India Archive

The efforts to revive and reclaim ancient Hindu temples in Kanpur have taken a decisive turn as Hindu organizations intensify their search for temples that have either disappeared or been repurposed into buildings, shops, or other structures. Amid these developments, Kanpur’s BJP Mayor, Pramila Pandey, has emerged as a prominent figure leading the charge.

On December 20th, the historic Ganga Maharani Temple in Bareilly’s Qila Police Station area was finally freed from a staggering 40-year-long illegal occupation by Wajid Ali and his family. For decades, this 250-year-old temple, revered by the local Hindu community, was wrongfully taken over under dubious claims. According to media reports, Wajid Ali and his family “voluntarily” vacated the premises following an investigation conducted by the district administration, which invalidated their claims of “legal occupation.” Wajid had argued that he was employed as a watchman by a cooperative society to oversee two rented rooms within the premises. However, the inquiry revealed these claims to be baseless and entirely fabricated.

On 19th December, a distressing incident took place in the Indian Parliament, often revered as the temple of democracy. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi, a 69-year-old leader from Balasore, Odisha, suffered a fall on the stairs of Parliament. This was not an ordinary accident but allegedly caused by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, raising concerns about the decorum within the sacred precincts of democracy. Sarangi is currently receiving medical treatment for the injuries sustained during this unfortunate episode.

The chaotic scenes in Parliament recently, where a frail BJP MP, Pratap Sarangi, one of the poorest and humblest members of the house, suffered serious injuries, have exposed an unsettling side of Rahul Gandhi’s political strategy. Another MP was also injured in the scuffle. The episode hints at more than just impulsive aggression—it lays bare Gandhi’s larger ambitions. “To do even better than his granny in terms of destroying institutions of democracy and engaging in political violence.” The question is, will the government and judiciary act decisively, ensuring that the elite and connected are not shielded from accountability?

The Supreme Court’s interim order issued on December 12, concerning the Places of Worship Act, 1991, has sparked significant legal and constitutional debates. This directive restrains all courts across the country from entertaining fresh suits or issuing orders to survey mosques to ascertain if temple structures lie beneath them. While the decision, delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justices P.V. Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, is ostensibly aimed at preserving peace and public order, its far-reaching implications have raised concerns about prioritizing societal harmony over fundamental rights.

The Prime Minister’s Museum & Library (PMML) has officially reached out to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, urging them to return 51 cartons of private letters belonging to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. These letters hold immense historical significance and have been at the center of a recent controversy.

On December 13th, Khabar India, a YouTube-based news channel, released a video amidst the political buzz surrounding the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for early 2025. The video features a reporter engaging in conversations with Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal who have been residing and working in Delhi for years. The interviews unearthed strong political preferences and shocking statements. Among the workers, one individual issued a chilling and direct threat against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, sparking widespread concern and outrage.

On 8th December, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) workers made their way to the Pir Babar Sheikh Dargah in Hatis, Ratnagiri district, in what could only be described as a spectacle of political acrobatics. This time, the once-proud Hindutva warriors, founded by Bal Thackeray, decided to take an oath of loyalty to the party at a “religious place” far removed from their ideological roots. Predictably, this move has caused a stir on social media, where users questioned whether this was an attempt at “secularism” or just another episode in Uddhav’s ongoing identity crisis.

An appalling incident involving the alleged rape of an seven-months-old girl, the daughter of a homeless couple, has shaken Kolkata. The matter came to light on November 30, when a resident of Burtolla alerted the police after noticing the girl sitting alone on the footpath outside his house. She was crying uncontrollably, prompting the concerned individual to call the police.

In a landmark development, the Rajya Sabha has approved the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, a revolutionary step that effectively replaces the nearly century-old Aircraft Act of 1934. This legislation marks a major shift in India's aviation framework, aligning it with the needs of a rapidly modernizing aviation industry. Passed during the ongoing Winter Session, the bill has garnered approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, signifying a strong consensus towards modernization.