#SaveAarey: Fadnavis Era is back courtesy Thackeray Sarkar 2
In continuation of the tree cutting of yesterday, trees are still being hacked in Aarey forest as we speak. AAP volunteers tried to stop the work but a contingent of 100+ policemen is guarding the hacking. This reminds us of the Devendra Fadnavis era where trees were hacked using the might of the state.
What hurts the citizens of Mumbai more is that while Devendra Fadnavis openly declared his intentions of destroying Aarey, the Thackerays’ claim to be Paryavaran Premis and swear on their love for Mumbai while they secretly destroy it.
Using 2021 permissions for tree pruning, trees are being hacked by the Adani Power Plant. One of the explanations being floated is that new towers are being built to remove the ones presently in the proposed car shed site. What AAP wants to know is that if no car shed is being built then what is the need to move those decade old towers at all?
The MVA government has put up a weak defence for the Kanjurmarg car shed site in court, with the AG repeating the Fadnavis government rhetoric. It seems clear that they will relinquish Kanjurmarg and present the car shed in Aarey.
But let all political parties in Mumbai be warned, the AAP stands by Aarey and we will not let their nefarious designs succeed. We will continue our protests to ensure there is no more destruction of the forest.
Mr Sanjay Raut, people are curious to know those three and half 4
Today, most of the politicians, from local, central to other states were eagerly watching Sanjay Raut’s press conference to know those three and half names. Media was on telecast hours before the conference, there were minute to minute updates from his office to Shiv Sena Bhavan. Raut arrived calmly and composed to the much-hyped press conference, he began his press conference with the slogan Jay Maharashtra; there was huge media presence in Sena Bhavan, everyone was eagerly waiting for those three and half BJP leader’s names to be declared. Raut levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party but he did not mention those three names that he claimed earlier. He affirmed that the agencies are being wrongfully used by the BJP government to topple the Shiv Sena lead MVA Government in Maharashtra. He also stated that not only Maharashtra but West Bengal has also not been spared by the Central government where the Governor is trying to harass the state government.
He told reporters that the BJP was misusing central investigating agencies to bring down the MVA government in Maharashtra; MP Sanjay Raut recalled how BJP State president Chandrakant Patil recently said that the MVA government would topple by March 10. Pointing out that, apparently, some BJP leaders have gone to Delhi now, Sanjay Raut said. Let them go wherever they want and do what they want. But I can state with certainty Shiv Sena will not bow down to BJP. Thackeray Sarkar will continue in Maharashtra. In 2024, BJPs government will be replaced at centre.
Warning the saffron party of consequences, the MP Sanjay Raut said: “The BJP should know that it has taken a fight with Shiv Sena. It will not go unanswered. We are not scared of BJPs threats or pressure tactics. We are not scared of BJPs threats or pressure tactics. The day ED initiated raids against some of my close friends and relatives, I personally called union Home Minister Amit Shah. I told him that it was unfair to drag people close to me in this fight between Shiv Sena and BJP. I told the HM; you can torture me. But why are agencies harassing people close to me. What is happening is not proper.”
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Sena MP Sanjay Raut further said: “You are threatening me with cases. I dare you put me in prison. I am willing to go to jail. But rest assured, I will ensure all of the BJP will also land up in the prison.” He further said: “Let me now give you some details about BJPs corruption. Will ED investigate the IT scam which took place during the BJP government? It was worth Rs 25,000 crore.” Mentioning that there was another instance of one individual based in Haryana who overnight became rich worth Rs 7,000 crore, the MP alleged that the said individual was seen walking in and out of then CM’s bungalow in Mumbai.
Raut told reporters, (maintaining the leader’s name anonymous) a few days ago; BJP leaders met him and offered to topple the MVA government. They also warned him of the consequences if he refused to do so. Very next day there were a series of raids on Sharad Pawar and his families’ premises. Central Investigation Agencies started harassing Raut’s family and friends. Central agencies were misused with the aim of toppling Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. Raut said if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches in Mumbai are linked to national security, then it is necessary for the Maharashtra government to cooperate with the probe agency. Raut, however, wondered whether the central probe agency would also look into the biggest bank fraud in Gujarat.
Moreover, Sanjay Raut claimed that the Thackeray family is being accused of building 19 bungalows in Alibaug. However, the Shiv Sena MP refuted these claims and said that he will take journalists to these bungalows, and if they are not found then the “BJP should be shown its place”. Moreover, Raut has also stated that some BJP leaders have claimed that the MVA government will collapse on March 10. Raut said Maharashtra government will firmly stay. I gave a call to Amit Shah and asked him if there was some enmity against him. He told Amt Shah if there is a problem with him, arrest him but not to trouble his friends & family members. Raut also said that a plot has been hatched to defame Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jharkhand and thereby overthrow the govts by using ED and other agencies. Warning the saffron party of consequences, the MP Sanjay Raut said: “The BJP should know that it has taken a fight with Shiv Sena. It will not go unanswered. We are not scared of BJPs threats or pressure tactics. We are not scared of BJPs threats or pressure tactics.
Raut demanded that the BJP’s Kirit Somaiya & his son should be arrested in connection with the PMC bank fraud case. To whom does Nikon Infra Construction Company belong? The accused Rakesh Wadhwan & Somaiya’s son are partners in this company. The question here is, if he knew so much why was he quiet till now allowing money of common people to be siphoned in PMC Bank scam? Are they not Marathi Manoos? Well the press conference concluded abruptly, those three and half names of the leaders were not disclosed. Many were disappointed and some thought it was just another bluff to mount pressure. There was twitter trending and most of them were curious to know who those three were and half?
India on Tuesday advised its citizens in Ukraine to temporarily leave that country amid escalating tension between Russia and NATO countries over the eastern European nation.
In an advisory, the Indian embassy in Kyiv asked Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine.
”In view of the uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, Indian nationals in Ukraine, particularly students whose stay is not essential, may consider leaving temporarily,” it said.
”Indian nationals are also advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine,” the embassy said.
The embassy also asked Indian nationals to keep it informed about their status in that country to enable the mission to reach out to them when required.
”Indian nationals are requested to keep the Embassy informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine to enable the Embassy to reach them where required,” the embassy said. It said the mission continues to function normally to provide all services to Indian nationals in Ukraine.
The US and its Western allies have been severely critical of Russia over its continuing build-up of forces near the Ukraine border.
The US has already sent extra troops to Europe to support its allies in the backdrop of fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
At least four people were killed after a speeding truck lost control and collided with several vehicles stuck in slow traffic along the Mumbai Pune Expressway in Khopoli, Raigad on Tuesday morning.
A total of seven people have been injured in the accident out of which four people have been severely injured and three have suffered minor injuries.
The incident took place on the Pune to Mumbai corridor, around 70 km from Pune city, at 6.30 am, officials from the expressway control room said.
#WATCH | At least four people were killed after a speeding truck lost control and collided with several vehicles stuck in slow traffic along the Mumbai Pune Expressway in Khopoli, Raigad on Tuesday morning.
Inspector Shirish Pawar of the Khopoli police station said, “Near the Khopoli exit, there was traffic congestion and several vehicles had halted. A container moving towards Pune went out of control and hit six vehicles, including three cars, a tempo and another container. Four people travelling in a Swift car were killed and two others travelling in another car sustained injuries,” reported Indian Express.
After the accident, rescue teams from Raigad district and the expressway emergency response squad rushed to the spot and moved the injured to a hospital in Navi Mumbai.
Uttarakhand: Tug of war between BJP and Congress, AAP will dent the vote share 7
BJP’s Trivendra Singh Rawat was surely a big failure as a CM and made many poor decisions, such as gaining control over temples, Gairsain issue, too much autoerotism etc. Gairsain, a tehsil in Chamoli district, is located nearly 270-km from the existing temporary capital of Dehradun.
Even when Uttarakhand was carved out as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000, statehood activists had contended that Gairsain was best suited to be the capital of the mountainous state since it was between both Kumaon and Garhwal regions. But it was Dehradun in the plains that were named the temporary capital. Since then, Gairsain played a crucial role in electoral politics. Trivendra Singh Rawat wasted the mandate of the people and was later on replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat. Though Rawat has found himself in a series of controversial annotations, he has made some good decisions such as freeing temples— which can attract core Hindu voter’s base as well as reversing the decision to make Garsain an administrative division.
The Garsain issue had transformed into a huge cultural issue. Uttarakhand is divided into two major regions- Kumaon and Garhwal. Trivendra Rawat created a new division- Garsain and in the process, he removed Almora from Kumaon and added it to the new region. This had drawn sharp opposition from all as Almora is the heart of Kumaon. Also, Trivendra Rawat had completely neglected Kumaon and most of his ministers were Garhwalis. But, Tirath Rawat has shared equal ministries between MLAs from the two regions, but none of them ever stayed connected with voters.
The discontent among BJP MLAs and local people is a major concern. Policy failures made people’s lives miserable. After the second wave of COVID, the state has miserably failed to provide aid to people. No BJP politicians were available for people, since Congress being on the ground took the situation to their advantage by helping people. Petrol price will remain the highest concern as Uttarakhand is hugely a tourist destination. Currently, there are chances of a 6% swing vote. Swing vote means that the vote can go to any party; depending on the situation like anti-incumbency, pro-incumbency etc. let’s say that the complete swing vote goes against the BJP because of anti-incumbency.
So, in the general case, most of the votes will go to Congress i.e. BJP’s loss would be Congress’ gain. But here comes AAP hoping to get some crucial votes. So, the BJP vote slips to 40%. Now, where will the 6% swing vote go? If AAP and BSP, along with independent candidates manage to get this swing vote, then the BJP, despite a massive loss of vote share, can retain power with a small majority. Even 500–1000 votes here and there in small states like Uttarakhand can make a huge difference, especially during such crucial elections.
Another reason why BJP can benefit is factionalism in Congress. There is serious infighting plus if Harish Rawat is not declared Congress CM candidate, then I don’t think Congress has any chance to win the election. Harish Rawat of Congress (former CM) is a household name in Uttarakhand, his last tenure as CM was filled with a lot of mishaps, most famous being his alleged sting operation where he is supposedly giving a bribe (the authenticity of the video has never been confirmed, and the sting operation guy himself went to jail afterwards in a blackmailing case). But no matter what, the image which he once had was kind of tainted with that sting episode. Apart from Harish Rawat, congress cannot boast of any other leader right now who enjoys a mass following.
BJP, even with all the mishandling and lack of job creation in the last 4.5 years, might be able to get some breather, since Narendra Modi enjoys a good following in the hills. But AAP is also going to fight elections, which might make the 2022 elections more interesting and difficult to predict. Again, lack of local leadership will hugely affect AAP’S chances of being a genuine contender to form a government. BJP to get a majority but the number of seats they win will take a hit from the last elections.
Arvind Kejriwal has announced some lucrative things for the unemployed, like 5000 per month and the creation of around 1 lakh new jobs. This will certainly swing some core voters of BJP and Congress towards AAP, but only in urban areas like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Haldwani. The rural areas are still most likely to choose either BJP or Congress (more likely BJP and Congress). However, if AAP manages to secure 15–20 per cent votes, can end up becoming the 2nd party in many urban areas.
The Modi wave is not as strong as it was in 2017, so the election results might be down to the performance of the local govt only, with no influence from the central ministers of BJP. Above all social media is playing a very important role nowadays in elections; right now, Kejriwal is more popular in social media (not about more followers) but overall people’s opinions on his Delhi model. Looking at the present scenario we can predict, a tug of war between BJP and Congress, and AAP will definitely perform better if people are convinced with Kejriwal’s promises.
Any suggestions, comments or disputes with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com
In a video shared by ANI news agency, a teacher of the Rotary educational society in Mandya asked a girl student to remove her hijab before entering the campus.
The video shows that a teacher stopped students wearing hijabs at the entry gate of the school while ordering one student to “remove that, remove that”. The video further shows parents arguing with the authorities over the request to remove the hijab at the gate.
#WATCH | K'taka: Argument b/w parents & a teacher outside Rotary School in Mandya as she asked students to take off hijab before entering campus
A parent says,"Requesting to allow students in classroom, hijab can be taken off after that but they're not allowing entry with hijab" pic.twitter.com/0VS57tpAw0
“Requesting to allow students in the classrooms, hijab can be taken off after that but they are not allowing entry with hijab,” a parent was quoted by ANI. In the end, the girls can be seen giving up and taking off their hijabs to enter the school premises.
No religious clothing should be allowed in school: Karnataka High Court 9
A three-member bench of the Karnataka High Court, led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, has resumed hearing in the Hijab matter. Last week, in a contentious interim order, the court ruled that schools and colleges could reopen but no religious clothing, including hijabs, would be allowed. The order was challenged in the Supreme Court – on grounds it violated students’ constitutional rights – but Chief Justice NV Ramana only said: “We will interfere only at an appropriate time” and was unmoved despite the case’s “far-reaching implications”. The top court earlier refused to hear a petition challenging a state order banning clothes that “disturb equality, integrity and public order”.
As schools re-opened this morning visuals poured in of students forced to remove hijabs before entering campuses. One clip showed a teacher from a state-aided school in Mandya district saying “remove that, remove that (the hijab)” to students. The clip also showed some parents asking that their children be allowed to wear a hijab till inside the building, but permission was refused. They were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs. In Shivamogga 13 students – 10 from Class 10, two from Class 9 and one from Class 8 – went home after they refused to remove their hijabs. Their parents said: “We brought the children to write the exam… they did not wear burqa, only hijab. Earlier all (students) used to wear hijabs… we cannot let them take the hijab off, that is why we’re taking them back.”
Other visuals being widely shared online also show teachers (from the same school in Mandya) also being ordered to remove burqas before entering the school campus; they were shown removing the burqas by the side of the road and not inside the school building. Ahead of today’s classes, orders banning large gatherings were announced in districts like Udupi and Shivamogga, which witnessed tense stand-offs between students demanding the right to wear a hijab and those opposed, including right-wing groups brandishing saffron shawls and scarves. In Mangaluru, prohibitory orders are in place for 200 metres around all high schools. In Udupi – where the protests first began – assemblies of five or more people near schools have been banned. On Sunday, police in Shivamogga – where last week saffron scarves were waved and ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chanted as a saffron flag was flown on campus – banned gatherings on or around school premises.
Protests have escalated rapidly over the past few weeks. Last week a young student in Mandya was heckled by saffron-waving male aggressors shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The protests have been noticed worldwide, with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and French footballer Paul Pogba supporting the Muslim students.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said “If a girl decides to wear Hijab and asks her parents to do so and when her parents allow her to wear it, which can stop her from wearing it? We will see it, Inshaallah,” Mr Owaisi is heard saying in a 43-second video of his address in an election rally. “The girls will wear hijab, will wear Niqab and go to colleges and become doctors, collectors, SDMs and businessmen,” Mr Owaisi was heard saying in the video, shared on his Twitter handle. “You all keep in mind, perhaps when I am not alive, a girl wearing a hijab will become the Prime Minister of this country one day,” he added.
India recommends banning 54 Chinese apps citing security concerns 11
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended a ban on 54 Chinese mobile applications that pose a threat to the country’s security, officials sources said on Monday.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will formally issue a notification banning the operations of these apps in India.
The apps against whom the adverse security inputs were generated include Sweet Selfie HD, Beauty Camera, Music Player, Music Plus, Volume Booster, Video Players Media all formats, Viva Video Editor, Nice Video Baidu, AppLock and Astracraft, among others, the sources said.
This will be the second major action against Chinese apps.
In June 2021, the government had banned 59 Chinese apps including the popular short video sharing platform TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat and Bigo Live, saying they were prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.
Both moves came in the backdrop of India’s ongoing stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with China.
The stand-off has been going on since April 2020.
India shares a 3,400 km-long LAC with China from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
China detaining dissidents advocating for rights of fellow citizens, says US news magazine 13
Even as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted the opportunity to host the prestigious world event to China, the country does not seem to be interested in the rights or welfare of the Chinese people at all. Activists advancing civil rights for the citizens of China are being detained by the Chinese authorities for subverting state power, putting them in the crosshairs of the Chinese government, Jianli Yang has stated in a column in National Review, a US-based news magazine.
Chinese president, Xi Jinping, had consolidated and tightened his control over the Chinese society to a degree unseen for decades, Yang noted. He lamented that Human Rights lawyers and two important leaders of the Chinese Citizens Movement, Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong, have been detained at a time when they should be celebrating the Chinese New Year with their friends and family members.
“The movement was founded by these leaders in 2011. These people defend and exercise their rights as citizens under the Chinese constitution,” Yang wrote in the column. He stressed that these two Chinese leaders had demanded that government officials’ financial holdings be disclosed and all children, particularly those of migrant workers, should be given equal access to public education.
“Since these activists had raised their voices and committed themselves for the rights of their fellow citizens, they were detained by the Chinese authorities. Even after the two leaders were released, they continued to promote the development of civil society, reaching out to citizens around the country who shared their aspirations,” Yang added. On December 7 and 8, 2019, they had attended a two-day private gathering with around 20 lawyers and friends in Xiamen city in Fujian Province, reported the Magazine.
The Chinese police detained Ding Jiaxi on December 26, 2019, and Xu Zhiyong on February 15, 2020, and held them under a police measure called “residential surveillance at a designated location” (RSDL). China Human Rights Defenders, RSLD, has become a widely and frequently used detention tool in China. The RSDL is a form of detention that is employed by Chinese authorities on the individuals “endangering state security”.
Human rights activists, now and then, have flagged that this kind of detention is in violation of human rights and have urged China to stop using it. In RSDL detention, the two detainees were subjected to torture and other means of torture. Prolonged sleep deprivation, harassment through loud noises, interrogation while strapped tightly to an iron “tiger chair,” food and water restrictions and deprivation of showers and exposure to sunlight were some of the torturous ways used by the authorities, Yang stated in the column.
Elephant of Behenji (Mayawati) has such a large stomach that everything is less for it: UP CM Adityanath 15
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday criticized the previous governments for using corrupt practices and emptying state government treasuries during their tenures and said that the ration being received by the poor today used to be consumed by the goons of the Samajwadi Party earlier. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Adityanath also targeted the Bahujan Samaj Party, stating the ‘elephant’ of Behenji (BSP chief Mayawati) has such a large stomach that everything is less for it.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Adityanath said, “Behenji has pointed fingers at my (Gorakhpur) ‘math’. I say this again and again. The ration being received by the poor today used to be consumed by the goons of SP earlier.” “The ‘elephant’ of Behenji (BSP chief Mayawati) has such a large stomach that everything is less for it,” the Chief Minister added.
The UP Chief Minister further said, “I can say that for the 15 crore people in UP the double engine government is giving double dose ration to the people.” Where was this money going before, asked Adityanath. Questioning the utilization of the state funds during the tenure of the SP government in the state, Adityanath said that Akhilesh did not have time to think about these things since he was busy sleeping and dreaming.
“Akhilesh ji would not have these figures and he did not even want to keep them because he does not have the time. If he gets time from his friend circle, sleeping and dreaming, then only he will think about these things. Therefore, he must not have this data. To have this information, he would have to employ a person before whom he would place these numbers and make him mug up. He is the son of a big figure. He sleeps 12 hours, spends six hours with his friend circle, and for the rest of the time, he would be busy with other work. Thus, he wouldn’t know this information,” Adityanath said. Citing cases of the disproportionate asset against Akhilesh, Chief Minister ruled out the involvement of the BJP when asked about allegations on the party of misusing investigating agencies against Opposition during elections.
“There is a case against Akhlesh ji of disproportionate assets. Did this happen during the BJP government? In 2013, the BJP was not in power at the Centre or state. There are more cases against him. Was this because of BJP?” he asked. Adityanath also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, and said his government gives benefits with the vision, denying all allegations of the safety of minorities being compromised in the state.
“Where ever I go, I ask people, ‘did you take the vaccine?’ People raise their hands and say yes. They express gratitude to Prime Minister and say that lives have been saved because of him. Those who opposed and derided vaccines have been countered by the people who took vaccines and have expressed their support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” UP CM added.
