HM Shah lays foundation stone for redevelopment of Janaki temple in Bihar’s Sitamarhi

Patna, Aug 8, 2025
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, laid the foundation stone for the grand redevelopment of the historic Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, several Union Ministers, and other dignitaries attended the event.

Before the ceremony, Union Minister Shah offered prayers at the temple.

The Bihar Cabinet had approved the Rs 882.87 crore project on July 1, aimed at the integrated development of the temple complex.

Of the total allocation, Rs 137 crore will go towards restoring the old temple and its premises, Rs 728 crore will be spent on tourism-related infrastructure, and Rs 16 crore will be earmarked for 10 years of comprehensive maintenance.

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) will execute the project.

A nine-member trust, headed by the Chief Secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, has been formed to oversee the temple’s construction and redevelopment.

For the occasion, elaborate arrangements were made at Punaura Dham.

The saint community sourced sacred items from across India — a silver urn from Jaipur, worship utensils crafted in Delhi, prasad from renowned South Indian temples, soil from 21 pilgrimage sites, and water from 31 rivers.

The silver urn, a key attraction, were ceremonially filled with the sacred soil and water before being placed at the worship site.

Soil from the four Dhams and water from major pilgrimage centres have been brought to sanctify the land.

The Trust Council personally invited saints, mahatmas, leading storytellers, Vedic scholars, and spiritual leaders from across the country.

Representatives of the Mahamandaleshwar Akhand Sant Samiti and heads of prominent religious monasteries also joined the historic event.

The temple, planned over 67 acres, will house a 151-foot-tall sanctum and is expected to be completed by 2028.

The event and project aim to not only strengthen religious faith but also boost tourism and cultural identity in the Mithila region.

The Mata Janaki temple will not just be a religious structure, but a spiritual-cum-cultural complex designed with a blend of heritage and modern facilities.

As per the planned features, it will have Yagya Mandap, Sita Vatika and Lavkush Vatika, Bhajan Sandhya Sthal (devotional music hall), auditorium and museum, children’s play area, cafeteria and Mithila Haat (cultural market), Dharamshala, Yatri guest house and dormitory, E-cart station, parking, and road exhibition area.

To add a learning and cultural dimension, historical stories and legends related to Goddess Sita will be depicted within the complex.

The nearby Mata Janaki Kund will also undergo beautification as part of the project.

The Mata Janaki temple is poised to become a major spiritual destination and a beacon of Mithila’s rich heritage.

It is expected to bring global recognition to the cultural and religious significance of Punaura Dham, elevating the region’s status in both faith tourism and historical relevance.(Agency)

Pakistan: Christian youth dies from abandonment, institutional cruelty

Islamabad, Aug 8, 2025
A leading minority rights group on Friday drew attention to the death of a young man from the Christian community of Pakistan who endured years of imprisonment under the country’s infamous blasphemy laws.

“At just 25 years old, Nabil Masih’s life came to an end quietly, painfully, and far too soon. But his story, marked by injustice, isolation, and perseverance, will not fade into silence.

His journey from a 16-year-old boy in a small Pakistani town to a symbol of systemic persecution lays bare the cruelty of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and the deep wounds they inflict upon the country’s most vulnerable,” read a statement issued by the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM).

The rights body mentioned that Nabil was arrested on September 18, 2016 in Phoolnagar near Kasur city of Pakistan’s Punjab province. He was accused of sharing a blasphemous image on social media — the one he always denied posting.

Highlighting that Pakistani authorities chose to treat Nabil as a criminal, not as a minor deserving of protection, the rights body stated that the accusation regardless of truth, was enough to ruin his life.

The VOPM revealed that despite his age, Nabil was charged under Sections 295 and 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code — laws meant to uphold religious respect, but too often weaponised against minorities. He was denied bail, held for years without trial, and in 2018, sentenced to 10 years in prison.

“Behind prison walls, Nabil endured not only physical and mental abuse but also crushing solitude. He lived under the constant threat of violence from inmates and guards. His body, too, began to deteriorate, developing painful, untreated tumors.

Only in March 2021, after nearly five years in custody, did the Lahore High Court finally grant him bail on medical grounds. But freedom came too late,” the rights body noted.

“Nabil underwent surgery for the tumors in May 2021, only to face a relapse in early 2025. Then, in June, he was struck by acute Hepatitis E, a condition made worse by years of neglect and poor health.

He was hospitalised in Lahore, where his condition briefly stabilised before worsening. By mid-July, he could no longer speak or walk. On July 31, Nabil passed away — a young man broken by a system that never allowed him to truly live,” the statement detailed.

The VOPM stated that Nabil’s case is not an isolated incident but reflection of a disturbing pattern where blasphemy laws are misused to target minorities, settle personal scores, and provoke mob violence. It emphasised that in such a context justice is not blind but altogether absent.

Raising concern, the rights body stated that his story called for urgent answers from Pakistani authorities about why children are treated as enemies of faith, why courts move slowly when lives hang in the balance, and why laws designed to protect become tools of terror.

“Nabil Masih didn’t die only from disease. He died from abandonment, from institutional cruelty, from a nation’s silence,” said the VOPM.(Agency)

Only SSC, Railway Board allowed to use Aadhaar-based authentication in exams: MoS

New Delhi, Aug 8, 2025
The Staff Selection Commission and Railway Recruitment Board are the only two government agencies authorised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to use face authentication in their examinations to verify the identity of candidates and other officials, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada, in a written reply, said, “The real-time face authentication during examinations helps in preventing impersonation and reduces malpractices. It enhances transparency, builds trust among aspirants and strengthens administrative accountability.”

Responding to questions on Aadhaar-based face authentication for national exams, the MoS said, “The Ministry authorises Ministries/Department/Organisations, under Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, for use of Aadhaar authentication for multiple use cases, including examination services.”

He said face authentication is a type of biometric authentication, having liveness detection features, that uses an individual’s facial features to verify their identity in real time.

“It provides anytime, anywhere authentication with any entry-level smartphone, thus removing the requirement of any additional biometric devices,” he said, responding to questions from Kiran Choudhry, Kesridevsinh Jhala, Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Maya Naroliya and Baburam Nishad.

“The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) issues Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique identification number, to residents based on their biometric and demographic data. It serves as a digital identity for accessing various services through authentication carried out by the respective organisation providing those services,” he said.

Responding to a separate question from Bhim Singh on the use of “fake Aadhaar cards”, the MoS said, “Any instance of Aadhaar misuse is reported to law enforcement agencies for investigation and further action. Details of crimes, if any, using fake Aadhar are available with respective state governments.”

Elaborating on the steps taken to strengthen the Aadhaar verification system, Prasada said offline verification can be done by scanning of QR code printed on the Aadhaar letter, eAadhaar, or Aadhaar PVC Card using the UIDAI “Aadhaar QR Scanner” app or the “mAadhaar” app, available on both Google Play Store and iOS App Store.”

Online authentication can be done through biometric methods such as fingerprint, iris, facial authentication, as well as One Time Password (OTP) authentication, he said.

The MoS said stakeholder advisories are also issued advising them not to accept Aadhaar numbers in physical or electronic form, without authentication.(Agency)

Rotten meat scandal rocks Kashmir; Mirwaiz demands accountability and introspection

Srinagar, Aug 8, 2025
Senior religious and separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday, expressed shock over the rotten meat scandal unearthed in Kashmir and demanded accountability and ethical introspection.

Delivering his Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar, Mirwaiz expressed shock and anguish over the recent revelations that more than 3,500 kg of rotten, unlabelled, and possibly unlawful meat was seized by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) from various locations in Kashmir.

He said that feeding people ‘haram’ or harmful food is ‘Zulm’ (grave injustice).

Such actions are a betrayal of public trust and a violation of divine commandments, societal contract, and law, he added.

Those involved must be held fully accountable and strictly penalised and punished as per law without delay, Mirwaiz said.

“This incident has deeply shaken the trust of people. It is shocking that such large-scale malpractice was allowed to go on and unchecked for so long, raising serious questions about the role of regulatory authorities. Where was the administration all this time? How could this go unnoticed?”

“We do not know for how long this has been going on, but its scale and extent suggest a deep and disturbing failure of oversight,” he added.

He said the state government must act with urgency and firmness and that no packed meat should be allowed in the markets without clear and mandatory labelling, verified cold storage details and halal certification.

Mirwaiz added that there are growing concerns within the community about the actual nature of the seized meat with doubts being raised whether it was even from permissible animals or worse, carrion, which is strictly prohibited in Islam.

“These are not merely health violations; they are violations of our religious boundaries and our shared values as a society. While we ask for accountability from authorities, this crime is a wake-up call for us as individuals and society too.”

“It has brought forth moral and ethical decay in our society, where greed and profiteering have become the sole driving force, even by stooping to such levels,” the chief cleric of Kashmir said.

Authorities have started a pro-active campaign checking wholesale and retail outlets in addition to hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries to ensure that rotten meat is not sold or distributed anywhere.(Agency)

Sumbul Touqeer on tying rakhi to her sister: I’ve never felt the need for a brother

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
TV actress Sumbul Touqeer, known for her performance in the show ‘Imlie,’ has opened up about her unique Raksha Bandhan tradition.

She shared how she celebrates the festival by tying rakhi to her sister Sanya. When asked if she ever wished she had a real brother, Sumbul shared, “I never really felt that way. I’ve never had the feeling that I needed a brother. I have a younger sister, Sanya, and I tie Rakhi to them.”

“In a way, I think we all protect each other and always will. It’s not always about one person being the protector—it’s about supporting and standing up for each other as a family,” she added.

The actress also revealed that she ties rakhi to her father. “Every year, I also tie Rakhi to my dad at home. I feel that Raksha Bandhan isn’t just about a brother-sister relationship; for me, my dad also protects me, so I tie Rakhi to him too.”

Speaking about how the festival of Rakhi isn’t just confined to rituals or customs, Sumbul mentioned, “It’s an emotional day. It reminds me to pause and acknowledge the people who are always by my side, whether it’s my father, my cousins, or my sister.

Raksha Bandhan for everyone is about emotional safety, unconditional love, and mutual respect. It’s about recognizing that protection doesn’t come from gender—it comes from the bond we share.”

Revealing how she celebrates, Sumbul Touqeer shared that she enjoys keeping the festivities close to home and deeply personal. “We usually celebrate it in a very intimate way, at home with family.

I tie Rakhi to my dad and cousins, and my sister ties one to me. It’s about honouring those who stand by us, love us unconditionally, and make us feel safe. We make each other feel special with small gestures, heartfelt conversations, and of course, sweets.”

Raksha Bandhan, which will be celebrated on August 9, is a cherished Hindu festival that celebrates the deep and enduring bond between siblings. On this special day, sisters tie a rakhi—a sacred thread—around their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of love and protection.(Agency)

Preeti Jhangiani defends ‘Udaipur Files’ amid legal challenges, says it focuses on justice, not religion

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Actress Preeti Jhangiani has come out in support of her film “Udaipur Files,” which ran into legal trouble just a day before its release.

Emphasizing the core message of the movie, she clarified that it is not centered around religion but is instead a call for justice.

Jhangiani, who portrays journalist Anjana Singh in the movie, clarified, “Udaipur Files isn’t about religion — this film represents only justice. It narrates true-life incidents and crime; and when a heinous crime happens, justice must be served and given. The film emphasizes that first is the nation, then everything else.”

The Delhi High Court recently rejected a last-minute petition aimed at stopping the release of “Udaipur Files,” stating that there was no strong initial case to justify a stay. The court upheld the filmmakers’ right to free expression, particularly since the film had already been cleared by the appropriate regulatory body.

For the unversed, the movie was supposed to release on July 11, but just a day before, its release was halted due to a legal case. On July 10, the Delhi High Court issued a stay order, stopping the film’s screening.

The matter later reached the Supreme Court after Javed, one of the accused in the murder case shown in the film, filed a petition against its release.

Although several attempts were made to block the film, the Supreme Court refused to interfere, pointing out that the movie had already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Eventually, the issue was taken to the central government, which approved the release, allowing the film to finally hit theatres.

“Udaipur Files” is inspired by a real-life incident that deeply shocked the nation. The film is based on the tragic killing of Kanhaiya Lal in June 2022, who was attacked for allegedly posting a message on social media supporting then-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Her earlier remarks about Prophet Muhammad had triggered widespread unrest across the country.

The movie, produced by Amit Jani, hit the theatres today, August 8.(Agency)

Mukesh Rishi opens up about playing dictator Zia-ul-Haq in ‘Salakaar’

Mumbai, Aug 8, 2025
Actor Mukesh Rishi, who is getting a lot of positive response to his work in the recently released OTT series ‘Salakaar’, opened up about his character in the series.

Mukesh essays the role of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, a cruel Pakistani dictator in the series. The actor recently spoke with IANS during the promotions of ‘Salakaar’, and shared how he infused cruelty in the character.

He told IANS, “When you have this kind of character, a lot of things automatically come in your favour. The look the makers gave me, the kurta that the costume designer gave me, when you have this kind of character, it starts forming inside you”.

He further mentioned, “That is why you are in films because you understand so much how cruel the character has to be, for that we follow the orders from the director. The words you are being told as an actor, it helps to sketch and portray the character for the camera.

If the director tells me to tone down the pitch of the character by a few degrees, I do that. It becomes easy. Many times your get-up, the environment in which you perform. The car in which the director made me sit. The scene inside my house, the books Zia read, the whole environment took me there, I didn’t have to do much. The lines on paper were telling me”.

Zia-ul-Haq is the bedrock of most of India’s problems, he was the one, who gave a definitive form to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s plan of “Bleed India by thousand cuts”, a thousand year war declared against India for Pakistan’s own interest.

Later, Zia got Zulfikar Ali Bhutto framed in a case, and got death penalty approved for him through hand-picked judges.(Agency)

Oppn protest disrupts Lok Sabha, adjourned till Monday

New Delhi, Aug 8, 2025
A turbulent session in the Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed repeated appeals for order as Opposition members staged a protest in the well of the House, prompting the chair, presided over by Krishna Prasad Tenneti, to adjourn proceedings for the day.

Despite the disruption, the House transacted brief business, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman formally withdrawing the Income Tax Bill 2025 as reported by the select committee. The withdrawal was cleared through a voice vote amid ongoing commotion.

As the House resumed at 3 p.m. after being adjourned earlier due to a major din by the Opposition, Tenneti made multiple appeals to protesting members to vacate the well, assuring them that their concerns would be heard.

His repeated requests went unheeded, forcing him to move to the next item of business.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed dismay over the continued disruptions, remarking, “Opposition members have the opportunity to raise issues of public interest — even during the discussion on private member bills. I am very sad.”

His comments reflected growing frustration within the government benches over the impasse.

Several MPs voiced concern that their private member bills were being sidelined due to the repeated stalling of proceedings.

The chair acknowledged these concerns, stating, “We want to raise important legislative proposals, but you do not want to run the House,” addressing the Opposition benches directly.

With no signs of resolution, Tenneti adjourned the House until Monday, leaving several legislative items pending and underscoring the deepening gridlock in Parliament.

The withdrawal of the Income Tax Bill 2025 marks a notable development in the government’s fiscal agenda, while the continued disruption raises questions about the functioning of the House and the space available for individual members to introduce and debate private legislation.

As Parliament reconvenes next week, attention will turn to whether the Opposition and government can find common ground to restore order and resume legislative business.(Agency)

K’taka family declared ‘fake’ voters by Rahul Gandhi found to be genuine in preliminary EC probe

Bengaluru, Aug 8, 2025
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim about a family of voters being fake has turned out to be false. Preliminary verification by the Election Commission in Bengaluru has confirmed that the individuals in question are genuine voters, sources revealed on Friday.

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that a family of three — one male and two females — were fake voters based on the fact that he was unable to view their photographs. However, images of the three individuals, along with their GPS-tagged address, have since surfaced on social media.

The photograph shows the family members displaying their Voter ID cards at their residence located on 2nd Main, JCR Layout, Panthur, near Kadubeesanahalli in Bengaluru. The three members of the family are Om Prakash Bagri, Saraswati Devi Bagri, and Mala Bagri, the ECI sources said.

Sources said the reason the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka asked Rahul Gandhi to personally submit an affidavit was due to his previous tendency to disown the allegations he made against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“The reason for asking for a declaration this time is that in the past, he has never submitted any self-signed letter. Whatever reply we provide is sent to some other entity, and each time he disowns it,” the sources stated.

Officials from the ECI also pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had referred to the Maharashtra issue on December 24, 2024. “An advocate from AICC wrote to us, and we issued a detailed reply on December 24, 2024. That reply is publicly available on our website. Yet, Rahul Gandhi claims that we never responded. Even yesterday, he repeated the same allegation,” the sources explained.

The ECI sources further noted that on Thursday (August 7), the Karnataka government decided to use the electoral roll as the base for conducting the caste survey. Ironically, on the same day, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the credibility of the electoral rolls.

While the Congress-led Karnataka government vouched for the authenticity of the electoral rolls by basing its most important policy — the caste census — on them, Rahul Gandhi simultaneously questioned their integrity, the ECI sources pointed out.

Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on Thursday in Delhi, making serious charges regarding committing election fraud. He gave the example of the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bengaluru.

The Congress leader also addressed the huge protest in Bengaluru, reiterating his charges demanding 10 years of data regarding the voters and also videos. “Otherwise, you are hiding a crime. If you (ECI) attack ‘One Man One Vote’ right, we will attack you,” Rahul Gandhi warned.(Agency)

Carcasses of five wild elephants found in Kerala’s Ernakulam forests

Kochi, Aug 8, 2025
The carcasses of five wild elephants, including a calf and a pregnant female, have been recovered from three forest divisions in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, following days of intense rainfall and flooding in the region.

Two tuskers were found dead on Thursday in the Kuttampuzha forest range, which falls under the Malayattoor division, about 50 km from Kochi. Their bodies were spotted in the Pooyamkutty River near Kuttampuzha panchayat.

According to forest officials, both elephants were about 15 years old and had likely fallen from the Pindimed waterfall.

Preliminary examination revealed signs of internal bleeding and fractured ribs, possibly caused by the fall and being swept downstream by strong river currents.

The carcasses appeared to be around two days old.

The carcasses of a female elephant and her calf were recovered near a waterfall about 20 km from the Idamalayar dam. Residents of the Adichilthotti tribal settlement spotted the bodies and informed the authorities.

Forest officials suspect the two elephants may have slipped while attempting to cross the flooded Idamalayar River and plunged down the nearby waterfall.

Malayatoor Divisional Forest Officer P Karthik on Friday told IANS that four carcasses of elephants were found in the division on Thursday. He said that there was nothing unusual about the deaths of the four elephants, which appeared to have occurred due to flooding after heavy rain.

In a separate incident, a pregnant female elephant was found dead in a rivulet at Ayyampuzha, near Angamaly, according to a local media report. The body was located in the Athirappilly forest area, which comes under the Vazhachal division.

Samples of the viscera from all five elephants have been collected and sent for forensic analysis. Following the post-mortem examinations, the elephant carcasses were buried as per protocol.

This is not the first time elephant deaths have been reported during floods in Kerala. In 2018, during the catastrophic monsoon, several elephants were swept away in rivers across Idukki and Wayanad districts.

Similar incidents were reported in 2020 in the Periyar and Parambikulam tiger reserves. The Forest Department has initiated a joint inquiry across all three forest divisions affected.

Officials have also asked local communities to remain alert and report any further sightings or unusual activity along riverbanks.(Agency)

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