January 2023 - Page 24 of 60 - Lokmarg

Haridwar Admin Fines 7 Mosques For Noise Pollution

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

The Haridwar administration has fined 7 mosques for causing noise pollution. Reacting to this Jamiat Ulama Uttarakhand (JUT) President Maulana Mohammad Arif has alleged appeasement in view of upcoming elections.

Mosques in many villages of Pathri police station area of Haridwar district were warned to use loudspeakers for Azaan on a limited volume. But on the report of failing to do so, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Puran Singh Rana has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on 7 mosques. At the same time, two other mosques have been warned for causing noise pollution.

Muslim religious leaders are raising questions about the action taken regarding noise pollution in mosques.

Maulana Mohammad Arif, Uttarakhand president of Jamiat Ulama has said that meetings were held in every police station and it was decided to keep the volume low.

While raising questions on the fine, Maulana Arif said, “We had promised that we will reduce the volume, but I don’t think that a fine was necessary. It is not such a big crime that a fine is imposed. Those responsible should have been called and asked to keep it low.”

“Recently in Kanwar yatra, they were given permission to make a loud noise which was audible from half a kilometre away. It was very difficult for locals but the government didn’t take any action of fine or anything.”

“If the administration is only concerned about the noise pollution through azaan, then there is some politics behind it, “the Maulana said while questioning the intentions.

He further added that if noise pollution is such a huge problem then cars and vehicles are causing more noise pollution. He said that Azaan takes only 2 minutes while noise pollution through vehicles goes on continuously.

“If the administration is so concerned, they should stop DJs in weddings,” he added.

Maulana Mohammad Arif also alleged that the administration is taking selective action to appease one community.

“Everything happens with full volume but only mosques are being targeted,” he added and said that they were in constant touch with the government officials.

SDM Puran Singh Rana has said, “We received complaints of noise pollution from some religious places. After investigation, a fine of five thousand rupees has been imposed on 7 religious institutions and instructions have also been given not to cause noise pollution in future, if the order is not accepted by them, then their permission will be cancelled and with an increased fine and case will also be registered.”

SDM cited the High Court order for the action. “The High Court has ordered that noise pollution should be prevented. Without permission, the loudspeaker system will not be installed at any religious place or wedding point. The religious institutions which have been given permission are also being monitored.”

He further stated, “Outpost in-charges and pollution officers of the areas are monitoring the area.”

He also stated that cases would be registered against those failing to keep the volume at a low level. (ANI)

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Nora Vs Jacqueline: Court To Hear Defamation Case On Mar 25

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

The Patiala House court in New Delhi on Monday listed the hearing on a defamation complaint filed by Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi for March 25.

Nora recently filed a defamation suit against fellow Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez and various media organizations in a Delhi court.

Nora Fatehi and Jacqueline Fernandez both were recently questioned by different investigation agencies in the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and others.

The matter was listed before Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Kapil Gupta on Saturday, but the matter could not be taken up as the concerned magistrate was on official training.

On December 19, 2022, the court noted that counsel for the complainant sought some time to file a list of witnesses. The complainant is at liberty to file appropriate documents on or before the next date of hearing.

Nora through complaint claimed that Jacqueline Fernandez’s statement has caused harm to her reputation and for malicious reasons.

Nora Fatehi in criminal defamation case stated that she is aggrieved of defamatory remarks made by Jacqueline Fernandez initially which was further carried forward and circulated by the other accused persons (media organizations), all of whom were acting in connivance with each other, and a conspiracy by Jacqueline Fernandez to ensure the financial, social, and personal

the downfall of the complainant (Fatehi) was hatched and enacted by the said actions.

Fatehi in the defamation case alleged that Jacqueline also maliciously attempted to absolve herself from her actions in other criminal proceedings which are absolutely unrelated to the Complainant.

It has started to become evident that the aforementioned rivals being unable to compete with the Complainant fairly in the industry have started to try and tarnish her reputation which would cause her loss of work and hence would open up greener pastures for her rivals in the industry.

It is also pertinent to submit here that the reputation of any person in the film industry is an asset and any dent in the same would cause huge and irreparable damage to their career, stated Nora Fatehi.

Nora through her advocates Vikram Singh Chauhan, Umair Ahmed, and Tanisha stated that Jacqueline made a “false statement” which was “unnecessary and unwarranted”. Jacqueline “unnecessarily dragged the complainant” and “defamed her as she is in the same industry and is fully aware that the business of any artist and their career is solely based on their reputation. (ANI)

Govt Blocks YouTube Vids, Tweets Sharing BBC Film On Modi

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

Multiple YouTube videos sharing the first episode of the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” has been blocked as per the directions issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, sources said on Saturday.

Along with YouTube videos, the Centre has also directed Twitter to block over 50 tweets containing links to the concerned YouTube videos.

YouTube and Twitter complied with the government after directions were reportedly issued by Secretary, of Information, and Broadcasting on Friday using the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

UK’s National broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a two-part series attacking PM Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

On Thursday, India denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.

“We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a weekly media briefing.

Even though the documentary was not made available in India by BBC in India, some YouTube channels appear to have uploaded it to promote an anti-India agenda.

Sources said that YouTube has also been instructed to block the video if it is again uploaded on its platform. They added Twitter has also been directed to identify and block the tweets containing the link to the video on other platforms.

This decision was made after top government officials from across several ministries examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court of India and sow divisions among various Indian communities.

The sources added that the documentary was accordingly found to be undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India, and having the potential to adversely impact India’s friendly relations with foreign States. (ANI)

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Lemongrass, Mushroom Cultivation Changing Lives In Bihar’s Gaya

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

The women of the Naxal-hit area of Bihar’s Gaya are becoming self-sufficient by cultivating lemongrass and mushroom. Earlier, where opium was cultivated on barren land, and now the lemongrass crop is flourishing. Today, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is coming to meet these women.

The area of Bankebazar block of the Gaya district of Bihar once had a stronghold of Naxalites. Even today, there is an occasional Naxalite activity in this area. But in present times the women of this region have started writing their own destinies.

Earlier, where opium was cultivated on barren land, and now the lemongrass crop is flourishing with the help of the Sarv Seva Samiti organization.

With the help of the organization, women are being trained to cultivate lemongrass and sell its products. Women are also participating actively in this. The women who were earlier unemployed and whose economic condition was very bad, are now becoming strong by cultivating lemongrass and mushrooms and their financial condition is also improving.

Pratima Devi, a resident of Azamgarh village of Bankebazar block, told ANI, “Earlier we had no work and the condition of the house was also very bad. But we were given training in mushroom and lemongrass farming by the organization. A good income is being generated and the condition of the family is also improving. Many types of products are being made by cultivating lemon grass. Initially, only a few women were associated with it, but at present, about one thousand women have joined. Now we are getting good income. Earlier our area was known for Naxalism, there was no development, but now we are making many types of products and we are also getting good income by selling them in the market.”

Rajni Bhushan, the district manager of Sarv Seva Samiti, said that Bankebazar block is considered to be a very remote area. “It is about 70 kms away from district headquarters Gaya. Most of whose land is barren and the area is surrounded by mountains. After this, we contacted the agriculture department and started cultivating mushrooms and lemongrass on barren land. For this, we connected the women of the area. At present, more than 1,000 women are associated with this farming and they are earning well, she informed.

The land which used to be barren before is flourishing with the cultivation of lemongrass. Many products including oil, soap, sanitiser, and phenyl are being made from lemongrass, which is being sold. Women are getting an income of about 12 thousand rupees in 2 months. Once lemongrass is cultivated, the crop keeps flourishing for 5 years. If its products are sold in six months, there is an income of about 40 thousand rupees. It is our endeavour to involve more women in this work so that their economic condition improves and their standard of living rises.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit the area and meet the women in the area under his ongoing “Samadhan yatra”. (ANI)

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PFI Has ‘Killer Squads’ To Establish Islamic Rule By 2047: NIA Chargesheet

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

As part of its agenda to create terror, communal hatred, and unrest in society and to further its agenda of establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047, the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) formed secret teams called ‘Service Teams’ or ‘Killer Squads’ to carry out killings of its ‘perceived enemies’ and targets.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made these revelations in a charge sheet filed on Friday before a special court in Bengaluru pertaining to the killing of BJP’s Yuva Morcha district committee member Praveen Nettaru on July 26 last year in Bellare village of Sullia Taluk in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district. Nettaz was killed in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people at large and especially among members of a particular community.

The charge sheet, which was filed against 20 PFI members, further mentions that “these ‘Service Team’ members were given arms as well attack training and surveillance techniques training in order to identify, list out and to mount surveillance on individuals and leaders belonging to certain communities and groups”.

“These ‘Service Team’ members were further trained to assault and kill identified targets on the instructions of senior PFI leaders,” said the NIA in the charge sheet.

In furtherance of conspiracy meetings by PFI members and leaders held at Bengaluru city, Sullia Town and Bellare village, said the charge sheet, adding “the head of district Service Team Mustafa Paichar was instructed to recce, identify and target a prominent member of a particular community”.

“As per instructions, four persons were recced and identified, and among them, Praveen Nettaru, who was a BJP Yuva Morcha member, was assaulted and killed on July 26 last year in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people at large and especially among members of a particular community,” mentions the charge-sheet.

Of the 20 charge-sheeted PFI members, six are absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest in the case.

The accused persons have been charge-sheeted under various sections of 120B, 153A, 302, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act.

Mahammed Shiyab, Abdul Basheer, Riyaz, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakar Siddik, Noufal M, Ismail Shafi K, K Mahammad Iqbal, Shaheed M, Mahammad Shafeek G, Ummar Farook M R, Abdul Kabeer CA, Muhammad Ibrahim Sha, Sainul Abid Y, Shekh Saddam Hussain, Zakiar A, N Abdul Haris, Thufail MH have been charge-sheeted in the case.

Among the charge-sheeted accused, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Ummar Farook MR, and Thufail MH are currently absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest.

The case was initially registered on July 27 by at Bellare Police Station of Dakshina Kannada district and re-registered by the NIA on August 4 last year.

The Home Ministry in September banned the PFI, its associates, and affiliates for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by declaring it as an unlawful association.

Besides involvement in Nettaru’s murder, the PFI cadres are also accused of involvement in several terrorist acts and the murder of several persons, including Sanjith (Kerala, November 2021), V Ramalingam (Tamil Nadu, 2019), Nandu (Kerala, 2021), Abhimanyu (Kerala, 2018), Bibin (Kerala, 2017), Sharath (Kamataka, 2017), R Rudresh (Kamataka, 2016), Praveen Puyari (Karnataka, 2016), and Sasi Kumar (Tamil Nadu, 2016). (ANI)

Pakistan Weekly Inflation Reaches 31.8 Percent

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

Weekly inflation in Pakistan, measured by Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased to 31.83 percent for the combined income group on a year-on-year basis ending January 19, Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper reported.

This comes amid a surge in prices of food and non-food items, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

The SPI monitors the prices of 51 essential items based on a survey of 50 markets in 17 cities across the country. During the week under review, the prices of 23 out of 51 items increased, 11 decreased, and 17 remained stable, Dawn newspaper reported.

The price of the following items jumped on a year-on-year basis, onions (482.07pc), chicken (101.93pc), tea Lipton (65.41pc), eggs (64.23pc), diesel (57.34pc), rice basmati broken (56.09pc), pulse moong (55.63pc), rice Irri-6/9 (50.28pc), salt powdered (49.50pc), bananas (47.73pc) and wheat flour (46.38pc).

A major increase was observed in the prices of rice basmati broken (3.54pc), onions (3.50pc), chicken (3.21pc), bananas (3.04pc), rice Irri-6/9 (2.43pc), garlic (2.16pc), bread (1.45pc), cooked beef (1.26pc), tea prepared (1.22pc), cooked daal (1.12pc), LPG (2.34pc) and washing soap (1.54pc), Dawn newspaper reported.

A decrease was observed in the prices of wheat flour (5.98pc), tomatoes (2.87pc), potatoes (2.73pc), sugar (0.94pc), vegetable ghee 1kg (0.50pc), vegetable ghee 2.5kg (0.41pc), pulse masoor (0.38pc), eggs (0.09pc), cooking oil 5-litre (0.07pc), pulse gram (0.05pc) and mustard oil (0.01pc).

Al Arabiya Post recently reported that Pakistan could sink deeper into the quagmire especially if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme is not resumed within the next few weeks.

IMF is delaying its 24th loan, and the Saudis and the UAE have warned Pakistan that they will no longer serve free lunch.

Pakistan must introduce reforms and push them to the last. The Gulf friends delivered this message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the new Army Chief, Gen. Asim Munir, who visited earlier, reported Al Arabiya Post.

The warning comes as Pakistan is currently gripped by the chicken-and-the-egg syndrome. Its economic woes are caused by its bad politics – or, the friends ask: Is it the opposite?

Pakistan is facing existential multi-dimensional crises of politics and economy with a highly dysfunctional state. It is about much more than democracy and debt. Short-term fixes and political engineering may not work this time. (ANI)

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IOA Forms Seven-Member Team To Probe Wrestlers Charges

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Members of the committee include Olympic medalist Mary Kom, former archer Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, London Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav and two advocates, the IOA announced on Friday.

Sahdev Yadav, Indian Weightlifting Federation president and a member of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said the committee will conduct an unbiased investigation regarding the charges levelled by wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India President and its coaches.

“We will sit and listen to everyone and do an unbiased investigation after looking at the charges and try to give a fair justice,” Sahdev Yadav, Indian Weightlifting Federation president and member of the 7-member committee formed by the IOA told ANI.

Wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, are staging a protest in Delhi in which women wrestlers have levelled serious charges of sexual harassment by the president and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation.

Their protest was launched on Wednesday, with the grapplers alleging women wrestlers were being sexually harassed by the WFI chief and their coaches.

They have also demanded a complete overhaul of the Federation. WFI president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh refuted the allegations claiming he will expose the ‘political conspiracy’ at a press conference in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda on Friday.

On Thursday, a group of wrestlers had a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur which stretched till early this morning.

However, according to sources, the meeting remained inconclusive and the minister is likely to meet with grapplers again on Friday at his residence.

Meanwhile, Vinesh, Bajrang, Sakshee, Ravi and Deepak on Friday wrote to PT Usha, president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on the ‘sexual harassment’ complaints against the WFI chairman.

In a letter to the IOA president, the star grapplers accused the WFI chairman of sexual exploitation and financial irregularities. (ANI)

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Rapist-Murderer Dera Chief Ram Rahim Granted 40-Day Parole

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was granted 40-day parole, the police sources said on Friday.

The Dera Sacha Sauda chief was serving a sentence for rape and murder in Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail.
According to the sources, the paperwork for his parole is yet to be completed and he is likely to be released today (January 21).

“Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is lodged in Sunaria prison in Rohtak district, has been granted 40-day parole. The paperwork is yet to be completed. He is likely to be released from prison on 21st January,” the Police Sources said.

This is the second time when Ram Rahim had requested parole of 40 days to attend an event. Earlier, he was out on parole for 40 days in October 2022.

“The Dera chief’s family have submitted an application to the jail authorities seeking month-long parole for Ram Rahim on his behalf but it will be decided by the court and commissioner for how many days he will get parole and where will he stay during this time,” Haryana Jail Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala confirmed on Friday.

Notably, the Dera chief was also granted parole ahead of the Haryana panchayat election and Adampur Assembly bypoll.

Rahim was granted parole for a month on June 17.

He has been incarcerated, since 2017, in Haryana’s Sunaria jail where he is serving a 20-year term for raping two women disciples at his ashram’s headquarters in Sirsa. Earlier in February, the Dera chief was granted three weeks’ furlough.

While parole means the release of a prisoner either temporarily for a special purpose or completely before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior, a furlough is a short-term temporary release of convicts from jail.

He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers.

CBI had registered the case on the orders passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in 2003 and taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at Police Station Sadar in Kurukshetra.

It was alleged that Ranjit Singh, a resident of village Khanpur Kolian, Kurukshetra was murdered on July 10, 2002, when he was working in his fields at village Khanpur Kolian of District Kurukshetra in Haryana.

After a thorough investigation, CBI filed a charge sheet in 2007 against six accused and charges were framed in 2008 while, on October 8, 2021, the court convicted Rahim and four others in connection with former Dera manager Ranjit Singh’s murder case. (ANI)

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Farooq Abdullah Compares Rahul To Adi Shankaracharya

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

As Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, entered the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah likened the Congress MP with the Vedic scholar, Adi Shankaracharya.

This is for the second time during the foot march that Rahul Gandhi has been compared to a figure on a high pedestal — first with Lord Ram and now Shankaracharya.
Drawing parallels while addressing the public meeting in Jammu and Kashmir’s Lakhanpur, Abdullah, who served as the Chief Minister when Jammu and Kashmir was a state, said that Rahul Gandhi is the first person after Shankaracharya to have undertaken a yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

“Centuries ago Shankaracharya came here. He walked when there were no roads but jungles. He had walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi is the second person who took out a yatra from the same Kanyakumari and is reaching Kashmir,” Abdullah said.

The octogenarian leader further said that the aim of this yatra is to unite India.

“The aim is to unite India. Hatred is being created in India and religions are being pitted against each other. The India of Gandhi and Ram was one where we were all one. This yatra is attempting to unite India. Its enemies are enemies of India, humanity and people,” he added.

Adi Shankaracharya was an eighth-century Indian mystic and philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta and made a significant contribution to unifying Hinduism by setting up four “mathas” across India.

Earlier, Congress leader Salman Khurshid had compared Rahul Gandhi to Lord Rama.

Khurshid said, “Rahul Gandhi is superhuman. While we are freezing in the cold and wearing jackets, he is going out in T-Shirts (for his Bharat Jodo Yatra). He is like a yogi doing his ‘tapasya’ with focus.”

“Lord Ram’s ‘khadau’ goes very far. Sometimes when Ram ji cannot reach, Bharat takes the ‘khadau’ and goes to places. Like that, we have carried the ‘khadau’ in Uttar Pradesh. Now that ‘khadau’ has reached Uttar Pradesh. Ram ji (Rahul Gandhi) will also come,” Khurshid added.

The Congress’ yatra on Thursday entered Jammu and Kashmir. The march entered the region in the Kathua’s Lakhanpur area.

Supporters carried party flags and torch lights as the yatra marched ahead later in the evening (Thursday).

Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut have participated in the yatra at the different locations.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra that started from Kanyakumari in September is scheduled to end on January 30 in Srinagar. (ANI)

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People Should Embrace Urdu: Javed Akhtar

Stories In Our DNA, Respect Indian Films: Javed Akhtar On Boycott Bollywood

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Veteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar on Friday, during a media interaction at a literature festival in Jaipur, raised the viral social media trend of ‘Boycott Bollywood’ and appealed to people to respect Indian films.

“We love movies, whether it is from North, South, East or West. Stories are in our DNA. It’s in our DNA to listen and to tell stories. So we should respect Indian films,” Javed Akhtar said while backing Bollywood amid boycott trend.
Akhtar also termed Indian cinema “One of the strongest goodwill ambassadors in the world,” and said that people should respect Indian films.

“We should respect Indian films. An average Indian film is released across more than 136 nations. Indian cinema is one of the strongest goodwill ambassadors in the world. If people headcount the stars, then our stars will get more recognition in the world than ‘Hollywood’,” Akhtar told the reporters.

The 78-year-old lyricist also acknowledged the stardom of actor Shah Rukh Khan and mentioned how his popularity has been beneficial for the country’s goodwill abroad.

“Not only in Asia, if you go to Germany and tell someone that you are an Indian, but their first question would also be, do you know Shah Rukh? Our people and our films are spreading so much goodwill for India in the world. So we are a major soft power of India and it should be protected,” Akhtar said.

Javed Akhtar is a renowned Indian lyricist and is known for his blockbuster hit films like ‘Don’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Deewar’, ‘Mr India’, ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Dostana’, ‘Seeta aur Geeta’ and many more. (ANI)

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