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Sahitya Akademi condemns killing of writers after activists stage protest

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Sahitya Akademi

New Delhi: The Sahitya Akademi on Friday condemned the killing of writers and urged those writers who had returned their awards in protest against its silence to take them back.

The appeal followed a meeting of the Akademi’s Executive Board, Krishnaswamy Nachimuthu, an Akademi member and a Tamil scholar, told the media here.

Writers march in protest

With black gags and arm bands, writers and their supporters held a solidarity march here ahead of the Sahitya Akademi emergency meeting to discuss the returning of awards by eminent authors in protest against “rising intolerance” in the backdrop MM Kalburgi’s killing.

Writers from different languages converged for the silent march carrying huge banners from Sri Ram Centre at Safdar Hashmi Marg to the Sahitya Akademi building, where they submitted a memorandum to the Akademi demanding that it pass a resolution pledging to take stern steps to safeguard the freedom of speech and right to dissent of the writers.

At least 35 writers from across the country had over the past few weeks announced their decision to return their Sahitya Akademi awards and stepped down from official Akademi positions to protest the “rising intolerance” in the country.

Akademi chairman Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari accepted the memorandum and said “it will be considered” in the meeting.

“The executive council of the Akademi should pass a resolution that it will take stern steps to safeguard the freedom of speech and right to dissent of the writers,” the memorandum said.

The protesters has also criticised Tiwari’s recent statements in which he dubbed as “illogical” the act of several writers returning their awards. They also called for a written apology from Tiwari against statements he had made about Akademi award winning writers having made gains from their award royalties.

“A delegation of 13 Hindi-Urdu writers had met the representatives of the Akademi on September 16 to demand for a ‘shok sabha’ but the Akademi denied to do so,” the memorandum said. The writers said if the Akademi does not conduct a condolence meet for Kalburgi in Delhi, they will demand Tiwari’s resignation.

The protest march was convened by five groups – Janvadi Lekhak Sangh, Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh, Jansanskriti Manch, Dalit Lekhak Sangh and Sahitya Sanvad.

Eminent writers Keki N Daruwala, Geeta Hariharan, Anuradha Kapoor (former director National School of Drama), Shekhar Joshi and Javed Ali among others were part of the protest.

Called the getting together of writers as historic step in the literary history of the country, the protesters called for the Akademi to condemn in strong terms the killings of Kannada writer Kalburgi and other writers and rationalists and assure the writers that the Akademi would in these times of distress ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression.

“Tiwari has lost the trust of the writers. If Tiwari does not apologise and conduct a condolence meet for Kalburgi in Delhi, we will demand his resignation,” a statement by the writers said.

(Agencies)

Young Dalit writer attacked for criticizing caste system

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Dalit writer Huchangi Prasad, who was attacked in Davangere.

Dalit writer Huchangi Prasad, who was attacked in Davangere.

Davanagere: In a fresh case of upper caste atrocity against lower caste Hindus, a young Dalit writer was attacked by a group of Hindutva activists for his writings against the caste system perceived to be “anti-Hindu” at Davanagere in Central Karnataka.

The Thursday’s attack comes barely three months after the shooting of writer M.M. Kalburgi – barely 100 km away – and at a time when numerous writers across the country have raised their voice against rising intolerance.

According to the complaint filed by 23-year-old Huchangi Prasad, a journalism student at Davanagere University who had published a ‘controversial’ book a year ago, an unidentified man came to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe hostel at the university in the early hours, claiming that Mr. Prasad’s mother had been hospitalised following a heart attack.

Apparently in “shock”, the student followed the man who promised to take him to the hospital. Midway, in an isolated corner of APMC Yard, a group of eight to ten people ambushed him.

“They surrounded me and started to push me around. They said my writings were anti-Hindu as I talked about the caste system. They even put kumkum all over my face. They pulled out a knife and said they will cut my fingers off so I can never write again,” Mr. Prasad told The Hindu.

He pushed his way through the group and ran into the nearby woods, where he hid. Hours later, when sure that the group had left, he fled to the hostel. He later filed a police complaint.

Following the attack, police have registered a case against “unknown persons” under attempt to murder (IPC 307) and under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The student had published his first book in April 2014 and had since then faced threats. The book comprised prose and poetry revolving around treatment of Dalits in the country.

At the book launch, Kannada writer K.S. Bhagwan — who has recently received threats — spoke inviting the ire of right-wing organisations who had filed a complaint for provocative speech at the local police station. Mr. Prasad had been threatened since then.

(Agencies)

Delhi’s AAP government supersedes Waqf Board, strips it of powers

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arvind-kejriwal

New Delhi: The AAP Govt has “superseded” the Delhi Waqf Board, transferring all its powers and duties to the Secretary (Revenue) in the city administration.

“In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 99(I) of the Waqf Act, 1995, the Government of NCT of Delhi hereby supersedes the Delhi Waqf Board with immediate effect for a period of six months,” said a notification issued by Revenue Secretary A Ambarasu on October 10, 2015.

Rana Parween Siddiqui, Chairperson of the Board, said she has “filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the notification. The court will hear the case on October 30.”

The notification has also stipulated that “in accordance with Section 99(2)(b) of the Waqf Act, 1995, all the powers and duties of the Board under the provisions of the Act will be exercised and performed by the Secretary (Revenue) Government of NCT of Delhi.”

“I received the notification on October 15 and stopped going to Waqf Board office,” said Rana who has also filed a writ petition in the High Court for notification of her election as Chairperson of Delhi Waqf Board by the Delhi Government.

Rana was elected as Chairperson of the Delhi Waqf Board in a meeting of members of the Board on January 20.

“There are a total of seven members of Delhi Waqf Board. At the time of my election, there were only six members out of whom four elected me as Chairperson of the Board,” she said.

However, her election was not notified by Delhi Government, against which she filed the petition in Delhi High Court.

The court in its order on April 29 had directed the respondent Delhi Government to maintain status quo vis a vis position of the Chairperson till further hearing.

“The notification issued by the government superseding Delhi Waqf Board despite the status quo order by the High Court is a clear case of contempt of court. I will move a separate application in the court regarding this, ” she added.

(Agencies)

Complainant to withdraw assault-case against Amit Mishra

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Indian cricketer Amit Mishra snapped during the preparatory camp for the forthcoming series against South Africa at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on September 23, 2015. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

Indian cricketer Amit Mishra snapped during the preparatory camp for the forthcoming series against South Africa at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on September 23, 2015. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

In a relief to Indian cricketer Amit Mishra, the woman who had filed a police complaint against him for an alleged assault, has decided to withdraw the case.

“Two days after lodging the complaint, I approached the police station and told them that I have in principle decided to withdraw the case,” the complainant told.

“I am waiting for Mishra to appear in the police station. We both will amicably withdraw the case. We were friends. We fought, and continue to remain friends here after,” she said.

Mishra was in Bengaluru last month for India’s pre-tour training camp when he had met the woman.

The police had asked Mishra to appear before them in a week’s time. Mishra was booked under the Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 328 (causing hurt with intent to commit an offence).

She clarified that that she has not taken the step under pressure.

“There was no pressure from any quarters, including the BCCI. I am surprised how the media picked up the case, which I have decided to withdraw,” she said.

(PTI)

Siddaramaiah hands over ex-gratia amount of Rs 30 lakh to PSI Jagadish’s family

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SI Jagadish

Bengaluru: An ex-gratia amount of Rs 30 lakh was handed over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the family of the slain police sub-inspector Jagadish on the occasion of the Police Martyrs’ Day in the city on Wednesday.

Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K.J George paid homage to PSI Jagadish and other martyred cops while participating in the annual Police Martyrs’ Day held at car grounds.

While handing the ex-gratia cheque to Jagadish’s wife Ramya and his father Srinivasaiah the Chief Minister has also said that the family would be entitled to receive further Rs. 20 lakh as part of the group insurance of police personnel.

Siddaramaiah has assured that he would personally make sure that the family receives all its dues including a monthly allowance to Ramya apart from drawing the salary of Jagadish till his natural date of retirement.

Srinivasaiah, Jagadish’s father was happy that his son’s culprits were booked by law, however, he expressed his anger saying that they do not deserve to live and should be awarded death sentence.

Jagadish (34) was stabbed to death on October 16 allegedly by burglars whom he was chasing at Nelamangala town in Bengaluru Rural district. The State police in coordination with the Maharashtra police nabbed two of the culprits accused in the case from Nagpur on Monday.

CM Siddaramaiah while complimenting the police teams for their efforts had announced cash award of Rs 5 lacs each yesterday for both the police teams.

(Agencies)

Urdu poet Munawwar Rana to meet Modi soon over writers returning awards

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Munawwar Rana

Lucknow: Urdu poet Munawwar Rana, who has returned his Sahitya Akademi award would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon.

“I got a call from PMO on Tuesday with a request to meet him the next day. As I was in Gwalior I said that it was not possible and the date and time should be fixed for some other day…On this I was told that it will take some time,” Mr. Rana said on Thursday.

Mr. Rana, a big name in contemporary Urdu poetry said that whenever Prime Minister would call him he would meet him and narrate his grief over the present scenario and would explain the reason behind his decision of returning award.

“I will meet the PM as a poet with reference to Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb of the country. My intention is to live the life which I was born with,” he said.

On being asked if he will meet PM along with other litterateurs, he said, “Somebody goes with me or not is his or her personal choice, but if Modi calls me I will definitely meet him.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Rana evaded the question of accepting his award again if Prime Minister would request.

Mr. Rana had recently announced to give up his Sahitya Akademi award dramatically during a live TV debate over the killing of Kannada writer M M Kalburgi and lynching of a man in Dadri for allegedly consuming beef.

The Rae Bareli-born writer conferred the Sahitya Akademi award by the Modi government in 2014 for his book Shahdaba.

(PTI)

Modi lays foundation stone for Andhra capital Amaravati

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modi-amaravati

Vijayawada: History was made in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone for new state capital Amaravati near here.

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, Modi along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu performed ‘puja’ and the associated rituals to formally lay the foundation stone of what is being promised a ‘world-class’ and ‘people’s capital’.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, Assam and Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Acharya, central ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Nirmala Sitaraman, Y.S. Chowdary and Bandaru Dattatreya also participated in the rituals.

Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Yosuke Takagi and Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran also participated in the ceremony watched by thousands of people.

The prime minister unveiled a pylon. He flew into Uddandarayunipalem in Guntur district in a helicopter from Gannavarm Airport in Vijayawada, where he arrived by a special aircraft from New Delhi.

Naidu and central ministers received Modi at the airport. Modi was greeted by Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneswari, son N. Lokesh and daughter-in-law Brahmani when he reached the venue.

The prime minister went around Amaravati Pavilion, a special exhibition arranged to highlight the glorious dynasty of Amaravati and the plans to develop the world-class capital.

(IANS)

Dadri lynching was premeditated, moral policing spreading fast: Minorities panel

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Dadri

New Delhi: The lynching of man in Dadri last month strongly appeared to be the result of “pre-meditated planning” under which people were incited using a temple, the National Minorities Commission has said.

In its report, the minority panel also described as “disturbing” the “irreponsible comments” by politicians to make “capital” out of it

In an obvious reference to statements made by Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and some other BJP leaders following the lyching of Mohammed Iqlakh over rumours of beef eating that triggered a nation-wide outrage, the NCM said it will be “quite an understatement” to say the killing was merely an “accident as has been claimed even by some persons in authority”

A three-member team of the Commission headed by its chairman Naseem Ahmad had visited Bishada village near Dadri in Uttar Pradesh and interacted with family members of the victim, the concerned authorities and locals

“The team feels that a crowd of large numbers appearing within minutes of an announcement from temple’s loudspeaker and at a time when most villagers claimed they were asleep seems to point to some pre-meditated planning

“The facts as reported to the NCM team point strongly that the whole episode was the result of a planning in which a sacred place like temple was used for exhorting people of one community to attack a hapless family,” the report said

Quoting district officials, the NCM noted that two more attempts had been made to “incite” people by spreading a rumour that a cow had been killed but police responded instantly and did not allow the situation to escalate

50-year-old Iqlakh was beaten to death and his 22-year-old son Danish was critically injured by a 200-strong mob on September 28 following rumours that the family had consumed and stored beef

In an apparent criticism of BJP leaders who made controversial comments after the incident, the NCM said such statements further “vitiate” the relations between different communities and this should be stopped at all cost or “things will go out of hand”

What is more “disturbing”, the report said, is that “responsible persons converge at the place of any such incident and make irresponsible statements that further vitiates the relations between communities”

“All the political establishments need to counsel their cadres and sympathisers to desist from making irresponsible statements and making capital out of such outrages,” it said

The malaise of moral policing was spreading fast, especially in Western UP, it said and sought vigilance and curb on the use of social media as it was being extensively used to flare up communal passions.

(PTI)

Lynching, killing cannot damage Hindu culture: Mohan Bhagwat

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Mohan Bhagwat

Nagpur: With Dadri-like incidents triggering outrage, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said such “small episodes” cannot damage “Hindu culture” and praised the Modi government for ushering in hope and confidence in the country and enhancing India’s standing abroad.

 

In his annual Dussehra address at RSS headquarters here, Bhagwat hailed Dalit ikon B R Ambedkar for making provisions in Constitution to remove social and economic inequality faced by the weaker sections, a reference to the quota system, whose review he had recently suggested that pushed BJP on the backfoot in Bihar polls.

In his 55-minute speech, telecast live by Doordarshan for the second consecutive year, he also called for a holistic discussion on population, saying its continuous rise becomes a burden.

“Small episodes happen. They get exaggerated and presented in a big way… Small incidents keep happening but it does not distort Indian culture, Hindu culture. Since time immemorial, it respects diversity, coordinates among diversities to establish unity… This is Hindutva,” he said.

“Our country has stood as one and will stand as one. The Sangh has been doing the work of keeping the nation one on the basis of Hindutva for the last 90 years,” he said.

Bhagwat, however, refrained from making any direct reference to recent incidents of communal and caste tensions.

With several fringe Hindutva elements repeatedly demanding a curb on Muslim population, Bhagwat, without naming any community, favoured a “uniform population policy which is applicable to all”.

He deplored that no holistic discussion has taken place in the country on controlling population.

“With rise in population, the burden on the country will grow. Population growth can be an asset too. If we have more mouths to feed, we will also have more hands to work. We have to plan for 50 years hence. How to provide for the education and health of the people,” he said.

Praising the Centre, he said it had brought about hope and confidence among people that had hit rock bottom under the previous government and spoke about the pet schemes of the Modi government like Jan Dhan, Swachh Bharat and Mudra bank.

(Agencies)

If a dog is stoned, don’t blame govt: VK Singh on Dalit children’s killings

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vk singh

New Delhi: The government has nothing to do with the murder of the two Dalit children in Haryana, Union Minister VK Singh said today. And in an afterthought that is expected to land him in controversy, added, “If someone throws stones at a dog, the government is not responsible”.

Asked if the government has failed in view of the Monday’s killings on the sidelines of an event in Ghaziabad, Mr Singh said, “Don’t connect the government with it. It was a feud between two families, the matter in under inquiry.”

The administration failed there, the minister said, then added the controversial comment. Haryana is ruled by the BJP, Mr Singh’s party.

The children — two-and-a-half year old Vaibhav and 11-month-old Divya – had died after their house was set on fire, allegedly by members of an upper caste community at a village in Haryana near Delhi, on Monday. Their father — who sustained burn injuries to save them — said petrol was poured through the window and the house was set on fire.

While Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar put off his to Sonped yesterday in view of the escalating protests in the area, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had met the family and launched a scathing attack on Mr Khattar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their party, the BJP.

“This is an attitude shared by Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, the BJP and the RSS — If somebody is weak, they can be crushed. What you are seeing is the result of this attitude,” he said. “They are weak and poor, that is why they are being treated like this. This is not the government of the weak.”

Under attack from the opposition, the Haryana government has asked for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the deaths. Seven people have been arrested in the case so far.

The children were cremated on Wednesday evening, after daylong protests by the locals and the blockade of a national highway.

(Agencies)

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