Banke Bihari temple rejects proposal to ban deity’s dresses made by Muslim weavers
Agra: The authorities at the Banke Bihari temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan have rejected a proposal to ban dresses made by Muslim weavers for Lord Krishna. The temple administration clarified that there have been no changes to the selection process for the deity’s attire.
Dinesh Falahari, president of the Shri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas, which is also involved in the ongoing Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura, submitted a memorandum to the temple administration, arguing that offerings made by non-followers of the Hindu faith should not be accepted, claiming that such offerings would be a “grave sin,” as reported by Times of India on Thursday.
However, Gyanendra Kishor Goswami, a member of the temple administration, told the publication that while the temple received the proposal to stop using ‘poshaks’ (attire) made by Muslim weavers, their primary concern was ensuring the purity and sanctity of the attire. “If members of the Muslim community have faith in Thakurji, we have no objection to accepting poshaks from them,” he added.
He said that the 164-year-old temple attracts between 30,000 and 40,000 devotees daily from diverse backgrounds, with the number rising to over one lakh on weekends and during festivals.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
