Prez Murmu to attend Shivakumara Swamiji Jayanti at Siddaganga Math on Apr 1
_vb_54.jpeg)
Tumakuru (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu will visit Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru on April 1 to take part in the 119th birth anniversary celebrations of Shivakumara Swamiji, Union Minister V Somanna said on Saturday.
Shivakumara Swamiji, the pontiff of the renowned Siddaganga Math, passed away at the age of 111 on January 21, 2019 in Tumakuru.
The President is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on the evening of March 31 and travel to Tumakuru the next morning to attend the commemorative event and associated programmes at the Math, he said.
"On April 1, she will leave at 9 AM and reach Tumakuru by helicopter at 9.30 AM," Somanna said.
He said the President would visit the Samadhi (memorial) of Shivakumara Swamiji and interact with students of the Math before participating in the main stage programme of the birth anniversary celebrations.
"After arriving in Tumakuru, she will attend the programme and then proceed to the memorial. Around 10,000 children will be gathered at one place, and she will spend about five minutes interacting with them," he said.
The minister said several dignitaries, including District In-charge Minister Parameshwara, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and other elected representatives, would be present during the event.
Describing the visit as significant, Somanna said, "Her visit to Tumakuru city and district is a matter of great pride for us, and we should all come together to welcome it."
He said preparations are under way to ensure the smooth conduct of the programme, with officials and stakeholders coordinating arrangements for the high-profile visit.
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.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
