Continuing his tradition of making gaffes, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday made an inexplicable demand during his speech in the Lok Sabha. The Gandhi scion said he wants the farmers be given jobs, along with granting them their rights and compensation.
“I want that the farmers be given their rights, they should be given compensation as well as jobs,” Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.
Gandhi was speaking on the issue of the years-long farmers’ agitation following which the central government announced the withdrawal of the three farm laws after expressing disappointment at their failure to convince the farmers of their benefits.
If his above statement were to be taken literally, it would mean he was appealing to PM Modi to offer ‘jobs’ to deceased protestors. However, what Rahul Gandhi likely meant was offering ‘jobs’ to the kin of the deceased protestors but he was clearly not very clear in communication. Further, it would be quite a bit of absurd suggestion to offer jobs to farmers because they are farmers by profession and offering them jobs would then make them other professionals, likely professional protestors like Rakesh Tikait.
Since November 2020, a section of farmers from Punjab, and some parts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, have been camping along the border of the national capital to demand the Centre to repeal the three farm laws. Then on November 19, PM Modi announced the three farm laws will be repealed.
PM Modi announces withdrawal of three farm laws
Addressing the nation, PM Modi thanked the millions of farmers who appreciated the farm laws, which were introduced after due deliberation and with honest intentions. PM Modi made a startling announcement saying that the government had decided to, however, repeal the 3 farm laws that were passed for the benefit of the farmers.
PM Modi, addressing the nation said that by the end of this month, the Modi government would complete the process of repealing the three farm laws. He then appealed to the protesting farmers and middlemen to return to their homes on this Gurupurab and stop their protest. He further said that the government will form a committee to formulate laws for the benefit of the farmers.
He further said that the government had introduced the laws after due deliberation but perhaps it was the shortcoming of the government that they could not convince all farmers that the laws were indeed in their benefit. Further, he said that the past governments had deliberated on these laws as well but it was the Modi government that had implemented them.
He said that all his decisions were in the interest of the nation and he will continue to work for the benefit of the nation.
Rahul Gandhi’s knack of committing faux pas in his political speeches
Then on November 29, on the first day of the Winter Parliament session, the government invalidated the three farm laws. The farmers were evidently protesting against the three farm laws that they perceived of being working against their interest. But for Rahul Gandhi, the overriding concern for farmers who camped on streets for over 12 months was not the three farm laws and their demands on MSP, but securing ‘jobs’ from the Centre.
Nevertheless, such gaffes by Rahul have increasingly become par for the course in India’s political discourse. From winking in the parliament to his hilarious comment “I wake up in the night”, to his infamous “aalo daalo sona niklega”, Rahul Gandhi is a gift that keeps giving. Every once in a while, he makes absurd comment, which ends up providing ‘jobs’ to his supporters and sympathisers, who marshal their energies in defending their supreme leader.
This year in June, CNN got an opportunity to speak one on one with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the official spokesperson of President Biden. Turning the concept of media scrutiny on its head, they opened with the following question:
“What does the press get wrong when covering Biden’s agenda? When you read the news, what do you think we get wrong?“
Yes, the White House spokesperson is not there to answer to the media (and presumably by extension, to the American people). Apparently, her real job is to tell the media what they are getting wrong; to show the media how they can serve the President better. That’s the fourth pillar of democracy, according to American liberals.
Remember when Biden won and Indian liberals tweeted that they can breathe again? Remember all their hopes and dreams of how Biden would turn the heat on PM Modi. And remember their triumphalism?
Now, it goes without saying that Indian liberals do not believe in the sovereignty of India. Because liberalism is of the global elite. The same New York Times that carries the torch for American liberalism pumps $$$ into bank accounts of those looking to sell photos of burning funeral pyres from India.
This means that since the beginning of this year, liberals have had to ride two boats at the same time: trying to rip apart Modi while groveling before Biden. This also means that if you don’t follow American politics somewhat, you are missing out on the most hilarious thing in the world right now. Because as of right now, liberals are praising Biden for the same exact things for which they criticize Modi.
I promise you this. You don’t know “Godi media” till you have seen what American liberals will do for their masters. That question to White House Press Secretary asking what the media gets wrong was just a beginning.
Prepare to become President of the United States by pretending to solve easy problems
NYTimes on Kamala Harris
I said American liberals grovel before Biden. But not always. They speak up when Biden does something really wrong. Like asking his Vice President to tackle difficult problems. You would think that comes with being the second most powerful person in America. But liberals disagree. They want Kamala Harris to be handed easy problems, so she can pretend to solve them. That would make it easy for liberal media to fool the people into voting for her as President.
Get it? This is how American liberals speak truth to power.
That article is in the New York Times. The article is written by some “political scientist” and shared by Ezra Klein, the founder of Vox. Imagine the kind of fraud that American liberal elites are trying to pull off on the American people. And on people all around the world.
This is the same New York Times that will tell us about everything that is wrong with Modi government. The same New York Times that pretends to give a damn about press freedom. Begging America’s liberal President to hand easy problems to his VP so that New York Times can give her positive coverage and fool the people into voting for her…
Inflation is awesome — only high class people complain about inflation
Why are onions and tomatoes and potatoes getting pricier? What will the common person do? Doesn’t Modi care? But that’s only in India. Over there in America, inflation is just a “high class problem”
Inflation is ‘high class problem’
That is White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain. Proudly telling the world that inflation is just a “high class problem.” Apparently, when food, fuel, rent and groceries get more costly, it is only the high class people who suffer.
Of course, the exact opposite is true. Inflation always tends to hit poor people the hardest. But truth doesn’t matter when you have liberalism.
By the way, who is this genius Jason Furman that the White House Chief of Staff is quoting here? Furman is no ordinary Joe. He is a Harvard economist. Jason Furman is a hardcore party man, who served as head of Obama’s economic council. A lot of Furman’s colleagues have Nobel Prizes and I am sure Furman would like one for himself. So Furman knows which side his bread is buttered. And for that, if the veteran Harvard economist has to say that bread and butter getting costlier is a “high class problem,” he will.
Next time when Indian media quotes some great liberal economist, remember what kind of people they really are.
Government has no magic wand to lower fuel prices
Remember fuel prices? They used to be a big issue in India, until BJP ruled states reduced prices and liberal ruled states didn’t have to, because the latter have liberal privilege. Turns out high fuel prices were also a big issue in the USA. But America has a liberal administration, so listen to Jennifer Granholm, the US Secretary for Energy.
Q: What is the Granholm plan to increase oil production in America?
Listen to Biden’s Energy Secretary laugh in the faces of ordinary people who have to pay at the pump.
Energy secretary finding high fuel prices hilariousEnergy secretary finding high fuel prices hilarious
And then she said she has no magic wand. Yes, America might be the world’s most powerful country, the largest economy with the maximum leverage on global oil producers, it might have some of the world’s largest oil reserves on its own soil. It’s client states like Canada or Mexico might be energy producing nations. But did you know America has no magic wand and can do nothing to reduce oil prices?
So if you are looking for someone to blame for high gas prices, it is PM Modi. Because PM Modi does not have liberal privilege. Just like the liberal government of Maharashtra that did not reduce taxes on fuel, the liberal administration of Biden can afford to laugh in people’s faces.
Renaming places is development
Each time a BJP government somewhere changes the name of something, you know how the liberals roll their eyes. Who cares if Allahabad is named Prayagraj? Will it lead to better health or education or economic outcomes? Instead of renaming things and showing up long dead historical figures, why doesn’t the BJP government do something substantial for people?
You know, real development, like the liberals pulled off in San Francisco, the beating heart of American liberalism.
America renaming schools
They changed names of 44 schools, apparently because the famous people they had been named after were racist. The list of apparent racists included Abraham Lincoln, of course. After all, what did Lincoln ever do for racial justice? At least not as much as political science majors paying thousands of dollars in tuition to liberal universities each year to fight campus micro-aggressions?
And most importantly, this happened in January 2021. Who cares if the pandemic was still taking over 2000 lives a day? Who cares if the schools that were renamed were still closed? The priority for American liberalism was to rename closed schools instead of figuring out a way to get kids back in schools.
Getting GDP back to pre-pandemic levels is an achievement — except in India
And here it is, from the big man himself.
Economy being back on track achievement only for America
He got America’s GDP back above pre-pandemic levels. And that is all that should matter. Everyone knows that the world lost two whole years to the pandemic. No rational person would blame the government for that. Except for Indian liberals, of course.
Kaushik Basu doesn’t think India’s any better
India’s GDP is only slightly bigger than it was before the pandemic. Can’t believe we lost two years to the pandemic. It is all Modi’s fault, I tell you. That’s what my taxi driver also said the other day.
On Tuesday (December 7), veteran politician Subramanian Swamy sparked controversy after he insinuated that India was complicit in kickstarting the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic.
A Twitter account (@Ravinder536R) had tweeted an article by Hindupost on Tuesday, highlighting how virus samples were brought from Vientiane in Laos to Wuhan provinces in China. The report relied on a Spectator article that was published in November this year. “The Spectator article says that scientists found a virus in a horseshoe bat in a cave in Laos in the Vientiane province. Other related viruses of a similar kind were found in Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, and in other parts of China,” read the article.
It further stated, “But Banal-52, the virus that was found in the bat in Laos, was genetically closest to the human Sars-CoV-2 virus. It was even closer genetically than the virus from southern Yunnan called RaTG13. RaTG13 is 96.1% the same as the Sars-CoV-2 while Laos’s Banal-52 is 96.8% the same.” The Twitter handle had tagged Subramanian Swamy and sought for his opinion.
Screengrab of the article by Hindupost
The MP then claimed that bat samples were also sent from Nagaland to Wuhan province in China via the Tata Insitute. Swamy inquired whether such sample transfer made India complicit in the spread of the Wuhan pandemic. “Also Bat Virus samples from Nagaland were brought to Wuhan courtesy Tata Institute. Is India complicit too?” he wrote.
Screengrab of the tweet by Subramanian Swamy
The tweet by Subramanian Swamy is based on a misleading article by The Hindu that was published last year. The Hindu report had claimed that an inquiry was ordered into a study conducted in Nagaland by researchers from the US, China and India on bats and humans carrying antibodies to deadly viruses like Ebola. The report had claimed that the study was under the scanner because two of the twelve researchers involved belonged to the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases and that it was funded by the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
Screengrab of the misleading news report by The Hindu
What is the truth behind the claims of Subramanian Swamy?
In a public statement, slamming The Hindu for its shoddy journalism, NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences) had issued a clarification over the matter. NCBS clarified that no researcher from the Wuhan Institue of Virology was directly involved with the study. NCBS clarified that researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were listed as co-authors only because they supplied reagants critical to the study to Duke-NUS, as is the standard practice for scientific authorship.
It further made it clear that no biological samples or infectious agents were transferred into or out of India, and this study has no connection with Coronaviruses. On the claims made by The Hindu with regards to the funding of the study, NCBS clarified that it is not a recipient of DTRA funds. Duke-NUS receives funding from the DTRA and hence, it finds a mention in the study. It also said that documentation regarding this study is transparently and freely available in the public domain.
This press release is in reference to media reports that grossly misrepresent the facts concerning a study of bats in Nagaland. We have since issued this statement to correct the record, in the public interest. https://t.co/MSeGCSmtSG
— National Centre for Biological Sciences (@NCBS_Bangalore) February 4, 2020
NCBS said that such studies are necessary as bats are a major reservoir of novel zoonotic diseases, which are infectious diseases that can jump from animals to humans. It also urged the media and all stakeholders to only obtain information from reliable and verified sources as the spread of misinformation and panic could be devastating during a global health crisis.
It is notable here that the NCBS comes under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Swamy and fake claims
Subramanian Swamy has been quite vocal on several issues and often seeks the limelight by making sensational claims. Recently, he had boasted about receiving information about Chinese incursion in Arunachal Pradesh from MP Tapir Gao. However, Gao soon exposed Swamy’s lies, sharing he had misquoted him to peddle his anti-Modi agenda.
While the Nehru-Gandhi clan has long been hailed as the fountainhead of secularism in India, there is a lesser-known but rather intriguing facet about them that has been scrupulously kept concealed so as to pull a veil over their hollow support to pluralism. Motilal Nehru, father of Jawaharlal Nehru, was opposed to his daughter’s marriage with a Muslim journalist, and had gone to the lengths of enlisting Gandhi to persuade the duo to call off their relationship.
In her book ‘Mr and Mrs Jinnah: The Marriage that Shook India’, Sheela Reddy cites historical accounts to claim that Motilal Nehru’s adherence to secularism was just a charade by highlighting how he was opposed to her daughter’s love relationship with a Muslim man.
‘Nan’ or Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the elder daughter of Motilal Nehru and sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, was once head over heels in love with Syud Hossain, an Oxford-educated Muslim journalist and the personable young editor of the Independent, an English newspaper that was launched by Motilal Nehru. The duo had even got “secretly married” before Motilal Nehru found out about their romantic affair and decided to bring an end to it.
The romance between Syud and ‘Nan’ blossomed after the former was invited by Motilal to live at his lavish residence Anand Bhawan. Being one of the most richest and successful lawyers in the country, Nehru took a plunge into public affairs, following which his Allahabad residence Anand Bhavan had been turned into a hub of national politics. Guests, mostly political leaders, came and went, but one of them lived more or less permanently there—Syud Hossain.
Nehru was reportedly attracted by Hossain’s patriotic fervour and when he was looking for an editor to launch his newspaper, he eagerly hired the young journalist who was so highly recommended by his friend BG Horniman, the pro-Indian Englishman and founding editor of the Bombay Chronicle. However, Syud having studied in England and delicately raised, he found it difficult to tough it out in bachelor stays in Allahabad so after a bout of illness, was invited to stay at his employer’s residence Anand Bhavan.
Soon after Hossain started living under the same roof as ‘Nan’, the two got close and developed a special liking for each other. By the time Motilal discovered that his daughter was in love with Hossain, the duo had already gotten ‘secretly married’, however, in an informal way, Hossain later confided in his good friend and only sympathiser, Sarojini Naidu.
Nehru termed his daughter Nan’s relationship with Syud Hossain ‘wrong’ on account of him being a Muslim
But this did not sit well with Motilal Nehru, whose only grouse with the relationship was that Hossain was a Muslim. While he outwardly championed the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity, when it came to his family members, he was finding it hard to fathom the fact that his daughter was in love with a Muslim man and had also gotten married to him secretly. Within days after discovering the relationship between the two, Syud was out of Allahabad, and within weeks, out of country, having been sent abroad as a member of a Congress deputation to Europe.
With minimum fuss and attention, the couple was persuaded to give up their relationship, mentions Reddy in her book. Nan later explained how she was convinced by her family to end her relationship with Hossain because he was a Muslim and marrying outside her religion was wrong. ‘In an era that proclaimed Hindu–Muslim unity, and belonging to a family that had close Muslim friends, I must have thought it would be perfectly natural to marry outside my religion. But in matters such as marriage the times were deeply traditional, and I was persuaded that this would be wrong,’ Nan reportedly explained later.
Motilal Nehru seeks Gandhi’s help to persuade her daughter to give up her relationship with a Musli man
After convincing the two lovers to go their separate their ways, Nehru enlisted Gandhi’s help to ensure that there is no relapse between the duo. The two now-separated lovers were sent off to Gandhi’s ashram in Ahmedabad, where they had one-to-one chats with Gandhi as a part of their cultural reorientation.
During her stay at the ashram, Nan wrote letters to Padmaja to inform her about her discussions with Gandhi about her love relationship with Syud, according to Sheela Reddy in her book ‘Mr and Mrs Jinnah’. ‘He told me when I was at the ashram that this event had shaken his belief in all Mussalmans!’ Nan wrote in a letter to Padmaja. Gandhi was reportedly aghast at the prospect of a Hindu woman marrying a Muslim man. For Gandhi, Hindu women should look at Muslims as brothers only, and not as lovers.
He asked Nan, ‘How could you regard Syud in any other light but that of a brother—what right had you to allow yourself, even for a minute, to look with love at a Mussalman.’ Later on, he even asked Nan how she could not find a worthy man out of nearly twenty crore Hindus to match her ideals, but instead got ready to hurl herself into the arms of a Mohammedan. ‘Poor man! To him it is inconceivable for a Hindu and a Mussalman to marry and live happily,’ Nan wrote of Gandhi in the letter to Padmaja.
With the kind of admiration and reverence commanded by Gandhi, Motilal thought his intervention would serve to provide a moral justification to his daughter as to why her relationship with Hossain was problematic and undesirable. However, far from having a salutary effect on Nan, it only served to increase the contempt and scorn that she had for Gandhi.
‘Mussalmans and Hindus cannot marry each other’: Gandhi
Describing about an incident when Gandhi was lecturing her on why her relationship with Hossain was wrong, Nan wrote: ‘Gandhiji was telling me one day how he would have behaved had he been me. Of course it didn’t carry much weight because being Gandhiji it is absolutely impossible for him ever to enter into my thoughts or feelings. However, imagine me squatting on a little mat about six inches square opposite the great Mahatmaji, receiving the following lecture. ‘
“Sarup (Nan’s given name before her marriage), had I been in your place I would never have allowed myself to have any feelings but those of friendliness towards Syud Hossain,” Gandhi reportedly told Nan. “Then, supposing Syud had ever attempted to show admiration for me or had professed love for me, I would have told him gently but very firmly—Syud, what you are saying is not right. You are a Mussalman and I am a Hindu. It is not right that there should be anything between us. You shall be my brother but as a husband I cannot ever look at you.”
“Modi hai to mumkin hai, PM Modi has made possible what the opposition believed was impossible”, said Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath as he welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his home turf Gorakhpur on Tuesday. Yogi said that the arrival of PM Modi in Gorakhpur will fulfil the aspirations of eastern UP that were neglected by the failures of the previous governments.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Gorakhpur to inaugurate three major projects, including an All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and a major fertiliser plant. The three ambitious projects also include the ICMR’s regional unit Regional Medical Research Centre in Gorakhpur, which is expected to boost the growth of undeveloped eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Lauding the Prime Minister’s resolution to make India Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant), Yogi Adityanath said that in 2016 PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of this fertilizer factory in Gorakhpur. Prior to that the factory had been lying shut for more than 30 years and none of the governments in Uttar Pradesh bothered about it. After PM Modi came to power in 2014, he not only made all possible efforts to revive it but made sure that the revived plant is four times bigger than what it was until it was shut in 1990.
Hailing PM Modi’s leadership, CM Yogi said that 5 governments came and went to UP in the last 30 years, only the BJP govt had the courage to revive this fertilizer factory in Gorakhpur.
2016 में आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने गोरखपुर के इसी खाद कारखाने का शिलान्यास किया था, जो आज बनकर तैयार है। जो पहले से 4 गुना ज्यादा क्षमता का हैः मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath#उन्नत_प्रदेश_उत्तर_प्रदेश
Speaking about the development of health infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh under the Modi regime, CM Yogi said that prior to 2014, there was only one medical college in Gorakhpur and 12 in the state. Now, there are medical colleges in 59 districts of UP and the process of setting up medical colleges in other districts is also underway.
“Thousands of people have died every year in eastern UP due to lack of adequate medical facilities, yet previous governments were indifferent about their health. Everyone had to fend for themselves. Moreover, Gorakhpur was always thought to be the epicentre of diseases like encephalitis and malaria. The honourable Prime Minister, then, laid the foundation stone for AIIMS in 2016. And today, he has come to Eastern UP to inaugurate the AIIMS facilities, which will benefit the people in this area immensely”, the CM said.
गोरखपुर को लगातार माना जाता था कि यहां बीमारी है। यहां दिमागी बुखार, मलेरिया आदि विषाणुजनित बीमारियों से मौतें होती थीं। तब 2016 में आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री ने इसी एम्स का शिलान्यास किया था और आज उद्घाटन भी कर रहे हैंः मुख्यमंत्री श्री @myogiadityanath#उन्नत_प्रदेश_उत्तर_प्रदेशpic.twitter.com/UTUfsB1Uw9
The regional medical research centre will facilitate the research and treatment of vector-borne diseases. The high-tech lab will decrease the dependency of the area on big cities for tests related to vector-borne diseases, the CM informed.
The inauguration of the AIIMS in Gorakhpur, according to CM Yogi Adityanath, is the fulfilment of a long-standing demand. Since 2004, he claims, there has been a demand for an AIIMS in Gorakhpur. He also stated that the move to reopen the fertiliser factory, which had been shut down since 1990, will result in job creation.
“The prime minister has provided these projects for the welfare of farmers, women, youth, children and for the upliftment of the region in the wider public interest. The Opposition considered them to be vote banks till now,” said the chief minister, adding that the projects would also benefit the people of Bihar and Nepal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated three mega projects worth Rs 10,000 crore in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. The projects include a fertiliser factory worth Rs 8,603 crore, an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) built at a cost of Rs 1,011 crore, and a hi-tech lab of the Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR-RMRC).
A Delhi court has framed charges of murder and rioting against former Congress leader and 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict Sajjan Kumar. The ex-Congress MP has been charged for the murder of a man and his son in west Delhi’s Saraswati Vihar during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. While framing the charges, the court said that there was sufficient evidence on record to form a prima facie opinion that Sajjan Kumar was not only “a participant of the riotous mob but had also led it”.
The order was issued on Saturday, December 4 but made available on Monday, December 6.
1984 Anti-Sikh riots| Delhi Court announces charges for rioting, murder, dacoity etc under multiple sections of IPC, against ex-Congress MP, Sajjan Kumar in connection with murder of 2 Sikhs in Raj Nagar, Delhi. Matter listed for Dec 16 for formal framing of charges
In an order, Special Judge Manoj Kumar Nagpal stated that the oral and documentary evidence gathered by the investigating officers was sufficient to form the opinion that a mob armed with deadly weapons committed large-scale looting, arson, and destruction of Sikh property to avenge the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Sajjan Kumar has been charged under IPC sections 147 and 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302 (murder), 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 395 (dacoity), 397 (robbery with intent to cause death or grievous hurt), 427 (mischief), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), and 440 (mischief by fire or explosive substance (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt).
The judge dropped the charges of an attempt to murder but added section 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), saying that the injuries suffered by the three female victims prima facie appear to have been inflicted with blunt objects, and with an “intention or knowledge that if their death was caused as a result thereof, then the accused and every other member of the above mob would have been guilty of the offence of culpable homicide”.
The court also dropped charges of destruction of evidence against Sajjan Kumar and asked him to appear on December 16 to complete further procedures.
On November 1, 1984, a thousand-strong mob had allegedly burned alive a father and son duo (Jaswant Singh and Tarun Deep Singh) in Raj Nagar, West Delhi. The prosecution had stated that the crowd burned alive the two men, as well as damaged, destroyed, looted, arson and inflicted severe injuries on their family members and relations, on Kumar’s incitement and abetment.
The family members of the deceased had also alleged that the mob was led by Kumar, who “instigated and abetted the unruly mob”.
Sajjan Kumar convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots
Sajjan Kumar was one of the many Congress leaders accused of involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre that happened after the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi in 1984. Even after grave allegations against him, in 1991 he was given a ticket by Congress to contest elections which were subsequently won by him. He also won 2004 general elections on congress ticket from Outer Delhi seat with highest ever votes at 8,55,543 votes. A Sanjay Gandhi loyalist, he served as Member, Committee on Urban Development and Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme in 2005.
In April 2013, Delhi’s Karkardooma district court acquitted him which led to widespread protests. In August 2013, an appeal was filed in Delhi High Court by CBI against his previous acquittal. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2018.
He was found responsible for the murder of 5 Sikhs (Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh, and Kuldeep Singh in the Delhi Cantonment area.
Kumar was charged under Section 302 IPC (murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), Section 153A IPC (communal hatred speech) and other relevant sections of the IPC.
On the night of December 6, students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protested in support of the now-demolished disputed structure of Ayodhya and demanded to rebuild it. The students belonging to JNU Student Union were protesting against the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. During the protest, Saket Moon, Vice President, JNUSU and other members demanded to rebuild Babri Mosque.
During the demonstration, the members of JNUSU raises slogans like ‘Make again, make again Babri’ and ‘Nahi Sahenge Hashimpura, Nahi Karenge Dadri, Phir Banao, Phir Banao Babri’. Hashimpura and Dadri saw Hindu-Muslim riots after the demolition of the disputed structure. Moon alleged that demolishing the structure was injustice, and it should be rebuilt so that ‘injustice could be ended’.
Slogans were raised outside Chandrabhaga hostel
On the call of JNUSU, at around 8:30 PM, a large number of left-wing students gathered at Ganga Dhaba. They marched from Ganga Dhaba to Chandrabhaga hostel and raised slogans outside the hostel. Some students addressed the crowd at the hostel as well.
A video of Moon is also making rounds on social media where he was seen addressing the crowd. He said, “The justice could only be achieved if Babri is rebuilt.”
JNUSU screened ‘Ram ke Naam’ despite admin order
Earlier, on December 4, it was reported that JNUSU had screened the documentary titled ‘Ram ke Naam’ at the campus despite the admin’s orders against it. In the order, the administration has said, “It has come to the notice of the undersigned that a group of students have in the name of JNUSU released a pamphlet for screening a documentary/ movie ‘Raam Ke Naam’ scheduled for tonight at 9.30 PM at Teflas. No prior permission for this event has been taken from the JNU administration. This is to emphasise that such an authorised activity may disturb communal harmony and peaceful environment of the University Campus.” JNU Registrar Ravikesh had issued the orders.
15th Aug 2021 was another landmark day in the history of contemporary India as we complete two years short of three-quarters of a century mark into our Independence from colonial rule. Though we are a 5000-year-old country, these last 73 years as a nation-state are very significant because these years are the years of prosperity for the whole human race of which we are a major player in numbers. Out of 7.9 billion people on planet Earth, Indians are 1.4 billion in population which is roughly 20 % of the total humankind.
India as a nation-state was born on 15th August 1947 in very difficult circumstances and emerged as two nations, India and Pakistan- unfortunately, since then – sworn enemies.
The birth pangs were marked not only by the landmass being split into two but also by the refugee crisis caused by Hindus moving from newly carved out Pakistan to newly founded India and a majority of Muslims moving to Pakistan from India. At the same time, 562 princely states ruled by individual kings were to be integrated into one nation-state. This was a tough nut to crack and was brilliantly handled by Sardar Patel the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of the newly formed Government. It took a couple of decades for the dust to settle down before the process of building the nation commenced at a reasonable pace. Political leaders of that era took some major decisions- some right and some wrong- which in the hind site can be post-mortem-ed.
We the people
Certain things happened which were worrying some and left a permanent dent in us as people of a nation-state. The first was corruption that seeped into us from early days (reasons best known to reason alone) and this trickled down to the grass-root level of Governance and the governed too. This ailment has been eating into us from within for several decades – never leaving us in peace and was a major impediment to our progress and prosperity.
Some argue that we got ‘Azadi’ or Independence with non-violence and did not fight a devastating war at home like Europe did and that also impacted our nationalistic feeling and the idea of self-esteem and in the larger sense the national character. Whatever the reasons, these were the two realities sticking out like a sore thumb. Through concerted efforts were made to control the population which went out of control and to 34 crores of us in 1947, we managed to add 100 crores in less than 75 years. More people mean more mouths to feed.
Every living being adds to the load on the system in several ways. He/ she needs, food, shelter, basic amenities, education, health, water, Judicial system, Police, fire brigade, public transport, markets, other public services, roads, sports, entertainment and above all security. A Police station has to entertain a millionaire as well as a poor man. This becomes a drain on the system especially when per capita contribution to the GDP is low and more people to feed on contributions of less.
We cannot turn the clock back and therefore we need to make the best of what we have. One could look at the young population as a burden on the economy or one can look at this as a bonanza of so many working hands to take us forward. You need to make them job-ready, kit them up, motivate them, show them a clear direction and make them get free of this C- virus (Corruption virus). All this is a tall order.
Shifting Gears and turning the rudder
To change a nation this large is a Herculean task and we need a Hercules to do that. There are two counter forces against any such change- especially for India. First, it is the strong resistance to change itself which is inherent to us human beings, second, the sheer size and diversity don’t permit the luxury of turning it around like a Ferrari. It takes a huge effort and time to steer a course correction of as little as even three degrees- akin to Titanic. Superman also has a problem with this.
The third and the most tangible yet seemingly intangible problem is that passengers travelling in the ship won’t let you touch the Wheel on the bridge till he promises to run a Titanic, like Ferrari! Here the superman has to promise that he will make a Titanic into a Ferrari to enter the bridge so that he can save them all. The captain knows that it will take time but he would be able to steer the ship away from the Iceberg which he can see in front. But passengers keep shouting at him to get them their Ferrari (which they assumed he promised or interpreted the interpretation on their own terms).
Titanic becomes a convertible Ferrari
Last seven years our Titanic called India is going through a course correction but the passengers and even a part of the crew are hell-bent on nudging the captain. He changes a gear of this imaginary Ferrari, someone pushes down the clutch paddle, somebody pulls up the hand brake, another starts the windscreen wipers, even if it is not raining, a guy pulls at the steering wheel so that the car bangs into the road divider, and another puts it into neutral while somebody just pushes the horn just to annoy the driver. Two guys sitting in the boot of the car are taking a free ride yet banging hard on the rear seat adding to the noise. Three guys on the luggage carrier on top (this is a unique Ferrari) also making noise and shouting slogans. In short, everyone is throwing a spanner in the work. Would you like to try your hand on such a Ferrari? At least I will not.
Can you drive a car safely, properly without losing your cool? Remember the driver is driving a ‘democratic Ferrari’. He has to keep smiling even if a passenger in the back seat is tugging at his hair; the other one is actually needling him his bum. Then don’t forget the self-appointed policemen who are blowing whistles around for no reason in the international arena – on the road far away outside the Ferrari- not having a clue of what is happening in the car and are ready to fine the poor driver at the drop of the hat.
Tectonic Shift
India at this point requires a tectonic shift, and whenever this happens, the earth shakes (not in the way Rajiv Gandhi meant it), and it is painful as the tectonic plates grind against each other. It generates heat and noise like a nuclear reaction.
Our plates are shifting and this is creating discomfort and even fear in some. The crooks are the first ones to feel the pain- never used to working straight and paying their dues to the government they are finding it hard to digest. At the central level, there has been no scam, Government officers have to do their job (yes, just doing their job is a problem too) and they are accountable and answerable. Ok, on top of it they have to come on time.
PM Narendra Modi is making basic changes at all levels reaching out to even the hot molten Lava below the 100 Km thick tectonic plates. At tectonic plate level- homoeopathy will not work we required major surgery and the Surgeon General is at it. It cannot be bloodless surgery, there will be blood loss as well, a bit of pain post-surgery and even during the surgery as you cannot put a nation in general anaesthesia. A heart surgeon has to repair the engine while it is running.
This is a major overhaul with a long-term vision. Some one, we all, have to be ready to pay a price.
The evocative epitaph enshrined on the ‘Kohima’ war memorial in Nagaland, (given below) was built to commemorate soldiers of the empire who laid down their lives to repel the Japanese assault in 1944 during World War II should be inspiring and appropriate.
Sweat, Blood and Tears
As in management motivational parlance it is often said ‘No pain no gain’. Similarly, how do you expect a tectonic shift without feeling the tremors?
Therefore, there is a lot of heat and dust. Any lawful bill that is well-meaning appears to be a change in lifestyle, change in doing business and change of type of business in some cases. It cannot be business as usual if you want a change. We are doing this not for immediate good but for the long term good of our next several generations so you tell yourself ‘For our tomorrow and your day after, we all have to give our today’.
We have vast resources – we are blessed with all types of terrains and a huge young population. We only need an attitudinal change.
Most of us who have handled large organizations of say 500 people plus, a turnaround of the organization, a hospital, a manufacturing plant, a college or even a school started with the mindset of people. Anyone can build a brick and mortar building- it works only if people occupying that building think collectively of the collective good of the organization. No amount of free lunches will help except the power of the will of the people in the precincts of that building. For a nation-state, the landmass is the temple and the countrymen the devotees. If you have faith, you will have the will and if you have these two- no one can take your tomorrow from you.
A 6-year-old was kidnapped, raped and brutally murdered by her neighbour in the Hapur district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, December 3. The police recovered her decomposed body stuffed inside a trunk in a neighbour’s house on Saturday. The owner of the house identified as 38-year-old Amjad was arrested after he admitted to sexually assaulting and murdering the girl. The victim had gone missing on Thursday, December 2.
After the body was recovered it was sent for post mortem, which confirmed that the girl was killed after being sexually assaulted.
Some videos have emerged showing the victim’s body lying in a metal trunk and later cops carrying the body.
6-year-old girl child raped and murdered by Amjad in Hapur, UP. The girl was missing from the last 3 days.
Foul smell of the decomposing body made the neighbors call police. Amjad has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/UcSgTPD2C2
Giving details about the incident, Hapur Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarvesh Mishra said that the girl left her home to buy something on Thursday when the accused lured her to his home which is located barely 50 metres away from her house.
The accused, a labourer by profession, sexually assaulted her and then killed her. His wife and two children were not at home when the incident occurred, the ASP added.
When the girl went missing, her family started looking for her. They investigated the locality’s CCTV footage, which showed Amjad taking the girl away, but not leaving the area. This raised the suspicion of the family members, prompting them to file a missing person report with the Hapur police. After registering the complaint, the cops also began searching for the girl but could not locate her.
Later, on Saturday morning when the neighbours complained of getting a foul smell from one of the houses nearby, a police team immediately reached the spot. On arrival, the police found that the main door of Amjad’s house was locked. The police broke the lock and searched the house. They found the body of the 6-year-old stuffed in a trunk.
On December 4, the Uttar Pradesh police confirmed recovering the body of the 6-year-old from a trunk kept in the accused’s house. They had said that they were investigating all possible angles in the case.
थाना हापुड़ नगर क्षेत्रांतर्गत बच्ची का शव मिलने की सूचना प्राप्त हुई, तत्काल पुलिस मौके पर पहुंची। उच्चाधिकारियों द्वारा घटनास्थल का निरीक्षण कर लिया गया है एवं अग्रिम वैधानिक कार्यवाही की जा रही है। इस संबंध में एएसपी @upcopskm महोदय की बाइट@Uppolicepic.twitter.com/mMyQ1BJfQV
According to reports, the incident left the people of the locality so infuriated, that when the police were taking away the accused, they caught hold of Amjad and thrashed him brutally. The police reportedly had to form a cordon around the accused to protect him from the angry locals. “He could have been lynched, the public was extremely angry,” ASP Mishra was quoted as saying.
After the accused, a father of three children, was arrested from the Trilokipuram locality, which falls under Hapur Nagar police station, he confessed to the crime, said the police.
Korean boy band BTS’s members, Jungkook, Suga, V, RM, J-Hope, Park Ji-Min and Jin, made their individual Instagram debut on December 6. All seven members have already gained over 16 million followers in less than 24-hours, with V gaining the maximum number of followers at 18 million, followed by Jungkook with over 17 million, and others between 16 million to 16.7 million followers. They made the debut on Instagram after announcing that the band members would be taking an “extended period of rest”.
Jungkook, Jin and V were the first to create accounts on Instagram and publish the first few posts. Jungkook published a photograph of a beach and wrote ‘sunset’ in Korean as the caption.
Another user Zeze said ,”All of BTS members have now reached 10M followers on Instagram in less than 6 hours, they are now the only 7 individuals in the world to gain 10M followers on Instagram within the first 24 hours of launching their accounts publicly!”
All of BTS members have now reached 10M followers on Instagram in less than 6 hours, they are now the only 7 individuals in the world to gain 10M followers on Instagram within the first 24 hours of launching their accounts publicly!
Luke Waltham said, “Me, 2 months ago: I’m deleting my Instagram account BigHit: BTS members now have Instagram accounts Me: hey y’all I have an Instagram account all of a sudden.”
Me, 2 months ago: I’m deleting my Instagram account
BigHit: BTS members now have Instagram accounts
Me: hey y’all I have an Instagram account all of a sudden
The band would go on an approx three-month personal break
The announcement about their break was made by Big Hit Music that manages the band, on Monday. The statement read, “BTS focusing on preparing for the concert and release of the new album that will mark the beginning of a new chapter. They are preparing for a concert this coming March to connect and communicate with the fans in-person in Seoul.” The break would begin after completing the scheduled events in Los Angeles and the 2021 Jingle Ball Tour. The last time the band went on break was in 2019.
The statement further added, “This period of rest will provide the members of BTS who have tirelessly committed themselves to their activities, a chance to get re-inspired and recharge with creative energy. It will also be the first time for them since their debut to spend the holiday season with their families.” It requested the fans to show consideration for the band members as they need to enjoy ordinary and free, everyday lives.
