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TN police withdraws seer summons

      Kancheepuram: The summons issued to the Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi by the Tamil Nadu police to appear before them by 1030 am today, has been withdrawn orally, confirmed the Mutt advocate A Shanmugam. According to Shanmugam, the summon was not legally enforceable under the CrPC. He said so after meeting the Special Investigation Team, probing the cases against the Kanchi seer. The mutt lawyer cited a Supreme Court judgement, according to which an accused could not be summoned for questioning like a witness. In addition to above point, Shanmugham also said that Kalavai, the place where the seer is staying, was outside the jurisdiction of Kancheepuram police and the summons issued by the SIT were not enforceable. Shanmugam further added, the police agreed to the points mentioned and said that they would have to consult the prosecution lawyer, as he (Shanmugham) had raised some legal points.

Thousands take dip in Ganges on Makar Sankranti (Go To Top)

     Haridwar: Celebrations marking the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti began on Friday Haridwar as thousands braved the winter chill to take a dip in the holy Ganges river. The festival, which coincides with the winter harvest, is celebrated widely across the country and known by different names. While the festival is known as Makar Sankranti in parts of north and northwest India, it is celebrated as "Pongal" in the south and as "Bihu" in the northeast. Devotees braving freezing temperatures thronged city's river banks at sunrise to take a holy dip in the river. It is believed that a dip in the Ganges on this auspicious day washes away all sins. "On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, we first bathe the idols in the temples and hold a special prayer. After this we take the holy bath and also give donations to the needy," Ram Prasad, a devotee said. Devotees also thronged the banks of the Ganges in northern ancient town of Varanasi at various Ghats or bathing banks. Hindu scriptures say the ritual dates back to the origin of the earth when gods and demons, after stirring the oceans, squabbled over who should get the holy "amrit" or nectar, one drop of which guaranteed immortality. Lord Vishnu (the God of Preservation) transformed himself into a woman to distract the demons, who wanted the nectar for themselves. But the demons chased the gods, who spilled drops of the nectar at four places-- Allahabad, Nasik, Hardwar and Ujjain. Since then, bathing at these four places in northern and western India has been considered a sacred rite on most of the festivals. Jan 14, 2005

Nitish's new formula for JD (U)-LJP (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) leader, Nitish Kumar has said that a secret understanding can be worked out with Paswan's Lok Jan Shakti party for the next month's assembly polls. Both JD (U) and LJP have been offering the Chief Ministerial berth to each other. Top leaders from both sides, Nitish and Ram Vilas have been in constant touch, but nothing formalised. Ram Vilas has been asking the JD (U) to sever its ties with the BJP, while Nitish has been offering Paswan to come to the NDA to defeat the common enemy, Lalu Prasad Yadav. Now that nothing seems to have worked out, and elections round the corner, Nitish has admitted that remarks by BJP leaders had spoilt the chances of a pre-poll tie-up with Paswan. The former Railway Minister said, "There was no question of leaving the BJP at any point. We only tried to include more people. Our aims were never hidden."