Haryana: Muslim groups welcome devotees as Braj Mandal Yatra moves through Nuh
Nuh (PTI): The Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra that was marred by violence last year began here on Monday amid tight security arrangements, with members of both Hindu and Muslim communities welcoming the procession at different points.
Spiritual leader Mahamandleshwar Swami Dharamdev said this year's yatra conveyed a powerful message of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood across the country.
Chanting "Har Har Mahadev" and "Jai Sri Ram", devotees started the yatra from Nalhar Mahadev Mandir and later proceeded to Jhir Mandir in Ferozepur Jhirka here.
The yatra, which spans over nearly 80 km, will end at Singar via the Jhir temple later in the day.
Nuh Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata said the yatra was being carried out smoothly amid stringent security and other arrangements for the devotees.
In the morning, many devotees taking part in the yatra gathered at Radha Krishna temple in adjoining Gurugram's Sector 10 before leaving for the Nalhar temple.
Before the yatra began around 11 am, a large group of women also reached the Nalhar Mahadev temple from Bhuteshwar temple here. They were accorded a warm welcome by members of the Muslim community at the Tiranga Chowk.
Several groups of Muslims also welcomed the saints and other devotees part of the yatra with garlands at various places.
Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, chairman of All India Imam Organization, visited Nalhar Mahadev Temple in Nuh on Sunday to appeal for peace.
Swami Dharamdev said this year's yatra conveyed a big message of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood across the country and congratulated both the communities for the achievement.
Six people, including two home guards and a cleric of a Gurugram mosque, died in the clashes that erupted when a mob attacked a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession in Nuh on July 31 last year. According to officials, over 2,000 personnel from police and paramilitary have been deployed in the district to ensure foolproof security for the yatra this time.
The Haryana government has beefed up security for the yatra and ordered suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Nuh district for 24 hours with effect from 6 pm Sunday.
The suspension was ordered by the government "to stop the spread of misinformation and rumours" through social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, among others.
Nuh Superintendent of Police Vijay Pratap Singh had said on Sunday that security forces would be deployed along the procession route.
"We will keep a close eye on everyone through drones," Singh said.
Ahead of the yatra, Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata had told PTI on Sunday, "The situation is very peaceful, cordial ahead of the yatra and both communities (Hindus and Muslims) are ready to welcome it."
Many welcome gates have been erected and food stalls set up for the members of the procession, he said.
A flag march was taken out in the district in the SP's presence on Sunday.
Liquor shops will remain closed till the yatra is completed, according to an official order.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
