Ayodhya civic officials punish Puja item vendors with headstands, sit-ups, inquiry ordered
Ayodhya: A shocking video from Ayodhya’s Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park has sparked outrage after municipal enforcement officials were seen forcing a group of vendors to perform headstands and sit-ups in the scorching sun as punishment for selling puja items outside the Ram Temple.
According to eyewitnesses, eight men were made to do headstands with their legs propped against a wall while uniformed municipal staff, armed with batons, watched and paced nearby. The men were vendors selling religious items along the Ram Path, near the Ram Temple, when the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation launched an anti-encroachment drive and detained them.
The vendors were reportedly taken to the park and subjected to the physical punishment for several hours. Videos of the incident, recorded by bystanders, quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation.
Following the uproar, Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner Jayendra Kumar confirmed that members of the enforcement team were involved and that an internal probe has been initiated. Statements are being collected from the affected vendors, and a report is expected by late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning.
Reacting to the incident, the Congress Party termed the act as “Talibani behaviour” by the Ayodhya civic authorities, alleging it reflects the “dictatorial mindset” of the ruling BJP.
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India progressing under PM Modi, Karnataka heading towards decline: Union Minister Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said while India is moving steadily towards becoming the world’s third-largest economic power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Karnataka is heading in the opposite direction under the Congress government.
Speaking at a programme to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, along with the Atal Award presentation and Good Governance Day celebrations, the JD(S) leader said Karnataka was once a model state for governance and development.
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“Karnataka was once synonymous with exemplary governance. It had adopted an outstanding development model and emerged as a leader for the entire nation. But under the Congress government’s administration, all these distinctions have been lost, and the State is now moving in the opposite direction,” Kumaraswamy said.
He alleged that the current dispensation has completely damaged the education sector, noting that Karnataka was once a frontrunner in education.
“Karnataka, which once ranked first in good governance, has reached such a state today. Frivolous politics is being played in a good State. Administration across all departments; including health, education, agriculture and revenue has deteriorated. People must now seriously introspect,” he said.
Asserting that the era of good governance must return, Kumaraswamy said people are fed up with the misgovernance of this government.
Bengaluru, once the IT-BT capital and a hub of education and technology, has seen its infrastructure completely deteriorate, he said.
"The state government lacks the mindset to accept even well-intentioned and expert advice. It has developed a culture of speaking irresponsibly even about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”
Noting that the state has all the potential and capacity to move forward, the union minister said, “At a time when India is stepping forward to become the world’s third-largest economic power under Modi government, one wonders in which direction Karnataka is heading? It is moving backwards and sliding into decline.”
Remembering Vajpayee as “Ajatashatru”, a leader without enemies who rendered long and distinguished service to the nation, Kumaraswamy said leaders like Vajpayee are rare today.
“His contributions as External Affairs Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister were immense. He was a visionary leader who took the BJP from just two seats to 170 seats in Parliament,” he added.
Expressing concern over growing unrest, he said, “Karnataka must once again become a garden of peace for all communities. There is unrest in society. When one looks at what is happening within families, it causes anxiety. While technology is advancing and economic strength is increasing, there is fear even in turning on the television in the morning. There is no peace of mind for anyone. It is for this reason that I have advocated teaching the Bhagavad Gita at the school level. Unfortunately, politics is being unnecessarily mixed into this issue."
