Won't allow Trupti Desai to touch Mazaar at Haji Ali Dargah: Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat

 With Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai set to enter the iconic Haji Ali Dargah, Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat on Saturday said he would not allow her to touch the mazar-e-sharif.

"Islam does not allow women to touch the mazar-e-sharif in a dargah. We strongly condemn what Trupti Desai is saying. We won't allow her to enter the inner sanctum of the Hazi Ali Dargah. I will be the voice of my religion and will not allow her to touch the mazar-e-sharif, Haji Arafat told ANI.

Haji Arafat, who joined the Shiv Sena after leaving the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2014, said that the attempt by Desai to enter the Haji Ali Dargah is a conspiracy meant to disturb Mumbai's peaceful environment.

"All Muslim women have been opposing this. This is a conspiracy to disturb the peaceful environment inside Mumbai. A conspiracy is being made to instigate the Muslims by playing caste and religion-based politics. The police and law and order should prevent her from doing that," he added.

On April 20, 'Haji Ali For All' Forum was launched by Desai along with several activists, NGOs and social groups to fight for entry of women to the shrine.

A "peaceful movement" will be launched at Haji Ali on April 28.

The Maharashtra Government had in February supported the entry of women to the Haji Ali Dargah.

The government had told the Bombay High Court that the entry of women cannot be prohibited.

The court had asked the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP Government to give its opinion on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the decision of the Haji Ali Trust to ban the entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah.

A trustee of the Dargah, Rizwan Merchant, had earlier backed the decision not to allow women to enter inside the inner sanctum, saying their entry is prohibited for their own safety.
-Source ANI

Don't disturb 'federal structure': Rawat warns Centre

Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Apr.22 (ANI): Hailing the High Court's verdict ordering restoration of his government in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre has 'every right' to approach the Supreme Court in this regard but added that the ruling dispensation must not disturb the federal structure for ulterior motives.

Rawat also slammed the Centre for interfering with the functioning of the states and said that dismissing the governments on the basis of 'local politics' was incorrect.

"They won't get any respite from the Supreme Court because this decision was taken keeping the welfare of the state in mind. They have every right to approach the apex court. We would like to request the Centre to allow the state governments to work the way they want as that is what the federal structure is all about," Rawat told ANI.

"Regarding the court's decision, let the local people decide if it is good or bad. Removing the governments on the basis of local politics is not right," he added.

Earlier, the BJP blamed the 'internal strife' within the Congress Party for the political crisis in Uttarakhand.

"This is the same Congress, which has hit a century in toppling the governments, whether it is Indira ji or Rajiv ji or Nehru ji. Sonia ji had done similar things during Arunachal crisis, look what happened, they failed," BJP leader Shrikant Sharma told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Centre will move the Supreme Court today challenging the Uttarakhand High Court's order quashing the imposition of President's rule in the state.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said yesterday that he would mention the matter before the apex court seeking a stay on the verdict.

The High Court yesterday ordered restoration of the Rawat-led Congress Government in the state, saying that the Centre did not have any concrete proof to impose the President's rule.

The High Court asked Rawat to prove his government's majority on the floor of the assembly on the April 29.
-Source ANI

Pratyusha suicide: Bombay HC adjourns Rahul's bail plea till Apr. 25

Mumbai, Apr.18 (ANI): The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned the anticipatory bail plea of deceased actor Pratyusha Banerjee's boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh till April 25.

Rahul has been asked to appear before the Bangur Nagar Police Station on April 23.

Meanwhile, Rahul's father has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alleging that some people are trying to sabotage the probe in the case.

Rejecting his bail plea earlier, the High Court had observed that Pratyusha was abused several times, adding it cannot be said that he neither abetted nor instigated her to commit suicide.

The sessions' court had earlier stated the matter should be thoroughly investigated in the light of accusations against Rahul, adding that it was not possible in his absence as the police will find it difficult to collect the best possible evidence.

On April 7, a Mumbai sessions court had rejected Rahul's anticipatory bail application, following which he filed a plea in the High Court.

Rahul was granted an interim relief from arrest for a week by the Bombay High Court on April 12.

An FIR was registered against the producer-actor, who was in a live-in relationship with Pratyusha after her mother Soma alleged that he had abetted and instigated the suicide.

24-year-old Pratyusha, who shot to fame for her role as Anandi in 'Balika Vadhu', allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside her flat in suburban Goregaon on April 1.

Two days later, a case under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504, 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC was registered against Rahul following a complaint lodged by Pratyusha's parents.
-Source ANI

Guj: Patel rally in Mehsana turns violent, Lalji Patel injured

Mehsana, Apr 17 (PTI) A massive rally of the Patel community at Mehsana town in Gujarat demanding reservation and release of their jailed leaders today turned violent as police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone-pelting.

Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the `Jail Bharo' agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community.

SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police.

While the police claimed they resorted to lathicharge only after some persons started throwing stones at the police vehicles, Lalji Patel alleged that Patel agitators were targeted without any provocation.

"Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation," said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police subsequently.

In-charge DGP of Gujarat P P Pandey claimed the situation deteriorated only after some people resorted to violence.

"Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property. I have already sent additional force to handle the situation," Pandey said.

Meanwhile, SPG as well as Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have given a call for `Gujarat Bandh' tomorrow.
-Source PTI

Puttingal temple inferno: Chandy justifies national leaders visit

Thrissur (Kerala), Apr. 15 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday attempted to downplay reports suggesting that the state's Director General of Police (DGP) had objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Puttingal Devi Temple on the same day when the tragedy took place, saying the visit of national leaders provided relief to the people during the disaster.

Chandy said Prime Minister Modi came to the spot and expressed his grief, adding that it was a great relief for the people at that point of time.

"Apart from the Prime Minister, national leaders Shri Rahul Gandhi and CPI (M) general secretary Shri (Sitaram) Yechury they all came (and) that was a big relief for the people of Kerala.Their presence and their advice and their help was a great thing for Kerala," he told the media here.

As per reports, Kerala DGP TP Senkumar had raised concerns over the high profile visits to the fire tragedy site as it would hamper the rescue efforts.

At least 113 people have been killed and scores injured after a huge stock of firecrackers went up in flames in Puttingal Devi Temple premises early on Sunday morning.
-Source ANI

Another water train gears to quench parched Latur

Latur (Maharashtra), Apr. 13 (ANI): After Latur received relief in the form of railway wagons loaded with water yesterday, another train consisting of 50 wagons is getting ready to transport potable water to the parched area in the Marathawada region.

A senior Railway Ministry official said the first train of 10 wagons carrying five lakh litres of water reached Latur yesterday and that another train is getting steam cleaned at Kota and it will be pressed into service soon.

Railways would make available a third rake, if required, for supplying water in Maharashtra as it is committed to continuing water transportation to the parched areas.

The water train service is likely to continue till the arrival of monsoon.

Ten railway wagons with five lakh liters of water which left from Miraj Junction railway station yesterday.

Meanwhile, lauding the Centre's move to send railway wagons to Latur, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Delhi Government is ready to offer 10 lakh litres of water every day for two months.
-Source ANI

All aspects of temple tragedy will be probed: Police

All aspects of the fire tragedy in a Kerala temple that left 112 people dead will be probed, a police officer said on Monday.

S. Ananthakrishnan, who heads the Crime Branch, made the comments in Thiruvananthapuram amid latest revelations that police had given the green signal for the fireworks show that caused the disaster.

"The criminal liabilities will be looked into and the team for the probe is now ready," he told the media.

"All aspects with regards to the permission given for the event and what happened after that will be looked into," he added.

Huge quantities of fireworks stored in a building went up in flames early on Sunday at the Puttingal Devi temple at Paravur in Kollam district, claiming 112 lives and leaving more than 350 people injured.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday announced a judicial probe as well as an investigation by the Crime Branch.

Kollam District Collector A. Shinemol on Monday told the media that the district police had initially submitted a report saying permission cannot be given for the fireworks show.

"But on the 9th of this month, the police changed their position. An explanation will be asked on this change of stand," she said.

She denied there was political pressure for the change of mind.

P. Prakash, the Kollam Commissioner of police, said he would comment on this issue only to the probe teams.

Marxist leader and former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday called for a probe into the Sunday tragedy by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"The need of the hour is an NIA probe into the entire episode as there are reports of very powerful explosives used," he said.
- Source IANS

Tagging `Jungle Book` U/A is shame: Mukesh Bhatt

New Delhi, April 7 (ANI): Film producer Mukesh Bhatt has recently vented out his anger over the U/A given to the 'Jungle Book' by the CBFC.

During the red carpet of the GIMA awards, the 63-year-old producer said, "This shows how crazy this country has become. If Jungle Book can get U/A, then I think the government needs to do some very serious thinking about CBFC. CBFC should be put in a garbage can."

When asked about Pahlaj Nihalani's reasoning behind the U/A, Bhat said, "I am not talking about Nihalani. He is just a stooge of the people who have put him there. If a 'Jungle Book' can get a U/A, shame on India."

Further, talking about the same actor, Ayushmann Khurrana said, "I don't know what's the criteria behind this, but the kids are used to these stories, the watch Iron Man and Captain America. I think they should have given it a U certificate because it is a children's film."

' Jungle Book' will hit the theatres on April 9.
-Source ANI

Congress criticises Jamat-e-Islami Hind for backing Darul Uloom fatwa

New Delhi, April. 3 (ANI): The Congress Party on Sunday criticised the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) for backing the fatwa issued by leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband against chanting of 'Bharat Mata ki jai', saying that passing judgement on such matters is not the prerogative of religious institutions.

"It is not their prerogative to decide it. It can only be decided by the Constitution of India and the law of the land. No religious institution can issue any fatwa and declare its interpretation. This fatwa was untimely and wrong, and anyone who supports it is also doing a wrong," Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI.

Jamat-e-Islami Hind ( JIH) yesterday backed the fatwa issued by Darul Uloom, and said attempts being made to use the slogan as a symbol of patriotism is wrong.

Darul Uloom Deoband on Friday issued a fatwa against the chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', saying that the slogan goes against the tenets of Islam.

"Bharat Mata, according to some Hindu sects, is a goddess and they worship her. For Muslims participating in the worshiping of a goddess would be un-Islamic, the fatwa said.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had stirred a hornet's nest by rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the young generation be taught patriotic slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' stating that he won't chant the slogan "even if a knife is put to his throat".
-Source ANI

Unfortunate to see people politicizing nationalist slogans: BJP

Guwahati (Assam) April 3 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday described people trying to create religious divide over nationalist slogans as very unfortunate.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI "It's very unfortunate that before independence people irrespective of their caste proudly chanted the slogan of 'Bharat mata ki jai' and everyone ensured that India got its independence. Now 70 years later people for political reasons are finding faults in these nationalists slogans, there is no more love for the country or what.

"These people really owe an explanation to the country that why are they going against the sentiments that every Indian had and those who chose to stay back in India in a secular state, why today are trying to create religious divides on such issues which are nationalist issues," he added.

Joining the ongoing debate on nationalism, which is being linked to chanting of certain slogans in recent times, Maharashtra Chief Mnister Devendra Fadnavis said that every Indian will have to chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', adding that those won't shouldn't live in the country.

The Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) yesterday backed the fatwa issued by the Islamic seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband against chanting of "Bharat Mata ki jai". JIH said that the attempts being made to use the slogan as a symbol of patriotism is wrong.

The Darul Uloom Deoband on Friday issued a fatwa against chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', saying that the slogan goes against the tenets of Islam.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had stirred a hornet's nest by rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that the young generation be taught patriotic slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' stating that he won't chant the slogan "even if a knife is put to his throat".
-Source ANI