Dwarfs should be given political reservation

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December 19, 2021

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People with dwarfism are dealing with a lot of stereotypes in their daily life, and they are constantly fighting against discernment. However, there are a lot of support groups and institutions in a mission to improve the quality of life for Little People, and remove all social barriers, myths and false-negative stereotypes about them. What they need the most is social acceptance.

These little people are like anyone else, big or tall, short or fat – the average lifespan of anyone is going to come down to that individual person’s health. Dwarfism is not so much of a condition of the body but rather a categorical way of defining the person in question. True there can be physical limitations placed on an individual with dwarfism, again depending on the person and what kind of dwarfism they have. They are like you and me; they have every right to live a normal life. These days many Dwarf members have won medals for the country and most of them are equally contributing to the Indian economy.

The things little people have to deal with are often unique to their situation. For some, the hardest part of being a little person is the acumen they face. Living as a little person is like being the main attraction at the circus. Going grocery shopping, going to public places – it’s like being a celebrity, and the whole world is their paparazzi. Some laugh at them and some get amused and most of the people click pictures with them to showcase.

This constant attention is killing, and even frightening. The attention involves pointing, staring, derogatory comments, and outright bullying. Their existence is a joke to people. We need to understand they too need privacy and space, they need their corner and they need normal acceptance. The deliberate attention is very bad and uncomfortable. We need to educate our children to behave normally with them.

They face various challenges at ATMs, ticket machines, gas pumps, and self-service checkout registers can be difficult, if not impossible, for little people to use. All of these machines are designed with the average adult height in mind, which makes reaching the device in order to operate it a challenge. While adaptive devices do exist, they aren’t always convenient. Car Airbags are designed to protect against serious injury in a car crash, but they can be fatal for little people. That’s because they’re designed to meet average-sized people in the chest and abdomen, which means that they can smother people of shorter stature.

Shoes are usually designed either for children or for average-sized adults. Little people’s feet are often the length of children’s feet, but they can be much too wide to fit into children’s sizes. Even if children’s sizes do fit, finding styles that are appropriate for adults can be challenging. Dating isn’t easy under the best of circumstances, but for little people, there are some extra obstacles. Little people have two choices: they can either date other little people, or they can date average-sized people. Both present their own sets of issues. Dating average-sized people often means facing prejudice, if not from the person they’re dating, then from their family and friends. It’s not uncommon for little people to hear things like “if you weren’t little, I would date you.”

While dating inside the community means shared experiences and understanding, it isn’t always easy either. As of now, only Telangana and Kerala have done something to help this community. The Uttarakhand government, in January, offered an allowance of ₹800 per month to eligible dwarf adults and also gave them reservations in certain services of the state government but implementation is still an issue. No other states have even given a thought to making these lives better. They don’t even have government job quotas.

There are no dedicated groups or active organizations to ensure the rights of dwarfs in India. In India, sympathy is seen mostly for people with disabilities. However, the problem is also that there are very few organized groups that are fighting for the rights of the dwarf population. They should get together and demand their rights collectively. It is also important to give them political reservations. If they aren’t politically represented, it will be tough for them to fight for their rights. We all need to raise our voices for fellow humans.

Any suggestions, comments or disputes with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com

Dwarf Lives Matter – Shiv Lal from Hyderabad fighting for justice

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Afternoon Voice

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December 19, 2021

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“Dwarfism” is identified as a form of disability, but still, nothing much is done for these little humans. Shiv Lal, a dwarf told Afternoon Voice, “I am the only licensed car driver. We get many challenges while getting a driving license, jobs, and people think we are circus jokers. They do not take us seriously.”

Shiv Lal who received an Honorary PhD said, “I am married and my son is a normal person but to raise him my wife and I had to deal with various challenges.”

He said people used to tease us, more than the tease and taunts, what pains us more is the society’s blissful ignorance towards our community’s need to live like normal human beings. The focus of attention is almost always on the visible distortion that other individual aspects of a dwarf such as his/her desire to get married, have sex or start a family, often gets ignored or even ridiculed.

Shiv Lal further said, “I have fought all odds and lived a normal life, unlike a majority of my community members who live a hidden life due to societal stigma and shame, and often in unending poverty. Now my mission is to fight for the rights of Dwarfs, because these lives matter.”

Social worker Zenobia Khodaiji said, “Dwarfs face problems that most other people don’t give a second thought to. Public urinals aren’t fixed while keeping people of such short stature in mind. Chairs and desks aren’t dwarf-friendly. Public transport doesn’t have ramps for easy entry and exit for them and even cars don’t come equipped with specifications to suit their needs. It’s high time the government needs to do something for them.”

Their problems are very similar to wheelchair-dependent people says Shabnam Rangwala, head of therapy at ADAPT, India’s first special school for children with cerebral palsy. “In India, infrastructure is not friendly to people like them.”

“People with dwarfism are able to perform all normal activities but need help to do them because of their height and certain other physical characteristics peculiar to them,” said Dr Anshuman Manaswi.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman – New Hope for Saudi Arabia

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Vaidehi Taman

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December 17, 2021

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He is both a hope and a scare. His societal reforms are long-awaited and will surely be important and positive in the long run, shy as they may look to western eyes. His aggression against Yemen and Qatar etc. are very terrifying. The Yemen war is a new Vietnam in terms of humanitarian crisis and there is no solution in sight, but still.

He has introduced a series of urgently needed social and economic reforms as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Women were given their full legal rights (the male-guardianship system was abolished, lifted the ban on women’s driving, women’s participation in the workforce was boosted, Hijab has become a personal choice). Opened up the country for foreign investment and tourism (for the first time! Saudi Arabia plans to host more than 100 million visitors per year by the year 2030).

Lifted the ban on music festivals and international events (it hosted WWE, Formula E, MDLBEAST music festival, along with other exciting regional and international events). Non-oil revenues increased to 48% of the annual budget’s revenue. Increased the assets of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) from 500 million Riyals to 1.5 trillion Riyals. (The fund is expected to bring in 150 million Riyals to the Saudi economy every year). Introduced initiatives to reduce Saudi Arabia’s carbon emission through launching the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. Invested heavily in renewable energy (solar, wind and hydrogen fuel). Saudi Arabia is expected to export clean energy to the rest of the world.

Saudi woman believes that Mohammed bin Salman is the best thing that happened to Saudi Arabia in a very long time. Societies with greater gender equality not only offer better socioeconomic opportunities for women but also tend to grow faster and more equitably. There are gains in poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, consumer choice, innovation and decision-making on a wider set of issues. Lowering the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs at home and internationally, and helping more businesswomen to connect to international value chains, would bolster growth and inclusion. It would create more – and better-paying – jobs for women, not least since women-owned firms hire more women, especially at senior levels. The overall growth of women in the development of the country.

That is why taking gender into account matters when developing and implementing trade policy. Placing women at the heart of global policymaking will go a long way towards realizing the United Nations 2030 Agenda goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Economic development and gender equality go hand-in-hand. He appointed women in senior roles in the government and the private sector as part of a massive campaign to empower women.

He also cracked down on corruption ($100 billion was retrieved). Invested in renewable energy (Saudi Arabia enjoys one of the best locations in the world for sun exposure which can be used to export solar energy to the rest of the world, remaining yet again, an energy provider). Launched mega-projects that are 100% powered by renewable energy such as NEOM, the Red Sea Islands, Amala.

Young future King, Mohammed bin Salman was born on 31 August 1985, the eldest son of Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud’s third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. After gaining a bachelor’s degree in law at King Saud University in the capital Riyadh, he worked for several state bodies. In 2009, he was appointed a special adviser to his father, who was serving as governor of Riyadh at the time.

Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to power began in 2013 when he was named the head of the Crown Prince’s Court, with the rank of minister. The previous year, his father had been appointed crown prince after the death of Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. In January 2015, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz died and Salman acceded to the throne at the age of 79.

The new king immediately made two decisions that surprised observers, naming his son minister of defence and nephew Mohammed bin Nayef deputy crown prince. The latter became the first of the grandsons of Ibn Saud, the founder of the kingdom, to move on to the line of succession. One of Mohammed bin Salman’s first acts as defence minister was to launch a military campaign in Yemen in March 2015 along with other Arab states after the Houthi rebel movement, which they saw as an Iranian proxy, seized control of the capital Sanaa and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad.

In April 2015, King Salman made more startling changes to the line of succession, appointing Mohammed bin Nayef as crown prince and his son deputy crown prince, second deputy prime minister and president of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. The plan, called Vision 2030, envisages increasing non-oil revenue to 600bn riyals ($160bn; £123bn) by 2020 and 1trn riyals by 2030, up from 163.5bn riyals in 2015. The prince said he wanted to create the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, worth up to $3ten, with money generated by partially privatizing the state oil company, Saudi Aramco.

In April 2017, the kingdom announced plans for a 334 sq km (129 sq mile) entertainment city on the edge of Riyadh offering a range of cultural and sporting activities – including a safari park. The prince was also seen as having spearheaded a boycott of Qatar, which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt began in early June 2017 over its alleged support for terrorism and meddling in its neighbours’ affairs. However, the Khashoggi case has shifted the focus towards the darker side of Salman’s record, one that includes the imprisonment of critics and human rights activists, thousands of civilian deaths in Yemen and a rapid rise in the number of executions since his ascent to power.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be Saudi Arabia’s uncrowned king

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Afternoon Voice

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December 17, 2021

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Mohammed Bin Salman a relatively unknown individual who was one of one among the many sons of the King Salman of Saudi Arabia was declared heir apparent to the throne in 2015, as a young leader of only 33 years of age, he could very well understand and touch the chord of young Saudis in his country, his notable reforms are appreciated worldwide.

With amplified concerns over the nearly 86-year-old King Salman’s health, Prince Mohammed, 36, is taking charge of presidential meetings and reception of dignitaries, with the king rarely making public appearances. From greeting foreign leaders to heading regional summits, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is taking over the reins from his elderly father and becoming Saudi Arabia’s uncrowned king.

While Prince Mohammed has been considered the de facto leader since his appointment as heir to the throne in June 2017, his growing prominence has never been more apparent than when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in early December and led the Gulf Cooperation Council summit on Tuesday. King Salman, who usually heads the annual meeting after warm embraces and friendly handshakes, was a no-show.

An Indian Businessman staying in Saudi said under the condition of anonymity “On the one hand Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made some changes to the treatment of about half of KSA’s citizens, by giving women the right to drive. There are more changes but they have tended to be cosmetic. His extra-judiciary arrest and holding to ransom dozens of Saudi billionaires gained him, or KSA, hundreds of billions. That these billionaires were treated roughly and at least one died is of no concern to MBS. Even if these billionaires had crookedly gained their fortune, there was certainly no attempt of the due process of law, which does not really exist in KSA. The action against these billionaires was corrupt because, I am sure that similar billionaires, who were friends of Mohammed bin Salman, were left untouched.”

Another critic said “Mohammed bin Salman is an arrogant upstart, who has been given governmental powers far greater than his tiny intellect can cope with, like many despots and dictators around the world and in the past. To answer the question, Mohammed bin Salman has made KSA into a worse place in which to live with minor cosmetic changes to appease those critics abroad.”

A local Saudi merchant told Afternoon Voice “The most important is the announcement of Saudi vision 2030, which is an ambitious economic plan involving mammoth investments of 200–300 trillion $ to diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia and reduce its dependence on oil whose prices issues are highly volatile and to make Saudi Arabia a hub of infrastructure and develop it into one of the most developed countries of the world. Mohammed bin Salman can do much better for Saudi Arabia because he has the will and attitude”.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, King Salman has been residing in Neom, a futuristic development on the Red Sea. His last meeting with a foreign official in Riyadh was in March 2020, when he sat down with the-UK foreign minister Dominic Raab, and his last trip abroad was to Oman to offer his condolences over the death of Sultan Qaboos in January 2020.

Prince Mohammed has sought to position himself as a champion of moderate Islam, even as his international reputation took a hit from the 2018 murder and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. The crown prince, also known as MBS, has opened Saudi Arabia to tourists and foreign investments in an effort to diversify the economy of the world’s largest oil exporter economy away from crude.

He has overseen sweeping social changes, including allowing women to drive and work in the public sector, enabling citizens to enjoy the additional income and recreational outlets that opened up across the country. These changes have come alongside a crackdown on dissent and free speech. He even seemed more open than his father towards Israel, allowing its commercial aircraft to pass through Saudi air space.

The US in its report says, “Terror groups targeting India continue to operate from Pakistan”

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Web Team

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December 17, 2021

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Terror groups targeting India continue to operate from Pakistan which did not act against known terrorists, including JeM chief and UN-blacklisted Masood Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack “project manager” Sajid Mir, who remain free in that country, according to the latest US report on terrorism.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism issued on Thursday, said that regionally, terrorist groups continued to operate from Pakistan.

“Groups targeting Afghanistan — including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated Haqqani Network (HQN), as well as groups targeting India, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliated front organisations, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) — continued to operate from Pakistani territory,” according to the report.

Pakistan did not take action against other known terrorists such as JeM founder and UN-designated terrorist Azhar and 2008 Mumbai attack “project manager” Mir, both of whom are believed to remain free in Pakistan, the report said.

In February and again in November, a Lahore anti-terrorism court convicted LeT founder Hafiz Saeed on multiple counts of terrorism financing and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison, the report noted.

The US report acknowledged that Pakistan made additional progress in 2020 towards completing its Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan, but did not complete all Action Plan items, and remained on the FATF “grey list”.

The report also noted that some madrassas in Pakistan continued to teach violent extremist doctrine. ”While the government continued efforts to increase madrassa regulation, some analysts and madrassa reform proponents observed that many madrassas failed to register with the government, provide documentation of their sources of funding, or comply with laws governing acceptance of foreign students,” it said.

Highlighting the US-India cooperation, the report said that the United States continues to build its strategic partnership with the Government of India, including through bilateral engagements such as the 17th Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and Third Designations Dialogue in September, as well as the third 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in October.

It also commended the Indian counterterrorism forces, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), for actively detecting and disrupting transnational and regional terror forces.

“Indian counterterrorism forces, at the federal and state levels, actively detected and disrupted transnational and regional terror forces.

“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) examined 34 terrorism-related cases related to ISIS and arrested 160 persons, including 10 alleged al-Qaeda operatives from Kerala and West Bengal, in September,” the report said.

It further said that in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks by ISIS-inspired terrorists, Sri Lanka continued efforts to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities and improve border security, including through engagement with the US and other international partners, though progress on some cooperative initiatives stalled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lankan police continued to cooperate with the FBI on the ongoing investigation into the 2019 Easter attacks. More than 100 suspects remain in custody.

Sri Lankan indictments remained pending at year’s end. The US Department of Justice announced charges against three individuals for their roles in the killing of five US citizens during the 2019 attacks.

Nine suicide bombers, belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS, carried out a series of blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 258 people, including 11 Indians, and injuring over 500 on the Easter Sunday on April 21, 2019.

Bullock Cart race – How can one define cruelty to animals?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 16, 2021

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The Supreme Court in an order permitted the resumption of the bullock cart race in Maharashtra after four years on the same conditions and regulations as mentioned in the state amendments to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, it is requested that all these races be conducted in strict compliance with the terms and conditions laid down by the State Government.

In 2014 Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu, bull-race and bullock-cart races across the country accepting that these violated provisions of the PCA Act. However, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had amended the PCA Act to allow regulated bull races, which are also under challenge now and pending in SC for over 3 years.

The BJP-led government in 2017 had passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill by amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960). There were provisions to ensure there is no injury to the participating animals. Organizers violating the rules will face up to three years of imprisonment or have to pay up to Rs 5 lakh as a fine.

The legislation was sent to the Union Home Minister and to the President of India in August 2017 for consent. After the government had received the consent, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) approached the Bombay High Court challenging the law. The high court upheld the petitioner’s plea and stayed the implementation of the Act. Subsequently, bullock cart race lovers filed a petition challenging the high court order in the apex court. However, SC ruled that all petitions in this regard will be heard by a Constitution Bench.

Bullock-cart race lovers believe that there is a systematic attack on Hindu or native Indian traditions of late. You name the festival, and in the name of feminism, environment or animal rights, the festivals are being attacked. Buffalo fight during Magh Bihu in Assam, buffalo race called Kampala in Karnataka, cock fight in Andhra/Telangana and much more and Baligadi race in Maharashtra are traditional animal sports which were celebrated for ages.

It is almost impossible for a bull in Jallikattu to die. If at all any injuries or death happen, the chances are that they happen to the humans trying to tame the bull. For just 15 to 30 seconds of interaction with humans, a bull is taken care of for the entire year like a celebrity. All these animals in the sport are an asset to the owner, there is nothing wrong when the bull is pampered for the whole year, fed well and treated royally, for a few seconds of running amidst the crowd.

In our country leather goods are not banned, meat-eating is permissible, artificial breeding and all other atrocities are allowed, milling of cats and dogs is business, mulching cows with machines is allowed, several species are going extinct but we don’t care. The people who rear bulls don’t find much remuneration. This is one of the only things a bull helps them besides breeding. Besides, this keeps the bull in its true flora. The bull is meant to be a powerful animal. That is why the bulls toiled in the field. This is not animal abuse. This is the animal’s natural habit over hundreds of years.

If injury and death is a reason to ban a sport, then Cricket and Football would have to be inspected. We know that people have died on Cricket pitches or football grounds many times, making those games more dangerous for lives, compared to Jallikattu! Remember Raman Lamba, Darryn Randall or Philip Huges?

Take any human sports, danger is everywhere be it stunts in films or sports. If they are approved what is the point in banning animal sports? No circus was ever banned where wildlife is at stake. All cultures throughout history have used animals in the context of sport and entertainment, from Roman chariot racing up to present-day hunting, racing, and circuses. What we need is a good rulebook to monitor the conditions of the animals involved. Or if we are really sensitive about animals in general, then stop caging parrots and birds and home, stop petting dogs and cats and treat them like humans and try to discipline them, stop keeping fish in limited pond water, stop eating flesh and meat. Stop killing rats, stop caging animals. Even if you care for your pets, possessing them against the nature of their living is cruel.

Supreme Court sanctions Maharashtra to conduct Bailgadi Sharyat (Bullock Cart race) in accordance with 2017 Rules

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Afternoon Voice

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December 16, 2021

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The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Maharashtra government to conduct bullock cart races in the state in accordance with the rules and the amendments made by it to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The order was passed by the top court bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilar and CT Ravikumar while hearing the interim application in Maharashtra’s special leave petition, which was filed in 2018 challenging the stay order passed by the Bombay High Court against the conduct of bullock cart races in the state.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Minister of Sports and Animal Husbandry Sunil Kedar on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on lifting the ban on bullock cart races in the state.

The application filed by Maharashtra urged the apex court to permit it to conduct a bullock-cart race. One of the advocates appearing in the matter had earlier told the apex court that the bullock-cart race was banned in Maharashtra on the ground that it was cruelty to the animal.

The Maharashtra government has said that there is a prohibition on bullock-cart race in the state as the Bombay High Court in its interim order had refused to lift the ban in 2017, while there is no stay on the concerned Acts of the other two states. Jallikattu, also known as ‘eruthazhuvuthal’, is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.

The Maharashtra government had on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the ban on bullock-cart race in the state should be lifted as the same is going on in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The state government had told a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar that they should be allowed to conduct bullock-cart races in accordance with the 2017 Rules. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Maharashtra, said the Bombay High Court had stayed the operation of the Rules by which the state wanted to hold bullock-cart races under strict regulations.

“The ban should be removed and we should be allowed to conduct races in accordance with the Rules of 2017,” he told the bench, which was hearing an application filed by Maharashtra in the matter. He said the top court can ask for the supervision of the collector concerned, who can be answerable. “The rules itself provide for that,” the bench observed. Rohatgi said the bench can issue a word of caution and the state would take full care.

He referred to the earlier order of the apex court, which had referred the pleas related to ‘Jallikattu’ to a five-judge Constitution bench which would decide if the bull-taming sport fell under cultural rights or perpetuated cruelty to animals.

“For the last three years, since it was referred to a Constitution bench, all the other adjoining states are enjoying this bullock cart race. Our state is unable to do it, despite that it is in an identical position,” Rohatgi said.

He said the high court’s interim order of the high court should be modified and the state be permitted to conduct the bullock-cart race. The senior advocate said several pleas challenging the law of other states, which are identical to that of Maharashtra, are pending before the apex court and there is no stay on them.

Modi has changed the political discourse of the country

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 15, 2021

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You can’t run a country like India with just one discourse narrated by Congress and left-liberals for so long. This discourse was bound to come and will continue for another 30-40 years. Modi successfully abolished caste-based politics and took it to religion-based politics. Those local politicians who sustained on cast votes not getting dentin their vote share. He also gave a run to the regional political parties including Congress for their monies. The opposition parties have no idea to suggest to the nation what programmes they have but have only one agenda to remove Modi.

Most of the third front regional political outfits in India claim that all that Modi is doing were their original ideas. Those who implement original ideas are remembered but not those who dreamt but never attempted to implement much less actually did so. We cannot say Modi has not done anything; he has done all that pleases his voters and supporters. Yes, India including Uttar Pradesh needed education, medical facilities, jobs and those promised smart cities. But we are Happy with Hindutva and Hindu sentiments. We give damn to policy failures because Modi has passed in making our most precious issue Ram Mandir, and soon we are going to see the demolition of another Masjid in Mathura. We want our Hindu Rashtra and Hindutva fire burning in us.

Recently the PM went to a ceremony in Varanasi – he did the needful, dipping in the Ganges and offering prayers, all that we do as Hindus. What is the need to criticize every point of it? Was it done to consolidate votes? Maybe yes – remember BJP is a political party too. They need to do these to win the elections as well. When Mamata delayed Dussehra for Muharram to take place, was it not appeasement? When Manmohan said a minority has the first right to a country’s resources, was it not appeasement? No one will talk about these but the PM took one dip in the Ganga people felt so disgusting?

Well! Now let us come back to our election topic, In Uttar Pradesh, there are three main parties that play a major role in elections. Those parties are BJP, SP, and BSP but this time for a change it’s Congress too. Other parties like Apna Dal(S), RLD, Aam Aadmi Party, can play the trump card if there is going to be a hung assembly. Caste, Religion, Ayodhya Mandir, Loyal voters of parties, Law & Order situation, Influence of Riots and religious battle and lastly health, education, and employment that plays vital roles. So keeping all these factors in mind we can understand how the current government is the favourite player for the 2022 election. The current status and position of some leading parties in UP and how the AAP and AIMIM can affect the election scenario is another segment to mark the accuracy of predictions.

Modi magic still works, Yogi is a prominent Hindutva icon and Hindutva will be the factor that makes BJP the favourite party for the UP voters. More than this no party as a single player can defeat BJP in the UP. Samajwadi Party is the second-largest party in Uttar Pradesh. The main advantage to SP is cast votes. But the demerit can be family disputes, diminishing influence of SP in their bastion, party’s internal disputes over the leadership, and much more. It can be sure that in single combat the SP can’t defeat the BJP.

Bahujan Samaj Party, strong leadership and caste votes. If the BSP forms an alliance with INC and SP, then it can dent the BJP’s dream to retain the UP in 2022. But alliance either with SP or INC won’t help the BSP to get more than 40+ seats. INC was the party that once dominated UP politics for a decade. But with the rise of BJP, the weak organization of INC, and the popularity of Yogi, INC lost its vote share.

To revive the situation, INC appointed Priyanka. But it didn’t work as Rahul lost his seat in the UP general election 2019. Without the support of SP or BSP, it is for sure that INC can’t win even ten minimum seats. Apna Dal(S) is the alliance partner of BJP in the general election and Assembly election since 2014. With the support from the BJP’s brand and its own caste votes, it is performing and showing better scores in comparison to INC and RLD.

But if the AD(S) wants to go solo then it won’t win more than two seats in the upcoming assembly election 2022. Rashtriya Lok Dal party is struggling to find its identity. Once they were very much capable of getting 30+ seats on their own. But now the situation has changed after the 2014 general election.

All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), if this time they manage to get good vote shares in UP then it will be a high alert situation for SP and INC. It will affect their vote banks and boost BJP to concrete their position. As the UP has a 19% population from the Muslim community, it is creating a successful stage for the AIMIM. If the AIMIM won’t contest in UP, then it will be the INC and SP who will get the benefit and vice versa.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has no influence on UP. It can’t influence the election scenario like the AIMIM. Like Bhagbant Mann in Punjab, there is no candidate or leader in UP, who can lead the party. AAP might get less than 1% votes in the upcoming assembly election 2022 in UP.

In this election, BJP will fight along with Apna Dal(S) against all the parties. But as per the current scenario, it looks like the fight will be NDA Vs SP Vs BSP Vs UPA Vs Others. Under this combination with the help of the following factors, Yogi will easily win the election. His effort to make UP an industrial hub will help him to counter the unemployment issues. The progress of Ram Mandir accelerated his popularity in UP, Modi Magic will be the factor to get additional votes in every assembly seat. The negative approach of INC towards Ram Mandir, Article 370, and Triple Talaq will help BJP to get additional votes in every assembly seat. BJP losing the UP assembly election is unlikely. Maybe BJP may secure a little less than what they got in 2017. BJP will be forming the government ultimately.

Uttar Pradesh Elections: BJP and SP to have neck-to-neck fight

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 15, 2021

uttar pradesh, up elections, uttar pradesh elections, up, yogi adityanath, sp, bjp, bjp in elections, modi, narendra modi, akhilesh yadav, yadav, akhilesh — Uttar Pradesh Elections: BJP and SP to have neck-to-neck fight 22

With the Assembly elections due in five states early next year, a projection by ABP C-Voter shows that the road towards victory for the BJP and its allies is going to be a difficult one, wherein the Uttar Pradesh voter’s sentiments are exactly opposite of the said survey. Although the survey shows that the BJP will return in Uttar Pradesh, it is not happening without the party losing over 100 seats it won in the last state elections.

In Punjab, BJP and allies (BJP+) are expected to win zero seats whereas both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress (INC) are locked in a neck-and-neck fight, but without either hitting the majority mark.

Anil Tiwari, a journalist from Uttar Pradesh said, “BJP will form the government in UP as they have both Hindutva and caste calculus in their favour. Wherever there is some issue with caste factors, Hindutva will play the crucial game, dharma overshadows caste equations. This will be played in Western UP. This is being applied currently in Eastern UP where PM Modi had to spend two days to make this hype.”

Atul Tiwary businessman said, “BJP win in the 2022 UP assembly elections. UP has always observed multipolar elections i.e., multiple political parties all having their own strong voter base. This always favoured BJP. Mayawati’s BSP may have lost UP Assembly elections badly but they had the second-best vote share. There is no anger against BJP in Uttar Pradesh and most of the people are satisfied with the way Yogi Aditya Nath. The much-awaited thing in Uttar Pradesh was, taking action against Mafia and Goons and Yogi Aditya Nath has done it excellently.”

Kumar Ashish, a Dalit activist said, “The major issue with this government is jobs and education and I think BJP would deal with it in the next term just like Nitish Kumar is doing in Bihar after winning again assembly elections. Surprisingly, backward classes and minorities are satisfied with the equal distribution of benefits among all whether it is welfare money for the poor, farmers or any other things like houses etc. Maybe Modi belongs to the backward community, they are strongly attached to these sentiments.”

A priest from Varanasi said under the condition of anonymity, “The BJP party will make tall claims, see how PM is doing high voltage market campaigns but now everyone has seen everything about their marketing strategy again and again. People have anger against Yogi Aditya Nath in Uttar Pradesh then Modi is capable enough to convert those votes in favour of the BJP. UP has achieved many things and lagging on various fronts people may again vote for BJP and Yogi Aditya Nath to do some good in future.”

Omprakash Tiwary, an educationist said, “In last three weeks I spent five days in Kashi. On 12 and 13 December, I was in Kashi. Today I boarded my flight from Varanasi airport. Sentiments of people in Varanasi are against Modi. BJP and Modi lagging behind Akhilesh Yadav, that is the reason Modi is spending a lot of time in the Eastern districts of UP. We are still two months away from the election but anti-Modi sentiments are on the ground and everybody is fed up with Yogi Adityanath.”

Ahmed Owais, a student from Varanasi said, “In the West Bengal, BJP did not have a Chief Ministerial face and that did backfire. You cannot win elections just in the name of Modi/Shah. You need local leadership like in the case of Assam to pull things. In the case of UP, despite all the negativity opposition is in tatters. Akhilesh is no match to Mamata or even Tejaswi for that matter. He has been hiding and is just limited to Facebook. He has no guts unlike his father to take BJP head-on. BJP might be reduced to 80–100 fewer seats maximum in Uttar Pradesh but still, it can win 210–225 seats easily on its own.”

Dinesh Vishwakarma, a carpenter from UP said, “As people were left to die on streets, almost every household in UP has faced this crisis. Someone who lost their relatives will vote against BJP just to teach a lesson to Yogi. BJP, Modi and Yogi will suffer a humiliating defeat in UP assembly election 2022, somewhat like a repeat of what BJP has faced in West Bengal Assembly election 2021.”

Mahesh Yadav, the banner designer said, “Momentum isn’t in their favour after they lost in West Bengal. Yogi’s image was good till last year but Covid’s mismanagement may cost both Yogi and Modi big time. But I believe it will all depend on how Akhilesh projects himself as he is the only person who can challenge Yogi.”

Prabhat Singh, from Bareilly, UP, said, “BJP which has been in the margins in UP politics till 2012 elections have become number one since 2014. Since then the party is only increasing its vote percentage. In 2014 the vote polled 42.7%, in 2017 39% and in 2019 49.98%. The BJP at present is having the support of half the population. At no time earlier except Congress could command such popularity. If BJP has to be defeated the caste-based parties of SP and BSP cannot defeat BJP. Congress in the state has vanished. Congress cannot even imagine vanquishing BJP.”

Indrajeet Singh a news anchor with TV9 said, “It is a Four Corner Fight between BJP, BSP, Congress and the Samajwadi Party. Even though SP has strongholds here the support to BJP is vast in UP. Congress is also using all strength but it will eat the BSP pocket. The Vote deposit of the BJP is still intact in the Upper Classes here. Samajwadi is practising social engineering on the neglected and unsatisfied voters of the BJP. Still, I feel that BJP will continue its reigning Chair even this time in Uttar Pradesh.”

Amarnath Dubey a member of the International Press Community (Varanasi) said, “BJP has worked a lot in UP. Their work was always in progress even in the Pandemic calamity. And the execution of work is quite good. Yes! The Samajwadi is doing Social Engineering but at the forefront, UP seems to be shining with BJP. BSP seems to have lost in front of the Yogi Adityanath Governance. Congress propaganda issues won’t be fruitful as BJP’s team is doing good in Media relations and public relations.”

We tried contacting various politicians but they could not be contacted due to winter sessions.

Govt will ensure the Internet remains open, trusted, not dominated by big corporates: MoS IT Chandrasekhar

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Afternoon Voice

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December 15, 2021

rajeev chandrashekhar, rajeev, chandrashekhar, it minister, it ministry, — Govt will ensure the Internet remains open, trusted, not dominated by big corporates: MoS IT Chandrasekhar 24

The government fully supports foreign and Indian companies in leveraging the Internet as a ”force of good” but will take all measures to ensure that the Internet remains open and is not dominated by some big corporates, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday.

Chandrasekhar said the government wants to make sure that intermediaries and the big platforms such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and others develop a culture of mutual respect and accountability between the platform and its users.

”And we also want to make sure that given that a billion Indians are going to be there… women, children, elderly, pensioners, all of them, that the internet is also safe and trusted. So, the issue of cybercrime, cyber security, all of that,” Chandrasekhar said while speaking at Fuel For India 2021 – Meta’s annual event in India.

The government is fully aligned and committed to partnerships with private sector companies, foreign and Indian firms, entrepreneurs, to expand the ‘good’ in the online universe. It will strive to ensure that the Internet is a ”force of good”, to deliver access, equity, and opportunity to every Indian.

”But we will also be very careful about ensuring that the Internet remains free and open in terms of competitive pressures. It is not dominated by some big corporates. We also want to make sure that intermediaries and the big platforms such as yourself or anybody, really develop a culture of mutual respect and accountability between the platform and the user,” he said at the Meta event.

It is pertinent to mention here that Facebook’s parent company recently changed its name to Meta. Apps under Meta include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, amongst others.

Noting the power of the internet in driving positive changes and accessibility, the Minister said ”it also has its challenges in terms of the bad that creeps in along with the good”.

”My point of view or from the government’s point of view, what we want is not just to connect a billion Indians… but that the internet should continue to be open… It is safe and trusted, and it is accountable to the people who are the principal stakeholders, the users, and the consumers,” Chandrasekhar emphasized.

While the government has a role in policymaking as also in strategic Research and Development and technology development, it sees entrepreneurship as a big driver in the expansion of the digital economy.

”In India, as in most other technology-intensive economies, it is really the entrepreneur who will drive the next stage of it, accelerate the growth and expand the economy, and really what we are seeing in India, is exactly that,” he said.

The confidence and energy visible in the startup ecosystem today validate that entrepreneurship is the fuel for economic growth, prosperity, and opportunity.

“…Entrepreneurship will be big energy, sort of a driver in how we expand the digital economy where the ambition of the Prime Minister is that it will reach a trillion dollars very soon.”

”The common theme is that it is a combination of a government working in partnership with entrepreneurial energies, innovation, and creativity that will be the formula for winning the digital economy for India,” he said.