VHP, Bajrang Dal stage protests in Karnataka against "ban" proposal of Congress
Bengaluru (PTI): Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists staged protests in several parts of the state on Thursday against the Congress election manifesto which proposed banning of the latter in the event of the party coming to power in Karnataka.
At some places, "Hanuman Chalisa" were also chanted.
The protestors are slated to chant Hanuman Chalisa' on Thursday evening at Hanuman temples or any other temple to protest against the Congress promise.
The protests took place in Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Srirangapatna, Mandya and Chikkamagaluru, among others, VHP sources said.
In Srirangapatna, Bajrang Dal activists tore the Congress manifesto and slapped it with slippers to express their outrage.
Bajrang Dal leaders and Hindu religious leaders associated with the VHP have appealed to the people in video messages to come with their family members in great numbers at Hanuman or any other temple to chant 'Hanuman Chalisa' on Thursday evening.
One of the religious heads appealed to the people to come together and "demonstrate the Hindu unity, which should eventually reflect on May 10" (the date of Karnataka Assembly elections).
Hanuman Chalisa is a set of 40 couplets penned by 16th century poet and devotee of Lord Rama, Goswami Tulsidas in 'Awadhi', one of the dialects of Hindi spoken predominantly in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress in its manifesto for May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka said it was committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion.
The Congress said, "We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on such organisations."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his public meeting at Hospet in Vijayanagara district on Tuesday too had come down heavily on the Congress saying, "The Congress in its manifesto has decided to lock up Lord Hanuman. Initially, they locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say Jai Bajrang Bali'."
Modi also made it a point to chant Jai Bajrang Bali' at the beginning and the end of his speech in all the three campaign rallies in Karnataka on Wednesday.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
