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If I can’t stop namaz on roads then I have no right to stop Janmashthami in thanas: Yogi

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9 years ago

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CM Yogi

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also bats for unruly kanwars and asserts that there can be no kanwar yatra without the beating of drums, song and dance, use of microphones

Stoking off yet another controversy, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said while addressing a public event in Lucknow, on Wednesday, that if he cannot stop the offering of namaz on roads during Eid, he has no right to stop celebration of Janmashtami at police stations.

The chief minister’s comments that have evoked a sharp retort from Opposition parties and various Islamic organizations come at a time when his government is already busy fending off attacks over the deaths of nearly 71 children at Baba Raghav Das (BRD) hospital in Gorakhpur due to lack of oxygen. Gorakhpur has been Adityanath’s constituency ever since he entered politics and he has represented the seat in Lok Sabha for five terms since 1998.

A known Hindutva hardliner, Adityanath said at the event jointly organised by the Prerna Jansanchar Evam Sidh Sansthan, Noida and Lucknow Jansanchar Evam Patrakarita Sansthan: “Agar mai sadak par Eid ke din namaz padhne pe rok nahi laga sakta to mujhe koi adhikar nahi ki mai thano mein janmashtami ke parv ko rokun.”

The chief minister said that when his officials recently red-flagged the use of microphones, DJs and music systems during the kanwar yatra – the annual pilgrimage of Shiv devotees  which in recent years has been in news for the law and order issues it causes – he told them to ensure that microphones are banned everywhere and no sound emanates from any place of worship.

However, Adityanath added that he also told the officers that if this ban cannot be uniformly implemented on all religious events and structures then it should not be applied to the kanwar yatra too.

“Maine prashasan se kaha… mere saamne ek aadesh paarit kariye… mike har jagah ke liye partibandhit hona chahiye… har jagah ban karo… aur yeh tay kariye ki kisi bhi dharmsthal mein… uski premises ke bahar, uski awaaz aani hi nahi chahiye… kya isko laagu kar payenge? Agar laagu nahin kar sakte hain to phir isko bhi hum laagu nahi hone denge… yatra chalegi,” the Yogi is learnt to have said.

Likening a kanwar yatra which has no music, dance and use of microphones with a funeral procession, Adityanath said: “Maine kaha ki ye kanwar yatra hai ya shav yatra?… Arrey woh kanwar yatra mein baaje nahin bajenge, damru nahin bajega, dhol nahin bajega, chimte nahin bajenge, log nachenge-gayenge nahin, mike nahi bajega to woh yatra kanwar yatra kaise hogi.”

(I asked if this was a kanwar yatra or a funeral procession. If they don’t play music and drums, don’t dance and sing, don’t use the mike, how will it be a kanwar yatra).

Stressing that he isn’t against the celebration of festivals of other faiths or the offering of namaz by Muslims, Adityanath said: “we are for everything…you can celebrate Christmas and no one will stop you. You can offer namaz too but within the premise of the law… if the law is broken then it leads to confrontation.”

Often at the receiving end of an attack from Opposition parties, social activists and liberal intellectuals for his ostensibly provocative speeches and comments, Adityanath said that “If I say that I take pride in saying I am a Hindu, I will be called communal” while adding that in Nepal, Mauritius or any other country where Hindus of Indian origin live, they feel proud to be called Hindus.

Targeting the previous Samajwadi Party government under former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav which the BJP comprehensively defeated in the assembly polls earlier this year, Adityanath said those who called themselves Yaduvanshis had banned the celebration of Janmashtami at police stations and police lines. He said he was of the belief that “prayers and kirtan may bring improvement in the police system”.

Zafaryab Jilani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board criticised the chief minister’s comments, saying : “he (Adityanath) occupies a very important office and should now that the occupant of that office is not the representative of one religion… his comments are meant to create divisions within the society and not unite people…they are very unfortunate.”

The Congress party too has hit out at Adityanath not just for his comments but also for having recently ordered “grand celebrations” of Janmashtami across all police station of UP. “There has been a tragedy in the CM’s backyard …several children have died and are still dying at the BRD hospital but Adityanath is more concerned about Janmashtami celebrations and kanwar yatras,” said senior Congress leader and former MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh.

Adityanath had courted controversy last week too when he ordered “grand but dignified celebrations” of Janmashtami across UP – including at police stations. The previous SP government had stopped celebrations of the festivals at police stations and other establishments that are meant to ensure law and order.

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BJP releases first list of 47 candidates for Kerala assembly polls

The BJP has released its first list of 47 candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, including three former Union ministers.

Published

9 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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BJP releases list of candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its first list of 47 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9.

Voting will take place for all 140 seats in the state assembly, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. A party or coalition needs at least 70 seats to secure a majority in the House.

Among the candidates announced in the first list are three former Union ministers — Rajeev Chandrasekhar, V. Muraleedharan and George Kurian.

Key candidates announced

Kerala BJP chief and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been fielded from the Nemom assembly constituency. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Chandrasekhar lost the Thiruvananthapuram seat to three-time MP Shashi Tharoor, but he led in the Nemom assembly segment during that contest. The party believes this performance strengthens its prospects in the constituency.

Nemom has held political significance for the BJP since 2016, when senior leader O. Rajagopal won the seat and became the party’s first-ever MLA in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly. The victory marked the BJP’s initial breakthrough in the state assembly.

However, the seat returned to the Left camp in the 2021 Assembly election when V. Sivankutty defeated BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan.

Former Union minister V. Muraleedharan will contest from the Kazhakoottam constituency, while George Kurian has been nominated from Kanjirappally.

Other candidates in the list

According to the list released by the party, several other candidates have also been announced for key constituencies. P. C. George will contest from Poonjar, R. Sreelekha from Vattiyoorkavu and Padmaja Venugopal from Thrissur.

The BJP has also nominated Sobha Surendran from Palakkad, Navya Haridas from Kozhikode North and Kavitha K. S. from Sulthanbathery, a reserved constituency.

Raji Prasad will contest from the Kunnathur seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, while R. Rashmi has been fielded from Kottarakkara.

Political backdrop in Kerala

Kerala’s electoral politics has traditionally alternated between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, the BJP has been attempting to expand its presence in the state.

The alternating trend was interrupted in the 2021 Assembly election when the electorate returned the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government to power for a second consecutive term.

The BJP believes recent electoral performances and local body successes have strengthened its position as it prepares to contest the upcoming assembly polls.

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Fire in ICU at SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack kills 10 patients

Ten patients died after a fire broke out in the trauma ICU at SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack early Monday morning. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced compensation and ordered a judicial probe.

Published

19 hours ago

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March 16, 2026

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A major fire at the trauma care intensive care unit (ICU) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, early Monday morning left ten patients dead and several hospital staff members injured.

According to officials, the fire broke out between 2:30 am and 3:00 am in the trauma ICU where critically ill patients were undergoing treatment. Emergency teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident, and multiple fire engines were deployed to control the blaze and assist in rescue operations.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said hospital staff were injured while evacuating patients from the affected ward during the emergency.

Patients shifted as rescue operations continued

Following the fire, 23 patients were moved to other departments and wards within the hospital to ensure their safety and continued medical care.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said seven critically ill patients died while being shifted to other ICUs and wards, while three more succumbed later.

“A total of 23 patients have been shifted to other departments. Seven serious patients died while shifting to other ICUs and wards, while another three patients died later. I have directed the concerned officers for proper treatment of the injured patients,” Majhi said.

Chief minister visits hospital, announces compensation

Soon after the incident, Majhi visited the hospital along with Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling to review the situation. They also met patients who were undergoing treatment at the facility.

The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for the families of each deceased patient.

He also ordered a judicial probe into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and examine safety measures at the hospital.

Authorities continue to monitor the condition of injured staff members and patients who were shifted from the ICU.

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Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court against Delhi High Court order in excise policy case

Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order related to proceedings in the excise policy case and alleging violation of his fundamental rights.

Published

19 hours ago

on

March 16, 2026

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Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging certain proceedings in the Delhi excise policy case and alleging a violation of his fundamental rights.

In a petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, Kejriwal has questioned a decision of the Delhi High Court that put a freeze on remarks related to the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The petition also challenges an order of the High Court Chief Justice rejecting Kejriwal’s request to transfer the case to another bench.

Plea seeks change of bench

Earlier, on March 11, Kejriwal and several others submitted a representation to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya seeking reassignment of the case to what they described as an “impartial” judge.

In the representation, Kejriwal stated that he had a “grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension” that the matter may not receive an impartial hearing before the current bench.

However, the Chief Justice declined the request and said the petition had been assigned as per the existing roster.

According to the communication sent by the High Court’s Registrar General on March 13 to eight individuals including Kejriwal, the Chief Justice noted that any decision on recusal must be taken by the judge hearing the matter and that there was no reason to transfer the petition administratively.

Order on trial court proceedings also challenged

Kejriwal has also challenged a March 9 order passed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court.

In that order, Justice Sharma had stayed a trial court direction that called for an investigation into a CBI officer who handled the excise policy case. The High Court had also asked the trial court to defer proceedings connected to the anti-money laundering aspect of the case.

Justice Sharma had further rejected certain observations made by the trial court while discharging Kejriwal and 22 others, stating that some of those remarks were erroneous.

Hearing expected on CBI plea

Meanwhile, Justice Sharma is scheduled to hear a petition filed by the CBI challenging the discharge of Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others in the excise policy case.

The matter remains under judicial consideration as the legal challenge now moves to the Supreme Court.

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