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With Ram Mandir nearing completion, BJP now targets Kashi, Mathura

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The upcoming year is expected to be crucial in issues of Kashi and Mathura, which have been influencing and heating up the political temperature of India since several decades.

After the issue of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and Kashi’s Gyanvapi reached the court, the possibility of quick resolution in these two disputes has increased.

In the 90s, the issue of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura completely changed the political and social atmosphere of the country.

By including one of the three – the construction of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in its manifesto, the BJP pushed other political parties to a dilemma that they have been stuck in till date.

The decision to openly support the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was taken by the BJP at a party convention in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in 1989, under the chairmanship of then National President, L.K. Advani.

Earlier, the movement for the construction of Ram Mandir was led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The political condition and direction of the country started changing rapidly after the BJP’s decision.

While the political power of the saffron party started increasing, the mobilisation of other political parties against it also intensified.

There was a time when all political parties except Akali Dal and Shiv Sena, isolated the BJP on account of the party steering the movement.

The decision, however, is also responsible behind the party’s dominance in the country’s politics today and the reason behind a major change in the political situation of the country.

The resolution of the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute was possible because of the Supreme Court’s decision and not because of political initiatives or talks by the leaders.

In 2019, by pronouncing its verdict, the Supreme Court legally cleared the way for the construction of the Ram Mandir.

The temple’s construction began in 2020, after Bhoomi Pujan performed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is said to be completed by the end of 2023.

Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, recently claimed that by December, 2023, the construction of the first floor will be completed.

Since the issues of Kashi’s Gyanvapi and Mathura’s Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi have reached the court, it is believed that like Ayodhya, the resolution of these will be passed by the court itself.

On December 24, the local court of Mathura directed officials to conduct a survey of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi on the lines of Kashi’s Gyanvapi and prepare a map to present.

Welcoming the direction of the Mathura court, VHP working President Alok Kumar, expressed hope of resolution of the dispute and said that the truth will be exposed in the survey, which will help the court to give a fair verdict.

Kumar said that the Mathura court ordered a survey of Krishna’s birthplace to be conducted, a map prepared and its report to be submitted in the next hearing.

A similar order was passed in Varanasi, which was challenged by the Intezamia committee.

The challenge was rejected by the High Court, after which the committee moved to the Supreme Court but to no avail, as it too, did not stop the survey from being conducted.

It is being said that taking lessons from the decades-long legal battle over the Ayodhya dispute and the atmosphere of communal tension prevailing in the country, both the court and the government are treading carefully and taking concrete steps this time.

It is also being expected that unlike the Ayodhya dispute, the case of Kashi and Mathura will not get entangled in the web of court hearings for decades, which is why 2023 is being considered important for the ongoing proceedings.

health

Centre committed to provide quality healthcare for workers, families: Union Minister

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New Delhi, Feb 22: The government is committed to providing quality healthcare services for workers and their families, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, said on Saturday, emphasising the welfare of workers.

Dr Mandaviya, who visited Chandigarh to review key institutions under the Ministry, said that data-driven decision-making is crucial for enhancing economic growth, governance and service delivery.

As part of his visit, the Union Minister toured the Labour Bureau and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Model Hospital, Chandigarh, assessing their ongoing initiatives and interacting with stakeholders.

At the Labour Bureau, he was apprised of the objectives, scope and status of various activities, including price indices, labour statistics and surveys.

Dr Mandaviya also took a review of the performance and initiatives of the EPFO Regional Offices under the Punjab & Himachal Pradesh Zone at the Labour Bureau.

The Union Minister highlighted that reforms in the IT system are continuously transforming the functioning of the EPFO.

Later, the Union Minister visited the ESIC Model Hospital in Chandigarh and toured the hospital facilities. He interacted with patients receiving treatment at the hospital and reaffirmed to them that the government is committed to providing quality healthcare services for workers and their families.

Earlier this week, Dr Mandaviya instructed officials to prioritise efficient medical service delivery and expedite the timely completion of hospital renovation and construction projects.

During his visit to ESIC Hospital in Mumbai, he interacted with patients and staff to understand their experiences and feedback on the services provided.

To improve efficiency and transparency, he directed officials to accelerate the digitisation of processes, including inspections, ensure better upkeep of laboratories, and maintain a strong focus on transparency in regulatory activities.

Meanwhile, the payroll data of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), released on Friday, show that as many as 17.01 lakh new employees were added in December 2024 while 20,360 new establishments were brought under the social security ambit of the ESI Scheme during the month, ensuring social security to more workers.

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National News

Congress accuses US Prez and BJP of misleading public on USAID funding, demands white paper

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New Delhi, Feb 22: The Congress party has intensified its attack on the BJP and US President Donald Trump, accusing both of brazenly lying about USAID funding to India. The party has demanded the release of a comprehensive white paper detailing all funds received by political parties, individuals, NGOs, and organisations from international developmental agencies, aid mechanisms, and multilateral forums.

The Congress emphasised that this white paper should not be limited to USAID funding alone but should encompass financial assistance from all foreign entities operating within the framework of Indian law.

In a sharp critique aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress urged him to address allegations made by President Trump, who had claimed that the US was preparing to provide $21 million to India to increase voter turnout. The Congress party said PM Modi should confront Trump directly and refute the “baseless” claims made by the US President.

“The RSS-BJP and their entire ecosystem are making wild allegations to bolster their fabricated narrative against credible civil society members, NGOs, and political parties. These actors must not only be named and shamed in public forums but also face legal action for spreading falsehoods and misleading the nation,” said Pawan Khera, Chairman of Media & Publicity (Communications Department), AICC at a press conference here on Saturday.

A report published by a leading Indian daily on Friday clarified that the $21 million in question was not directed toward India but was instead allocated to Bangladesh.

The Congress questioned the Modi government’s apparent ignorance of this development in a neighbouring country, asking, “If the funds were directed to Bangladesh, how can the Modi government remain unaware of such significant financial movements in the region? Does this not raise serious concerns about the government’s effectiveness in managing its neighbourhood policy?”

The party also dismissed the BJP’s claims regarding a 2012 agreement between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) — a member of the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) — as misleading.

“The IFES was engaged by the ECI to develop a curriculum on election management, not to influence elections in India,” Khera stated. “The course material developed by IFES was used not for domestic elections but to train electoral officials from across the world. The Election Commission itself highlights on its website that it has trained 69,362 election officials from 109 countries under this initiative.”

The Congress party’s demand for transparency and accountability on USAID funding in India has added fuel to the ongoing political slugfest between Congress and the BJP.

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Maharashtra

Maha minority panel to seek shorter working hours for Muslim staff during Ramzan

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Mumbai, Feb 22: After Telangana and Andhra Pradesh permitted Muslim government employees to leave offices early during the fasting month of Ramzan, similar demands are now being raised in Maharashtra and other states.

Maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan confirmed that the commission has received multiple applications requesting the state government to allow Muslim employees to leave work an hour early during Ramzan.

“We have received several requests from people asking for permission to leave offices an hour early during Ramzan. India is a great example of ‘Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb,’ where people from different communities live together in harmony,” Khan told media.

He added that he plans to present this demand to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through an official letter.

The demand follows orders issued by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, allowing Muslim employees, including teachers and contract workers, to leave work at 4 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m. from March 2 to March 30 to perform religious rituals.

“The government hereby permits all the employees who profess Islam, including teachers and persons hired on contract, out-sourcing basis, and Village/Ward Secretaries, to leave their offices/schools early by an hour before closing time on all working days during the Holy month of ‘Ramzan’ to perform necessary rituals,” read the Andhra Pradesh government order.

Similarly, the Telangana government order stated: “Government hereby permits all Muslim government employees/teachers/contract/out-sourcing/boards/corporations and public sector employees working in the state to leave their offices/schools at 4 p.m. during the holy month of Ramzan, i.e., from March 2 to 31, to offer necessary prayers, except when their presence is required due to exigencies of services.”

The demand is also gaining traction in Karnataka, where Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Vice Presidents M.R.M. Hussain and Syed Ahmad recently wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging the state government to grant Muslim employees a one-hour exemption from duty to facilitate prayers and iftar.

However, the Karnataka government has yet to make a decision on the request.

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