Congress raises Alwar lynching case in Lok Sabha
New Delhi, July 23 : The Congress on Monday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of lynching of a Muslim man in Rajasthan's Alwar, triggering protests from the ruling BJP and others.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress MP from Alwar Karan Singh Yadav said that it was the "fourth such incident in the state".
He alleged that self-proclaimed cow protectors were behind the Saturday's attack, and also attacked the Rajasthan Police for not taking the victim to hospital in time.
Rakbar Khan alias Akbar, 28, was on Saturday thrashed by a mob on suspicion of being a cow smuggler.
The Rajasthan Police has since formed a high-level team to probe the reasons for the delay in taking Rakbar to hospital.
Earlier in the day, members of the two parties clashed in the Lok Sabha when Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia raised the issue of rising rape cases.
"The cases of rape against women are increasing in the country. When the Kathua rape case was highlighted the BJP MLAs... who were then ministers came out in support of the rape accused," he said.
"Even in the Unnao rape case, the rapist was none other than a BJP MLA," he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been named as an accused in the Unnao rape case. He was arrested by the CBI on April 13.
When Scindia raised the rape of a minor girl in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, he was interrupted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. "Don't do politics over everything. I am also a woman...," Mahajan said.
Scindia then said that according to National Crime Record Bureau, at least 40,000 rape cases are registered every year in the country. "Of these, 19,000 cases pertain to rape of minors," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
National Synodal Assembly 2026 begins in Bengaluru with over 220 delegates
Bengaluru: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) on May 1 inaugurated its National Synodal Assembly 2026 at St. John’s Medical College, bringing together more than 220 delegates from across the country under the theme Synodal Pilgrims of Hope.
The assembly is part of the global synodal process initiated in 2021 by Pope Francis, which calls for greater participation, dialogue and shared responsibility within the Church. In India, the process has involved consultations at diocesan, regional and national levels.
Participants at the assembly include two Cardinals, 25 Bishops, 65 priests, more than 20 women religious, and over 100 lay faithful, including youth and women leaders.
The gathering began with a Eucharistic celebration led by Filipe Neri Ferrão. In his homily, he described the assembly as a moment of grace and discernment and called on delegates to walk together in prayer, listening and missionary commitment.
He spoke about the importance of the Risen Christ in the mission of the Church and urged the faithful to be witnesses of the Gospel. Referring to the conversion of St Paul, he said every baptised person has a role in spreading the message of Christ. He also highlighted the example of St Joseph the Worker, stressing the dignity of labour and the call to holiness in everyday life.
The formal inauguration included the invocation of the Holy Spirit through Veni Creator Spiritus and the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Deputy Secretary General Fr. Stephen Alathara welcomed the delegates and described the gathering as a spiritual journey.
In his presidential address, Cardinal Ferrão referred to the CCBI pastoral plan titled Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033 and called on participants to build on the vision outlined at the 36th Plenary Assembly held in Bhubaneswar in 2025.
Delegates will reflect on four key themes identified from 16 pastoral priorities: interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, inclusion of the excluded, poverty and integral ecology, and support for children and youth.
The discussions are being conducted through a method of spiritual conversation aimed at encouraging listening, dialogue and collective decision-making. The focus is on translating these discussions into practical actions within the Church.
The assembly also looks ahead to the Jubilee Year 2033, which will mark 2,000 years of the Redemption, and aims to strengthen the Church’s mission in the coming years.
Further consultations are scheduled for September 2026, with the process expected to conclude at the 38th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI in January 2027.
Organisers said the assembly seeks to strengthen unity within the Church and promote participation of all sections, including women and youth, in shaping its future direction.
