Archives for June 2023

New Delhi (PTI): The CBI conducted searches at 25 locations in connection with an FIR registered against 21 BSNL officials, including a former general manager, officials said.

The premier investigative agency alleged that the accused officials entered into a conspiracy with a contractor to cheat the government-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The CBI registered the FIR against officials of BSNL Assam Circle, including a former general manager, deputy general manager, assistant general manager, and chief accounts officer in Jorhat, Sibsagar, Guwahati and other places, they said.

The FIR also mentions the name of a private person, officials said.

“It was alleged that the contractor was given a work order for laying National Optical Fibre Network Cable through open trenching method at Rs 90,000 per km,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

“It was also alleged that later on, the contractor made different pleas, including no right of way from the owner of private land, to convert the open trenching method to horizontal directional drilling method at Rs 2.30 lakh per km in spite of the provision of the right of way, easement clause in the contract, thereby violated tender clause and caused loss of Rs 22 crore (approximately) to the BSNL,” the official said.

After the registration of the FIR recently, the CBI on Friday conducted searches at 25 locations, including the offices and residences of the accused in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Haryana, he said.

Imphal/Kolkata: Two civilians were injured as mobs clashed with security forces overnight in Imphal town and attempts were made to torch the houses of BJP leaders, officials said on Saturday.

In separate incidents, automatic gunfire was reported from Kwakta in Bishnupur district of Manipur and Kangvai in Churachandpur district through the night.

An attempt was also made to loot of Iringbam police station in Imphal West. However, no weapons were stolen.

Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Rapid Action Force held joint marches till midnight through the state capital to halt rioters from congregating.

A mob of approximately 1,000 people came together to try and burn down buildings near the palace compound.

RAF fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Another mob tried to set the house of Biswajeet, MLA on fire. RAF column, however, dispersed the crowd.

Another mob surrounded the BJP office post midnight at Sinjemai, but could not do any harm as an Army column dispersed it.

Similarly, a crowd tried to vandalise the home of Sharda Devi, BJP (women’s) president near Porampet in Imphal around midnight. Security forces managed to disperse the youth.

New Delhi: Writer Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement, the Charles Veillon Foundation has announced.

Roy has been awarded the prize for the French translation of her compilation of essays titled “Azadi” (2021).

“The jury of the Prix Europeen de l’Essai wishes to highlight an enriching work in terms of reflection on the construction of the world and the relationship with language. Arundhati Roy uses the essay as a form of combat, analysing fascism and the way it is being structured. This is an issue that is increasingly occupying our lives. Her essays offer shelter to a multitude of people,” the Foundation said in a statement.

The jury also acknowledged Roy’s “commitment to political action”.

In “Azadi”, Roy has reflected on the meaning of freedom in a world of “growing authoritarianism”. The essays include meditations on language, public as well as private, and on the role of fiction and alternative imaginations in current times.

The Delhi-based author’s works, including Booker Prize winning “The God of Small Things”, “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”, and “My Seditious Heart” have garnered her national and international acclaim.

Roy will receive the award, along with the prize money of CHF 20,000 (approx Rs 18 lakh), at a ceremony on September 12 in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Since its inception in 1975, the award by the Charles Veillon Foundation has honoured a book or the work of an author “who, through their writings, contributes to nourishing and spreading the evolution of thought”.

“It draws attention to authors whose work bear witness to and offer a fertile commentary on current societies, their practices, and ideologies,” the foundation said.

Earlier, authors including Alexandre Zinoviev, Edgar Morin, Tzvetan Todorov, Amin Maalouf, Siri Hustvedt, Alessandro Baricco, Jean Starobinski, Iso Camartin, and Peter von Matt have been awarded the European Essay Prize.

Ballia (UP): Thirty-four people admitted at a district hospital have died due to severe heat in the last 24 hours, health officials said on Friday.

Most of the patients were aged above 60.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jayant Kumar said the district is reeling under severe heat and people are getting admitted to the hospital for treatment.

He told that there have been 34 deaths in two days, of which 23 deaths were reported on June 15 and 11 on June 16.

The CMO said those admitted were suffering from various illnesses, adding that elderly people are not able to tolerate the sweltering heat.

Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the District Hospital Diwakar Singh told reporters that fans, coolers and air conditioners have been arranged in the hospital to prevent the risk of heat stroke for patients and staff.

The number of doctors and paramedical staff has also been increased, he added.

Singh has advised people to follow precautions to prevent heat stroke.

Ballia along with the entire central and eastern Uttar Pradesh is reeling under sultry weather.

As per Indian Meteorological Data (IMD), the maximum temperature in Ballia was recorded at 42.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, which is 4.7 degrees above normal.

The mercury has stayed above 41 degrees Celsius-mark since last week as the data.

Indore/Bhopal: Two officers, including a deputy commissioner of police, were on Friday removed from field posting within 24 hours of a lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists staging an anti-drug mafia protest at a busy intersection in Indore.

The action took place after leaders of the ruling BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the state took strong objection to the baton charge that took place late Thursday night at Palasia intersection.

Indore Police Commissioner Makrand Deoskar told PTI DCP Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria has been relieved of his current duties and is posted as commandant at the Rustomji Armed Police Training College (RAPTC) in the city, while Palasia police station officer-in-charge Sanjay Singh Bais has been attached to the police line.

An FIR has been registered against “unknown persons” under Sections 147 (rioting), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the Bajrang Dal protest, he said.

“Bajrang Dal activists were brutally caned by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries. The action against the protestors is totally unjustified,” BJP’s Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI.

VHP’s Malwa region (Indore-Ujjain division) secretary Sohan Vishwakarma alleged “some police officers selectively beat up Bajrang Dal activists with sticks due to old grudge”.

“We demand that DCP Bhadoria, who ordered the lathi charge, as well as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and three station house officers be dismissed from service within 48 hours,” he said.

He said if the state government did not sack these police officers within 48 hours, the VHP would launch a “violent agitation” in Indore and Ujjain divisions.

Police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them when they held a sit-in protest over registration of “false” cases against the outfit’s members for complaining against those involved in illegal drug trade, Bhadoria had said earlier.

“A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads. When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force,” Bhadoria said.

Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said.

Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their ‘chakka jam’ protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added.

However, VHP leader Vishwakarma said Bajrang Dal activists, who were demanding action against the drug mafia, gathered at Palasia intersection when the police asked them to leave Palasia police station.”

“The purpose of these activists was not to harass the public by blocking traffic. They did not pelt stones at the police,” he claimed.

Talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident.

“We have also taken cognizance of the police action against the protesters and have decided to send an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it,” he said.

Shivamogga: Rohit Chakratirtha, the former chairman of the Textbook Revision Committee, made controversial statements suggesting that Brahmins should emulate the global success of Jews. He expressed these views during a program organized by Vipra Sneha Balaga in Shivamogga, where he attended to felicitate Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa.

Chakratirtha asserted that Brahmins, who are considered the highest caste in Hindu society, should rise up like Jews have done globally. He claimed that Brahmins are the accepted authorities on religious doctrines and even hold positions within the Communist Party. However, he noted that Brahmins often become enemies of their own community. To overcome this, Chakratirtha emphasized the need for Brahmins to live as “Brahmakshatriyas,” combining intellectual and warrior qualities, and strive for success in all areas of life.

He expressed concern that Brahmins are looked down upon in the country’s social structure, a situation he attributed to a British conspiracy that began around 100 years ago.

Drawing parallels with the Jewish community, Chakratirtha highlighted their historical struggle and achievements. He pointed out that Jews were marginalized for 2,500 years but managed to flourish as scholars and intellectual leaders. Despite comprising only 5% of the global population, Jews earned acceptance and respect across various fields. Chakratirtha also mentioned their diligent approach to menial tasks, such as garbage sweeping.

Chakratirtha emphasized that Brahmins should aspire to be an intellectual force in the world, following the example set by Jews. He called for Brahmins to actively pursue success in diverse fields and strengthen themselves economically. He encouraged them not to bow down before anyone, implying the need for self-empowerment and confidence.

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra on Friday described the Karnataka government’s move to revise school textbooks as minority appeasement and asked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his stand on the matter.

The Congress-led Karnataka government on Thursday approved the revision of Kannada and Social Science textbooks of Classes 6 to 10 in the state for this academic year by removing the chapters on RSS founder K B Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar among others.

While Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner in the Maharashtra opposition bloc of Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprises the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former ally BJP has often accused him of veering away from the Hindutva ideology.

Talking to reporters here, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the revision in school textbooks in Karnataka was expected after the Congress returned to power in the southern state.

“The Congress can remove Savarkar and Hedgewar from textbooks but not from the hearts and minds of people. In Maharashtra, the Opposition wants to replicate the Karnataka model. I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray what is his stand on this issue,” he asked.

It is clear that Thackeray has compromised on his ideology for the sake of power, Fadnavis said.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis’s party colleague and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Thackeray should clear his stand on the textbook issue as well as the Karnataka government’s decision to repeal the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous government.

Apart from dropping chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar, the Karnataka government also plans to include lessons on social reformer and educator Savitribai Phule, Jawaharlal Nehru’s letters to Indira Gandhi and poetry on Dr B R Ambedkar in the textbooks.