C M Y K * % RNI Regn. No. MPENG/2004/13703, Regd. No. L-2/BPLON/41/2006-2008 &'$%&#()*+ +(,-,+-. +/'00 1,1 2,3405 0 / 0 8 88 : ;/ /50 C 8 0/ / < /%/ % 42=> &&5 ?@A B 8#$& ' --*$,* , (-,./()0 (.1+(23/ !"#$ #!%# &'( )! ! "$% !& ) + cated for the construction of %* - '! $!"#$!" the temple although all kinds of !' &" )-* !#& ,-. head of the crucial 2019 evidence have affirmed that ALok Sabha elections, --!- " 9# *4 there was a temple at that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 88 $' place. There is an obvious (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on $!"#$!" !' ) game-plan of a few elements to Thursday put the contentious )-* "$ '!) stall the judgment by present- he court of Additional Ram Mandir issue back on the *'7) -!" !' 4 ing various newer interventions TChief Metropolitan front burner, by exhorting the in the judicial process,” the RSS Magistrate (ACMM) on Narendra Modi Government N ) )-* ** *! - chief said, as he called for Thursday said it will examine “to clear the path for con- '! " )!- !' expediting the decision on the the statements by former struction of a grand temple &!!** " !"" " ownership of the land and the Union Minister MJ Akbar and through appropriate and req- $!#"O BJP-led Government at the other witnesses on October uisite law”. Centre bringing an “appropri- 31, in the defamation case Addressing the RSS cadres $' #" ate and requisite law” to facil- filed by the journalist-turned- at the RSS headquarters in / &O itate construction of the Ram politician against journalist Nagpur on Vijayadashami, ). "$ temple. Priya Ramani. Bhagwat charged that there 88 " ,* " Through his remarks on The #MeToo controversy was “an obvious game-plan” of !*") " "! " Ram Mandir, Bhagwat has had jolted the political quarters a few elements to stall the #* !' * indirectly given a poll plank to and led to the ouster of Akbar, judgment on Ram Mandir by 8#,)"" 8) the ruling BJP but also asked who was Minister of State for complex on Thursday around presenting various newer inter- & ) the Government to become External Affairs and had to 2 pm to witness the first hear- ventions in the judicial process. $!"#!"** * )" pro-active in taking Mandir demit office on Wednesday ing of the high-profile defama- He, however, stressed that the " 0!")" !#* issue to a logical conclusion in evening. tion case. However, the curios- construction of Ram temple ,"& " /""$ '! the run-up to the 2019 Lok Akbar has filed a defama- ity, subsided drastically the was necessary from the self- $!"#$!" !' )-* # $ % &' # ( % !" Sabha polls. tion suit against Ramani, who moment they came to know esteem point of view. It remains to be seen if the 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 ing the issue now because elec- Narendra Modi Government 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. tions are round the corner and would bring in a legislation in Ramani has accused first judicial face-off. of goodwill and oneness in the option. Opposition and son, echoed the view, saying the Darul Uloom Farangi the BJP Government’s perfor- matters relating to the Ram Akbar of sexual misconduct During the 20-minute- country. This matter of nation- Muslim leaders, however, legislation to build the temple Mahal rector Maulana Khalid mance is dismal, he said. Mandir construction, pending around 20 years ago. Ramani’s 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 a Supreme Court verdict on claims were seconded by sev- 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 the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri eral other women, who took to 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 Masjid land dispute, the hear- the social media and revealed 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 ing for which will commence their harrowing accounts of the submissions of senior gains. Despite such machina- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Katiyar rejected the contention the elections. this very same context of hon- from October 29 before a alleged sexual misconduct by 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, three-judge Bench. Akbar. 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 with In his Dussehra rally Over the past 10 days, at “controversial” tweets and sim- be expedited, and the BJP believed in totalitarianism on the 2019 elections. Jilani said Bhagwat is trying to the sentiments of countrymen, address, Bhagwat spoke on a least 20 women have come for- ilar social media posts of Government should clear the and not in the rule of law. In Lucknow, Opposition influence the court, referring to in the efforts of constructing a host of issues, including ward to narrate their experi- Ramani have cause irreparable path for construction of the BJP MP Subramanian parties and Muslim leaders the title suit for the disputed site magnificent Ram temple at national security, internal ences of alleged sexual harass- loss to Akbar’s reputation built grand temple through appro- Swamy said Bhagwat made a said Bhagwat’s call was meant in Ayodhya. the birthplace of Shri Ram security, “disturbing trends” ment at the hands of Akbar over 40 years. priate and requisite law,” constitutionally valid demand to serve political interests. “The Firebrand Hindu leader who is the personification of in the country, the recent during his days as editor of “Let the matter be fixed for Bhagwat said. and the Government should statement on Ram temple given Pravin Togadia questioned why the life energy of the nation and verdict on Sabarimala temple several mainstream publica- examination of the com- Several BJP leaders sup- bring an Ordinance for con- by the RSS chief is a political such a law was not enacted in an icon of upholding dharma. and the RSS’ role and views tions. Scores of scribes, lawyers plainant (Akbar) and his wit- ported the RSS chief’s push for struction of the temple. statement before the upcoming the last four and a half years of “The place of on the 2019 general elec- and onlookers thronged the nesses for October 31,” said the a law to enable the construction Shrikant Sharma, a elections,” Samajwadi Party the BJP rule. The RSS is rais- Janmabhoomi is yet to be allo- tions. small courtroom at courts 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 # $$# %!"& on the trek route to Sabarimala were sexually harassed. While Akbar is entitled to all legal instru- V… . !' N)""& " )!*"&O temple and made sure that ments available to a citizen to seek vindication, it would be para- Would it be fair?” "# " ) " N,#O women from “banned” age doxical for a veteran editor to employ the instrument of criminal Radhakrishnan, Union -! ). , /--!!" group did not dare to make any defamation, the Guild said, adding that, “more so for Akbar who Minister of State for Shipping -O * 0#*) , attempt to reach the shrine. happens to be a former president of the Guild”. PTI and Finance said. "# $" After Wednesday’s violent ""& ) '! $)-&""& protest and clashes, fewer #$ $**2 women turned up on Thursday to reach the shrine. "# $ P Amid ongoing protests at Sabarimala, RSS chief Mohan (R $!)-! Bhagwat also joined the issue *! -!!" !' &*O saying the Supreme Court ver- $ %&R ,! '!#" " 3#"&* " dict has not taken into consid- !# *O #". 4 -!*$ eration the nature and premise !" #2 !" of the tradition that has been accepted by society and has elhi’s Patiala House Court P 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 )!" ' 3!" Pof women belonging to groups to enter the shrine.