Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 17 (ANI): Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor Sangita Srivastava has written to the district magistrate urging for a ban on the using loudspeakers for ‘Azan’, citing a high court order in this regard, and stating that it disturbs her sleep and affects her work efficiency.
In her letter, Srivastava wrote that the call for morning prayers from the nearby mosque disturbed her sleep around 5: 30 am every morning, adding that she is not able to sleep after that and subsequently suffer from a headache throughout the day which affects her work.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the district magistrate to restrain the Civil Lines mosque from using the public address system for azan citing High Court orders in this regard.
“An old adage says ‘your freedom ends where my nose begins’ this holds true here. I am not against any religion, caste or creed. They may perform the Azan without the mike so that others are not disturbed. Even before Eid, they announce Sehri on the mike at 4:00 am. This practice also creates a disturbance to other people. The constitution of India envisages a secular and peaceful co-existence of all communities, which needs to be practised in letter and spirit,” Srivastava wrote.
She also referred to the appended Judgement passed by the Allahabad High Court in PIL No. 570 of 2020 (Afzal Ansari and 2 others versus State of UP and 2 others).
She also cited an Allahabad High Court order and said your (District Magistrate) quick action will be appreciated immensely and the affected people will get relief and peace from insomnia caused by the sounds from the loudspeakers. (ANI)

Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 17 (ANI): Indra Pratap Singh Parmar, block president of Congress party, died in hospital after he was shot at by unidentified people in Malhara of Chhatarpur on Tuesday.
Lokendra Singh, Superintendent of Police said, “He was shot after which he was admitted to a hospital in Chhatarpur and later died. Further investigation is on.”
Deepti Pandey, a Congress leader, said, “A visual from a CCTV camera of a hotel nearby the crime spot shows two persons on a bike talking to the victim while two persons on a red bike approach from behind and shoot him.”
Further details are awaited. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader and former union minister Dilip Gandhi passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Delhi on Wednesday.
Gandhi, 70, who had tested positive for COVID-19 was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to extend his condolences.
“He’ll be remembered for his rich contributions to community service and helping the poor. He made numerous efforts to strengthen BJP in Maharashtra. Condolences to his family and supporters,” PM tweeted.
Gandhi was a three-time MP from Ahmednagar South Lok Sabha constituency. He was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2009 and 2014. He was the Minister of State for Shipping in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee- led central government.
He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. (ANI)

Pathanamthitta (Kerala) [India], March 17 (ANI): Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, CN Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Bharatiya Janata Party’s co- in charge for Kerala assembly elections, visited Kerala’s hilltop shrine of Sabarimala amidst election campaign and had darshan of Lord Ayyappa Swamy.
The deputy chief minister started from the river Pamba at 5.50 pm on Tuesday carrying the irumudi (holy bundle) and reached the Sanctorum of the Lord at 6.55 pm on foot. He also participated in the traditional and unique padipuja. Narayana also offered the irumudi standing in front of the golden steps near sannidhanam.
Rajeev Kandararu, head Priest welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, on his way to Sabarimala, he also visited the Pandalam Palace where Lord Ayyappa is believed to have spent his childhood and got the blessings of Makammanal, great grandmother of the royal family.
Ashwath Narayan said, “Today is one of the most memorable days in my lifetime. I am deeply pleased and satisfied to visit the place where Ayyappa grew up in his playful years”.
The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): The Parliamentary Party meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled due to the death of Ram Swaroop Sharma, a party MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.
Ram Swaroop Sharma died allegedly by suicide in the national capital on Wednesday.
According to Delhi Police sources, “No suicide note has been found yet.” “Police received a call from a staffer. He was found hanging and the door was closed from inside,” said Delhi Police.
The police recovered his body from his residence at Gomti Apartments and have started an investigation into the case.
Born at Jalpehar village in the Mandi district on June 10, 1958, Sharma was a two-time MP. He was elected to the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha from Mandi parliamentary constituency in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
Sharma was currently a Member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs.
A weekly BJP Parliamentary Party meeting was held earlier during the current session. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mandi, Ram Swaroop Sharma died allegedly by suicide in the national capital on Wednesday.
According to Delhi Police sources, “No suicide note has been found yet.”
“Police received a call from a staffer. He was found hanging and the door was closed from inside,” said Delhi Police.
The police recovered his body from his residence at Gomti Apartments and have started an investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, after the death of the BJP MP, the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party to be held today has been cancelled.
Born at Jalpehar village in the Mandi district on June 10, 1958, Sharma was a two-time MP. He was elected to the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha from Mandi parliamentary constituency in 2014 and 2019 respectively.
Sharma was currently a Member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Consultative Committee, Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI)