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Places of Worship Act: Centre yet to file counter affidavit, SC to hear petitions on Feb 17

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New Delhi, Feb 14: The Centre is yet to file its counter affidavit to a clutch of petitions pertaining to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, though the Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the pleas challenging the validity of the contentious law, which prohibits the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan will resume hearing the matter on February 17.

In an application filed before the apex court on January 21, the Committee of Management of Mathura’s Shahi Masjid Eidgah pleaded that the right of the Centre to file its reply in the matter should be closed. The application said that in an order passed on December 12, 2024, the apex court noticed that the Union government had not filed its reply to the petitions challenging the 1991 Act for over three years and directed that a common counter affidavit be filed by the Centre within four weeks.

The mosque committee said that the Union of India is “deliberately” not filing its counter affidavit with the intention to delay the hearing, and thereby, obstructing those who are opposing the challenge to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 in filing their respective written submissions, as the stand of the Centre would have a bearing on the same.

The Shahi Masjid Eidgah’s application contended that since the Supreme Court has fixed the date of hearing of the batch of petitions as February 17, “it would be in the interest of justice if the right of the Union of India to file its counter affidavit/ reply/pleadings/submissions is closed”.

In March 2021, a Bench headed by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) S.A. Bobde sought the Centre’s response to the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay challenging the validity of certain provisions of the law, prohibiting the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

The plea said, “The 1991 Act was enacted in the garb of ‘public order’, which is a State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-1) and ‘places of pilgrimages within India’ is also State subject (Schedule-7, List-II, Entry-7). So, the Centre can’t enact the Law. Moreover, Article 13(2) prohibits the State from making a law to take away fundamental rights but the 1991 Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, to restore their ‘places of worship and pilgrimages’, destroyed by barbaric invaders.”

It further added, “The Act excludes the birthplace of Lord Rama but includes the birthplace of Lord Krishna, though both are incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the creator and equally worshipped throughout the world, hence it is arbitrary.”

In an interim order passed on December 12, 2024, CJI Sanjiv Khanna-led Special Bench had ordered that no fresh suits would be registered under the Places of Worship Act in the country, and in the pending cases, no final or effective orders would be passed till further orders.

The CJI-Khanna bench had asked the Union government to file within four weeks its reply to the batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act (Special Provisions), 1991.

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Maha govt to take action against those insulting national heroes: CM Fadnavis

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Raigad Fort, April 12: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the state government will frame strict rules to take stern action against those who insult national heroes and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“Udayanraje made some demands, including severe punishment, to those insulting the national heroes and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Such people should be thrown from the fort. But being a democracy, the government will formulate rules,” said the Chief Minister while speaking at the Raigad Fort on the occasion of the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s descendants Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale and Shivendraraje Bhosale were also present.

The Chief Minister added that the government will not tolerate insults to national heroes and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

He also announced that the government will release the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

As far as the memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Chief Minister said the state government will pursue the legal case in the high court.

In his speech, the Chief Minister explained why Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our ‘god’.

“When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was there, there were Adilshahi, Mughal raj, Qutbshahi in the country. It seemed that the rule of foreign invaders would never end. It seemed that there was darkness everywhere. Then, with the blessings of the mother Jijau, a bright sun like Shivaji Maharaj was born. Without Shivaji Maharaj, we would be nothing,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that Shivaji Maharaj did the work of awakening the brilliance by uniting the people of the Athrapgad castes.

“By uniting the Mavlas, he established Hindavi Swarajya. Only because of Shivaji Maharaj did the saffron rule come to the whole of India,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government will seek the Union Home Minister’s help for the construction of a memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in New Delhi.

He further added that 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have been nominated as world heritage.

“Now there will be a presentation on it in France. The government will go there. Quite hopeful that these forts will get world heritage status,” he stated.

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His glory a golden chapter of history: CM Yogi salutes Rana Sanga on birth anniversary

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Lucknow, April 12: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday paid tributes to medieval Rajput ruler Rana Sanga on his birth anniversary, amid a political row sparked by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman’s controversial remarks in the Rajya Sabha.

“On the birth anniversary of the mighty Rana Sanga Ji, who was dedicated to the protection of religion, many salutes to him! His story of glory, a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice, is a golden chapter in history. His bravery will continue to irrigate the land of India with self-respect for centuries,” CM Yogi posted on X on Saturday.

The tribute comes in the backdrop of a controversy that erupted after Suman called Rana Sanga a “traitor” during a parliamentary debate. The remarks triggered widespread outrage, especially in Agra, where a large crowd gathered outside Suman’s residence. Members of the Karni Sena attempted to enter the MP’s house but were stopped by the police. A scuffle ensued, leading to injuries to a few people.

In his speech in Parliament, Ramji Lal Suman had stated that Rana Sanga had invited Mughal emperor Babur to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.

“BJP leaders often say that Muslims have Babur’s DNA. But the Muslims of India do not consider Babur as their ideal — they revere Prophet Mohammad,” he said, questioning, “Who brought Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga.”

The BJP demanded an apology from Suman, but the MP has stood by his statement.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, sought to calm tensions, saying, “The pages of history that carry controversy should not be reopened.”

Amid the controversy, the Karni Sena is holding a large event in Agra on Saturday to mark Rana Sanga’s birth anniversary. The rally, titled Rakt Swabhiman Sammelan, is expected to draw people from several states and will be attended by a number of prominent personalities.

Police have imposed tight security measures to maintain peace and order in the district.

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‘Should Hindus leave Bengal?’ asks Giriraj Singh, slams Mamata Banerjee govt over Murshidabad violence

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New Delhi, April 12: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday strongly condemned the recent violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, calling it a “heart-wrenching” incident that reflects the deteriorating law and order situation under the Mamata Banerjee-led government.

Addressing the media, Singh alleged that the Hindu community in Bengal is being systematically intimidated and forced to migrate from the state.

Commenting on the situation, Giriraj Singh said, “The incident in Murshidabad is showing that Hindus are being forced to leave Bengal. Mamata Banerjee should tell, should the Hindus of Bengal leave Bengal? This is the situation they have created.”

In a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Union Minister said, “I am saying again and again when the saviour becomes destroyer who will save? Mamata Banerjee is the chief of the government of Bengal. For her, the vote bank is not just Muslims. It is her responsibility to protect Hindus as well.”

The violence in Murshidabad, allegedly linked to a dispute over Waqf Board properties, has sparked political outrage, with the BJP accusing the Trinamool Congress government of minority appeasement and neglecting the safety of the majority Hindu population.

Singh further criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, alleging that he is attempting to replicate the situation in Bengal in Bihar by stating that he will abolish the Waqf (Amendment) Act when he comes to power.

“He has not even come to power yet, and the Hindus of Bihar are already being intimidated,” he alleged.

He added, “Tejashwi Yadav wants to bring the same chaos to Bihar. If this is your attitude, the people will never give you a chance to attack them. Who is the custodian of the Constitution? Everyone is a citizen. The government has the biggest responsibility.”

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