The controversial Godman, Ram Rahim, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence for rape, has been granted a 30-day parole by the Haryana government. His release coincides with the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi, raising questions about the timing of the decision. Ram Rahim's parole last year before the Haryana assembly elections was also met with criticism. With a mass following in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, the parole has sparked a debate on the influence of religious leaders in politics. IBNS, an objective news agency, strives to provide factual and unbiased news without any biases or agendas.
The celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr was marred by a clash between two groups in a village in Haryana, leaving multiple people injured. The clash was a result of an old rivalry and was quickly brought under control by the police. Meanwhile, Bollywood celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, and Arjun Kapoor, took to social media to extend their heartfelt Eid greetings.
In his recent Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Haryana for securing the top spot in the 2025 Khelo India Para Games with 34 gold medals. The event also saw the breaking of 18 national records, with stellar performances by athletes like Jaspreet Kaur and Manish Kumar in Para Powerlifting. PM Modi highlighted a letter from gold medalist Joby Mathew, emphasizing the daily struggles faced by para athletes and encouraging nationwide fitness initiatives such as the Fit India Carnival.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is serving a 20-year sentence for rape, has been granted a 30-day parole by the Haryana government. This controversial decision comes ahead of the Delhi assembly elections on February 5. Ram Rahim, who has a mass following in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, was convicted in 2017 for raping two women. IBNS, a non-partisan news outlet, aims to provide objective and well-sourced news without any biases or prejudices.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini honored the birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas in New Delhi, by laying a floral tribute to his portrait at Haryana Bhawan. He acknowledged the relevance of Guru Ravidas's message of unity and brotherhood in today's world and highlighted the initiatives taken by the Haryana government to celebrate the birth anniversaries of esteemed saints and leaders. Chief Minister Saini also credited former CM Manohar Lal for fulfilling the teachings of Guru Ravidas through his government schemes and announced the construction of a memorial for the revered saint in Kurukshetra.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his three-day tour of Gujarat, visited Vantara animal rescue centre and will later visit Sasan, the headquarters of Gir National Park. He will also chair a meeting of Shree Somnath Trust, which manages the famous Somnath temple. Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, NC and Congress have convened separate meetings ahead of the first budget session in seven years, with expected tensions over the abrogation of Article 370. In Haryana, elections for various municipalities are scheduled to take place with the Congress urging for the use of ballot papers instead of EVMs.
In a swift move, the President appointed Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India, along with the appointment of Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi as the Election Commissioner. The decision was made after a meeting between the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, who expressed disapproval and gave a dissent note. This is the first time the appointment was made under the new CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023, which was implemented based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 to establish a Selection Committee for the appointment process. However, the Opposition has challenged the new law in the court and the next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
The controversy surrounding Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda sect, continues as he has been granted parole for the 12th time in the past four years. This time, he will spend 30 days out of prison and will first stay in his sect's dera in Sirsa for 10 days before heading to Uttar Pradesh. Despite being convicted for rape and murder, Ram Rahim remains influential in the region and has been patronized by political leaders and parties for decades. He was last granted 20 days of parole before the Haryana state elections and is currently serving his sentence at a high-security jail in Rohtak.
Leaders from various political parties extend greetings and honor the teachings of revered saint Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary. Observance of the occasion has led to the declaration of public holidays in several states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. The day is marked with messages of social harmony, brotherhood, and service to humanity, as exemplified by the teachings of Guru Ravidas.
Mumbai's Ranji Trophy team receives a major boost as India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Shivam Dube make themselves available for the quarter-final against Haryana. Despite Yadav's series of low scores in the ongoing T20Is against England, his presence will greatly benefit the team. The MCA has confirmed that the two players have informed them of their availability and the selection committee will soon meet to pick the squad. Both players have been busy with national duty but have previously played for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The quarter-finals are set to begin on February 8.