The Hindu The peepal tree being restored at its original place with the help of earthmoving equipment at Shanti Ashram in Visakhapatnam. - Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

One month ago, cyclone Hudhud wiped out the entire green cover in the city. The damage suffered by Sri Shanti Ashram at Lawsons Bay Colony too was extensive. Dozens of trees fell under the impact of high-speed winds.

However, the management has a reason to smile. A 50-year-old peepal tree has been restored and given a new lease of life.

Of all, this tree is considered a prized possession as it was planted by founder of the ashram Swami Omkar.

That is all the more reason for the staff to nurture it at any cost.

People say that they have developed an emotional attachment with the tree over the years.

We did not pin hopes on the ones that were rendered beyond repair. But, with sprouts shooting from the branches of the peepal tree four days after the calamity, we wanted to do our best to restore it. After digging almost six feet deep using an earthmover and a crane, and providing support with heaps of soil covering the huge trunk, the mission was finally accomplished, says M.N. Adinarayana, chairman of the ashram.

Years ago, after our morning workout, the place used to be the meeting spot to relax before heading to our homes. It is such a nice feeling to see the tree back here, says Kumar, one of the regular visitors to the ashram.

With ropes providing support to the branches, people at the ashram hope to see the tree in full bloom in another six months.

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Peepal tree gets a new lease of life

Tension prevailed around the Satlok Ashram of self-styled godman Rampal on Sunday even as authorities treaded with caution to avert any violent backlash from supporters of the controversial godman facing arrest in a contempt of court case.

As authorities raced against time to meet the Monday deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to ensure his appearance, the situation remained volatile around the ashram, which has been surrounded by police and paramilitary forces and all roads leading to the premises sealed, officials said.

Several disciples of the controversial godman are still holed-up in the Ashram to prevent his arrest in a contempt of court case.

A police official said additional police force has been deployed in this town yesterday to bring out Rampal, who is being protected by a strong human shield formed by his followers including women, some of whom are believed to be carrying lethal weapons.

Official sources said that authorities were trying to persuade Rampal to surrender on his own as this may help avert any incident of violence once he gives up at his own will.

However, plans to storm the Ashram and use of force to comply with the court orders, have been kept ready, the sources said.

Five Superintendents of Police Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Jind and Fatehabad are among the senior police officials present here to ensure that the court orders are executed.

Yesterday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had appealed to Rampal to present himself in the court "in a peaceful manner" and "without any hindrance", saying, "one must give utmost priority to uphold the dignity of judicial system."

"In a democratic set up, one must give utmost priority to uphold the dignity of judicial system," Khattar had said.

Hisar Range Inspector General of Police, A K Rao, who is camping at the site here, has urged Rampal's followers to cooperate with police and comply with the court orders.

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Tense situation prevails around controversial godman Rampal's ashram in Hisar

Hindraf says the heritage commissioner did not use full extent of the law to save Vivekananda Ashram.

KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisation Hindraf has initiated legal action against Heritage Commissioner Zainah Ibrahim, seeking an explanation as to why she failed to gazette the Vivekananda Ashram as a national treasure even if its board of trustees objected to it.

In a statement, Hindraf said the Heritage commissioner still had the legal right to go ahead and gazette the Ashram as a national heritage but that she failed to use the full extent of the law for that purpose.

The statement explained, if it was determined the Ashram site is of cultural heritage significance, then the onus was on the commissioner to designate and gazette the site as a heritage site/building.

Hindraf said the commissioner should have conducted a hearing to determine whether the objections of the board, made in 2008 and 2009, had any legitimate grounds under Section 29 of the National Heritage Act 2005.

With moves now being made to re-develop the site into a 23-storey residential complex, Hindraf, through their lawyers, has given the commissioner two weeks for an explanation, failing which legal action will be initiated to compel the commissioner to gazette the site as a national treasure.

Saying the Vivekananda Ashram was deemed a national treasure as far as Hindraf was concerned, the building then did not solely belong to the trustees of the said ashram to do as it pleases.

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Hindraf: Commissioner didnt do enough to save Ashram

Tension mounted in Barwala town of Hisar district in Haryana ahead of on Mondays deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana high court to ensure appearance of self-styled godman Rampal in a contempt case, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders at several vulnerable places.

As authorities raced against time to meet the deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the situation remained volatile around Satlok Ashram, which has been surrounded by the police and paramilitary forces and all roads leading to the premises sealed, officials said.

Several disciples of the 63-year-old controversial godman were holed up in his Satlok Ashram to prevent his arrest. A police official said additional force has been deployed

in Barwala town in Hisar district to bring out Rampal, who is being protected by a strong human shield formed by his followers including women, some of whom are believed to be carrying lethal weapons.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali to avert any violent backlash by his supporters opposing his arrest even asauthorities were trying to persuade Rampal to surrender on his own as this may help avert any incident of violence once he gives up at his own will.

However, plans to storm the Ashram and use of force to comply with the court orders, have been kept ready, they said. Five Superintendents of Police from Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Jind and Fatehabad are among the senior police officials present to ensure that the court orders are executed.

The prohibitory orders have been imposed to maintain law and order and restrict the movement of the followers of Rampal who have been thwarting police efforts to arrest him.

A large number of policemen have been deployed at key points including roads leading to Chandigarh from Panchkula (Haryana) and Mohali (Punjab), the police said.

Hisar Range Inspector General of Police, A K Rao, who is camping at the site, has urged Rampal's followers to cooperate with the police and comply with the court orders.

Rejecting the Haryana government's plea that Rampal was unwell and his arrest would create law and order problems, Punjab and Haryana high court had on Monday last issued a fresh non- bailable arrest warrant against him in a contempt case and asked as to why his bail in a 2006 murder case should not be cancelled.

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Tension near Haryana godman's ashram, prohibitory orders imposed

Hectic backchannel parleys continued between the Haryana government and the Satlok Ashram authorities on Sunday to avoid a confrontation between the police and supporters of ashram head Sant Rampal, who has been directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to appear in court on Monday in a contempt case.

His supporters have been resisting his arrest after non-bailable warrants were issued by the High Court.

With just hours to go for the self-styled godman to present himself in court, the State administration sent eminent social activists to make the godman and his associates see reason and avoid a clash with the Haryana police and Central force personnel.

BJP leader Shamsher Kharkhara was also sent as an emissary for a meeting with the ashram administration. It was on Nov. 5 that the High Court issued an NBW against Rampal, and when he did not appear before the court on Nov. 10, the court directed that he be produced by Nov. 17 or else the State Home Secretary and Director-General of Police should appear in court.

Though a doctor from the Apollo Hospitals attending on Rampal, declared him fit to travel and appear in court, the ashram authorities said they have sent his medical certificate to seek exemption from appearance. As five JCB excavators had been brought near the ashram by the authorities, there was speculation that they might be used to break into the ashram and remove Rampal forcibly should he decide not to give up.

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Backchannel parleys on with Rampal

Chief Executive CY Leung today expressed his sadness at the passing of the Most Venerable Kok Kwong, and extended condolences to his family on behalf of the Government.

Mr Leung said the Most Venerable Kok Kwong had made tremendous contributions in promoting Buddhism, providing charitable services and enhancing social harmony.

Over the years, he had served in various key positions including as a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee and the Preparatory Committee for the HKSAR, as well as a Hong Kong Affairs Adviser.

Also paying tribute today was Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing, who said that as the founder and President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, the Most Venerable Kok Kwong had made exemplary efforts in promoting Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, as well as arts and culture for more than 50 years, while also uniting the Buddhist community and enhancing co-operation with other religious organisations.

While Secretary for Education Eddie Ng said the Most Venerable Kok Kwongs commitment and contribution to the long-term development of education in Hong Kong will be remembered.

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CE mourns Buddhist leader