Rahul Gandhi to lay foundation for Jeans Park soon: Minister MB Patil
Ballari: In a dramatic turn of events, the state govt has promised to expedite the development of the proposed Jeans Park in Ballari, following the shutdown of 36 jeans washing units for pollution violations. The units, closed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) following a suo motu case brought forth by the Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa, are expected to reopen soon, with chief minister Siddaramaiah approving the restart of operations for units with their own effluent treatment plants. Minister for large and medium industries, MB Patil, announced on social media that the first phase of the Jeans Park project has acquired 158 acres of land, with plans to acquire an additional 400 acres in the next phase. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and diversify Ballari’s economy, currently reliant on minerals. The project’s foundation stone will be laid by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he added The formation of the Jeans Park would include jeans manufacturing units, washing and finishing units, export zones, training and skill development centres, and entrepreneurship support systems. The govt has allocated Rs 11 crore each from KKRDB and KIADB to build a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) to treat polluted water. The CETP, proposed in 2010, faced delays due to funding issues. Officials estimate the plant will take 6-12 months to complete. Earlier, the Jeans Entrepreneurs Association prepared a DPR for a Rs 24 crore plant and submitted it to the district administration, but the project was shelved due to various reasons, including lack of funds. Ballari City MLA Nara Bharat Reddy confirmed the govt’s commitment to supporting the industry, with the CM announcing funds for the CETP. However, officials said the establishment of the CETP might take at least six months to one year to complete. This quick response from the govt reflects the altered scenario, which is perceived as a positive development. The industry is projected to recover following the formal inauguration of the Jeans Park. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shashi Tharoor’s post praising Trump-Mamdani meeting gives BJP ammo to attack Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Lauding the cordial meeting between US President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Saturday said “this is how democracy should work and hoped to see this happen in India”. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla commended Tharoor for his remarks and said he hoped that Rahul Gandhi would get the message. After months of attacks against each other during the high voltage New York City mayoral election, Trump and Mamdani adopted a mutually warm tone during their first meeting at the White House in Washington DC. Reposting on X a video of a media interaction where Trump and Mamdani took questions on their meeting, Tharoor said, “This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it’s over, and the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve.” “I would love to see more of this in India, and I’m trying to do my part,” the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram added. Reacting to Tharoor’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a post on X said, “Once again, Shashi Tharoor reminds Congress to put India first, not Parivar. To behave democratically and not like sore losers. But will Rahul Gandhi get the message? One more Fatwa loading against Shashi?” Poonawala posed in a post on X. On November 18, Tharoor’s praise for PM Narendra Modi’s speech at a media function triggered a social media storm with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit asking Tharoor to explain how BJP’s policies, which are against Congress’s principles, are helping the country and why he is staying on in Congress if he agrees with BJP. AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also said that she did not find find any reason to praise the PM’s speech. On Nov 9, Congress had “dissociated” itself from Tharoor’s statement praising veteran BJP leader L K Advani and made it clear that “like always he speaks for himself and the fact that he continues to do so as a CWC member reflects the party’s democratic and liberal spirit”. Congress’s remarks had come after Tharoor, reacting to criticism over his birthday greetings for Advani, said reducing the veteran BJP leader’s long years of service to one episode, however significant, is unfair. He also said that when the totality of Jawaharlal Nehru’s career cannot be judged by the China setback and Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone, he believes “we should extend the same courtesy to Advaniji”. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Sleeping parties cannot win elections, says Ghulam Nabi Azad taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi
Kolhapur: Former Union minister of parliamentary affairs and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his two-day visit to Kolhapur, took a dig at Congress politician Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Sleeping political parties cannot win elections. After winning the elections in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his readiness to win West Bengal. While other party netas, even at the time of the election, don’t go to that state. Elections cannot be won with such a method of working.” Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Azad also reacted to doubts on the electoral process, alleging that those who accuse EVMs have no concrete evidence and only raise doubts after defeat. “When there is a victory, the same EVM seems right, and when there is a defeat, suddenly the machine is found guilty,” he said. Azad criticised opposition parties for engaging with voters only during elections rather than over a full term. He added, “There are two types of political parties: One that works across five years, and the other that wakes up only at the time of elections. Those who claimed ‘vote chori’ throughout the year were defeated.” Commenting on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Azad said, “Jammu and Kashmir was severely impacted by the Pahalgam terrorist attack. After the attack, tourism suddenly collapsed, thousands of tourists cancelled their tours to Kashmir, and the tourism sector, which is the backbone of the state’s economy, was hit hard. This attack had a major impact on small hotels, tourist vehicle drivers, and tour guides.” He expressed firm belief that the situation has now changed and there is no possibility of such a major terrorist attack. Azad appealed to tourists to come to Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as a paradise in India. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Chirag to revive Dalit Sena, embark on Bihar Yatra soon
Patna: Union minister and LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday said the party would embark on a Bihar Yatra to identify the state’s smaller issues. Chirag also said the Dalit Sena would be revived and reorganised under the leadership of Jamui MP Arun Bharti. He added that his party’s foundation day will be celebrated in a grand manner in Patna on Nov 28. Chirag said he wished to expand his party’s footprint beyond Bihar to states such as West Bengal, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and plans to contest as an NDA partner. “We won 19 out of the 29 seats contested within the NDA because of the people’s blessings and PM Narendra Modi’s support to our party. The LJP (RV) has been given two ministerial berths in Bihar. I am satisfied. How greedy can Chirag be,” he said, laughing. LJP (RV) MLA Sanjay Kumar (Paswan) has been allocated sugar cane industries, while Mahua MLA Sanjay Singh has been given the PHED ministry. Singh defeated RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s elder son and Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav. Chirag also criticised the opposition RJD and Congress for blaming SIR and vote theft instead of undertaking self-introspection on why people have rejected them since 2005. “Even the third generation of Lalu ji will not come to power if they keep making excuses. Their mindset and thinking caused the downfall of RJD and Congress. We also suffered defeat but assessed where we went wrong. After defeat, you need to do some honest introspection,” Chirag said. The LJP (RV) chief said his party set up its organisation in all districts of Bihar and worked hard, which is reflected in the election results. “In these 5 years, the party further increased its vote share from 2020 elections. This time, we contested just 29 seats, but we touched 5% vote share. This reflects a constant growth of LJP (RV),” he said. Replying to a query on the accusation of ‘parivarvad’ in politics, the son of former Union minister late Ram Vilas Paswan said everything depends on competence. “My party was dismantled in 2021, but because of competence, I revived it,” Chirag said. He added that his estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras congratulated him on the party’s success in the assembly elections. “I accept it. My uncle said so many things against me, but still he is my elder and I have his blessings,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Rising from the Dust’ Dalit Stories from Bengal
“Let me forget that I was born in the dust; there is no dust within me…” ‘Chandalika’, Rabindranath Tagore In hand is a compilation of twelve short stories from both female and male Dalit caste and non-Dalit writers. Dalits have also been categorized as a ‘Backward Caste’, ‘Untouchables’ and are subject to systematic social exclusion. The collection presents a painstaking perception in the translation from Bangla into English. We have an immensely praise-worthy undertaking by Aruna Chakravarti, a Kolkata Bangali writer and translator residing in New Delhi. As a reviewer, I quote Chakravarti in her ‘Translator’s Note’ in her book: “shakes the reader both intellectually and emotionally.” She has in ‘Rising from the Dust’ achieved both. The first short story ‘Fortress’ written by Manoranjan Byapari, shook me to the core. This is a raw and unsettling read. The ability of the translator to transfer the Bangla text into such impactful English is both evocative and haunting. How to convey desperate nuances? She has selected and translated chilling and compelling writing, painfully profound till the last paragraph. We are reading a masterful handling of the tone and meaning conveying Bangla expressions. Every day expressions in one language do not easily convey the essence and atmospheric content of the written output. Lives are ‘Rising from the Dust’ at times. However, at what cost? Life? Is this salvation? Is heart break or surrender survival? These short stories linger long after the book closes. How do short stories, a form of literature convey in such a short space the intense context of ‘Rising from the Dust’? It is an immensely impactful literature achievement by the writers. Aruna Chakravarti is the recipient of numerous prestigious literary awards; Vaitalik Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Sarat Puraskar. Her first novel ‘The Inheritors’ was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Her second, ‘Jorasanko’ and its sequel ‘Daughters of Jorasanko’ remain best sellers. In fact, upon a second visit to Rabindranath Tagore’s family home in Kolkata, I was told by a young guide that “the footfall of visitors to Jorasanko has increased immensely since the publication of the above two books.” (I have reviewed both.) ‘Suralakshmi Villa’ received ‘Novel of the year (India 2020) by Indian Bibliography published in The Journal of Commonwealth Literature U.K. ‘The Mendicant Prince’ (2022) is known historically in both Bangladesh and West Bengal. It is inspired by the legendary Bhawal Sannyasi case. (Also have reviewed.) Her translated works include an anthology of songs from Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Gitabitaan’, Saratchandra Chattopadhyay’s ‘Srikanta’ and Sunil Gangopadhyay’s ‘Those Days, First Light and Primal Woman: Stories.’ The book title is ‘Rising from the Dust’ Dalit Stories from Bengal. And not ‘Risen from the Dust.’ Chakravarti’s book is reflective of the social dictates, the personal sacrifices and even the loss of lives in an environment that despite every initiative of the individual; continues to impact. The selection of stories portrays the patriarchal societies in dominance; the male oriented moral framework. Of the twelve chapters, female lives are particularly characterized. Their livelihood and lives; provide little light in the tough tunnel of existence. Deprivation and exploitation; from birth, through adolescence into adulthood and old age is common. Unheard echoes from a marginally discriminated population remain subject to communal dust. There are two selections of the writings of Mahasweta Devia. In ‘Notes on Contributors’ assembled by Aruna Chakravarti; the author sketch informs us that “Her specialization lies in her studies of Adivasis, Dalits and other marginalized people of India…Her works have been widely translated and she has been the recipient of several prestigious awards in India…One of her novels was shortlisted for the Man Booker Award and she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2012.” She was born in 1926 in Dhaka and passed away in Kolkata in 2016. Mahasweta Devia was not a member of the marginalized Dalit caste. I have selected ‘The True Life Story of Uli-Buli’s Mother’ as presentation of the essence and depth of her writings and acute ability of the translator to convey the entirety of the text. Four other presentations highlighting a selective text follow. “Uli-Buli were the twin girls she gave birth to. “Shame on you!” my husband used to say. ‘First one girl, then another; and now two together! I”ll find myself another wife.’ ‘Do that, I would weep and plead. But don’t drive me away. I’ll move out of the house and live in the cowshed with the bull calf…I work in five houses even now, cleaning cowsheds and making dung cakes. I’ll feed myself…I summoned up all my courage and approached the village elders. No land. No roof above my head.’ I wept. ‘Where will I live? I have four daughters.” In response, Uli-Buli’s father says: ‘Why does she give birth to girls?…I’ve heard Dada say that she went prancing to the pond anytime she felt like it. She would eat mussel chachhari on Saturdays! Won’t evil spirits enter such a woman’s body and spoil her womb?” “Twelve greybeards sat with long faces…The decision was reached that husbands would be found for the two older girls…One bridegroom needed a second wife and the other a third. Everything was sold. The house and land, the bull calf, my nose stud and ear-rings…” “I would beg during the day and sleep under the porch at night. And it was from there that my Uli and Buli were stolen…” The twins were a year old and sold to a hospital. Four years later, she comes to know of this happening and searches for her twin daughters for twenty-three years. “Her daughters would have been twenty-four years old today…wouldn’t they?…She doesn’t understand that. She searches her one-year olds. She thinks she will find them someday…She howls and beats her breasts. Swears and curses. Rushes at them. She looks the way she does but she’s really quite young…Perhaps all women with a life story like Uli-Buli’s mother look like her.” *A story to tell and tough to look away. Reviewer* Another entry is ‘Motho’s Daughter’
Attempted rape of Dalit woman, brothers beat her: Khaga’s Hathgaon police accused of inaction
A case of attempted rape and subsequent assault of a Dalit woman has come to light in the Hathgaon police station area of Fatehpur district. The victim has filed a complaint at the police station, but it is alleged that the police have not taken any action in the matter. This incident raises questions about the crime control efforts of Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Singh. In her complaint, the victim stated that a young man named Harishankar alias Bachaniya Vishwakarma suddenly entered her house while she was bathing. The accused entered the bathroom, grabbed the victim, threw her to the ground, and attempted to rape her. When the victim raised an alarm, Harishankar’s brothers, Rinku Vishwakarma and Pintu Vishwakarma, also entered the house. The two brothers hurled casteist slurs at the victim and assaulted her. They also threatened to kill her if she complained, after which they fled. The victim immediately filed a written complaint at the local police station, but the police merely offered assurances and dismissed the matter. According to sources, a man from the village has been seen actively involved in the incident at the police station, raising questions about the police’s inaction. Meanwhile, the accused, Harishankar alias Bachaniya Vishwakarma, has admitted to being assaulted by his brothers. A video of the incident is also rapidly going viral on social media. When contacted via mobile phone, station in-charge Durgesh Prasad Gupta stated that such a case had not yet come to his attention. It is possible that the victim came to the police station and left after submitting a complaint. The case will be investigated, and if the accused did indeed commit such an act against the woman, the culprits will be identified and strict legal action will be taken. Vikash Trivedi Courtesy: Hindi News
187 of 1,700 transgender electors in Bihar voted; one contested
In an election which set record for maximum number of voter turnout in the state since the first assembly polls in 1951, the voting percentage among transgender electors was recorded at 10.99 per cent. New Delhi: The representation of transgender persons in the just-held Bihar elections remained dismal with only 187 (excluding postal votes) of the total 1,701 (including service voters) registered electors turning up at polling stations to cast vote. There was only one trans gender candidate who fought the election and lost deposit, data shared by the Election Commission shows. According to the data, the strength of registered transgender elector was 1701 out of the total electorate of 7.47 crore. In an election which set record for maximum number of voter turnout in the state since the first assembly polls in 1951, the voting percentage among transgender electors was recorded at 10.99 per cent. The overall voter turnout stood at 67.25 per cent in the two-phased election held earlier this month. Only one trans gender contested the poll and lost deposit for not securing the minimum votes, the data shows. There were 2,616 candidates in fray and 243 won, while 2,107 lost deposit. According to election law, a candidate contesting an assembly poll has to make a security deposit of Rs 10,000, which is Rs 5,000 for a candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste or Tribe. If a defeated candidate fails to secure more than one sixth of the valid votes polled in the constituency, they lose the security deposit. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnal News: Toilets to be built for the disabled, transgender people, and women in the court complex
Karnal. Preparations have begun to provide clean and safe toilet facilities for the disabled, women, and members of the transgender community visiting the court complex. The Public Works Department will construct a state-of-the-art toilet at a cost of approximately ₹13 lakh. This well-equipped toilet will prove to be a major relief for visitors to the complex. The most distinctive feature of the toilet complex is a separate restroom for women, where they can breastfeed their young children. Women, litigants, and other women often faced inconvenience during lengthy court proceedings. The toilets will feature special ramps, wide doorways, and wheelchair-friendly designs for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to use the facilities without assistance. Many disabled people visiting the court have been demanding this facility for years. For the first time, separate toilets are being provided for the transgender community in the court complex. The department states that this step is an important initiative towards providing equal dignity and convenience to all citizens. ———–Construction work will begin soon. The goal is to complete it within the stipulated timeframe. The toilets will also include modern sanitation, safe water, ventilation, and regular maintenance. – Rajkumar, XEN, PWD Courtesy: Hindi News
Lord Ram is ‘fictional’… Varanasi court orders Rahul Gandhi to appear in court on December 18th in the statement case.
Varanasi Court on Rahul Gandhi: The Varanasi court has ordered Rahul Gandhi to appear in court on December 18th at all costs. The order came in a case alleging that Lord Ram is fictitious. Varanasi: The Varanasi court in Uttar Pradesh has ordered Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to appear in court on December 18th. The hearing in the case filed against the Congress MP has been postponed once again. Rahul Gandhi and his lawyer did not appear in court on Friday, prompting Special Judge, MP-MLA Court, Yajurved Vikram Singh, to refuse to proceed. The next hearing in the case will now be held on December 18th. The court has clearly stated that Rahul Gandhi or his lawyer must appear in court on the next date, only then will the case progress. What is the whole matter? This controversy is related to Rahul Gandhi’s alleged statement, which he made on April 21st during a session with students at Brown University in New York, USA. Petitioner Advocate Harishankar Pandey alleges that Rahul Gandhi, at that event, described Lord Shri Ram as “mythological” and the stories as “fictional.” This statement hurt the sentiments of Hindus. India will not wage war against us… Pakistan is scared, now said this in the name of Trump. Congress and Rahul Gandhi have been continuously commenting on Sanatan symbols. Based on this, Harishankar Pandey filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi on May 12th. Why is the case dragging on? On May 17th, the Special Chief Judicial Magistrate, MP-MLA Court, dismissed the complaint. Following this, Harishankar Pandey filed a revision petition in the District Judge Court on September 26th. In the revision petition, he challenged the previous decision and demanded action. The court will now first debate the maintainability of the petition. After this, it will be decided whether a case can be filed against Rahul Gandhi. Petitioner’s Serious Allegations Advocate Harishankar Pandey stated that Rahul Gandhi has hurt the nation’s faith by questioning the existence of Lord Ram. He is a “traitor to Ram” and is insulting Hindu society abroad. Therefore, an FIR and a case should be filed against him for his statement. He demanded strict action from the court. What was the original statement? During a session held abroad, Rahul Gandhi was asked what secular politics should be like in the era of Hindu nationalism. In response, Rahul Gandhi stated that India’s great reformers, Buddha, Guru Nanak, Gandhi, and Ambedkar, were compassionate and tolerant without discrimination. The BJP’s viewpoint, however, does not represent Hinduism and is hate-mongering. The petitioner states that in this context, he called Lord Ram mythological and the stories fictional. The court has clarified that without his presence on the next date, the hearing will not be possible. The maintainability of the case will be debated on December 18th. After this, it will be decided whether to proceed against Rahul Gandhi. The case is now being discussed. Curated by: Rahul Parashar About the Author Rahul Parashar is a senior journalist at Navbharat Times Online. He has 20 years of experience in politics, current affairs, development, bureaucracy, education, health, and ground reporting. Early in his career, he covered administration and civic issues. He also learned the ropes of political journalism in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
Now, BJP uses Indira peace prize as ammo to target Congress
NEW DELHI: BJP on Friday said the ‘Indira Gandhi Peace Prize’ given by Congress to former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was a vindication of PM Narendra Modi’s assertion that the opposition party’s DNA had now become ‘Muslim-Maoist Congress.’ “People like George Soros and Michelle Bachelet remain involved in anti-India activities at the international level. They attack India’s Constitution and our democratic mandate. Rahul Gandhi was already associated with them, and now Sonia Gandhi is not far behind,” said BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia at a press conference, citing Sonia’s presence when Bachelet was given the award. He called Congress an “army of traitors” days after its parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development to Bachelet. Bhatia also slammed Congress for the presence of Jagdish Tytler at the event and asked Sonia if she didn’t feel the pain of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. BJP’s objection to the awardee stems from her remarks expressing concern over the lockdown in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, among other factors. Bhatia said, “The Congress’ DNA is anti-India. It presented the award to Michelle Bachelet, who attacks India’s sovereignty.” The BJP spokesperson said Bachelet, the former UN Human Rights chief, had disfavoured the abrogation of Article 370, alleging human rights violations in Kashmir, and also raised objections to the implementation of National Register of Citizens in Assam. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights