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UK-based National Secular Society removes mention of Jews while sharing message on Holocaust Memorial Day

OpIndia Staff
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UK-based National Secular Society removes mention of Jews while sharing message on Holocaust Memorial Day

The National Secular Society (NSS), a membership-based organisation in the United Kingdom is drawing the ire of social media users for removing the word “Jewish” from its post marking Holocaust Memorial Day 2024.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked every year on 27th January to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.

At 2.53 PM, the NSS wrote a post on X, which read, “It’s #HolocaustMemorialDay, when we remember the murder of 6 million Jewish children, women and men in the Holocaust. #LightTheDarkness #FragilityOfFreedom.”

However, the same post was edited about 10 minutes later and the words “Jewish children, women and men” were removed. “It’s #HolocaustMemorialDay, when we remember all the atrocities of the Holocaust. #LightTheDarkness #FragilityOfFreedom,” the post read.

The post has shocked and angered social media users seeing has the Holocaust Memorial Day is marked with remembering the genocide of Jews under Nazi Germany during World War 2.

As per its website, the National Secular Society is a membership-based organisation “campaigning for a freer, fairer, more tolerant society.”

It has been at the “forefront of advocating for the separation of religion and state, safeguarding freedom of belief, and promoting a truly inclusive and fair society for all.”

“We know that where any religion is privileged, people’s freedoms suffer,” it says on its website.

A user on X wrote, “Ah yes, the day when we remember to erase Jews from everything, including… checks notes HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY.”

Another user wrote, “Glad that you’re marking the day. Concerned, as a member, that you felt the need to erase Jewish victims from your memorial. Any explanation?”

“Why did you delete your tweet where you correctly named Jews as the victims of the Holocaust? Why are you doing an “all lives matter” about a very specifically antisemitic atrocity?” an X user wrote.

“You have decided to erase Jews from their own history. Appalling,” said a user on X.

Maharashtra: Maratha reservation march called off as CM Eknath Shinde agrees to demands

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Maratha reservation march called off as CM Eknath Shinde agrees to demands

Manoj Jarange Patil’s advocacy for the Maratha reservation and the protest movement for this demand concluded with partial success. Following an extensive three-hour midnight discussion on the night of 26th January, the Maharashtra state government promptly issued a revised ordinance addressing all of Manoj Jarange’s demands. Consequently, the Maratha march, which had been on the outskirts of Mumbai, will now return in jubilation to celebrate this development.

For the past several months, the Maratha reservation issue has been mired in controversy. A review petition was filed in the Supreme Court. The government was trying to provide a reservation at the state level which would stand the legal and constitutional test as well. Manoj Jarange Patil was on his way to Mumbai from Antarwali Sarati to hold an agitation to demand the Maratha reservation. Lakhs of Marathas accompanied him in the march. Manoj Jarange held a massive public meeting in Vashi on 26th January.

Earlier, a government delegation had interacted with him. Manoj Jarange Patil had given an ultimatum for the day as the final solution was not reached in this discussion. The government delegation again held discussions with Manoj Jarange’s delegation and agreed to all the demands of Manoj Jarange. Importantly, Manoj Jarange has taken government decisions and written letters on all these demands.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde announced that the Maratha community will be given all the rights of OBCs and all the concessions of OBCs till they get reservations. Manoj Jarange Patil has concluded his hunger strike, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally visiting Jarange’s protest site in Vashi to offer him fruit juice. Patil opted to end his fast by consuming the juice provided by Chief Minister Shinde.

In the wee hours of the night, Deepak Kesarkar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, both members of the government delegation, presented the official gazette confirming the acceptance of all the demands put forth by Manoj Jarange. The demands are as explained below:

The ordinance to become a law in the upcoming session

The ordinance on the Maratha reservation will be converted into law in the upcoming session of the state legislative assembly. The next six months have been given to the state government by these protestors to pass the law.

Caste certificate distribution data will be provided

Manoj Jarange Patil had contended throughout his agitation that all Marathas are essentially Kunbis (a caste predominantly involved in farming in Maharashtra). In Maharashtra, Kunbis are covered in the OBC category. Therefore the demand was that all Marathas be given ‘Maratha-Kunbi’ caste certificates. This will automatically enable the Marathas to be eligible for the OBC reservation. To verify the legitimacy of the demand, the administration was involved in checking the records where Marathas were notified as Kunbis. Many such records were found.

Telling about the acceptance of the first demand, Manoj Jarange Patil said, “As many as 54 lakh records of the Maratha community have been recovered. A certificate of records found should be issued immediately. Our fight was that certificates should be issued to their family members immediately. The process has begun. The government will provide the data in a few days.”

Relatives also to get caste certificates

In many cases, records of Marathas being Kunbi were found for a family but no records were found for relatives of the same family. Manoj Jarange Patil had demanded that reservations should also be given to the relatives of those whose Kunbi records can be found. This demand was also accepted and an official government decision was issued in this regard.

Notably, the government has not accepted the demand for a Kunbi certificate for all Marathas at a stroke. The government is examining the records. According to well-informed government sources, the upcoming amendment to the Caste Certificate and Verification Regulation Act will incorporate the term ‘relatives,’ specifically focusing on those within the existing patriarchal system.

If proof of Kunbi caste is available of blood relatives i.e. father, grandfather, great-grandfather or relatives born out of a pre-caste marriage, applicants will be given a Kunbi certificate. If the affidavit is given, the certificate will be issued by the caste certificate authority after a home inquiry. If anyone has any objections to the amendment, they will have to submit it to the state government by 16th February. The state government will then take a decision and a final notification will be issued.

Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said, “Who is to be called relative? This has to be fixed. If not, there may be a fuss about this topic. When using this term, it has to be decided that it should be used if there are close relatives. Again, we have to decide whether the relatives from the boy’s side or the girl’s side are to be called relatives. Until a clear meaning of the word is determined, the word alone may add to the complexity of the reservation.”

Cases withdrawn across the state

Notably, a few months ago, the Maratha reservation movement had turned violent. Many cases of arson and damage to public and private properties were reported. Cases were registered against various Maratha protesters across the state at various places including Antarwali Sarati where a fierce fight between the protestors and police force had left many police personnel seriously injured. The injured police personnel also included women police. Manoj Jarange Patil had also demanded the withdrawal of these cases against Maratha protestors. He said the demand has been accepted and the process of withdrawing the cases has started.

Government decision to add genealogy

The genealogies of Maratha families were not attached across various generations despite there being significant Kunbi records available in the state government records. Attaching the genealogy was also among the demands of the Maratha reservation agitators. A committee has been formed at every taluka level to add genealogy. Fewer records have been found in Marathwada. For this, the 1884 Gazette of the Marathas will be considered. The government has admitted that it will give the Gazette to the Shinde Committee and study how it can be converted into a law. It mentions that Marathwada has the highest number of Kunbis.

Shinde committee gets extension

Manoj Jarange had demanded that the Shinde committee be given an extension to find records in Marathwada. The demand has been accepted and the Shinde committee has been given an extension. While the state government claims to have found more than 54 lakh Kunbi records in the state, Maharashtra has the lowest number of records at 30,000-32,000 in Marathwada. The Shinde Committee’s survey found that Beed district had the highest number of records recorded between 1880 and 1890. However, apart from Beed, documents of these records were not found in Dharashiv, Latur and Nanded districts.

It was believed that there were no ‘Kunbis’ in Marathwada as compared to western Maharashtra. However, after examining the records, things became clearer. The lack of surnames when searching for genealogy is causing problems. Administrative sources believe that there may be difficulties in registering a legacy with an affidavit. The issuance of Kunbi certificates started in October 2023. So far, 12,000 out of 32,000 people have been issued Kunbi certificates. Manoj Jarange Patil demanded an extension of Justice Shinde’s committee due to poor record in Marathwada

Marathas to get benefits in education just like OBCs

OBC concessions will apply to the Maratha community in education. In the first phase of this, 4772 Maratha students will get a certificate in this regard. Eknath Shinde announced that the Maratha community will be given the rights of OBCs and all the concessions of OBCs till they get a reservation by law. Shinde said, “Marathas protested patiently. The state government has accepted all your demands. The state government will work to provide justice to all the corporations and government undertakings meant for the Maratha community. I promise here that this government will fulfil all the demands of the Maratha community and I also congratulate Manoj Jarange.”

Political reactions

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “On the occasion of the birth anniversary of late Shiv Sena Thane district chief Anand Dighe, we organise people-oriented programmes. That is why we have given justice to the community by making a big decision for the Maratha community on this day.”

After the Maratha community called for reservation, the OBC community also staged protests across the state. OBC leaders had opposed the Maratha reservation from reserved seats for OBCs. The government has recently declared the allocation of reservations for the Maratha community within the OBC quota. This decision has elicited dissatisfaction from OBC leader and cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Bhujbal said, “We have to study whether OBCs are being wronged or Marathas are being cheated. They are demanding that all cases be withdrawn. But should the cases against those who burnt houses be withdrawn? Manoj Jarange Patil said that the government should not do new recruitments and reserve seats for them (Marathas). But how many seats to keep reserved? Jarange demanded that 100 per cent education be made free for all members of the Maratha community till the review petition is in court. But why only the Marathas? Why not free education to OBCs, Dalits, Tribals, and Open categories?”

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray posted on his X handle, “Congratulations to Manoj Jarange Patil. The government accepted all your demands! Now only reservation is left. Ask the Chief Minister when Marathas will get a reservation so that our Maratha brothers and sisters will understand the real situation! It is expected that there will be transparency before the Lok Sabha elections!”

Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified what kind of cases will be withdrawn. Devendra Fadnavis said, “The cases have been ordered to be withdrawn and cases of protest will be withdrawn. However, cases of burning houses, direct attacks, and burning of ST buses cannot be withdrawn without a court order.”

Karnataka: 19-year-old who refused to participate in Ambedkar puja paraded half-naked holding Dr B R Ambedkar’s portrait; case registered

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: 19-year-old who refused to participate in Ambedkar puja paraded half-naked holding Dr B R Ambedkar’s portrait; case registered

In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old student from the Lambani community was assaulted, stripped and paraded half-naked, holding Dr BR Ambedkar’s photo in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi on 25th January because he refused to attend ‘Ambedkar Puja (worship)’ in his hostel citing personal reasons. He is a science student at N.V. College and stays at the city’s government-run post-metric dormitory behind the High Court building.

Neelakanth Rathod, the victim’s father who moved to Mumbai in search of work, submitted a lawsuit alleging that late on 24th January some of the students had requested the hostel residents to come to the weekly Ambedkar Puja which is observed on Sundays.

However, his son stated that he couldn’t make it to the program because of other obligations. This infuriated the students who along with others from adjacent colleges began to interrogate him. The youngster was reportedly mistreated, attacked, undressed, and paraded through the streets in a semi-nude state. Upon spotting the police officers close to the High Court, the culprits fled and left him behind.

Later, the footage of the horrifying instance became viral on social media. The young man’s father who was in his hometown of Patwad Tanda in Kamalapur taluk at the time of the occurrence was informed of it and promptly hurried to Kalaburagi to file a First Information Report. 

A case was launched against 15-20 hostel boys under Section 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), Section 505(2) (public mischief), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. All the perpetrators are minors, according to the official complaint.

The instance happened not long after protests against the desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue on 23rd January in Kalaburagi. Late on the previous night, vandals had violated the statue of Ambedkar at Lumbini Gardens in Kotnoor (D) hamlet on the outskirts of the city with a garland of footwear. The next morning, hundreds of people led by several Dalit organisations rallied in the streets against the action after witnessing the marred statue.

Agitators encircled the car of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Kanika Sikriwal at two locations and threw stones at a gas bunk owned by Bharatiya Janata Party city unit president Chandrakanth Patil and demanded the miscreants’ immediate arrest.

In an attempt to defuse the tension, Kanika Sikriwal reached the site of the incident in Kotnoor (D) hamlet and offered a floral tribute to Dr. Ambedkar. The case was reported to the University Police Station and a file was opened. Later, Kanika Sikriwal stated that three teams had been created to apprehend the remaining offenders in addition to the two suspects who had been taken into custody for questioning.

Ex-Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman Zafarul Islam shares old video from Hyderabad to allege harassment of Muslims in Mumbai through ‘Israeli tactics’

OpIndia Staff
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Ex-Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman Zafarul Islam shares old video from Hyderabad to allege harassment of Muslims in Mumbai through ‘Israeli tactics’

Days after the Mumbai police cracked down on Islamists rioting in the Mira Road area, former Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman Zafarul Islam Khan shared an old video from Hyderabad to allege police brutality in Mumbai.

In a tweet (archive) on Friday (26th January), Zafarul Islam claimed, “Unbelievable. Indian police following Israeli tactics for local Indian Muslim youth harassment.”

The tweet was accompanied with a video of cops thrashing a few young men with batons. “Bombay High Court, please take note,” the former Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman tweeted, suggesting that the video is from Mumbai.

On listening closely to the audio, it becomes clear that the concerned video is not from Mumbai. Popular Twitter handle ‘Radical Watch’ pointed out that the video is 2 years old and was recorded in Hyderabad city of Telangana.

As per a report by Siasat Daily dated 25th August 2022, the Hyderabad police arrested 50 men from their homes in Shalibanda after they carried out protests (including stone pelting) against the release of BJP leader Raja Singh.

Zafarul Islam shrewdly withheld this key piece of information and passed the 2-year-old video as a recent development in the hopes of stirring sympathy for his co-religionists involved in recent riots in Mira Road.

On 21st January this year, Hindus carrying out a procession on the eve of Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha were attacked by an Islamist mob at Mira Road in Mumbai.

While the members of the Hindu community were taking out a procession via Mira Road with flags of Bhagwan Ram and Bhagwan Hanuman on their vehicles and chanting, “Jai Shri Ram”, an Islamist mob attacked the procession. 

Zafarul Islam is not new to controversies. In October 2023, he called for the persecution of 8 ex-Indian Navy officers, who were handed the death penalty by the Qatari government.

In April 2020, he shared a provocative post on Facebook to thank Kuwait for “standing with the Indian Muslims”. Zafarul Islam Khan attacked the Hindus by referring to them as “Hindutva bigots”, who according to him miscalculated the reaction of the Arab world to the “persecution of Muslims in India”.

In his post, Khan went on to assert that Indian Muslims enjoy huge goodwill in the Arab and Muslim world for their services over centuries to Islamic causes. His post comes amidst reports that Kuwait had expressed concern regarding the alleged atrocities against Muslims in the country amidst coronavirus outbreak.

He also hailed notorious radical Islamist and terror sympathiser Zakir Naik in his post as he claimed people like Naik are respectful household names in the Arab region and Muslim world.

“Mind you, bigots, Indian Muslims have opted until now not to complain to the Arab and Muslim world about your hate campaigns and lynchings and riots. The day they are pushed to do that, bigots will face avalanche,” the ex-Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission added.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police reportedly had booked Zafarul Islam, the then Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, for sedition (IPC Section 124A) and promoting religious animosity (IPC Section 153A).

Later, he tendered an apology saying that his statement was a little ‘out of proportion’ and that he would continue to defend India on crucial issues as doing otherwise would be against the Constitution and his religious beliefs.

In April 2022, Zafarul Islam Khan went on to downplay the atrocities perpetrated by Islamists in Khargone during Ram Navami. He took to Twitter to call out a Hindu victim of the Khargone violence who had spoken to the media about the betrayal he faced from his Muslim neighbours. Despite there being video evidence of the Hindu victim’s confession on the public platform, Khan went on to insinuate that the Hindu victim was lying.

Ditched by alliance partners in Bengal and Punjab, relief for Congress in UP: SP agrees to give 11 seats to Congress to contest in Lok Sabha 2024

OpIndia Staff
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Ditched by alliance partners in Bengal and Punjab, relief for Congress in UP: SP agrees to give 11 seats to Congress to contest in Lok Sabha 2024

In a major relief for Congress and I.N.D.I.A. bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (27th January) announced that his party’s alliance with the Congress is “off to a good start“. According to Akhilesh Yadav, his party has agreed to give 11 “strong” Lok Sabha seats in the state to the Congress party. However, as per media reports citing sources, Congress has not agreed to this formula.

Taking to X, the Samajwadi Party Supremo tweeted, “Our cordial alliance with Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. ‘I.N.D.I.A.’ team and the ‘PDA’ strategy will change history.”

As per media reports, the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress party has not accepted the deal, adding that it is not the Congress’ decision but rather taken by Akhilesh Yadav. 

India Today reported that party sources had earlier stated that Congress was eying to contest 50 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. 

However, responding to reports that Congress leaders have rejected the 11-seat formula, the Samajwadi Party issued a clarification. The party said that it was a proposal and seats allocated for the Congress party under the I.N.D.I. alliance banner could be increased. According to the SP, if Congress informs Akhilesh Yadav about candidates who could win more seats, the quota for Congress could get higher. 

Meanwhile, it is important to note that recently Akhilesh Yadav had lambasted the Congress party for the ongoing fissures within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. In an interview with India Today on Friday, Yadav said that the enthusiasm is completely missing in the Congress party to hold discussions with I.N.D.I. alliance partners.  

The Former Uttar Pradesh CM lamented, “Congress should have come forward. The enthusiasm that Congress needed to show in discussing and engaging with the INDIA alliance was missing.”  

Meanwhile, earlier on 19th January, Akhilesh Yadav had announced seat-sharing with Jayant Chaudhary’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and allocated 7 seats to the junior alliance partner. Another regional heavyweight, BSP, has announced to contest alone in the state. 

Uttar Pradesh, which has given the most Prime Ministers to the country, has 80 Lok Sabha seats, which is the highest in the country. In 2014 and 2019, BJP, along with its allies, registered landslide victories, securing 73 and 62 seats respectively. 

The Congress, which won 2 seats in 2014 in UP, ended up losing its once-stronghold Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani and won only 1 seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

Major relief for Congress and I.N.D.I.A. bloc

While the Samajwadi Party clarified that it was Akhilesh Yadav’s 11-seat formula was just a proposal, the announcement comes as a major relief for Congress and the I.N.D.I. alliance. Earlier, the alliance suffered huge setbacks when the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab deserted the alliance.

Earlier on 24th January, All India Trinamool Congress head and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee snapped ties with Congress and announced that her party would fight alone in the state.

“I gave many proposals but they rejected them from the beginning. From then, we have decided to fight the elections in Bengal alone,” Ms Banerjee had said.

The Bengal Chief Minister also claimed she was not informed of Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra passing through Bengal, contrary to claims by the Congress that they had invited I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties to join the Yatra. The TMC also later denied permission for the Yatra to enter Siliguri.  

It was followed by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who delivered a further setback to the I.N.D.I. alliance. He declared that AAP will not form a coalition with the Congress party in the state and contest on all 13 seats in the state. 

Additionally, there are widespread media reports that another alliance partner, JD(U) could also give a massive setback to the opposition alliance and jump ship to join NDA in days to come.  

MP: Police arrest 22 people in connection with the installation, and removal of Sardar Patel’s statue in Ujjain

ANI
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MP: Police arrest 22 people in connection with the installation, and removal of Sardar Patel’s statue in Ujjain

Twenty-two people have been arrested so far in connection with the installation and removal of a statue of a great personality (Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel) in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district, a police official said on Saturday.

The installation and removal of a statue of the eminent personality occurred near Krishi Upaj Mandi under the jurisdiction of Makdone police station in the district on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sachin Sharma said, “An incident had come to light under Makdone police station where a statue of a great personality was installed, which was against the rules and the way it was removed from there was also against the law. Therefore, three cases were registered in this matter and the accused identified in this case are being continuously arrested.”

“The first case was against the government employee who created hindrance during duty. In the second case, 16 accused were identified who were arrested on Friday and in the third case in six people were identified, especially those who had stalled the idol were taken into custody so far and action was being taken against them,” SP Sharma said.

The situation is normal now, the markets started functioning smoothly within two hours of the clash incident and no such situation has arisen again anywhere, he added.

Notably, on Thursday morning, a statue of the great personality installed near Krishi Upaj Mandi by people of one group, was removed by another group as a result of which a clash broke out in the district. Upon getting the information about the incident, the police immediately reached the spot and talked to both parties.

Earlier, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Guru Prasad Parashar said that a Sub Inspector (SI) of Makdone police station, Lalchand Sharma, had sustained injuries in the incident and Prima facie, Makdone station in charge Bhim Singh Deora was suspended for serious negligence in the incident.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

“Congress has lost its strength”: After TMC, AAP & SP, now seat-sharing tensions emerge between DMK-Congress as INDI Alliance withers

OpIndia Staff
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“Congress has lost its strength”: After TMC, AAP & SP, now seat-sharing tensions emerge between DMK-Congress as INDI Alliance withers

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are fast approaching and the INDI Alliance is withering away just as fast. After being jolted by AAP and TMC, the Congress has now been hit by its ally in Tamil Nadu, the DMK.

A minister of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu took a dig at the Congress saying that the party was running only to get the seats for its own in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Calling the Congress party “big and old”, DMK Minister Raja Kannappan said that the party had now “lost its strength”.

“As far as the INDIA bloc is concerned, our leader spoke about it even a day back. Congress is a big and old party. I’m not denying that. But they have lost their strength,” he said.

“As far as the Congress is concerned, they run the party only to get seats. What’s the use of that? They don’t run the party thinking they should work hard or do good for the people. But when elections come closer, they will come. This doesn’t work amongst the people,” he said while addressing an event in Puducherry.

He added, “That’s why the BJP is trying to do too much. The BJP can’t do that with us. We don’t get scared. We will chase them away. We will take care of BJP.”

DMK and Congress are allies in Tamil Nadu. The two parties are reportedly set to hold the first round of formal seat-sharing talks in Chennai on Sunday (28th January) for the upcoming general elections.

Meanwhile, DMK Chief MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has appealed to the INDI bloc to stay united. He told his allies that “votes against the BJP should not split”.

This comes as another embarrassing setback for the Congress and INDI alliance what with the TMC and AAP declaring that they will fight the Lok Sabha elections alone in their respective states that is West Bengal and Punjab.

Now, developments in Bihar are also unfolding much to the detriment of Congress. JDU’s Nitish Kumar, as reports suggest, is likely to switch sides for the nth time after abandoning the BJP to join the Mahagatbandhan.

Meanwhile, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav announced on Saturday (27th January) that Congress will contest elections on 11 seats in UP. However, India Today has quoted its sources as saying that the Congress leadership has rejected this formula.

The Congress unit in UP has rejected this deal and said that this decision is of Akhilesh Yadav and not of the Congress party. UP has the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats.

Gilgit-Baltistan economy paralysed as the region comes to a standstill amid massive protests against hikes in subsidised wheat prices and power outages

OpIndia Staff
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Gilgit-Baltistan economy paralysed as the region comes to a standstill amid massive protests against hikes in subsidised wheat prices and power outages

On 26th January (Friday), everything came to a standstill in the Pakistan-occupied territories of Gilgit-Baltistan after the residents marked a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across the region, as reported by Pakistani outlet Dawn. Notably, the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Gilgit-Baltistan have been demonstrating and staging protests against the hike in the subsidised wheat price in all districts as well as massive power outages in the region. 

As per the Dawn report, traffic movement remained suspended. Shops, markets, restaurants, and trade centres were closed in various areas of Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Astore, Shighar, Ghanche, Khar­mang, Hunza, and Nagar. On account of the transport halt, attendance in private and government offices and educational institutions remained low. 

The call for a widespread strike was given by the Awami Action Committee (AAC) in consultation with the associations representing traders, transporters, and hotel owners, Dawn added. As per reports, the call for a strike was given after negotiations between an AAC delegation and the government to end the protest failed to produce any positive outcome. 

The protestors have pledged to stage demonstrations until the government withdrew its decision to increase subsidised wheat prices. However, it is important to note that the strikes are the latest phase of the protest that has been going on for the last month against the Gilgit-Baltistan government’s decision to raise the subsidised wheat prices.

Taking to X, a researcher at the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS), Pakistan, Maryam S Khan stated that the largest telecom operator of PoK, Special Communications Organisation, has blocked internet services in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Khan also retweeted a post that read, “As protests grow stronger over wheat subsidy issue, SCOM @hq_sco has blocked internet services in Gilgit-Baltistan.” 

Another X user shared a video of Senator Farhatullah Babar in which he stressed that Gilgit-Baltistan is the only region of Pakistan where people do not own their lands. 

He said, “Gilgit-Baltistan is the only region of Pakistan where people do not own their lands, Pakistan does not implement the 18th amendment in GB because after that people will become the owners of their own lands. This is an area being denied.” 

The AAC chief organiser Ehsan Ali alleged that GB residents had been deprived of their basic rights for the past seven decades. Ali said, “Currently, the GB people have been facing 22 hours of electricity outages, despite spending billions of rupees annually from public funds.” 

Earlier, a team comprised of several government officials met with the protestors. The officials had met them on the orders of the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister requesting the protestors to call off their protest. They had assured them that their demand would be met. However, the protestors pledged not to call off their protest until the decision to increase the price of subsided wheat was revoked. 

Later, while addressing protesters in Gilgit, the ACC chief organiser announced ‘plan B’ of the movement. He called for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across the region on Friday. Meanwhile, marches from various areas of the region towards Gilgit and Skardu began today on Saturday (27th January). 

Further, as per reports, the residents of Diamer, Astore, Hunza, Nagar, and Ghizer will march towards Gilgit. Protesters from Shigar, Kharmang, and Ghanche will march towards Skardu. The demonstrators have further warned that if their demands were not fulfilled, they would block the Karakoram Highway. 

When the calls for a strike intensified, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah met Pakistani President Dr Arif Alvi in Islamabad on Friday. The duo discussed the overall situation in the region, including wheat subsidy and power outages among other issues.

According to a statement issued by the office of the Pakistani President, he told the governor that he had raised the issue with the caretaker Prime minister, and finance minister and hoped that it would be resolved soon.

Yogi Adityanath fulfils the wish of Asian Games gold medalist Parul Chaudhary to become DSP. Here is the backstory

OpIndia Staff
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Yogi Adityanath fulfils the wish of Asian Games gold medalist Parul Chaudhary to become DSP. Here is the backstory

On Saturday (27th January), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath fulfilled the wish of Asian Games gold medalist Parul Chaudhary, who wanted to become the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the UP police cadre.

In a tweet posted by the Uttar Pradesh index, it said, “Promise delivered! Parul Chaudhary is now officially DSP, UP Police. Appointment letter handed over by CM Yogi today.”

Parul Chaudhary scripted history in October 2023 by becoming the first Indian woman to win a 5000-metre race in the Asian Games. She had also clinched the silver medal in the 3000-metre steeplechase.

A native of Eklota village in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh, Parul Chaudhary worked as a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) for Western Railways in Mumbai.

Following her victory in the 5000-metre race in the Asian Games, the athlete was heard saying, “In our UP, it takes a gold medal to get you the post of DSP. I hope this effort gets me that position.”

“In the last 50 metres, I was thinking that my government would give me a nice job. If it is a DSP, nothing like it,” she further added. Parul Chaudhary has now been made the DSP in the Uttar Pradesh police cadre by the Yogi government.

Husband duty-bound to provide maintenance to wife even if he has no income; can earn Rs 350-400 as unskilled labourer: Allahabad HC

OpIndia Staff
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Husband duty-bound to provide maintenance to wife even if he has no income; can earn Rs 350-400 as unskilled labourer: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court recently emphasised that a husband bears the duty of providing maintenance to his wife under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), even if he has no income from his job. The court, led by Justice Renu Agarwal, referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Anju Garg vs Deepak Kumar Garg (2022 LiveLaw (SC) 805), highlighting that a husband, if able-bodied, must earn money through physical labour, unless legally excused as per the statute.

The context of this statement arose in a criminal revision plea filed by a husband under Section 19(4) of the Family Court Act. The husband contested an order from a Family Court in Unnao, issued under Section 125 CrPC, directing him to pay Rs 2,000 per month as maintenance to his wife from the date of application.

The husband claimed that after marrying his wife in May 2015, she returned to her parental home just four days into their married life. Despite his efforts to reconcile, she refused to return. He further argued that his suit under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act for restitution of conjugal rights was pending, but his wife filed a maintenance application under Section 125 CrPC. The family court granted maintenance without considering her voluntary departure from their matrimonial home without a valid reason, as she had been residing at her parental home since January 2016.

The husband, stating he was a labourer suffering from serious illness and residing in a rented accommodation, contended that his wife, a graduate, was earning enough to sustain herself.

Contrarily, the wife asserted that she left her matrimonial home due to dowry-related cruelty. She argued that the husband owned agricultural land, worked in a factory with a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000, and earned an additional R—50,0000 monthly from his salary, milk products business, and agricultural land.

Examining the facts, the court noted that the family court, after reviewing evidence of the husband’s medical treatment, found no serious illness. While the wife failed to provide evidence of the husband’s work in a salt factory or running a Maruti Van on rent, the court maintained clear evidence of the husband being healthy, capable of earning money and obligated to maintain his wife.

“For the sake of argument, if the court presumed that revisionist has no income from his job or from the rent of Maruti Van, even then revisionist is duty bound to provide maintenance to his wife, as is held Apex Court in the case of Anju Garg Vs. Deepak Kumar Garg 2022 and if he engaged himself in labour work also too then also he may earn as un-skilled labour about Rs.350/- to Rs.400/- per day as minimum wages,” the Court noted.

In addition, the court observed that the revisionist failed to present any evidence during the trial indicating that his wife was engaged in adultery, which could have disqualified her from receiving maintenance.

Considering this context, the court rejected his revision plea and affirmed the family court’s decision. The family court had instructed him to pay Rs. 2000/- per month from the date of the application, with the maintenance arrears to be settled in five convenient quarterly equal instalments.

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