The Embassy of Pakistan in Belgrade, Serbia seems to be so miffed with the Imran Khan government back in its country that it has gone rogue. It has taken to Twitter to call out the Pakistan government for not paying its dues for the last three months. The embassy has shared a rap twist to Imran Khan’s ‘Aap ne ghabrana nahi hai’ to taunt Pakistan’s cash-strapped Imran Khan government.
While sharing the song composed by Artist Saad Alavi, that mocks Imran Khan for giving false hopes to the people of his country despite being bankrupt, the Pakistan Embassy Serbia Tweeted: “With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect @ImranKhanPTI that we goverment official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees Is this #NayaPakistan ?”
With inflation breaking all previous records, how long do you expect @ImranKhanPTI that we goverment official will remain silent & keep working for you without been paid for past 3 months & our children been forced out of school due to non payment of fees Is this #NayaPakistan ? pic.twitter.com/PwtZNV84tv
The 0.56-minute song posted by the Pakistan Embassy Serbia was composed by Saad Alavi, who gives a musical twist to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s legendry ‘Aap ne ghabrana nahi hai’ speech. The rap song begins with Pakistan PM addressing the nation, saying, “Aap ne, sabse pehle, ghabrana nahi hai”. The speech was delivered in March last year when the novel coronavirus was spreading in Pakistan.
To create a mashup, Alavi added some catchy lyrics that poked fun at Pakistani inflation. From essential necessities like soap, wheat, and medication to education, Alavi mocks the PM, urging citizens not to panic. The song was released in March becoming an instant hit with the audience.
Meanwhile, Pakistan PM Imran Khan, last month admitted that he does not have enough money to run the country. Our biggest problem is that we don’t have enough money to run our country due to which we have to borrow loans,” said Imran Khan while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Track and Trace System (TTS) of the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) for the sugar industry in Islamabad.
Pakistan is beset by a host of problems. From the precarious state of the economy to the rising food inflation in the country, the political mobilisation of the opposition to the declining credibility of the government, the Imran Khan administration is facing an unprecedented crisis staring at it in the face. Skyrocketing food inflation is one of the serious problems plaguing Islamabad. With its finances in bad shape, the government has scant control and resources to keep a check on the spiralling food inflation.
In fact, the situation is so precarious, that Pakistan’ military was also left with no option but to slash the defense budget in a bid to help the country emerge out of its financial woes.
According to a recent assessment, the country will require gross external financing of USD 51.6 billion over the next two years (2021-2023) to address the issues it faces.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who has begun to devote most of his time criticising the BJP government at the centre has once again turned to Twitter to spread blatant lies, this time targeting Arunachal MP Tapir Gao. The Rajya Sabha MP took to Twitter to misquote Gao in order to promote his anti-Modi agenda by raking his ‘Chinese incursions along LAC in Ladakh’ rhetorics. Furthermore, when he was caught peddling the lie, he tried to give a ridiculous justification.
Today, the Arunachal MP responded to Swamy’s Tweet. He corrected Swamy by revealing that he had met the Rajya Saha MP and when he questioned him about Chinese intrusion he categorically told him that there has been no new incursion in the Modi regime. He also informed him that the status remains the same as it was after the 1962 war.
“I met @Swamy39 in Central Hall, Parliament on 2 Dec at 10:35 AM, when he asked about Chinese intrusion I told him that during 1962 war China occupied 2-3 locations during Congress regime but no fresh incursion has taken place during Modi regime; unfortunately he has misquoted me,” Tweeted the Arunachal Pradesh MP.
I met @Swamy39 in Central Hall,Parliament on 2 Dec at 10:35 AM, when he asked about Chinese intrusion I told him that during 1962 war China occupied 2-3 locations during Congress regime but no fresh incursion has taken place during Modi regime; unfortunately he has misquoted me. pic.twitter.com/INzi043u7K
The Arunachal MP was responding to Swamy’s December 2, Tweet in which he wrote: “Today I met Tapir Gao BJP LS MP of Arunachal. He told me AP people wanted that I also focus on Arunachal. He told me that China PLA has already crossed Macmahon Line in three parallel columns halfway down south of the State. Early next year I will go to AP.”
No sooner was Swamy reprimanded by the Arunachal MP for misquoting him, the former gave an extremely lame reply to justify his actions. He Tweeted that “did not state any date except to say that China had already occupied territory.” He further wrote: “Even if China had occupied it in 1962 and had built pucca villages thereafter why were we sleeping since 2014 and 18 one to one meetings? Was it ever raised with Xi?”
I did not state any date except to say that China had already occupied territory. Even if China had occupied it in 1962 and had built pucca villages thereafter why were we sleeping since 2014 and 18 one to one meetings? Was it ever raised with Xi?
Swamy offered no explanation as to why he had misquoted the Arunachal Pradesh MP.
It is pertinent to note that Swamy had categorically said in his tweet that Gao had asked him to get involved in Arunachal Pradesh claiming that he had said that people of Arunachal wanted Swamy to focus in the state. He insinuated that Gao had said that PLA had crossed the parallel columns halfway down south of the state recently.
While defending himself, he said that Gao had not mentioned a “date” which seems like an untenable explanation given that Gao said specifically that he mentioned “Congress regime”. Even if we consider this as miscommunication, it does not explain why Swamy lied and claimed that Gao had told him that the people of Arunachal Pradesh want him to personally get involved.
For months now, Swamy has been increasingly critical of the BJP government at the centre. It was widely rumoured that Swamy was coveting the post of Finance Minister ever since the BJP formed its government at the Centre in 2014. However, he was persistently denied the post, following which he started voicing his criticism against the central government. The Chinese incursion rhetorics is his latest barb to attack the Modi government.
Putting all such aspersion to rest, Arunachal Pradesh CM on Thursday again clarified that China hasn’t built any villages in Arunachal Pradesh and any development work undertaken by the neighbouring country has been on the Chinese side of the border.
Subramanian Swamy singing similar tune of the Congress and many leftist media outlets
Interestingly, Swamy’s fabrication coincides with that of the Congress party and some leftist media outlets, that have been peddling the same lie for months now.
In January, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi had made similar claims about the Chinese forces occupying Indian territory. He had shared a Hindi newspaper cutting which claimed that the Chinese forces had established a village in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Rahul Gandhi had raised the matter in January after NDTV had made the claim for the first time in January.
Similarly, a news portal East Mojo had reported that amidst high tension at the LAC in Ladakh, the villagers near the McMahon Line in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh have been vacating their homes.
HW News Network, which has a history of peddling fake news, also shared similar news.
Last month, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the Congress party and a ‘mischievous media’ house for claiming that China has built a village inside the territory of Arunachal Pradesh.
The comments by Kiren Rijiju came at the backdrop of a tweet by the Congress party wherein they claimed that China has built an entire village within the territory of India. The grand-old party had tweeted on Saturday (November 6), “China built a village in Arunachal Pradesh which can act as a military base. One among several such villages across the LAC.”
The decision of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trust (BSBRT) to run a special drive for the registration of temples, that are not private in nature, and levy a tax of four per cent on the total income, has invited sharp reaction from devotees.
The temples constructed by private individuals on private land which are open for common people are also included in this order. All such temples will have to be registered with BSBRT which has started a special drive for the identification and registration of such temples. BSBRT has asked collectors of all districts of Bihar to identify all such temples which are not registered.
BSBRT has been collecting taxes from temples from 1950 onwards but controversy erupted afresh after smaller and private temples were included in the tax ambit.
Member of BSBRT Mahant Vijay Shankar Giri said that all such private temples where are open for common people will come under the purview of tax. BSBRT said that it was a service charge, not a tax.
“But people are hardly aware that BSBRT had brought an amendment in 2006 to define the private temple and the public temple. At that time it was clarified that if a private temple is opened for darshan for all then it will no more be treated as a private temple. Earlier, the maximum tax on the total income of the temple excluding daily expenditure was 5%. But BSBRT has fixed a universal slab of 4%,” one of the members of the temple management committee of a prominent temple of Patna told OpIndia.
Notably, BSBRT follows the Bihar Hindu Religious Trust Act 1950 where there are provisions for tax on the income of the temple.
A former member of BSBRT confirmed about 2006 amendments. He said that other criteria of taxable temples are that they must have a drop-box for donation and seek donation through coupons as well. “Amount collected from such temples are used for renovation of neglected temples. Temples registered with BSBRT has many benefits,” he justified.
So far there are around 4600 temples across Bihar that are registered with BSBRT which are now being run by trust or sevait (temple attendant). These temples have landed properties. For instance, the Ram Janki Hanuman temple at Babubarhi in Madhubani has 125 acres of land under its possession.
But people managing small temples in villages said that all these temples depend upon donations from the public. “Now the Nitish Kumar government wants small temples to pay taxes. Even to replace a fused bulb and to buy a broom we are dependent on donations,” said Madan Kumar Jha Madhup, a resident of Darbhanga who is associated with the management of one such temple.
People are angry with the government for offering freebies to minorities and taxes for Hindus. They termed it as a kind of Jizya tax imposed on Hindus.
“At most of these temples, priests offer their service for free. Call it a service charge but still, this is a tax,” Deepak Lohia another Hindu devotee.
Land Reform minister gives explanations
As the decision has sparked protest, Bihar Land Reform and Revenue Minister Ramsurat Rai said some people were trying to create confusion. He said that BSBRT, Law Department, and Land Revenue Department had held a meeting for the better management of religious places in Bihar.
“Temple management in Bihar is very poor and it has been seen that properties donated by our forefathers for temples are being sold by caretakers. So we want to strengthen the law to protect temples’ properties so that same is utilised for the maintenance of the temple,” the minister said. He said that no decision was taken on the imposition of tax.
RJD MLA Alok Mehta supported a 4% tax and said that money should be utilised for the public welfare and development of Bihar. BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul on the other hand said that in the past also temples had to pay taxes. “But we are now thinking on the proposal to exempt temples from taxes. Like government extends support to other religions, it should extend similar support to temples and the Kabir monastery,” he added.
Punjabi singer and Khalistan sympathiser Sidhu Moosewala joined the Congress party in the presence of CM Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. After joining the party, addressing the media, Moosewala said that he was making this move to “raise the voice of Punjabis”.
Chandigarh | Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala joins the Congress party, says, "One of the reasons to join Congress is to raise the voice of Punjabis." pic.twitter.com/hdRec57jh1
Sidhu Moosewala is a Punjabi singer who had fervently supported the farmers protest recently that led to brutal violence multiple times. He is also a Khalistani sympathiser who had hailed and eulogised Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
The Khalistani face of the ‘farmer protests’ was out in the open on Republic Day when a Khalistani mob hoisted the Sikh flag at the Red Fort. While some have claimed that it is only the Sikh flag and not the Khalistan flag, it is pertinent to mention that the flag was allegedly hoisted by Deep Sidhu and his band of followers. Deep Sidhu is a known Khalistani.
During the entire protests, entertainers played a critical role in promoting the Khalistani narrative. One of them was Sidhu Moosewala.
During the farmers’ protest, Moosewala released a song where he hailed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The song titled “Punjab (Motherland) started with Khalistani leader Bharpur Singh Balbir in 1982 in the presence of Bhindranwale. The speech that was used by Moosewala talks openly about separatism. ‘Raj di gal Kyun na kariye. Assi maala phad ke Hindustan de kisi math de pujaari ni banna chauhnde’ (Why not talk of self-rule? We don’t wish to just hold prayer beads and become priests in some math in Hindustan) is one of the excerpts.
In the course of the song, Bhindranwale appears several times. Once in the video, he appears with an arrow in his hand while the lyrics said, ‘Oh Santa de Hathan Vich Fadeya Teer De Warga Ni, Dhake Naal Jihnu Dab Loge Kashmir De Warga Ni’ play (This is not like the arrow in the hand of saints. It is not like Kashmir that you can suppress it by force).
In the song, Moosewala also threatened “Delhi”. The lyrics said, ‘Mud Toh Bade Khilaaf Tu Ditte Order Dilli’ae Ni, Oh Bhulli Na Mainu Vi Lagde Border Dilli’ae Ni’ (You have given orders against me from the beginning, oh Delhi. Don’t forget I am a border-State).
With the induction of Moosewala, Congress has now taken an apparent, dangerous turn to stoking separatism and terrorism openly. During the farmers protest, Congress had stoked tensions and Khalistani sentiments, however, with this move, they seem to have decided to continue to stoke separatism to retain political power in Punjab.
America’s secret service agency CIA has had credible information about the sexual exploitation of children by at least 10 of its employees and contractors in the past 14 years, reportedBuzzfeed News. However, only one of them was charged with a crime while the others were subject to an internal investigation that allowed the sexual offenders to go scot-free.
The information was accessed through 3 lawsuits filed under the Freedom of Information Act and 13 public records requests. Buzzfeed found that the Central Intelligence Agency sought to handle the sensitive cases ‘internally’, thereby ensuring that the child sexual offenders got away with job loss or security clearance. The handling of the cases by the CIA was in stark contrast with other US federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
As per sources, the agency protects its employees to prevent loss of control over sensitive information. The internal documents, submitted to the CIA’s Office of the Inspector General, have detailed cases of sexual abuse. In one case, an employee was found guilty of making sexual contact with a 2-year-old toddler and a 6-year-old child. In another case, a CIA official bought 3 explicit videos of young girls, which were shot by their mothers. One employee was found to have viewed over 1400 child sexual abuse images during assignments.
Screengrab of the news report by Buzzfeed News
Allegations of sexual abuse against CIA employees
Buzzfeed News reported that in January 2010, a CIA contractor had tried to solicit sex from an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who was posing as a child. The contractor, who had confessed about his obsession with child abuse images, had entered a chatroom using the IP address of the secret agency. When the Inspector General received a warrant to search the contents of the computer, it was found that the hard drives were removed and supposedly thrown away.
Screengrab of a CIA report alleging sexual misconduct, image via Buzzfeed News
Moreover, another CIA official conceded to viewing sexually explicit images and videos of girls as young as 10 on a government-sanctioned laptop. He confessed to first viewing child sexual abuses images in college and continued to do so during his CIA assignments. In his defence, the employee had claimed, ” (I) did not understand that it was a violation of agency policy to access child pornography until he took the Agency Information Security Course.”
In August 2009, one CIA employee confessed to making sexual contact with two children, aged 2 and 6. He admitted to downloading sexually explicit images during his term with the agency. When the CIA Inspector General launched a probe, it was found that he was in possession of 63 videos of child sexual abuse. The official used the government wifi to download and distribute the material. He had brought child porn images from overseas after returning to the US, the Buzzfeed report says.
Screengrab of a CIA report alleging sexual misconduct, image via Buzzfeed News
Again in August 2013, the Inspector General found a CIA contractor in possession of child sexual abuse images. He was removed from the agency and his security clearance was stripped off. Buzzfeed News reported that that the accused later pleaded guilty to child abuse and registered as a sexual offender. However, his name was missing in the internal CIA document that was released by the agency. Another CIA software engineer identified as Joshua Schulte was charged for possession of sexual abuse images in 2018. He had however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In November 2016, the CIA’s Inspector General was informed that an employee viewed child sexual abuse images using a government computer. Although no evidence was found, it established a ‘consistent interest and pattern of [redacted] conversations involving sexual activities between adults and minors.’ Since the allegations raised security and accountability issues, the CIA’s office alerted the Directorate of Science and Technology and other security officials.
Action taken by the Central Investigative Agency
Buzzfeed News found that only one CIA employee was charged with sexual offences. The said official was already under probe for mishandling of classified information. 5 of them tainted officials/contractors had resigned or were terminated from service. Four other accused were referred to the Office of Security that is responsible for investigating classified information. It was only in March this year that the CIA’s Office of the Inspector General began releasing the internal documents.
So far, about 3000 pages have been released that covered years between 2004-2019. The news outlet found that although evidence of sexual crimes was unearthed, no charges were filed by the federal prosecutors. It was also found that the CIA reports were heavily redacted and the names of the accused officials, contractors and their employment details were withheld. The Central Investigative agency had cited national security, privacy and federal laws to refrain from disclosing information about the same.
In its defence, the agency claimed to take allegations of ‘possible criminal misconduct’ by its officials seriously. While speaking about the matter, a spokesperson for the Eastern District of Virginia remarked, “ The district takes seriously its responsibility to hold accountable federal government employees who violate federal law within our jurisdiction.” The report by Buzzfeed News also brings into question the role of US attorneys, who did not press charges despite incriminating evidence. Interestingly, prosecutors use their arbitrary discretionary powers to judge the credibility of evidence and weigh the chances to convince a jury.
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in the USA has now made it mandatory for all public schools under it to adopt new signage for their student washrooms and toilets, making them ‘gender neutral’. Calling it a big step towards gender equity, the CPS has asked the schools to use signage that tells the students that they can use the toilets irrespective of their gender identities.
In a tweet, CPS informed that they are now requiring all schools to adopt new signage to make restrooms ‘more inclusive’. “This is a big step towards gender equity for our students and staff,” it added.
The new signage in school toilets has been implemented starting December 1.
ICYMI: We’re requiring all schools to adopt new signage to make our restrooms more inclusive. This is a big step forward for gender equity for our students and staff. pic.twitter.com/4JPBdd1jQy
CPS officer Camie Pratt said in a video, “All CPS students and staff will have fair and equitable access to bathroom facilities that align with their gender identity.” She added that the signage will “make it clear that all restrooms are open for use by anyone who feels comfortable and will increase gender equality for all.”
The new signages indicate the fixtures available inside the restroom and announce that it is open to users of any gender identity and expression. Other signages include “This restroom has stalls/urinals and all who feel comfortable can use them” and “This is a gender-neutral restroom with multiple stalls, it is open to users of any gender identity and expression”.
CPS has stated that going forward they will introduce a long-term plan to make the changes more permanent.
Woke politics of gender-neutral toilets
Implementing gender-neutral toilets are one of the first steps in the gender identity politics that is now taking over the public discourse across many nations. Trans activists and gender equity activists claim that separate toilets for men and women promote inequality and are not inclusive. They refuse to acknowledge safety concerns and the need for girls of a vulnerable age to have their privacy protected.
Though the madness is yet to find much hold in India, the attempts to bring gender-neutral toilets to Indian schools are already afoot. Recently, OpIndia had reported about an NCERT teachers training manual that had proposed gender-neutral toilets and puberty blockers for children in Indian schools to promote ‘gender inclusiveness’. After a massive uproar, the NCERT document was removed from their website. Child rights body NCPCR had called the NCERT document ‘a conspiracy to traumatise school students’.
In Scotland, political pressure and the threat of lawsuits from gender activists had made many educational institutions adopt gender-neutral toilets. Recently, reports have emerged saying that young schoolgirls have been traumatised and many of them have stopped using school toilets altogether, because of the shame and harassment they face. There have been incidents where sanitary bins have been urinated on, and boys started waving tampons. Parents had protested stating that 12-year-old girls are being forced to use the same toilets in the presence of 18-year-old boys, raising serious concerns about their safety and comfort.
The Mumbai police have arrested a 35-year-old man, who is the brother of a film producer, for inappropriately touching a struggling actress and asking for sexual favours in exchange for getting her roles.
Mumbai Police arrested a 35-year-old man, brother of a film producer, on charges of inappropriately touching & seeking sexual favours from a struggling actress in exchange for getting her roles. An FIR was registered at Aarey Police Station under Section 354 of IPC: Mumbai Police
According to ANI, an FIR has been registered at the Aarey Police station under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to the Times of India, the police confirmed that a complaint was filed by an actress who works in the Marathi film industry. The accused was arrested after the complaint was filed. It is pertinent to note that none of the media reports reveals the identity of the actress or the brother of the producer arrested yet.
Recent case where Marathi actress detailed her oppression in a video
Actor Swati Bhadave, who worked in Crime Patrol, has filed a case against Swapnil Lokhande (Bunty), the production controller of Marathi TV show ‘Sahkutumb Sahparivar’. In her complaint, she has accused Bunty of pressuring her to sleep with him in exchange for roles. The accused was arrested on the 30th of November, according to reports.
The accused had reportedly asked the actress if she would be willing to work in Pune. When she agreed, the accused asked her what he would get in return. When the actress said she was willing to pay a commission on the money she makes, the accused refused and said that he wanted sexual favours in return.
The Shiv Sena ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) found itself in a controversy after it responded to a citizen complaint with the picture of a BMC worker indulging in manual scavenging, outlawed in India.
Sir, Your Complaint has been attended. Checkout the Photographs attached herewith. pic.twitter.com/TkrTVTJ8fC
BMC was responding to a citizen who had raised a complaint on Twitter, saying that sewage water was flowing on the streets in Saki Naka. “Sandas water is flowing, Near sai siddhi medical near sharma school..90 feet road, manishabar , m.72”, said one Ajay Rajak on Twitter.
In response, the BMC responded with the picture of a worker removing human waste with his bare hands. The worker was seen scavenging in a manhole without wearing any protective gear, endangering his health.
Several Netizens raised questions and tweeted to BMC, asking why this worker was not provided with protective gear and why after the Court specifically pulled up the civic body to end manual scavenging, was the civic body promoting it.
“Why is manual scavenging not eradicated despite court order”, asked one netizen.
Why manual scavenging isn't eradicated from Maharashtra even after HC's intervene? pic.twitter.com/CYZL3RXg8C
Shame. A human being used to manually scavenge sewers in an indication that we have reached nowhere . We are the richest corporation . Please think about machine applications here . @mybmc@OfficeofUT
Another said that without any machines or protective gear, this man was being asked to become a machine to clean human waste. “This is a human rights violation and we are sharing pics on Twitter”, he said.
No protection gear. No professional equipment.
His body is being asked to be a machine continuous to the task of cleaning our filth.
This is a human rights violation in progress and we are sharing pics on twitter.
“Richest Municipal body of the richest state can’t provide protective equipment to its workers and promoting manual scavenging shamelessly on social media”, said another Netizen.
Richest Municipal body of the richest state can't provide protective equipment to its workers and promoting manual scavenging shamelessly on social media. https://t.co/rrDugikOxz
It is pertinent to note that BMC is the richest civic body in the country. For the year 2021-22, the BMC’s budget was Rs 39,039 crores.
In the 11.51 crore surplus budget, the civic body is expecting a revenue of Rs 27,811.57 crore from various sources, including property tax, water and sewage charges, compensation in lieu of octroi and DP fees, which is Rs 636 crore less as compared to the Rs 22,448 crore estimated revenue of FY 20-21.
The civic body increased its budget allocation for health care to Rs 4,728 crore from Rs 4,220 crore in FY 20-21.
Not only is the BMC budget substantial, but it was also reported recently that the FD reserves of BMC had surged to Rs 82,410 crore. The Rs 82,410 crore reserve is present in 343 separate FDs at private and public banks. As per the daily, the BMC earns around ₹1,800 crores as interest per year on fixed deposits.
While being the richest civic body, netizens rued that they had completely ignored their workers not only endangering their lives but insensitively posting their pictures on Twitter.
In September, the Bombay High Court had pulled up the Maharashtra government after several manual scavengers had died. The court had ordered the government to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to each worker who had died in 2019. Additionally, the court had observed that despite “strict legislative intent” as per the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the “shameful practise continues” and the same should “shock the collective conscience of the society.”
BMC okays Rs 15 crore tender to upkeep penguins brought in by Aaditya Thackeray
While the BMC, the richest civic body, does not seem to have the resources to provide protective gear to its workers, on November 29, the civic body approved a Rs 15-crore proposal for three years of maintenance of the penguin habitat at Byculla zoo. The penguins, owned by the Mumbai Zoo, were brought in from Seoul, South Korea, in July 2016 by the current Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment for the Government of Maharashtra, Aaditya Thackeray for Rs. 2.5 crores.
The proposal, according to the media outlet, was approved by a Shiv Sena-led panel, despite the BJP’s opposition to the spending, claiming that the cost of upkeep was too expensive and alleged irregularities in giving the contract to tainted companies. Interestingly, the proposal to spend the whopping sum to recreate a natural habitat from the penguins was not only opposed by BJP but Shiv Sena’s ally Congress too. Congress had criticised BMC over the tender worth Rs.15 crores+, terming the project a waste of money.
Meanwhile, justifying its decision to sanction the hefty sum for the habitat maintenance of the penguins, BMC claimed that after the penguins were brought in 2017, revenue from the zoo was jumped by Rs 12.26 crores. The number of visitors climbed by roughly 30% after the penguin exhibit opened in March 2017, while revenue soared by nearly 500% after the BMC raised the price of entry tickets drastically that same year.
The union employees of Buzzfeed News, the news division of digital media house Buzzfeed, walked out from their work today protesting against alleged anti-employee terms of contract proposed by the company management. The employees boycotted work on a day the shareholders of the company are voting to decide whether to take the company public.
The BuzzFeed News Union has been negotiating with the company over the contract of their employment, and are not happy with the terms and conditions proposed by the company. The union says that BuzzFeed management has offered employees only a 1% annual guaranteed salary increase, and has proposed a salary floor of $50,000. The union says it is not enough to live in major cities like New York and San Francisco where Buzzfeed has newsrooms, or “to attract truly diverse talent.”
We’ve been bargaining our contract for almost 2 years, but BuzzFeed won’t budge on critical issues like wages — all while preparing to go public and make executives even richer.
— BuzzFeed News Union is walking out! ✊ (@bfnewsunion) December 2, 2021
“We’ve been bargaining our contract for almost 2 years, but BuzzFeed won’t budge on critical issues like wages — all while preparing to go public and make executives even richer. So TODAY, we’re walking out to send a reminder that there’s no BuzzFeed News without us”, the union said in a statement issued on social media.
The union also added that Buzzfeed management wants to regulate the creative works the employees do outside their work, which is not restricted under the current policy. According to the new proposed policy, employees will require to get approval for such outside “content work”, like freelance articles outside the staff’s newsroom beat, posting outfits on Instagram, writing a person blog on mental health, or even a makeup tutorial video on TikTok, the statement said.
It further added that the management has resisted the union’s proposal to not discipline employees over website traffic or revenue metrics. The union said that pageviews and clicks are beyond the control of individual employees, and are often influenced by social media algorithms and reader bias.
Joe Bernstein, a senior technology reporter at BuzzFeed News, posted on Twitter, “In my seven years at BuzzFeed News, I’ve never faced an “or-else” traffic quota. We’re walking off today, in part, to make sure our journalists never do.”
In my seven years at BuzzFeed News, I’ve never faced an “or-else” traffic quota. We’re walking off today, in part, to make sure our journalists never do. pic.twitter.com/BWavn6fndG
“We deserve a strong contract that protects us and ensures a fair and equitable workplace for everyone in our unit,” said Katie Notopoulos, a senior tech reporter.
Reacting to the development, a BuzzFeed spokesman said the company would be back at the negotiating table soon. “There’s a bargaining session planned for next Tuesday where we hope the union will present a response on these issues,” the spokesman said.
Reportedly, BuzzFeed has offered to give its union employees a minimum 2.5% wage increase in total. Out of this, 1% will be guaranteed rise and the rest 1.5% will be distributed across the entire union based on merit.
Buzzfeed shareholders are voting on Thursday to take the company public through the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) 890 5th Avenue Partners Inc. The company is targeting a valuation of $1.5 billion, and if approved by shareholders, it will start trading on the stock market on Monday under the ticker symbol BZFD.
The Buzzfeed spokesperson said about the listing, “the company is gearing up for an incredibly exciting milestone: becoming the first publicly traded digital media company, and acquiring Complex Networks. We couldn’t be more excited about everything that lies ahead for BuzzFeed and its employees.”
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday slammed the leftist lobby for stereotyping his government as being ‘communal’. Speaking to News18 journalist Aman Chopra on the channel’s new initiative ‘News18 India Chaupal- Desh Ka Sabse Bada Manch’, the Assam CM said that he hasn’t given the right to the left lobby to judge him.
“I haven’t given the leftist lobby the authority to judge what is and isn’t communal. I shall do whatever it takes for the sake of Indian civilisation. This is why I came to power and will continue to do so in the future”, said Sarma responding to Aman Chopra’s allegations that he is viewed as a communal leader.
‘If culture is the same, surely whatever happens in its states will be the same as well’, Himanta Biswa Sarma give a befitting reply on he emulating Yogi Adityanath
When the journalist jeers at Himanta Biswa Sarma for emulating his counterpart Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh, the Assam CM exclaimed “In India, the culture and civilisation is one, so obviously whatever happens in its states would also be similar”.
Sarma’s response came when Aman Chopra asked him why he was imitating Yogi Adityanath. The journalist remarked: “Wahan love jihad, yahan love jihad. Waha encounter, yahan encounter. Waha gadi ghoom jaati hain, yahan accidents ho jaate hain, waha bulldozer chalta hain, yahan drug mafia par bulldozer chalta hain (love jihad there, love jihad here. Encounter there, encounter here. Cars overturn there, accidents happen here. Bulldozers there, bulldozers on drug mafia’s here).
To this, Sarma wittily responded: “Waha shaadi, yahan shaadi, UP mein puja, Assam mein bhi Puja, UP mein log kapde pehnte hain, Assam mein bhi log kapde pehente hain” (People get married in UP so as in Assam. People worship in UP as in Assam. People where clothes in UP similar to people in Assam). “Why are you stressing on just one aspect? Talk about other aspects also”, exclaimed Himanta Biswa Sarma compelling Aman Chopra to digress from the topic.
‘I intend to shut all the Madarsas in the state’: Assam CM
The anchor then questioned Himanta Biswa Sarma about his crackdown on Madarsas in the state, to which the Assam chief minister explicitly stated that he plans to close all Madarsas in the state and replace them with regular schools. He said that he does not know how far he would be successful but he sincerely wants to see this transformation happen so that his Muslim brothers and sisters become doctors and engineers and contribute to society rather than just becoming Maulvis by attending Madarsas.
These children are unaware, they are forced to go to Madarsas by their parents. This is a violation of the children’s fundamental rights, which Assam will not allow, said Sarma.
“I have shut Madarsas and opened regular schools instead. The children I have interacted with say they are very happy attending normal school”, added the Assam CM.
Aman Chopra of News18 insinuated that Himanta Biswa Sarma is extremely right-wing by pointing to the route he has taken during his tenure, from opposing Love Jihad to closing Madarsas to declaring “Miya vote nahi chahiye” (no need for Musli votes).
Here, once again, without mincing words, Sarma exclaimed: “Will they vote for me even if I ask them to”?. Sarma further added, “I do not want that my name to go down in history, but Assam should be remembered for providing doctors and engineers to the Muslim community rather than just Maulvis”.
“There could be no bigger contribution of my to Assam’s Muslim community than if I can achieve this in five years,” the CM added.
‘Nadi to samundar tak hi jaayega na, Bharat ek Hindu sabhyata hain aur rahega’: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Sarma, responding to a question on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) said everyone in India was a Hindu before the “Babur era”. “India is a Hindu majority country. Any Hindu facing trouble outside India should have the right to come back to their country. India is the root of every Hindu. Hindutva began 5000 years ago and it cannot be stopped. Hindutva is a way of life. How can I or anybody stop it? It has been flowing through the ages. Almost all of us are descendants of Hindus. Hindutva cannot be “removed” as it will mean “moving away from one’s roots and motherland”, said the CM
“Bharat ek Hindu sabhyata hain aur rahen ga” (India is and will remain a Hindu civilization). It is the inherent right of all Hindus to return to their motherland when in distress and they should be granted this.”
“Nadi to samundar tak hi jaayega na (a river will always flow towards the sea)”, remarked Sarma reiterating that whichever Hindu is facing trouble outside India, they are welcome to the country.
‘Do you have a problem with the opening of Mandirs or beef ban?: Himanta Biswa Sarma to Aman Chopra
Aman Chopra questions Himanta Biswa Sarma led government’s cow protection Bill banning sale and consumption of beef within 5km of temples. He slammed the bill, stating that in order to outlaw beef in the state, the government will allow temples to sprout up every 5 kilometres. The CM lambasted the anchor, querying whether his issue was with the prohibition on beef or the construction of temples. “Do you have a problem with beef ban or with the opening up of temples?
“See, this is a matter of faith. The government cannot intervene if people build temples. But yes, beef sale and consumption within 5 km radius of any temple is banned and that is the law of the state.”
The rhetorics of India being secular is only being peddled since 1947 by the Congress: Assam CM
Here, when the journalist keeps harping that India is a country of Indians, Sarma tells him that the rhetorics of India being a secular country is only being peddled since 1947 by the Congress. “Please revisit history. India has been a land of Hindus for the last 5000 years and will always remain”, said Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Those days have gone. Now I will not talk about Rahul Gandhi, let him talk about me, says Sarma sharing his views on why Congress is being rejected
When the anchor invoked Sarma’s infamous meeting with Rahul Gandhi, in which the Gandhi-scion was busy playing with his pet dog ‘Pidi’ and he had later stated Congress leaders feared Gandhi so much that they ate biscuits from the same plate that had served biscuits to Rahul Gandhi’s dog ‘Pidi’, the Assam CM cut him short by saying: “Those days have gone. Now I will not talk about Rahul Gandhi, let him talk about me”.
When asked about his take on senior Congress leaders ditching the grand old party, Sarma said that people are shunning the feudal mindset. “There was a mindset to follow a family but now it has been changed. New India looks beyond dynasty. Bharat has gone beyond the Gandhis. If you still want to keep a particular family at the centre stage you will be rejected,” said Sarma.
‘Mandir banane ki baat aap sab ko communal kyon lagti hain’: Assam CM questions News18 anchor
Asked his view on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinay Katiyar’s statement where he spoke of reclaiming the Kashi and Mathura temples, Sarma lambasted saying: “If someone says, “we’re going to build a holy site for another community, you’ll give them a “secular certificate” right away. To you, why talking about construction of mandir is seen as communal- why only temple? We are Hindu, we will be Hindu. As a Hindu I am more secular than all the secular,” he said.
“Only if we shun this hunger for secularism, will India become secular in the true sense of the word”, added the Assam CM.
News18 India is hosting its initiative ‘News18 India Chaupal- Desh Ka Sabse Bada Manch’ on December 1-2. The two-day summit will see India’s top politicians, policymakers, sports and film stars come together to discuss and debate on the themes that will set the agenda for 2022 for the country. The program will be telecast on December 1 from 6 pm onwards, and on December 2 from 11 am onwards, on News18 India.
The agenda of this year’s edition is set around themes such as 75 years of Independence, 50 years of India-Pakistan 1971 War (Bangladesh Liberation War), upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab among others, apart from other key socio-political and economic issues, and the way forward.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, BKU Leader Rakesh Tikait, and Bollywood actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Vaani Kapoor, Abhay Deol, among others will take part in the event as speakers.
