India

Hyderabad, Dec 12 (IANS) Police have booked an attempt to murder case against veteran Tollywood actor Mohan Babu for attacking a television journalist at his residence recently.

Rachakonda Police, which earlier registered a case under Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 118 (1) (causing hurt with dangerous weapons or substances), has added Section 109 (attempt to murder).

Police said that after taking the legal opinion they added Section 109 to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Pahadi Shareef Police Station.

The FIR was registered on a complaint by M. Satyanarayana, a reporter of Telangana news channel TV9.

Mohan Babu attacked the TV reporter when the latter had gone to his residence in Jalpally to cover the ongoing dispute between him and his actor son Manchu Manoj.

Journalists had staged protests on Wednesday, demanding the police book an attempt to murder case. They had also demanded an apology from Mohan Babu, who is also a former Member of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mohan Babu remained in hospital. He was admitted on Tuesday night with high blood pressure and anxiety.

He could not appear before Rachakonda Police Commissioner, who had served notices to him and his two sons. The senior actor approached Telangana High Court, which exempted him from appearance till December 24.

Mohan Babu’s elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu on Wednesday termed the Tuesday night attack on the journalist unfortunate. He claimed that the act was not deliberate. He said that their father came before the media by doing ‘namskar’ but when a mike was put close to his mouth, he attacked on an impulse. He assured all help to the family of the injured journalist.

Manchu Manoj, who is locked in a bitter fight with his father, said that he was apologising to the media on behalf of his father. He said the media persons came under attack while supporting him.

The injured reporter stated in his complaint that when Manchu Manoj and other journalists went into the house on the invitation of Manchu Manoj, Mohan Babu confronted them aggressively, used abusive and foul language, grabbed the mike and attacked him with the mike. This resulted in severe head injury.

The incident occurred when Manchu Manoj broke the gate to enter the house after an argument with the bouncers deployed there. Along with Manoj and his private security men, some journalists also entered the house.

When the TV 9 reporter asked a question to Mohan Babu about the dispute with his son, he got enraged, grabbed the mike and attacked the reporter with the mike. The journalist collapsed on the ground. The bouncers drove all the journalists out of the house.

The injured reporter was admitted to a hospital in Shamshabad. According to doctors, he has suffered three fractures in zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and needs plastic surgery.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation on Thursday expressed dismay over repeated disruptions in the ongoing session of Parliament, particularly over matters related to privately owned businesses and conglomerates.

“It is disheartening to observe disruptions in the Parliament, particularly when we aspire to be a beacon of democracy for the world,” the spiritual guru said.

Taking to his social media handle on X, he advised, “The wealth creators and job providers of India should not become subject of political rhetoric.”

The spiritual guru further suggested that if there are discrepancies, they should be handled within the framework of law and let them become a political football.

"The Indian business must thrive for Bharat to become a Bhavya Bharat," Coimbatore-based Sadhguru remarked.

Sadguru's remarks comes amidst the ongoing Winter session of Parliament, scheduled to end on December 20, as it faces repeated adjournments over one or the other issue.

Congress-led Opposition has been targeting the government for "favouring" a few business houses while the NDA leaders have been attacking the INDIA bloc for corruption, accusing former Congress president of having links with ties with an organisation reportedly funded by the George Soros Foundation, which once supported the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation.

The foundation has been accused of backing narratives challenging India's sovereignty, including advocating for Kashmir's independence.

A day ago, the INDIA bloc moved a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar accusing him of partisan behaviour and acting as the spokesperson of the government.

The INDIA bloc held Jagdeep Dhnakar responsible for the repeated stalling and disruption of the House over his ‘headmaster-type attitude’ and treatment of ‘Parliament like a school.’

Justifying their stance against Jagdeep Dhankhar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: "We were left with no option but to go ahead with this notice. For three years, he has been acting in a partisan manner. He has given ample time to the treasury benches, denied the Opposition a chance to present their views and also resorted to schooling the Opposition leaders like a headmaster."

--IANS

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Chennai, Dec 12 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin extended his heartfelt wishes to superstar Rajinikanth on his 74th birthday.

In a post on the social media platform X, CM Stalin wrote: "Happy birthday to my wonderful friend, Superstar Mr. @rajinikanth, who has crossed borders and won fans from six to sixty with his acting and style! I wish you, who have achieved continuous success in the film industry, a life filled with peace and happiness. May you continue to delight people always."

Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) also wished the superstar on his special day.

In his message, EPS wrote: "Dear friend Rajinikanth, who has a global fan base thanks to his unique acting skills and pleasant personality, @rajinikanth, my heartfelt birthday wishes to you. As you celebrate the golden jubilee of your film career, I pray for many more years of good health and happiness to continue pleasing your fans."

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai also joined in celebrating the superstar. In a post on social media, he said: "Happy birthday to Mr. @rajinikanth, a beloved and respected superstar who rose from humble beginnings to become an icon of Indian cinema through hard work and noble character. For over 50 years, you have captured the hearts of three generations. I pray to the Lord that you may live many more years in good health."

Superstar Rajinikanth, one of India's most celebrated actors, turned 74 on Thursday.

Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, Rajinikanth enjoys legendary status in Indian cinema and commands a fan following that spans generations. Known for his charisma and unique style, his birthday is nothing short of a festival for his devoted fans, especially in Tamil Nadu.

In Chennai, fans gathered outside Rajinikanth's residence to extend their birthday wishes.

Social media platforms lit up with birthday wishes for the superstar, with hashtags like #HBDSuperstarRajinikanth and #Thalaivar trending throughout the day.

Fans offered prayers at the Rajinikanth temple in Madurai, while others performed private pujas to honour him.

This year, fans are also celebrating the re-release of his 1991 blockbuster 'Thalapathi' in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Adding to the excitement, updates on movies 'Jailer 2' and 'Coolie' were anticipated as part of the birthday festivities.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Jal Jeevan Mission is facilitating the empowerment of more women in India, especially in the rural areas, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Launched in August 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide functional tap water connections to every rural household.

PM Modi said that women can now easily focus on skill development and self-reliance as they need not go long distances to fetch clean water, and can get water at their doorstep.

“A good perspective on how the Jal Jeevan Mission is furthering women empowerment, especially in our rural areas,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

“With clean water at their doorstep, women can now focus on skill development and self-reliance,” he added.

From just 3.23 crore (17 per cent) rural households with tap water connections in 2019, the initiative has successfully added 11.96 crore new connections by October 2024.

Currently, more than 15.35 crore or 79.31 per cent of households have tap water connections, as per the government data.

About 11 states -- Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Puducherry, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram -- have had 100 per cent coverage of tap water connection, it showed.

According to a recent research report by the State Bank of India, rural households across the country have seen an 8.3 percentage point decline in fetching water from outside premises. It has led to a 7.4 percentage point increase in women’s participation in agriculture and other productive activities.

The report noted exceptional progress made by states such as Bihar and Assam. The female workforce in these states has risen by over 28 percentage points.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) India's nuclear power generation capacity has nearly doubled in the last 10 years from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,180 MW in 2024, the Parliament was informed.

Highlighting the significant progress and future potential of India's atomic energy programme, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh has informed the Lok Sabha that the capacity is projected to triple to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.

He elaborated on key developments and outlined a roadmap for achieving greater self-reliance in nuclear power generation.

Jitendra Singh emphasised the revision of India's power distribution framework, which has increased the home state's share of electricity from atomic plants to 50 per cent, with 35 per cent allocated to neighbouring states and 15 per cent to the national grid. This new formula ensures equitable resource distribution and reflects the federal spirit of the nation.

The Union Minister attributed this progress to several transformative initiatives, including the bulk approval of 10 reactors, increased funding allocations, collaborations with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and limited private sector participation.

He credited advancements in technology and streamlined administrative processes for strengthening India's nuclear infrastructure.

In addition to energy production, Jitendra Singh highlighted the diverse applications of atomic energy. He noted its extensive use in agriculture, including the development of 70 mutagenic crop varieties. In the healthcare sector, India has introduced advanced isotopes for cancer treatment, while in the defence sector, atomic energy processes have been used to develop cost-effective, lightweight bulletproof jackets.

The Union Minister also underscored India's abundant thorium reserves, which constitute 21 per cent of the global total. Indigenous projects like "Bhavani" are being developed to harness this resource, reducing dependence on imported uranium and other materials.

He acknowledged the challenges in implementing atomic power projects, such as land acquisition, forest clearances, and equipment procurement, but reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these issues.

He noted that nine atomic power projects are currently under construction, with several others in the pre-project stage, demonstrating India’s dedication to expanding nuclear energy capacity.

Jitendra Singh provided a historical perspective, highlighting projects like the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which gained momentum post-2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He reiterated India's commitment to peaceful purposes of atomic energy, as envisioned by Homi Bhabha, and emphasised leveraging nuclear energy for sustainable development while aligning with the vision of 'One Nation, One Government'.

This progress underscores India's resolve to achieve energy self-sufficiency, drive innovation, and contribute significantly across sectors through the peaceful applications of nuclear energy, he added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) India’s burgeoning Data Centre market has attracted USD 60 billion from both domestic and international investors between 2019-2024 and given the current growth curve is expected to surpass USD 100 billion in cumulative investment commitments by the end of 2027, according to the latest report by real estate consultant CBRE South Asia.

Mumbai continues to dominate data centre stock, followed by Chennai, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru, accounting for 90 per cent of the country’s total data centre stock as of September. Currently, India’s total DC stock stands at around 19 Mn. Sq. ft. (land area), which is expected to reach 31 Mn. Sq. ft. by the end of 2025, the report states.

The sector is poised for significant growth in 2025, with nearly 475 MW of capacity under construction across major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR. Key demand drivers for the year ahead include BFSI and Technology companies, it observes.

Tier-II cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, and Lucknow are gaining traction as key locations for data centres, driven by regional data consumption growth and cost-efficiency advantages, the report points out.

State-wise Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal emerged as the leading states in terms of cumulative investment commitments.

India’s current data centre capacity stands at around 1,255 MW, and it is projected to further expand to 1,600 MW by the end of 2024. The country’s accelerated technology proliferation, digital transformation, increased Internet penetration, policy enablers, and growth in AI-generated data workload will pivot this growth, the report observes.

As sustainability becomes a critical priority, there is a growing focus on integrating renewable energy solutions and advanced cooling technologies, which are helping enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of India’s data centres, the report points out.

Additionally, with AI workloads expected to surpass traditional cloud computing demands, data centre operators are making significant upgrades to their infrastructure to accommodate the evolving needs of AI-driven applications, ensuring they can support the next generation of digital transformation, the report adds.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS) An estimated investment of $2.2 trillion into infrastructure development is imperative to support India’s GDP size to expand to $7 trillion by 2030, according to a report on Thursday.

To achieve an economic size of $7 trillion, India’s economy is required to grow at a CAGR of 10.1 per cent between 2024-2030, according to the report by Knight Frank India.

The investment opportunity for private participation in infrastructure development in India ranges between $103.2 billion to $324 billion.

“India stands at the cusp of a transformative era in infrastructure development. By harnessing the power of private investment, we can accelerate our journey towards achieving our ambitious economic growth targets,” said Rajeev Vijay, Executive Director-Government and Infrastructure Advisory, Knight Frank India.

The central government aims to reduce its gross fiscal deficit to below 4.5 per cent by 2025 and increasing private sector participation in infrastructure development would help balance fiscal deficit targets.

At an existing investment share composition of Centre (51.2 per cent), state (44.1 per cent), private (4.7 per cent), the estimated gross fiscal deficit in 2030 will be 4.7 per cent, which is above the government’s defined fiscal deficit threshold.

In this scenario, the private participation in infrastructure development in India amounts to $103.2 bn until 2030. However, the share of private investment in this composition is negligible and needs to expand.

However, an 10 per cent top up in private investments in infrastructure to 14.7 per cent brings the potential opportunity amount to $324 billion, an annual average of $54 billion until 2030.

This will potentially support the government to maintain healthy fiscal balances.

By increasing the private participation in infrastructure development, the government can redirect the expenditure towards other key segments of economic growth such as public healthcare, strengthening human capital, debt payments, etc which will support long-term growth of the economy, said the report.

On a sector-wise analysis, renewable energy, data centres, roads and highways, warehousing and logistics have significant potential to attract private investments.

Supported by a rapid urbanisation and shifting demographics, sectors such as urban mass transit, airports, power distribution, etc, hold massive investment opportunities, the report mentioned.

“For India to achieve its ambitious economic growth targets, massive infrastructure investments are necessary,” the report added.

—IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) Intelligence agencies, both central and state, are on high alert in West Bengal following inputs about the sudden increase in the number of outsiders hiring rooms in different villages close to the international borders with Bangladesh.

Sources said that most of the new faces, who suddenly surfaced in the bordering villages, were aged between their mid-twenties and early thirties. As per inputs received by the security agencies from the natives of these villages, the new faces rarely interact with the local people.

Now this development, sources said, has kept the security and intelligence agencies on high alert mainly for two reasons, the first being inputs about attempts by activists of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) to open sleeper cells at different points in the bordering districts of West Bengal with Bangladesh.

The second is the arrival of winter when illegal infiltration through the porous borders is generally high, taking advantage of the dense fog in these remote bordering areas after sunset.

These two reasons, coupled with the ongoing tension in neighbouring Bangladesh, have prompted the security and central agencies to beef up surveillance at these borders, both land and maritime borders, with the additional headache of outsiders starting to flock to the bordering villages.

Sources said that the central intelligence and security agencies are regularly updating their higher officials in New Delhi as well as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs about the new developments at the India-Bangladesh bordering villages in West Bengal.

Intelligence agencies, sources added, have also got specific information that two active HUT associates recently came to West Bengal with valid Bangladeshi passports posing as students and had meetings with some local youths in Malda and Murshidabad districts.

These two HUT activists, as per intelligence inputs, initially picked up conversations with the local youths in these two districts discussing religious issues and thereafter carried on the conversation to the level of opening sleeper cells in the bordering districts. These two Bangladeshi citizens interacting with the local youth have been identified as Ridwan Maruf and Sabbir Amir.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 12 (IANS) Anirban Ganguly, Chairman of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, New Delhi, has questioned why Nobel laureates from West Bengal aren’t speaking a word about attacks on Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh.

Addressing 'A Talk and Discussion on Hindus in Bangladesh, Current Status, Challenges, Way Ahead' on Wednesday in Bengaluru, organised by Mantahana Karnataka Organisation, he said, “Now, I want to ask if you can hear any voices? I can’t. There are no voices. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who writes a letter to the New York Times about the depreciation of democracy in India and says the Constitution is in danger etc; but, in the last hundred days, I have not heard him say a word.”

“Neither Amartya Sen, Amitav Ghosh, Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee and others have spoken out against what is happening in Bangladesh. No. I have tried to listen to them. No Nobel laureate, none of the illustrious Bengalis, one of them Bharat Ratna also tried to advise the advisor, who is also a Nobel laureate,” he stated referring to Mohammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh.

“No one has raised a voice against what is happening in Bangladesh. But ordinary Bengalis, the Bengali diaspora and Indian diaspora have raised a banner of revolt. Major capitals across Europe, US and India in the last 72 hours the banner of revolt is raised,” he stated.

“When Hindus in Bangladesh are resisting, the global Indian diaspora is protesting more. In the way ahead, it is our duty to keep that alive and keep the pressure. It doesn’t matter if a certain sold-out Nobel laureate is not speaking up,” he charged.

The worst pogrom was started against Hindus in 1950, he noted.

“About 74 per cent of West Pakistan’s exports were from materials they extracted from East Pakistan. In October 1970, Bangladesh suffered a frightening cyclone in which 5 lakh people were killed. West Pakistan did not bother to organise relief.

In 1971, the Pakistan army undertook the biggest genocide by a commissioned army. They slaughtered intellectuals and students, raped thousands of women and completely destroyed East Pakistan’s educational infrastructure and societal composition and it also saw the largest number of Hindus migrate to India,” he stated.

“Friends, the greatest irony is that despite all this, the present rulers of Bangladesh feel that Pakistan is their greatest friend. All memorials showing the Indian army liberating Bangladesh were destroyed in the last three months and this had never happened in history. Radicalism is taking place in universities, Jamaat is in control. The advisor has kept it deliberately vague about happenings in Bangladesh,” Anirban stated.

“The rules in Bangladesh are anti-India, they want disintegration of the northeast from India. Except for Kailash Satyarthi, no other Nobel laureate is speaking on attacks on Hindus. Sufi Dargahs have been vandalised and destroyed this time. This has also never happened. One by one, dreaded terrorists have been released,” Anirban noted.

“This is unprecedented. This has never happened. There is an entire ideological conglomerate in the country, that wants us to forget what is happening in Bangladesh today -- like they wanted us to forget the Partition of West Bengal, how Bengali Hindus became refugees and yet could not live a life of dignity. Nobody spoke about the disappearing population,” Anirnan stated.

“In 1947-48, then East Pakistan had roughly 30 per cent of the population of Hindus. That has come down to 7.95 per cent as per the 2022 census. Where has the population gone? Nobody wanted to discuss,” he stated.

Demand for banning ISKCON in Bangladesh and branding it as a terrorist organisation is a planned move. The reason for branding ISKCON as a terrorist organisation is to break the back of Hindu minorities as they are the centres of congregations for Hindus, he underlined.

“The Communists and Congress do not want to discuss all this. They want to believe that it is routine what is happening in Bangladesh and it will be over after a while. No. Because, today, on one hand, we see Hindu resistance in Bangladesh and on the other hand, Bangladesh is facing its gravest crisis since the assassination of Sheik Mujib in 1975,” he pointed out.

However, for the first time in 70 years, in spite of the onslaught, about 70 to 72 per cent of Hindus are organised and resisting in Bangladesh as Hindu and Buddhist crematoriums are occupied, Ganguly said.

“The forces are working for a minority-free Bangladesh and it has been challenged by the minorities. As we stand today, the situation is evolving, what the army will do remains to be seen,” he underlined.

Bangladesh also has a sizable Buddhist population. It has a Buddhist legacy and heritage. Buddhist monks in Bangladesh have refused to take solemn and significant rituals, signifying the resumption of activities after the Monsoon break. It is a sacred activity and they could not do it, he stated.

“For knowledgeable people who say the conditions of minorities in Bangladesh and India are the same, they don’t realise Buddhists are hunted and hounded in Bangladesh as we speak today," he added.

Meanwhile in India, Pali is accorded the official language status and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Asian century can not be envisaged without Buddha. He takes a preeminent role in not only preserving Buddha’s legacy but in reviving and launching the Nalanda University which was destroyed by Islamic invaders in the 12th century, Anirban highlighted.

“As we speak, I will start with a few figures. When we speak about minorities in Bangladesh, the largest minority is Hindu. There are Buddhists and Christians too. There are 64 districts in Bangladesh; between August 5 and 20, when the problem started, between 48 and 52 districts saw minorities being attacked. There were more than 2,010 incidents of attacks on minorities, vandalisation, killing as well as injuries on minorities,” he stated.

The Bangladesh Christian Association came out with a report of churches being vandalised and attacked in various districts. The Christian associations were attacked and Christians in general were terrorised. Buddhist villages were attacked between August 5 and 20, he highlighted.

“Hindu, and Buddhist crematoriums were occupied and in Buddhist majority regions like Chittagong district, Buddhists were attacked and killed, 16 Buddhist youths died in the last few days. Tribals were also attacked -- while we in India have a designated day to celebrate the contributions of tribal leaders in the Indian freedom movement,” he pointed out.

There are thousands of reported and recorded cases of extortion there. The disturbing phenomenon is taking place after the resignation of Hindu teachers and academics across institutions. They put Indian flags under their feet and started walking over it, he stated.

The Vice Chancellors of three top universities were made to resign at gunpoint and they were all minorities. They were all Hindus and established academics. 15,000 teachers at school and college levels have been forced to resign. Many of them have been forced to convert, Anirban stated.

Hindu officers in the police have been summarily dismissed. The Bangladesh police force had a predominant presence of Hindu officers. They were forced to resign. There has been a reduction in the number of Durga pujas. In 2021, when Awami League was in power, there were attacks on Durga puja pandals and action was followed. I had travelled around and one could see Islamic radicalists gathering, he stated.

Bangladesh saw fewer pujas than the previous year and incidents of vandalisation of pandals in various places. Islamists were forced into the Durga Puja pandals and started singing songs related to Islam even though singing is haram for them, he maintained.

59 per cent of the attacks that took place against Hindus were to do with worship and property -- grabbing property, and desecration of worshipping places. 19 Durga puja pandals across 14 districts were vandalised and in a number of places Hindus were prohibited from playing music when the Azaan took place, he pointed out.

Hindu goddesses were subjected to obscene words and gestures. When the protests took place, the protestors were arrested not those who desecrated Hindu gods, he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) A three-judge Special Bench of the Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday a clutch of petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The Act prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a Special Bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan will hear the matter on December 12.

In March 2021, a Bench headed by then CJI S.A. Bobde sought the Centre's response to the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law.

The plea said, "The 1991 Act was enacted in the garb of 'Public order', which is a State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-1) and 'places of pilgrimages within India' is also State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-7). So, the Centre can't enact the Law. Moreover, Article 13(2) prohibits the State from making a law to take away fundamental rights but the 1991 Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, to restore their 'places of worship and pilgrimages', destroyed by barbaric invaders."

It further added, "The Act excludes the birthplace of Lord Rama but includes the birthplace of Lord Krishna, though both are incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the creator and equally worshipped throughout the world, hence it is arbitrary."

Meanwhile, several intervention/impleadment applications have been moved before the apex court seeking the dismissal of the petitions against the Places of Worship Act.

In its application, the Managing Committee of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque said the consequences of declaring the 1991 Act unconstitutional are bound to be drastic and will obliterate the rule of law and communal harmony.

It said that an Article 32 petition challenging a legislative enactment must indicate the unconstitutionality of the provisions based on constitutional principles and the rhetorical arguments seeking a sort of retribution against the perceived acts of previous rulers cannot be made the basis for a constitutional challenge.

As many as 20 suits are pending before different Varanasi courts seeking to nullify the protection accorded by the 1991 Act and to convert the character of the Gyanvapi Mosque and prevent access of Muslims to the mosque.

In a similar application, the Committee of Management of Mathura’s Shahi Masjid Eidgah said that the law was enacted by Parliament in the interest of the country's progress, which has stood the test of time for more than 33 years.

The mosque committee said that the adjudication of the petitions against the Places of Worship Act is likely to have a significant bearing on the adjudication of its special leave petitions pending before the apex court against the dismissal of their application filed under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC (Code of Civil Procedure) and the pending suits against the applicant mosque committee.

The Management Committee of Shahi Masjid Eidgah is party to 17 different suits being tried by the Allahabad High Court, where the plaintiffs have staked a claim over the entire parcel of land over which the Shahi Masjid Eidgah has been built, and have further sought the removal of the mosque structure from the said land, claiming the same to have been built over Krishna Janm Sthan.

--IANS

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