Haryana CM Saini visits old-age home, gaushala to celebrate 56th birthday
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday turned 56 and celebrated his birthday by taking part in several events that included a visit to an old age home and a gaushala.
He began his day by meeting children at the 'Shishu Greh' in Panchkula, where he distributed sweets to young children. Thereafter, he visited an old-age home and sought blessings from the elderly.
After this, Saini reached village Samral in Panchkula district, where he sat among villagers and listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio broadcast programme "Mann Ki Baat."
Meanwhile, Saini, along with his wife Suman Saini, visited a gaushala at the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple complex in Panchkula. There, he fed fodder to the cows and offered prayers, seeking happiness, prosperity, and welfare of the State, an official statement said.
On the occasion of his birthday, the chief minister received greetings from the country's top leadership and several dignitaries.
According to the Haryana government statement, President Droupadi Murmu, called to extend birthday greetings and wished him good health and a long life.
PM Modi also greeted Saini on the social media platform X, describing him as an energetic leader dedicated to public service.
He wrote that Saini's grassroots experience is proving highly beneficial for the people of Haryana and that under his leadership, the state is continuously progressing on the path of development.
Union Ministers Amit Shah and Manohar Lal Khattar were among other leaders who greeted the Haryana CM.
Meanwhile, at a programme held at Mata Mansa Devi Gaushala in Panchkula, Nayab Singh Saini distributed cheques amounting to over Rs 1.22 crore as fodder grants to 14 gaushalas in the district.
The chief minister and his wife fed the cows fodder and jaggery.
He also performed Gau Pujan (cow worship) on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Saini said that in India, the cow has been revered since ancient times and accorded the status of a mother.
He said that the state government has taken several important steps towards the development of gaushalas, cow protection, and the promotion of natural farming.
Over the past 11 years, registered Gaushalas have been provided Rs. 270 crores as fodder grants, he said.
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Hemant Karkare dying at hands of Kasab ‘Karmic Justice’: Shefali Vaidya on Col. Purohit’s promotion
Shefali Vaidya’s ‘karmic justice’ remark on Hemant Karkare sparks controversy.
Columnist Shefali Vaidya said that the death of former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was “almost karmic justice,” while expressing support for the promotion of Shrikant Purohit.
In the post, she wrote, “Col Purohit to be made Brigadier! This is the least Indian Army could do to restore the honour of an officer who was wrongly accused, framed on false charges, tortured beyond imagination and lost many years of his life thanks to anti-national, evil Congress.”
She further stated, “the way Maharashtra ATS Hemant Karkare died at the hands of Kasab was almost karmic justice, for having tortured Col Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya and others in the fake Hindu terror case. Ditto for disgraced cop Parambir Singh!”
Her post came after reports that Colonel Purohit, who was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case last year, has been approved for promotion to Brigadier.
Defence sources cited by Indian Express had indicated that less than a month after his retirement was put on hold by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), he has been approved for promotion to Brigadier.
According to the report, he will now continue in service for at least two more years, up to the age of 56, which is the retirement age for Brigadiers, compared to 54 for Colonels.
Purohit had reportedly approached the AFT, stating that the 17-year-long trial had affected his career progression and denied him the opportunity to be considered for promotions.
Though he was granted bail in 2017, he remained under a Discipline and Vigilance (DV) ban, which was lifted in July 2020. Due to this, his promotion to the rank of Colonel was reportedly withheld in 2021.
The controversy around remarks on Karkare is not new.
Earlier, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had highlighted instances of social media users allegedly making derogatory comments about the slain officer.
Hemant Karkare, a 1982-batch IPS officer, served as the chief of the Mumbai ATS and led the investigation into the 2008 Malegaon blasts. He was killed in action on November 26, 2008, during the 2008 Mumbai attacks while responding to terrorist activity near Cama Hospital. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2009.
According to the Mumbai Police chargesheet, Karkare, along with Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar, was killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani terrorists, including Ajmal Amir Kasab and Abu Ismail Khan.
The officers were ambushed near Rang Bhavan Lane while moving towards Cama Hospital.
According to a report by India Today, BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur had earlier claimed that Karkare died as a result of a “curse,” while Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar had alleged that an “RSS-linked cop” was responsible for Karkare’s death, citing claims from a book by S.M. Mushrif.
