Maharashtra police have arrested two persons with sand boa snakes worth Rs 2.5 crore in Thane district. It is remarkable that Sand boas are in huge demand in the international market. It is a non-venomous protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Sand boas are used for making certain medicines, cosmetics and in black magic.
According to the police, they have got secret information about smugglers. The police kept a watch at a spot in Bhayander area. They spotted two men moving there in a suspicious manner on Tuesday.
Navghar police station’s inspector Ram Balsing said that the police apprehended both suspects and searched their bag. They found two sand boas worth around Rs 2.45 crore in the illegal wildlife market. He said that the accused were planning to sell the snakes. The police were trying to ascertain from where the accused got the snakes.
He said that the two men, Wazid Hussain Mohammad Yusuf Qureshi (47) and Shambu Acchelal Paswan (39) were arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Both are residents of neighbouring Mumbai.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Robert Vadra for interrogation to its Delhi office on Thursday in connection with a corruption case. Robert Vadra is the husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. It is a blow for the Congress President Rahul Gandhi after debacle in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
According to sources, the team of ED can interrogate Vadra about a property purchased in London and his close aide Sanjay Bhandari. ED had on Friday moved the Delhi High Court for the cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Robert Vadra in a money laundering case. Vadra is facing allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds, for which he has been questioned several times in the past.
ED approached the High court after Vadra was granted anticipatory bail by a trial court on April 1. The Delhi High Court sought Vadra’s response on last Monday regarding the ED’s plea seeking the cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to him in the money laundering case. The Delhi High Court also sent a notice to Robert Vadra and asked him to reply on ED’s plea by July 17.
During the 2019 elections, PM Narendra Modi spent chest beating about Nehru but finally landed up acknowledging his contribution to India. On the other hand, Nathuram Godse and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar are held high by the right wingers and criticised by seculars. Regardless of the contribution of various freedom fighters, today they are cluttered by political rivals for their hateful paybacks. The political parties are vouched to taper history to their own convenience. Nehru, Gandhi, and Savarkar are most attacked leaders in the recent past.
Irrespective of Jawaharlal Nehru’s unique contribution to the making of modern India, he is a much-remembered and hated man today because of a purposefully twisted history touted over the decades by the right-wingers. However, the same right-wingers, including the top RSS leaders, have always taken a Hindu apologist view while defending Savarkar, praising him for his revolutionary activities, but remaining silent on his views on religious minorities as well as non-violence on which he held a completely different view from that of Gandhiji. While Gandhiji was for complete non-violence, Savarkar was for non-violence and not complete non-violence. Savarkar advocated that an antagonist should be paid back in the same coin. So, in a nutshell, Savarkar’s supporters take an utterly defensive stance while defending him against assaults from his ideological rivals, thus leaving him virtually defenceless on issues that concern the future of the nation and to which Savarkar’s thoughts provide a solution.
These days, tampering history and making own propaganda narrations about freedom fighters has become a new trend in modern politics. The right-wing supporters hate Nehru and Gandhi and the Secular and Congress supporters disown Savarkar as a freedom fighter. They have their own explanations by calling him a coward and hater politician. Though! Savarkar led the most powerful movement against untouchability in Indian just like Gandhiji. However, there are a few uncomfortable facts about Savarkar, which his conservative followers try to brush under the carpet. For example, when Sardar Patel was trying to merge the princely states into the Indian Union a virulently anti-Congress Savarkar – who had been wrongly implicated by the then Congress government in the murder of Gandhiji (before being acquitted) and as a result was in bad mental shape – supported the movement of Travancore, another princely state, against merging with India. This move went against his own advocacy of a strong and united India.
On the other hand, Nehru was also a freedom fighter, a knowledgeable leader and a respected statesman in his own right. He didn’t anoint Indira Gandhi his successor. So why use dynasty to trash him? Hating the Gandhi dynasty is in vogue and, perhaps, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi did provide reasons for justifiable anger. It is even understandable that Sonia Gandhi could be disliked simply for her foreign origins and Rahul Gandhi mocked for being incompetent. Why should that be a reason to hate Nehru? Isn’t it a case of the sins of the descendants being visited upon an ancestor?
On the 53rd death anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister and the founder of modern India, the rare Indian statesman who stood for the values of a liberal and secular democracy throughout and is now being vilified for the same values he espoused, was tarnished by BJP supporters with all senseless logics; his pictures are morphed, he is projected as womanizer, and also his death is declared due to AIDS, though HIV was not known then. BJP has tried spreading lots of hate for Congress in the name of Nehru and Gandhi for India-Pakistan separation.
The youth wielding lathis, guns, swords, and other arms in RSS-affiliated camps and organisations simply love to hate the architect of modern India. The reference is important as Nehru was the second man after Mahatma Gandhi who identified Muslim as well as Hindu communalism as the biggest threats to the nation. After Independence, Nehru declared that Muslim communalism has become a state in Pakistan so for India the real threat is Hindu communalism. He was strongly against such demonstrations by RSS and other Hindu groups. Throughout his life, he crushed these elements and showed no tolerance for the idea of Hindu Rashtra. Seven weeks before the killing of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru wrote: “We have a great deal of evidence to show that RSS is an organisation which is in the nature of a private army and which is definitely proceeding on the strictest Nazi lines, even following the technique of organisation. It is not our desire to interfere with civil liberties.”
Meanwhile, Congress hatred for Veer Savarkar is also on the same line, history often becomes incarcerated in the hands of ideological fanatics and hero worshippers. The ideological campaigners distort history as much as those resorting to hero worship. Both of them don’t want to tolerate an opposing view, howsoever, truthful it might be. In the process, the distortions that creep into history lead to tensions and imbalances, thus disturbing social harmony. In fact, that has been the story of Indian history so far.
Veer Savarkar, who spent as many as 27 years in jail and under prison restrictions – from 1910 to 1937 – for his legendary revolutionary activities against the British rulers. In 1923, while undergoing his jail term in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, or Kalapani, he coined and defined the term “Hindutva”. After his release in 1937, he led an unsuccessful political movement to prevent the Partition of India as president of Hindu Mahasabha. Savarkar baiters have often accused him of contributing to India’s Partition because of what they see as his “divisive ideology”, which sought to create a wedge between Hindus and Muslims. In the process, they have gone to the extent of almost absolving the main architect of India’s Partition along religious lines – Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Savarkar’s legitimate grievances against a section of Muslims have been sought to be twisted to depict him as a non-practical, insensitive, anti-Muslim fanatic.
There are other interesting facts about him, largely unknown. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev had met Savarkar in Ratnagiri in the late 1920s and drew inspiration from him before embarking on their revolutionary activity. Even Subhas Chandra Bose’s decision to leave India and join Japan-Germany axis in World War II was based on Savarkar’s advice that in international politics, one’s enemy’s enemy should be seen as a friend and befriended. The only leader who has lived up to an extent to Savarkar’s vision on foreign policy and national security so far is Indira Gandhi. And the only leader who can live up to it in the future is, perhaps, Narendra Modi, based on his foreign vision so far.
It’s the high time people should stop spitting venom against freedom fighters in the name of new political revolution and tamper the history. Let it be Nehru, Gandhi, or Savarkar, no one can deny their contribution towards the independence movement of our country. Today we are breathing in a free and independent country because of many such patriots and freedom fighters. There is no point in poking in history by changing the facts.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
After winning 41 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena alliance is preparing for the upcoming state assembly elections, which are due in the month of October later this year. It is worth mentioning that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in his first interview after the Parliamentary elections that the BJP-Shiv Sena will fight the Maharashtra Assembly polls jointly. He said, “I am sure we will set a record. Do not be surprised if we cross the 220 marks.”
Reports suggest that Aaditya Thackeray would be contesting state assembly polls from Sewri or Worli constituency. If this happens, Aaditya will be the first from the Thackeray family to contest elections. The senior leaders of Shiv Sena told AV on the condition of anonymity that, the Yuva Sena chief is likely to contest the upcoming assembly election from Worli or Sewri constituency. It is also speculation that the Thackeray cub can be the CM face from the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in the upcoming state polls. However, the official announcement regarding both the reports is expected to be made soon.
On being asked about Aaditya Thackeray contesting the upcoming assembly elections Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Neelam Gorhe told Afternoon Voice, “Uddhav Thackeray is the party chief, and he is the father of Aaditya Thackeray. So, definitely, he knows and has got all good feelings for his own son. Aditya is very near and dear to all Shiv Sainiks. So, Uddhav will take an appropriate decision at the appropriate time. What we are expecting that Aaditya should be in the assembly.”
Aaditya Thackeray is the son of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray. His father and grand-father late Balasaheb Thackeray used to run the party through remote control. Both leaders never contested any elections. The Shiv Sena was founded in 1966. Thus, Aaditya Thackeray is going to change 52 years of history by contesting the election. It will be a great change in the Shiv Sena’s history.
BJP’s Regional Vice President Vasant Gite said, “The Shiv Sena should bring youths to the fore. It is a very good indication. Aaditya Thackeray should come forward to contest the election.”
The speculations were generated after Yuva Sena General Secretary Varun Sardesai posted a picture of Aaditya Thackeray on Instagram which read, “The time is here, Maharashtra waits for you”. With this, the demand for Thackeray to contest the upcoming assembly polls has increased. In the recent national elections, Aaditya Thackeray actively participated during the campaigning process for his party. The Yuva Sena chief is popular among the youth and it wouldn’t be surprising if Thackeray contests the state assembly elections.
The thumping victory of NDA in the Lok Sabha elections has boosted the morale of all constituent parties, including the Shiv Sena. Now, leaders of the party are claiming for the CM’s post. They said that it is their turn to share the chair of CM. Thus, if Aaditya Thackeray will fight the assembly election, he will be the party’s CM face definitely.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, “It is an internal matter of the Shiv Sena. There will be no difference. The kingmaker wants to be king. Earlier, the same thing was talked about Uddhav Thackeray. I have no authorised information about whether Aaditya will contest the election or not. Because even if he wants to be Deputy CM or hold any portfolio, he can take the route of the legislative assembly. It is always a good thing in democracy to contest the election. Whether he will be the CM face is a very integral decision of the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance.”
Before the Lok Sabha elections, too, the Shiv Sena had indicated that it might field Aaditya Thackeray in the general elections to increase the party’s appeal among the youths. Then Shiv Sena leaders had said that the party cadre wanted Aaditya to contest Lok Sabha polls. However, he is keen to fight Maharashtra State Assembly elections. They said that Aaditya Thackeray’s presence in the state legislature would be a positive influence on the party legislators. It is remarkable that Aaditya has maintained a practice for the last five years to visit the Assembly when it is in session.
The Shiv Sena-BJP relationship in Maharashtra has seen a succession of both good and bad experiences in the last five years. In 2014, relations between two parties were strained when the Shiv Sena sent Aaditya Thackeray as its representative to speak with veteran BJP leaders Om Prakash Mathur and Rajiv Pratap Rudy to discuss seat-sharing formula of Lok Sabha elections. Both parties fought the 2014 assembly elections separately. Later on, in political compulsion, they formed a post-election alliance in Maharashtra. In spite of this, the Shiv Sena always hit back at the centre and the state government.
After emerging victorious in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former President Pranab Mukherjee. Modi also shared photos of two leaders exchanging pleasantries. He sought blessings from Mukherjee.
Modi posted a tweet and mentioned, “Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation. Sought his blessings during our meeting today.”
The BJP swept the Lok Sabha polls by winning 303 seats which is 21 more than its 2014 tally. The NDA has won 352 seats in the 17th Lok Sabha. Modi will take the oath as Prime Minister for the second term on May 30.
Meeting Pranab Da is always an enriching experience. His knowledge and insights are unparalleled. He is a statesman who has made an indelible contribution to our nation.
As if an inherent undercurrent of cautious nationalism gripped northeast India during the last general election where the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged victoriously. BJP alone captured over 300 Parliamentary seats in 543 member Lok Sabha (LS), NDA crossed the mark of 350 LS seats, which is far better than the 2014 national elections.
The nationalist political party, led by hardliner Prime Minister Narendra Modi also succeeded in spreading its presence to almost all corners of the vast south-Asian country. Even in the restive northeast, where separatist elements once run parallel administrations, the Lotus bloomed for the saffron party.
The region with 25 Parliamentary seats was swept by the BJP and its allies to elect 18 members to the NDA tally in 17th Lok Sabha. More importantly, the Arunachal Pradesh voters have elected a BJP government in Itanagar and Sikkim electorate preferred NDA constitute Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) to form the government in Gangtok. Defying all negative impressions raised with Anti-citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) rows in the region, the BJP has increased its tally from seven to nine LS seats in Assam, where the opposition Congress retained its three seats and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had to satisfy with one LS seat only. No insurgent outfits threatened the people to boycott elections this time in the region, where the dedicated voters exercised their franchises with an impressive over 80 per cent turnout. Making it a habit to defy the diktats of separatist militants all the years, the electorate sealed the fate of candidates in EVM (supported by VVPAT) and reposed faiths on the largest multi-party democracy on Earth.
BJP recorded the best ever performance in the region and won two LS seats of Tripura and one seat in Manipur for the first time. In Barak valley of Assam too both the LS seats were captured by BJP nominees. All India Women Congress president and sitting MP Sushmita Dev faced defeat in Silchar LS seat, where BJP candidate Dr. Rajdeep Roy emerged the winner.
The other LS seat of Karimganj was won by saffron candidate and Assam Assembly deputy speaker Kripanath Mallah defeating his nearest rival and sitting AIUDF Parliamentarian Radheshyam Biswas in an impressive poll-battle.
Promising saffron leader Dilip Saikia defeated veteran Congress leader and sitting Rajya Sabha member Bhubaneswar Kalita in Mangaldoi Parliamentary constituency. Similarly, another senior Congress leader and a former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar was defeated by sitting BJP MP Rameswar Teli in Dibrugarh LS seat.
The same fate was reported for aged Congress leader Biren Sing Engti, who lost the electoral fights to his nearest rival Haren Sing Bey of BJP in the autonomous district (Diphu) LS seat.
The only seat inside Assam, which the BJP failed to retain was Nagaon Parliamentary constituency, where local legislator Rupak Sarmah faced defeat to his Congress rival Pradyut Bordoloi, who was a minister in Tarun Gogoi’s cabinet.
Business tycoon Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF could retain only one seat as Ajmal himself won from Dhubri Parliamentary constituency defeating his nearest Congress rival Abu Taher Bepari. However, the party, known as sympathetic to migrant Muslim settlers in Assam, failed in Barpeta and Karimganj LS seats.
Lone successful independent candidate Naba (alias Hira) Sarania retained his Kokrajhar LS seat defeating State minister Pramila Rani Brahma, who was nominated by BJP ally Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). A former rebel belonged to the United Liberation Front of Assam, Sarania succeeded in overcoming challenges from two other important rivals of the Congress and UPPL.
Tripura elected two BJP representatives to Lok Sabha keeping pace with the saffron wave that swept the State during the last Legislative Assembly polls. Saffron nominee Pratima Bhowmik defeated her closest rival Subal Bhowmik of the Congress in West Tripura LS seat. The other Parliamentary constituency (East Tripura) was won by BJP candidate Rabati Tripura defeating his nearest rival Pragya Debbarma of the Congress.
Two LS seats of Arunachal Pradesh were also won by BJP nominees. Union minister Kiren Rijiju defeated his nearest Congress rival and former State chief minister Nabam Tuki in Arunachal West LS seat. Similarly, in Arunachal East Parliamentary seat BJP leader Tapir Gao emerged victorious against Congress nominee Lowangcha Wanglat.
In the simultaneous Assembly elections too, the BJP turned victorious winning over 40 seats (out of 60). State chief minister Pema Khandu has proved his mettle to retain his position with a convincing victory as the saffron party can form the government with BJP legislators alone. Meanwhile, a slain legislator (Tirong Aboh of National People’s Party, who was killed by militants on 21 May in Tirap) was declared a winner in the assembly polls.
The rightist party also won a Parliamentary constituency in Manipur, where the other LS seat was won by Naga People’s Front (NPF). BJP nominee RK Ranjan Singh defeated his closest rival O Nabakishore of the Congress in Inner Manipur LS seat, where NPF candidate Lorho S Pfoze emerged victorious against his rival BJP nominee H Shokhopao Mate in Outer Manipur LS seat.
In Meghalaya, NDA constitutes National People’s Party (NPP) retained its Tura LS seat through former Union minister Agatha Sangma’s candidature. Daughter of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma and sister of Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma defeated her nearest rival Mukul Sangma, the former Congress chief minister. However, the Shillong LS seat was retained by the Congress, where the sitting Parliamentarian Vincent Pala defeated his closest rival United Democratic Party (UDP) nominee Jemino Mawthoh.
Another NDA partner Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) of Nagaland also succeeded in winning the lone LS seat defeating veteran Congress leader KL Chishi. NDPP’s Tokheho Yepthomi was declared a winner in the Parliamentary seat, where present Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio emerged victorious in 2014 national polls.
The lone LS seat of Mizoram was won by Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate C Lalrosanga. The former Indian broadcasting service officer defeated his nearest rival Lalnghinglova Hmar, an independent candidate supported by the Congress. NDA partner MNF nominee was also challenged by few other candidates in the poll battles.
NDA constitute SKM won the lone LS seat of Sikkim and also emerged victorious in the Assembly polls. SKM nominee Indra Hang Subba defeated his arch-rival DB Katwal of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) in Parliamentary polls. On the other hand, Prem Singh Tamang-led SKM won 17 seats in the 32 members legislative assembly ending over two decades long tenure of Pawan Kr Chamling as the Chief Minister of the tiny State. Unlike some parts of India, the alienated region witnessed peaceful, participatory and almost smooth polling that might have helped the residents of various ethnic communities to nurture a new kind of nationalism where the electorate set aside their differences and came forward for a strong, safe and prosperous nation.
(The author is a Guwahati based journalist and political commentator)
By Nava Thakuria
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
The twitter handle of Modi showed the removal of Chowkidar tag as soon a well-calculated victory was achieved by BJP and its allies. It was a significant win and Chowkidar played a pivotal role in projecting the image of the Prime Minister and his followers. In the end, Chowkidar had the last laugh and the people, who did make a snub with the slogan, were left in the lurch. It’s not the first time the BJP has tried to turn the tables on a Congress campaign — remember the Chaiwala jibe it converted to its advantage?
As the poll campaign was hotting up, the BJP, which has earned a bit of a reputation as slogan sultans, raised a storm with its ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ election campaign on Twitter. It was a direct response to the ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ campaign orchestrated by the Congress party. In the end, it was in the losing cause and the campaigners were toppled without much resistance. How the Chowkidar tag went a long way in reaching the common man and that was reflected in the historic victory.
The ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign has become a people’s movement and a global trend. However, some people are opposing it paid a heavy price. These are people who are born in affluence and are out on bail. They have things to hide and nothing to reveal as performance in front of the people. Top BJP leaders added the ‘Chowkidar’ prefix to their Twitter handles after the PM launched the campaign. Over 1 crore people from all walks of life have pledged their support to the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign. The BJP’s gamble that the slogan/hashtag would catch on like the “Chaiwallah” jab of the 2014 general election paid off in the end.
It is hoped that the “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign will not be restricted just to the Lok Sabha elections but it will be continued in the future too. A Hollywood movie with four Academy awards, Spartacus (1960), has an interesting and emotional portrayal of a scene where the rebellion slaves, who were caught by the Roman army, refused to identify their leader, Spartacus, though lured with freedom. This they did with all of them saying, “I am Spartacus.”
The catch-phrase Chowkidar scored a brownie point and that the mere addition of a word as a prefix to Twitter handle paid off with best results and provided the base for an absolute majority for the party and that proved it as a people’s party. The tag resonates with more success as the people misused the chant to mock at PM were pushed to the back seat. SC issues formal contempt notice against Rahul Gandhi and he apologised without recourse in the end and it was a moral victory for Modi and BJP. Congress was in a confused state whereas the BJP, by contrast, seems to be betting more on #NamoAgain.
The 2019 elections decided the supremacy of BJP and the strength of NDA against a feeble opposition. In the end, Chowkidars came to power with their full backing, and so more decisions will be taken to increase the gap between the masses and the rich in the days to come. Chak De Chowkidar.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
A young medical student being humiliated to an extent where she committed suicide is not just a blot on our education system but a shame on our democracy which believes in equality. The death of Dr Payal Tadvi needs to be investigated by the highest authority and those responsible for her death deserves should be appropriately punished. She may have got admissions through reservation quota but examinations judge you on performance and even the college administration needs to be questioned on ‘ragging’ which push many students to commit suicide each year.
We are living in the 21st century and casteist slurs is a blot on humanity. Education is the need of the hour and every citizen irrespective of his caste, financial status deserves respect. We must have stringent laws to dissuade people from humiliating fellow citizens if we need to strengthen the communal fabric of our country.
S.N. Kabra
Ragging claims one more life
Yet another precious life has been lost due to ragging. Twenty-six year-old Payal Tadvi of BYL Nair Hospital committed suicide due to ragging by her seniors. What is perhaps more appalling is that the college authorities had chosen to do nothing when Payal had complained to them of harassment by her seniors the day before she died. Can an educational institution continue to be called so when it behaves in such a callous manner? The medical college authorities should also be punished for dereliction of duty.
It is not uncommon these days to come across reports of senior students in colleges and universities playing cruel practical jokes on their juniors and passing them off as ‘friendly’ ragging. Ragging has actually become a means used by senior students to exploit juniors with the purpose of indulging in bestial pleasures. Junior students are ragged physically and mentally. Sometimes they are stripped off their clothes and made to walk nude along hostel corridors. If they disobey, they are beaten black and blue by their seniors.
Ragging also often causes promising but introverted students to return home. But the unpleasant memory of inhuman torture often creates a fear psychosis in them and this ultimately casts a shadow on their academic careers.
Every year, colleges throughout the country witness dreaded deeds committed by senior students against freshers who join the colleges for higher studies. Ragging has thus become the worst manner of interaction between the new entrants and the seniors.
JubelD’Cruz
Congress-NCP failed to stop Modi tsunami
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is true as far as the NCP-Congress relationships are concerned. The relationship was more of a convenience and not of any use to both the parties. To add to the misery NCP chief Raj Thackeray joined the bandwagon to spoil further hopes. The party failed to win single seat in Mumbai and the overall performance was disastrous. The weakness in both the coalition partner was in open as both the parties were involved in corrupt practices and that turned tables against them. If the same combination works together in the assembly elections, then it will be a cakewalk for BJP-Sena combine to retain power for one more term.
Abhishek Rama
ECI’s work should be applauded
Post the jubilant poll results announcement of the 17th General Elections for Lok Sabha in 2019, the Election Commission of India which was at the forefront spearheading the consistent show needs to be applauded. ECI ensured that it was up and running to meet the increasing challenges to ensure a free and fair election.
The logistical and security arrangements made to ensure smooth and free and fair elections has emulated the voters expectations this time especially at the ground level. This comes at a time when ECI witnessed high level differences in the board rooms including speculations related to the appointment and tenure of CEC, dissent owing to Model Code of Conduct breaches, VVPAT challenge posed by the opposition parties, Supreme Court related judgements urging ECI to fall into the toe-line, effective EVM management till the end of polling process etc.
Several firsts were witnessed, amongst them being the formation of media monitoring committees, extensive voter grievance redress mechanism, consistent voter awareness drives including the launch of CVIGIL app and running of special Voter Express trains, launch of PwD friendly initiatives for special voters etc to name a few.
ECI’s move to conduct smooth elections was otherwise overshadowed by controversial speeches and actions by political stakeholders, owing to which ECI remained a mere mute spectator leading to voters apathy. The desperateness was to such an extent that it led to dissent amongst the three election commissioners instead of a voter’s expectation of a stern action and voicing out a unanimous decision. Finally ECI and its team at the ground level need to be appreciated for having conducted such a mammoth democratic exercise in the world.
Varun Dambal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Ten people again lost their lives after consumption of spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered to take stern action against the guilty. Prior to this, in February over 50 people had died in Saharanpur district of the state after consuming toxic liquor.
Police said on Tuesday that at least ten people died and several others were taken ill after consuming spurious liquor in Ramnagar area of Barabanki district. The locals belonging to Raniganj and adjoining villages were taken ill after consuming liquor on Monday night and rushed to Ramnagar Community Health Centre (CHC). While five of them died, some others were undergoing treatment at the CHC. The death toll is feared to rise.
A senior government official said that Chief Minister Yogi has taken serious note of the incident and directed senior officials to reach the spot. The chief minister has also asked the principal secretary, excise, to conduct an inquiry and take action against all those responsible for it.
It is remarkable that around 150 people had died from drinking toxic liquor in Assam in February. In the first fortnight of February, nearly 100 persons died in twin toxic liquor tragedies in Saharanpur district UP and Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. In spite of these tragedies, state governments are unable to check such incidents.
The state Health Department will soon form a committee to amend current rules and regulations on ragging. The decision was taken after Payal Tadvi, a 26-year-old postgraduate student, committed suicide by hanging herself at the hostel of BYL Nair Hospital. Often it has been observed that victims have to bear the brunt of ragging incidents. Even though the state government had amended anti-ragging laws, but the ragging incidents continue to occur at colleges. There is a need to strengthen the anti-ragging laws and award punishment to the accused.
All India Student Federation National PresidentSyed Valiullah Khadri said, “This is a very shameful incident and it should not have occurred. Today, the method of making friendship has changed among students. Due to the advent of mobile and media, the culture has changed in colleges. Seniors sometimes indulge in ragging activities of junior which sometimes can claim their lives.”
He further said, “As per the UGC guidelines every college should form committees to monitor ragging activities. However, the UGC and colleges have failed to monitor these incidents. Colleges must hold counseling activities for new students.”
Payal had alleged that three of her senior colleagues used to harass her and pass casteist remarks against her. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctor (MARD) branch has suspended three doctors who were accused in this case. However, they are yet to be arrested. Tadvi who was pursuing her post graduation in Nair hospital belonged to the Adivasi Tadvi Bhil community. She was sharing a room with the three accused.
Maharashtra’s Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan told the reporters, “A three-member committee will be formed to examine rules on ragging. A committee will comprise member from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), vice-chancellor of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and dean of the government hospital. The committee will soon be constituted and stringent action will be taken against the accused.”
Social activist Abhijeet Rane asserted, “The government is taking very good steps to control ragging incidents in colleges. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken a very good initiative to avert these incidents. Strict law should be framed to curb ragging. After the formation of a committee, the percentage of female exploitation has come down. Even if a committee is formed, there won’t be 100 per cent reduction in ragging incidents, but there will be a subsequent change.”
Last year, Payal’s mother Abeda Tadvi had complained to the authorities after three doctors started harassing her daughter. Authorities nonetheless turned a blind eye towards it and failed to take any step to prevent ragging incidents.
“I spoke to Payal around 4 pm and she informed me that she was being mentally tortured. She had complained to me earlier as well. I had requested the lecturers to resolve this issue but they ignored it. I was denied permission to meet the dean. I seek justice for my daughter. The medical registration of girls who harassed my daughter should be suspended,” said Abeda Tadvi.
Payal, who hails from Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, had joined the PG course in Gynecology at the Topiwala National Medical College which is attached to the BYL Nair Hospital on May 1, 2018. She had complained of harassment by senior doctors in December 2018.
Dr. Hema Ahuja, Dr. Bhakti Mehare and Dr. Ankita Khandelwal have been booked for abetment to suicide under sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act and the Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) branch has suspended three doctors from their organisation. “After enquiries going on at various levels we have found that three resident doctors have been alleged by Payal’s relatives for harassing which resulted into her suicide,” stated a letter which was circulated by the organisation.
Maharashtra police have arrested two persons with sand boa snakes worth Rs 2.5 crore in Thane district. It is remarkable that Sand boas are in huge demand in the international market. It is a non-venomous protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Sand boas are used for making certain medicines, cosmetics and in black magic.
As if an inherent undercurrent of cautious nationalism gripped northeast India during the last general election where the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged victoriously. BJP alone captured over 300 Parliamentary seats in 543 member Lok Sabha (LS), NDA crossed the mark of 350 LS seats, which is far better than the 2014 national elections.
Who is responsible for Payal’s death?
