India News
Kerala Government Not To Ask SC to Review Sabarimala Verdict
State government will make additional arrangements for women security
In an important development, the Kerala government has decided not be file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s order to allow women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of the state, while addressing a prèss conference in Thiruvananthapuram, said on Wednesday that his government will not file a review petition. However it will ensure that there is protection and facilities for women devotees while visiting the historical temple.
He said, “Since the SC pronounced the verdict, it is the existing law. The government will not file a review petition against it. From this pilgrimage season, arrangements will be made for the women who are willing to go to the temple.”
Responding to a question about the protests against the SC verdict, the CM said that there are people who have also welcomed the verdict.
He elaborated saying, “Even devotees like TKA Nair and devotees who are saints have welcomed it, saying that the women who are interested should be allowed to go. Facilities for women need to be arranged. More women police constables will be deployed. If the number of women police personnel is not sufficient enough, they will be deployed from other states. How can women be prevented from entering the temple in the light of the judgement?”
Meanwhile, A Padmakumar, the president of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has also announced not to file a review petition.
Read More: Women’s ban at Sabarimala temple: Supreme Court refers case to Constitutional Bench
He said, “We have examined all aspects of it (the judgement) and based on the reasoning that the review petition won’t stand in an open court’, we have decided against moving Supreme Court.”
Responding to a question about the protests against apex court’s verdict, he said, “Some of the protests are natural and some are deliberately created by certain people. We don’t think non-devotees will go to Sabarimala. Those who would go there are those who are aware of the customs and traditions there.”
He further said, “The priority of the Devaswom Board is to arrange facilities for women. We don’t think that there will be huge change in the footfall of devotees, but expect a forty per cent increase.”
Travancore Devaswom Board is an autonomous body formed as per the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950. Devaswom is a Sanskrit word which means ; property of God, like Wakf among Muslims which is known as endowment.
TDB is one of the the oldest Devaswom Boards, which is a successor to Travancore Royal Devaswom Commission. It’s headquarters is located at Devaswom Complex in Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram. Sabarimala temple is one of the dozens of temples looked after by the board.
Meanwhile, the Pandalam royal family, which has an integral role in the affairs of the Sabarimala temple, has reportedly begun legal consultations to file a review petition against the verdict.
A five-judge SC bench has recently lifted the ban on women between the ages of 10 and 50 for entering the revered Sabarimala temple. It observed that under Article 25, both men and women have the freedom to practice religion and that the burden of the deity’s celibacy cannot lie solely on women.
India News
Sankalp Saptaah: PM Modi today launches week-long initiative for aspirational blocks at Bharat Mandapam
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
At Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a week-long project named Sankalp Saptaah for the country’s aspirational groups.
He also conversed with attendees, including members from the panchayat and the block level.
The week-long programme, which is described in an official news release, is closely correlated with the national Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which Modi introduced in January of this year.
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
Chintan Shivirs were held nationwide at the village and block levels to help with the effective execution of the ABP and to create strong block development strategies. The result of these careful considerations, which will be seen in each of the 500 aspirational blocks, is Sankalp Saptaah.
On October 9, the final day of the seven-day event, a celebration of the week’s worth of effort will take place under the banner of Sankalp Saptaah – Samavesh Samaroh.
Speaking at the inaugural function, the prime minister claimed that more than 25 crore people’s lives in 112 districts throughout the nation had been improved by the aspirational districts plan. He asserted that the quality of living had changed. Now, the aspirational blocks programme will be built on the success of the aspirational districts programme, he said.
According to the statement, about 3,000 panchayat and block level functionaries and representatives of the people are expected to attend the inaugural event at Bharat Mandapam, in addition to about two lakh farmers, block and panchayat level functionaries, and people from other walks of life who will participate virtually.
Starting on October 3 and running through October 9, each day of Sankalp Saptaah is devoted to a distinct development subject on which all aspirational blocks will focus. Sampoorna Swasthya, Suposhit Pariwaar, Swachhta, Krishi, Shiksha, and Samridhi Diwas are some of the themes for the first six days, according to the statement.
India News
Madhya Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of candidates after October 5
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw nearer, sources stated on Friday that the Congress is expected to reveal its first list of candidates after October 5 as part of its strategy. A Congress source told IANS that the party will announce the names of the candidates at the ideal moment and that the campaigning for the Assembly elections is already underway.
The source stated that the party would issue its initial list of candidates after October 5, when it is anticipated that the Election Commission will have released its polling schedule.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s general secretary, will be in the state on October 5 to speak at a large public gathering, the source added, and her input will be sought before the release of the final list.
To narrow down the field of candidates for the elections, the party organised two sessions of the Screening Committee in the national capital.
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will speak at a public meeting on Saturday in the Kala Pipla Assembly seat.
Two lists of candidates from the BJP have already been made public for the upcoming elections. Along with four other current MPs, the ruling party has included three Union Ministers in its second list. On Monday, a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a public gathering in Bhopal, the second list of 39 candidates was made public.
The list also included Kailash Vijayvargiya, the national general secretary of the BJP.
The list includes the names of three Union Ministers: Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti from Narsinghpur; Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Party’s State Election Management Committee from Dimni-Morena; and Fagan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel from Niwas.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
