Ahead of MP assembly elections, BJP and Congress spar over Ayodhya Ram temple
Bhopal (PTI): A war of words has erupted in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh after the Congress objected to the ruling BJP putting up hoardings taking credit for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The BJP said the Congress was "pained over the construction of the Ram temple", while the opposition party accused the former of "going astray from the devotion to Lord Ram".
Earlier this week, the Indore unit of Congress complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the BJP, in violation of the model code of conduct, used religious symbols during poll campaigning by showcasing the Ayodhya Ram temple and Mahakal Lok in Ujjain.
Sharing the Congress' complaint on their X handles, BJP leaders accused it of being "anti-Ram".
State BJP chief VD Sharma on Saturday said at a press conference that the basic character of Congress has been against "Lord Shri Ram, Hindutva and Sanatan Dharm".
The Congress is complaining to ECI against the hoardings of Ram temple, which is the centre of faith not only in India but also in the world, said Sharma.
"They are saying that such hoardings should be removed... Congress is pained as to why the hoardings of Ram Mandir have been put up... They are pained by the construction of Ram temple," he said.
Sharma said that the Ram temple is the centre of faith for 9.5 crore people of the state.
"You (Congress) should also put up such hoardings. Who stopped you? Your leader (Kamal Nath) is saying that Ram temple is for all," he said, accusing the Congress of playing appeasement politics.
The BJP leader said that the Congress is pained because the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple will be held on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya because of the "willpower" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier on Friday, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath had said that the Ram temple belongs to all.
"Does the Ram temple belong to BJP? This temple belongs to the citizens of the country," Nath said.
On the other hand, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that the Congress used to submit an affidavit in the court denying the existence of Lord Ram and terming him "imaginary".
"After seeing the people's faith in Lord Ram, they (Congress) are becoming Ram bhakt (devotees of Lord Ram), reciting his bhajans' and Hanuman Chalisa'," Chouhan said while talking to reporters in Chhatarpur on Friday.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Randeep Surjewala on Saturday said that Ram is Maryada Purushottam' and a symbol of love, devotion, faith and sacrifice.
"How can Lord Ram be a subject of politics? Can there be any party of Lord Shri Ram? Those who deviated from the path of devotion and whose intellect has also become corrupt should sit at the feet of Lord Ram to get some wisdom. Lord Shri Ram cannot be the subject of partisan politics," Surjewala said in reply to a question at a press conference in Bhopal.
The polling for the 230 seats of Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.
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Stray dogs case: We will play video, ask you what is humanity, SC tells petitioner
New Delhi (PTI): Responding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity".
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled.
"It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said.
Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD, in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary.color:red;"
He urged the bench to hear the matter on Friday, saying authorities don't even have dog shelters. "It is very very inhuman what is being done," Sibal said.
Justice Mehta, in an apparent reference to the stray dog menace, said "On the next date, we will play a video for your benefit and we will ask you what is humanity," .
Sibal responded that they will also play a video to show what was happening.
"The problem is your lordships has passed an order and we respect that. But the point is, there are statutory rules," he said.
When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself.
"They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said.
Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal. Let them do it, we will consider."
The bench said it would hear the matter on January 7.
On November 7, taking note of the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the apex court directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.
A three-judge special bench had also said the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back in the place they were picked up from.
The bench had directed the authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways and expressways.
It had said recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, reflected not only administrative apathy but also a "systemic failure" to secure these premises from preventable hazards.
The top court had passed a slew of directions in the suo motu case over the stray dog menace.
It is hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.
