With much turbulence within, BJP and Sena all set for assembly election

By

-

October 3, 2019

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena’s poll contestants largely are those who have joined saffron brigade from Congress or NCP. Due to which there is unrest among party workers. Meanwhile, BJP has given its smaller allies a total of 14 seats and retained the rest of the 150 seats for itself for the Maharashtra assembly election. The Shiv Sena and BJP had finalised a seat-sharing agreement wherein the BJP, seen as a big brother, will retain the major share of 164 seats and the Shiv Sena will contest the remaining 124 seats. On the other hand, a section of local workers of the BJP and Shiv Sena have opposed the BJP’s decision to field Abhimanyu Pawar, personal assistant of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, from Ausa Assembly seat. Pawar would be making his electoral debut from Ausa in Maharashtra’s Latur district in the October 21 state Assembly elections. Some local workers of the BJP and Sena approached guardian minister and BJP leader Sambahaji Patil Nilangekar and expressed their unhappiness over the choice of candidate, Abhimanyu Pawar is being seen as an outsider. Sena workers want that the seat be given back to the party and a son of the soil be fielded from here. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena contested election from Ausa earlier, but it was ceded to the BJP as part of the seat-sharing agreement for the 2019 Maharashtra assembly election. The seat-sharing deal between BJP and Shiv Sena, the ruling combine that is seeking a second term in Maharashtra, has led to a lot of heartburn among the cadres of both parties and many of them are now threatening to either rebel or ensure that they do not work to canvass for the official candidates. The BJP seems to be the worst hit with many in the party upset at the seats exchanged with the Sena and also on the choice of candidates. They were angry, as Patil Nilangekar had sought the ticket for his brother Arvind Patil from Ausa. However, BJP has given the ticket to Abhimanyu Pawar, the personal assistant (PA) to Maharashtra CM.

In its first list of candidates, the BJP dropped 12 sitting MLAs. One of them was Sudhakar Bhalerao, MLA from Udgir, who had his own arguments. Several BJP leaders from Nagpur, who have not been given tickets, also made a beeline to BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s residence in Nagpur asking him to intervene. BJP is also having problems in Nashik where Vasant Geete, a former MNS leader who had joined the BJP, is upset at being denied a party ticket from Nashik. Geete is now planning to quit the party and has approached the NCP to contest on its symbol.

Manikrao Kokate, a former Congress MLA who had joined BJP, is also upset at being denied a ticket from Sinnar in Nashik. Shiv Sena too also has been hit with rebellion. Shiv Sena leader from Nashik Vilas Shinde has announced that he would contest the elections independently. Shinde is upset that the Nashik west seat that he was demanding has gone to the BJP. Narendra Pawar, sitting BJP MLA from Kalyan West whose seat has been allocated to the Shiv Sena in the seat-sharing pact between the saffron allies, now Nagendra Pawar would contest as an Independent candidate from the constituency.

Sena declared the name of Vishwanath Bhoir as its candidate from the Kalyan

West seat. Bhoir is Kalyan city president of the Sena. Six BJP corporators from Kalyan, along with Pawar and some BJP office-bearers from the city, had submitted their resignations to state party chief Chandrakant Patil to protest against the grant of the seat to the Sena. His supporters among BJP activists had also protested outside his office and requested him to contest as an Independent.

They had accused the BJP’s senior leaders of weakening the party in an area once represented by the likes of Rambhau.

In the mean time, Devendra Fadnavis, will contest from Nagpur South West. It is to be noted that Fadnavis had contested from this seat in 2014 too. BJP Maharashtra Chief Chandrakant Patil has been fielded from Kothrud while Pankaja Munde will contest from Parli. Shivendra Singh, who is a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivji Maharaj, will contest from Satara assembly. Mukta Tilak, the daughter-in-law of Lokmanya Tilak, has been given the ticket from Kasba Peth. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who quit Congress and joined BJP recently, will contest from Shirdi. State Minister Girish Mahajan will contest from Jamner.

Udyan Raj Bhonsle has been nominated to contest from Satara for Lok Sabha by-poll. Notably, BJP has been given both assembly seats of Navi Mumbai, seats that Shiv Sena had been eyeing for its contestants. Aditya Thackeray has been fielded from Worli assembly constituency, a party stronghold in south-central Mumbai. Aditya will be the first member from the Thackeray family to enter the electoral fray after Shalini Thackeray, the wife of Jeetendra Thackeray, a cousin of MNS founder Raj Thackeray, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena is expecting to win maximum seats so that Aditya can be chaired as CM of Maharashtra.

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

Will Abhimanyu Pawar break ‘Chakravyuh of Ausa Assembly’?

By

Rajesh Choudhary

-

October 3, 2019

The battle of Maharashtra Assembly elections has already started after notification by the Election Commission of India. With the nomination of Abhimanyu Pawar, Personal Assistant (PA) of CM Devendra Fadnavis, from Ausa Assembly seat as BJP-Shiv Sena candidate, protests have erupted. Local leaders and workers of both BJP-Shiv Sena have opposed the candidature of an outsider Abhimanyu Pawar. They have demanded the BJP leadership to change the candidate and field a ‘son of soil’ from Ausa Assembly. For a single man the party has disappointed its cadres of Latur district. Here BJP is following a strategy like that of Congress.

It is remarkable that the first lists of the ruling alliance BJP and Shiv Sena include 27 candidates from opposition parties, 18 from NCP and 9 from Congress. This has also disappointed their cadres as many genuine leaders of BJP-Shiv Sena are deprived of tickets for contesting election. October 4 is the last date of filing nominations. Voting for 288 seats of Maharashtra Assembly will be held on October 21 and results will be declared on October 24.

Abhimanyu Pawar is contesting assembly election first time. His name figured in first list of the BJP from Ausa seat in Latur district. He will file nomination papers on Friday.

When our correspondent Nikhil Sagare spoke to Bajrang Jadhav chairman of Latur Zilla Parishad Agriculture Committee said, “The BJP party leaders have taken a wrong decision. Both Shiv Sena and BJP are raising their voice against this decision. Seat must be allotted to local candidate. If Abhimanyu Pawar’s nomination is not cancelled then any untoward incident will happen.”

According to sources, Abhimanyu Pawar managed to get the ticket for assembly election on account of being PA of Chief Minister of Maharashtra while local leaders of Ausa Assembly are disappointed due to this decision of the BJP. Some leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena of the constituency met the Guardian Minister of Latur Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar and registered their protest on fielding Abhimanyu Pawar from Ausa on Wednesday. Arvind Patil Nilangekar, brother of Guardian Minister confirmed this.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, “BJP leaders have become more aggressive. When two parties form alliance they have discussion pertaining to various issues and decision is taken accordingly. In order to calm down the situation party leaders are taking efforts.”

Shiv Sena leader and former MLA of Ausa Dinkar Mane said that Abhimanyu Pawar is being seen as an outsider in the area. Ausa is traditional seat of Sena. He represented this assembly seat twice in 1999 and 2004. Therefore, Sena workers are demanding that Ausa seat should be given back to the party so that a son of soil could be fielded from this seat. This time, Shiv Sena left Ausa Assembly seat for the BJP under seat sharing agreement.

BJP and Sena workers went into the streets on Wednesday and protested the decision to field Abhimanyu Pawar from Ausa. Protesters also blocked the road. They expressed their anger over this. They demanded to replace Abhimanyu Pawar by either Bajrang Jadhav or Dinkar Mane.

Bajrang Jadhav is a prominent BJP leader of Ausa constituency. He is chairman of Latur Zilla Parishad Agriculture Committee. Jadhav also said that Abhimanyu Pawar is an outsider. He said that if the party will not hear their voice, one of them will fight election. This indicates that Bajrang Jadhav can be rebel candidate from Ausa Assembly. Jadhav clearly said that if their demand is rejected by the party, he or any son of soil can contest polls from Ausa seat.

BJP leader Arvind Patil Nilangekar said that party workers have expressed their feelings. The Guardian Minister assured them to convey their feelings to the party leadership. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is not only the family but our mother and we are children of this family. We should stand by the party. During the last 20 years, they have added members to the party one by one here. Earlier, Latur district had been Congress dominated. But under the leadership of Guardian Minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, Latur became stronghold of the BJP in last five years.

On the other hand, Abhimanyu Pawar expressed his gratitude to the BJP leadership for giving ticket from Ausa and thanked Sena for supporting him. He said that he will win election and leave no stone unturned in serving the people. Congress’ sitting MLA Basavraj Patil is going to give Abhimanyu Pawar a tough fight in Ausa. Apart from this, he has to face opposition within the party and alliance, which is more challenging than Basavraj Patil. It is a million dollar question that will Abhimanyu Pawar break ‘Chakravyuh of Ausa Assembly’?

Gandhiji and his cricketing spirit

By

C K Subramaniam

-

October 3, 2019

Gandhiji Cricket — Image Courtesy: Rediff.com

India is a secular country and after getting our independence on 15th August 1947, we have the right to express our views and nobody can stop us from giving valuable suggestions. Newspapers play a positive role in bringing the views of the readers by including them in Letters to the editor column. It gives an opportunity to the reader to give their free and frank opinion.

“India is my country and all the Indians are my brothers and sisters” goes a long way. The Government is by the people of the people and for the people. Pen is mightier than sword is true. National Integration is the hall mark of Indian sub-continent.

India is a linguistic country and we have many newspapers in different languages to express our views. We need not get feared for exposing right things and try to provide solutions in a right way. Gandhiji brought freedom for India and it is up to us to preserve our independence in the best way possible.

Mahatma Gandhiji’s spirit for freedom struggle came from the cricketing field. Gandhiji, when requested for an autograph “played with a straight bat”, quite forgetting that he was engaged in a mighty and bloodless revolution with the British-and thereby became a member of an official in England Team. How he was chosen could not probably have been explained even by the MCC selectors.
Cricket might not have affected Gandhi, but Gandhi certainly affected cricket. The political movements he led and the social changes he sought to bring about had their consequences on how the game was played in the sub-continent. Mahatma’s classmates at Alfred High School, Rajkot. This man, Ratilal Ghelabhai Mehta, remembered Gandhi as “a dashing cricketer” who “evinced a keen interest in the game as a school student. He was, it seems, good both at batting and bowling and had an uncanny understanding of the game’s uncertainties as well.

Requested for his autograph Gandhiji turned over the pages and put his signature as the 17th player of the MCC team led by Douglas Jardine in 1933-34. The autograph book is one of the treasured possessions of the Marlybourne Cricket Club ( MCC ) at Lord’s. Not only Gandhiji signed autograph book but also played for the team comprising of Indians of British origin. Mahatma Gandhi played for a team of British origin against a team of Indian origin at London and scored 21 runs with 3 boundaries. He took one wicket also. He was wearing pant and shirt while playing.

Gandhiji was not only a cricket enthusiast but he also wielded the willow. R.G. Mehta, a boyhood friend and schoolmate wrote” It is not commonly known that Gandhiji was a dashing cricketer and evinced keen interest in the game. Once we were watching a cricket match together. In those days there were ding-dong battles between Rajkot city vs Rajkot Sardar (camp area). At a crucial moment, as if by intuition, Gandhiji said that a particular player would be out and hey presto the batsman was really out. There is no doubt that the freedom spirit of Gandhiji came from the cricketing field.

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

Letters to the Editor: 03 October, 2019

By

Web Team

-

October 3, 2019

World Animal Day

World Animal Day which is celebrated on October 4 every year is a special day for people who love animals. October 4 is also the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi who loved animals. It is a day to celebrate animal life in all its forms. It is also an occasion to acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives. It is a day to acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives. World Animal Day is a wonderful reminder of different ways in which animals enhance our lives.

Jubel D’Cruz

Declaring October 2nd as holiday is disrespect to Gandhiji

Mahatma Gandhi popularly called as ‘Bapu‘ was rightly bestowed the title of ‘Father of the nation’ but the biggest tribute to him for all of us is to follow on his path of non-violence and honesty which practically is non-existent in today’s world. Declaring October 2nd as holiday is disrespect to Bapu as he himself wanted India to progress and develop rapidly while a day off in his memory for our economy means a loss of crores of rupees.

We as a nation celebrate, mourn or even protest with a holiday which is a setback to our country. October with Dussehra, Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali and weekends added means very little working hours. India is a cosmopolitan nation with several religions and each festival for every religion means loads of holidays. Government needs to curtail national holidays in the larger interest of the nation and working more for the development of the country is a bigger honour and tribute than wasting time and energy for any cause.

S.N. Kabra

Right step to connect Vaishno Devi Shrine with New Delhi

Indian Railways deserves all compliments for connecting Vaishno Devi shrine (Jammu and Kashmir) with New Delhi with most modern and comfortable Vande Bharat Express with inaugural run from New Delhi on October 3, 2019 during auspicious Navratras.

It will be a still better gift for devotees travelling through Vande Bharat Express if they are provided with added service of auto-booking of helicopter-service between Katra and Vaishno Devi for desiring passengers. Likewise collaboration can be made with some air-conditioned guest-house (private or government) for comfortable stay provided with bus-service between Katra railway-station and the collaborated guest-house for desiring passengers. Rather a package-tour between New Delhi and Vaishno Devi can be designed by IRCTC comprising travel through Vande Bharat Express, stay at air-conditioned guest-house and helicopter-service. Some coaches can be reserved for group-booking also.

Similar package-tours through Vande Bharat Express to other religious places can be a boon to largely religious-minded members of public in the country, and to promote much-desired religious tourism in the country like is being done in Sri Lanka to attract Indian tourists.

Madhu Agrawal

Commemorative coins of Mahatma Gandhi

Department of Economic Affairs (Union Government) and Reserve Bank of India RBI regrettably did not make commemorative silver-alloy coins issued on 150^th birth-anniversary of MK Gandhi on October 2, 2019 available for general public at face-value evidently because metal-cost in a coin was multiple times the face-value of just rupees 150, unlike on October 2, 1969 on occasion of Gandhi birth-centenary when such silver-coins were made available for general public at the then face-value since metal-value of a silver-alloy coin at that time was much lower than the then face-value of rupees ten. This is despite that fact that both RBI and Department of Economic Affairs were cautioned in advance through repeated submissions made in advance with last one posted at various portals on August 26, 2019. Silver-alloy coins in fact are for privileged ones sitting on dais to commemorate the occasion that too totally free, and not for general public.

This practice should be reformed for future when silver-alloy coins may be having face-value of rupees 1000 packed in serial-numbered tamperproof-packing to avoid chances of fake coins to be available for general public right from date of issue through convenient centers including all RBI offices and philatical counters apart from selected post-offices and bank-branches.

Even now, it should be arranged that at least coin-sets comprising of sliver-alloy coins presently sold only through advance-booking to be delivered after many months, may be made available for open sale without requiring cumbersome procedure of advance-booking through convenient centers including all RBI offices and philatical counters apart from selected post-offices and bank-branches with an economy single coin-pack at price of rupees 1000 in serial-numbered tamperproof packing so that less-affording ones may also get silver-alloy commemorative coin.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Poll fever on in Maharashtra

Poll fever is gripping the State of Maharashtra and the political parties are preparing for the big fight. Both Congress and NCP are backing their turncoats and rewarded them suitably with party tickets. Whereas BJP dropped both Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde from the first list and their chances of getting back their appointed position appears rather remote. In the meanwhile a pre-poll jolt for CM has taken place. A person convicted on charge or concealing any information in his nomination paper can get six months jail term or fine or both. In such a scenario CM may have to face trial for failure to disclose pending criminal cases in 2014 poll affidavit. The political scenario is a baptism by fire in the state as of now.

Calicut Krishnan Ramani

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

Fifth SC judge recuses from hearing Gautam Navlakha’s plea in Koregaon-Bhima case

By

Web Team

-

October 3, 2019

4koregaon bhima — Image Courtesy: File Pic

Justice S Ravindra Bhat on Thursday became the fifth apex court judge to recuse himself from hearing a plea filed by civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha, who has challenged the Bombay High Court order refusing to quash an FIR lodged against him in the Koregaon-Bhima violence case.

On September 30, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had recused himself from hearing Navlakha’s plea. Later on October 1, the three judges of a bench justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai had also recused themselves from hearing the matter.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday before a bench comprising justices Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and S Ravindra Bhat, justice Bhat recused himself from hearing the case.

When the bench was informed by Navlakha’s counsel that the three week protection given to him by the Bombay High Court was expiring on Friday, the bench said his petition would be heard by another bench tomorrow.

The Maharashtra government had earlier filed a caveat in the matter seeking to be heard before any orders are passed.

On September 13, the high court had refused to quash the FIR lodged against him in the 2017 Koregaon-Bhima case and for having alleged Maoist links, noting that there was prima facie substance in the case.

The high court had said, “Considering the magnitude of the case, we feel a thorough investigation is required”.

The high court had, however, extended the protection from arrest to Navlakha for a period of three weeks to enable him to approach the Supreme Court to file an appeal against its order.

The FIR was lodged against Navlakha and others by the Pune Police in January 2018 after the Elgar Parishad held on December 31, 2017 that had allegedly triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district the next day.

The police has also alleged that Navlakha and other accused in the case had Maoist links and were working towards overthrowing the government.

Navlakha and the other accused were booked under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.

Besides Navlakha, four others Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Sudha Bharadwaj, are accused in the case.

BJP switched to coffee, Is NaMo Chai losing its flavour?

By

Suraj Chandran

-

October 2, 2019

As the assembly election nears, BJP has come to the forefront on “Coffee with Youth – Yuva Samvad” programme across Maharashtra. The main purpose of this programme is to woo young generations across India, those youth who spend hours in coffee outlets. Also this is impressing Tamil Nadu. Overwhelmed by the success of “Chai pe Charcha” in 2014 general election, BJP is now banking on the Coffee with Youth initiative to reach out to the young voters.

BJP spokesperson Suresh Nakhua said, “Coffee besides chai is a popular youth drink and conversation maker. And as they say “Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time. So, why not have #CoffeewithYouth when we have already #ChaiPeCharcha.”

As many as 51 such sessions have been planned across the state where the leaders would interact with the youngsters and the first-time voters. There is a search for electorate over a cup of coffee. And the brew will be served with a power-packed performance and question answer sessions. According to BJP by organising Coffee with Youth-Yuva Samvad programme will enable the party to connect with youth. Since coffee is popular among youth, it will enable the party to attract youth. As per the 2011 census data, around 41 per cent of India is below the age of 20 years. BJP is targeting this demography of voters.

When our correspondent Nikhil Sagare spoke to BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari he said, “This programme is being organised with an eye on young voters. Since youths love visiting coffee shops, hence we have organised “Coffee with Youth Samvad programme.”

When asked whether Modi’s Chai Pe Charcha programme has lost its flavour he replied, “To do interpretation is your job while we say no to it.”

Through “Coffee with young voters” and interactions, BJP aims to encash on the recent abrogation of Article 370 and section 35A from Jammu and Kashmir by highlighting the importance of the decision. Instructions have been given to the organisers of these events to portray BJP as the only party that can safeguard the country, its borders and its interests.

BJP MP Gopal Shetty said, “There is a need to come closer with the young generation. In the current changing environment it is necessary to understand their mindset and needs. There is a big gap between youngsters and aged people. By having tea people feel fresh. Modi had served tea to people to get rid of their laziness. Time has come to work now. The quantum of voters are coming from youth so we have to be aware about their problems. We should not take them for granted.”

During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Narendra Modi had launched the Chai Pe Charcha campaign. The programme was relayed at 1,000 tea stalls in 300 cities across the country. The organisers had opened their website for questions that people want to ask Modi at tea. The programme which highlights that Modi sold tea on trains as a young boy is positioned as a gigantic snub to political rivals like Congress Mani Shankar Aiyar who had made snide remarks about the PM’s modest origins. This campaign had taken the BJP to newer avenues of power.

Adil Shirgaonkar a resident of Ram Mandir said, “The manner in which Modi had targeted youth during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in the same way they are adopting similar strategy to win assembly election. After winning the Lok Sabha election BJP had added ‘Sabka Vishwas’ to its tagline ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’. In the same manner they have updated the ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ campaign to ‘Coffee With Youth.”

Chai to Coffee lot has changed in BJP’s campaign

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

October 2, 2019

To flatter young voters in the age group of 18-25 years, the BJP has assigned its youth wing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to organise “Coffee with young voters” programme in most of the constituencies from where the party is fielding candidates. Earlier, Chaiwala jibe gave tremendous publicity to PM Modi and “Chai pe Charcha” was their prime focus during 2014 Parliamentary and assembly elections. Though the Chaiwala and Chai was losing its taste. BJP is the party with good strategies and campaigns. Through “Coffee with young voters” and interactions, BJP aims to encash on the recent abrogation of Article 370 and section 35A from Jammu and Kashmir by highlighting the importance of the decision. Instructions have been given to the organisers of these events to portray BJP as the only party that can safeguard the country, its borders and its interests. The events are set to kickstart in phases in the next two days.

The state-level programme is aimed at reaching out to the maximum number of young voters who will play a crucial role in government formation.

As per the given schedule, none of the events should be of less than 90 minutes at each of the scheduled venues. BJYM has been asked to rope-in party’s young MLAs and MPs with good oratory skills .The Q&A sessions should last for about an hour in each session. As a part of the preparation, about 10 MPs under 40 years of age have already been lined up and their schedule in the state would soon be made public. Instructions have also been given to ensure that the events are organised at each of the revenue headquarters in the districts and the venue should be spacious enough to accommodate between 1,200-1,500 youths.

The dates for the programmes in each of the districts across the state are being finalised, so that there is no overlap.

The BJYM coordinators for each of the districts have been asked to make appropriate arrangements to ferry the young voters only from the assembly constituencies being contested by the BJP candidates.

During the general elections held earlier this year, more than 8.73 crore voters in the state, 1.19 crore first-time voters alone. The young voters are playing a key role in BJP’s winning spree. As a result, they have decided to bridge the gap between our young leaders and voters. BJP’s war rooms have been assigned the job to publicise the programme through social media networks and target youths with the content aimed at prompting them with nationalistic sentiments.

The “volunteers” campaigning for Narendra Modi have proven more of a liability than an asset for the BJP.

The hype around the smart crowd of young volunteers in the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) has subsided simultaneously with its much-touted campaign programmes — NaMo Tea Party and mobilisation around construction of Statue of Unity in Gujarat — coming a cropper over the past couple of months. The collection of iron (Loh Sangrahan) for the construction of Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity in Gujarat was launched with much fanfare. After the success of “Chai Pe Charcha” in reaching out to common electorate ahead of Lok Sabha election in 2014, the Maharashtra BJP is hoping repeat of the performance in reaching out to the young voters through its new initiative “Coffee with Youth – Yuva Samvad”.

Around 8 lakh news voters, most of them first-timers, have been added to the voter lists of the state since Lok Sabha election in April. In order to reach out to these new voters, the state party has planned 51 programmes under the tag ‘Coffee with Youth’ where the leaders would interact with a couple of thousand young men and women. In first such programme at Mira-Bhayandar Delhi BJP Chief and party MP Manoj Tiwari interacted with local youth. Youths have several questions on their mind that may not get answered every time. BJP’s programme aims to address such questions rather this would be an opportunity for the youngsters to understand the things in right perspective which they may not get through the media or the information they may access from the internet.

BJP’s young brigade has been entrusted with this special focus programme which will go on till October 10. Apart from Tiwari, young leaders like Poonam Mahajan, Pritam Munde, Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil, Raksha Khadse and Gautam Gambhir are expected to interact with youth under this initiative. Some of the Fadnavis cabinet members like Vinod Tawde and Ranjit Patil and national spokesperson Sambit Patra too are likely to attend some of the programmes on the list. If you’re a coffee drinker, there’s a reason for you to attend these sessions.

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

How relevant is Gandhi today?

By

Vinod Dixit

-

October 2, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly said that the world has celebrated the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose message of truth and non-violence is “very relevant for us even today, for peace, development and progress in the world.”

All over India in order to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated with great enthusiasm to pay honour to Mahatma Gandhi who struggled a lot for the Indian independence from the British rule. We all know that the name of Mahatma Gandhi now transcends the bounds of race, religion and nation- states, and has appeared as the visionary voice of the 21st century.

Gandhiji has become a role model and an inspirational leader for the youth now. Other great leaders like Nelson Mandela, James Lawson also admired Gandhi’s theory of non-violence for the freedom and liberty. Gandhi did a great work to achieve Swaraj. More than ever before, Gandhiji’s teachings are valid today, when people are trying to find solutions to the rampant greed, widespread violence, and runaway consumptive style of living. His ideology is admired throughout the world for its universal and spiritual appeal.

The Gandhian technique of mobilising people has been successfully employed by many oppressed societies around the world under the leadership of people like Martin Luther King Nelson Mandela and many others. Barack Obama sees Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration and has a portrait of the apostle of peace in his office. Gandhi had ideas on every subject, from hygiene and nutrition to education and labour, and he relentlessly pursued his ideas in newspaper. He would still be remembered as one of the principal figures in the history of Indian journalism. Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology is universal which is relevant for all times. People know very little about his subtly powerful and pragmatic ideology.

Though Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and principles are appraised and accepted by many, they are not free from criticisms. The teachings of Gandhiji are true to the soul and the morality of honesty is to be preached throughout. Whether the teachings are used in present day or not, does not imply that his teachings are irrelevant. The Indian education gives importance to theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge takes a back seat. Gandhiji stressed upon giving practical lessons to the students as he believed that this helps in active participation of the students in the class. We need to make our priority and path clear to march forward. Gandhism is a way of living with simplicity and non-violence. The new generation is waiting for a leader who will make it relearn the moral values, and who will inculcate in the people, as Gandhi did, a sense of the responsibilities which fall on every citizen of a free society. The aim of celebrating Gandhi Jayanti is to distribute Gandhi’s philosophy, principles and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and believe in non-violence around the World. Gandhi’s ultimate search was for righteous conduct. The means are more important than the end, he maintained; with the right means, desired ends will follow. He also emphasized on the life and teachings of Lord Krishna saying that everyone can find solutions to present-day problems from his life.

Today communal amity has become essential for national integration and hence Gandhi gave it the highest priority. He wanted to take the country from areas of hostility into areas of harmony of faiths through tolerance, so that we could work towards understanding each other. Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this ever walked this earth in flesh and blood. This was the tribute paid by Albert Einstein to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi when the latter was struck down by an assassin’s bullet on January 30, 1948. The whole world was shocked, feeling as if another Christ had been nailed to the cross. Such was the impact of Gandhi on the times in which he lived. The immortal tribute of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, at the time of Gandhi’s passing said, “The light has gone out of our lives”.

He inspired millions of people through his work and became a legacy of greatness, idealness, and noble life. Gandhi was a social reformer who died after completing the aim of his life. One should remember that he not only gave freedom to his country, but also brought about a great moral regeneration over his countrymen. Men like Gandhi are born once in an age. Mahatma Gandhi while leading the struggle of the Indian people for independence from the British rule repeatedly emphasised that his ultimate aim was not merely the overthrow of alien rule, but the establishment of swaraj in India.

Letters to the Editor: 02 October, 2019

By

Web Team

-

October 2, 2019

Noble way to save environment from poly-packing of milk

Mother Dairy has given newspaper-advertisements on October 2, 2019 motivating people to buy Token-Milk to discourage use of plastic in poly-pack milk. Evidently Token-Milk is quite cheaper than poly-pack milk of same standard because of saving of packing-cost. But big question is that poly-pack milk is available in too many variants and qualities, while Token-Milk is available only in one variety that too only on selected Mother Dairy booths and not with private retailers selling poly-pack milk in all varieties and variants that too also of other milk-giants like highest-selling brand Amul. It is noted that since last few days, all milk poly-packs have print that packing is made of recyclable plastic

The best way to conserve environment is that customers may be given bags of environment-friendly jute or cloth bags of different sizes in return of some stipulated number of empty poly-packing of milk. These bags can be made available with all milk-booths and private retailers selling poly-pack milk. Even rag-pickers will then filter out empty poly-packs of milk from the waste thrown if any by households and others, to get these bags of jute or cloth. Extra earning can be made by procuring advertisements from sponsors to be printed on these bags of jute or cloth to be given in exchange of empty poly-packs of milk.

Madhu Agrawal

Logic of holidays on Gandhi and Ambedkar Jayanti

Do not declare holiday on my death, instead work an extra day if you really love me– said Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was People-President of a country where there are too many political holidays on birth and death anniversaries of leaders both at central and state level including like birth anniversaries of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier UP government then led by Akhilesh Yadav in the year even declared holiday on death-anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar

Every great leader always called people for hard work. Therefore best tribute to great leaders is to declare their birth and death anniversaries as extra-work day by increasing office-hours by half-an-hour on those special days. Such a bold announcement quoting Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will not attract political resistance in name of vote-bank politics. System will automatically stop unholy political demands coming to declare such holidays for birth and death anniversaries of more and more leaders.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Mom Fraser-Pryce made it

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce became the first athlete to win four gold medals at the World Athletic Championship and wrote her name in the history of records. This she did after giving birth to her son and that is unique. She is sprint queen of the world and proved it for the fourth time. With her fourth gold she has surpassed Jamaican Usain Bolt, American Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene. The speed with which she started the race and finished was fantastic. The silver medal winner was 0.12 second behind Fraser – Pryce and that showed the difference. Despite her age and being a Mom she made it in style and broke all the 100 mtrs record.

Muringatherry Ram Jayanthy

EC’s acts of omission and commission

The Election Commission has been repeatedly criticised by the Opposition parties but that apparently is no skin off the EC’s nose. The EC’s acts of omission and commission in the recent past are a sad reminder that the days of T.N. Seshan, M.S. Gill and J.M. Lyngdoh are long gone and that constitutional bodies that are deemed autonomous are a pale shadow of their once glorious past.

Harshit Joshi

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

Indian Railways offers delicious Navratri foods

By

Web Team

-

October 2, 2019

The Indian Railways is offering delicious Navratri delicacies at select stations through its e-catering services since September 29. Navratri foods are being offered at selected stations, including Borivali, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Aurangabad, Akola and Nagpur in Maharashtra.

In a bid to make train travel during this time of the year less of a hassle, the IRCTC has come up with this service keeping in mind the ritualistic fast observed by many during the festival.

The menu comprises ‘satvik diet’ like sabudana, sendha namak, kuttu ka atta, and certain vegetables with items like sabudana ki khichdi, dry makhane sabudana moongfali namkeen, aloo ki tikki, navratri thali, jeera aloo, french fries, sabudana vada, falhari chuda, falhari thali, malai barfi, rasmalai, milk cake, lassi, plain curd etc.

These special meals are available through select restaurants and at hand-picked stations on the Railways network, the IRCTC said in a statement.

According to IRCTC stations offering Navratri meals are Kanpur Central, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Jaipur, Bina, Patna, Rajendra Nagar, H Nizammuddin, Ambala Cantt., Jhansi, Aurangabad, Akola, Itarsi, Vasai Road, Vapi, Kalyan, Borivali, Durg, Daund, Gwalior, Mathura, Nagpur, Bhopal, Ujjain and Ahemadnagar.

Passengers can avail this service through pre-ordered on IRCTC’s e-Catering website or by using “Food-on-track” app.Travelers have to place their orders at least two hours before scheduled journey time with a valid PNR, the statement said, adding that passengers may opt to pre-pay or on delivery, as per their convenience.