Author name: Shakti Sharma

New Delhi | November 5, 2025 In a concerning incident highlighting the persistent religious friction in cross-border relations, Pakistan has reportedly denied entry to seven Indian citizens who were part of a Sikh pilgrimage group (jatha) traveling to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The stated reason for the denial was simply: “You are Hindu”. The pilgrims were traveling as part of a larger jatha, a group of Sikh devotees, to holy sites in Pakistan to mark the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The denial of entry to members of the group based on their Hindu faith has sparked immediate concern and raised questions about the criteria and discriminatory practices being employed for religious tourism visas.   The Pilgrimage and the Protocol Every year, thousands of Sikh devotees from India travel to Pakistan to visit Gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. These visits are generally facilitated under a bilateral protocol that aims to ensure smooth travel for religious purposes. The inclusion of Hindu members in the jatha is a common occurrence, reflecting the deep cultural and historical ties between Sikhism and Hinduism, as well as the composite nature of Indian society. The pilgrims who were denied entry were following the same religious itinerary as the Sikh members of their group.   A Step Backwards? This incident is particularly jarring as both nations have often sought to use religious pilgrimage as a path for cultural and people-to-people exchanges, notably with the Kartarpur Corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The reported rationale—that being Hindu disqualifies an Indian citizen from being part of a Sikh pilgrimage group—is a clear case of religious profiling. It directly contradicts the spirit of the pilgrimage, which celebrates a faith whose founder championed universal brotherhood and religious tolerance. The denial of entry based on the identity “You are Hindu” suggests an institutional bias against Indian nationals of a specific faith, even when they are part of a widely recognized religious delegation. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is expected to take up the matter with Pakistani authorities to seek an immediate clarification and ensure that such religious discrimination does not occur in future pilgrimages. The incident casts a shadow over the festive occasion of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, turning a spiritual journey into an unfortunate episode of bureaucratic and religious exclusion. Would you like to search for official statements from the Indian or Pakistani governments regarding this incident, or would you be interested in an analysis of the visa protocols for religious travel between the two countries?

Ahmedabad, Gujarat – In a shocking case reminiscent of a dark cinematic thriller, police in Ahmedabad have unearthed the skeletal remains of a man who had been missing for over a year, finding the body buried meticulously beneath the kitchen floor of his own home. The startling discovery has blown the lid off an 18-month-old disappearance case, leading to the detention of the deceased man’s wife and her alleged lover. The sensational murder plot, which some local media are already comparing to the plot of the popular Drishyam film franchise, has gripped the city, revealing a calculated attempt to conceal a homicide. The Grimmer Truth Under the Floorboards The victim, whose identity has been confirmed through investigation, was reported missing by his own family approximately a year and a half ago. For months, the case remained shrouded in mystery, with initial inquiries yielding few concrete leads. The breakthrough came recently when the Ahmedabad Crime Branch developed specific intelligence suggesting the man had not simply disappeared but had been murdered and his body hidden inside the very house he shared with his wife. Acting on the tip-off, a police team arrived at the residence and, after a focused search, began digging beneath the kitchen floor. The excavation revealed human skeletal remains, which were immediately sent for forensic analysis to confirm the identity and cause of death. The Conspiracy: Murder and Cover-Up The police investigation, which intensified following the macabre discovery, quickly zeroed in on the victim’s wife and a male acquaintance, her alleged lover. Interrogation of the suspects reportedly led to a confession that detailed the chilling sequence of events. Sources suggest the murder was a result of an illicit relationship between the man’s wife and her paramour. The duo allegedly conspired to eliminate the husband to be together, executing the murder and then going to extreme lengths to conceal the body within the house itself, meticulously cementing the kitchen floor over the grave to destroy all evidence. The audacity of living over the burial site of a murder victim for over a year highlights the sinister nature of the planning. The detention of the wife and her lover marks a significant breakthrough in the case, finally providing closure to the disappearance that had baffled investigators and tormented the victim’s family. Investigation Underway Police have officially detained the two main accused on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. They are now working to determine the exact date and method of the murder, as well as whether any other individuals assisted the couple in planning the crime or disposing of the body. The case serves as a grim reminder of how deeply secrets can be buried and how tenacious police work and forensic science remain crucial in unravelling even the most meticulously planned crimes. The accused are expected to be formally arrested and produced before a magistrate soon as the police gather all necessary evidence to build a strong case.

PATNA/NEW DELHI, November 1, 2025 — The political discourse surrounding the Bihar elections took a sharp turn into cultural territory today, as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Sambhavi Choudhary issued a stinging rebuke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed involvement with Chhath Puja. Speaking at a political conclave, Choudhary asserted that Gandhi’s criticism was based on ignorance and disrespect for regional traditions. “Chhath is not just a festival for Bihar, it’s an emotion for Bihar. So, when you don’t know about a four-day festival, you shouldn’t comment on it,” Choudhary stated, directly addressing the Congress leader. The Core Controversy The LJP MP’s strong condemnation is a direct response to Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegation that Prime Minister Modi was orchestrating a “drama” by allegedly arranging for a superficial cleanup of the Yamuna River to stage a dip during the Chhath celebrations. Gandhi suggested the move was purely political theater intended to gain electoral advantage. Choudhary flatly rejected this characterization, emphasizing the sacred and cultural significance of the festival, especially in Bihar. Cultural Sensitivity: Choudhary questioned the advisory team surrounding the Congress leader, saying, “I don’t know who guides Gandhi but if he didn’t know about Chhath, he shouldn’t have spoken about it.” Political Disrespect: She argued that reducing a deeply sacred Hindu festival, celebrated across Bihar with immense devotion, to a political spectacle shows a profound lack of cultural sensitivity. Context in the Bihar Polls The verbal clash underscores the high-stakes political environment ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, set to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. As both the ruling NDA (which includes LJP-Ram Vilas) and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan seek to connect with the state’s massive electorate, cultural and religious issues are increasingly becoming battleground topics, influencing narratives around leadership credibility and local pride. Choudhary’s defense of PM Modi and the festival is seen as a move to protect the NDA’s standing among Bihari voters who observe the Chhath rituals with deep devotion.