Malali Mosque Renovation Case: Betel Leaf Astrology held by Sangh Parivar outfits
Mangaluru: Amidst the controversy that erupted over the renovation of the Jummah Masjid in Malali in Dakshina Kannada district, Hindutva organization on Wednesday performed ‘Betel Leaf Astrology’ to ascertain the mosque was a temple before being turned into a mosque.
After the Hindutva organizations protested over the renovation of the mosque alleging the mosque was once a temple, the Court issued a stay order, following which the Betel Leaf Astrology (locally known as Tambula Prashne) was performed on Wednesday by Hindutva activists.
A Kerala-based astrologer Gopalakrishna Panikkar was invited to perform the astrology Panikkar at the Shri Ramanjaneya Bhajana Mandir near Jodu Thadameya at Thenka Ulipaadu village here.
Gopalkirshna later said “Through the ‘Taamboola Prashne’ we have learned that there was ‘Daiva Sanidhya’ at the Malali Town Jumma Masjid in the past. There used to be ‘Daivi Shakti’, and a complete spiritual presence here in the past. The destroyed ‘Daiva Sanidhya’ has to be re-established. Otherwise, there will be evil effects in the land.”
When the renovation work of the ancient Jumma Masjid at Malali Town was underway, on April 21, some Sangh Parivar activists had made claims of having found traces of the temple at the site and stopped the renovation work. The Bajrang Dal-VHP leaders also approached the local courts about the matter. The Mangaluru Third Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court which accepted the appeal in this regard, issued a temporary stay order on April 22 restricting the demolition of the old structure at Malali. Despite the court’s existing order , now the Hindutva organizations summoned an astrologer from Kerala and conducted the ‘Taamboola Prashne’ event on Wednesday.
In the backdrop of the developments, Mangaluru Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar has issued a precautionary prohibitory order from May 24, 8 PM to May 26, 8 AM from the Malali Town Jumma Masjid and surrounding 500 meters areas (from Kachilakodi to the road going towards Malali, from Ganjimata until the road going towards Malali masjid and the road from Kaikamba going towards Jodu Thadame) and section 144 has been imposed.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Defamation case: Rahul alleges political malice; UP court sets March 9 hearing
Sultanpur (UP) (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday appeared before an MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur and recorded his statement in a 2018 defamation case related to his remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gandhi told the court of Special Judge Shubham Verma that the allegations against him were made out of political malice and with an aim of destroying his image and that of his party, the Congress leader's advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla told PTI.
The court fixed March 9 as the next date of hearing on which the Lok Sabha MP from Raebareli has been asked to furnish evidence in his defence, the lawyer said.
Elaborating about the statement given by the Congress leader in the court, his lawyer said Gandhi denied all allegations levelled against him.
ALSO READ: Answer to 'abject surrender' lies in 'grips', 'chokes' placed on PM: Rahul on India-US trade deal
"The allegations are baseless and unfounded. I have never used derogatory words against anyone, nor have I used such language with the intention of defaming anyone. A false complaint has been filed by distorting my statement," Shukla quoted Gandhi as saying.
"The allegations have been made against me out of political malice with the aim of destroying my image and that of my party. I have never used derogatory words against anyone, nor have I used such language with the intention of defaming anyone," Gandhi told the court
As the Congress leader emerged from the court after recording his statement, party supporters raised slogans hailing him. Gandhi smiled and waved at the crowd before leaving.
Gandhi entered the Sultanpur court around 10.40 am and left after recording statements around 11.15 am.
Ahead of the court hearing, some local Congress leaders had put up posters in Sultanpur that read 'Satyamev Jayate' (truth always triumphs).
The case dates back to 2018 when local BJP leader and former chairman of the District Cooperative Bank Vijay Mishra had filed a defamation complaint against Gandhi, alleging that during the Karnataka elections in 2018, the Congress leader made derogatory remarks against the then BJP president and current Union Home Minister Shah.
Santosh Kumar Pandey, the lawyer representing Mishra, said the cross-examination of the plaintiff and two witnesses has been completed.
The trial has been underway for the past five years. In December 2023, a warrant was issued against Gandhi for non-appearance before the court. He surrendered in February 2024, following which a special magistrate granted him bail on two sureties of Rs 25,000 each.
On July 26, 2024, Gandhi recorded his statement before the court, claiming innocence and terming the case a political conspiracy. Thereafter, the court directed the complainant to produce evidence in the case.
