Latest news with #RamMandirPranPratishtha
News18
8 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Modi's I-Day Event: BJP Flags Congress's Repeated ‘Disrespect Of Sindoor'
Last Updated: Even as the controversy was brewing, the Congress released pictures of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge unfurling the national flag at the Congress headquarters in Indira Bhawan The absence of top two leaders of the Congress – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge – from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day event at Red Fort has stirred a row, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) already making it an issue. The BJP has called it a 'disrespect" to both the PM's position, the flag, and more importantly, to the 'Operation Sindoor' which was the theme of the August 15 celebrations today. Even as the controversy was brewing, the Congress released pictures of both Gandhi and Kharge unfurling the national flag at the Congress headquarters in Indira Bhawan. As an LoP, Gandhi had attended the Red Fort event last year, but it soon snowballed into a huge controversy. Many in the Congress objected to the fact that disrespect was shown to the LoP by making him sit at the back while other ministers sat in the front row. It's not the first time that Congress has boycotted or stayed away from the PM's events. Like, it did not attend the 'bhoomi pujan' for the new Parliament building nor its inauguration. The Congress, despite an invite, skipped the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on grounds that it was a BJP event and had nothing to do with religious feelings. Congress spokesperson in tv debate with me just now confirmed that 'LoP" Rahul Gandhi skipped 15th August Program at Red FortThis was a national celebration but sadly Lover of Pakistan Rahul Gandhi – in Modi virodh does Desh & Sena Virodh! Shameful behaviour Is this… — Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) August 15, 2025 The Congress has faced attack for many of its statements over 'Op Sindoor' and with Gandhi's questions including on how many Indian jets fell or was it the Pakistani jet; who asked for the ceasefire and was it dictated by America. The BJP has accused the Congress of speaking a language which emboldens Pakistan and is anti-national. This year's invites for the Red Fort speech had Operation Sindoor as its theme, and the absence of the LoPs has given ammunition to the BJP. The PM's comment on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and emergency has also not gone down well with the Congress, where they have accused the PM of making a political point on an occasion where it should have been avoided. As per Congress, this is one reason why the top Congress leaders don't see a point in attending an event which is political and less about nationalism. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digvijaya Singh's brother finally faces axe for relentless criticism of Congress high command
THE CONGRESS has finally cracked down on Lakshman Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh MLA and the brother of senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who has been known more recently for his tirades against the party high command, including Rahul Gandhi. AICC Disciplinary Action Committee member Tariq Anwar announced Lakshman Singh's expulsion on Wednesday from the Congress's primary membership 'for a period of six years, with immediate effect, due to his anti-party activities'. While Digvijaya Singh is one of the titans of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshman Singh has never really been at ease in the party and even left it to join the BJP for a while. The Congress took him back but, insiders say, his relentless criticism recently had made Lakshman Singh an unmanageable liability. The 70-year-old has been attacking the party leadership since he lost from the Chachoura seat in the 2023 Assembly elections. His criticism has spanned from personal attacks on Gandhi and questioning the party's electoral strategy to the Congress response to the Pahalgam terror attack and its boycott of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony. He has even refused to support Digvijaya's campaign against EVMs in the state. On Wednesday, Lakshman Singh remained unreachable for comment. A senior Congress functionary said: 'When Rahul Gandhi came to Bhopal as part of the party organisation overhaul, he had spoken about senior leaders making nonsensical statements. This (Lakshman Singh's) expulsion signals to all those involved in anti-party activities that such behaviour damaging the party will no longer be tolerated.' Earlier, a show-cause notice had been served to Lakshman Singh after he commented on some remarks by Rahul Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra in context of the Pahalgam terrorist attack last month, saying: 'Gandhi and Vadra are immature. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity… How long will the Congress have to put up with (their) immaturity?' He added: 'Rahul Gandhi should think before he speaks, he is the LoP (Leader of the Opposition).' When the Congress decided to stay away from the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration last year, Lakshman Singh said: 'As far as invitation is concerned, what is the meaning of declining it? What message are we sending? When Rajiv Gandhi got it (the locks of the Babri Masjid) unlocked, who are you to decline it? If our leadership keeps such advisors, the results would be the same as they have been so far.' In December 2023, Lakshman Singh told reporters: 'Rahul Gandhi is just a party worker. He is just an MP. Apart from that, he is nothing. You people too should not highlight Rahul Gandhi so much, nor should we. No one becomes a great leader by birth, one becomes great by his/her actions. Don't consider Rahul Gandhi such a great leader, I don't.' Even earlier, during protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Lakshman Singh had gone against the party line and advocated acceptance of the legislation, now that it had been passed. 'All parties have expressed their views. More comments, statements on this subject are meaningless. Let's accept it and move on.' The former Congress MLA also criticised the Congress for failure to fulfill its signature promise of farm loan waivers when in power briefly between 2019 and 2022, demanding that Gandhi apologise to the Madhya Pradesh farmers for the same. 'He should also clarify to them how long it will take for a loan waiver,' Lakshman Singh said. A seasoned politician, Lakshman Singh has served five terms as MP and three as MLA, establishing his credentials across multiple constituencies. His political journey began in 1987 from the Raghogarh municipality. Since then, he has won twice from the Raghogarh Assembly seat, before achieving a five-term victory streak from the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency. One of these times, in 2004, Lakshman Singh won from Rajgarh on the BJP ticket, having shifted to the party. But the Congress won back the constituency in 2009, defeating Lakshman Singh as the BJP candidate. Soon, Singh was in trouble within the BJP, and in July 2010, was expelled from the party's primary membership after publicly condemning senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. By January 2013, Singh was back in the Congress fold.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ram Temple moves towards completion, idol of ‘Raja Ram' consecrated
The idol of Raja Ram was consecrated and the Ram Darbar inaugurated at the Ram Jamnabhoomi complex on Thursday, a major step towards completion of a grand temple that has been at the intersection of political and religious discourse for three decades. The city was festooned and lit up as priests gathered at the first floor of the Ram temple to install the almost five-feet white marbled statue of Raja Ram, the god in his royal form, amid the chanting of hymns and elaborate rituals. The Ram Darbar also features the idols of Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughn and Hanuman. The day, chosen to coincide with the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, comes 16 months after the consecration of Ram Lalla, the child god, on January 22, 2024. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top government brass and a host of celebrities were present at the high octane occasion then, the event this time was quieter. Among those conducting the ceremony were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, along with other priests. Devotees, unmindful of curbs, stood outside the temple complex, singing, dancing and chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' all the while. Restrictions on vehicular movement during the inauguration ceremony by the administration and the temple trust's decision not to issue entry passes to visitors between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday failed to deter the devotees, some of whom had come from as far as Nepal. Gogan Prasad, from Nepal's capital Kathmandu, was one such devotee. 'I have waited for this moment for long. I had been praying for more than a year for an opportunity to have darshan of Lord Ram. Now that wish will be granted,' said Mr. Prasad who had come from Nepal with a large group of devotees who also appeared overwhelmed on the occasion. Also in the crowd was Alamin, a Muslim woman dressed in a traditional black burqa, waiting along with the others to be allowed to enter the temple. She was seen singing devotional songs, drawing much attention. The BJP, which is in power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, said in a post on X, 'The second festival of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha concluded today in Ayodhya. A step towards Ram Rajya.' The ceremony took place during the Abhijit Muhurat, considered one of the most auspicious moments in the Hindu calendar. The consecration of the deities began with prayers at the 'yajna mandap' at 6.30 a.m., followed by a 'havan' at 9 a.m., which lasted an hour. Thereafter, centralised rituals began simultaneously across all temple shrines, aided by visual technology like cameras and large screens, ensuring synchrony of the ceremonies. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, among the deities consecrated were Shri Ram Darbar (central installation), Sheshavatar, Lord Shiva in the northeast (Ishan) corner, Lord Ganesha in the southeast (Agni) corner, Lord Hanuman at the southern wing, Surya (Sun God) in the southwest (Nairitya) corner, Goddess Bhagwati in the northwest (Vayavya) corner and Goddess Annapurna in the northern wing. The temple, built in the traditional Nagara style, spans 360 feet in length, 235 feet in width, and rises 161 feet high. Spread across 2.77 acres, the three-storey structure features 392 carved pillars, 44 doors and richly sculpted depictions of Hindu deities. Ram Temple trustee Anil Mishra told PTI that the ceremonies were performed in accordance with Vedic traditions. 'The day of Ganga Dussehra will symbolise a new beginning. It will be the moment when the fruits of centuries of penance, struggle, and faith will manifest in tangible form,' he said. According to Hindu scriptures, Ganga Dussehra marks the day the holy river Ganga descended to Earth from Lord Shiva's locks, moved by King Bhagirath's penance. The day is considered highly auspicious and symbolises virtue, penance, and the collective well-being of humanity. 'This year, Ganga Dussehra will not only be sacred but also historic, as after a long struggle of 500 years, Lord Ram, known as Raja Ram, will be ceremonially installed on the first floor of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya,' Mahant Raghuvar Sharan, chief priest of Rasik Niwas Temple in Ayodhya, told PTI ahead of the event. Mr. Adityanath offered prayers at the Ram Temple and visited the Hanumangarhi temple nearby. Adding a political touch to the proceedings of the day, he said in a post on X, 'This auspicious occasion is a new expression of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. Victory to Siyavar Shri Ramachandra!' 'Today, in the holy birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya Dham, we are getting the great fortune of becoming a witness to the programme organised for the Pran-Pratishtha of the holy idols of gods in the eight temples including Shri Ram Darbar on the first floor of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple,' he said. The inauguration of the temple in January 2024 had marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign, mostly under the Hindutva banner, to claim a disputed religious site in Ayodhya. It was months before the Lok Sabha elections and 34 years after BJP veteran L.K. Advani's 'Mandir Wahin Banayenge' speech during his Rath yatra that shaped the Ram mandir politics. The 16th century Babri mosque at the spot, which many Hindu devotees believe is the place where Ram was born, was the centre of a simmering dispute for decades. The mosque was demolished by 'kar sewaks' on December 6, 1992, triggering communal riots that left hundreds dead. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court in 2019 ruled in favour of the construction of the temple. It also ordered allotment of a five-acre plot for building a mosque. The scrapping of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, building a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) have been the BJP's poll plank for decades.
The Print
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Ram Temple moves towards completion, idol of ‘Raja Ram' consecrated
The Ram Darbar also features the idols of Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughn and Hanuman. The day, chosen to coincide with the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, comes 16 months after the consecration of Ram Lalla, the child god, on January 22, 2024. The city was festooned and lit up as priests gathered at the first floor of the Ram temple to install the almost five-feet white marbled statue of Raja Ram, the god in his royal form, amid the chanting of hymns and elaborate rituals. Ayodhya, Jun 5 (PTI) The idol of Raja Ram was consecrated and the Ram Darbar inaugurated at the Ram Jamnabhoomi complex on Thursday, a major step towards completion of a grand temple that has been at the intersection of political and religious discourse for three decades. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top government brass and a host of celebrities were present at the high octane occasion then, the event this time was quieter. Among those conducting the ceremony today were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, along with other priests. Devotees, unmindful of curbs, stood outside the temple complex, singing, dancing and chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' all the while. Restrictions on vehicular movement during the inauguration ceremony by the administration and the temple trust's decision to not issue temple entry passes to visitors between 9 am to 3 pm on Thursday failed to deter the devotees, some who had come from as far as Nepal. Gogan Prasad, from Nepal's capital Kathmandu, was one such devotee. 'I have waited for this moment for long. I had been praying for more than a year for an opportunity to have darshan of Lord Ram. Now that wish will be granted,' said Prasad who had come from Nepal with a large group of devotees who also appeared overwhelmed on the occasion. Also in the crowd was Alamin, a Muslim woman dressed in a traditional black burqa, waiting along with the others to be allowed to enter the temple. She was seen singing devotional songs, drawing much attention. The BJP, which is in power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, said in a post on X, 'The second festival of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha concluded today in Ayodhya. A step towards Ram Rajya.' The ceremony took place during the Abhijit Muhurat, considered one of the most auspicious moments in the Hindu calendar. The consecration of the deities began with prayers at the 'yajna mandap' at 6.30 am, followed by a 'havan' at 9 am, which lasted an hour. Thereafter, centralised rituals began simultaneously across all temple shrines, aided by visual technology like cameras and large screens, ensuring synchronicity of the ceremonies. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, among the deities consecrated were Shri Ram Darbar (central installation), Sheshavatar, Lord Shiva in the northeast (Ishan) corner, Lord Ganesha in the southeast (Agni) corner, Lord Hanuman at the southern wing, Surya (Sun God) in the southwest (Nairitya) corner, Goddess Bhagwati in the northwest (Vayavya) corner and Goddess Annapurna in the northern wing. The temple, built in the traditional Nagara style, spans 360 feet in length, 235 feet in width, and rises 161 feet high. Spread across 2.77 acres, the three-storey structure features 392 carved pillars, 44 doors and richly sculpted depictions of Hindu deities. Ram Temple trustee Anil Mishra told PTI that the ceremonies were performed in accordance with Vedic traditions. 'The day of Ganga Dussehra will symbolise a new beginning. It will be the moment when the fruits of centuries of penance, struggle, and faith will manifest in tangible form,' he said. According to Hindu scriptures, Ganga Dussehra marks the day the holy river Ganga descended to Earth from Lord Shiva's locks, moved by King Bhagirath's penance. The day is considered highly auspicious and symbolises virtue, penance, and the collective well-being of humanity. 'This year, Ganga Dussehra will not only be sacred but also historic, as after a long struggle of 500 years, Lord Ram, known as Raja Ram, will be ceremonially installed on the first floor of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya,' Mahant Raghuvar Sharan, chief priest of Rasik Niwas Temple in Ayodhya, told PTI ahead of the event. Adityanath offered prayers at the Ram Temple and visited the Hanumangarhi temple nearby. Adding a political touch to the proceedings of the day, he said in a post on X, 'This auspicious occasion is a new expression of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. Victory to Siyavar Shri Ramachandra!' 'Today, in the holy birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya Dham, we are getting the great fortune of becoming a witness to the programme organised for the Pran-Pratishtha of the holy idols of gods in the eight temples including Shri Ram Darbar on the first floor of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple,' he said. The inauguration of the temple in January 2024 had marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign, mostly under the Hindutva banner, to reclaim a disputed religious site in Ayodhya. It was months before the Lok Sabha elections and 34 years after BJP veteran L K Advani's 'Mandir Wahin Banayenge' speech during his Rath yatra that shaped Ram mandir politics. The 16th century Babri mosque at the spot where many Hindu devotees believe is the place where Ram was born was the centre of a simmering dispute for decades. The mosque was demolished by 'kar sewaks' on December 6, 1992, triggering communal riots that left hundreds dead. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court in 2019 ruled in favour of the construction of the temple. It also ordered allotment of a five-acre plot for building a mosque. The scrapping of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, building a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code(UCC) have been BJP's poll plank for decades. PTI COR KIS JKY MAN DV MIN MIN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ram Temple moves towards completion, idol of 'Raja Ram' consecrated
The idol of Raja Ram was consecrated and the Ram Darbar inaugurated at the Ram Jamnabhoomi complex on Thursday, a major step towards completion of a grand temple that has been at the intersection of political and religious discourse for three decades. The city was festooned and lit up as priests gathered at the first floor of the Ram temple to install the almost five-feet white marbled statue of Raja Ram, the god in his royal form, amid the chanting of hymns and elaborate rituals. The Ram Darbar also features the idols of Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughn and Hanuman. The day, chosen to coincide with the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, comes 16 months after the consecration of Ram Lalla, the child god, on January 22, 2024. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top government brass and a host of celebrities were present at the high octane occasion then, the event this time was quieter. Among those conducting the ceremony today were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, along with other priests. Devotees, unmindful of curbs, stood outside the temple complex, singing, dancing and chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' all the while. Live Events Restrictions on vehicular movement during the inauguration ceremony by the administration and the temple trust's decision to not issue temple entry passes to visitors between 9 am to 3 pm on Thursday failed to deter the devotees, some who had come from as far as Nepal. Gogan Prasad, from Nepal's capital Kathmandu, was one such devotee. "I have waited for this moment for long. I had been praying for more than a year for an opportunity to have darshan of Lord Ram. Now that wish will be granted," said Prasad who had come from Nepal with a large group of devotees who also appeared overwhelmed on the occasion. Also in the crowd was Alamin, a Muslim woman dressed in a traditional black burqa, waiting along with the others to be allowed to enter the temple. She was seen singing devotional songs, drawing much attention. The BJP, which is in power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, said in a post on X, "The second festival of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha concluded today in Ayodhya. A step towards Ram Rajya." The ceremony took place during the Abhijit Muhurat, considered one of the most auspicious moments in the Hindu calendar. The consecration of the deities began with prayers at the 'yajna mandap' at 6.30 am, followed by a 'havan' at 9 am, which lasted an hour. Thereafter, centralised rituals began simultaneously across all temple shrines, aided by visual technology like cameras and large screens, ensuring synchronicity of the ceremonies. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, among the deities consecrated were Shri Ram Darbar (central installation), Sheshavatar, Lord Shiva in the northeast (Ishan) corner, Lord Ganesha in the southeast (Agni) corner, Lord Hanuman at the southern wing, Surya (Sun God) in the southwest (Nairitya) corner, Goddess Bhagwati in the northwest (Vayavya) corner and Goddess Annapurna in the northern wing. The temple, built in the traditional Nagara style, spans 360 feet in length, 235 feet in width, and rises 161 feet high. Spread across 2.77 acres, the three-storey structure features 392 carved pillars, 44 doors and richly sculpted depictions of Hindu deities. Ram Temple trustee Anil Mishra told PTI that the ceremonies were performed in accordance with Vedic traditions. "The day of Ganga Dussehra will symbolise a new beginning. It will be the moment when the fruits of centuries of penance, struggle, and faith will manifest in tangible form," he said. According to Hindu scriptures, Ganga Dussehra marks the day the holy river Ganga descended to Earth from Lord Shiva's locks, moved by King Bhagirath's penance. The day is considered highly auspicious and symbolises virtue, penance, and the collective well-being of humanity. "This year, Ganga Dussehra will not only be sacred but also historic, as after a long struggle of 500 years, Lord Ram, known as Raja Ram, will be ceremonially installed on the first floor of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya," Mahant Raghuvar Sharan, chief priest of Rasik Niwas Temple in Ayodhya, told PTI ahead of the event. Adityanath offered prayers at the Ram Temple and visited the Hanumangarhi temple nearby. Adding a political touch to the proceedings of the day, he said in a post on X, "This auspicious occasion is a new expression of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat'. Victory to Siyavar Shri Ramachandra!" "Today, in the holy birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya Dham, we are getting the great fortune of becoming a witness to the programme organised for the Pran-Pratishtha of the holy idols of gods in the eight temples including Shri Ram Darbar on the first floor of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple," he said. The inauguration of the temple in January 2024 had marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign, mostly under the Hindutva banner, to reclaim a disputed religious site in Ayodhya. It was months before the Lok Sabha elections and 34 years after BJP veteran L K Advani's 'Mandir Wahin Banayenge' speech during his Rath yatra that shaped Ram mandir politics. The 16th century Babri mosque at the spot where many Hindu devotees believe is the place where Ram was born was the centre of a simmering dispute for decades. The mosque was demolished by 'kar sewaks' on December 6, 1992, triggering communal riots that left hundreds dead. After a long legal battle, the Supreme Court in 2019 ruled in favour of the construction of the temple. It also ordered allotment of a five-acre plot for building a mosque. The scrapping of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, building a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code(UCC) have been BJP's poll plank for decades.
