In Hyderabad, Hindus are denied to make festival shed at Bhagyalakshmi temple in front of Charminar..

In Muslim areas like Hyderabad in India, Hindus are not allowed to make even temporary sheds for the use of festivals.
Temporary Shed for festival removed from Bhagyalaxmi Temple in front of Charminar at Hyderabad.
‘Expansion’ row adds to tension in Old City of Hyderabad.

Express News Service – Hyderabad | 02nd November 2012 :: Tension continued in the Old City of Hyderabad on Thursday after the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) objected to the management of Bhagyalakshmi temple at the Charminar setting up a small shed in front of its premises late Wednesday night.

Police took as many as 20 persons into preventive custody after a mild clash took place between the two groups.

“At around 10 am on Thursday, devotees and Bajrang Dal activists reached the temple and staged a dharna alleging that a section of people deliberately opposed decoration works at the place of worship. Police rushed to the spot and took 20 persons into preventive custody,” deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Akun Sabharwal said, adding that the arrested persons were shifted to Kanchanbagh and Bahadurapura police stations.

According to police, the management was trying to build a temporary shed in front of the temple for the festival, when some MIM party activists, led by Charminar MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Qadri, rushed to the spot and objected to the construction, alleging that the space near the Charminar was being encroached upon.

Heated argument ensued between the two groups after which police rushed to the spot and dispersed the mob.

Heavy security was deployed in and around the Charminar to prevent untoward incidents as communal clashes have been taking place in the Old City for a few days. Section 144 is still clamped in the Old City

Bajrang Dal Alleges Political Hand

Bajrang Dal city convener Bharath Vamsi alleged that the police deliberately arrested their activists and devotees under the influence of some political parties in the Old city. “Devotees celebrate Bhagyalaxmi festival every year.

As the festival is round the corner, the temple committee started decorating and constructing a small shed temporarily in front of its premises. What’s the wrong in it?” Vamsi questioned. He demanded that the police release the arrested devotees and Bajrang Dal activists. [Courtesy: New Indian Express]

“ONE VENTILATOR OF CHARMINAR HAS BEEN DAMAGED INADVERTENTLY BY ONE OF THE WORKER OF MAKE SHIFT (ABSOLUTELY TEMPORARY) SHEDS AT BHAGYALAKSHMI TEMPLE. THEN WHAT ABOUT THOUSAND TEMPLE DESTRUCTED BY MUSLIM RULERS ALL OVER BHARAT. OH HINDUS! DON’T ALLOW ANY MOSQUE IN ANY HINDU AREA OR NEAR VICINITY. IT WILL SNATCH YOUR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF TEMPLE AT LAST” - Upananda Brahmachari.

Hindu Existence Updates :: 1st Nov, 2012*******Raja Bhai Arrested******* Yesterday midnight around 2-3 o’clock MIM MLAs with their 1000 of their supporters gathered at Charminar Bhagyalakshmi Mata Temple and did a dharna (sitting demonstration demanding removal of shed…They shouted slogan “Bharat Mata Hai Hai”, and pelted stones. We ask what was police doing then when so many Muslims gathered within 144 declared areas violating peace and orders?

Raja Bhai Singh Thakur ( A councillor of TDP and a Hindu leader) was detained by police when he tried to go the Charminar Bhagyalaxmi Mata temple including the priest of the temple and several other BJP leaders… Is Bharat going to be a Muslim State?

2nd Nov, 2012 :: Today some miscreants tried to create trouble after Friday prayers at Charminar. Some miscreants went ahead and set ablaze ACP’s vehicle on fire (even police is not safe from their terror). But thanks to CRPF and RAF, a heavy damage was avoided by the security contingent. As everyone expected of Islamic nuisance after Friday prayers, they withstood the expectations. It is a request to all Hindus to be safe and don’t spread rumours unless confirmed. Be safe and be ready.

Responding this sms: “ Nov 02, 2012 Charminar, Bhagyalaxmi Mata Mandir me theek 12 baje ki Maha aarthi me sabi hindu kaisa be attend kare. Jai Bhagyalaxmi Mata Mandir. Jai Sree Ram, Jai Gou Mata.’- by Sri Ram Yuba Sena of Thakur Raja Singh, thousands of devotees gathered to perform Maha Arti at Bagyalaksmi Temple amidst heavy rainfall at Hyderabad.

3rd Nov, 2012 :: “JAI SHRIRAM” Today On Day Of Saturday 03-11-2012, City Police Commissioner Called V.H.P BAJRANGDAL Delegation Team For ”CHALO BHAGYALAKSHMI MANDIR” Program fixed on 4th Nov, 2012. After The Two Hours Serious Meeting With Commissioner, And Promised that he will stand at the spot to finish the pending work of the shed. He also informed that a permanent solution will be tried. So, Vishwa Hindu Parishad State President Sri M.Rama Raju Ji, Sri T.Yaman Singh, State Joint Secretary and State Bajrangdal State Incharge decided to postpone the program of 4th Nov and time has been given to police to restore the situation. [updates from the Sri Ram Channel's Face Book Page].

British tourists targeted in 'massacre plot' at Egypt beach resort - but police swoop on al-Qaeda terror suspects just in time

Five terrorists have been caught apparently plotting an attack on British tourists in an Egyptian resort in the lead-up to Christmas.
The suspected jihadists were arrested by Egyptian counter terror police as they collected rocket-propelled grenades, rifles and pistols in an attempt believed to be similar to the Mumbai attacks in India which killed 166 people in November 2008.#
Authorities claimed that the gang planned to attack the ‘softer target of British tourists’ holidaying at the idyllic beachside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea.

Terrorist target: Beachside resort Sharm el-Sheikh (pictured) is thought to have been the target of five Muslim terrorists who were arrested by Egyptian counter terror police

The arrests come after al-Qaeda leader Ayman Zawahiri called for a new wave of violence, appealing to jihadists around the world to attack and kidnap westerners.
The Daily Mirror quoted a security source saying: ‘There are increasing fears that Zawahiri is demanding more attacks on civilian areas with a focus on Americans and Brits.
‘British security is pretty good these days so al-Qaeda is turning its attention to the softer target of British tourists who are holidaying abroad.’

The suspects were held near the border with Gaza as the weapons were taken to a safe house in Egypt.
In a separate incident, security forces arrested two men allegedly linked to 83 bombs found by security forces in a car on a highway outside Cairo, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Appeal for violence: al-Qaeda leader Ayman Zawahiri has appealed to jihadists around the world to attack and kidnap westerners

Police also raided an apartment in Cairo and seized 1.1lbs of ball bearings, which are often used in bombs to cause greater damage and injury, and a bomb-making manual.
Two other men were detained by police recently with electrical circuit boards that could have been used in bomb-making.
The attack in Mumbai in 2008 occurred at 10 sites across the city with most of the 166 victims killed at the Indian city’s main train station.
Attacks in Egypt have been on the rise since Salafi Islam fundamentalist groups linked to al-Qaeda have grown in Egypt’s Sinai region.
Attacks have been made on UN peacekeepers, Egyptian forces, Israel and a gas pipe to Israel and Jordan.

Mumbai-style: The foiled terror plot was thought to be similar to the Mumbai attacks which killed 166 people including people at the Taj Mahal hotel (pictured) in 2008

Most victims: A gunman walks through Mumbai's main train station where most of the victims were killed during the 2008 attack

Tourists have been targeted before by extremists in Egypt during a wave of violence in the 1990s.
Some 62 tourists were massacred by six men disguised as security force staff with knives and automatic guns at an archaeological site across the Nile from Luxor in 1997.
At the time, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak blamed the British government partly for the attack after the Egyptian terror chiefs responsible were given asylum in the UK.
The Sharm el-Sheikh resort has been targeted before in 2005 when two car bombs went off at the centre of the resort and another in the city’s Old Market while restaurants, cafes and bars were packed, killing 88 people and wounded 150.
Just last year an estimated 30,000 Britons were trapped in Egypt, the Middle East’s most populous country, split between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Sharm el-Sheikh as violence broke out around the country while Egyptians protested.

Caves temple committee actions unbecoming

By S.Param
I refer to the recent protest by the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar temple committee members with regard to the 29-storey condominium building project close to its premises.
Like many others I am equally puzzled as to how on earth the temple committee had kept quiet all these years, and suddenly are now beating their chests in protest over the planned condo project.

I had an opportunity to speak to several Hindu devotees recently about the matter and practically all of them could not stomach what the temple president has been claiming - that he is not aware of the planned condo.

Those who hold key positions in temple committees should avoid being seen to confuse and create unnecessary tension among the public especially among the devotees with their  actions. The temple committee should have ideally approached the state authorities and worked out an amicable solution to the matter instead of creating a drama.

It is unbecoming to stage a loud protest on the temple grounds as it is supposed to be a place of worship. Protest involving hundreds of people are events that arouse negative vibes in the temple grounds and this is definitely not in line with the Vedic teachings.

The sanctity of the temple grounds should be respected at all times and circumstances. It is sad to note that the temple committee in its overzealousness in highlighting the condo project has breached the sacred code of conduct.

The Thaipusam festival is around the corner and I hope the temple committee does not aggravate the situation further to the point of creating unnecessary anxiety and stress among the public especially the Hindu devotees.

Since the state government has already formed a special committee to look into the condo project issue, let’s hope and pray everything turns out well. It is unwise for anyone to politicise this issue further.

The Batu Caves Sri Subramaniar temple is renowned the world over for the hundreds of colourful kavadi bearers during Thaipusam. Please don’t turn it into a ground for protesters and placard holders.

PI Bala threatens to bare all if MACC keeps mum

(Malaysiakini) Private investigator P Balasubramaniam has threatened to expose more details of attempts to bribe him in relation to his 2008 statutory declaration (SD) linking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

In a letter to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) that Malaysiakini has sighted, Balasubramaniam who is in hiding in India said the information he possesses is already in the hands of foreign journalists and would be released if the commission continues to do nothing.

"My lawyer is holding everything for me. Also foreign journalists have everything. (They are) just waiting for my instructions and then (they) will release everything.

"By then (it would be) too late. As I said, please inform me or my lawyer within seven days, otherwise I am not responsible for what happens," he wrote.

In the letter dated Nov 2, Balasubramaniam expressed frustration at MACC's inaction.

"Why is the MACC not doing anything about my case since 2008? Is it because it involves the prime minister?

"My case is very clear, you don't have to investigate much. I have already given you all the evidence you need," he wrote.

He noted that the MACC had initially asked for an interview with him in London, but had not turned up at the last minute.

Subsequently, Balasubramaniam said he had answered all of MACC's questions which were couriered to him.

"You will recall that I assisted you by answering all your questions and had my affidavit affirmed and sworn before a notary in London as you requested.

"My lawyers then personally delivered this affidavit to your office in Putrajaya in August 2010," wrote the PI.

‘Bribed to implicate PKR’

Balasubramaniam claims that some people had bribed him to get him to implicate PKR leaders, including party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, of paying him to commit perjury in his 2008 SD linking Najib with the murdered translator.

He said he was approached by the same people - businessman Deepak Jaikishan and a police officer by the name of Suresh - who had threatened and subsequently paid him a substantial amount, to sign a second SD to say that his first sworn statement was made “under duress’.

A key figure in the Altantuya murder controversy, Balasubramaniam fled to India with his family after signing the second SD.

Balasubramaniam later said that since then, Deepak and Suresh again approached him in April last year to bribe him to implicate PKR leaders.

In his letter to MACC, he complained, "I have given you enough time (to act), so far nothing has happened, zero.

"I am sitting here in Indian and cannot come back to Malaysia as I am afraid for my safety. I have got no job. How long do you think I can survive?" he wrote.