Four youth were arrested from Ochira in Kollam district on Thursday for allegedly sending provocative SMS messages to friends relating to the Ayodhya issue.
With just two days to go for the Ayodhya title suits verdict, social organisations and individuals are making peace appeals through SMS.
As a measure of abundant caution in the face of the Ayodhya verdict, the government on Wednesday banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for three days with immediate effect.The ministry of communications issued the order in consultation with the ministry of home affairs. The order has been issued to all mobile telecom service providers in the country for "banning all bulk SMSes and MMSes in all service areas with immediate effect for the next 72 hours".
Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's deferment of the Ayodhya verdict, the Centre has extends ban on bulk SMS-es till September 29 on all telecom networks.
The government on Thursday extended the ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes till Friday in view of the Ayodhya verdict on title suit. "We have decided to extend the ban by a day in consultation with the ministry of home affairs in the wake of the Ayodhya verdict, which is to be pronounced today," said a senior official. The government is apprehensive that some extreme elements may foment trouble by inciting communal passions during the period and is taking all measures.
After a respite for over a week, mobile users have started getting unsolicited messages on their phones from telemarketers, as the government lifted the ban on bulk SMS from last night.
Fireworks illuminated the evening sky, earthen lamps dotted houses and lights decked up buildings as people exchanged sweets and gifts on Diwali which also witnessed bonhomie between Indian and Pakistani guards at border posts.
Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated with traditional fervour across the country with people exchanging sweets and gifts with friends and relatives, decking up their houses with earthen diyas and tiny lights and illuminating the evening sky with fireworks.
Taking exception to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan not mentioning the death of healthcare workers due to Covid-19 in his statement in Parliament, the Indian Medical Association has published a list of 382 doctors who died due to the viral disease and demanded that they be treated as "martyrs".
'Charging that some main political parties are trying to "dangerously" disturb the communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday warned such forces of stringent action.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances