Amidst the recent reopening of a temple that has been locked since 1978 in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has brought attention to the district's history of communal violence. He stated that 209 Hindus have been killed since 1947, with 184 being killed in 1978 alone. Violent incidents have continued to occur in subsequent years, resulting in a decrease in the number of Hindus living in the area. Recently, three damaged idols were found in a well near the reopened temple, adding to tensions in the district.
In a heated debate in Parliament, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP government, accusing them of systematically dismantling the principles of equality and justice enshrined in the Constitution. He cited RSS ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's views to draw a parallel with the BJP's ideological goals, and used the story of Eklavya as a metaphor to criticize their policies. Gandhi also condemned the government for its handling of the Hathras gang rape case and the recent violence in Sambhal, calling for accountability.
As the Sambhal district administration in Uttar Pradesh was conducting a crackdown on electricity theft, they stumbled upon an encroached temple. Upon further inspection, an ancient well was also discovered near the temple that had been sealed for 42 years. The DM of Sambhal, Dr Rajender Pensiya, stated that they are now cleaning the temple and have constructed a ramp to access the well.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's planned visit to Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh faced hurdles from authorities as barricades were placed at the Ghazipur border to prevent their entry. This visit was seen as an attempt to uncover the conspiracy behind the November violence in the district. The Samajwadi Party criticised the visit and called it a mere formality, highlighting the lack of parliamentary discussion on the issue.
In this episode of our daily news show, we delve into the political career of Devendra Fadnavis and discuss what sets him apart as he takes on his third term as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Our in-house expert, Shubhangi Khapre from The Indian Express sheds light on his key achievements from his first term. Additionally, we explore the RSS's silence on the recent events in Sambhal and Ajmer, despite their vocal stance on other religious landmarks in the past. Finally, we provide an update on the stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2 and the tragic death of a woman.
The ongoing investigation into the recent communal clashes in Sambhal leads to a possible Pakistan connection and the UP Police have recovered ammunition manufactured by the Pakistan Ordnance Factory. As the violence is being investigated by a special investigation team, the UP government has decided to relaunch its controversial ‘naming and shaming’ campaign. This campaign will display names, recovery amounts, and photographs of suspects involved in the violence in public places. The tension in Sambhal began due to a crowd resisting a court-ordered survey of the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid, which was being investigated for allegedly being built atop a temple.
The leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, led a Congress delegation to Sambhal, where recent violence has claimed four lives. However, Gandhi was stopped at the district borders by police and administration officials citing prohibitory orders. Despite attempts to negotiate, Gandhi was not allowed to enter the district and returned back to Delhi. His sister and fellow Congress MP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, expressed disappointment at the denial of Gandhi's constitutional right to visit the site of the violence. This incident raises questions about the state of civil liberties and freedom of movement in the country.
The scheduled visit of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi to Sambhal led to a political row with the BJP and Opposition INDIA bloc trading accusations and chaotic scenes at the Ghazipur border. Congress workers defied barricades and engaged in a scuffle with commuters, causing major traffic congestion. Eventually, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were escorted to the Parliament in Delhi by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the police action and called for reflection on the future.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior party leaders, were stopped at the Ghazipur border while trying to enter Sambhal where prohibitory orders are currently in place. Heavy police force and barricades were put up in an attempt to prevent their entry into the district. This development comes amidst ongoing tensions and protests in the region over a controversial citizenship law.
The Supreme Court has directed the petitioners to approach the High Court over the dispute surrounding the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The court has also asked the trial court to refrain from taking any action until the case is heard and has urged the district administration to maintain peace in the area. This plea was moved by the management committee of the mosque, which is embroiled in a dispute with Hindus over a temple allegedly destroyed to build the mosque. The Supreme Court is currently hearing multiple petitions related to disputes over religious places in India.