the Catholic Church, but has stopped short of endorsing more sweeping calls from his own bishops to give women decision-making roles. Francis on Tuesday issued a document inspired by an October 2018 meeting of bishops on better ministering to today's young Catholics. The meeting was marked by demands for greater women's rights, and the final document called the need for women to claim decision-making positions in the church "a duty of justice." In the lengthy document "Christ is Alive," Francis endorses no such conclusion. He writes that the church must be attentive to women's "legitimate claims" for equality and must better train men and women with leadership potential.
Pope warns against hate-fomenting 'fake news'
Internet-based "fake news" is fomenting prejudice and hatred, Pope Francis said on Tuesday, warning our culture "has lost its sense of truth and bends the facts to suit particular interests". He issued the stark warning in a letter to young people around the world following last October's youth-themed bishops' synod. "There are huge economic interests operating in the digital world, capable of exercising forms of control as subtle as they are invasive, creating mechanisms for the manipulation of consciences and of the democratic process," the pope wrote. Social networks encourage contact between people who already think alike, precluding them from debate, he said. "These closed circuits facilitate the spread of fake news and false information, fomenting prejudice and hate." The Argentine pontiff cited prolific Catholic teenager and Internet user Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006. "He saw that many young people, wanting to be different, really end up being like everyone else,