* % : *!" '$,!!.2$!)*-!" "&)2$!)*-!" SIDISrtVUU@IB!&!!"&#S@B9IV69P99I !%! %! ' !"#$%&'( +(121+23 +/'-0 (+,-. 0 / 0 5 55 8 =/ ; 8 0/ / C < = > % ?@ @AA > 5#$& ' --*$,* ) *+ %,)-.%&/ %'- ! "$% !& ) + Janmabhoomi is yet to be allo- %* - '! $!"#$!" cated for the construction of !' &" )-* !#& ,-. head of the crucial 2019 the temple although all kinds ALok Sabha elections, --!- " 3# *4 of evidence have affirmed that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 55 $' there was a temple at that (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on $!"#$!" !' ) place. There is an obvious Thursday put the contentious )-* "$ '!) game-plan of a few elements to he court of Additional Ram Mandir issue back on the *'6) -!" !' 4 stall the judgment by present- TChief Metropolitan front burner, by exhorting the ing various newer interven- Magistrate (ACMM) on Narendra Modi Government N ) )-* ** *! - tions in the judicial process,” Thursday said it will examine “to clear the path for con- '! " )!- !' the RSS chief said, as he called the statements by former struction of a grand temple &!!** " !"" " for expediting the decision on Union Minister MJ Akbar and through appropriate and req- $!#"O the ownership of the land and other witnesses on October uisite law”. the BJP-led Government at 31, in the defamation case Addressing the RSS cadres $' #" the Centre bringing an “appro- filed by the journalist-turned- at the RSS headquarters in / &O priate and requisite law” to politician against journalist Nagpur on Vijayadashami, ). "$ facilitate construction of the Priya Ramani. Bhagwat charged that there 55 " ,* " Ram temple. The #MeToo controversy was “an obvious game-plan” of !*") " "! " Through his remarks on had jolted the political quarters a few elements to stall the #* !' * Ram Mandir, Bhagwat has and led to the ouster of Akbar, judgment on Ram Mandir by 5#,)"" 5) indirectly given a poll plank to who was Minister of State for presenting various newer inter- & ) the ruling BJP but also asked External Affairs and had to 2 pm to witness the first hear- ventions in the judicial process. $!"#!"** * )" the Government to become demit office on Wednesday ing of the high-profile defama- He, however, stressed that the " 0!")" !#* pro-active in taking Mandir evening. tion case. However, the curios- construction of Ram temple ,"& " /""$ '! issue to a logical conclusion in Akbar has filed a defama- ity, subsided drastically the was necessary from the self- $!"#$!" !' )-* # $ % &' # ( % !" the run-up to the 2019 Lok tion suit against Ramani, who moment they came to know esteem point of view. Sabha polls. It remains to be made allegations of sexual that neither Akbar nor Ramani “It (Ram temple) will also of Ram temple, saying legisla- Minister in the Uttar Pradesh spokesman in Uttar Pradesh is raising the issue now because seen if the Narendra Modi harassment against Akbar. would visit the court for their pave the way for an atmosphere tion is a constitutionally valid Government and its spokesper- Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI. elections are round the corner Government would bring in a Ramani has accused Akbar first judicial face-off. of goodwill and oneness in the option. Opposition and son, echoed the view, saying the Darul Uloom Farangi and the BJP Government’s legislation in matters relating of sexual misconduct around During the 20-minute- country. This matter of nation- Muslim leaders, however, legislation to build the temple Mahal rector Maulana Khalid performance is dismal, he said. to the Ram Mandir construc- 20 years ago. Ramani’s claims long hearing in the Patiala al interest is being obstructed linked his call for the legislation at Ayodhya will be in accor- Rashid Farangi Mahali said Underlining the role of tion, pending a Supreme Court were seconded by several other house court complex, by some fundamentalist ele- to the 2019 Lok Sabha elec- dance with the Constitution. even a child knows that the Sangh Parivar in the proposal verdict on the Ram women, who took to the social Additional Chief Metropolitan ments and forces that play tions, saying his demand is Terming Bhagwat’s speech Ram temple issue is raised by to construct Ram Mandir (in Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid media and revealed their har- Magistrate Samar Vishal heard communal politics for selfish “politically motivated”. historic, former BJP MP Vinay the RSS-BJP every time before Ayodhya), Bhagwat said: “In land dispute, the hearing for rowing accounts of alleged the submissions of senior gains. Despite such machina- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Katiyar rejected the contention the elections. this very same context of hon- which will commence from sexual misconduct by Akbar. advocate Geeta Luthra, repre- tions, the decision regarding Owaisi said Bhagwat’s remarks that he made the demand for Babri Masjid Action ouring the ‘Sewa’ of the nation, October 29 before a three- Over the past 10 days, at senting Akbar, who said the ownership of the land should indicated that the RSS and the a law for the temple with an eye Committee convener Zafaryab Sangh has been associated judge Bench. least 20 women have come for- “controversial” tweets and sim- be expedited, and the BJP believed in totalitarianism on the 2019 elections. Jilani said Bhagwat is trying to with the sentiments of coun- In his Dussehra rally ward to narrate their experi- ilar social media posts of Government should clear the and not in the rule of law. In Lucknow, Opposition influence the court, referring to trymen, in the efforts of con- address, Bhagwat spoke on a ences of alleged sexual harass- Ramani have cause irreparable path for construction of the BJP MP Subramanian parties and Muslim leaders the title suit for the disputed structing a magnificent Ram host of issues, including ment at the hands of Akbar loss to Akbar’s reputation built grand temple through appro- Swamy said Bhagwat made a said Bhagwat’s call was meant site in Ayodhya. temple at the birthplace of national security, internal secu- during his days as editor of sev- over 40 years. priate and requisite law,” constitutionally valid demand to serve political interests. “The Firebrand Hindu leader Shri Ram who is the personi- rity, “disturbing trends” in the eral mainstream publications. “Let the matter be fixed for Bhagwat said. and the Government should statement on Ram temple given Pravin Togadia questioned fication of the life energy of the country, the recent verdict on Scores of scribes, lawyers examination of the com- Several BJP leaders sup- bring an Ordinance for con- by the RSS chief is a political why such a law was not enact- nation and an icon of uphold- Sabarimala temple and the and onlookers thronged the plainant (Akbar) and his wit- ported the RSS chief’s push for struction of the temple. statement before the upcoming ed in the last four and a half ing dharma. RSS’ role and views on the small courtroom at courts nesses for October 31,” said the a law to enable the construction Shrikant Sharma, a elections,” Samajwadi Party years of the BJP rule. The RSS “The place of 2019 general elections. complex on Thursday around magistrate. ! " $ ! %& New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India on Thursday asked MJ Akbar to withdraw the criminal defamation case he filed against journalist media that doors of the temple Priya Ramani, as the top editors’ body came out in support of the would be locked if women in women journalists. The Guild also offered legal support to women nion Minister Pon ' the “banned” age group reach journalists who have levelled the allegations against Akbar in case URadhakrishnan has said the shrine. Asserting that he he does not withdraw the present case or files such cases against that the #MeToo movement was a law-abiding citizen, the other women too. was started by “people with priest appealed to the women The Guild’s support for the women came a day after Akbar perverted minds”. in menstruating age group not stepped down as the Minister of State for External Affairs in the “If someone makes an to climb the hills, hurting the face of mounting pressure following allegations of sexual harass- allegation that such a thing sentiments of large number of ment against him by several women journalists. happened…when the inci- Ayyappa devotees. In a statement, the Guild said it salutes the courage shown by dent happened we were play- !" # Protesters kept a hawk eye several women journalists in bringing to light instances of how they ing together while in Class $$# %!"& !' N)""& on the trek route to Sabarimala were sexually harassed. While Akbar is entitled to all legal instru- V….Would it be fair?” " )!*"&O "# " temple and made sure that ments available to a citizen to seek vindication, it would be para- Radhakrishnan, Union ) " N,#O -! women from “banned” age doxical for a veteran editor to employ the instrument of criminal Minister of State for Shipping ). , /--!!" -O * group did not dare to make any defamation, the Guild said, adding that, “more so for Akbar who and Finance said. 0#*) , "# attempt to reach the shrine. happens to be a former president of the Guild”. PTI $" ""& ) '! After Wednesday’s violent $)-&""& #$ $**2 protest and clashes, fewer women turned up on Thursday to reach the shrine. "# $ Amid ongoing protests at Sabarimala, RSS chief Mohan (R Bhagwat also joined the issue saying the Supreme Court ver- $ %&R dict has not taken into consid- eration the nature and premise !" of the tradition that has been accepted by society and has elhi’s Patiala House Court State following protests against responsibility of the State given rise to “divisiveness” in Don Thursday accepted the ormer Uttar Pradesh Chief the Supreme Court order Government. society. surrender plea submitted by FMinister ND Tiwari who rotesters blocked the entry allowing women of all age Sabarimala Thanthri (chief He said questions such as Ashish Pandey, who was seen served in various positions at Pof women belonging to groups to enter the shrine.