Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the BJP, accusing it of betraying Hindus by allegedly embezzling donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He vowed to lead protests for "BJP-mukt Ram" and questioned the BJP's Hindutva, calling it a "Pakistan Janata Party" for its alleged party-splitting tactics and questioning citizenship. Thackeray also targeted rebel MPs, including Sanjay Deshmukh, for their defection.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said the alleged embezzlement of donations to the Ram Temple at Ayodhya has pained devotees, but stressed strict action will be taken against those found guilty in the case.
The Indian government and opposition are preparing for a contentious Monsoon Session of Parliament, with key issues including the Constitution Amendment Bill on delimitation and women's reservation, the alleged NEET paper leak, and a row over Ram temple donations set to spark heated debates.
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumously, to the personnel of the defence forces and central armed police forces on the eve of 80th Independence Day.
MNS president Raj Thackeray has alleged that Rs 18 crore is siphoned off annually from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple and Rs 1,400 crore was stolen from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He demanded PM Modi address the issue, while the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust chairman confirmed arrests and increased income post-theft.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government has questioned Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and administrator Gopal Rao regarding allegations of donation money theft and financial mismanagement at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut has made significant claims regarding potential political shifts, suggesting Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis might move to the Centre, paving the way for a new BJP chief minister in the state. Raut also announced a 'Ram Raksha Andolan' protest in Nagpur against alleged embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram temple and commented on delimitation and activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the repeated disruptions of parliamentary proceedings, stating that due to the turmoil in the House, the country has been unable to listen to the talented MPs elected in recent times.
A heated exchange occurred in the Maharashtra assembly between Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray regarding the "act of God" defence for heavy rains and related incidents. The debate escalated to include climate change and alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple, leading to a brief adjournment.
An all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Sunday saw the entire opposition staging a symbolic walkout over the invitation to rebel Trinamool Congress MPs and a demand for a discussion on the issues of Ram temple donation 'theft', NEET paper leak and mixing of ethanol in petrol.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has demanded the immediate disqualification of six party MPs who defected to the Eknath Shinde-led camp, alleging a larger political conspiracy. He accused the BJP of exploiting the Ram Mandir issue and systematically sidelining its own state leaders, while also questioning the rebel MPs' motives and wealth.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to discuss resolving the persistent deadlock in the Lok Sabha's monsoon session, focusing on the Delimitation Bill and FCRA Bill, though no immediate commitment was secured from the Congress leader.
Major bills, including those on women's reservation, delimitation, and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), face an uncertain future in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament due to persistent opposition protests and a lack of consensus.
A Mangalore court on Friday declined bail to Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, who was arrested in connection with Saturday's attack on a group of women in a local pub.The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC)-II K S Vijay sent Muthalik in police custody till Saturday. The Sri Ram Sena leader has been arrested in connection with Saturday's attack on a pub by the activists of his outfit, who thrashed women and others in an act of moral policing.
While most members do not seem to be apologetic about the incident, the Bajrang Dal reacted strongly to the attack. Karnataka Bajrang Dal chief Mahendra Kumar told rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa that the protest by the Shri Ram Sena was indecent and added that the outfit does not have the backing of the Sangh Parivar.
Sri Rama Sena founder Pramod Muthalik, re-arrested on Saturday after being granted bail in the January 24 pub Mangalore pub attack case, has been hospitalised.Earlier, speaking to PTI, he said he would not bother even if 1,000 cases were filed against him as he has been fighting for the cause of Hinduism. Muthalik is to be produced at a court in Virajpet in Madikeri on Monday for making a provocative speech at Gonikoppal in December 2003.
'The BJP has all the instruments with them and they do have a sense of purpose, so I don't think there will be a challenge.'
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation, alleging that orders to use force against students during the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march over the NEET exam paper leak must have come from Shah himself. Dipke also criticised the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister and dismissed Yoga guru Ramdev's comments on Gen Z.
The Shri Ram Sena is sticking to its guns that it will not permit Valentine's Day celebrations and also warning that they will keep a watch on the kind of clothes women wear. Founder Pramod Muthalik however added that their protests would be peaceful.
Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike has entered its 20th day, with doctors warning of his critical health condition. Despite this, Wangchuk is resolute in his call for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the Monsoon Session's opening, to protest alleged examination irregularities and demand the Union education minister's resignation.
An employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has been suspended following a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the management of donations at Badrinath Dham. Both the BKTC and the Uttarakhand government have launched separate investigations into the matter, which gained attention after social media allegations and a formal complaint. The government committee is expected to submit its report within 15 days.
Long before Alpha, Bollywood had been retelling the Ramayana in modern settings, sometimes subtly and sometimes not so subtly.
Ideology is dead; long live the numbers game that is being played with the sole intention of securing a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha for the NDA, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
Muthalik had expressed his desire to set up base in Goa on the ground that the culture there was becoming extremely westernised. He had said there was a need to change this culture and hence, would be setting up Shri Ram Sena offices in Goa.
A strong demand was made in the Rajya Sabha today to proscribe organisations like the Sri Ram Sene, which have been indulging in moral policing in Karnataka and threatened to disrupt the Valentine's Day celebrations.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has sensationally claimed a major split is imminent within the Samajwadi Party, with many leaders reportedly ready to defect to the BJP, a claim vehemently denied by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
'Earlier, people used to hand money directly to priests after a ritual, and priests would keep it in their own pockets. We completely stopped that practice.'
Unfazed by the outrage over its attack on a Mangalore pub, the self-styled moral brigade of the Sri Ram Sena on Thursday threatened to forcibly "marry off" couples dating in public on Valentine's Day. Sena founder Pramod Muthalik said that his activists would hold protests at hotels, hostels and colleges where Valentine's Day celebrations are held.
'Our leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, are in touch with all Opposition parties, including the DMK and the AAP.'
Condemning the activities of the outfit, he said: "No organisation can become a self-styled police force. That cannot be allowed. Sena had already crossed limits. They cannot say what one should wear, one should eat or to where one should go." Asked if the Centre could impose ban on the outfit, he said: "Let us see what the Karnataka government is doing. We expect Chief Minister Yeddiyurappa to take firm action against them as promised."
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's health is rapidly deteriorating on his 17th day of hunger strike, prompting widespread appeals from prominent political figures and Bollywood celebrities for him to end his fast and for the government to address the urgent demands for NEET examination reforms.
A caste recalibration is simmering just below the surface in UP.
Shri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik was on Monday granted bail by a court in Virajpet in connection with a case filed against him for making 'a provocative' speech during December 2003. Granting the bail, Principal Sessions Judge R Ashok directed Muthalik to furnish a bond for Rs one lakh and a surety of the sum. M B Nanaiah, the counsel for Muthalik, urged the court to grant bail to his client. The case was filed against Muthalik for allegedly making a provocative speech.
Two members of the Mumbai ATS -- Inspector Vakhade and Assistant Inspector Sayyad -- had arrived in Mangalore city on Friday to interrogate Muthalik. The decision to interrogate Muthalik was taken following the statements of Lt Colonel Purohit (Malegaon blast prime accused). "I don't think the ATS has anything against me," he told media persons outside the court, adding, "I also don't think I will be arrested."
Continuing their crackdown against those responsible for the attack on a pub in Mangalore, Karnataka, the state police have picked up Prasad Attavar, the convenor of the Sri Ram Sena. Attavar was arrested along with Lohith, another member of the outfit.
'The Sena's policy is not to attack women. It was just a protest and in a group when people protest, at times, things are bound to go wrong,' says Sri Ram Sena chief Prasad Attavar.
The Sri Ram Sena, which hit the headlines after its activists attacked girls in a pub in Mangalore recently, on Saturday said that false allegations were leveled against the outfit about its involvement in the alleged abduction of the daughter of a Kerala Member of Legislative Assembly on Friday night.
Recent BJP organisational moves and Rajya Sabha nominations have sparked speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon undertake a ministerial reshuffle.
Bharat Tiwari, a self-proclaimed social worker, was shot by an STF team after he surrendered near his Bilauti village but succumbed to injuries few hours later on June 17.
The Shri Ram Sena has called off its proposed protests against Valentine's Day protests in Bengaluru. Sena founder Pramod Muthalik said that the decision to call off the protests was taken after they received specific information that some miscreants were planning to disrupt peace.
