Mahant Ravindra Puri, Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad chief on Wednesday said that non-Hindus should not be allowed to set up shops at the Mahakumbh-2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to the media, the Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad chief asserted that they have said tea shops, juice stalls, and flower shops should not be allowed for them. He added that if non-Hindus are given these shops, they will spit and urinate, and their Naga saints will be forced to take action.

He continued that if such an incident happens and someone gets hurt, it will send the wrong message worldwide. He mentioned that their fair must be beautiful, clean, grand, divine, and peaceful, and it is essential to keep non-Hindus away to maintain the safety and sanctity of the event.

His statement comes two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call for unity and brotherhood in the country in his final Mann ki Baat episode of the year, and urged people to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in the society, while he hailed the upcoming Kumbh Mela as a unique scene of unity in diversity.

The Prime Minister also hailed the spiritual festival as a manifestation of India’s diversity where there is no discrimination against anyone and everyone is treated equally. He said that the speciality of the Maha Kumbh is not only in its vastness but also in its diversity. 

PM Narendra Modi mentioned that crores of people congregate, lakhs of saints, thousands of traditions, hundreds of sects, many akharas, everyone becomes a part of this event. He hailed that there is no discrimination anywhere, no one is big, no one is small. Such a scene of unity in diversity will not be seen anywhere else in the world, he concluded.

Previously, the All India Muslim Jamaat opposed the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad’s (ABAP) proposal to prevent non-Hindus from setting up food shops in the Mela area during Mahakumbh, arguing that such a move would create division in society.

Reportedly, the Mahakumbh will officially begin on January 13, 2025. Preparations are being made to maintain a clean and litter-free environment for visitors, while Prayagraj’s infrastructure is being upgraded to meet global urban standards with modern technologies, ensuring a sustainable and visually appealing experience for all.

In a shocking turn of events, a 24-year-old man named Arshad allegedly murdered his mother and four sisters at a hotel in Lucknow, citing harassment by neighbors and land mafia in their hometown, Budaun. The gruesome act has sparked outrage, with Arshad claiming in a chilling video that he committed the killings to protect his sisters from being trafficked.

The victims include Arshad’s mother, Asma, and sisters Alia (9), Alshia (19), Aksa (16), and Rahmeen (18). The accused, arrested at the crime scene, confessed in the video that he choked and slit the wrists of his family members, reportedly with the help of his father.

Allegations of harassment and trafficking

In the video, Arshad alleged that local land mafias had captured their house and planned to sell his sisters. “Our family has been harassed for months. We were forced to sleep on the footpath in the cold while our house was taken over. They planned to frame us in false cases and sell my sisters. I had no choice but to protect their honor,” he claimed.

He named several individuals allegedly involved in the harassment, including Ranu, Aftab, Aleem Khan, Salim, Arif, Ahmad, and Azhar. According to Arshad, these individuals were involved in illegal land deals and trafficking.

Plea for justice and allegations of systemic failure

Arshad appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for justice, claiming that his family had repeatedly sought help but to no avail. He expressed his desire for a temple to be built on their land and their belongings to be donated to an orphanage.

The video also revealed Arshad’s desperation, as he suggested plans to end his life after committing the murders. “We did not get justice in life; at least give us justice in death,” he said, urging strict action against those responsible for their plight.

Police response and investigation

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Lucknow, Raveena Tyagi confirmed the murders occurred at Hotel Sharanjit. “The accused, identified as Arshad, allegedly killed five members of his family. The local police promptly apprehended him at the scene,” she said.

Forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene, and investigations are underway to verify Arshad’s claims.

The video, whose authenticity remains unverified, has sparked widespread debate about systemic failures and the alleged nexus between local land mafias and authorities.

A community shaken

The incident has left residents of Budaun and Lucknow in shock. Calls for a thorough investigation and justice for the victims have gained momentum. Meanwhile, authorities are examining the veracity of Arshad’s allegations against the named individuals and the extent of harassment the family endured.

The tragic incident raises questions about the societal and systemic factors that might have led to such an extreme act, underscoring the need for a swift and impartial probe.

The political battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) escalated on New Year’s Day, with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal penning a pointed letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. In the letter, Kejriwal questioned the RSS’s stance on alleged “wrongdoings” by the BJP, sparking a fresh war of words between the two parties.

In his letter, Kejriwal accused BJP leaders of engaging in unethical practices, including voter suppression and vote-buying. “BJP leaders are openly distributing money. Does the RSS endorse buying votes? Dalit and Purvanchali voters are being removed from voter lists on a large scale. Does the RSS believe this strengthens democracy?” he wrote.

The AAP leader’s missive comes amid heated campaigning for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Kejriwal alleged that the BJP is resorting to desperate tactics to secure victory, accusing the party of tampering with voter lists and launching “Operation Lotus” in key constituencies, including his own New Delhi seat.

During a media briefing, Kejriwal criticized the BJP’s strategy, saying, “The BJP has neither vision nor suitable candidates for Delhi. They aim to win by dishonest means. However, the people of Delhi will not allow this.” He urged citizens to remain vigilant and regularly verify their names on the voter list.

Kejriwal further claimed that in his constituency alone, the BJP had applied to remove 5,000 names and add 7,500 new ones. “The total number of votes here is 1,06,000. If such large-scale changes are being made, what is the point of holding an election? This is a mockery of democracy,” he said.

Responding to Kejriwal’s allegations, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva dismissed the claims as baseless. He accused the AAP of manipulating voter lists in previous elections. “The number of voters in Delhi saw a significant increase between the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent Assembly polls. Who was responsible for adding these voters? The same pattern is evident now, with fake documents being used to register voters,” Sachdeva stated.

Sachdeva also addressed the AAP leader directly in a letter, urging Kejriwal to abandon “the habits of lying and deceit.” He called for transparency in the electoral process and defended the BJP’s efforts to clean up voter lists, asserting that names of deceased individuals and those who no longer reside in Delhi should not remain on the rolls.

Kejriwal, however, doubled down on his warnings, cautioning government officials against participating in alleged irregularities at the BJP’s behest. “Those who sign off on unlawful activities will face consequences. Governments change, but records and signatures remain,” he said.

This is not the first time Kejriwal has reached out to the RSS chief. In September, he posed a series of questions to Mohan Bhagwat, challenging the BJP’s governance and its alleged misuse of central agencies to target political opponents.

As the electoral race heats up, the confrontation between the AAP and BJP underscores the charged atmosphere ahead of the Delhi polls. Both parties remain locked in a bitter war of words, with allegations and counter-allegations shaping the political narrative in the capital.