Archives for 2018

Gurugram: Journalists here on Wednesday organised a silent protest against a FIR registered against journalist Rachna Khaira and The Tribune for exposing the flaws in the Aadhaar system.

The journalists gathered at the main gate of the Mini Secretariat located near Rajiv Chowk on Delhi-Gurugram Expressway and marched to Gurugram Deputy Commisioner Vinay Pratap Singh’s office where they submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The breach (of Aadhaar data) was a threat to national security and violation of rights of citizens. The government must appreciate the efforts of the journalist and reward her instead of punishing her,” the memorandum said.

The journalists warned that if their demands were not met, they would stage further protests.

Journalists also demanded suspension and departmental action against the UIDAI officials who, instead of owning responsibility for their lapse, got the FIR registered against the Tribune and its reporter.

After a January 3 report by The Tribune over breach in Aadhaar data, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) registered an FIR against the newspaper and reporter Khaira.

The FIR invokes serious charges under the Indian Penal Code, IT Act and Aadhaar Act.

The UIDAI move has attracted widespread criticism from press bodies, the Editors Guild and journalists across the country.

(IANS)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today said it would constitute a fresh three-member SIT, to be headed by a former high court judge, to monitor probe into 186 anti-Sikh riot cases, that followed the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, in which investigations were closed.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra asked the Centre to suggest names today itself for its consideration and appointment in the proposed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said the proposed committee will be headed by a former high court judge and consist of one retired and one serving police officer.

It also made it clear that the retired police officer shall not be below the rank of DIG at the time of his superannuation.

The apex court said the supervisory body, appointed by it has found that out of 241 cases, 186 cases were closed without investigation.

The apex court today perused the report of the supervisory body which was submitted before it in a leather box with number lock system.

(PTI)

In the 11th year celebrations Karnataka Marwari Samaj in association with Bhagwan Mahaveer Vikalang Sahayata Samiti (Jaipur Foot) organized Free distribution function of Jaipur Foot Camp. More than 150 patients were provided with Artificial Limbs, callipers (for polio affected patients) & crutches for handicapped.

Chief Guest Shri Subhash Ji Agrawal, General Secretary, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee distributed Artificial limbs to the needy persons in presence the of Karnataka Marwari Samaj members on Sunday 7th Jan, 2018 at Maharaja Agrasen Bhavan, No.340 / 8, 2nd Cross, 1st Block, Near Ashoka Pillar, Jayanagar, Bengaluru -560011 .

It is a clear social vision & commitment of Karnataka Marwari Samaj to help the disabled regain mobility & dignity by fitting high – quality, durable artificial limbs and other aids & appliances.

‘‘As we stood amongst the poorest of the poor everywhere, some of them coming from thousands of miles away, we realised this was not just about fitting limbs but also about restoring dignity to other human beings, and in the process to ourselves, for it is in giving that we receive. There may be other places in the world where compassion is that tangible; it is just that we had not seen any’’. averred Bimal Kumar Saraogi, Project Director, Karnataka Marwari Samaj.

Anil Kumar Alampuria, President, Karnataka Marwari Samaj avers, “We are very proud to continue our social services every year, so that more & more people can be benefited”.
The artificial limbs provided by Karnataka Marwari Samaj use Jaipur Limb Technology. This technology has been developed & further refined by the research & development team of the society. The Jaipur Limb is a one – stop facility and the patients who come are measured and their custom -made limb / caliper are fabricated & fitted, without making them visit again a 2nd time. it is so efficient that after this limb is fitted, a person can walk like a normal person without a stick or support, and even run, ride a bicycle & climb a tree. After the fitment many of the patients can go back to work in the field, factories, shops & offices.

Bengaluru: Escalating the attack on his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday dubbed him a “Jungle Raj” Chief Minister, as both were locked in a Twitter war that went viral.

A day after Adityanath mocked at Siddaramaiah’s assertion about his Hindu credentials, the Karnataka chief minister said the Hindutva he follows was the legacy of Swami Vivekananda and not Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Ours is a Hindutva that follows the legacy of Vivekananda, not Godse. Let Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath read what Vivekanada has said before lecturing us about ban on cow slaughter,” Siddaramaiah said in a tweet in Kannada.

Speaking at the ‘Nava Karnataka Parivartan Yatre’ rally organised by the Karnataka unit of the BJP here on Sunday, the UP Chief Minister took a jibe at Siddaramaiah, saying he was only now recalling his Hindu roots.

Siddaramaiah calls himself a Hindu just as Congress President Rahul Gandhi went to temple after temple during the Gujarat Assembly elections, he had claimed, adding that “calling himself a Hindu will not suffice till he continues to endorse eating beef.”

Assembly elections are due in Karnataka, early this year.

This was the second such visit by Adityanath to the state in a month to campaign for the party. He had last visited it to address a similar rally in Hubballi.

Calling Adityanath “a Jungle Raj Chief Minister” while speaking to reporters at Byndoor in Udupi district on Monday, Siddaramaiah said “we need not learn from him.”

“We need not learn from them (BJP) about Hindutva, they are followers of Nathuram Godse, we need not learn from them,” he said.

The fresh salvo from Siddaramaiah came after both engaged in the Twitter war.

Welcoming Adityanath to Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah tweeted that there’s a lot he can learn from Karnataka to address the reported starvation deaths in his state.

“I welcome UP CM Shri @myogiadityanath to our state. There is a lot you can learn from us Sir. When you are here please visit an Indira Canteen & a ration shop. It will help you address the starvation deaths sometimes reported from your state. #YogiInBengaluru,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Adityanath promptly responded.

Thanking Siddaramaiah for the welcome, he cited an increase in farmers’ suicides and alleged ill-treatment of honest government officials under the Congress dispensation.

He also pointed out that he was trying to “undo the misery” unleashed by Congress’ allies in Uttar Pradesh.

“Thank you for the welcome @siddaramaiah ji. I heard number of farmers committing suicide in Karnataka was highest in your regime, not to mention the numerous deaths and transfer of honest officers.”

“As UP CM I am working to undo the misery and lawlessness unleashed by your allies,” Adityanath tweeted.

The “welcome” barb between both the chief ministers has gone viral, with supporters of political parties they represent taking sides and trolling each other with hashtags “#YogiInBengaluru” and “#HogappaYogi” (go Yogi).

Adityanath also attacked Siddaramaiah personally for endorsing eating beef.

In another tweet late on Monday evening, Siddaramaiah asked who the BJP people were to question food habits but added that he doesn’t eat beef because he doesn’t like it.

Siddaramaiah said, “Who are these people to question our food habits. Many among the Hindus consume beef. If I want to eat, I will eat. Who are these people to tell me not to eat. But I don’t like beef, so I don’t eat it.”

He also said he had reared cows and asked whether Adityanath who lectures about cow protection had done the same. “What moral right does he have to speak about cow protection.”

(PTI)

Bengaluru: BJP District Yuva Morcha President, Anil, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the suicide of a 20-year-old woman in Chikmagalur, according to news agency ANI.

The woman hanged herself on January 6 after a group of men from a local right-wing organisation barged into her home and heckled her in front of her parents over her friendship with a Muslim man from her college.

The right wing group also questioned her over her chat with him on Facebook. In one such chat, she had written “I like Muslims.” The right-wing group had initially warned her on Facebook.

They also hurled insults at the girl and her parents and threatened her to sever ties with her Muslim friend.

After they left, the woman hung herself in her room.

In her suicide note, she named five men, who harassed her and her mother, thereby creating issues of love jihad.

While Anil has been arrested, the other four accused are still absconding.

“On 6 January, a 20-year-old woman committed suicide. In her suicide note, she wrote that a group of five harassed her and her mother by alleging that she goes out with a Muslim boy. One person has been arrested,” said Superintendent of Police, Chikmagalur.

A case has been registered under 306 (Abetment to suicide) of the IPC.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: American whistleblower Edward Snowden on Tuesday came out in support of a national daily reporter, who has been booked for exposing alleged flaws in Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) system.

Taking to Twitter, Snowden said instead of an investigation, the journalist needed to be rewarded for exposing that the Aadhar data was not foolproof and could be obtained at a cost of only Rs 500.

In his tweet, the former United States government contractor, who has taken an asylum in Russia, also suggested that action should rather be taken against UIDAI, the body that runs the Aadhaar programme.

“The journalists exposing the #Aadhaar breach deserve an award, not an investigation. If the government were truly concerned for justice, they would be reforming the policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians. Want to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI,” Snowden tweeted.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad Monday had said that the administration was “fully committed to freedom of press” and that an FIR filed is “against unknown”.

“Govt. is fully committed to freedom of Press as well as to maintaining security & sanctity of #Aadhaar for India’s development. FIR is against unknown. I’ve suggested @UIDAI to request Tribune & it’s journalist to give all assistance to police in investigating real offenders,” Prasad tweeted.

On January 5, Snowden had hinted that the Aadhaar database conceived and introduced by the Indian government can also be misused and abused.

(Agencies)