Page 193 - Social Issues
J&K Governor okays reservations for Pahari community
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday gave assent to the J&K Reservation (Amendment) bill, 2014, fulfilling the long-standing demand of the Pahari ethnic community for reservation in jobs.
Mauritian PM Jugnauth, emigrants take a tour of Kumbh Mela
After the conclusion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Wednesday in Varanasi, the emigrants took a trip to the ongoing largest human congregation 'Kumbh Mela' in Prayagraj. Among the emigrants was the Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who visited the 'Akhayvat' on the banks of the Sangam.Minister of State External Affairs Minister General VK Singh on Thursday turned a tourist guide for the emigrants and held the mike while guiding and briefing them about the importance of 'Kumbh'.PBD Convention tweeted, "It's over to @PrayagrajKumbh! After the successful conclusion of #PBD2019, the Pravasis travel to take dip in the Ganges at the #KumbhMela, which has been inscribed on the list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' by @UNESCO in 2017".
Plea in SC challenging Centre's power to notify a community as minority
A petition challenging the Centre's power to notify a community as minority under the law was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday. The plea, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, has sought declaration of Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act as "inoperative" for being "arbitrary, unreasonable and in violation of the Constitution". The provision gives the central government the right to declare a community minority allowing it to avail benefits of government schemes meant for its members. The petition, filed through advocate R D Upadhyay and which may come up up for hearing next week, has challenged the Centre's notification dated October 23, 1993, which notified only five communities Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis as 'minority'. It sought to declare states as the unit of determination when it comes to defining "minorities" and also demanded laying down of guidelines for their identification, to ensure that only those religious ..
Situation will be worse than war if population not controlled: Ramdev
Yoga guru Ramdev on Thursday defended his statement over rising population in India and asserted that if things are not brought under control, situation will worsen in next five-six decades.The yoga guru made the comment after his remarks that "the Central Government should snatch away the voting rights and government jobs of people who go for more than two children" drew flak from all quarters.Ramdev told ANI, "The central issues of the Indian politics are - how to control population, agricultural growth, how to make health and education system more productive, industrial growth, how to make India a manufacturing hub, and how to put an end to inflation and poverty. Our politics should be centred on how to make India prosperous and healthy. However, keeping all this, today people are pointing fingers at each other." He added, "If we don't control the increasing population today, then the future of the country will be in dark. In the last 70 years, the population of India has increased
Nirbhaya's was a case of 'murder', not 'rape': Feminist writer Germaine Greer
Nirbhaya was a victim of "brutal murder" and not "rape", firebrand feminist Germaine Greer claimed on Thursday. Greer, one of world's most influential feminist voices, said in "crimes of violence", what was important was the "violence" and not the "sexual" part. "Do not sexualise crime of violence. Rape was the reason. The case was the brutality in which she was killed. It was not a rape case, but murder," she said. Greer, who was speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, explained that while rape was "non-consensual sex", it didn't have to "draw blood". "It (rape) can be done by a man you love the most in the world and it is probably the worst for you," said the famed author of 1970s best-seller "The Female Eunuch". Nirbhaya or the fearless, was the name given to 23-year-old Jyoti Pandey, a paramedic student, who was gangraped on the intervening night of December 16-17 in 2012 inside a moving bus in South Delhi by five men and a juvenile. She was severely assaulted before ..
No voting rights for those having more than 2 kids: Ramdev
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday said that in order to control the population explosion in India, those having more than two kids should be deprived of voting rights as well as the right to contest any election.
Citizenship Bill will further strengthen Assam's heritage: Sonowal
Allaying fears, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said the state's culture, history and heritage will further be strengthened once the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is implemented. Addressing a BJP workers' rally to felicitate the recent panchayat poll winners, Sonowal said to alleviate the concerns surrounding the bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come up with a two-pronged approach -- solution to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and steps to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities. "Once the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is implemented, our culture, history and heritage will further be strengthened. There is no point doubting our intentions. We are working for 'Jati-Mati-Bheti' (community, land, homeland)," he added. Some people were spreading lies against the bill like 1.9 crore Hindu Bangladeshis would be given citizenship and such people were the "prime enemies" of Assam, Sonowal said. "The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will not harm us at all. ...
'The Female Eunuch' author engages in a heated discussion at JLF
Germaine Greer, the author of the seminal text of second wave feminism, "The Female Eunuch", faced a volley of questions from British journalist Bee Rowlatt as well as the audience at a heated session on the opening day of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) here on Thursday.
Kerala opposition against scrapping of state healthcare scheme
The Pinarayi Vijayan government's decision to discontinue Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF) health scheme for the weaker sections in Kerala has been strongly opposed by the Congress-led opposition in the state.
Debt waiver scheme not enough to alleviate farmers' sufferings: Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday acknowledged that his government's debt waiver scheme was not enough to assuage the sufferings of debt-ridden farmers and hit out at the Centre for failing to extend any help for beleaguered growers. Noting that his government's loan waiver scheme was only a temporary solution to the problems of the distressed farmers, Singh said the Centre had to step in if a permanent solution to their plight had to be found. He said his government would also soon come out with a loan waiver scheme for landless labourers, who were also reeling under a huge debt burden. The chief minister was addressing a gathering after launching the third phase of the state government's farm debt waiver scheme, an official statement said. The loan waiver scheme is not enough to alleviate all sufferings of the state's farmers, Singh said, adding loan amounts of many farmers were more than what his government was currently waiving. Lashing out at the NDA government, he ..
Citizenship Bill, Assam Accord, ST status will make Assam a fort for indigenous people: Himanta
Senior BJP leader and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday said the Citizenship Bill, implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord and ST status to six communities in the state will make it a "fort" for the indigenous people. People protesting against the Citizenship Bill are trying to divide the community, he said while speaking at a BJP rally here. The protests against the Bill are an attempt to create a fight against the believer of Indian culture and heritage, Sarma, the convenor of North East Democratic Alliance, said. "If the three steps by the Centre are implemented then Durga puja and Bhagwad path (public reading of the Bhagwad Gita) will continue in places that are demographically sensitive for the next 10 years. It will make the state a fort for the indigenous people," he said at the rally. "The situation is such that I am threatened on phone (by protestors). I get messages saying -- come to our place, we will see you... I am the number two minister in Assam. If
WCD not soft Ministry: Maneka
Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi on Thursday said that her Ministry was not a "soft Ministry" as it looks after 70 per cent of India's population.
Japan court upholds 'sterilisation' rule for gender change
Japan's supreme court has upheld a law that effectively requires transgender people to be sterilised before their gender can be changed on official documents. The court acknowledged "doubts" were emerging over whether the rule reflects changing social values, but said the law was constitutional. The decision, issued Wednesday but published on Thursday, upholds a law that requires any individual wishing to change their documents have "no reproductive glands or reproductive glands that have permanently lost function," referring to testes or ovaries. It also requires the person to have "a body which appears to have parts that resemble the genital organs of those of the opposite gender." The appeal was filed by Takakito Usui, a transgender man who wants to change official documents that identify him as female. The panel of four justices ruled unanimously to throw out Usui's appeal, declaring the law constitutional. They said the measure was intended to prevent "problems" in parent-child ..
Citizenship Bill opposition: AGP holds hunger strike; Cong organises sit-in protests
Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill continued in Assam on Thursday with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) holding a 10-hour hunger strike, while the Congress organised a 5-hour sit-in demonstration in all districts of the state. Both the Congress and AGP, which recently snapped its ties with ruling BJP, said their protest will continue till the Bill is completely scrapped. Extending his support to AGP's agitation, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Adviser Akhil Gogoi said different movements across the state against the Citizenship Bill should unite to have the maximum impact on the government. All the AGP MLAs and other senior leaders took part in the party's hunger strike in the state capital. "The community is in danger and that is why we all have come out. The government should understand the public sentiment. If they do not understand, then they will be responsible for any untoward situation in North East," former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said while taking
Mindtree opens new Minneapolis Office to support Magnet360
Powered by Capital Market - Live News
Congress demonstration against Citizenship bill
The Congress held demonstration in various places in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Congress leaders and workers led by Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Takam Sanjoy, CLP leader Takam Pario and MLA Markio Tado staged a dharna in front of Civil Secretariat here. The Congress workers also burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Addressing the gathering, Sanjay charged Khandu for remaining a silent spectator when the bill has put North East India, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, on fire. He said the British had enacted 'Chini Hill Act' in 1846 and 'Bengal Easter Frontier Regulation' in 1872 to protect then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Arunachal Pradesh was earlier know as NEFA. "But Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming to be chowkidar of India is adamant to bulldoze the most sensitive state sharing border with Myanmar, Bhutan and China," Sanjoy said, .
Iraq parliament approves 2019 budget, one of largest ever
Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday approved the government's 2019 budget, which at USD 111.8 billion is one of the oil-rich country's largest ever spending bills. It represents a nearly 45 per cent increase from last year and awards even more money for public salaries, including those of the northern Kurdish region. Nearly 90 per cent of the budget comes from oil revenues. Iraq expects to export 3.9 million barrels per day in 2019, including 250,000 bpd from the Kurdish region, at an average of USD 56 per barrel. The current price of crude sits at USD 63 per barrel. The deficit is expected to more than double to USD 23.1 billion, while investments increase to USD 27.8 billion. The draft bill was originally submitted to parliament in October but has been fiercely debated since then. MPs from provinces ravaged by the fight against the Islamic State group criticised it for not allocating enough reconstruction funds to their regions. Another debate raged over the share that would be allotted to .
Manipur CM calls meeting of pol parties to discuss citizenship bill
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has called a meeting of all political parties in the state on January 29 to discuss the Citizenship Amendment Bill even as protests against the Bill continue in the state. The chief minister's media advisor, Irengbam Arun Thursday said the CM has called the meeting at his official residence here on January 29 morning to discuss the Bill. The BJP is heading a coalition government in the state with the National People's Party, Naga People's Front and the Lok Janshakti Party. Meanwhile, protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) are continuing in the state with people taking out processions and holding sit-ins in various districts demanding that the Bill be withdrawn. Manipur People's Party (MPP), many students' organisations and civil society players in the state are against the CAB. MPP president O Jugindro had earlier said his party would oppose the Bill tooth and nail. He said the Bill, if passed in the Rajya Sabha, would reduce the
Facebook to proactively shut down fake Pages, Groups
Facebook will proactively shut down fake Groups and Pages, even if they were not found to be in violation of its Community Guidelines, the company has announced.
Akhtar slams Sarfaraz for racist comments
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar slammed Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed for making racist comments against South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo during the second one-day international in Durban. Akhtar said that Sarfaraz's conduct was totally unacceptable. "What I have heard is not acceptable at all. Very Sad news for me. The comments I heard from the captain, certain racist comments, I strongly condemn them," Akhtar said. "He may have said it in heat of the moment. He should not have said it. He should publicly apologise for what he said to this guy," Akhtar added. Sarfraz could find himself in trouble after he was caught by stump mics of making racist comments. "Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj (Hey black guy, where's your mother sitting today? What have you got her to say for you today)?" Sarfraz was quoted as saying by 'ESPNcricinfo' website. Akhtar said a player should never speak on someone's colour in any context. Sarfaraz, though, ...
