Tag: Indian politics

  • Ayodhya gears up for historic Ram Mandir consecration

    The Ram idol will be consecrated on Monday (today), marking the beginning of the opening of the temple in Ayodhya at the birth site of the deity in a watershed moment for the Ram-janmbhoomi movement, Indian politics and history.

    A day before the event, Ayodhya was marked with festive anticipation and revelry by devotees, with men in fatigues from the state police force, CRPF and Rapid Action Force spread across the town in varying intensities. Lata Chowk and the road leading to the Hanumangari temple witnessed the thickest crowds of devotees. The road leading to the Ram temple was cordoned off.

    Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: Catch all the live action hereOn January 22, outsiders will not be allowed inside the town, unless they are attendees or have valid permissions.

    At the temple, marking the sixth day of pre-rituals, the idol of Ram Lalla was bathed in water from 114 kalash (urns).

    The idol was bathed with medicated water and water brought from various pilgrimage sites from India. The consecration on Monday will be carried out by PM Narendra Modi.

    The muhurat for the ritual on Monday is between 12:29:8 pm to 12:30:32 pm, leaving 84 seconds for the consecration. From about 10 am in the morning for over two hours until the muhurat, a ‘Mangal Dhwani’ (Divine Melody) will be played in the temple courtyard. “In our Indian tradition, on any auspicious festival, a ritual of mangal dhwani or playing traditional music before God has been laid down. In this context, the consecration of Lord Ram is a once-in-a-century moment of pride for every Indian and we will be playing instruments from all regions and states of the country,” Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra said.

  • Milind Deora resignation: Milind Deora resigns from Congress, ends family’s 55-year relationship with party

    Milind Deora, former Union minister, has officially tendered his resignation from the Congress party. In a statement, he expressed his decision to bring an end to his family’s 55-year-long association with the party.

    In a post shared on X, Deora announced, “Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party.”

    — milinddeora (@milinddeora) Milind Deora on joining Eknath Shinde Earlier on Saturday, Deora dismissed the speculation that he was on his way out and would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as “rumours”.

    Deora, who recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the Shiv Sena (UBT) claiming the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency publicly, informed reporters that he is currently engaged in discussions with his supporters.

    The group led by Uddhav Thackeray had asserted its right to contest the Mumbai South constituency in the upcoming general elections, a constituency previously represented by Deora before 2014. This move has not been well-received by the Congress leader.

    In a video statement released last Sunday, Deora stated that if such declarations from an “alliance partner” persist, his party may also announce candidates for various seats.It’s worth noting that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.Deora emphasized that formal discussions regarding the allocation of seats are yet to be concluded, and until then, no one should make premature claims or counter-claims.

    The son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, Deora secured victory in the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. However, in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019, he finished as the first runner-up against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant.