By Kamran Khan
Now it’s Ajmer Dargah!
A court in Ajmer, Rajasthan, has agreed to hear a petition filed by the Hindu Sena, which claims that the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was built on the site of a Shiva temple. The court has also issued notices to the relevant parties.
On November 27, 2024, the court of Ajmer West Civil Judge Senior Division, Manmohan Chandel, issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Dargah Committee, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in response to the petition.
Vishnu Gupta, the national president of Hindu Sena, has presented three arguments in support of his claim, including references from a book by retired judge Harbilas Sarda, and has requested permission to conduct worship at the site.
Meanwhile, Syed Nasiruddin Chishti, the principal successor of the Ajmer Dargah and a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, has dismissed the petition as a “stunt to gain cheap popularity”.
India and Bangladesh: Tension escalates
Tension between New Delhi and Dhaka escalated on Friday, November 29, as India reiterated its concern over the rising “extremist rhetoric, increasing violence, and provocation” against minorities in Bangladesh. In response, a key figure in the government of Muhammad Yunus, condemned India’s remarks, calling them “condemnable and objectionable.”
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the situation during a weekly briefing, highlighting continued attacks on Hindus and calls from groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Hizb-ut Tahrir for a ban on Iskcon, accusing it of “terror activities”. Jaiswal emphasized India’s concern, stating, “We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities.”
He rejected claims that media reports are exaggerated, citing Bangladesh media’s close ties to the Yunus regime. On the arrest of former Iskcon monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is accused of involvement in a lawyer’s death during the recent protests, Jaiswal expressed hope for a “just, fair and transparent” legal process.
The Indian government also addressed the issue in Parliament, issuing a written statement expressing grave concern about the violence against Hindus and other minorities, including attacks on temples and religious sites. India has reportedly reiterated these concerns directly with the Bangladesh government.
Bangladesh’s reaction to India’s comments, however, has been dismissive. Asif Nazrul, a legal adviser to the interim government, criticized India’s stance, calling it hypocritical — given the reported atrocities against Muslims in India. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the violent protests outside its deputy high commission in Kolkata, during which protesters burned the national flag of Bangladesh and effigies of Yunus.
Congress to launch ‘national movement’ for ‘free and fair polls’
During the recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, held in the wake of consecutive electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra, the Opposition party has announced plans to launch a “national movement” for “free and fair elections”. The party criticized the Election Commission (EC) for its “partisan functioning” and decided not to focus solely on the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), or call for a return to ballot papers. Instead, the party chose to broaden the scope of its movement to address concerns about the “entire electoral process.”
Although Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had previously called for a return to ballot papers, the consensus after the four-and-a-half-hour meeting was to target what the party perceives as “electoral malpractices” across all levels. Some leaders within Congress felt it would be unwise to attribute the party’s losses solely to EVMs, citing the lack of concrete evidence to support such claims. As a result, the focus of the movement will be wider in scope.
The resolution passed at the meeting did not specifically mention EVMs. It stated, “The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections are a constitutional mandate that is being seriously questioned due to the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Growing frustration and apprehension are being felt by large sections of society. Congress will raise these public concerns as a national movement.”
The CWC also attributed the party’s poor performance in Haryana and Maharashtra to “electoral malpractices.” The resolution noted that Congress’ failure to secure a convincing victory in Haryana was contrary to expectations, and that malpractices had influenced the results. In Maharashtra, both Congress and its allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have suffered what the party described as an “inexplicable” and “shocking” defeat, which appeared to be a result of “targeted manipulation”.
According to sources, some party leaders, including AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, strongly advocated for a return to paper ballots. At the 2018 session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), a resolution was passed calling for the Election Commission to revert to the practice of paper ballots, similar to what other major democracies have done, to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.
‘I believe in good moves’
In the fifth game of the World Chess Championship in Singapore, Gukesh D, the young Indian challenger, handled Ding Liren’s opening preparation confidently. Despite Ding’s attempts to apply pressure, Gukesh navigated the complexities well, and the game ended in a draw after 42 moves, keeping the score tied as the match headed toward its midpoint.
Ding chose an unconventional opening with 1.Nf3 and an early 5.Ba3, leading the game into less familiar territory. This creative move likely reflected the influence of his second, Richard Rapport, known for his innovative approach. Rapport, who ha earlier worked with Ding during last year’s championship, was seen accompanying him alongside team member Ni Hua, showcasing their collaborative preparation.
In the post-game discussion, Gukesh said that he has been comfortable playing over-the-board from an early age, which helped him in unfamiliar positions. Although Ding gained a slight advantage during the game, he opted for simplification rather than pressing for a win, leading to a draw. Ding reflected on his approach, saying, “I tried to play safe and got a little advantage. The score is still balanced, and there are more games ahead.”
A light-hearted moment followed in the press conference when Gukesh was asked about numerology and whether he could become the 18th world champion, like Garry Kasparov’s 13th title. Gukesh, maintaining his composure, dismissed the idea, quoting Bobby Fischer: “I believe in good moves. Yeah, I’m just trying to make good moves.”
While Gukesh has drawn both his games with black pieces, his white-game performances have been decisive. The next game on Saturday, November 30, in which Gukesh will play with white before the second rest day on Monday, is expected to be another exciting match, as the closely contested championship continues to captivate chess enthusiasts worldwide.