Mumbai, May 19: Amid the BJP’s Tiranga Yatra across the country and similar mobilisation by some opposition parties, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday said that as India and Pakistan have agreed on a ceasefire for the time being, restraint should be exercised in celebrations in honour of those heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

MNS leader Amit Thackeray has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi that there is a need to refrain from celebrating victory and exercise restraint during this time as a true tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.

In a two-page letter, Amit Thackeray, who is the son of MNS founder Raj Thackeray, said, “Even today, the countrymen have faith that you are sensitive and grateful towards the contribution of the soldiers. And therefore, through this letter, I sincerely request that until the outcome of the war is clear, we should refrain from celebrating victory and exercise restraint during this time as a true tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country. We have faith in our decisive leadership and hope that we will take these sentiments into account.”

“Even though a ceasefire has been declared for the time being, it is difficult to trust Pakistan completely given its history. It has failed on such occasions many times before. Therefore, keeping the citizens aware of such situations, guiding them about what to do in a war-like situation and preparing them mentally should also be an important part of the government’s policy,” he said.

He said that due to the current situation on the border, the attention of the public has been completely focused on our Indian Army. “The courage, discipline, dedication and sacrifice shown by our brave soldiers in ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a source of pride and glory for the entire country. The Indian Army has made its place in the hearts of the entire country with its bravery. Today, the work of the soldiers is being saluted from every home, crossroad and social media of the country. The country watches every step of the army with love and pride. It is because of their unparalleled bravery that we are safe, and that is why their work is greater than any honour,” said Amit Thackeray.

“Against this backdrop, there is emotional confusion in society over the initiatives currently being implemented in some places as symbols of victory. This is not a time to celebrate victory when the ceasefire has been announced. And so, celebrations during the same period in which our brave soldiers lost their lives are heartbreaking for many. If there is something to express at this time, it is the sacrifice of our soldiers, their stories of bravery and the unparalleled courage of their families. But the joyous displays or ‘Vijay Rally’ (mainly of a political nature) currently taking place in some places do not seem appropriate. In fact, there is only one feeling in the hearts of the countrymen at this time, the need for long-term welfare measures for the families of martyred soldiers, and as a society, we need to be more sensitive towards this sacrifice,” he remarked.

“Additionally, given the current situation, there is still uncertainty about some important issues in the country. For instance, the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, is still fresh in people’s minds. The genuine public sentiment is for a strong and decisive action against those brutal extremists. Moreover, some of our civilians and soldiers have lost their precious lives on the India-Pakistan border in the last few days. In such a backdrop, instead of celebrating the victory, it would be more appropriate to create literacy, awareness and sensitisation in the society in this regard,” he said.

“Under your leadership, the country has made decisive progress on many important milestones. Thank you for the tough but necessary decisions you have taken, especially with regard to national security, which have been vital to the national interest,” he concluded.

Srinagar, May 19: Two terror associates were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district, said police on Monday, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

Police in Shopian district said on X, “In a notable operation against terrorism a joint naka comprising SOG Shopian,CRPF 178 BN & 34 RR two suspected persons arrested. Upon their search 04 hand grenades, 02 pistols, 43 live rounds & other incriminating materials recovered & accordingly an FIR registered.”

Joint forces have started aggressive operations against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and their sympathisers across the union territory.

These operations are jointly carried out by the army, police and the security forces.

Last week, six terrorists were killed in two back-to-back operations in Shopian and Pulwama districts.

The slain terrorists included the operational commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The LeT terrorists on April 22 killed 26 civilians, including a local, in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam after segregating them on the basis of religion.

This was followed by precision-guided targeted strikes at terrorists’ headquarters by the Indian armed forces deep inside Pakistan, including Muridke near Lahore, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Pakistan reacted by indiscriminate mortar shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Over 200 houses and shops were destroyed in Pakistan’s mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts.

Hundreds of border residents were forced to abandon their homes, livestock and agricultural fields.

These civilians are yet to fully return to their villages as the security forces are still defusing unexploded mortar shells in the border villages.

On May 12, the DGMOs of the two countries agreed to a ceasefire after which guns on both sides fell silent.

The ceasefire is holding well, although India has made it clear that the understanding will last only as long as Pakistan does not allow terrorist activity against India from its soil.

New Delhi, May 19: The Allahabad High Court is set to pronounce its verdict in the ongoing dispute between Jama Masjid and Harihar Mandir in Sambhal district on Monday. The High Court will give its judgement on the civil revision petition filed by the mosque committee.

The verdict will be delivered at 2 p.m. by a single bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal.

The case centres around a civil revision petition filed by the Jama Masjid Management Committee, challenging the maintainability of a suit that led to a survey order by the Sambhal Civil Court.

The committee is contesting the lower court’s decision dated November 19, 2024, which directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), along with an Advocate Commissioner, to conduct a survey of the mosque premises.

Following the civil court’s order, a preliminary survey was initiated on the same day, November 19, and continued on November 24. However, the situation escalated during the second round of the survey, resulting in violence that left four people dead. Subsequently, the civil court had ordered the submission of the survey report by November 29.

In response, the mosque committee approached the Allahabad High Court, which held its first hearing on January 8, 2025. On the same day, the court issued an interim stay on the civil court’s survey directive and also stayed proceedings in the original suit pending before the lower court.

The case has since seen around 15 hearings, with final arguments concluding on May 13. The High Court had then reserved its judgment, after concluding hearing in the matter.

Earlier, on March 12, the High Court partially accepted the mosque committee’s plea to allow painting and maintenance work on the outer walls of the mosque during the month of Ramadan, directing the ASI to supervise the process.

The original suit in the civil court was filed by senior Supreme Court advocate Harishankar Jain and seven others, who claimed that the Jama Masjid was constructed over a pre-existing Harihar Temple. The plaintiffs have sought the right to worship at what they claim is the original temple site.