Following SC's order on Ayodhya, VHP to celebrate Ram Utsav across India
Statement issued after a three-day meeting of VHP Baithak in Mangaluru
New Delhi, Dec 30: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday decided to celebrate Ram Utsav in all villages in the country, saying there has been a great enthusiasm "amongst all" after the recent Supreme Court judgment paving the way for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The organisation also demanded amendments to Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution that provides for protection of the interests of the minorities.
It said benefits under Articles 29 and 30 should be given to all other sections as well, which will help in ending discrimination. The VHP demand came at a time the country has been witnessing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
"Gatherings in every village and locality will be held portraying the life and principles of Lord Ram that need to be inculcated in today's society," the VHP said in a statement issued after a three-day meeting of the organisation in Mangaluru in Karnataka.
The Supreme Court in its order on November 9 had backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the town.
The VHP said there has been an overall deterioration of Hindu values in the society which has resulted in the incidence of women being targeted.
"Some television shows, internet, immoral advertisements and films have also been one of the reasons for today's situation in the society," it said and appealed to the government to strict action against such media, television soaps and immoral advertisements and ban them.
Asserting that in Hindu society women are worshipped and "are not treated as commodity,'' the VHP said it has planned specific programmes to create awareness on the matter.
Delegates from across the country and from the UK and USA participated in the three-day meet of the VHP.
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
