Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for News & Politics

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

by

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”

by

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

by

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

by

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)

BJP MP Vinay Katiyar rakes up Ayodhya issue

by

Vinay Katiyar

Ayodhya: Raking up the Ram temple issue, BJP MP Vinay Katiyar who was the face of the Ayodhya movement of 1990s, on Wednesday said the Modi government should “move to resolve” the matter without waiting for the Supreme Court verdict.

He said the government should address the issue either through legislation or talks, fulfilling the BJP’s promise.

“Without waiting for the verdict of Supreme Court, the government should make a move to resolve the issue either through talks or by bringing a legislation,” Katiyar told PTI.

“The Ram Janmabhoomi issue is a burning issue and no government can ignore it, be it in a majority or not. It is a big issue, not only for ‘Ram Bhakts’. It is not a difficult task for the government to resolve it and if it wants, it can start negotiations and it will become easier,” he said.

Katiyar, now Rajya Sabha member, earlier represented Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, under which Ayodhya falls.

He said that earlier there was no court verdict in “favour” of the Ram Janmabhoomi issue and now that it is there and hence it will be easier.

On the stand taken by the NDA, which cites lack of majority in Rajya Sabha for not going ahead, Katiyar said, “Let it be brought in Lok Sabha where the government has thumping majority and then place it in Rajya Sabha and people be apprised of what all the government has been doing to keep its promise of Ram Temple.

“This will clear doubts from the minds of the people about our intentions and also expose those who are indulging in propaganda that we are not serious over the issue,” he said.

The BJP leader, however, stressed that all problems can be resolved through dialogue, which he said should continue for the decades old dispute.

(PTI)

Delhi rejects licence applications of Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure

by

uber-cab

New Delhi/ Gurgaon: New Delhi’s transport authority rejected the licence applications of US-based taxi company Uber, its local rival Ola and TaxiForSure, citing violation of ban orders imposed by the government last year.

Indian government had asked unregistered web-based taxi services to halt operations in December after a driver contracted with Uber was accused of rape. Both Uber and Ola applied for licences in New Delhi but kept operating while approvals were pending.

A spokesman for Ola, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank Corp, declined to comment. Uber said the license rejection was ‘unfortunate’. It was still possible to book a taxi using mobile applications of Uber or Ola in New Delhi late on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police seized the taxis of the three companies as they were banned from plying on Delhi roads.

Earlier this week, a driver contracted with Uber was arrested near New Delhi after a woman passenger accused him of sexual harassment when she hailed his cab. The driver was later released on bail.

(Agencies)

Rs 2.4cr bill lands Karnataka governor in controversy

by

Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala

Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala has landed himself in a controversy after an RTI query revealed excessive spending by him. The RTI reply shows that the Governor’s office had claimed Rs 2.3 crore for renovation and Rs 10 lakh more were spent on chartered flights for his official visits, sources said.

The bill says that Rs 40 lakh was spent on providing interiors in the Governor and his ADC’s chambers. This included wooden false ceiling, wooden wall paneling, glass doors among several others. Additional sum of Rs 30 lakh was spent on the interior works in the offices of Officer on Special Duty (OSD), private secretary and main lounge.

Alterations worth Rs 25 lakh were made in the telephone exchange, computer section, dispensary and university section in the Raj Bhavan.

Rs 35 lakh was also spent on asphalting internal roads and providing kerbs at the front. Another Rs 50 lakh were also spent on widening of pathway near the main building, alterations to laundry and dispensary.

The amount for renovating the kitchen, dining hall and bathroom of the Governor’s was billed at Rs 50 lakh.

Vala assumed office of the Governor on September 1, 2014. His appointment had been opposed by the Congress government in the state.

(Agencies)

India-US ink defence framework pact, Carter meets Modi, Sushma

by

Ashton Carter-Manohar Parrikar

New Delhi: India and the US on Wednesday signed a new framework agreement for closer cooperation in defence as visiting US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and conveyed India was an important strategic partner.

The agreement was signed by India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Carter.

Carter earlier met Modi, Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

During his meeting with the prime minister, Modi expressed hope that the US companies, including those in the defence manufacturing sector, would actively participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative and set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology and link to the global supply chain.

Carter conveyed that India was an important strategic partner for the US and the US policy of rebalance in Asia-Pacific complimented India’s ‘Act East’ Policy.

Carter and Modi also exchanged views on regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, and the recent developments in the Indian Ocean and the Asia Pacific region.

The defence framework agreement meanwhile focuses on taking “appropriate measures to enhance India’s defence capability”. Among other things, India and the US agreed to cooperate on jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, and other areas.

The two sides also agreed to pursue co-development and co-production projects that will offer “tangible opportunities” for American defence industries to build defence partnership with Indian industries including in manufacturing under ‘Make in India’.

The 10-year defence framework agreement was renewed during the visit of US President Barack Obama in January. The first framework agreement, which expires this year, was signed in the US in 2005 by the then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee and his then US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld.

Speaking after signing the agreement, Parrikar said “further synergies will result in better output”.

An official statement said that in their meeting, Parrikar and Carter discussed the bilateral defence relationship, and the broader India-US Strategic Partnership.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to expand and deepen the bilateral defence relationship and also reviewed the existing and emerging regional security dynamics.

The 2015 Framework for the India-US Defence Relationship builds upon the previous framework and successes to guide the bilateral defence and strategic partnership for the next 10 years. It provides avenues for high-level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between the armed forces of both countries, and strengthening of defence capabilities.

The framework also recognises the transformative nature of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Both India and the US have finalised two project agreements for joint development of mobile electric hybrid power sources and the next generation protective ensembles.

Engaging bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as maritime security and knowledge partnership in the field of defence was also agreed upon.

Carter also thanked Parrikar for the help extended in the search for a US helicopter which went missing during the relief operations in quake-hit Nepal. He also invited Parrikar to visit the US for the next meeting which Parrikar accepted.

Earlier, Carter, who was on his first visit to India as defence secretary, laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial at India Gate, the World War I monument.

Carter, who arrived in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, has visited the Eastern Naval Command and the indigenous stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri.

(Agencies)

20 armymen killed, 11 injured in insurgent ambush in Manipur

by

MANIPUR-ARMY

Imphal/New Delhi: Using rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and automatic weapons, a group of insurgents today ambushed a military convoy killing at least 20 army personnel in the worst such attack in recent years.

Eleven armymen were also injured in the ambush, an Army spokesman said.

A team of 6 Dogra Regiment was on a road opening patrol (ROP) as part of its daily routine along Tengnoupal-New Samtal road, about 80 km from Imphal, when it was attacked by an unidentified insurgent outfit first with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a police official said in Imphal.

After the IED blast, the insurgents resorted to heavy firing at the convoy of four Army vehicles with RPGs and automatic weapons, Army sources said in Delhi.

“20 armymen were killed and 11 injured in the attack,” Army spokesman Col Rohan Anand said in Delhi.

A suspected insurgent was also killed, police said.

The attack occurred at 9 am(EDs correct) when the convoy reached a place between Paralong and Charong villages. More details are awaited.

Manipur Home Secretary J Suresh Babu suspected the involvement of Manipur rebel outfit Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the deadly attack.

“This seems to be the work of PLA, with suspected support by the ‘KYKL’ group also. We are still waiting for more inputs to come in,” he added. Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) is a Meitei revolutionary organization in Manipur.

A reinforcement party of the security forces was rushed to the spot for combing operation to nab the militants, police said.

(PTI)

PFI hails Congress government for withdrawal of cases; BJP calls it minority appeasement

by

PFI

Mangaluru: Popular Front of India has hailed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led Karnataka government for deciding to drop cases against dozens of Popular Front of India activists, accused of involving in communal riots in different parts of the state in recent years.

Mohamed Shakib, PFI state president, has welcome the step and described it as a bold decision of the state government to withdraw cases booked against “innocents” by the erstwhile “communal regime” in Karnataka in the past.

“We see this as a very bold step second in the series, taken by the CM Siddaramaiah after the decision to conduct the caste wise survey in Karnataka,” said Mohamed Shakib, PFI state presided. “We congratulate the chief minister for this courageous step,” he added.

K Pratapsimha Nayak, president, DK district unit of BJP, said the decision to withdraw cases smacks in face of fact that PFI and Karnataka Forum for Dignity volunteers indulged in large scale arson, and caused damage to public property in Udayagiri and Narasimharaja police station limits of Mysuru in April 2009 besides attacking the policemen on bandobast duties. Mysuru City Police had registered 40 different cases in this connection and named 241 persons as accused.

Hassan and Shivamogga saw communal clashes over a Kannada daily publishing a translated version of Bangladeshi writer Tasleema Nasreen’s work Parda Hai Parda resulting in serious loss to public property. While 114 cases were registered in Shivamogga, 21 cases were registered in Hassan, Pratapsimha said adding 1,400 persons were considered as accused in these two districts. The state cabinet decision to withdraw these cases is appeasement of minorities, he noted.

Mr Nayak said the move further erodes the morale of the police force, which had already been dented with political interventions in illegal cattle transportation and other kinds of smuggling. The government was resorting to cheap publicity tactics. It had not thought about the long-term impact of the decision, he added.

(Agencies)

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives