Page 205 - Social Issues
Bru refugees seek LS polling stations in Tripura relief camps
An umbrella organisation of the thousands of Bru refugees living in Tripura has appealed to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora to set up polling stations for the Lok Sabha election in their relief camps. Many of the refugees could not vote during the election to the Mizoram assembly held on November 28 last as polling stations for them was erected 70 kilometres away near the state border, the organisation said in a letter to Arora. Around 35,000 Bru refugees living in six relief camps at Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura district are originally from Mizoram. Elderly and ailing people, pregnant women and even many able-bodied persons could not vote as they had to travel 70 km by vehicles to reach Kanhmun village to vote, leading to low poll percentage at those temporary polling stations, MBDPF president A Sawibunga, vice-president R Laldawngliana and general secretary Bruno Msha said in the letter. The state election department had set up 15 temporary polling .
354 migrants prevented from leaving Honduras with US-bound caravan
The Honduran government has announced that they have detained 354 migrants who wanted to leave the country and travel to the US in a caravan.
Pence urges US diplomats to promote legal immigration
Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday urged US diplomats to emphasize that the United States still welcomes legal immigrants, amid unrelenting pressure from President Donald Trump to seal off Mexico with a wall. "I urge you to assure our allies this administration will continue to stand for legal immigration, even while we address the humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border," Pence told 180 US ambassadors and chiefs of mission abroad who were back at the State Department for an annual meeting. "The United States supports legal immigration. In fact, we celebrate it. And America has a proud record of support for refugees," he said. Pence's remarks amount to a tacit recognition of the effect on the US image of Trump's tough talk on unauthorized immigrants, whom the US leader accuses of spreading crime, despite statistics that immigrants are less likely to commit offenses than native-born Americans. The US government has been shut down for nearly a month as Trump demands .
Thousands flee deadly Boko Haram attack in NE Nigeria
Thousands of people have fled a remote town in northeast Nigeria, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Wednesday, after Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base and torched aid buildings. Monday's attack in Rann, in Borno state, has been blamed on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko Haram, which has carried out similar raids against troops since July last year. The upsurge in violence has forced tens of thousands of people to flee, including internally displaced people (IDPs) who have returned home after previous attacks. Last week, the United Nations said there had been a "massive displacement" of more than 30,000 people after ISWAP strikes in and around Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, in northern Borno. Military and humanitarian sources on Tuesday told AFP seven people were killed in Rann, including three soldiers. But the medical charity's emergency programme manager, Hugues Robert, said they were told the death tally was higher -- and that some ..
New group launched in Chicago to increase civic engagement of Indian- Americans
A new organisation aimed at increasing the participation of Indian-Americans in the election process has been launched by some eminent community members in Chicago. The Voice of Indian-American Voters, with its first chapter in Chicago intends to organize seminars & debates of public office candidates to create a more informed voter base, create a national list of Indian-Americans and start local chapters in other cities that have a sizable Indian population like New Jersey, New York, Dallas and Los Angeles, a media release said Wednesday. Observing that the participation of Indian-Americans in the election process is sadly much below the national average, one of its founding members and eminent Indian-American Bharat Barai said the community needs to be more involved in the voting process. "The time has come to engage more seriously in our civic responsibility in keeping with our economic & social success," Barai said. "Indian-Americans are the most successful minority in the
Lucknow: PRD jawans stage protest over regularisation of jobs demand
Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) jawans on Wednesday staged a protest at Lucknow's Hazratganj Chauraha over their demands of regularisation of jobs, amenities like the Home Guard and others.They also demanded a fixed pension after 60 years of age.The jawans were adamant on marching to the Chief Minister's residence, however, police officials managed to keep them under control. A large number of policemen were deployed to keep a lid on the situation.
China 'not worried' about other's reactions on death penalty of Canadian drug trafficker
China on Wednesday stated that it was 'absolutely not worried' about foreign countries' reactions on the announcement of the death penalty for the Canadian man convicted under drug trafficking charges on January 14.Sputnik quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying while addressing the media, "I can clearly say that we are absolutely not worried [about the international criticism]"."I think that Canada has a few allies on the issue and they absolutely cannot represent the opinion of the entire international community. It seems to me that the international community has reached a consensus that such dangerous crimes as illegal drug trafficking must be strictly punished," Hua added.The statements from the Chinese ministry came after the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's criticism stated that the accused, identified as Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, wanted to deliver drugs to Australia.The Foreign ministry official added that China would never allow drug ...
Nirupam alleges lakhs of bogus voters registered in Maha
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam alleged Wednesday that there were lakhs of bogus voters registered in Mumbai and Maharashtra. "There are several (genuine) voters who are claiming not to have received their voter IDs. These are either Congress voters or belong to the minority community," he said. Of the 638 voter IDs from the Magathane assembly constituency which he scrutinised, only 182 belonged to genuine voters, while of the 552 voter IDs he got from the Dindoshi constituency, only 290 were genuine, the Congress leader claimed. "There are around 15,000 to 20,000 bogus voters registered in every assembly segment and around 1.25 lakh to 1.5 lakh bogus voters in every parliamentary constituency," he alleged. "These voters are only present on paper. Mumbai should be protected from these voters in the upcoming polls," he said. Voter IDs should be delivered at the voter's doorstep so as to check genuineness of the ID, he said. He will requestthe Election Commissionto ...
Proposed new UK immigration system to benefit Indians: British officials
Britain's post-Brexit proposed new skills-based immigration system that will remove the cap on skilled worker visas will benefit Indians, a team of British government officials emphasised during discussions with officials of the Indian government on Wednesday.
CBI registers FIR against two children shelter home in Bihar for abusing inmates
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday registered FIR against director of Samaj Samiti Boys' Children Home in Bhagalpur and DORD Children Home in Gaya, for allegedly physically and mentally assaulting the inmates.This comes after the infamous Muzaffarpur shelter home case, in which CBI registers two separate FIR over shelter home abuses in Bihar.FIRs are registered against Bhagalpur-based Boys' Children Home run by Rupam Pragati Samaj Samiti and DORD children Home in Gaya for ill-treating the inmates by mentally and physically abusing and assaulting them..
Colony being constructed for displaced families: CM
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Wednesday said a colony was being constructed for the families displaced following the expansion of Deoghar Airport. Addressing the township inspection programme created for the displaced families from the Deoghar Airport Authority at Baidyanath Dham Nayadih, Das said a colony was being constructed for them with basic and quality amenities. Praising work of Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha, Das said that quality colony is being constructed for the displaced persons in Deoghar. "School, hospital, community hall, shops will be there. There will also be training for skill development for employment generation," an official release said quoting the chief minister. "Developing of Santhal Pargana (region) is the priority of the government. The work of providing basic facilities is being done continuously. Deoghar has become the international city. AIIMS, International Airport and soon Sahibganj will be the centre of the ...
HC seeks Delhi government, DTC response to plea complaining behaviour of conductors
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the state government and Delhi Transport Corporation to respond to a plea seeking guidelines for issuing tickets in public transport, complaining women, physical disabled and senior citizens are facing problem while buying tickets due to conductors' behaviour.
Delhi HC seeks AAP govt, DTC's reply in petition seeking passenger safety rules
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought reply from Delhi Government and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on a plea seeking necessary rules and guidelines with regard to issuing of tickets by conductors in DTC and cluster buses to secure their safety and comfort.The plea stated that buses run by the DTC and cluster buses are a common mode of public transport for the working population in the city, as well as for people coming from other states.There is a practice in the DTC and cluster buses where the conductors issue tickets to the passengers while sitting at the conductor's seat, instead of moving to the rear side of the bus and issuing tickets to passengers boarding from every stop.Such a practice is causing large scale inconvenience to the passengers, the petition claimed.It further stated that conductors are not bothered to address the problems of women with babies, disabled persons and senior citizens and there have been many instances where fines are imposed upon passengers ...
UK will be open to best and brightest from India under new immigration strategy: Minister
An unlimited number of highly-skilled Indian workers will be able to migrate to the UK under new proposals that could come into effect in 2021, with a senior British minister on Wednesday saying that in the new system the country will be open to the "best and brightest" from India. The UK also wants to ink a pact with India similar to the one New Delhi has with France, treating each other's academic degrees as equivalent for higher studies and jobs, sources said. The post-Brexit visas and immigration strategy, set out in an immigration White Paper, was tabled in the House of Commons last month by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid. It proposes removal of cap on highly-skilled migrants from anywhere in the world and improves the post-study work offering for international students. The UK officials on Wednesday visited New Delhi for the Migration Dialogue with the Indian government about a month after the British government unveiled its post-Brexit visas and immigration strategy that seeks ..
Anti-national, anti-social activities on social media cause of concern: Naqvi
Asserting that the central government has no objection with social activities on social media, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday outlined that anti-social or anti-national activities are indeed a cause of worry.While commenting on Congress leader Kapil Sibal's remark on sedition law, Naqvi told ANI: "There is no opposition of social activities on social media. Anti-social and anti-national activities on social media is a cause of concern. If someone is becoming a supporter of such anti-national and anti-social activity, they must understand that no matter which government is there, the country is always first and its security is bigger than any government. No one can play with it.On being asked about Kanhaiya Kumar getting support from Congress and PDP leaders, he said, "I don't know who is supporting whom but in my view, everyone should be together for the protection of dignity and security of the country".Naqvi's remark comes following Sibal's remarks ...
Rohingya exodus from India to Bangladesh hits 1,300: official
At least 1,300 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh from India since the start of the year, an official said Wednesday, as fears of deportation to Myanmar spark an exodus. New Delhi has faced sharp criticism for turning members of the persecuted minority over to Myanmar in recent weeks, despite the army there being accused of atrocities against the Rohingya. The United Nations and rights groups accused India of disregarding international law and returning the Rohingya to possible danger in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. India, which is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, arrested 230 Rohingya in 2018 -- the most in years as Hindu hardliners called for the displaced Muslims to be deported en masse. The round-ups in India, and fear of deportation to Myanmar, have driven even more of the stateless Muslims into Bangladesh, where a million Rohingya live in giant refugee camps in the country's southeast. Nayana Bose, a spokeswoman for the Inter Sector Coordination Group ...
China defends Canadian's death sentence
China on Wednesday defended a court ruling to impose death penalty against a Canadian who has been convicted of smuggling drugs.
BJP trying to convert Sabarimala issue into Ayodhya of south India: Yechury
Senior CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said that the BJP was trying to make the Sabarimala issue what is the Ayodhya temple issue in north India."The BJP is not following the order of Supreme the Court (SC) on the Sabarimala temple. They are treating the Sabarimala issue as the 'Ayodhya' issue of south India," said Yechury."The BJP is communally polarising the people and is trying to create a rift in the society in the garb of Sabarimala temple issue," said Yechury.The Sabarimala temple issue has been on the boil ever since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine in September last year.The CPM leader also accused the Centre of using the CBI as "a political tool in order to protect their people." Yechury had come to Bhopal to meet Chief Minister Kamal Nath and other leaders.
CBI registers FIRs against two more shelter homes in Bihar
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two cases in connection with alleged abuse of children in two shelter homes in Bihar's Bhagalpur and Gaya disricts, an official said on Wednesday.
RJD not opposed to quotas for upper castes: Raghuvansh
Senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh Wednesday clarified that his party was not opposed to quotas for the unreserved category per se but anomalies like those having an annual income of up to eight lakh rupees even though they might be paying income tax. Asked about the partys stand in the Parliament, where its members spoke vehemently against the bill brought by Narendra Modi government in both Houses, the former Union minister said the RJD had, faltered on this count. It is wrong to say that the RJD is opposed to quotas for upper castes. No leader from the party has said that the poor among the unreserved category should get no help. There are some provisions like the Rs eight lakh limit which we opposed and for good reason. You cannot be an income tax payer and deemed to be economically backward at the same time, Singh told reporters here. Asked about his partys vociferous stance against the bill in Parliament, Singh, who is a national vice-president of the RJD, .
