Bring LK Advani To Ayodhya On January 22: Former BJP MP

Bring LK Advani To Ayodhya On January 22: Former BJP MP

“Advani should see with his own eyes Ram Lalla sitting on his throne,” he said.

Ayodhya:

Former BJP MP and Ram temple movement seer Ram Vilas Vedanti on Thursday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to make arrangements to bring BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani to Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony slated for January 22.

The development comes days after the Ram Temple Trust on December 18 “advised” Advani and another BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi not to attend the consecration ceremony because of their age.

“Advani should see with his own eyes Ram Lalla sitting on his throne…this is not only the desire of the country, but of the Hindus across the world, because Advani’s contribution to the Ram temple movement is huge,” Mr Vedanti said.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Advani and Mr Joshi have contributed a lot for the BJP to reach where it is now, he said.

“Advani has made a huge contribution to the Ram temple movement through his ‘Rath Yatra’ from Somnath to Ayodhya. I want that when Ram Lalla is being consecrated, the UP government, especially Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, should make arrangements to bring Advani to the sanctum sanctorum,” Mr Vedanti told reporters here.

Earlier this month, Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai had asked Mr Advani and Mr Joshi not to come for the ceremony because of their age.

“Both are elders of the family and considering their age, they were requested not to come, which was accepted by them,” Mr Rai had said.

However, a day later on December 19, the Vishva Hindu Parishad had stepped in and its working president Alok Kumar said he has invited Mr Advani and Mr Joshi to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Both Mr Advani and Mr Joshi said they will make “every effort” to join the ceremony to be held on January 22, Kumar had said in a statement. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"As Soon As I…": Himanta Sarma's Apology After Row Over His 'Shloka' Post

'As Soon As I...': Himanta Sarma's Apology After Row Over His 'Shloka' Post

New Delhi:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has apologised for the incorrect translation of a ‘shloka’ from the Bhagavad Gita which had created a row. Mr Sarma’s post on X had landed him in the crosshairs of the Opposition with several leaders accusing him of promoting caste divisions.

In his apology, Mr Sarma said that the verse had been posted on his X account by his team to keep up his tradition of sharing one Gita ‘shloka’ daily with his followers.  

“As a routine I upload one sloka of Bhagavad Gita every morning on my social media handles. Till date, I have posted 668 slokas. Recently one of my team members posted a sloka from Chapter 18 verse 44 with an incorrect translation,” Mr Sarma said on Thursday.

The BJP leader said he deleted the tweet as soon as he noticed the mistake.

“As soon as I noticed the mistake, I promptly deleted the post. If the deleted post has offended anyone, I sincerely apologize,” he said.

The post which sparked a political row had incorrectly said that according to the Gita, it is the duty of the Shudras to serve the other three castes – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi had launched a sharp attack on Mr Sarma saying that he was not fulfilling his oath of treating every Indian citizen equally.

“In a recently deleted post, Assam CM elaborated on his vision of society.  “…farming, cow rearing, and commerce are natural duties of the Vaishya and serving the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas is the natural duty of the Shudras.” Holding a constitutional position, your oath is to treat every citizen equally. It’s reflected in the unfortunate cruelty that Assam’s Muslims have faced in the past few years. Hindutva is antithetical to Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Justice,” Mr Owaisi said on X (formerly Twitter).

Himanta Sarma in his apology post also said that Assam was the picture of a casteless society and the incorrect translation was a mistake.

3 killed, 19 injured after bus plunges into ravine in Bolivia

The bus, owned by the Flota Yunguena company, fell Thursday morning on the highway from Caranavi to Alto Beni, Lieutenant Wilfredo Juarez, from the Caranavi province Traffic Department, told reporters, Xinhua reports.

The Search and Rescue Team and members of the Rural and Border Police rescued the injured, who were taken to a medical center in Caranavi.

Meanwhile, the Caranavi Traffic Department is investigating the causes of the accident.

Although there is still no official report on the accident, Juarez pointed out that the roads to the Yungas and northern La Paz have experienced landslides and that visibility was low due to weather conditions.

RHM/PR

"Humanity is in pain" UN chief says in New Year message

People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger, said Guterres, adding wars are growing in number and ferocity, and trust is in short supply, Anadolu Agency reported.

“But pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We must come together across divides for shared solutions. For climate action. For economic opportunity and a fairer global financial system that delivers for all,” he said.

The world must stand against discrimination and hatred that are poisoning relations between countries and communities, said the UN chief, adding new technologies such as artificial intelligence should be used for good.

“The United Nations will keep rallying the world for peace, sustainable development, and human rights. Let’s resolve to make 2024 a year of building trust and hope in all that we can accomplish together.

“I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year,” he added.

RHM/PR

Morning News Today: Formula E Race In Hyderabad, Congress Rally In Nagpur, Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Today’s Morning News includes the cancellation of 2024 Formula E Race in Hyderabad city, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge in Congress rally in Nagpur, and consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir in January 2024.

Published Date – 11:49 AM, Fri – 29 December 23


Morning News Today: Formula E Race In Hyderabad, Congress Rally In Nagpur, Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Image 123650291

Morning News Today brings you the daily news from the Telangana Today E-Paper every morning. Today’s Morning News includes the cancellation of 2024 Formula E Race in Hyderabad city, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge in Congress rally in Nagpur, and consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir in January 2024.


Mizoram govt grants consent for CBI investigation of offences related to corruption

The Government of Mizoram has granted consent for a CBI investigation of offences in the state to eliminate corruption.

Updated On – 11:12 AM, Fri – 29 December 23


Mizoram govt grants consent for CBI investigation of offences related to corruption


Aizawl: The Government of Mizoram has granted consent for a CBI investigation of offences in the state to eliminate corruption.

This came after the Mizoram government published a gazette notification on Thursday allowing CBI investigation of offences in the state under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1948.


“The Government of Mizoram grants consent for a CBI investigation of offences in the state of Mizoram. Our government is resolute in eliminating corruption for the welfare of our citizens.” Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma posted on X.

Earlier, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on December 22 graced the function of the 69th batch recruit constable and the 4th batch head constable (operator) passing out a parade held at Police Training School, Thenzawl.

On the occasion, the Mizoram Chief Minister informed the newly graduated constables about how the government of Mizoram is trying hard to stop all illegal movements of dry areca nuts, drugs and other smuggling items within the state and to safeguard the community from any other illicit trafficking.

He also informed the policemen that they were the main force to execute this task and that the safety of the people depended heavily on the efficiency of the police forces.

In this connection, the CM urged them to give their best effort, discipline and dedication.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma also advised new recruits to take care of their health and shared his deep concern about the high incidence rate of death among the policemen while in service.

The 284 recruits were enrolled in this basic training on January 1, 2023. Except for the 13 recruits who could not be completed due to various reasons, 271 recruits had completed the training course and appeared for their passing out parade.

Syria’s air defense repels Israeli strike near Damascus


In this file picture, Syrian police officers stand on the rubble of a damaged building at the site of a rocket attack in the central Kafr Sousa neighborhood of the capital Damascus, Syria. (Photo by Reuters)

Syrian air defenses have intercepted most Israeli missiles near the country’s capital city of Damascus, amid an upsurge in the regime’s acts of aggression against the Arab nation following the bloody onslaught against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“At around 11:55 p.m. local time (2055 GMT) on Thursday, the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial attack from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, and targeted a number of sites in the southern flank of Damascus,” the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted an unnamed military source as saying.

The source added that Syrian air defenses shot down most of the missiles.

The report noted that there were no injuries in the strike, but there were material losses.

The strike comes a day after Damascus International Airport reopened following repeated Israeli strikes.

Israel waged the bloody war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories in retaliation for the Tel Aviv regime’s incessant crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed 21,320 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 55,600 others.

It has also imposed a “complete siege” on the coastal sliver, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime rarely comments on its attacks on Syrian territories, which many see as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s success in confronting and decimating terrorism.

Israel has been one of the main supporters of terrorist groups that oppose the democratically-elected government of President Bashar al-Assad since the foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria.


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'England To Get Beaten 5-0 In India If…": Ex-Star Rants; Stokes Replies

After South Africa Tour, the next major challenge for India will be the Test series against England at home. The five-Test series starts on January 25, while the final Test will be played in March. England would be keen to turn their fortunes around in 2024 as last time they lost 3-1 on Indian soil. Ahead of the series, former England pacer Harmison who is also a close friend of Stokes questioned England arriving in India just three days before the five-match Test series.

He felt that the lack of acclimation could turn out to be a recipe for disaster. He also went on to claim that England could go on to “deserve to get beaten 5-0”.

“If England go in three days before, they deserve to get beaten 5-0, they really do. I’m an old man. And that’s what they’re going to say: ‘Times have changed, the game has changed.’ But I tell you what, preparation hasn’t changed,” Steve Harmison said in a video which has gone viral.

“You cannot go into India underprepared. You cannot go into India over-prepared. You could be in India six weeks before and still not be prepared for that first Test and the emotion of that. You talk about (Kevin) Pietersen, and you talk about (Andrew) Strauss and (Alastair) Cook in that great side. The only side to have won there. What would they have said if you told them that you are going to India three days before.

“To be honest, I love this new approach. I love Ben Stokes, the Brendon McCullum approach, obviously Rob Key, and everything that they have done, ECB have done. But I’m sorry, going in three days before [the India series]. You would never do that for an Ashes Test series.”

“Good job we’re going to Abu Dhabi for a training camp before we go to India for even more training before that 1st test then isn’t it,” Ben Stokes replies on the post.

Meanwhile, Stokes is in a race against time to get fit for the series. The experienced all-rounder had recently come out of ODI retirement to participate in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where he played as a specialist batter. His issues with his knee have prevented him from playing his role as an all-rounder effectively as he has rarely bowled as of late.

He went for knee surgery after the World Cup which was successful and now it is time for him to undergo rehabilitation.

With ANI inputs

Topics mentioned in this article

Five-vehicle crash kills 2, injures dozen in Australia

At about 12.50 p.m. local time, emergency services responded to reports of a serious five-vehicle crash along the Great Western Highway in Wallerawang, a small town about 156 kilometers northwest of Sydney.

“Two persons have been confirmed deceased with approximately a dozen other people being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for various injuries,” the NSW Police Force confirmed in a statement.

According to the statement, a crime scene has been established, and a specialist unit is rushing to the accident site.

The Great Western Highway is now closed in both directions and is expected to remain a crime scene for a considerable amount of time.

Figures from the NSW government showed that as of Thursday, 349 people had lost their lives this year on the state’s roads

RHM/PR

Intl. waters secure except for ships bound for occupied lands

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Ansarullah’s spokesman, made the remarks to Euronews on Thursday.

“Sana’a explicitly stated that only Israeli ships, those heading to Israel, or affiliated vessels are targeted, while all other ships worldwide are not targeted,” he noted.

The movement and Yemen’s Armed Forces have been staging missile and drone attacks against vessels heading towards Israeli ports in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has come under an unrelenting genocidal Israeli war.

At least 21,110 people, mostly women and children, have been killed during the war, which the Israeli regime launched on October 7 following an operation staged by Gaza’s resistance groups.

The Yemeni forces have vowed to keep up their strikes until the regime stops the war and lifts a concomitant siege that it has been enforcing on Gaza.

Abdul-Salam, meanwhile, commented on a naval coalition, which the United States recently announced forming with the aim of heading off the Yemeni attacks.

“The American coalition in the Red Sea is solely aimed at protecting Israel, failing to persuade the world of any risks in the Red Sea or the Arabian Sea,” he said.

Washington, he added, had started exerting pressure on some shipping companies to stop transiting their vessels through the Red Sea as means of coercing some nations into joining the coalition.

“Yemen’s blockade against the Zionist enemy is founded on religious, ethical, humanitarian, national, and patriotic principles,” Abdul-Salam, meanwhile, remarked.

He said Sana’a “understands the consequences of this decision,” adding, “Yet the gravest repercussions would result from abandoning the Palestinian cause” of liberation from Israeli occupation and aggression.

RHM/