BSP to go it alone in
Punjab, contest 117 seats

CHANDIGARH, June 25: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would go it alone in the coming Assembly elections in Punjab and field candidate in all 117 seats, party president Kanshi Ram said today. ....more

Direct Haj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah demanded

NEW DELHI, June 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has urged the Centre to start direct Haj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah Haj terminal as it ...more

VHP’s Ram Temple movement not eyeing polls: Shankaracharya

NEW DELHI, June 25: Kanchi Kamakoti Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati today justified the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) action plan for the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, saying it was "a rightful ...more

Qazi discusses
protocol arrangements

NEW DELHI, June 25: Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi today discussed protocol arrangements with the External Affairs Ministry for ....more

‘It will be very difficult
to disturb status quo
in Ayodhya ‘

NEW DELHI, June 25: Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Swami Jayendra Saraswati today said that it would be very difficult even for courts to ...more

‘Centre’s initial mistake
led to Manipur violence’

NEW DELHI, June 25: The recent violence and protests in Manipur and other north-eastern states was a fallout of the Centre’s "initial mistake" in ....more

Justice Liberhan declines plea of Ayodhya MP

NEW DELHI, June 25: The Liberhan Commission of inquiry on Babri structure demolition today declined the plea of BJP MP from Ayodhya Vinay .....more

Palkhi tradition - centuries old practice in Maharashtra

PUNE, June 25: Pandharpur, the famed pilgrimage centre in Maharashtra sacred to millions of devotees of Lord Vithoba, will come alive once again on. ....more



BSP to go it alone in Punjab, contest 117 seats

CHANDIGARH, June 25: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would go it alone in the coming Assembly elections in Punjab and field candidate in all 117 seats, party president Kanshi Ram said today.

"We will field candidates in all 117 constituencies and will come out with flying colours," he told reporters here.

However, he did not rule out "some adjustments" with expelled Akali Dal (Badal) leader Ravinder Singh, who "has emerged as a strong contender to be a Jat Chief Minister of Punjab.

"If we see Ravinder’s Jat votes would not guarantee him victory, we shall back him with ours," he said.

Ruling out any alliance with Parkash Singh Badal’s SAD(B), Kanshi Ram said his sole priority in Punjab today was to bring down the SAD(B)-BJP combine, which was guided by "Manuvadi thinking".

"My first target is Badal, then the Congress will automatically go away," he remarked, adding caste equations in the state stood more favourable for his party then even in Uttar Pradesh "where bsp is a deciding force today."

Ram said while he would be camping in Punjab, party secretary general Mayawati had been directed to "attend the affairs of Uttar Pradesh." (PTI)

Direct Haj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah demanded

NEW DELHI, June 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has urged the Centre to start direct Haj flights from Srinagar to Jeddah Haj terminal as it would give pilgrims some financial relief.

This issue was taken up by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Khursheed Ahmed Ganai with the Central Haj Committee.

Mr Ganai, who was here to attend the Annual Haj Conference, said that the Prime Minister has promised this to the State Government atleast two years back.

The Divisional Commissioner said that each pilgrim has to pay additional amount between Rs 7,000 to 10,000.

He also sought the help of the Government in tracing one Ghulam Nabi Bhat, who went missing in Saudi Arabia where he went to perform the Haj. His relatives are running from pillar to the post to get any information about his wherabouts.

Mr Ganai also sought increase in the Haj quote for the state from 2700 to 6500. (UNI)

VHP’s Ram Temple movement not eyeing polls: Shankaracharya

NEW DELHI, June 25: Kanchi Kamakoti Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati today justified the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) action plan for the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, saying it was "a rightful religious movement and not politically motivated".

Asked if the VHP’s actions were influenced by the fact that Assembly elections were due in Uttar Pradesh, the Shankaracharya replied in the negative.

"It is not related to politics and is a movement for religious rights. Nobody should tamper with their efforts and if the movement is stopped, then there is a danger to the stability of the state," he told reporters here.

He criticised the central BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, saying it had gone back on its ‘Swadeshi’ policy and was ‘selling’ the country to foreigners.

"The BJP has left ‘Swadesh’ for ‘Videsh’. Nobody is satisfied with them and the Government is wrongly calling in foreign companies.

"I totally resent this," the 69th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham said.

He demanded that the Government immediately put an end to the liberalisation process.

"The globalisation process is politically-influenced and should not be encouraged," Shankaracharya Jayendra said.

On his forthcoming visit to China, he said it was part of a cultural exchange programme.

"Six months back, some Chinese had come to India and were influenced by our culture and philosophy. They had invited me then after getting the required clearance from both Governments, I soon intend to go there," he said.

Asked if his visit would help ease Sino-India relations, Shankaracharya Jayendra said they would, "but only in the cultural and religious sphere." (UNI)

Qazi discusses protocol arrangements

NEW DELHI, June 25: Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi today discussed protocol arrangements with the External Affairs Ministry for the July 14-16 visit of president Pervez Musharraf, official sources said.

Qazi met chief of protocol Manbir Singh to fine tune the programme of President Musharraf who arrives here on the morning of July 14.

A Pakistani protocol and security team is expected to tour Delhi, Agra and Ajmer later this week to interact with their Indian counterparts to finalise the arrangements.

The team is also likely to include officials who would be dealing with media activities for the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit in Agra.

So far, the External Affairs Ministry has identified three five-star hotels in Agra for hosting the talks and the stay of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President Musharraf.

The hotels are Amar Vilas, Jaypee Palace and Mughal Sheraton and all the three, or at least two, may be venues for the meetings.

Officials of the protocol wing of the External Affairs Ministry had visited Agra last week and are expected to finalise the venues soon.

Musharraf is slated to spend the first day in the capital attending the ceremonial reception and banquet by President K R Narayanan besides visiting his ancestral home in old Delhi. He is likely to stay for the night at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He will fly to Agra the next morning and hold talks with Vajpayee followed by delegation level parleys. Vajpayee would be hosting another banquet for Musharraf there.

He is scheduled to leave for Ajmer Sharif after lunch before emplaning for Pakistan at around sundown. (PTI)

‘It will be very difficult to disturb status quo in Ayodhya ‘

NEW DELHI, June 25: Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Swami Jayendra Saraswati today said that it would be very difficult even for courts to disturb the status quo in Ayodhya where Ram already has a "temporary shelter."

Replying to questions at a press conference, he said it would be dangerous to the country if any attempt was made to remove the Ram idol from the disputed site.

Stating that he had felt sad when the Babri Masjid structure was demolished, the Shankaracharya, who is on a week-long visit to the capital, said that people joined together and installed an idol of lord ram at the site. Stating that he had met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday to bless him after his recent knee operation, the Shankaracharya said he had also discussed about the measures to be taken for cow protection in the country.

He said the Prime Minister had assured him that he would constitute a commission to look into the issue and take steps for the protection of cows.

Stating that he had also shown the correspondence received from the Chinese authorities for his visit to China, the Shankaracharya said Vajpayee also favoured his trip to Beijing with which New Delhi has very long cordial ties.

Though the Chinese wanted him to visit that country on October 10, he had told them that in view of Chaturmasya and Dasara festivities, a convenient date would be finalised after his return to Kancheepuram, he said.

Asked whether he would discuss the tibet issue with Beijing, the Shankaracharya said like Jammu and Kashmir was part of India, tibet was part of China.

The Shankaracharya was also critical of Government’s "Videshi" policy and said there were already differences between the Government and the Sangh Parivar, who were in favour of Swadeshi.

During his stay here, the seer would also inaugurate a seminar on ‘Sri Adi Sankara’s Advaita philosophy: Current challenges in the context of globalisation’ and also address diplomats tomorrow. He would also visit amarnath on June 27. (PTI)

‘Centre’s initial mistake led to Manipur violence’

NEW DELHI, June 25: The recent violence and protests in Manipur and other north-eastern states was a fallout of the Centre’s "initial mistake" in agreeing to geographical limits for the ceasefire with NSCN (IM), Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha said here today.

He also said that influx of people from across the border (Bangladesh) was primarily responsible for insurgency "at least in Tripura and Assam."

"It was a mistake on the part of the Government of India to have agreed to geographical limits by confining the ceasefire initially to Nagaland only," Sinha said at a seminar on `addressing conflicts in India’s north-east’ organised by the Institute for Conflict Management.

Stating that a ceasefire meant cessation of hostilities across the Board, Sinha said, "ceasefire without geographical boundaries is not the same thing as its being extended to Naga inhabited areas. Unfortunately, it was not projected in this light."

Terming the Naga outfit’s demand for ceasefire expansion as "brinkmanship more than anything else", he said, the NSCN (IM) agreed to the ceasefire as it was "in a weak situation."

"There is lack of popular support for militancy as people in Nagaland want peace. Moreover, all is not well within the Naga outfit itself. NSCN (IM) president Isaac Sui is a Sema, while general secretary Muivah is Tankhul Naga. A resumption of hostilities (with the security forces) would have resulted in a split within the group," the Governor said. (PTI)

Justice Liberhan declines plea of Ayodhya MP

NEW DELHI, June 25: The Liberhan Commission of inquiry on Babri structure demolition today declined the plea of BJP MP from Ayodhya Vinay Katiyar that the panel has no power to be represented by a counsel as per the commission of inquiry act.

Justice M S Liberhan, heading the panel, rejected his submission and said the commission as a fact finding committee had powers to be represented through a counsel and law had already been settled in this regard.

Katiyar, who was also Lok Sabha MP during the demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya on December six 1992, in his submission said there was no provision in the commission of inquiry act providing the panel power to be represented through a counsel though he was ready to answer all the questions put to him.

The commission was visibly unhappy when katiyar remained evasive to questions about his association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the organisation’s hierarchy.

Regarding RSS he said the commission should put on record the book "bunch of thoughts" jointly authored by Sadashiv Rao, Madhav Rao and Golwarkar.

When asked by the commission’s counsel if he considered Mughal rulers as foreigners, Katiyar said a book written by famous religious scholar Ali Mian’s father suggested that Babar had sent his commander to create havoc in Ayodhya, Aurangzeb got destroyed the temples at Kashi and Mathura.

Katiyar, who was a founding member of the Bajrang Dal at Ayodhya, said that the outfit was formed with the blessings of Paramhans Ramchandra Das to support movement for construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and associate itself with the problems regarding ownership of temples at Kashi and Mathura.

Besides, creating awareness among people against cultural invasion from the west and prevention of cow slaughter were the aims of the Bajrang Dal, he said.

When asked about the association of the RSS with the freedom movement, he said it would be an insult to link the names of the freedom fighters with any organisation though he took a list of freedom fighters including Laxmi Bai, Bhagat Singh and Veer Savarkar.

"RSS is an organisation of nationalists and patriots," he explained stating the reasons of his association with the organisation. (PTI)

Palkhi tradition - centuries old practice in Maharashtra

PUNE, June 25: Pandharpur, the famed pilgrimage centre in Maharashtra sacred to millions of devotees of Lord Vithoba, will come alive once again on July one this year as thousands of devotees converge there on the last leg of the traditional Palkhi (Palanquin) festival, on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’.

The start of the Palkhi procession on june 14 was heralded by the departure of palanquins of Sant Dnyaneshwar from Alandi and Sant Tukaram from Dehu, near here amid chants of ‘Gyanba Tukaram, Gyanbachi Palkhi’ renting the air.

Since then, the Dindhis (groups of Varkaris or devotees going for a vari or pilgrimage) are travelling on foot towards Pandharpur from various parts of the state, accompanying almost 50 palanquins of various saints notably Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Ekanath, Sant Namdev, Sant Chokha Mela and others.

A remarkable sight during this festival is the long and disciplined Palkhi procession comprising numerous small groups of Varkaris carrying Padukas (wooden slippers) of the various sants in palanquins and brandishing religious saffron flags while singing devotional songs and dancing to the tune of the traditional instruments like Lezim and Taal.

A special feature of the festival this year is that for the first time a thirty-year-old palanquin dedicated to saint Dnyaneshwar has been replaced with a new Palanquin with a modern and more decorative look. Union Minister of State for Human Resources and Development Jaisingh Gaikwad alongwith State Rural Development Minister R R Patil participated in the Palkhi procession.

The Dindhis were welcomed everywhere by enthusiastic citizens who thronged for a Darshan of Padukas of the respective sants in great numbers. In Pune, the Dindhis were welcomed by Municipal Commissioner Mr T C Benjamin who felicitated the Dindhi Pramukhs on behalf of the State Government with presentation of Taal and coconut.

Whatever its origin, the tradition of Palkhi has remained unbroken since it began. Whether it was war-time or epidemics, 50 Palkhis of saints assemble at Vakhari near Pandharpur every year, before proceeding towards the temple town situated in south-east Maharashtra.

Though the tradition can be traced back to 1685, the present day ritual of carrying Palkhis dedicated to various saints is said to have begun between 1820 and 1830, when a devotee of saint Dnyaneshwar, Haibatraobaba, arranged to carry the Padukas.

Falling in the Hindu calendar months of Jyeshta and Ashadha, the annual ritual brings together Palkhis of 50 saints at Vakhari near Pandhapur. Thousands of Varkaris set out on foot from different places, accompanying Palkhis of revered saints and reach Pandhapur to celebrate ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’, the eleventh day of Ashadha.

Traditionally, the first Puja (worship) is offered by the Maharashtra Chief Minister followed by the Madhya Pradesh CM. Sometimes, prominent politicians also join in the festivities.

Although very few records on this Palkhi tradition are available, that too in ‘Modi’ script, which is no longer used, several scholars say, the Palkhi tradition is part of centuries-old-practice of ‘Vari’ or pilgrimage to any sacred place recurring at monthly or annual intervals.

Prof Sadanand more, a reader in the Philosophy Department of Pune University and a direct descendant of Saint Tukaram, has done considerable research on the tradition.

In an interview to UNI, Prof More, who belongs to the tenth generation from Saint Tukaram (1608-1649), traced the beginning of Palkhi to 1685 and credited Narayan Maharaj, the youngest son of Saint Tukaram, with pioneering the tradition.

After the death of Saint Tukaram, who himself visited Pandharpur every year with a group of 1400 Varkaris, his brother Kanhoba and son Narayan Maharaj continued the annual pilgrimage to the temple town. However Varkaris close to saint Tukaram and Narayan Maharaj, in a symbolic gesture of the saint’s presence among them, arranged for the Palkhi to carry his Padukas, he said. (UNI)

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