SourceNEW YORK, U.S.A., November 16 2004: Animal-rights activists have launched a novel campaign arguing that fish are intelligent, sensitive animals no more deserving of being eaten than a pet dog or cat. Called the Fish Empathy Project the campaign reflects a strategy shift by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as it challenges a diet component widely viewed…
SourceKANCHEEPURAM, INDIA, November 19, 2004: A local court on Friday remanded Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati to three-day police custody for interrogation in a murder case. Passing orders on a police petition, First Class Judicial Magistrate G. Uttamaraja said the police custody would be from 12:05 pm Friday to 10:30 am on November 22. The Shankaracharya was arrested on November 11…
SourceRANCHI, INDIA, November 20, 2004: The BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK stands cut off following the way the Jayalalitha government in Tamil Nadu handled the arresting process of Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, party’s general secretary Rajnath Singh said here today. “The whole process (of the Tamil Nadu government) with regard to the Sankaracharya issue is unbecoming. So there is no more…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 20, 2004: The Madras High Court dismissed the bail application filed by the Kanchi seer, Jayendra Saraswathi, who was taken into custody on Novemeber 11 in connection with the murder of a Kancheepuram temple official on September 3 last. Giving his order on the bail application on Saturday evening, Justice R Balasubramaniam said “I am dismissing the…
HPIGUADELOUPE, FRANCE, November 20, 2004: Reunion Island is an overseas “department” of France. Its 745,000 residents are full citizens of France, and a significant number of them are of Hindu origin. Following their migration to Reunion in the 19th century, most, under strong pressure, became Roman Catholics. They have in recent decades been inspired toward a return to their Hindus…
SourceKANCHIPURAM, INDIA, November 17, 2004: There are now fears that the allegations against the Shankaracharya could become an excuse to threaten the financial autonomy of the Kanchi math. Observers point out that the pitch for control of the math’s huge assets has been raised in recent weeks. Residents of the math are trying to get back as much as possible…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 17, 2004: The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, ruled out taking over the administration of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt. “We do not have any sort of such thinking. The government has high regards for the 2,500-year-old mutt. The mutt should continue its tradition of preserving the Hindu religion,” she told, the state assembly in an obvious reference…
SourceCHENNAI, INDIA, November 17, 2004: The Madras High Court will resume hearing of the bail plea of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati tomorrow. The hearing was delayed by a few hours today after the public prosecutor sought time to study an additional affidavit filed by the seer’s counsel. The public prosecutor claimed that a copy of the affidavit was given to…
SourcePUNE/SATARA, INDIA, November 17, 2004: In a show of unity by members of Hindu and Muslim organizations, the residents of Satara town in western Maharashtra observed a day-long peaceful bandh (general strike) on Tuesday to protest against the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi. The Muslim community in Satara turned out in large numbers on Tuesday to participate in the…
SourceLONDON, UK, November 17, 2004: Over the last twelve years, there has been a transformation on the campuses of UK universities and the general student community as a whole. What began as a stall with a few students at the Hindu Marathon just twelve years ago has now emerged as the largest student body for Hindu students in Europe, with…