Maharashtra Portfolio allocation: NCP gets maximum of plum ministries

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January 5, 2020

After a month of the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the portfolio distribution has been finalized. The same has been approved by the honorable governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Sunday morning.

On Saturday the Shiv Sena supremo and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had sent the proposal of Maharashtra cabinet portfolios to the governor.

NCP senior leader and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar got finance and planning department on the other hand, his party colleague Anil Deshmukh is the new Home Minister of the state.

First-time Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya, the son of Uddhav Thackeray who has always been vocal about the environment subject whether it’s about the much controversial Aarey colony topic or any other topic has been made the minister for tourism, environment and protocol ministries.

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat has been allocated the revenue portfolio while former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has been given the Public Works Department (PWD).Yashomati Thakur has been allotted women and child development department, Varsha Gaikwad has been allocated school education department. Vijay Wadettiwar has been given the charge OBC welfare and salt land development. Amit Deshmukh got medical, education and culture. The CM would handle Law and Order apart from the General Administration.

The Sharad Pawar led party NCP has got maximum of the state’s cabinet berths. The party got the home, finance, irrigation and housing ministries. It’s been said that Pawar who had brought the three ideologically different party together to form Maha Vikas Agadhi has got most of the plum ministries in the Maharashtra cabinet. If one sees keenly in terms in the number of cabinet ministers there also the NCP is superior to other coalition party. While it has 16 cabinet ministers, the Shiv Sena has been allotted 15 ministries and the Congress party 12.

NCP MLA and state minister of Maharashtra Aditi Tatkare said,“I have been given the portfolios which are really important in terms of development. I belong to the constituency which has large number of tourists visiting the district and the constituency. In terms of tourism,I would want to develop the Konkan region more so that once the basic infrastructure is developed, more tourists will arrive.”

At the same time Aditi has been given an opportunity to work for the industrial growth. She said, “I would like to contribute as much as I can into this issue which we have been dealing for a long time now. Set up in the region and the state, so we can increase the rate of employment.”

Aditi has also been allotted the sports portfolio. There are many young people who are good in sports and belong to rural area of the state; through this opportunity Aditi wants to make the platform for them so that they get the opportunity to come in the forefront in terms of their respective sports they belong to.

She said, “I would want to take this opportunity to work for the betterment of the youth. I would like to conduct as many as seminars as possible in terms of their career guidance and other activities.”

NCP leader Jayant Patil has been allocated the irrigation department while Dhananjay Munde has been handed the social justice portfolio. Chhagan Bhujbal will handle the food and civil supplies ministry and Dilip Walse Patil will handle the excise portfolio. Nawab Malik was allotted minority development, Waqf Board, skill development and entrepreneurship. Malik said that he will work for the welfare of minorities. He also plans to address the problem of unemployment. Jayant Patil got water resources. Rajesh Tope has been allotted public health and family welfare, Hasan Mushrif rural development, Balasaheb Patil cooperation and marketing. Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde has been given the urban development ministry. Senior Shiv Sena leader Subash Desai has got industries and departments, while party leader Anil Parab got transport and parliamentary affairs department.Dadaji Bhuse has got agriculture and ex-servicemen welfare departments, Sanjay Rathod forest, relief and rehabilitation and Uday Samant higher and technical education.

Shiv Sena leader and state minister Aaditya Thackeray said, “I have been given the portfolios of Tourism and Environment. We can strengthen the economy of Maharashtra with tourism and I will take charge of the office after Monday’s meeting.”

The Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government had been receiving flak from the opposition BJP for delay in allocating portfolios despite being in power for over a month. According to sources the delay in finalisation and announcement of portfolios was mainly due to the difficulty of assigning districts to individual ministers for special care. Moreover, the Congress party had failed to provide the list of its ministers. Also the leaders of the MVA were attending the winter session of state assembly in Nagpur.

Minister for textile, fisheries and port development Aslam Shaikh said, “The Koli community is facing severe hardships due to decline in fishing activities. Big trawlers have been installed in several areas which are affecting the fish catching work. We are preparing a project report to augment fishing activities. I am pleased with the portfolio which was allotted to me and will also take steps to revive the textile industry.”

Dynasts crowd MVA’s first cabinet

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 5, 2020

In the Shiv Sena there was a tussle among its senior leaders, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress over key Cabinet berths in Maharashtra. There were many issues within the Shiv Sena, but Uddhav has hardly any magic stick to change the fate of his own leaders because NCP’s Pawar is the distributor of powers. The Uddhav Thackeray-led government expanded the Cabinet more than a month after he assumed office. Governor B S Koshyari administered the oath of office to 25 Cabinet ministers and 10 ministers of state at Vidhan Bhavan. Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister while Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray’s son and an MLA from Mumbai’s Worli segment also got a ministerial berth. Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also took oath along with his party colleagues Vijay Wadettiwar and Amit Deshmukh, who is the son of former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Nationalist Congress Party leaders Nawab Malik, Dilip Walse Patil and Dhananjay Munde found a place in the Cabinet too. However, the expansion left out some senior politicians such as Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Once the Congress used to describe the Shiv Sena as a party of ‘hooligans’, but now they have no choice but to take what is coming their way and keep quiet. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party kept its promise by inducting three independents who had extended support to the Shiv Sena before the government was formed. Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who has been upset over not getting a Cabinet berth, was not promised any such position. Jadhav had claimed that Uddhav Thackeray promised to make him a Cabinet minister. The Shiv Sena condemned the NCP MLA Prakash Solanke who resigned as legislator asserting that he was “unworthy” to do politics. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar has got the finance and planning portfolios while his party colleague Anil Deshmukh is the new Home Minister of the state. Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde has been given the urban development portfolio. Aaditya Thackeray, who has criticised the Mumbai Metro authorities for felling trees in the vicinity of Aarey Colony, has been allocated the tourism and environment portfolio.

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat has got the revenue ministry, a day after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government submitted its list of portfolios to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. With this allocation of portfolios, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has got most of the crucial portfolios. Sharad Pawar’s party has walked off with key cabinet berths including Home, Finance, Irrigation and Housing ministries, besides the plum post of the Deputy Chief Minister. The NCP’s Anil Deshmukh got the crucial home portfolio, finance has gone to Deputy Chief minister Ajit Pawar, housing to Jitendra Ahwad and irrigation to Jayant Patil. Chaggan Bhujbal has got Food and civil supplies and consumer protection portfolio. The Sena’s 15 portfolios include Industries, Mining and Marathi language which went to Subhash Desai, Urban Development which has gone to Eknath Shinde and Transport and Assembly affairs, has Anil Parab at its head. The one crucial ministry the Congress bagged is that of Revenue which has gone to the party’s state chief Balasaheb Thorat. Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has got the Public Works Department portfolio while Varsha Gaikwad has got the Medical Education portfolio.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition now has to deal with unhappy legislators who, failing to get a ministerial berth, have threatened to quit. One of them, Kailash Gorantyal, said that he has already sent in his resignation to the state party chief. When there was split in the Congress and NCP, he was elected. When there was Modi wave, even that time he got elected. With this injustice being done to him, Gorantyal finally got fed-up and left. Shiv Sena leader Abdul Sattar, who got a ministerial berth has also threatened to quit as he was not made a cabinet minister. He had quit the Congress to join the Sena ahead of the elections. The resignation threats have brought cheer to the BJP camp whose coup attempt in November failed.

The Congress got the least number of ministries as it is the smallest party in the alliance in terms of the number of MLA’s. The party won 44 of the state’s 288 seats against Shiv Sena’s 56 and NCP’s 54 seats. The portfolio allocation indicates that the balance of power in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, made up of the three parties, tilts in favour of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The Maha Vikas Aghadi government had been facing criticism from the opposition BJP for delay in the allocation of portfolios despite being in power for over a month. Finally, the Aghadi has come up with its strongest cabinet.

During the cabinet battle, one can see how the newly expanded Maharashtra council of ministers has several leaders from political families. Be it smaller parties or the grand old party like the Congress, dynastic politics was in full display. Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the state. Ajit Pawar, who has taken charge as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, is the nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai is the grandson of Balasaheb Desai, the former home minister from the Congress. Krantikari Shetkari Paksha minister Shankarrao Gadakh is the son of Yashwantrao Gadakh, a former Congress MP. Congress minister Ashok Chavan is the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan. Congress minister Amit Deshmukh is the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. Congress minister Yashomati Thakur is the daughter of former Congress MLA Bhayyasaheb Thakur. Congress minister Sunil Kedar is the son of former Congress MLA and Minister Chhatrapal Kedar. Congress minister Varsha Gaikwad is the daughter of former Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad.

Congress minister Vishwajeet Kadam is the son of former Congress minister Patangrao Kadam. Congress minister Satej Patil is the son of Congress leader and former Bihar Governor DY Patil. Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat is the son of former Congress MLA Bhausaheb Thorat.NCP minister Dhananjay Munde is the nephew of BJP leader and former state and central Minister Gopinath Munde. NCP minister Rajesh Tope is the son of former MP Ankush Tope. NCP minister Balasaheb Shamrao Patil is the son of former Congress MLA Pandurang Patil. NCP minister Aditi Tatkare is the daughter of MP Sunil Tatkare.NCP minister Prajakt Tanpure is the son of former MP Prasad Tanpure and nephew of Jayant Patil.NCP minister Jayant Patil is the son of Congress minister late Rajaram Patil.

Now, the government has been formed and the cabinet is also set, the portfolios too are allotted. Let’s see how the family members in the Maha Vikas Aghadi contribute to Maharashtra. Over all, if you look at Uddhav’s cabinet, his son got priority with Pawar’s nephew Ajit along with some other members but most of the keens and kits are in queue for their turn. Seeing the family backgrounds and the dynastic majority on this privileged panel, hope this government provides better governance and brings some dynamic shift in state politics.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Gandhis give damn to the notice

By

Hema Singh

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January 3, 2020

After the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in both the houses of Parliament recently, many people had trolled Akshay Kumar, the Khiladi Kumar of Bollywood over his citizenship. Many people trolled the actor over his citizenship as he has a Canadian citizenship. On the trolls, the actor had recently announced, at an event, that he has decided to give up his Canadian citizenship and apply for an Indian passport.

He also said that he is an Indian and it hurts him when he is been asked to prove his citizenship time and again. He also said that his wife and son are Indians and pay tax in India.

As we all know that Akshay who has always supported the BJP and welcomed its view with open arms, the party in order to support the actor from the trolls on social media and to malign the image of the Gandhi family, had sent notice to Rahul Gandhi about his citizenship. Many a times, the leader has been questioned and they are still asking Rahul Gandhi about his citizenship while they know that Rahul Gandhi was born in India and has the citizenship of the country.

These two political parties (BJP and Congress) always have been among the headlines due to their remarks on each other. Whether it’s about latest political topic Citizenship Amendment bill or Abrogation of Article 370, GST, Demonetisation and any other. On Friday Home Minister Amit Shah said BJP will not move even an inch away on Citizenship Amendment Act, no matter how many parties join hands against it.

He also taunted Rahul Gandhi on the issue of and challenged him of a debate on the issue. “Rahul Baba kanoon padha hai toh kahin par bhi charcha karne ke liye aajao. Nahi padha hai toh main Italian mein bhi iska anuvaad karke apko bhej deta hun, usko padh lijiye” (Translation: Rahul Baba, if you have read the laws then come anywhere to debate over it. If you haven’t read it, then I will get it translated in Italian and he can read that) Shah stated.

It is reported by a news agency that the Union minister Giriraj Singh, on December 28, said that if Rahul Gandhi had a love for infiltrators, he could take them to Italy. Singh had said this as he feels that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi are dividing the country by propagating lies and confusing citizens on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Earlier, the Union Home ministry had issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship after receiving a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy. The MHA asked Rahul Gandhi to clarify his factual position within 15 days. In his submission, Swamy had claimed that a Company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Gandhi as one of its directors.

In his defence, the 50-year-old politician termed as a typing error on the company site and showed various other documents from the same company and declared himself an Indian.

All is not well in Shiv Sena

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 3, 2020

Uddhav Thackeray might have taken a leading seat of Maha Vikas Aghadi but he is already getting restless with that alliance. While Shiv Sena is in power but internal tiff is prevalent with regards to the cabinet expansion. There is major unrest within Shiv Sena with atleast 12 MLAs contemplating to quit the party over non inclusion of certain leaders in the cabinet. The legislators expressed displeasure over NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s imprint on the cabinet expansion. Many leaders are miffed about allocation of several important departments being allotted to NCP. Bhaskar Jadhav who had recently joined Shiv Sena from Chiplun after quitting NCP had blamed Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for his failure to fufill his promise. Another former minister Tanaji Sawant too is not pleased for his non-inclusion in the cabinet.

Uddhav Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry by inducting 36 ministers that includes 13 ministers from NCP and Shiv-Sena and 10 from Congress. Shiv Sena has used its quota to make way for three independent candidates, which seems to have not gone down well with the members of the party who feel that the “Original Shiv Sainiks” have been ignored. Independents like Bachchu Kadu, Shankar Rao Gadakh and Rajendra Yadravkar had to be given ministerial berths under the Shiv Sena quota and that is why some old stalwarts of the party could not be accommodated.

This is probably the reason why Kolhapur MLA Prakash Abitkar could not be included in this Cabinet. The remarks come at that time when it has been said that Sanjay Raut, who has been termed as the architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is not happy with the cabinet expansion and his brother Sunil Raut being denied the berth. His absence from the cabinet expansion ceremony too had invited a lot of questions. What added fuel to these speculations was his obscure Facebook status, which read as, “Hamesha aise vyakti ko sambhal ke rakhiye, jisne aapko ye teen bhent di ho – saath, samay aur samarpan… (Translation: Always take care of the person who is always there for you, has given you his time and dedication)”.

While speaking to the media later, Sanjay Raut dismissed all the conjecture, as he shared, “I am not disheartened with the cabinet expansion. My brother had never asked for a ministerial berth, these are rumours being spread about us. We look forward to contributing to the party and do not aspire for any position. No matter what, we will always be loyal to the Thackerays”.

But a very senior and veteran Shiv Sena leader spoke to Afternoon voice on the condition of anonymity that the Sena workers are not happy, many of them might switch to other parties, meanwhile he stated that the Sena supremo is also restless because this is first time he is taking orders and working. He is in no habit of taking so much of domination.

Uddhav Thackeray walking on a tight rope every day

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 3, 2020

After the first cabinet expansion of Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government, it has been learnt that many leaders of the Shiv Sena are unhappy with the reshuffle including Sanjay Raut, who is a senior leader. He happens to be the elder brother of Sunil Raut. Moreover, many are also upset that the Sena is following the footsteps of Congress and NCP by giving ministry to Aaditya Thackeray. The other Shiv Sena MLAs who seem to be unhappy is Tanaji Sawant. To run a coalition of three parties is not easy, and right now Uddhav is not very strong and capable to manage the show on his own.

Already there was a big jolt to the Shiv Sena when 400 workers of the party joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at an event organised in Dharavi recently. They were upset over party Chief Uddhav Thackeray stitching an alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form a government in Maharashtra.The BJP and Shiv Sena had fought the Assembly polls together and won an absolute majority. BJP and Shiv Sena had fought the Assembly polls together and won an absolute majority. Shiv Sena had been insisting on the post of the chief minister for two-and-a-half-years but BJP said there was no such understanding. Later, the Shiv Sena negotiated with the NCP and the Congress to form a non-BJP government. On 28 November, Thackeray and six others from the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP were sworn-in at the historic Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Uddhav Thackeray has always been a reluctant politician. When he took over as the Shiv Sena chief from his father Bal Thackeray, many had rushed to write his untimely political obituary. But Uddhav survived and has now triumphed. Till 1996, Shiv Sena was assumed by all to be bequeathed to Uddhav’s cousin Raj. The latter had a penchant for fiery speechmaking having a greater stylistic resemblance to uncle’s onstage persona and was a cartoonist like him. Uddhav, who graduated from the JJ School of Arts, preferred to stay in the background. However, things changed in 1996 when Matunga resident Ramesh Kini’s death rocked Maharashtra’s political firmament.

Kini was a tenant in a building owned by Suman Shah, Raj’s developer friend. Kini refused to vacate his flat. Shah allegedly used Raj’s influence to force Kini to vacate. Kini was later found dead and in 1996, Chhagan Bhujbal, who had joined Congress by then, went to town blaming Raj for the death. The Sena decided that Raj should lie low and Uddhav should be the face of the party. Even when Raj’s star waned, Uddhav was still not seen as a natural leader. Over the years, though, Uddhav has surprised many and gradually consolidated his hold on the party. His first major task, even before he took formal charge of the party, was in 2002 when he successfully ensured Sena’s victory in the civic polls which were crucial as he had denied tickets to many entrenched Raj supporters and yet was able to capture the Mumbai municipal corporation. Uddhav has a close circle of people whom he relies on while taking political calls and is wary of the media. He also relies on his wife Rashmi’s inputs and suggestions that many in the Sena see as another ‘Meenatai’, his mother. Uddhav had realised much earlier than Mumbai’s Maharashtrian population was shifting to other cities and North Indians were taking their place. In a bid to attract them, he started the ‘MeeMumbaikar’ movement and said that all North Indians living were part of the city. It was a significant change from the Sena’s ‘son of the soil’ cry. Close friends of the CM said Uddhav is open to calculated risks.

Uddhav who always worked or lived on his terms is now finding it difficult to take instructions from various leaders, juggling between NCP and Congress is now so easy for him. Perhaps he never thought of facing such issues, this being his first attempt to be a Chief Minister of the State or handle the administration of the State himself. The portfolio distribution of the Sena-INC-NCP has been extended but still the details are not known. Moreover, Uddhav Thackeray cannot control the party as its Chief while handling the CM post. It is the beginning for the Shiv Sena to end up its political career within a very short period because of ‘power greedy’ by disrespecting the people / voters who won’t forget what Sena was doing, all these days – after the election results – and it will definitely be reflected, in the next elections. Uddhav Thackeray has no credentials – academic, political or administrative. He was anointed as the Shiv Sena chief only because he was the son of Balasaheb Thackeray. He has no other claim to fame. He has never stood for any election, forget about winning one. He has no administrative experience in governance or otherwise. Without the Shiv Sena, all he has to say for himself is that he is a wild life photographer and that too not a professional. Obviously, it will be very difficult for him to taking hard decisions independently in the capacity of a CM since the NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, a shrewd politician, is the head of this Maha Vikas Aghadi. Pawar will be controlling the government behind the scene and get things done easily with his vast experience (four times CM in the State).

Uddhav, as such, has no independent stand to execute his work. Very recently, the Shiv Sena has extended support for Citizen (Amendment) Bill (CAB) which was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah. But while the same CAB was introduced in Rajya Sabha, surprisingly Shiv Sena made a walkout and did not participate in the voting process. In other words, Sena started playing a double role and is not able to handle the critical situation whether to support BJP fully or following the stand by secularist parties fully. It clearly shows that Uddhav Thackeray is an immature person. To conclude, Uddhav Thackeray lost his party’s identity / image / creditability / respect from the people / voters and became Chief Minister just because of the lust for power. But how long will his government serve the people will be a big question?

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Should India support Kurdish aspiration?

By

Nava Thakuria

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January 3, 2020

Kurdish,Kurds,Diary Marif,Diary Khalid — Image Courtesy: Agencies

Long and cherished histories of freedom movement by various group-community-nations always attract journalists and so the relentless struggles by persecuted Kurdish people speared over the world for an integrated sovereign homeland for Kurds. A recent interaction with a young and intelligent Kurdish activist paved the way for Guwahati scribes to understand some parameters of their ongoing violent freedom struggle.

Kurds believe that they have no friend but the mountains and the Kurdish proverb can be comprehended going through their fights for a homeland where four major Muslim dominated countries namely Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria continue repressive actions against the freedom-loving Kurdish people. Even being a Muslim majority nation, Kurds have been systematically intimidated by those regimes. Meet a Kurdish political analyst, who is based in Vancouver (Canada) and a regular contributor of media pieces to The Pasewan, Awene Weekly, Daily Hawlati, Lvin, KNN Television etc, with a mission to support establishing a Kurdish sovereign State carved out their habitat covering mountainous localities of various nations in West Asia (also known as Middle East).

Diary Khalid Marif, who bared his heart while talking to a group of scribes at Guwahati Press Club in northeast India through video-conferencing, revitalized their pledge to set-up a homeland for 40 million Kurds, who are the world’s largest ethnic group but without a State. He admitted that they have endless challenges ahead, but reminded that hundred thousand Kurdish freedom fighters had already sacrificed their lives for the cause. Narrating the large scale spreading of Kurds in various countries, Diary Marif revealed that there are over 20 million Kurds in Turkey. Even though their inhabitants are around 20 percent of Turkish population, they are still denied their ethnic identity. Torturing, imprisonment and killings of Kurds are regular happenings where they cannot openly speak the Kurdish language. Moreover, Kurdish names and costumes are also banned there.
Iranian Kurdistan supports nearly 12 million Kurds (around 17 percent population of Iran) who always suffer discrimination from the Islamic Republic in Tehran. Arbitrary evictions of Kurdish families, restricted access to housing, education, and health are primary issues for Kurds in Iran. In fact, an independent State for Kurdish people (Republic of Mahabad) existed inside Iran for some time in 1946, but soon Tehran crushed it.

Iraqi Kurdistan gives shelter to around 6 million Kurds (around 17 per cent of its population) where they initially enjoyed no rights. By Sixties only, rights for Kurds were included in the Iraqi constitution. Uncounted number of Kurds was killed by various regimes in Baghdad, where Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein took the lead in massacring the Kurdish people. In Syrian Kurdistan, there are over 3 million Kurds (around 10 percent of Syrian population) who also face difficulties in various political aspects. However, Kurdish national there enjoy the right to citizenship, study and speak their mother-tongue. Humiliated by various government forces for decades, the Kurdish people continue fighting for their ethnic identity.

Hails from Iraqi Kurdistan and a Pune University (in Maharashtra) pass-out, Diary Marif terms India a natural ally to the Kurdish nation. Hindustan is a concept of nationalism (not necessary an entity of Sanatan religion) and the Kurdish people also prefer to categorize everyone on the basis of a nation. Kurds have never prioritised religion issues and they are still fighting for their ethnicity, he commented.

Appreciating India as a vivid follower of various religions, linguistic communities, tribes etc., Diary Marif categorically stated that they too nurture various religious faiths including Islam (both Shia and Sunni sects), Christianity, Judaism, Yazdanism, Yazidi, Bahaism, Zoroastrianism, etc along with different racial groups. Unlike the common belief that every Muslim in the world upholds the idea of Islamic State, Kurds are totally different and the Kurdish fighters had successfully resisted Islamist terrorists in different junctures.

“Hence, every progressive and peace-loving nation, which expresses concern over the religious terrorism, should come forward supporting Kurds,” asserted Diary Marif pointing out that unlike ISIS or other Jehadi outfits, the Kurdish people maintain mutual respects to the minorities and also the women. Kurdish movement has been enriched with the active participation of their women even in the armed struggles, he added.

Thanking the Indian government in New Delhi for denouncing the recent Turkish military offensives on the Kurdish-inhabited localities of neighbouring Syria, Diary Marif also appreciated New Delhi’s advisory to its citizens travelling to Turkey. He also made a fervent appeal to New Delhi for supporting the cause of freedom-aspiring millions of Kurdish people.

Days back, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir (of India) during 74th session of UN in New York. The argument was to safeguard the interest of Kashmiri Muslims in the far northern locality after the abrogation of Article 370 by New Delhi. Pakistan, which has been occupying large parts of J&K, was quick to endorse Erdogan’s action as Islamabad also bats for Muslim interests.

Lately voices of opposition are slowly growing against the governments in Ankara and Islamabad as both the Islamic regimes continue using the religious cards for their selfish interests. But in reality, both the governments have never shown dignified approaches to the Kurdish people and Balochis (who are also fighting for a sovereign Balochistan out of Pakistan since 1948).

Diary Marif termed India also a favourite destination of Kurdish students for higher studies. Acknowledged that he learned many things in India like democratic values, tolerance, dignity to minority communities and finally the unity in diversities. Finally Diary Marif admitted, he still misses typical Indian foods, people with warm hearts and lush greenery of the country.

(The author is a Guwahati based journalist)

(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.)

India the internet shutdown capital of the world

By

Faheem Usmani Qasmi

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January 3, 2020

Initially localized to certain states like Jammu & Kashmir, the practice of internet blackouts by the Indian government has become very common across the country. The most recent shutdown took place in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, December 27, 2019, when UP government had blocked out Internet connectivity in 21 districts over concerns of further protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act erupting after the Friday prayers. New Delhi, India’s national capital also saw internet shutdown in several parts of the city in the month of December.

The Internet Shutdowns – a website and tracker of instances where a particular district or state is reportedly under a government-restricted internet –collects and collates reports from across India during such cases. Over 70 instances of internet shutdown in 2017 to 134 in 2018, India ranked first in the list of countries which imposed internet restriction last year gaining the title of “Internet shutdown capital of the world”.

The website also recorded the longest ever ban imposed on access to the internet which is still under effect in J&K. The state went under a complete lock down of mobile and internet services from the August 2019, when Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated by the Parliament of India. There was a preventive shutdown imposed in the state which is yet to be lifted, the beginning of the communication blockade saw landlines as well as Mobile services restricted, the ban on landlines was lifted but suspension of mobile internet continues in the valley.

In fact, India has turned so infamous for it during the last few months that China –known for its surveillance of online activity – is citing India as an example. An editorial by Qing Qin in People’s Daily – China’s largest newspaper and a controlled entity of the country’s ruling party, said, “The internet shutdown in India has once again proved that the necessary regulation of the internet is a reasonable choice of sovereign countries based on national interests, and a natural extension of national sovereignty in cyberspace.”

The cost of shut down

India lost $968 million because of internet shutdown between July 2015 and June 2016, a study by the think-tank Brookings Institution found. According to another research report filed by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, in around five year-period –2012 to 2017 –, India lost around USD 3 billion due to mobile internet and broadband shutdowns. Since then the number of bans imposed on the accessibility of the internet across India has only risen.

“A telco loses a minimum of Rs 1.5 crore a day per state if its internet services are shut down. If the state holds a large population and the ban is for a longer duration, then the loss is larger”, said Rajan Mathew, director general of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The body represents all three private players Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea.

From regular people who are unable to connect to the Internet or call their families to businesses, internet shutdown affects everyone. Business sectors, such as banking, tourism, e-commerce, education, and healthcare, among others, are the most impacted in such regions.

A report by leading newspaper notes that “Food delivery apps have seen volumes dip by 10-20%” in 24 districts of UP, Delhi, and other internet prohibited areas.” Grofers had rescheduled close to 25,000 grocery orders in Lucknow alone due to the imposition of ban on the Internet.

That’s not all. Internet shutdown hurt local residents of the concerning area and businesses with the imposition of restriction on access to the Internet, residents were unable to contact other people over the internet, access emails on their phones, pay for bills online, use services like Paytm, PhonePe and UPI, use credit/debit cards for payments and many more tribulations.

In a massive setback, students were unable to access study material available on the Internet or fill forms of important examinations that will be conducted this year.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 03 January, 2020

By

Web Team

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January 3, 2020

SEBI should ease the process of e-voting

The innovative concept of e-voting by the shareholders prior to the commencement of annual general meetings (AGMs) needs a policy based overhaul. Apart from postal ballot and mobile voting, the option of tab voting is now enabled. Hence the shareholders have a wide choice to exercise their right in AGMs through tab voting, e-voting and postal ballot and thus act as major decision making authority in a public listed company.

As per the current norms, the e-voting option is valid only for three calendar days prior to the commencement of AGMs of the company. Thus the share holders have limited window time to exercise their rights through e-voting. Further SEBI and Company’s Act should ease the process of e-voting and should enable up to seven to fifteen days of voting time, to ensure of all category of shareholders exercise their rights. As also listed companies should ensure communication to the shareholders explaining the detailed process of e-voting through extensive awareness across various channels like newspapers, internet, email, sms messages. (apart from the existing practice of communication through AGM notices)

Accordingly the system of postal ballot, an archaic voting method in this era of technological revolution should now be replaced either with e-voting, tab voting or mobile voting. Such a move will otherwise help the listed companies to achieve complete fairness and transparency w.r.t e-voting procedure prior to AGMs ,as mandated by the Company’s Act 2013.

Varun Dambal

Take action against Irfan Habib for mocking Kerala Governor

It refers to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan tweeting and giving media-interviews on being heckled by well-known historian Irfan Habib on December 28 at the stage while Arif Mohammed Khan delivering inaugural address at Indian History Congress at Kannur. It was for Kannur (Kerala) Police to take immediate action against Irfan Habib for such unruly behaviour against the person seated on constitutional post of a state-governor.

Even normal speakers other than those seated on constitutional posts cannot be dictated to deliver lectures according to dictates of others even though dictating person may be a renowned personality in his field.

It is beyond understanding why and how historians observed mute silence during Congress regime like on digging a time-capsule with completely distorted facts in front of Red Fort (Delhi) during emergency-era of 1975-77. Unfortunately historians of such style wish to write history according to their own ideology and requirements rather than the real one. India would have an entirely different environment if students from school-age would have been taught history of great Indian freedom-fighters apart from great sacrifices of religious saints including Sikh gurus.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Public spat between Mary Kom and Nikhat Zareen unfortunate

The ugly spat between celebrated boxer MC Mary Kom and Kiren Nikhat Zareen was unwarranted. Six time World Champion Mary Kom is a legend in her own right but refusing the customary ‘hand-shake’ and an attempted hug from the losing boxer Nikhat was in bad taste. Underdog Nikhat Zareen is an amazing boxer with potential to dominate boxing in the future and Mary Kom should have shown respect to young talent and all the competitive toughness should be forgotten once the bout gets over.

Olympic qualifiers should be professionally conducted so that there is no bad blood between the aspirants. The best should always get to represent the country and the next best should work hard so that they get a chance to compete in future. The tiff between Mary Kom and Nikhat Zareen should not be blown out of proportion and both Boxer’s should upload a happy picture of themselves together on the social media to end their enmity if any.

S.N.Kabra

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Alibaug-Virar multimodal corridor to take off soon

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 2, 2020

The year 2020 has begun with a double challenge of survival for the common man. While people are still trying to work out their budgets around the rising prices of onion, fuel (petrol and diesel), there has been an increase in the prices of LPG and also for the Indian railways. Meanwhile, the good news is that the much talked Alibaug-Virar multimodal corridor work will start this month. Incidently the project was announced in 2014, but it was lying in the back-burner. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced that it will be commencing the project worth ₹12,975-crore. The Virar-Alibaug corridor with a eight-lane stretch will have separate lanes for metro and bus rapid transit system. This project will ease the woes of Mumbaikars who have to undertake long journey for reaching their destinations. According to MMRDA officials, the stretch will have 20 flyovers, 15 interchanges and 45 underpasses. In the first phase, the work will start on the 23-km stretch between Navghar and Anjur which is just the first part of this phase. The project is expected to provide accessibility to Navi Mumbai International airport, Mumbai Trans Harbour link and Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

Coming back to the first phase, it will include the entire stretch between Virar and Balavali which includes 104 villages. The first phase of the project is 79-km stretch between Virar and Balavali, which is estimated to cost Rs 9,326 crore. The second stretch from Balavali to Alibaug is 47kms that will be undertaken at a later stage.

The project will reduce travelling time between Virar and Alibaug by 50 per cent as a result of which job opportunities will be created in Virar, Bhiwandi, Panvel, Taloja, Uran, Kalyan and Dombivali. MMRDA is in the process of acquiring more than 1,000 hectares of land there. It is expected that once this project is completed, it will decongest the traffic on this route phenomenally. In addition to this, MMRDA has said that it will complete 40 per cent of civil works for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) in 2020. The Authority has also made some interesting announcement regarding the ongoing Metro projects. They will have at least two operational lines in 2020. The authorities have commissioned Metro Line-2A (Dahisar-DN Nagar) and Metro Line-7 (Dahisar East-Andheri East).

Work on the much talked about Alibaug-Virar multimodal corridor will take off from the middle of 2020. The MMRDA has announced that they will be starting the work on phase one by this time frame.

Hike in railway fares might evoke sudden criticism

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 2, 2020

The Indian Railways has been in the news albeit for the price hike that it has announced. With the rapid increase in passenger and goods traffic, the frequency of train accidents is increasing at a rapid force. This has raised serious doubts in the public mind about the safety of rail travel and the general health of the railway network. The credibility of an organisation with a long and proud history of nation building has been seriously eroded. In such a situation, it is but natural to ask where the Railways are heading to. But we need to look at the population of India that is on the rise day-by-day. In such a case, the country needs infrastructure to support the population and the Railways is one without which you just cannot handle the current ever-rising population. Although our Railways is one of the slowest organisation of the World, yet it is one of the cheapest in the world. So even if the railways increase the prices of tickets, I just cannot see how the 125 crore Indians can live without railways because it’s ever expanding and connects almost all corners of India.

More and more trains are the need of the hour but sadly that is not possible on every route since there are a lot of freight operations and freights are the prime source of profit for the Railways. Obviously, the hike in fares might evoke sudden criticism people mocking the government by mentioning “Ache din aa gaye!”, we must also realise that there has been no major hike for about the last five years. Operating and maintenance costs have increased and a lot of other causes have forced the government to take such a decision. The railways are in shambles at the moment. The maintenance is very poor. Most of the stations are badly maintained, toilets are very bad and the food is just horrible. A very large overhaul might probably be needed to shake up things and turn things around. Hence, the hike is probably justified. In fact, the Indian Railways has one of the most subsidised fares in the world especially with the services.

The Indian Railways, eyeing to increase its revenue share, has decided to hike the fares of the passenger trains by one paise per kilometer, sleeper class fare by 2 paise per kilometre and for 3AC, 2AC and AC first class by four paise per kilometer. The Railway ministry issued an order on December 31 in which it said that while the suburban fares will remain unchanged, ordinary non-AC, non-suburban fares will be hiked by 1 paise per km of journey. The railways also announced a two paise/km hike in fares of mail/express non-AC trains and four paise/km hike in the fares of AC classes. The fare hike is also applicable to premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto. Among the train coaches that are planned for CCTV installation in the first phase, tenders have been invited for as many as 7,020 coaches and a total of 6,100 railway stations. This should be done by next year, while the remaining coaches will be covered by March 2022.

Presently Indian Railways’ big move for a safer network is to introduce Artificial Intelligence and CCTV cameras in order to enhance the safety of passengers across the Indian Railways’ network. Soon, as many as 58,600 coaches in Mail/Express trains of Indian Railways will be equipped with CCTV surveillance system. The CCTV surveillance systems have already been installed at over 500 railway stations across the country. The matter of passenger safety was discussed in the Parliamentary Standing Committee recently. By March 2022, all railway stations across the country will be covered. Among the train coaches that are planned for CCTV installation in the first phase, tenders have been invited for as many as 7,020 coaches and a total of 6,100 railway stations. This should be done by next year, while the remaining coaches will be covered by March 2022.

The last fare revision was done in 2014-15. In order to expand passenger amenities and facilities at Railway stations and in trains, it has become imperative to increase the train fare marginally without over burdening any class of passengers. Fast modernisation of the Indian Railway will be achieved through this fare revision. All non-AC classes and the unreserved segment will see a 1 paisa per kilometre hike. On long-distance mail/express trains, the hike will be 2 paise per kilometre. The Railway ministry has decided to keep the fares of the suburban classes unchanged. According to the order, there will not be any change in the reservation fee and superfast charge. The increase in fare will be on tickets bought on or after 1 January 2020 and no excess fare (difference of fare) will be charged from passengers who have booked tickets before this date.

The hike will have no effect on the catering charges. After the fare hike, the journey from Delhi-Kolkata, which covers a distance of 1,447 km, the hike at the rate of 4 paise per km will be around ₹58 in AC classes on Rajdhani-type trains. Railways have played a significant role in development and growth of industries. Growth of textile industry in Mumbai, jute industry in areas surrounding Kolkata, coal industry in Jharkhand, etc is largely due to the development of railway networks in these areas. The railways help in supplying raw materials and other facilities to the factory sites and finished goods to the market. Agriculture also owes its growth to railways to a great extent. Now farmers can sell their agricultural produce to distant places and even sell them in the world market at remunerative prices. Railways are also helpful in removing isolation between cities and countryside and have played a significant role in disseminating innovations and new ideas. Railways are particularly suited to long distance journey and provide a strong medium of national integration. Also it plays a vital role in mitigating the sufferings of the people in the event of natural calamities like droughts, floods, famines, earthquakes, etc. This is done by carrying relief and rescue teams and essential items to the affected areas and save people from sufferings and starvation. Railways also help in facing man-made calamities like social, political, religious disturbances, insurgency, etc.

It facilitates easy movement of police, troops, defence equipment etc. The importance of railways to save the country’s freedom and integrity from external aggression has been proved on several occasions. The railways carry the British legacy and connect major ports to their hinterlands, thereby lending a helping hand to the overall prosperity of the coastal areas. The introduction of superfast trains and container services in major cities of India have ensured quick movement of men and material. The Railway system is especially suited to long haulage of bulky materials like coal, petroleum and ores. Although Indian Railways has progressed a lot both quantitatively and qualitatively during the last few years, this system is still plagued by a number of problems which require immediate attention. A lot has been done, but a lot more is yet to be done.

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