x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   PM Modi fulfilled Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee's dream: LG Sinha | LG joins Zuljinah procession in Downtown Srinagar | Braving terror threats, over 50,000 devotees pay obeisance since July 3 | 7,200 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra | Hizbul Chief among 11 chargesheeted in cross-border narco-terror case | Gadkari’s mega mobility plan: Hyperloop, electric buses, ropeways on fast track | Will recommend reducing GST to 5% on J&K’s Handloom, Handicraft Products: Piyush Goyal | Kashmir would never have become integral part of India without Syama Prasad Mookerjee: Amit Shah | Road connectivity brings offbeat tourist destination into spotlight | Soldier dies of bullet injury from his own rifle | Chopper service remains suspended | Muslims should unite against evil: Dr Farooq | Making Children Fit | Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Gopinath Ji | Multilingualism in classrooms will increase learning outcomes | Dr. Sanjay Bansal Leads FTII Traders Conclave at SKICC Srinagar | NSF tribute of 39th Death anniversary of Jagjivan Ram | Bharat priye met Sukhpal Singh Kheda, discussed problems of farmers | Three days teacher’s training programme organises | Ravinder meets Congress workers at Nowshera | Langer Sewa Continues for the 6th Consecutive Day | Natrang present superb performance of ‘Hum Hain Pratibhavan’, new play | SBSP leaders visit defunct PHC in Dagarpora Sopore | French Club felicitates educators, celebrates cultural Excellence | DC Bandipora participates in Mourning Procession at Sumbal | Chairperson DDC Kulgam visits Shahoo Sachan, participate in 10th Muharram Procession | Punjab Police foils target killing plot; three arrested | Track relaying train derails on CR's Harbour line; services on Vashi-Panvel route suspended | 10th Day of Muharram; Ashoora procession taken out on in Poonch | Sadhotra lauds cadre for strengthening outreach, upholding NC's core philosophy | Dy CM flags off bus service from Jammu to Kalasara via Sunderbani | Delhi govt will urge SC to allow uniform rules on overage vehicles: CM Gupta | Studying in one's mother tongue instils strong values: CJI Gavai | Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar progressing as per order: EC | Delhi air remain cleanest for 11 days in a row; light to moderate rain predicted on Monday | Army doctor helps deliver baby at Jhansi railway platform with hair clip and pocket knife | No change in instructions for SIR in Bihar: EC after advertisement leads to confusion | Modi Govt must table Statehood Bill in upcoming Parliament Session: Rattan Lal Gupta | Kavinder felicitates Gaurav Tyagi for 'Ann Shuddhi Yatra' promoting Healthy India | Samba police nabbed 2 drug peddlers | Satish Sharma advocates digital empowerment, youth led entrepreneurship at FTII Traders Conclave 2025 | Mediterranean and Planetary Health Diets Promote Longevity and Sustainability: Dr Sushil | Javid Dar pays tributes to sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) | Doctor blacklisted by NMC for taking bribe | Rajnath to inaugurate key defence conclave in Delhi | Dr Mukherjee dedicated his life to the unity and integrity of India: CM Yogi | Bovine smuggling bid foiled | Vaishnaw, Rekha Gupta pay tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Delhi | Rajouri police booked notorious drug peddler under PITNDPS Act | Rajouri police cracks theft case, three arrested | Brijwasi are part of my family: Hema Malini | Yogi govt set to script history by planting 37 crore saplings in a day on July 9 | U'khand CM enjoys jungle safari in Corbett, plants saplings under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign | Four killed, one injured as car falls into gorge near Manali | Inter-state cannabis-supply racket busted in Delhi; 5 arrested | Nigerian man living illegally in India held with 200 gm cocaine worth Rs 2 cr | Woman, her son among three dead as truck hits autorickshaw in Gujarat's Patan | 2 held for stabbing cab driver to death over minor altercation in Delhi: Police | We will fight for the betterment of Dogra Community; YRS, DST | BJP leader inspects rain damage in Juthal | JKTJAC holds monthly meeting | Bovine smuggling bid foiled by Doda police | Doda police traced out missing lady, reunites with herfamilies | Apni Party holds workers' meeting | Ashura procession held with religious beliefs at Chanderkote, Ramban | Buddhist Studies Deptt, BTSM JK celebrate 90th birthday of Dalai Lama | Desh Bhagat University, DBU Americas Partner with Datagami Technology to Launch UPI Study Centre | "Each tree is a life - plant one today for a greener tomorrow" | MCM DAV College for Women: Shaping Champions, Setting new Milestones | Deepika's brilliant field goal against Dutch nominated for Magic Skill Award | Women's cricket team gets rousing welcome at India House in London | Gill is a carbon copy of Kohli: Jonathan Trott | India to bid for both 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships | Dominant Sakshi wins gold at World Boxing Cup | Back Issues  
 
news details
With eye on elections Mutts, shrines being visited frequently by top political leaders
Behind the veil
3/31/2018 11:42:15 PM
Early Times Report

JAMMU, Mar 31: Mutts and shrines are being frequently visited by top political leaders to seek blessings from seers and saints. Though Congress Preesident, Rahul Gandhi, started this practice as a secular leader. He visited four temples in poll bound Karnatka to oppose the BJP which claims to woo the Hindu voters.
However, the BJP president Amit Shah kicked off his two-day tour of Mysuru-Mandya-Chamarajanagar-Ramanagar belt by calling on the Suttur Mutt seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji. Shah who arrived at Mysuru the other day, has a tight schedule with visits to slew of religious institutions like mutts and major temples including the Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud, Cheluvarauyswamy temple at Melukote besides interaction with booth level workers. He also has a dinner meeting slated with prominent scheduled caste and scheduled tribe leaders later in the day in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts. Shah's visit to the Suttur Mutt is significant given the vast following commanded by the seer in what is a prominent Lingayat-Veerashaiva belt where the BJP has failed to win a single seat in the 2013 elections. Though the party functionaries described the visit as a courtesy call and the Suttur mutt is stated to be apolitical, the political parties cannot disregard its influence over the masses and hence cultivate cordial relationship. When reminded of Rahul's visit to four temples in Karnataka former Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram cautioned people against rumours that Rahul was trying to oppose the BJP's Hindu card. Chidambaram has stated that no political meaning should be attached with Rahul's visit to temples.
In the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had visited about 25 temples in the state in a bid to dispel the impression of his party being inimical to Hindu interests. With the Congress improving its tally in the state, Rahul appears set to repeat the strategy in Karnataka. According to a report he is slated to visit a Hindu temple, two religious centres of the Lingayat community and a dargah in the next week.
Clearly, with the election in Karnataka expected to be held in May, Rahul wants to be seen in the public eye as worshipping at prominent religious places. According to a report, Rahul will start off by visiting the Huligamma temple in Koppal district. Subsequently, he is slated to visit the Gavisiddeshwara Mutt, which is an important place of worship for the Lingayats. He is also expected to pay a visit to the Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah in the district of Gulbarga Shah was accompanied by the party leaders including the Chief Ministerial candidate and State BJP president B.S.Yeddyurappa and Union Minister Ananth Kumar. Shah subsequently visited the Palace and called on Pramodadevi Wadiyar, wife of four-time MP late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar and the titular king Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.
His itinerary for the day also includes a visit to the house of RSS activist Raju who was murdered two years ago. The house is located in Kyatamaranahalli in the N.R. Constituency, a Congress bastion with a strong presence of the minorities and dalits and is perceived as an attempt to consolidate the Hindu votes. Lesser mortals wish to seek blessings of gods and goddesses for the purpose of securing voters support. And whenever some states are poll bound or the nation is faced with the General election these politicians remember God,pay respect to seers and saints. When in the absence of poll atmosphere these leaders forget these seers and saints. These leaders seldom visit shrines and Mutts. Finalising and apprising the workers of the strategy for micro-level electoral management through Booth Pramukhs are high on the agenda of Shah, say the party functionaries.
Sources in the BJP said the focus of Shah in his current tour is to galvanise the booth level workers as the party has realized the absence of a strong charismatic local leader who can carry the workers with them. Hence Shah will hold extensive interaction with nearly 5000 booth level workers of the three urban constituencies in Mysuru city at the Maharaja's College Grounds on Friday. This will be followed by a similar interactive programme with assembly constituencies in Chamarajanagar district. And these political leaders may visit shrines and Mutts while getting ready for the 2019 elections. Hope God is with those who remember Him.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU