The Supreme Court issued a scathing rebuke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his inflammatory statements regarding the use of animal fat in the preparation of Tirupathi laddus during the previous YSRCP regime. The Court criticized Mr. Naidu for rushing to the media without any proof and impacting the religious sentiments of crores of people. It also noted that the ongoing investigation has not found any evidence of contamination in the laddus.
Supreme Court Rebukes Andhra Pradesh CM over Religious Sentiments
Background
In June 2022, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged that animal fat was used in the preparation of Tirupathi laddus during the previous YSRCP regime. These laddus are a popular offering to Lord Venkateswara in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (Tirupati).
Naidu's claims sparked outrage among Hindu devotees and raised concerns about the sanctity of the temple. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, denied the allegations and filed a defamation case against Naidu.
Supreme Court Rebuke
On July 1, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a scathing rebuke to Naidu for his inflammatory statements. The Court criticized him for:
The Court also noted that the ongoing investigation into the matter had not found any evidence to support Naidu's claims.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Tirupathi laddus? Tirupathi laddus are a sacred offering to Lord Venkateswara in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. They are made from chickpea flour, sugar, and ghee, and are considered prasadam (food blessed by a deity).
2. Why did Naidu make the allegations? Naidu claimed that he was trying to protect the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees and expose any wrongdoing in the TTD. However, his opponents allege that his motivations were political, as he was facing elections in Andhra Pradesh.
3. What is the current status of the investigation? The Andhra Pradesh Food Safety and Standards Authority (APFSSA) is conducting an investigation into the matter. So far, no evidence of contamination in the laddus has been found.
4. What is the punishment for making false allegations against a religious institution? Making false allegations against a religious institution can lead to criminal charges under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. The punishment for this offense can range from imprisonment up to three years and a fine.
5. What is the expected impact of the Supreme Court's rebuke? The Supreme Court's rebuke is likely to deter future attempts to make inflammatory statements about religious institutions without evidence. It also sends a strong message that religious sentiments should be respected.
Aaditya and Amit Thackeray, political cousins in Maharashtra, have had varied outcomes in the latest assembly elections. While Aaditya managed to win a second term with thanks to his uncle's influence, Amit lost out on his maiden polls and can attribute some of the loss to his own uncle's decision. This highlights the complicated family politics at play in India and the impact it has on election results. The strongholds of Worli and Mahim saw three-way contests, with the MNS's entry proving to be a game-changer. The close margins highlight that a direct face-off between Aaditya and rival Milind Deora or between Mahesh Sawant and Eknath Shinde Sena can produce different results.
In a historic victory, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his party registered a stunning win in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, securing 56 out of the 81 seats. Their landslide victory was attributed to the popularity of schemes like Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, which provided financial assistance to rural women voters. Soren, who faced corruption charges and was released on bail, has vowed to transform the state into a "golden Jharkhand" and continue with the coalition government.
The Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024 are in, and the incumbent Mahayuti alliance, led by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, is poised for another victory. With a lead over the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the Mahayuti looks set for a landslide win. Follow WION's website for the latest coverage on the election, and read on to find out what Prime Minister Modi has to say about the NDA's victory.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Priyanka Gandhi secured a convincing victory in the Wayanad constituency, surpassing her brother Rahul Gandhi's victory margin in the same seat earlier that year. Despite attempts by rivals to discredit Rahul, Priyanka's victory felt like an "annihilation" for them. This victory shows the unwavering support for the Gandhi family in Wayanad and their dominance in Indian politics.
In the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Congress-NCP alliance leads in almost 80% of the seats, while the MNS party fails to secure even a single seat. NDA also wins big in Assembly bye-elections, with Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal. The Indian media's coverage of the violence in Canada has raised questions about its alignment with Hindutva ideology.
The Mahayuti party has secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra's assembly elections, winning two-thirds of the seats. In a joint press conference, CM Eknath Shinde took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray's government, saying that a government cannot work through Facebook. The CM also highlighted the party's achievements in the past 2.5 years, including the completion of important projects that were halted by the MVA. NCP leader Ajit Pawar credited the party's victory to the "Ladki Bahin" scheme, which proved to be a gamechanger. The opposition's calls for using ballot paper in elections were slammed by Pawar, who pointed out their changing stance based on their own interests.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has responded to Congress' claims of EVM irregularities in Jharkhand by calling out their inconsistent stance on the matter. He highlighted the party's tendency to only question the integrity of the EVM process when the results aren't favorable to them. Shinde also reaffirmed the public's support for Shiv Sena's win in the recent elections.
According to the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is leading in 217 seats out of 288, almost halfway through the counting process. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi appears to be struggling, with only 50 seats in their favor. BJP leader Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala has already been declared as the winner in the first result announced. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at BJP headquarters to celebrate the party's victory, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressing confidence in their ability to form a government. BJP leader Pankaja Munde stated that the public's rejection of fake narratives and acceptance of the politics of development has led to a significant victory for the Mahayuti alliance.
With the Jhunjhunu bypoll results set to be announced on November 23, 2024, the race is on to see who will be elected as the next Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from this important Assembly constituency in Rajasthan. With a total of 11 candidates in the fray, including big names from major political parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the stakes are high. In the previous election, INC's Brijendra Singh Ola emerged victorious, but with many new candidates vying for the seat, it remains to be seen who will come out on top in 2024. Stay updated with live result updates on the day of the bypoll to find out who will win and who will lose.
Shiv Sena leader and CM Eknath Shinde has won the Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat by a huge margin, retaining his position after winning the seat in 2019. Shinde, who led a rebellion against Shiv Sena and joined forces with BJP to become CM, has a stronghold on his home turf Thane. In his victory speech, he expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his support and said his government will work for the common man.