While addressing a Holi function on Monday organised by BJP leader Colonel Rajiv Rawat in Bhaila village of Deoband, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani said that we all had one ancestor and people should live in unity.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Arshad said “We all had one ancestor. The Holi festival gives the message of brotherhood. People should live in unity.”
Earlier on February 12, Arshad Madani sparked controversy when he “asked the Dharma Gurus that when there was no one, neither Shri Ram nor Brahma nor Shiva, then whom did Manu worship?”
He added, “Some told me that they used to worship ‘Om’. I said that it is the ‘Om’ only that we refer to as Allah, those speaking Farsi refer as ‘Khuda’ and those speaking English refer as ‘God’.”
“This means that there is only one Om or Allah, and both are the same, and it is the only thing Manu used to worship. There was no Shiv, no Brahma, but only one Om and Allah that was worshipped,” Madani said.
Addressing the session, Madani also said, “Hindus and Muslims have been living in the country like brothers for around 1400 years, and we have never forcibly converted anyone to Islam.”
“It is only under the BJP government that we heard that 20 crore Muslims should be sent home. By sending them home, they meant converting them to Hindus. These people don’t know anything about India’s history,” he added. (ANI)
Holi is around the corner and actor Ranbir Kapoor has all the reasons to grin from ear to ear. After all, it is his first Holi with his daughter Raha, who was born on November 6, 2022.
“This Holi is special as it’s my and Alia’s first Holi as a married couple and also as parents. I feel totally blessed that we have such a beautiful baby girl in our life and I don’t think that there’s any bigger blessing than that,” Ranbir told ANI. Ranbir also hinted that he might miss celebrating Holi with his wife and daughter this year as Alia is currently in Kashmir for the shoot of ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’.
“Alia is in Kashmir for the ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Ki Kahani’ shoot. Raha is also with her. I miss them terribly. I can’t wait till they come back on 9th March,” Ranbir said.
This year’s Holi is special for Ranbir for another reason as well. His film ‘Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar’ is releasing on the festival of colours on March 8.
Helmed by Luv Ranjan, ‘Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar’ is a rom-com, which also stars Shraddha Kapoor in the lead role.
“I felt excited to play this ‘makkaar’ character in the film. I felt rejuvenated. I am sure this film will entertain the audience and bring smiles to their face,” Ranbir said while promoting his film in the capital. (ANI)
Wafa Abbas, a social worker from Lucknow, feels that sale of bulldozer pichkaris for Holi festival is a marketing gimmick and need not be seen from a communal lens. His views:
Ever since the BJP has come to power in Uttar Pradesh, strict action has been initiated against anti-social elements and mafia lords. Amid this crackdown, the bulldozer has become a symbol of popular justice – even though extra-judicial at times – used for razing down structures belonging to established criminals in the state.
It is in this light that we should see the advent of bulldozer pichkaris in the market ahead of Holi festival. Why only bulldozers, pichkaris of popular achievements of India also throng markets every passing year. To name a few, there have been Rafale pichkaris, Satellite Launcher pichkaris – to commemorate the arrival of French fighter jets and the success of our space programmes – in the past. In addition, there are others ever-popular pichkaris that are made on the theme of PubG, Doraemon, Pokemon or Super Heroes, to lure the young buyer.
Similarly, bulldozer is just another marketing gimmick to boost sales on the back of a popular symbol of our times. Calling these pichkaris as an attempt to target a particular community or faith is a ridiculous argument. Holi is a festival of colours and gaiety, celebrated across India with the same josh by all the Indians irrespective of their caste and creed. So, consider bulldozer pichkaris as the just another flavour of the season.
Abbas says pichkaris often related to current happenings or emotion
Over the past few years, you can see various merchandise with Modi and Yogi prints, such as masks or clothing. These items merely reflect the current popularity of a group of leaders and ideology. It would be foolish to term such commercial products as being communal or targeted against the minority.
Business houses, manufacturers, sellers etc. always work with the tide and launch products that relate to popular events of the day or an emotion. Are all those involved in manufacturing/selling pichkaris or festival-related products belong to only a particular community? The retailer and manufacturers belong to all communities; and profitability is their only objective.
For example, most of the people involved in manufacturing firecrackers for Diwali and other celebrations belong to a particular community; so do the kaanwad-makers. Can these products be branded as Hindu or Muslims? These are meant for spreading cheer and festivity, nothing else. This is more economics than politics. So save your sentiments for another day.
Indian festivals are for all Indians. Tagging a festival with one particular community or caste is either foolish or a calculated political position. We not only need to be careful of such a bunch of hate mongers but should also boycott them publically to send a message of `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which means ‘The World is a Family’.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday instructed officials to ensure an uninterrupted power supply between March 7-9 in view of the festival of Holi.
Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) Chairman M Devraj instructed all DISCOM (power distribution) officials in the state in this regard.
“As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, clear instructions have been given to the DISCOM officials to ensure that everyone gets uninterrupted electricity during this period. Action should be taken immediately on the toll-free number information,” Devraj said.
UPPCL Chairman stated that all the Managing Directors have been directed to take the necessary actions to ensure a cut-free uninterrupted power supply in their DISCOM.
The officials have also been directed to take immediate action on the supply-related information received on the 1912 toll-free number. They have been warned against any kind of negligence in this. The distribution officers have been directed to carry out their respective responsibilities.
The Managing Director should conduct effective monitoring at his level, and all officers engaged in distribution should constantly be on alert.
M Devraj said that if there is any problem in the power supply at the local level, it should be resolved as soon as possible. (ANI)
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