ABRACADABRA

…and she married herself !

London: A woman in the UK who was fed up of being single got married to herself in a full wedding ceremony attended by 50 guests. Grace Gelder, a photographer by profession, said that after being single for six years she had built up a brilliant relationship with herself – and creating that bond with someone else seemed like too much hard work.

Gelder ‘proposed’ to herself on a park bench in Parliament Hill, London, last November and walked solo down the aisle in mid-March this year, ‘mirror.co.uk.’ reported.Gelder bought a dress, a ring, rehearsed vows and eventually wed in a farm-house in rural Devon watched by her sister and friends – sealing the deal by planting a kiss on a mirror.

“A few did comment, in a light-hearted way, that it was a bit narcissistic,” Gelder said. “Obviously, if you have just announced you’re marrying yourself, it is plainly a statement of self-love, and I was under no illusion how self-indulgent that might appear.

“But I was completely comfortable with my motivations. I’d been on a journey of personal development using meditation, dance and performance to increase my self-awareness,” Gelder told the Guardian.Although the wedding holds no legal ground, Gelder is glad she is no longer a ‘single’ lady.   

Now, cash for fatwas

New Delhi: A television channel aired purported footage of Muslim clerics in the national capital and Uttar Pradesh issuing fatwas for a payment, triggering condemnation from community leaders and protests in Meerut.

The clerics allegedly issued fatwas on a variety of subjects, including the use of credit cards and camera phones by Muslims, acting in films, and watching television, said the report on Star News carried out a sting operation along with Cobrapost in Delhi and Meerut.

One of the clerics, Ahmed Nadir al Qasmi, an official of the Delhi-based Islamic Fiqh Academy, was shown allegedly accepting Rs 5,000 for issuing fatwa. The footage also purportedly showed Maulana Imran, a cleric from Meerut, allegedly demanding Rs 50,000 for issuing five fatwas against the wearing of jeans by girls in Muslim-run institutions and the teaching of English in Madarsas.

In Meerut, students of a madarsa staged a protest against the clerics, saying the incident had ‘hurt’ the community.

Muslim leaders convened a meeting of clerics to decide whether action should be taken against those named in the sting operation.

In a statement, Islamic Fiqh Academy general secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmaniexpressed regret at the incident. He said the body had launched a probe and would take action against anyone found guilty.

Ahmed Nadir al Qasmi had been restrained from issuing any more fatwas, he said. Rehmani said the academy was not responsible for Qasmi’s actions. He said the academy did not charge anything for fatwas, which were issued only after they had been vetted by at least two clerics.

Uttar Pradesh’s Haj Minister Yaqoob Qureshi said the allegations against the clerics were ‘serious’ and their purported actions should be condemned. “Those who have issued fatwas for money have committed a sin,” he said.

All India Muslim Majlis-E-Mushawarat president Syed Shabuddin said, “A fatwa is the reply of one’s query from scholors and it cannot be issued in exchange of money.” Condemning such practices, he said, “These kind of fatwas cannot change society and are therefore meaningless.” 

Corruption makes me restless says- Ajitdada

Former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that he doesn’t like corruption and it irks him. Therefore, neither will indulge into corruption nor will let others.

He was addressing an election rally for his party candidates in the city and district in Aurangabad.

Pawar further said that term of corruption itself makes him restless and therefore he was always against it. Referring to the allegations made against him regarding irregularities in irrigation projects in the state, Pawar banged on the Chitale committee report and said that the panel given him a clean chit. He has neither done a single penny’s fraud nor violated any rule. He hasn’t treated any case as special one, so hasn’t cleared also. He was clean, is and will remain so in future also. Therefore, people should vote for NCP and ensure victory of its candidates.

Ajitdada slammed the BJP for running a false campaign against his party and said that BJP is misleading Maharashtra. In fact, NCP has the highest chances of returning to power on the basis of developmental activities carried out by it during last 15 years. This fact is forcing BJP leaders to have sleepless nights.

Navaratri Gift-  Dead man comes alive

Patna: In a startling case, a young man declared dead in Bihar came back to life minutes before his cremation, his family members said. The condition of Dinesh Mahto, 30, of Bahera Bazaar in Darbhanga district deteriorated after he consumed poison in a fit of anger.

His family members admitted him to a private clinic the same day. Munna Mahto, a close relative of Dinesh, said: “After 24 hours, doctors told us that we have to spend a hefty sum of Rs.35,000 daily for his treatment while making it clear that there was hardly any chance of his survival.

Another relative Lakhan Mahto added: “We decided not to waste money on his treatment and his oxygen mask was removed. Doctors then declared Dinesh dead and we informed other family members of his demise.”

Munna said: “On the way to Simaria Ghat, we noticed some activity in his body near Samastipur but we ignored it as an illusion. When we reached the ghat, Dinesh suddenly opened his eyes and we found he was conscious. It was like a miracle for us.”

He said: “We informed the family at home. When we reached there with Dinesh, celebrations started. It is a unique Navratri gift for all of us.”