The month-long political impasse ended dramatically with Devendra Fadnavis returning as the chief minister again, backed by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister at Raj Bhavan.
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath to the two in the morning ceremony, where only official media was present.
“People had given us a clear mandate, but Shiv Sena tried to ally with other parties after results, after which President’s rule was imposed. Maharashtra needed a stable govt not a ‘khichidi’ govt,” Fadnavis said.
Ajit Pawar, after taking oath as the deputy chief minister, said: “From result day on October 24, no party was able to form the government. Maharashtra was facing many problems, including farmers issues. So we decided to form a stable government.”
The surprise swearing-in is being described as a political masterstroke of Sharad Pawar, who on Thursday night had said there was a consensus among the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena that Uddhav Thackeray should lead the new government.
Khichdi is better than Khayali pulav says NCP leaders taunting BJP and its power holding capacities. A meeting of the Mahavikas alliance was attended by leaders of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress at Nehru Science Centre, Worli. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had put forward Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s name for chief minister’s post. All three parties arrived at a consensus to make Uddhav as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and he has accepted the decision. Talks between the three parties were successful and further talks will continue on Saturday too. The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress came in alliance to form a government in Maharashtra after a series of meetings in Mumbai and Delhi. All three parties have decided that a Shiv Sena Chief Minister will have a full five-year term. When we asked Sena’s Sanjay Raut about probable Chief Ministerial candidate he said, “Uddhav Thackeray has accepted the Mahavikas alliance proposal of electing him as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Further talks with Congress-NCP will happen on Saturday.” Earlier Raut said the Shiv Sena will get a full five year term as CM.
When AV contacted NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik about the formation of government in Maharashtra he said, “Yes I confirm this news all parties will stake the claim to form a government of pre-party alliance. And it will be a stable government and we will do things for the betterment of the state and for the people of Maharashtra.“
When asked about the CM will be from Shiv Sena and two deputy CM, one from NCP and other from Congress on that he said, “It is not confirmed yet”
The role of Aaditya Thackeray was reportedly also discussed in the meeting. A common minimum programme that can accommodate the vastly different agendas of the Sena and the Congress was discussed as the three parties try to find a way of collaborating for the first time.
Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said,“Very honestly I am not the authorized person to confirm this news. Yes, but all the parties including Congress are trying their level best to keep BJP away from power because the way they have ruined the state of Maharashtra, the farmers and the industrial investment in the last five years or you can say that they have destroyed the state. So it is our need that everyone should come together against this party and form a better government for the people.”
The BJP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had contested the October 21 Maharashtra assembly election jointly and won 105 and 56 seats respectively. The BJP, despite being the single largest party, backed out of the race after a power tussle with the Sena. The Sena had insisted on rotational chief ministership and an equal share in ministries, which the BJP rejected.
Neelam Gorhe, Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chairperson, Maharashtra Legislative Council said,“I don’t have any idea on this, only Uddhav ji can answer this. All I can say that signatures have been taken but exactly what time they will go to the governor only Uddhav ji can say that.”
Pawar, 79, is a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra. In the last week, he has held multiple meetings – including with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi caused a huge political buzz. Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray too met the NCP chief in Mumbai late Thursday night. There have been reports that the BJP also pursued Pawar – his NCP is only two seats behind the Shiv Sena and can help the BJP cross the majority mark in Maharashtra – and that the NCP veteran was offered the President’s post as bait.
Very much expected and a new combination of leaders, Maharashtra is finally getting its government. Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar at an undisclosed location in Mumbai to discuss getting together to form government in Maharashtra. The meeting took place after the Sena’s only minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, Arvind Sawant, resigned. Because that was NCP’s first condition for alliance with Shiv Sena to cut the complete ties with BJP and enter in new coalition. The Sena’s pull-out was a key condition of the NCP to discuss an alliance in Maharashtra. After weeks of turmoil, the state seemed to inclined towards a Shiv Sena-led government with NCP and Congress leaders discussing their options. Uddhav Thackeray pushed back his meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari as the NCP left it to the Congress to take a call on whether to support a Sena-led government in Maharashtra. Congress president Sonia Gandhi met top party leaders on Friday morning and then called former chief ministers and others from Maharashtra to sound them out.
Uddhav Thackeray also spoke to Sonia Gandhi as the two ideologically mismatched parties tried to get past their differences to collaborate in a government in Maharashtra. In the recent past years many Congress and NCP leaders had joined Shiv Sena. So having Congress-NCP in the corridors was not new to Sena. If you go to flashback, its in Congress era Shiv Sena was given birth, Congress has always supported Balasaheb. He was the strongman of Maharashtra who openly supported the proclamation of Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government. Shiv Sena has never been apologetic about Bal Thackeray’s support to Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. Writing in editorial mouthpiece of Sena Saamana last year party spokesman Sanjay Raut said, “If the day when the Emergency was proclaimed by Indira Gandhi is to be called ‘Black Day’, then there were many such ‘black days’ under the [current] central government. The day demonetisation was announced should also be called ‘Black Day’, as it created the economic anarchy.” However, support for the Emergency led to a serious drubbing of the Shiv Sena in the 1978 Maharashtra Assembly and local body elections. It hurts the party to such an extent that founder-chief Bal Thackeray offered to resign at a rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. He withdrew his resignation following uproar against it in the party. But gradually and timely, he held hands of similar ideological party and that was BJP. Since then Shiv Sena always acted as a big brother, but in the recent past Uddhav had to take lot of humiliation from new Modi’s BJP.
Sena and BJP were never in good terms, they were with each other for the sake of power and there were no ideological differences. BJP of this era gone not only arrogant and unreasonable but also wanted to get rid of Devendra Fadnavis because of his greed and loud mouth speeches. He created rift within the Maharashtra BJP and failed to take people into confidence. Meanwhile, in spite in alliance Shiv Sena leaders and Uddhav tried their level best to safeguard the democracy by opposing and attacking BJP and Modi’s undemocratic moves.
Political Pundits always predicted this coalition to happen sooner or the later. The Shiv Sena was invited by the Maharashtra Governor to indicate “willingness and ability” to form government in the state after the BJP said it would not stake claim to power. Top Congress leaders, former Maharashtra CMs Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde as well as state unit Chief Balasaheb Thorat met Sonia Gandhi and decided to support the Shiv Sena in forming a government in the state. If these three parties come together, it would be difficult for BJP to retain power in state in coming future, because their seat share will never go beyond these three.
Uddhav Thackeray is tipped to be chief minister, with an NCP deputy, in a formula that has been in circulation over the weekend amid talks of a non-BJP alliance. The Sena is the second largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP (105). Given the stalemate between the two alliance partners, the role of the Congress with its 44 legislators and the Nationalist Congress Party with 54 MLAs is crucial. The Shiv Sena took the claim on given time. With this episode, the BJP and the Sena, long-term allies for around 30 years comes to an end. In an editorial in Saamana, the Sena warned BJP to mend its ways and fulfill the promises made for alliance stating, “With 54 MLAs of NCP, 44 Cong MLAs and few independents, we can reach majority. The Sena can present its own Chief Minister and for that, three parties with independent ideology should form policies which are acceptable to all”. Well voters are actually happy, because Sena has given them a faith that they can control BJP’s arrogance.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Weddings in India are mostly a larger-than-life affair, it is that which connects two people. Earlier, marriages used to sustain for a long time. However, now it doesn’t seem to. And I think marriages today don’t end because we all have forgotten the meaning of love, it’s because women are becoming independent as like men. Now they are giving a neck to neck competition to the men in every field whether it is household work or doing some extraordinary work outside. Now you can find women in every field. Today’s, women have jobs, aim, dreams and self-respect.
Not only this now women demands to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. And I think it is not wrong to ask all these basic things to stay in society. If men aren’t ready to give it to them these fundamentals, they will happily move on and start to find it somewhere else or you can say start leaving for themselves. Women are educated and quite ready to achieve their dreams. The only difference between today and yesterday is this tiny step towards equality and happiness.
Earlier, men were someone who had jobs and allows going out and working while women used to stay at home. Women were the ones who did not have jobs, they used to depend on the men for everything as they were unaware of their capabilities and worth.
The men were superior and the so-called phrase which revolves in every family -“man of the house”. On the other hand, the women with nothing to do with this except for raising kids and cook for the family.
They were not supposed to know if they want to be in the relationship or not? The men only had the right to decide everything- “the decision-maker.”
However, now the table has turned women have become the “Boss lady”. They are fighting for their rights, speaking against injustice. And I think that is why marriages are failing nowadays.
You all have heard about the term “Aaj ki Nari Sab pe Bhari” because now, women can think like men too and they are no more “Abla Nari”.
They do have the same brain and I think their brain works more efficiently than men sometimes in some cases, Agree?
Women are everywhere, from driving auto-rickshaw to flying aeroplane. However, some people still cannot handle an independent working woman. If the women running in the race to achieve the goals there are always some people who are ready to pull them down. There are people who think a “Father stay at home” is a big deal but if “Mother stay at home” is normal.
I think we should not think about those who think that a woman doesn’t have the right to end a marriage if she isn’t happy being in it. Don’t judge her. We should stop bothering about those who think if a man works for more hours and concentrates on his career way more than his house & children it’s normal, however, when a woman does the same thing then it is wrong.
I think instead of saying them you are doing wrong we should support them in their path. I want to tell all the ladies through this article they should stop worrying about those people who are telling them that they are doing wrong. In fact, that is their own inability and insecurity talking. Everyone is wonderful and unique in their own way.
A woman doesn’t need a man to define her and she doesn’t need a man’s shoulder to cry on. Instead of that, she needs someone who walks by her side, and compliment her dreams rather than killing it. Because you are capable of everything so don’t ever let what you love to own you and never settle for less than what you deserve!
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.
In his nearly 50-minute speech in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on a range of issues including the welfare measures rolled out by his government, his return to power with a bigger mandate in the Lok Sabha elections, strength of the Indian economy, importance of Indian diaspora in overall growth of the country and how India is emerging as a “major power” globally. He clearly gave messages that India has decided to eliminate a big reason behind sowing of seeds of terrorism and separatism.
It is clear that India has never bowed before terrorism and will never do. Enough is enough. It is a high time the government of India should take a firm action. The time has now come to teach Pakistan what is called terrorism in their words and the power of unity that our country has. Right from 1971, Pakistan has been playing with fire thousands of Indians including soldiers have lost their lives. We can’t walk on the path of peace any more just give a revolt and bloodshed to them and show the world that our peace is our strength not our weakness. We should know with whom we are dealing with. Even now if we go soft we will continue becoming soft target of Pakistan. Death of terrorists is not big for them but the loss of lives of our brave jawans is more valuable for us. How long this hide and seek game will continue? Our Indian army is our precious jewel and we can’t afford to lose anymore. Unless we act tough they won’t change. India needs to put an end to all the terror outfits situated in their land permanently.
Every terror attack is an act of war against India. India till date has been acting in a way too far and so called “matured and diplomatic” way, at the cost of its brave soldiers’ and their families’ lives and future, but with little fruition. Restraint is not a virtue that can practised without regard to the context and circumstances. India needs to have a strong anti-terrorism policy. It is a imperative to understand the terrorists’ operational environment and know their modus operandi and targeting patterns. There must be concerted efforts to gather intelligence from places where terrorists conceal themselves and seek to establish and hide their infrastructure. Terrorism is strongly condemned in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism. Terrorism of course is a major problem which is agitating every one of us. It is a greatest challenge for world society as it is not only causing human suffering but also impeding peace and development. Countries should ignore Pakistan and discontinue economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with them. Some leading nations of the world over last three decades have ignored menace of terrorism in some parts of the world. Modi has rightly declared that “We are united in our belief that terrorism its supporters have to be punished, not rewarded.” His hard line on Pakistan marks a departure from India’s tradition of strategic restraint. Modi’s approach has emboldened India’s neighbour to emerge as state sponsor of terrorism. We need a comprehensive national policy to deal with domestic militancy as well as cross-border terrorism. We should be pro active and must take some strict action before we lose more lives. There should be zero tolerance policy in action now.
We must remember that peace and harmony is the basic requirement of any nation. The citizens of a country feel safe and secure and can prosper only if a peaceful environment is maintained. Ideal peace demands the development of a non-nuclear, war-free, nonviolent peaceful world through conscious global efforts. The old thinking: “If you want peace be prepared for war” has to be abandoned and replaced by a firm faith in the principle of peace through non-violent means and peaceful international relations based on equality and respect for each other’s territorial integrity and nationhood.
We must also remember that the government cannot be held responsible for maintaining peace and harmony in the country. Each one of us should take it as our responsibility to nurture feelings of brotherhood with fellow citizens. In contemporary times, the most urgent and important international objective has been to preserve protect and defend peace against terrorism.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
In a shocking incident a 10-year-old girl died after being bitten by a snake inside her classroom at Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district of North Kerala. The class five student, according to sources, could have escaped death if she had been given proper medical aid and taken to the hospital immediately after she informed her friends and teacher about the incident. It is indeed sad that the teachers ignored the matter at first thinking that the child would have got injured by a nail or some sharp object. She was taken to the hospital only a hour after the bite and by then matters worsened leading to her tragic death. The education ministry should definitely make a serious inquiry and punish those responsible for the incident. There is an allegation on the delayed medical assistance given to the child. Video visuals show images of a hole in the floor of the class and this pathetically shows the plight of some of the educational institutions in rural areas. If the authority concerned had been aware and vigilant about such conditions and immediate measures taken this tragedy could have been averted. Sheer lethargy and apathy from the concerned authorities has led to this tragedy.
M Pradyu
Development at the cost of environment
Saddened to learn that 64 per cent trees transplanted for Metro are already dead and the figure could cross 90 per cent in the days to come. These are official figures from a High Court appointed tree committee who visited the transplantation site and found 680 dead trees of the 1060 trees transplanted and the whole exercise of re-plantation seems futile. Aarey too is being converted into a graveyard in the name of development and city is turning into a concrete jungle. The same happens with housing society’s redevelopment projects where existent tress die during re-plantation or are never planted again when projects get completed.
We are being selfish and don’t really bother about the future generations. Comforts are essential but healthy living should be considered a necessity. Supreme Court should re-examine this re-plantation hullabaloo and see to it that environment is not destroyed as these could have serious repercussions for the very survival of mankind on earth in future
S.N.Kabra
Unaided schools playing with fire
Schools are playing with fire safety and flouting norms. Current statistics of deaths and injuries, in relation to fires prove to be alarming and an increasing number of people affected by losses and fatal injuries are being reported and accounted for each year. Children suffer most because as there is no fire audit in schools. Over 1458 structures of civic schools are flouting norms and that is alarming. Student face lots of risk because of the careless attitude of the authorities. Given these rates and information, it is only fitting to know the importance of fire prevention and tips. And children should be guided accordingly.
Arati Abhishek
Language transcend religions
We seem to be rapidly sinking into a cesspool of fanatical differences, discrimination and diabolical political designs. The latest row over a Muslim scholar’s appointment as a Sanskrit professor at the famed Banaras Hindu University mirrors the times we’re living in when languages are castigated, categorised and compartmentalised into “ours and theirs.” Instead of lauding Prof. Firoz Khan for learning Sanskrit so well that today the man is entitled to teach the language at a prestigious Indian university, students are protesting and boycotting classes. I think that languages transcend religions. We should rather be proud of India’s composite culture and those enterprising individuals who don’t care for such barriers and go on to learn and understand the languages of ‘others.’ Hats off to them.
Tarique Ansari
Frisking at airports
When people are frisked at airports or at malls, they don’t co-operate with the authorities. They must do so willingly. It is for their own safety. They must realise that.
JubelD’Cruz
Hope for the best
Gotabaya Rajapaksa had succeeded in his bid to become Sri Lanka’s next president after about four years in the wilderness. Gotabaya’s nationalist promise of security and a vow to crush religious extremism found favour with the Sinhalese majority in the country but his victory will be a concern for Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Muslim minority who voted against him.
MERC Rabbani
Govt should not bail out private telecom operators
Private telecom companies having minted enormously in initial days of launch of mobile-network in the country and new-comer big giants in the field are to be given heavy amount of Rs 42000 crores by the central government to bail out from fiscal crises reportedly being faced by these mobile service-providers. Hidden extra government-aid to these companies is to bear big revenue-loss by deferring spectrum-auction for two years.
Any problem with these private operators are their self-created by pushing themselves in self-hitting competition. Rather central government instead of providing bail-out package to private operators, should have better utilized this amount to bail out BSNL for modernisation and increasing consumer-base so that the firm would increase its consumer-base at cost of private operators because of their fiscal crisis.
Madhu Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Renowned journalist Nilkanth Khadilkar died on Friday after a brief illness.
Khadilkar, 85, was the editor of Marathi newspaper ‘Navakal‘, died at Lilavati Hospital around 1.20 am in suburban Bandra, family sources said.
He was the editor of the newspaper for 27 years and had gained popularity for his hard-hitting editorials which became the daily’s popular feature.
Khadilkar is survived by his wife Mandakini and three daughters — Vasanti, Jayshree Khadilkar-Pande who is now the editor of the daily and Rohini — all three being legendary chess champions of India.
Khadilkar was also author of a few books, including “Practical Socialism: musings from a tour of Russia”.
Khadilkar’s body will be kept for people to pay their last respects at the Navakal’ Press, from 12 noon to 2 pm in Girgaum, said the family member.
Later it will be taken in a procession for the last rites at Chandanwadi Crematorium at Marine Lines around 3 pm.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan paid tributes to Khadilkar and recalled his long and sterling contribution to journalism.
Jawaharlal Nehru University students met a panel of HRD ministry officials, days after the clashes with Delhi Police personnel, and told the officials about the brutal police action. Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) office-bearers were given enough time by HRD ministry officials, the students spoke at length about the Vice-Chancellor of the university being unavailable and unresponsive to their needs. The JNU students have been protesting for over three weeks against a draft hostel manual, which has provisions for hostel fee hike, dress code and curfew timings. The HRD Ministry had constituted the three-member committee to recommend ways to restore normal functioning of the JNU. Amid of JNU row, IIT aspirants held a protest at Jantar Mantar to protest against the 900 per cent hike in fees for M. Tech courses announced by the council of IITs last week. The protest organised under the aegis of All India Engineering Student Council has demanded revocation of the M. Tech fee hike. The agitators said that a sudden hike like this is not at all acceptable and the students lack clarity regarding their future due to job crisis in the country.
It is also seen as an excess burden on the serious students, which count to 50 per cent of the total admitted students, who say the government cannot be ignorant towards those who want to pursue their career through M. Tech. The primary advantage an IITian has over foreign graduates or MBA’s from IIMs is that they start their career with little or no education loan. This gives them flexibility to choose careers. Low paying core-engineering jobs, unconventional paths like startups or a PHD. But now they have to start with a burden of Rs 8-10 lakhs to begin with. And by the time they graduate, it will become Rs 12-15 lakhs. This means more pressure to get a job quickly, whether it is aligned with your long terms goals or not. Before getting into whether we should charge the student such a premium amount or not, we should look at whether he will be getting anything worth Rs 2 lakhs per annum.
After 2 years of rigorous hard work and probably spending a fortune on coaching institutes, a student assumes that he will be studying in a world-class institute that will inspire his intellectual mind, help him learn skills and improve his standard of living. But when he comes to the place, he gets to know the reality. The best institute for engineering in India is not good enough. The professors lack presentation/teaching skills and the course structure is outdated. The institute fails to develop a spark in the student’s mind. The student further gets to know from his seniors that his field of study doesn’t have jobs and it is better to learn Coding/data analytics /finance or go for a MBA. His motivation to study is killed. He knows that companies will hire him only for his Analytical and communication skills and his field of study has nothing to do with his career. It is then only the matter of surviving the courses and graduating out of the institute for him.
Hostel rooms are small, about 100 sqft and in first two years you might have double occupancy in such a small room. Shared bathroom and toilets, no need to mention how clean they are. Lab facilities are not up to the mark, 30-35 people learning the operation of lathe machine at a time. Only 5-6 of them can see the entire operation. Rest just passes the time and this is the case with most Labs.
Professors are not even half as good as they are supposed to be. Professors lack teaching skills/Presentation skills. Grading system is not conducive to learning.
M.Tech and B. Tech term projects are joke. All in all it is not a world-class technical education. Instead of teaching Matlab , Pro-E and Ansys, they are still teaching how to draw bond graphs. Little industry exposure, few tie-ups with foreign universities and practically no student exchange programs. Only thing good is high-speed Internet connection, which enables people to learn everything by themselves. But IIT graduates get hefty packages, why do they need subsidised education? First of all, let us know IIT graduates start with salaries between 6 to 9 lakhs. It is higher than other graduates but not exceptional.
Those who get higher salaries go to coding related jobs (not necessary CS department only). These guys are self-learned. Institute has little role to play in teaching them. Be it learning new Coding Language/Algorithms or learning new software, they do it themselves. They are successful only because of their hard work and institute has no right to brag about their salaries and expect higher fees. The only thing institute provide them is IIT tag and Internet connection, period. Other high paying companies come for finance, analyst, and data analytics roles. They take students for their analytical skills not for what they learned here. So the idea that IITians get high paying job because of the subsidised education is wrong. When you read in newspapers about IITians making a driver less car or Humanoid robots, it is mostly student-initiated project. Funded by their own parents or some partners found through their own contacts. Institute does nothing. Rat race for high paying jobs has increased. We might probably see more suicides. Core engineering sector will be neglected. People willing to go for a Ph. D might work for a mediocre job to pay their student loans. Liability is not a good thing for a budding entrepreneur. Those who were supposed to bring change will more likely become corporate slaves. People especially youth has too much expectations from Modi government, but somehow there is constant attack on universities in the form of fees hike, hostel rent hike or involving political interest by creating unrest. The youth of our country is future of our nation and it’s high time that the government needs to address their problems without crippling universities.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Numerous M.Tech and PhD students at IIT Bombay continue to stage protests against a 300 per cent hike in the tuition fee affected in September. The IIT council recently brought in changes in the fee structure that included an end to the monthly stipend provided to M.Tech students. The council passed a resolution on 26 September increasing the tuition fee from Rs 30,000- Rs 50,000 to Rs 2-Rs 3 lakh. The monthly stipend of Rs 12,400 given to the M.Tech students was also rolled back. It is not Jawaharlal Nehru University students but students across India at various universities have come out in protest and taken the path of activism to put forward their demands.
When Afternoon Voice contacted editor Sumita Chakraborty on this issue she said, “It’s absolutely ridiculous that universities are hiking fees. By doing this they are giving out a wrong message that education is the domain only of the elite. In my opinion the education system even till University levels should be subsidised.”
She further continued stating, “But I think for a long time universities have got a free hand to do what they please and so they have a field of a day making their own set of rules whether it’s advantageous for the students or not.”
Among all, police action at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi where students are agitating against the Modi government’s decision to hike the hostel fees made too much noise. Hardhearted police personnel were seen beating, trashing and throwing the students. Students of JNU have been protesting against a 300 per cent fee hike that will come into effect next January. Police used force and detained over 50 students. They were later released. The university did announce a partial rollback but students are unsatisfied and insist on a complete withdrawal of the fee hike. Whereas, IIT Guwahati students are also on agitation regarding the potential termination of a faculty who questioned corruption. Around 400 participated in the protest really.
Abhishek Rai- Journalist said, “The protest which is going on in JNU has turned into something else. According to me the fee that has been increased is not much. If the JNU students can afford highly fashionable clothes, have time for multiple protests so they can also pay their fees. The fees is more because the institution is quite reputed. And due to their protests, JNU has transformed from educational center to a place where you can find some anti-establishment faces.”
IIT-BHU, as part of a nationwide call for protest at IITs against the HRD ministry’s decision to hike the fees and stop some of the stipends, the students of IIT BHU joined the agitation last week. Ayurvedic colleges in Uttarakhand have been over 50 days since thousands of students of Uttarakhand’s private Ayurvedic colleges have been protesting in Dehradun against a 170 per cent fee hike. The Uttarakhand High Court had directed a roll back of then Harish Rawat-led government’s decision to increase the fee in 2015.
Siddhant Samjiskar a private firm employee said, “A hike is understandable and can be accepted eventually. Bargaining is not an option but surveying the internal situation should be a must. A university well known for its reputation, not just because of the quality of education but also with the attractive fee rates as well which allows our most financially backward people to believe in their dreams, should take some measures where these conflicts can be resolved.”
The order, however, is yet to be implemented. This has forced students to take out rallies, hunger strikes and sit-in protests. The tuition fee has been increased from Rs 80,000 to Rs 2,15,000 per annum. At IIT-Madras, a suicide case has sparked major unrest among students at the premier engineering institute. Fathima Latheef committed suicide on November 9 in her hostel room. Her family has accused the administration of biased behaviour on religious grounds. The students of Banaras Hindu University’s Sanskrit course are protesting against the appointment of a Muslim teacher to the department.
The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata is set to make history on November 22 by hosting the first-ever day-night pink ball Test match to be played on Indian soil. Indian cricket team goes into this match with a 1-0 lead over Bangladesh, which can at best draw the series by winning the day-night Test in Kolkata.
India has traditionally been reluctant to embrace innovation in cricket. However, on Friday, after much heel-dragging, they will finally experience a day-night test when they face neighbours Bangladesh in Kolkata. The game’s most influential nation was the last major team to jump on the Twenty20 bandwagon and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doggedly resisted the Decision Review System before accepting it almost reluctantly.
When a weak West Indies side played their first pink ball D/N match in 2016, Team India dared to play day and night match at the fag end of 2019 against babes Bangladesh. We were the first to say no to WADA, DRS and Day and Night Test but we find solace in plying IPL for 12 seasons and that too under lights. Pink ball cricket is a different ball game but why we hesitate to accept change and make up our mind as per our own whims and fancy and keep ICC to our advantage all the time. Bangladesh side is not good for 100 runs in day games and not fit for playing five day test match and now made to play test match under lights. It is a good beginning for Team India in the pipe opener as the team across the border is sure to succumb and the fans need not waste their sleep for this mismatch.
They have been immune to the charms of day-night tests and turned down an offer to play one last year in Adelaide, where Australia had hosted New Zealand in the first-ever pink-ball test in 2015. Why nearly five year cushioning is needed to World number one side. Only India’s cricket fans can answer this in a positive way.
With most of the India and Bangladesh players having practically no experience with the pink ball, which has been used only sporadically in domestic cricket in both countries, there is at least a level playing field in that regard. After red and white balls, finally it is pink ball cricket in India.
Anyway, Pink ball is not going to swing in the way it swung in the 2014 series, where our world class batsmen Virat Kohli failed miserably against Jimmy Anderson.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Khichdi is better than Khayali pulav says 
Weddings
In his nearly 50-minute speech in Bangkok, Prime Minister 
Apathy leads to tragedy
Renowned journalist Nilkanth Khadilkar died on Friday after a brief illness.
Numerous M.Tech and PhD students at 
The iconic