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Irom Sharmila condemns Manipur killing; urges repeal of AFSPA

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Irom-Sharmila

New Delhi: Rights activist Irom Sharmila has condemned the militant ambush that killed 18 armymen in Manipur but said there was “no use” imposing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in interior areas.

“I strongly condemn yesterday’s incident. The incident happened in the area where AFSPA is fully applied. If you remove the army from Manipur, such untoward incidents of killings will automatically cease. There is no use imposing AFSPA in the interior. I think AFSPA targeted not a particular organisation or insurgent but all people of Manipur,” Sharmila, who was in Delhi to appear before a local Court in connection with a pending case over her fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in 2006, said.

18 armymen were killed and 11 injured when an insurgent group ambushed their patrol in Chandel district of Manipur.

Urging for peace and repealing of AFSPA from the state, she said “the government should change its policies and programmes because violent means will only create violence.”

“We will never solve any problem by violence because we are rational beings. With love and kindness, everything can be solved”, she added.

Sharmila, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’, has been on a fast for about 14 years, demanding the repeal of the Act.

(Agencies)

US denies visa to 20 championship-bound Indian archers fearing 'no return'

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Archery

New Delhi: India’s participation in the World Youth Archery Championships has been thrown into jeopardy after 20 members of a 31-strong team, including South Korean coach Chae Wom Lim, were denied visas by the US embassy in Delhi.

The Indian contingent, comprising Under-20 boys and girls, junior archers were scheduled to leave for the US on Saturday for the June 8-14 event in Yankton, South Dakota.

But the US embassy in Delhi granted visas to only seven archers, two coaches and a Sports Authority of India (SAI) official while rejecting 20, thereby putting serious doubts over India’s participation in the event.

Besides Lim, three Indian coaches Mim Bahadur Gurung, Chandra Shekhar Laguri, Ram Awdesh and masseuse Pinki were also denied visas.

Archery Association of India (AAI) treasurer Virender Sachdeva told PTI that the denial was on the ground that the visa officer was not satisfied with the interview of the rejected individuals and doubted that they may not return after the completion of the event.

“It is really a shocking incident. Most of the archers are from lower strata and hail from states like Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Most of them are not well-versed in English and hence lack in communication. When the visa officer asked them what they do for a living, they simply said we are archers and play archery,” Sachdeva told PTI.

“This might have raised doubts in the minds of the visa officer, resulting in refusal of visas. But I don’t understand why Lim was denied because he is a known figure in world archery and has travelled worldwide,” he said.

Sachdeva said what was more shocking was that the visas were denied despite having the government of India’s sanction order and invitation from the US Archery Association.

He said the AAI has approached the ministry of external affairs and the sports ministry on this issue but to no avail.

Sachdeva said that as per US Archery Association’s advice, they have re-applied for the visas.

“We have re-applied by submitting new visa fees but we are not sure whether the issue will be solved by tomorrow (Saturday). If not, then the three months of practice which these young archers have undergone staying away from their home will be of no use,” the AAI official said.

(PTI)

Arvind Kejriwal calls Delhi L-G Jung ‘polling’ agent of BJP

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tore into lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and the BJP-led Centre, calling Jung a “polling agent of the BJP, who has turned Raj Niwas into BJP headquarters”.

In one of his sharpest attacks on the L-G and the Centre, Kejriwal also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being vengeful against the government and people of Delhi for the BJP’s defeat in the Delhi assembly polls.

“People of Delhi have voted for us and the rest of the country supported Modi. So, please let us run Delhi and you (Modi) run the country. Don’t create trouble for us everyday through the L-G. This is not being a good PM. Taking revenge for losing Delhi from the people and AAP is not right,” he told a news channel in an interview.

The Delhi CM said Jung does not give time even to deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia or other ministers for a meeting or take his calls. “But if the ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) of (BJP president) Amit Shah calls him (L-G), he will crawl and go,” Kejriwal said.

He said the Centre was trying to corner the Delhi government “using the L-G”. “PM Modi should know I am not Rahul Gandhi… won’t let him run my state,” he said.

He also alleged that the BJP was feeling insecure after the defeat in Delhi polls. “If we replicate our success (of winning 67 out of 70 seats) elsewhere, it will be a big problem for the BJP,” he said. The CM said Jung’s actions are exposing Modi because people are accusing the Prime Minister for the fight between the L-G and Kejriwal government.

He dared the prime minister and the Union home ministry to move court over the transfer and posting of officials, which has been a bone of contention between the Delhi government and the Centre.

When asked why did he lock out one of his senior officials recently, Kejriwal said it was done to prevent the official from doing something “illegal at the behest of the L-G”.

The BJP, meanwhile, strongly criticised Kejriwal for his comments. “He has a habit of using unparliamentary language against constitutional authorities… People have a problem when he is called an anarchist but he behaves like one,” said Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay.

(Agencies)

‘Not an Indian by birth’, Geelani says getting Indian passport ‘compulsion’

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Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani (Photo: AFP/File)

Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani (Photo: AFP/File)

Srinagar: Earlier, Geelani had told a news agency that he left the nationality column blank in his online application for the passport.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Friday said that getting an Indian passport for travelling abroad was a compulsion and that he was “not an Indian by birth”.

After stepping out of the passport office at Boulevard in Srinagar, Geelani told waiting newsmen that “I am not an Indian by birth. It’s a compulsion that we have to travel with an Indian passport.”

Earlier, Geelani had told a news agency that he left the nationality column blank in his online application for the passport.

Police sources said that the octogenarian leader was released from house detention early Friday morning and that he was allowed to proceed to the passport office to complete the formalities.

Geelani, according to Hurriyat Conference, applied for the passport to see his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia.

Geelani’s application for a passport had created a political furore which saw coalition partners, BJP and PDP, bitterly divided.

While the state unit of the BJP demanded an ‘apology’ from the leader for his ‘anti-national’ activities, PDP had said that it was a ‘humanitarian issue’ and that the Hurriyat leader should be issued a passport.

(Agencies)

Nestle recalls Maggi noodles from market

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Nestle Maggi noodles

New Delhi: In the line of fire from central and several state governments for its prime Maggi product carrying unsafe contents, Nestle India late Thursday night decided to withdraw the product. However, the company still claimed the Maggi noodles are safe.

In a press statement, the company said: “The trust of our consumers and the safety of our products is our first priority. Unfortunately, recent developments and unfounded concerns about the product have led to an environment of confusion for the consumer, to such an extent that we have decided to withdraw the product off the shelves, despite the product being safe.”

Nestle also promised that “the trusted MAGGI Noodles will be back in the market as soon as the current situation is clarified.”

The company seems to have taken the decision to recall the product following the central government getting tough over the issue.

The central government on Thursday sought reports from all states on the controversy over the quality of Maggi noodles, Health Minister J.P. Nadda said.

The health minister said that once the central government gets the reports, a decision will be taken on the future course of action regarding the popular snack that has been pulled off sales counters after high lead content was found in samples.

“We have asked for a report from all the state governments on Maggi,” Nadda told the press.

“The reports are expected to come by today (Thursday) evening, after which we will be able to take a decision,” he said.

Asked about checking the safety standards of other packaged food products, the health minister said “it is a continuous process”.

The Delhi government on Wednesday banned Maggi noodles for 15 days as Nestle India, the manufacturer of the popular snack, battled controversy with many more states ordering tests after an Uttar Pradesh lab reported that samples of the noodles contained more than the permissible limit of lead.

Bihar, Punjab, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha on Wednesday joined Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh which have sent Maggi noodle samples for tests.

(With inputs from IANS)

Jammu tense as Sikhs stage protests defying prohibitory orders

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Sikh protesters sit near burning tires during a curfew in Jammu on Friday. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Kashmir city on Thursday following clashes with hundreds of Sikh protesters after bullets fired by police killed one person and injured two more.

Sikh protesters sit near burning tires during a curfew in Jammu on Friday. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Kashmir city on Thursday following clashes with hundreds of Sikh protesters after bullets fired by police killed one person and injured two more.

Jammu: Defying prohibitory orders, Sikh youths took to streets for the third day today as protests spread over removal of posters of Khalistan militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a day after a youth was killed and seven injured in clashes with police over the row.

Authorities clamped Section 144 of CrPC, which bars gathering of more than four persons at a place, in the entire Jammu district and curfew like situation prevailed in violence-hit areas of Satwari-Ranibagh-Gadigarh-R S Pura belt and elsewhere.

Groups of Sikhs blocked the Jammu-Pathakote highway and burnt tyres. Protests were held at Digiana belt and people raised slogans against the police and the government. Similar protests were held in Poonch, Kathua and Rajouri areas.

Streets wore a deserted look in Jammu city today and business establishments remained closed. Mobile and internet services were also suspended in Jammu. Schools and colleges in several districts of the region were closed.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas of Jammu city.

The situation “is tense but under control” in Jammu city, police said.

Army late last night staged flag march in parts of Jammu following violent clashes.

“Army carried out flag march in the violence hit belt on road from R S Pura to Satwari due to the prevailing situation,” PRO Defence Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

He said that the district administration had requisitioned the Army to instill confidence in the people.

A youth, Jagjit Singh, was killed yesterday and seven others including three policemen were injured in a clash between police and a large group of Sikhs youth who blocked roads here against removal of a poster with a picture of late militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The condition of the three policemne has been described as critical by doctors, police said here.

The incident sparked off more protests in the region despite appeals for peace by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his deputy Nirmal Singh.

Singh today voiced confidence that things will be controlled “within a short span of time” and said talks were being held with community leaders.

“Restrictions have been imposed under section 144 CrPC in entire district as a precautionary measure,” Deputy Commissioner, Jammu ,Simrandeep Singh told PTI.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said an investigation will be held into the incident and the guilty will face action in accordance with law.

“It is very unfortunate that this situation has emerged in Jammu and in particulare area. The administration is on the job and we are meeting the people there, the leaders of the community and we hope that the situation shall be brought under control,” he said.

“I appeal to the people specially the leaders of the community that they must maintain peace and communal harmony because it (protests) is not in larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and India also,” he said

“We are investigating the whole thing and whosoever is held responsible shall be dealt according to law,” he said.

Expressing deep sorrow and anguish over the loss of a precious human life during protests by the members of the Sikh community in Jammu, the Chief Minister had said that while it is the responsibility of the police to maintain law and order, at the same time Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) should be strictly adhered to avoid such tragedies during public protests.

(Agencies)

Press Statement from civil society organisations to communal violence affected Atali village, Ballabhgarh, Haryana

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Faridabad-Riots

Visit of civil society organizations at Atali village, Ballabhgarh, Haryana, today (5th June 2015)

Today a team consisting of members of PUCL, NAPM, Khudai Khidmatgar and Socialist Party visited the Atali village in Ballabhgarh District (Haryana) led by Justice Rajinder Sachar (Retd). Team met the Muslim residents who were attacked on 25th May, 2015, whose houses were burnt, belongings looted or destroyed and who had to flee from the village to save their lives and had taken shelter in a police station at Ballabhgarh till 3rd June. The team was happy to see that elders of the majority community had approached them and assured them of their co-operation in protecting them and support in building the ‘mosque’ and on their assurance, as well assurance of the administration, they have returned to the village from 3rd June, 2015. However since their houses were burnt and their belongings totally destroyed or looted by the anti-social elements, they have to rebuild their lives from scratch. The interim compensation at the rate of Rs.5000/- per family given to the victims by the administration is totally insufficient.

Besides the Muslim residents, the team members met SDM Dr. Priyanka Soni, some police officials including two ACPs who were present at the spot as well as members of the majority community of the village. Though the administration and the elders of the majority community asserted that they are committed to the building of the mosque, still there are some mischievous elements who, inspite of the court verdict against them and inspite of the compromise, seem to be unsatisfied and have again gone to the court of CJM, Faridabad, in appeal claiming that the land of the mosque belongs to the Panchayat and got a notice issued to the Mosque committee as well as the Panchayat. Matter is fixed tomorrow for hearing. However the team is surprised to note that though there are more than eight temples, there is no properly constructed mosque in the village and the Muslim residents have been offering their prayers in a make-shift tinshed for more than a century.

The team urges upon the Haryana Govt. that (i) the task of building the mosque must be given top priority and urgency, and proper protection be given to the mosque committee for this purpose; (ii) Adequate compensation be given to the victims of violence so that they are able to rehabilitate themselves in a dignified manner; (iii) that those responsible for violence should be immediately arrested and prosecuted and (iv) that due protection be given to the Muslim families and their properties.

The team members were Justice Rajinder Sachar, N.D.Pancholi, Prof. V.K.Tripathi, Vimal Bhai, Faisal Khan, Rizwan Ahmad, Farah Sakib and Abdul Malik.

[released by] N.D.Pancholi, President, PUCL (Delhi)

The Times Group’s ideal college girl must be “smoking hot, with a killer bod”

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Cannot be size 10.(Facebook/Campus Princess)

Cannot be size 10. (Facebook/Campus Princess)

by Shelly Walia, QZ

The Times Group—India’s largest media conglomerate and the owner of The Times of India newspaper—has come out with a list of crazily-worded requirements for a college beauty pageant that it runs.

Sample these: “If you’re size ten, well you need a dietitian.” Or: “If you prefer books my dear, good luck with your career.” And if a woman does not meet some of their requirements, she can still be eligible for the contest if she is “smoking hot, with a killer bod.”

These criteria appeared on Campus Princess’ Facebook page, on May 16, as part of its ongoing multiple-city auditions. This specific call for entry preceded the auditions in Bangalore.

Started in 2013, Campus Princess hunts for potential beauty queens among college students. Typically, these women must be between 18 and 27 years to be eligible for the contest, and studying at a recognised educational institution. Though the status of the women must be compulsorily unmarried, the application form allows a candidate to fill in other statuses, including married, divorced and widow.

The pageant describes itself as a “breeding ground” for young women, helping them realise “their dream of becoming a beauty queen.” It takes place twice a year—and is a precursor to the Times Group’s other two prominent pageants: Miss India and Miss Diva.

Ironically, this is what a spokesperson for Campus Princess had to say: “It was supposed to be taken in good humour. We at the organisation don’t really believe in objectification of women or stereotyping beauty.”

“That post basically spoke about the eligibility criteria which is in place, and as every contest has certain rules and regulations, even we have certain criteria in place,” he told Quartz. “These criteria are not something that we decide upon. These are international criteria, and decided by say a Miss World Organisation or a Miss Universe Organisation.”

The post was removed from Facebook on June 03 after Buzzfeed posted this article, criticising Campus Princess and its eligibility requirements.

“The reason we used that kind of language was because we deal with college students, and we were trying to stay in tandem with the kind of lingo that college kids typically use,” the spokesperson said. “So that was the reason why that kind of creative expression was used. But it didn’t go well. And we took it down right away.”

Rahul Gandhi backs Greenpeace, meets activist Priya Pillai and others

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Rahul-Gandhi

New Delhi: Opening another front against the Narendra Modi Government, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met members of civil society including Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who had a running feud with NDA dispensation and expressed solidarity with their struggle.

Opening another front against theNarendra Modi Government, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met members of civil society including Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai, who had a running feud withNDA dispensation and expressed solidarity with their struggle.

“Rahul Gandhi expressed full solidarity with the people’s struggle to safeguard hard-won Constitutional freedoms.

“A wide cross-section of Civil Society Leaders met Rahul Gandhi on the issue of BJP Govt’s continuing attack on Freedom of Speech & Dissent,” the twitter handle of Rahul’s office said on the microblogging site after the meeting.

Pillai, a Greenpeace senior campaigner was “offloaded” at Delhi airport on January 11 from a flight to London where she was scheduled to make a presentation before British MPs regarding alleged human rights violation at Mahan in Madhya Pradesh.

The incident had happened a few months after the blocking of funds to Greenpeace by the Home Ministry. The issue had led to a huge controversy.

A joint press release by the members of the civil society said that they met Gandhi and expressed concern about “attack” by the government on their freedom and autonomy and right to dissent.

Besides Pillai, RTI activist Nikhil Dey from MKSS, Ravi Nair, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre, Tapan Bose, South Asia Forum For Human Rights, M J Vijayan, General Secretary, Programme for Social Action (PSA), Rajendra Ravi, National Alliance of People’s Movements and Jarjum Ete, President of All India Union of Forest Working People(AIUFWP) met the Congress Vice President.

In the interactive session, Gandhi assured the members of civil society that the Congress Party would be in the vanguard of defending and enhancing all the fundamental fights and directive principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

“He said that he shared the concerns raised by the delegation on democracy and dissent being curbed,” the release said.

Their meeting with Rahul is the first in a series of meetings with all political parties “not in alliance with the BJP-led NDA” and seeks to explore commonalities of how civil society across India can encourage a broad anti-authoritarian, pro-poor, pro-environment platform, the activists said.

The civil society members, many of whom alleged that from “draconian” changes in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and its authoritative misuse, to attack on Human rights defender and environmental activists, the

Modi led NDA regime is involved in “stifling” democratic dissent and subversion of constitutional rights.

They demanded that all Intelligence agencies should be brought under the purview of Parliament and the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The activists said that their meeting with the Congress Vice President addressed the urgent need to put the brakes on the rise of “Hindutva authoritarianism as exemplified by the BJP-RSS combine”.

The civil society members alleged that in the past one year, the NDA government has “targeted” the country’s robust civil society organisations.

“With an authoritarian government in place and a shrinking space for dissent, the members of civil organisations have called upon all political parties that are not a part of the BJP-led NDA to support them reclaim the space they deserve in a democracy,” they said.

They said that certain provisions of laws governing voluntary organisations (VOs) like the Societies Registration Act of 1860, the Indian Trusts Act (1882), the Charitable and Religious Trust Act (1920), Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act (1950), Foreign Contribution Regulation Act of 1976 (FCRA) and similar legislation need to be redrafted.

(Agencies)

Tamil Nadu to get Rs 5-crore bill from Karnataka for Jayalalithaa case

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Jayalalithaa

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is sending over a bill of more than Rs. 5.11 crore to neighbour Tamil Nadu soon. That is what it has spent on conducting the trial of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and three others in a corruption case over the last 12 years.

“We will claim Rs. 5.11 crore plus money from Tamil Nadu government which was spent on handling the case in Bengaluru,” Law Minister TB Jayachandra of the Congress told reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Mr Jayachandra said the state government would also bill Tamil Nadu for expenditure incurred on matters related to the Home department, including security cover for Ms Jayalalithaa, who returned as Tamil Nadu chief minister two weeks ago after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her, quashing her conviction by a Bangalore trial court in September last year.

“The home ministry is working on calculating expenses incurred on providing security to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister,” Mr Jayachandra said.

Four days ago, the Karnataka government said it will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquittal of Ms Jayalalithaa.

The Supreme Court had transferred the case to Bengaluru on November 18, 2003, after K Anbazhagan, a politician from the DMK, Ms Jayalalithaa’s arch rival, contended that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with her Chief Minister.

In September last year, the trial court held Ms Jayalalithaa guilty of amassing wealth beyond her income. She was jailed for three weeks before being granted bail. The conviction forced the chief of Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK to resign as chief minister.

She appealed in the Karnataka High Court, which acquitted Ms Jayalalithaa on May 11 in the 19-year-old case.

(Agencies)

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