Lucknow, Feb 15 (IANS) The sustained efforts of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the past seven years are paying off and religious tourism now accounts for a major share ion the tourism sector.

Over 46 per cent of the total 819 projects set for launch during the fourth groundbreaking ceremony (GBC-4.0) in the tourism sector are located in centres of religious tourism, namely Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Prayagraj, according to the official spokesman.

The tourism department's target for the event was Rs 37,500 crore. Against this, 819 projects worth Rs 33,134.47 crore are set to take off, which is an achievement of 88 per cent against the goal.

Of the total, projects worth Rs 15,434.18 crore are located in these four cities-- Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura and Prayagraj.

The projects include hotels, resorts, spas, retreats, theme parks and so on.

According to the spokesman, Varanasi leads the list with projects with 34 entries bringing in an investment of Rs 6,730 crore.

It is followed by Ayodhya which has been able to pull in 114 projects worth Rs 4,318 crore.

Mathura ranks number three with 74 projects to the tune of Rs 3,278 crore.

Prayagraj, which ranks number seven in the regular list, has been able to attract investment of Rs 1,108.18 crore through 21 projects.

Chitrakoot, which is also attracting a lot of pilgrims because of its connection with Lord Ram, has got eight new projects worth Rs 118 crore.

Principal secretary, tourism, Mukesh Meshram said that the figures speak for the rising tourism economy of UP which is riding the spiritual tourism wave.

"Apart from being the birthplace of Ram and Krishna and the abode of Shiva , Uttar Pradesh is also the land of Buddha’s enlightenment. Then, there are 20-plus world-famous destinations closely linked to Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Sikhism and Christianity. Together these facts make the state a must-visit for many pilgrims," he said.

Tourism minister Jaiveer Singh said that this was just the beginning for UP.

"Around 1.5 lakh tourists are visiting Varanasi daily while an equal number are already visiting Ayodhya since the Ram temple was dedicated to people," the minister said.

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking recognition of Mathura's Shahi Idgah mosque site as the Krishna Janmabhoomi.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that it was not inclined to interfere with the order of the Allahabad High Court which had earlier dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the petitioner, advocate Mehek Maheshwari .

“We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence, the special leave petition is dismissed,” the bench ordered.

It clarified that the dismissal of the plea by the apex court will not prejudice the right of any party to challenge the constitutional validity of any enactment.

In his plea filed before the Allahabad High Court, Maheshwari prayed that Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991 be declared as unconstitutional and contended that the bar placed by the 1991 Act will not be applicable in the Janmabhoomi case since the land had always been temple land and no question of changing its nature arose.

Maheshwari had contended that various historical records cite the fact that the disputed site, the Shahi Idgah mosque, is the actual birthplace of Lord Krishna and even the history of Mathura dates back to the Ramayana era, while Islam came just 1,500 years ago.

The high court dismissed the PIL at the threshold, without entering into the merits of the case in October last year.

A division bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava of the high court said: “Since the issues involved in the present writ (PIL) is already engaging attention of the court in appropriate proceedings (i.e., pending suits), we are not inclined to entertain the instant writ petition and the same is accordingly dismissed.”

Varanasi, Jan 4 (IANS) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has filed an application in the Varanasi district court urging the Judge to postpone the disclosure of its Gyanvapi mosque survey report for four weeks.

In response to the plea, the court reserved its order on the matter and will decide on Thursday whether to provide the report to the parties involved in the original Shringar Gauri suit (Rakhi Singh and others vs. Uttar Pradesh state and others).

Four women plaintiffs through their advocate requested that the survey report be opened and a copy be given to them.

The ASI stated in its application that in compliance with Allahabad High Cour's order of December 19, 2023, in a different but related case (Ancient Idol of Swayambhu Lord Vishweshwar vs. Anjuman Intezamia Masjid), it must present the same survey report before the Civil Judge (Senior Division) of the fast track court.

Government counsel Amit Srivastava said, "We have provided reasons for the request to defer/adjourn the proceeding concerning opening and disclosure of the sealed survey report submitted by ASI for four weeks."

The ASI's application pointed out the concerns about potential rumours and misrepresentations in the public domain if the report is unsealed and disclosed before compliance with the High Court order.

Srivastava said that the ASI is diligently working on submitting a copy of the survey report in compliance with the High Court order, and for the smooth process, the report before the current court should remain sealed until then. He also highlighted the need for additional survey work in areas overlooked in the initial ASI survey.

The property on which Gyanvapi mosque exists comprises three plots -- 1930, 1931, and 1932. So far, ASI has covered areas in plot 1930. The Hindu side is demanding the survey on plots 1931 and 1932, along with the wuzukhana and the area beneath the central dome of the mosque.

Prayagraj, Dec 18 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has reserved its order on holding a survey at the Shahi Eidgah mosque adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex in Mathura.

On December 15, the Supreme Court refused to stay the High Court’s December 14 order which allowed the primary survey of mosque by a court-monitored three-member team of advocate commissioners.

During the hearing, a decision could not be taken by a three-member team of advocate commissioners regarding the form of survey to be conducted.

The Muslim petitioners argued that their plea in the Krishna Janmabhoomi case was pending in the Supreme Court.

Following this, the High Court decided to reserve its order.

Over a dozen petitions are pending before the High Court regarding the Eidgah complex, with the Hindu side claiming that the mosque was constructed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by demolishing a temple on 13.37 acres of Lord Krishna's birthplace.

Mathura, Nov 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, became the first Prime Minister to visit the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

The Prime Minister offered prayers at the temple and was given gifts by the priests. These included a painting and an ‘angavastram’.

UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied the Prime Minister on his visit.

The Prime Minister’s visit comes two days after Allahabad High Court, in a significant development, granted approval to the construction plan for the Banke Bihari Temple corridor earlier this week.

The court’s green signal to the initiative, which is the brainchild of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has paved the way for the removal of encroachments obstructing the corridor’s path.

After visiting the temple, the Prime Minister attended the Braj Raj Mahotsav to mark the 525th birth anniversary of Meera Bai.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that he was elated to come to Braj and set foot on this divine land. Assuring development of the region, he reminded people of the relation between Braj and Gujarat and Rajasthan.

“Krishna became Dwarikadeesh when he came to Gujarat. Meera Bai belonged to Rajasthan but came to Vrindavan in her quest for divine love,” he said.

The Prime Minister further said that different spiritual strains that emerged from various parts of the country found a culmination in Vrindavan.

He added that he was happy to know about development in the region and assured that no effort would be spared to turn Braj into a divine centre.

The Prime Minister also watched a short documentary prepared by the administration on the occasion of the 525th birth anniversary of Meera Bai at the same venue.

He also released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the occasion.

Later, he watched a dance performance by Member of Parliament Hema Malini, as part of the celebrations of Meera Bai’s birth anniversary.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the ongoing ‘Braj Raj Utsav’ in Mathura on November 23.

Braj Raj Utsav,’ is scheduled to conclude on November 27.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Mathura on Sunday to take stock of the preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit.

The Prime Minister will also attend a presentation by Hema Malini, actor MP from Mathura, on the birth anniversary of Meera Bai at the venue set up at the Railway ground in Mathura.

Hema Malini will present a one-and-a-half-hour-long dance ballet based on the life of saint Meera Bai. This marks the 525th Janmotsav year of saint Meera Bai, known for her divine devotion to Lord Krishna,” said Janardan Sharma, the representative for MP Hema Malini in Mathura.

“Sharad Poornima (on October 28 this year) is believed to be the birth anniversary of saint Meera Bai, but this is the 525th Janamotsav year. The Prime Minister is expected to release a stamp on Meera Bai during his visit. Two days after the Prime Minister’s visit, a symposium on the life of saint Meera Bai will be held in Mathura, and movies based on her life, including ‘Meera’ with Hema Malini in the lead role, will be screened in the later days,” stated Janardan Sharma.

Meera Bai was one of the great saints of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement, born in 1498 as a Rajput princess, and she penned notable verses in praise of Lord Krishna.

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) A total of 16 civil suits have been transferred to the Allahabad High Court by the Mathura District Judge in respect of the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute, the Supreme Court was told.

In an affidavit, the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court said that these cases were assigned to Justice Mayank Kumar Jain by the Chief Justice of the High Court and will be taken up for hearing on November 7.

"Two more original suits …. was received, vide letter dated 26.08.2023 of the District Judge, Mathura, and the same was placed before the Hon'ble Chief Justice on 26.10.2023 and it has been directed to be placed before the Bench concerned," it added.

Further, the Registrar tendered an unconditional apology for inconvenience caused to the apex court and said that he will "ensure to remain more vigilant in future, in every matter".

On October 3, the Supreme Court had sent a firm reminder to the Registrar to send the required information and documents pertaining to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Mosque dispute. It had asked the Registrar concerned to remain personally present on the next date of listing.

The Allahabad High Court in May had transferred to itself a clutch of petitions seeking various reliefs with respect to the dispute.

The Hindu devotees in their transfer petition had said that the Krishna Janmabhoomi case in Mathura holds national importance and should be heard in the high court. The mosque management committee has appealed the decision of the HC to transfer the suits to itself saying that it deprives the appellate jurisdiction of the parties and all the parties do not have the wherewithal to travel to the High Court.

The Supreme Court will take up the matter for hearing on November 10.

In an earlier hearing, the top court had opined that it will be a better alternative if the case is tried by the high court itself to avoid delay and multiplicity of proceedings. It had called information from the Registrar General of all pending suits ordered to be clubbed and transferred by the high court to itself.

Multiple suits had been filed in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute in different courts of Mathura, with a common claim that the Eidgah complex was built on the land believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and where a temple had existed.

Mathura, July 20 (IANS) A special POCSO court in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura has awarded life term to a 40-year-old man for raping his 10-year-old step-daughter.

The verdict was announced on Wednesday after a 26-day trial.

The first 10 years of his sentence will be under rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 80,000 on the convict, half of which will be paid to the victim.

Special district government counsel (POCSO) Alka Upmanyu said, "On May 18, 2023, the victim's mother lodged a complaint at the Farah police station alleging that her husband took the minor to a secluded place and raped her. Police registered an FIR against the accused under IPC sections 377 (unnatural offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation), and section 5/6 of the POCSO Act. Later, based on the victim's statement before a magistrate, IPC section 376AB (rape on a woman up to 12 years of age) was added."

Upmanyu added, "Police arrested the accused within 24 hours of filing the FIR and a foolproof charge sheet was filed."

During the trial, the girl gave a precise testimony of the entire incident.

Her mother told the court that she was threatened by the accused not to report the matter to the police. The child's medical reports also played a crucial role in the conviction of the accused.