‘Time to end Pakistan’s terror games’: Chandigarh voices full support for PM Modi

Jaipur, March 22 (IANS) Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday strongly criticised the recent statement made by Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman regarding Rana Sanga.

He dismissed the comparison between Babur and Rana Sanga, stating that such discussions have no merit.

Speaking informally to the media on Saturday, Shekhawat asserted that historians, even a thousand years from now, will never be able to equate Babur with Rana Sanga. He emphasised that Rana Sanga played a crucial role in igniting the spirit of freedom and resisting foreign domination.

“He not only prevented India from falling into slavery but also made an immense contribution to preserving the nation’s cultural heritage,” Shekhawat stated.

The minister further criticised the remarks, stating: “People with petty intellect and small hearts engage in such discussions. There is no room for such debates.

“Those who review the history of India, not today, but for the next 1,000 years, whenever they review, will never be able to compare Babar and Rana Sanga and put them on the same scale. Rana Sanga had awakened the spirit of freedom. He not only saved India from being enslaved, but also made a huge contribution in keeping the culture of India eternal. Some people with petty intellect and small hearts have such discussions. There is no scope for such discussions,” he added.

Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman has stirred controversy after referring to 16th-century Rajput king Rana Sanga as a “traitor” during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the functioning of the Home Ministry.

He argued that Rana Sanga played a key role in bringing Mughal emperor Babur to India. Suman’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who have condemned his statement.

Addressing the BJP’s stance on the historical lineage of Indian Muslims, he said: “It is often repeated by BJP leaders that Muslims have the DNA of Babur. But Indian Muslims do not consider Babur as their leader. In fact, who brought Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga who invited him to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. By that logic, if you claim Muslims are the descendants of Babur, then you are also the descendants of Rana Sanga — a traitor. We criticise Babar, but not Rana Sanga.”

The statement has ignited a political debate, with BJP leaders demanding an apology, arguing that Rana Sanga was a revered warrior who fought against foreign rule.

–IANS

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Hazaribagh, April 15 (IANS) A petrol pump manager was shot dead by unidentified criminals while he was on his way to deposit cash at a bank in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district on Tuesday, police officials said.

The incident occurred in the Ichak police station area, highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.

The victim has been identified as Shankar Kumar, a resident of the Hazaribagh district.

According to the police, Shankar was carrying the cash collection of the last four days from the petrol pump located at Salparni on the busy Ranchi-Patna Road.

He left the premises around 11 a.m. on Tuesday when he was intercepted by the assailants, who attempted to rob him.

Eyewitnesses said that when Shankar resisted the robbery attempt, the attackers opened fire at him. He sustained fatal gunshot wounds and died on the spot. The assailants fled the scene with the money.

Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team from Ichak police station reached the spot and launched an investigation. Forensic experts were also called in, and CCTV footage from nearby areas is being scanned to identify the attackers.

This incident is the latest in a string of violent crimes reported from Hazaribagh in recent months. Five days ago, on April 10, a 25-year-old youth named Prabhat Kumar was brutally murdered with a sharp weapon in the Khirgaon locality of the city. The killing had sparked public outrage, with local residents blocking the Hazaribagh-Simaria road for nearly six hours in protest against the rising crime.

On March 8, Kumar Gaurav, Deputy General Manager (Dispatch and Billing) at NTPC’s Keredari mining project, was gunned down by criminals while he was on his way in a company vehicle to his workplace. That murder also led to widespread protests and a three-day halt in operations at NTPC’s mining projects.

–IANS

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Chennai, Jan 13 (IANS) Following the removal of encroachments, the Pallikaranai marshland in Tamil Nadu’s Mettukuppam has witnessed the arrival of more than 10,000 birds from 100 different species, including 70 migratory species.

According to Gopikannan, an avid bird watcher, several rare migratory birds have been spotted in the marshland this season. These include the Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Ruff, and Western Marsh Harrier. He attributed their presence to the marshland’s abundant food supply and favourable conditions.

“The availability of food and a rich habitat makes Pallikaranai the preferred site for migratory birds during the season,” he said.

Tamil Nadu forest department officials confirmed that 52 encroachments were removed under the supervision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the squatters were relocated.

This intervention allowed the marshland to reclaim its natural state, creating a haven for both migratory and local bird species.

Officials reported that over 10,000 birds, representing 100 different species, were observed in the Pallikaranai wetland. They highlighted that continuous monitoring efforts by bird watchers and the forest department over the years have significantly enriched their understanding of the ecosystem.

Heavy rainfall during the monsoon season contributed to robust water flow into the marshland, fostering a thriving habitat. As water levels gradually receded, a variety of waders joined the migratory species, further enhancing the marshland’s biodiversity.

The Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu has also reported a notable increase in migratory bird arrivals this season compared to previous years. Located in the Kollukudipatti and Vettangudipatti villages along the Madurai-Karaikudi Highway, the sanctuary spans 36 hectares.

Officials revealed that approximately 3,500 to 4,000 migratory birds visited the sanctuary in 2024, a remarkable rise from just 800 recorded in 2023.

The Tamil Nadu forest department noted that around 20 species of birds visit the Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary annually, including the Egret, Indian Spot-Billed Duck, Darter, Asian Openbill Stork, and Black-Headed Ibis.

A senior forest department official explained that many of these birds travel thousands of kilometres from regions such as Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia to roost and breed in the sanctuary.

Manikantan Thevar, a local villager and bird watcher, observed that migratory birds often provide insights into rainfall patterns. He explained, “If these birds nest in low-lying areas, it signals lighter rainfall, whereas nesting in higher terrains indicates heavy rain.” In any case, the arrival of the migratory birds in large numbers has brought cheer to the villagers and the bird watchers.

–IANS

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