New Delhi, Jan 4: The ceremonial chadar sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah marking the 813th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (R.A), the revered Sufi saint, will reach the dargah on Saturday. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju will present the chadar at the shrine during a ceremony at 11 am.

Ahead of the Ajmer ceremony, Kiren Rijiju visited the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (R.A) in New Delhi on Friday to pay his respects.

Minister Kiren Rijiju, who will arrive at the Jaipur airport on Saturday morning, will travel to Ajmer by road for the event. Alongside the chadar offering, Kiren Rijiju is set to launch the official web portal of the Dargah Sharif and a new mobile app, ‘Gareeb Nawaz,’ which is aimed at enhancing convenience for devotees and improving coordination during the Urs celebrations.

The Urs of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz draws millions of devotees from across the globe every year, commemorating the saint’s death anniversary.

The offering of the chadar at the Mazar-e-Akhdas is regarded as a powerful act of worship, symbolising devotion and bringing blessings to those who partake in it.

This marks the 11th consecutive year of Prime Minister Modi offering a chadar at the shrine ever since he took office in 2014. Last year, the chadar was presented by then Union Minister Smriti Irani and a delegation representing the Muslim community that accompanied her.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X on Thursday, “PM Narendra Modi presented the Chadar that would be offered on his behalf at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (R.A).”

Syed Naseruddin Chishti, the successor to the Ajmer Dargah chief and the Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, welcomed the move and highlighted the Prime Minister’s commitment to the ideals of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Samman (solidarity, development, trust, and respect for all).’

“This tradition, dating back to 1947, has been upheld by every Prime Minister of the country,” Chishti said.

“Since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently sent a chadar as a mark of devotion and respect. This reflects India’s deep-rooted culture of honouring all religions, communities, and Sufi saints.”

Ajmer Sharif Dargah remains one of India’s most significant Sufi shrines, attracting pilgrims from across the world.

This year’s celebrations marking the 813th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti aim to honour the legacy of the Sufi saint while ensuring a smoother experience for attendees with the introduction of modern digital platforms.

Patna, Jan 3: The agitation for the re-conduct of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Preliminary Test (PT) gained significant momentum on Friday as protests erupted across Bihar, drawing widespread participation from students’ unions, political parties, and activists.

The protest saw dramatic scenes in Patna as students broke barricades at the JP roundabout in Gandhi Maidan and marched towards Dak Bungalow Chowk, aiming to proceed to the Chief Minister’s residence.

Members of the CPI-ML, Congress, and All India Students Union (AISU) joined the students, amplifying the demand for justice.

Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, a vocal supporter of the movement, led a separate protest by blocking railway operations at Sachiwalay Halt earlier in the day.

Rajesh Ranjan and his supporters then marched to the Income Tax roundabout, intending to block Bailey Road and Veerchand Patel Path.

Rajesh Ranjan’s aide, Raju Danveer, reinforced their determination to disrupt the BPSC examination scheduled for January 4, stating, “We went to the Income Tax roundabout to block the road. The examination scheduled for tomorrow will be disrupted. Protests will be held near the examination centres. We will ensure a re-examination at any cost.”

The statewide protest has drawn support from diverse groups, including political workers who marched alongside students to demand accountability from the BPSC and the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.

Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh criticised the state government for its inaction, stating, “The agitation has been going on for 17 days, but the government has not resolved this issue. Evidence of irregularities has been presented. Instead of addressing the issue, the government resorts to lathi charges on the aspirants. We aim to make this deaf and dumb government aware of the issues faced by the youth.”

CPI-ML MLA Ajit Kushwaha also joined the protests, condemning the alleged irregularities as anti-democratic.

He emphasised the historical strength of Bihar’s movements against oppressive measures, saying: “Attempts to suppress the voices of Bihar with sticks and force have always failed. We will confront the Chief Minister to demand justice for the youth.”

Supporters of Rajesh Ranjan intensified their protests by blocking major roads and railway routes in Bihar.

The demonstrators blocked the Muzaffarpur-Barauni Highway near Khabra Shiv Temple, causing long traffic jams.

In Bhojpur (Ara), protesters set tyres on fire on the Ara-Sasaram Highway near Dhobi Ghatwa turn, bringing traffic to a standstill.

In Purnea, protestors disrupted National Highways, State Highways, and rail operations, crippling transportation in the region.

In Gaya, the demonstrators blocked the Manpur-Wazirganj main road, with slogans raised in support of BPSC candidates.

The protests have resulted in widespread disruption, including lengthy vehicle queues and halted railway services.

Protesters continue to demand the cancellation of the examination and emphasise the importance of transparency in the recruitment process.

New Delhi, Jan 3: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the acquittal of controversial self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of the Dera Sacha Sauda in the Ranjit Singh murder case.

A bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar directed to tag the CBI’s special leave petition with another pending petition filed by a family member of the deceased against the acquittal of Ram Rahim and four other accused.

In September 2024, a bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and S.C. Sharma agreed to examine a plea filed by the complainant Jasgeer Singh and sought responses from the CBI, Ram Rahim and the other accused persons.

In May last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the appeals moved by Ram Rahim and others who were convicted by a CBI court in Panchkula in 2021.

A bench of Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Lalit Batra of the high court acquitted Avtar Singh, Jasbir Singh, Sabdil Singh, and Krishan Lal, all of whom were awarded life sentences along with the self-styled godman.

Despite the acquittal, Ram Rahim remained in prison as he stood convicted in other cases of rape and murder. Former Dera manager Ranjit Singh was shot by four assailants on July 10, 2002, at Khanpur Kolian village in Haryana’s Kurukshetra.

In 2021, a special CBI court found Ram Rahim and others guilty of the murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment. It was suspected that Ranjit Singh was murdered because of his alleged role in circulating a letter that narrated how the sect head was sexually exploiting women at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.

Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati later used the same letter in a news report. He was killed soon after the report was published. Ram Rahim was also convicted on the charges of murdering the journalist.