Page 18 - Social Issues
"Privileged, powerful groups" vote rarely discussed: Owaisi
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday said "cringe-worthy" discussions take place in every election about Dalit, Muslim and OBC voters, but rarely are debates held on how "privileged and powerful groups" vote. "Every election, we have cringe-worthy discussions about Dalit, Muslim & OBC voters. But rarely do we ever discuss how privileged, powerful groups vote. No insulting terms such as "appeasement", "votebank" & "caste card" are used for them," he tweeted. He was responding to media reports on why "upper caste Hindus voted for BJP like never before".
3 taken into custody for fake messages in social media: Cops
: Three people were Thursday taken into custody here for allegedly posting fake messages on social media about missing persons thereby creating rumours of kidnap and panic among the public, police said. On Wednesday, the cyber crime police had registered a case on its own after the posts went viral. The posts sparked off rumours of the presence of a kidnappers mafia in the state, a police release said adding that such rumours created panic and alarm. After investigation, the three were taken into custody, it said. Police asked the public not to believe such rumours and delete such messages immediately instead of forwarding them. Forwarding of such fake posts and rumours is liable for punishment under law, the release added.
How is NDA's Muslim-only scholarship scheme different from Congress' 'appeasement politics', questions AAP
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday criticized the scholarship scheme for Muslim students announced by the NDA government questioning as to how the scheme was different from the "appeasement politics" that BJP accused Congress of indulging in."The Muslim scholarship is being publicized by the government with great fanfare. AAP welcomes the fact that the NDA government's attention has been drawn to Muslim students. But the question is - why discriminate between students on religious grounds? How is this different from the same appeasement politics that BJP used to accuse the Congress of indulging in?" AAP leader Sanjay Singh said while addressing a press conference.Singh demanded that all students, regardless of the community they belong to should be given scholarships for education."Such schemes should not be on religious grounds alone," he said."We all remember the kind of language used by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his party and its leaders in the run-up to the election against
DCW seeks info from police, Karol Bagh SDM on steps taken to close brothers on GB Road since 2000
The Delhi Commission for Women has issued notices to the Karol sub-divisional magistrate and the Delhi Police seeking information on steps taken to ensure closure of brothels on GB Road since 2000. The notice highlights the extent of problem of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in the national capital and seeks reasons for existence of these brothels despite knowing that illegal activities in the area existed, the women's panel said. The Commission, in the past, has rescued hundreds of women and girls, most of whom were minors, from GB road. As per the provisions of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, each building from where a minor subjected to trafficking is rescued is mandated to be sealed by authorities. The Act also mandates the police station concerned to communicate the details of such rescues to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) concerned. However, brothels continue to operate with impunity on GB Road, the DCW said. The Commission, in their notice to .
Activists call for migration registers to check child trafficking from rural areas
Child rights activists have called for creation of migration registers to check trafficking of children from rural regions of the country. At an event organised by the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF), scores of children, activists and former bureaucrats held discussions on the "continued exploitation of children in the country and inability of district and panchayat authorities in curbing trafficking of children from the villages". They sought the government's intervention for implementation of a charter of demand, which includes creation of village migration registers to check trafficking of children from rural regions of the country. Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi said in a statement, "This initiative is a reflection of our unswerving commitment to make a child labour-free India." The participants also proposed introducing a scheme in gram panchayat ensuring free and compulsory education for girls till Class 12.
Punjab to roll out universal health insurance scheme from July
The Punjab government will launch its flagship universal health insurance scheme Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana' (SSBY), from July. The scheme will provide an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family. Around 43.18 lakh families in Punjab will be covered under it. Besides all government hospitals, 364 private hospitals in Punjab had been empanelled, where the beneficiaries would get the secondary and tertiary care, state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said in an official release Thursday. The beneficiaries included the 14.86 lakh families covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in the state, the minister said. He said the state government had already prepared a database of 43.18 lakh beneficiaries. Sidhu said the cost of the premium for the families covered under the PMJAY would be borne by the Centre and the state government in the 60:40 ratio while for the rest of the beneficiaries, it would borne by the state government.
Mizoram CM presents tax-free Rs 10,692.30 crore budget for FY19-20
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday tabled the Rs 10,692.30 crore tax-free budget for 2019-20 in the state Assembly and emphasised on the implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP).
Muslims group demands preservation of Sanatan Hindu culture and traditions
A group of Muslims, who have been residing in the Kathmandu Valley for centuries, have joined hands with the members of local Newar community in their demand for protection of Sanatan Hindu culture after the government moved a bill aimed at nationalising public and private trusts. Newar Muslim Society, a local Muslim group, carrying placards, took part in a rally on Monday in the heart of Kathmandu city demanding protection of the Sanatan Hindu religion and culture. "Sanatan Hindu religion could be jeopardised if the Bill, tabled by the Communist Party government in Parliament, gets endorsed," the group said. Guthis are socio-economic institutions (trusts), both public and private, that fund their obligations from incomes from cultivated or leased land assets. Depending on their obligations, guthis fulfil religious, public service or social roles and could either involve members from a common lineage, or several. The K P Sharma Oli-led Communist Party government has tabled a Bill in ..
Couple found dead at residence in Delhi's Jagatpuri
A couple was found dead at their residence in Jagatpuri area of the national capital, police said on Thursday.The deceased have been identified as Manas Chand and Laxmi."This does not appear to be a double murder. Prima facie, the husband murdered his wife and then committed suicide by hanging himself. So far, no role of any outsider appears as there is no evident forced entry or ransacking, the family is also not doubting any foul play from outside," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shahdra Meghna Yadav."This was the second marriage for both, as per local enquiry and family version, the couple was not getting along," she added.A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law and investigation in the matter is underway.
Mother of two from TN commits suicide on TikTok
A 24-year old mother of two children committed suicide on Thursday in Tamil Nadu after she was scolded by her husband and prevented from using the short video-making app.
Congress to oppose Bill on triple talaq
The Congress on Thursday said it will oppose the triple talaq Bill in Parliament, saying a debate was needed on some of its provisions.
Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj taken into custody for dressing up as policeman
Vatal Nagaraj, President of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, was taken into police custody on Thursday for dressing up as a policeman at a protest demanding implementation of Raghavendra Auradkar committee report on police reforms.In 2016, a committee headed by Raghavendra Auradkar, ADGP (Recruitment and Training), had recommended 30-35 per cent hike in salary for police personnel.Speaking to media persons during the protest, the pro-Kannada activist said: "Government has to implement the committee report by July 13 or else, if the government fails, we will call for Karnataka bandh."The protest took place in front of Vidhanasoudha in the state capital.
UK home secretary puzzled by exclusion from Trump banquet
Britain's interior minister says he hasn't been told why he wasn't invited to last week's state banquet for President Donald Trump at Buckingham Palace. Home Secretary Sajid Javid was the only senior Cabinet minister not invited. Javid told the BBC on Thursday that he had asked the prime minister's office why, but had not received a satisfactory answer. He said: "I don't like it. It is odd." In 2017, after Trump retweeted a British far-right group, Javid tweeted: "So POTUS has endorsed the views of a vile, hate-filled racist organisation that hates me and people like me. He is wrong and I refuse to let it go and say nothing." Javid, whose parents came from Pakistan, is one of several Conservative lawmakers running to replace Prime Minister Theresa May.
Mamata gives striking doctors 4 hours to resume duties (2nd Lead)
Facing noisy demonstrations from striking junior doctors, an angry West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday gave them a four-hour ultimatum to withdraw their strike and warned of "strong action" if the situation was not normalised within the deadline.
JD-U to oppose Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party and BJP ally Janata Dal-United on Thursday said it will not support the BJP-led NDA government at the centre on the issue of Triple Talaq in the Rajya Sabha.
Delhi court sends member of Pak-based terror outfit to 5-day NIA custody
A Delhi court Thursday sent Mohammad Arif Ghulambashir Dharampuria, member of banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), arrested by NIA, to five-day custodial interrogation in connection with a terror funding cases. Some of the accused in the case are in judicial custody. Additional Sessions Judge Anil Antil allowed NIA to quiz Dharampuria in its custody. Dharampuria was arrested in connection to the case related to receiving of terror funds being sent by FIF operators to their associates through hawala operators to further nefarious activities to create unrest in India.
How porn ruins women's intimate experiences with men
Consuming porn instigates body-related insecurities in women that might not only reduce their interest in engaging in intimate activities with their partners but also negatively affect their arousal, a study suggests.
Hyderabad man turns saviour after brother's death, rescues 107 people from committing suicide
Where loss of life rattles people, Shiva turned into a saviour at the age of 12 after the demise of his younger brother.Shiva's brother Mahendra drowned in Asmanpet lake here.Mahendra was Shiva's only family and his death gave him a mission. He now stays near Tank Bund Lake and works as a lifeguard, so that no one else has to suffer the pain he once did.Shiva now saves lives of people who try to commit suicide by drowning. Till now he has saved 107 lives.Speaking to ANI, Shiva said: "People used to appreciate me for my social work when I was in an orphanage. My brother accidentally drowned in Asmanpet lake when I was 12-year-old. I went to the spot to recover my brother's dead body, following which, I started living around Tank Bund and started rescuing people who tried to commit suicide by jumping into the water. I also helped police in recovering dead bodies from the water. Till now I have saved 107 lives by directly jumping into the water and bringing them out."He further said: ...
Thai captain of shipwrecked Rohingya boat charged with smuggling
A Thai boat captain has been charged with smuggling 65 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, police said Thursday, after their vessel was shipwrecked off Thailand's southern coast. The same area was the hub of multi-million-dollar trafficking route, which unravelled in 2015 after the discovery of mass graves of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants along the border with Malaysia. Police said the boat, which was carrying the stateless Rohingya minority and was found on Tuesday on an island off the coast of Satun province, was captained by Sangkhom Paphan, a Thai from nearby Ranong province. Police said he was hired to transport the Rohingya to Malaysia and has been "charged with smuggling in illegal immigrants", according to police general Suchart Theerasawat of the National Police Office. "He was paid 100,000 baht (about US$3,200) by a Myanmar man," Suchart told AFP, adding that authorities were still interrogating him. Junta chief-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has instructed agencies .
Australia seeks to bring more transgender people to sports
Australia set out guidelines Thursday to make sport more inclusive for transgender and gender-diverse people as it works to change attitudes and limit discrimination. The move, which follows widespread consultations, details how sports organisations can create more welcoming environments. Australia's move comes as debate rages globally about whether transgender athletes or those with differences of sex development have an unfair competitive advantage. The guidelines cover everything from victimisation, leadership and codes of conduct, to suitable facilities, privacy and the collection of personal information. They are designed for boards, coaches, umpires and other officials and staff, while suggesting organisations encourage high-profile players to champion the initiative. "Research tells us gender-diverse people, particularly young people, want to engage more in sport and physical activity but often face or fear peer rejection," said Sport Australia chief Kate Palmer. "Let's ensure .