BJP leader asks people to buy swords instead of gold on Dhanteras to prepare for Ayodhya verdict
New Delhi: A Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Uttar Pradesh has advised people to buy iron swords on Dhanteras this year rather than buying gold ornaments and silverware.
Dhanteras is celebrated annually before the festival of Diwali. As per tradition, people buy utensils or other items made of metal. This year, Dhanteras will be observed on October 25 (Friday).
The BJP's city president for Deoband, Gajraj Rana, made the comment in light of the upcoming verdict on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue and asked the Hindu society to buy swords as it will be "useful in the near future".
The BJP leader's comments came after the Supreme Court finished hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute case and reserved its judgment.
While talking to the media, Rana said, "Countrymen want a grand temple of Lord Ram to be built in Ayodhya so that everyone can have a grand darshan of Lord Ram."
Gajraj Rana said, "The Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya issue is expected soon and we are confident that it will be in favour of the Ram temple. However, this could vitiate the atmosphere, so it is advisable to stock iron swords instead of gold jewellery and silver vessels. These swords will be useful for our own protection when such a time comes."
When he was asked about his advice to buy swords, he said, "The scenario of the country will deteriorate and in such circumstances, we want to protect ourselves."
Rana however, clarified that he did not "utter a word" against any community or religion.
"Even in our rituals, we worship weapons and our Gods and Goddesses have used weapons depending on circumstances. My statement was in reference to the current changing environment and a suggestion to the members of my community. Nothing more should be read into it," he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP has distanced itself from Rana's statement.
The party's spokesman for Uttar Pradesh, Chandramohan said: "The BJP does not endorse this kind of language if it has been used by him. Whatever he has said is in his personal capacity. There is a very clear guideline for the party leaders. Any action or statement must be done or said within the ambit of law and no one is above the law."
Gajraj Rana has come under fire for his controversial statements on previous occasions as well. He had previously equated Islamic seminary in Deoband the Darul Uloom with terrorism while campaigning in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
In another controversial statement, Rana had said: "There is a 'Shiv Ling' inside the Mecca and Hindus used to live there once."
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
