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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.

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241 dead, one survivor as Air India Dreamliner crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad: Air India

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New Delhi, June 13: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.

The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.

The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.

Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”

The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.

The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.

Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.

Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.

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Plastic nurdle spill from sunken cargo ship reaches TN’s Dhanushkodi sanctuary, raising alarm

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Chennai, June 10: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.

The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.

The ship’s cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk.

Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds — including Greater and Lesser Flamingos — and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.

The nurdles — tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing — resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards.

About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village.

Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis.

Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “We’ve identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris.”

He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway.

The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries.

Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains.

Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles’ buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics.

With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens.

Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India’s most critical marine ecosystems.

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Eight Punjab and Haryana HC judges take lead to boost Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack

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Srinagar, June 9: To give a boost to Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack, eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are visiting the valley along with their families.

The visit of the legal personalities along with their families carries a powerful message for the revival of tourism in Kashmir, which got shattered after the Pahalgam terror attack.

On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists of Lashkar-e-Kashmir (LeT) killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner.

The pony owner sacrificed his life while trying to protect the tourists from the bullets of the terrorists.

The terror attack caused outrage in the entire country, and to avenge the killings of innocent civilians, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

In retaliation for India’s attack on terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

Eighteen civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling, 13 of them in Poonch district, in addition to the destruction of scores of homes, shops, a temple, a mosque, a church and a Gurudwara.

The itinerary of the visiting high court judges includes visits to the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Shikara rides on the Dal Lake, a visit to the historic Pari Mahal and buying a few handicrafts at the local market.

There could be no better omen for the revival of tourism in Kashmir than the decision of the honourable justices of the High Court to come here along with their families.

Coinciding with the visit of these dignitaries, local tour and travel operators and hotel owners are reporting a gradual rise in the tourist bookings that had virtually stopped after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Tour and travel operators and others connected with the tourist industry have expressed hope that the visit by the most respected legal dignitaries, like the high court judges, will restore confidence among visitors, both domestic and foreign, that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination.

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