Regional

Bhopal, Sep 28 (IANS) To seek attention of the Centre and Madhya Pradesh government on development of Chitrakoot, BJP MLA from Maihar Assembly constituency Narayan Tripathi began a three-day 'dharma (religious) yatra' on the surrounding of 'Siddha Pahad'.

Several saints and seers of temples in Chitrakoot also joined the 'padayatra' (foot march), which to be completed after ferrying 84 km surrounding the Siddha Pahad on September 30.

The yatra will be followed by a 'dharma sabha' (religious meet) of Hindu priests and seers of all temples located in Chitrakoot on September 30.

While starting dharma yatra, BJP MLA said this yatra should not be seen a political move but a religious one.

He claimed this padayatra is beginning of a fight to push his demand to provide Chitrakoot importance like Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh).

The Sidhha Pahad is no ordinary hillock, it has a mythological story behind it. It is believed that during his stay in the Chitrakoot forest during the 14 years of his exile, Lord Ram had pledged on the same hillock to eliminate the demons.

Earlier in August, a controversy had erupted after Satna district administration (Chitrakoot falls under Madhya Pradesh's Satna district) proposed to legalise mining on the Siddha Pahad.

Tripathi was the first who opposed the decision and wrote to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, which prompted the later to announce a ban on mining in Sidha Pahad.

"We fought a legal battle for years for get back Lord Ram's birthplace -- Ayodhya and a huge temple is being constructed there. We are happy that the BJP-led Central government and Uttar Pradesh government made this possible. But, my question is that why Chitrakoot wasn't given so much importance despite being the 'Karmabhoomi' of Lord Ram. When Ram came to Chitrakoot during his 14 years of exile, he was a 'rajkumar' (prince) and here in Chitrakoot he became Lord Ram, therefore, Chitrakoot is his 'Karmabhoomi'. But, his Karmbhoomi wasn't given importance and which is why today we have started this padayatra," Tripathi told IANS.

When asked why other BJP leaders are not supporting this padayatra, the BJP MLA said, "They have to run their business. I do not run any business, therefore am not worried of any action against me."

Tripathi claimed the move is beyond politics, however, political observers were of the view that the yatra is preparation for his political strategy.

He said that Chitrakoot has been deprived of development despite having a crucial connection with Lord Ram, adding that if a grand Ram temple is being constricted in Ayodhya, Chitrakoot should also be given equal importance.

THe BJP MLA said that a large size statue of Lord Ram should also be established in Chitrakoot. Besides, the area should be provided with facilities so that more people can visit Chitrakoot.

Few weeks back, in a exclusive interview with IANS, Tripathi had claimed that he would launch his own political party in the ucomming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

The BJP MLA had claimed he would fight elections in all 30 Assembly seats under the Vindhya region, which comprises districts such as Rewa, Sidhi, Satna, Umaria, Singrauli, Shahdol and Anuppur.

Tripathi had also said that he would launch his own party by November-December this year.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 27 (IANS) Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislator K. Kavitha on Tuesday said that her father and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will play a key role in shaping the political course of the country.

She said it was because of him that the BJP is celebrating Bathukamma, the state festival of Telangana, in New Delhi and asked the Centre why it took eight years for it to organise the celebrations in New Delhi.

Kavitha was talking to reporters after participating in Bathukamma celebrations with TRS leaders and workers at Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters in Hyderabad.

She said that the BJP should thank CM KCR for upholding and celebrating the spirit of Telangana. "Due to KCR's entry into the national politics, more and more political parties are getting to know about the culture and practices of Telangana, and things will shape up and change for good as the Telangana Chief Minister would enter into the national arena, where he most certainly is going to play a key role in shaping the political course of the country," she said.

"What took the ruling government 8 years to celebrate the spirit of Telangana," asked Kavitha referring to the Bathukamma event organised by the BJP-led government in Delhi on Tuesday.

Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated by women across Telangana. The nine day celebrations began on September 25.

Kavitha, a former Member of Parliament from Nizamabad, played an instrumental role in making Bathukamma one of the most sought after festivals of India.

She also slammed the BJP for celebrating September 17, which marks accession of erstwhile Hyderabad State with the Indian Union, as Hyderabad Liberation Day. Noting that the same party in Gujarat worships the ideals of Sardar Vallabhai Patel with the Statue of Unity, she asked: "When the BJP hails Sardar Patel in Gujarat with a statue of unity, why does it call our movement an act of liberation and not unity."

The Telangana government celebrated September 17 as national integration day.

--IANS
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Mysuru, Sep 26 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu will on Monday inaugurate grand Dusshera festivities in Mysuru, where large-scale celebrations are taking place for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.

The President will pay floral tributes to the state deity Chamundeshwari along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other dignitaries.

The state government has organised an industrial exhibition, film festival, floral exhibition, food mela and a traditional Kushti competition.

The Mysuru Palace is being decked up with lighting arrangements..

The Hindu festival of Dusshera, Navratri and Vijayadashami celebrates good over evil. Hindu legend maintains that Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura.

It is also said that Mahishasura is the demon whose slaying by the goddess gave the city name Mysuru.

The city of Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dusshera festival with pomp and grandeur following the fall of the Vijayanagara kingdom.

The Wodeyars of Mysuru formed a kingdom in southern parts of the Vijayanagara Empire and continued festivities.

The tradition was started initially by Raja Wodeyar in 1610 at Srirangapatna town.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Congress' top leadership is upset with the political drama in Rajasthan, where supporters of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday closed ranks against Sachin Pilot succeeding him, and summoned both to Delhi, party sources said.

Gehlot, who is the running for the Congress President's post, is understood to have told party leadership that nothing is in his hands and it is up to the MLAs to decide.

In a new twist on Sunday with around 70 MLAs, who are staunch supporters of Gehlot, gathered at the residence of state minister Shanti Dhariwal, to chalk out a strategy to eliminate Pilot from the race to select his successor.

As per state minister Pratap Khachriyawas, 92 MLAs are together and have decided to resign. "We have all the right to choose our leader and we will decide our leader," he said.

These MLAs reached the residence of Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi to submit their resignation.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested an Income Tax Officer posted in Odisha's Khurda for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs five lakh from a jeweller.

A senior CBI official said that a case was registered on the complaint against accused Suman Kumar Sahoo.

It was alleged that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 30 lakh from a jeweller as a favour for not conducting a survey at his jewellery shop. The jeweller lodged the complaint against him with the CBI.

Sahoo had also threatened the complainant that if the bribe amount was not paid to him, he would conduct a raid on his shop. After negotiations, the accused agreed to accept the bribe in two installments.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs five lakh as the first Instalment from the complainant.

Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused which led to the recovery of certain property documents.

The accused will be produced before the Jurisdictional court later in the day.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 25 (IANS) The Coimbatore police have shifted Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADC- Crime against Women and Children), S. Murugavel, who was also holding additional charge of Intelligence of Coimbatore city.

This, according to sources, was due to the failure in giving proper inputs on the attacks the Popular Front of India (PFI) cadres unleashed on Thursday and Friday after the arrest of the senior PFI leaders in a mid-night swoop by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Assistant Commissioner Parthiban, who had earlier held the post of Special Intelligence Cell (SIC), will now be in-charge of the intelligence of Coimbatore city.

Coimbatore district Collector G.S. Sameeran in a statement said that the district administration has held meetings with the Muslim leadership and Hindu leadership in the district and said that the leadership was cooperating with the administration.

A heavy police posse has been deployed in Coimbatore urban areas and rural areas following lighting attacks conducted allegedly by the Popular Front of India (PFI) after the arrest of senior PFI leaders, including its national executive member, A.M. Ismail.

The cars of BJP leaders were damaged in petrol bomb attacks in Coimbatore city and some parts of Pollachi and rural Coimbatore.

Over 4,500 police personnel have been deployed across the Coimbatore district. About 100 personnel from Special Task Force (STF) and 58 commando police have also been deployed.

A senior police officer told IANS that in addition to the 11 checkpoints present already, 28 temporary checkpoints have been set up. 45 patrol vehicles have also deployed in the district to immediately act against the offenders.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, V. Irai Anbu held a video conferencing on Saturday with Coimbatore district collector, G.S. Sameeran on the actions taken in the district against PFI violence. Coimbatore city police commissioner, V. Balakrishnan, and Coimbatore rural Superintendent of Police, V. Badarinarayanan were also present in the video conferencing.

--IANS
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Hubballi (Karnataka), Sep 25 (IANS) An FIR has been filed against 11 people in connection with forcefully converting a Hindu youth to Islam in Hubballi city, police said on Sunday.

According to police, 26-year-old Sridhara Gangadhara, a resident of Yadavanahalli in Maddur taluk of Mandya district was forcefully converted. He has been named as Mohammad Salman.

Police said that Sridhara is a private company employee and was going through a financial crisis. He had shared it with one Attaur Rahman who took him to a mosque in May in Bengaluru.

Sridhara was locked up in the mosque and 'Khatna' was performed forcefully and was forced to eat cow meat. They also took his signatures on empty papers regarding the religious conversion.

After 'Khatna (circumcision)' was performed, Sridhara was taken to Tirupathy, Puttur, Bhuvanagar mosques of Andhra Pradesh and given him training of Islam.

They threatened him to convert at least three persons every year to Islam. He was given a pistol and photos were taken. The accused threatened him that he would be projected as a terrorist if he failed to listen to them, police said.

They transferred Rs 35,000 in his account and asked him to follow their orders. The incident came to light when he went to the police station after being assaulted by a gang of unknown persons in Bhairidevarkoppa in Hubballi recently. He had come here as his Facebook female friend called him over to meet, police said. Further investigation is on.

--IANS
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Tirupati, Sep 25 (IANS) A doctor and his two children were killed in a fire that broke out at a newly constructed private hospital at Renigunta in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district on Sunday.

The fire broke in the top floor of the hospital building where the doctor was living with his family. Dr Ravishankar Reddy and his son and daughter lost their lives. His wife Dr Ananta Lakshmi and mother were rescued by the locals.

The incident occurred around 4.30 a.m. at Kartika Hospital for children in Bhagat Singh Nagar at Renigunta near the temple town of Tirupati. There were no in-patients at the hospital which opened recently.

The fire fighting personnel shifted Bharat (12) and Kartika (15) to another hospital where they succumbed. The condition of the doctor's wife and mother is stated to be stable.

A police officer said they received the information about the fire around 4.50 a.m. Two fire tenders rushed to the hospital and doused the fire.

Police suspect that short-circuit led to the fire. The actual cause of the fire will be known after detailed investigation, police said.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and three-time minister from Kerala, Aryadan Mohammed (87) passed away at Kozhikode after brief illness. Aryadan was considered as the 'Chanakya' of Kerala's Congress politics.

He was a minister in the A.K. Antony cabinet and in the Oommen Chandy government and also in the CPI-M-led left government of E.K. Nayanar.

Aryadan was a tourism and labour minister in the Antony government and was the Electricity minister in the Oomen Chandy government. He was also a member of the CPI-M leader E.K. Nayanar-led LDF government in 1980 when the Congress party of Kerala split and the faction owing allegiance to A.K. Antony joined the Left government. However, the government fell in 1982.

While his academic qualification was only a matriculation pass, Aryadan Mohammed was a voracious reader and used to quote profusely from all the international and national publications. In the debates in Kerala Assembly, Aryadan Mohammed was always the firefighter for the Congress. His funeral will be held at Nilambur on Monday.

An eight-term MLA from the Nilambur Assembly constituency since 1970, he was a member of the Kerala legislative Assembly till 2016 on the Congress ticket.

Even during his last days, he was busy scheming political strategies for the Congress. Aryadan Mohammed had a black mark when he was accused and jailed in the murder of a CPI-M leader from Nilambur, Kunhali. He was arrested and jailed in 1969, but later he was acquitted.

Aryadan Mohammed is always remembered as a Congress leader who never budged to the one-upmanship of the Congress ally Indian Muslim League in its fort of Malappuram district. The senior Congress leader has always had a warm relationship with political leaders cutting across party lines.

A staunch nationalist and a Congress leader, Aryadan always believed that the Congress was the party of India that caters to all sections of the population.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the passing away of Aryadan Mohammed. Pinarayi said that Aryadan will always be remembered as a leader who stood for the secular credentials of the country.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President (KPCC) K. Sudhakaran said that Aryadan Mohammed's death was a major loss for the Congress party. The KPCC president said that while Aryadan was suffering from illness, the death was unexpected.

Indian Muslim League leader and MLA K.P.A. Majeed while speaking to media persons in remembering Aryadan Mohammed said, "Aryadan used to oppose the politics put forward by the Indian Union Muslim League, but he was always in the forefront in Malappuram district for the United Democratic Front alliance. He was the flag-bearer of the UDF in Nilambur which was a CPI-M bastion for years and had wrested that constituency from them. I and the Indian Union Muslim League deeply condole the passing away of the senior leader."

--IANS
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Ayodhya, Sep 25 (IANS) Controversy has erupted over the new temple of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Ayodhya.

Ramnath Maurya, uncle of Prabhakar Maurya, who got the Yogi Mandir constructed, has accused his nephew of grabbing barren government land by constructing a temple dedicated to the chief minister.

The temple of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been constructed by Maurya in Kalyan Bhadarsa village around 25 km from Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.

In a letter to the chief minister, Ramnath said that Prabhakar Maurya got three trees chopped before constructing the temple.

He has demanded a probe and action against his nephew Prabhakar Maurya in the matter.

--IANS
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