Page 208 - Social Issues
Weak Sonowal failed to provide strong leadership: Ex-Assam CM Gogoi
Senior Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday described Sarbananda Sonowal as a "weak chief minister" who allegedly failed to provide a strong leadership when the state was going through trying times due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. Protests have erupted across Assam and a statewide "bandh", called by a number of organisations, was observed on January 8. "Sarbananda Sonowal is a weak chief minister. If he does not take a strong stand on the bill today, it is certain that the future of Assam will be dark. I feel if the chief minister remains weak at this time, it is very unfortunate for the people of Assam," Gogoi, who preceded Sonowal as the chief minister, said. "Sonowal has given only a weak leadership and for that, I believe, (Finance
People vehemently opposing Citizenship Bill: Zoramthanga to PM
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the people of the northeastern state vehemently opposes the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,, an official statement said Tuesday. The controversial bill, which has triggered large scale protests in the northeastern states including Mizoram, was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8. The statement said that Zoramthanga met Modi in New Delhi yesterday and discussed several issues including the opposition to the proposed amendment on the Citizenship Act, 1955. They also discussed about bamboo projects, Mizoram's separate cadre for all India services and proposed termination of Jet Airways' flights from Aizawl to Kolkata and Guwahati from February 10, the statement added. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after ..
Protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill rage on amid Bihu celebrations
Protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill raged on in Assam Tuesday amid 'Bhogali Bihu' celebrations as copies of the legislation were burnt symbolically. There was no let up in the protests during the traditional 'Meji-Bhelaghar fire' in the morning where people usually pray for a bright future for the state and a good harvest for farmers in the coming year. Bhogali Bihu is the harvesting festival in Assam which is preceded by Uruka -- the night of feast and merrymaking on Bihu's eve. The community meal is cooked inside the 'Bhelaghars' -- made of bamboo, thatch, dry leaves and wood -- which is set on fire the following day on 'Makar Sankranti' with religious rituals. Copies of the bill were burnt at senior advocate Arup Borbora's house here on 'Uruka' yesterday night by eminent litterateur Hiren Gohain and senior journalist Manjit Mahanta against whom the state government has filed a sedition case. International award winning film director Jahnu Barua, popular ...
Winter weather killed 15 displaced children in Syria: UN
Freezing temperatures and the lack of medical care have killed at least 15 displaced Syrian children in recent weeks, the United Nations reported Tuesday. The UN Children Fund (UNICEF) said eight of them had died as a result of freezing temperatures in the Rukban camp in southeastern Syria and seven others during the displacement from the jihadist bastion of Hajin, further north.
Indian man, 27 Thai women arrested over fake-marriage scam in Thailand
A 35-year-old Indian man and 27 Thai women have been arrested in Thailand for their alleged involvement in fake marriages registration scam that permits Indians to get residential visas in the country, authorities said. The Indian man, Wikrom Layerhi, was arrested on charge of being a broker to arrange for Thai women to register fake marriages with Indian nationals, the National daily reported. The arrested women were hired for 8,000 to 10,000 bahts each, adding that these women never stayed with the Indians with whom they had registered their marriages, Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakpal, Immigration Bureau Chief and Deputy Head of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, said on Monday. The arrest was made following a long investigation, and 27 Thai women have also been taken into custody, he added. One of the women is 70 years old and has a family, including children, Surachate said.
Amnesty urges China to revoke Canadian citizen's death sentence
Amnesty International on Tuesday urged China to revoke the death sentence handed down to a Canadian citizen in the country, a decision that was condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "arbitrary".
Indian man, 27 Thai women arrested in fake marriage scam
The Thai police have arrested an Indian man and 27 Thai women in connection with a fake-marriage registration scam that enabled Indians to get residential visas in the country.
Assam celebrates Magh Bihu
Assam on Tuesday celebrated Magh Bihu, the annual harvest festival, with traditional fervour.
Zimbabwe erupts in anger after 150% fuel price hike announced
Hundreds of people on Monday took to the streets here to protest against Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision of announcing a 150 per cent hike in fuel prices, triggering anger and discontent among the masses.Agitators, including bus drivers and activists, barricaded main roads with burning tyres, stone blocks and tree branches, as the police had a tough time in quelling the protests in western suburbs of Emakhandeni and Luveve of Bulawayo and fired warning shots and tear gas on the defiant demonstrators, Al Jazeera reported.Slamming Mnangagwa's decision to hike fuel prices, a protestor named Glen Ncube said, "What kind of a man does this? Can Mnangagwa even be called a president? He's making life hard for us and the police are trying to stop us as if they don't know our pain."On January 12, Mnangagwa announced an increase in petrol prices from $1.34 to $3.31 per litre and diesel prices to $3.11 per litre, which ignited the anti-fuel price hike demonstrations across the ...
Polish mayor who was stabbed in heart, dies
Pawel Adamowicz, the mayor of the Polish city of Gdansk, who was stabbed by a man during a charity event, passed away here on Monday.The 53-year-old mayor was stabbed in the heart and stomach at the stage of a children's hospital charity event on Sunday when he was thanking everyone who had helped to raise funds for medical equipment, CNN reported.Subsequently, he was rushed to a hospital, and a five-hour-long surgery took place. Despite being in a critical condition, doctors tried their best to recuperate him but succumbed to his injuries.Police arrested a 27-year-old suspect, who had convictions for bank robbery and had served jail sentences earlier.The city's press officer Dariusz Wolodzko said that the attacker jumped onto the stage shouting and lashed out at Adamowicz and others for his imprisonment, before brazenly attacking the mayor with the knife, much to the shock to thousands of others who were present at the event.Adamowicz entered local politics in 1990 as a local ...
Finance secretary Ajay Narayan Jha's term extended, named as member of 15 Finance Commission
The Centre has extended the term of Union Finance Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha by a month to February 28 and has also been named as member of 15th Finance Commission.After his superannuation Jha will join as a member of the 15th Finance Commission from March 1. Jha is a 1982 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Manipur cadre.The order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions stated that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved extending the tenure of Jha for a period of one month beyond his superannuation on January 31.
4 dead, 90 injured in Kabul truck bomb explosion
Four people reportedly lost their lives, while 90 were injured, including 23 children in a truck bomb explosion in Kabul on Monday evening, Interior Ministry's deputy spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said.Spokesperson at the Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Wahidullah Mayar took to Twitter saying, "Around 90 people, mostly civilians, were injured (including 23 children and 12 women), and 4 people were killed (martyred) in today's explosion in district 9th of Kabul. city. #Kabul #Afghanistan."The explosion took place in the Green Village compound, a place mostly habited by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreigners.Tolo News quoted the Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) as confirming that the people who were wounded in the blast have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish further added that the explosion which took place in Kabul's Police Division 9, damaged many houses near that area.Investigations into the matter are ...
20 lakh new voters in WB
The final roll of 2019 witnessed nearly 20 lakh new voters getting added to the electoral rolls in West Bengal, an official of Chief Electoral Officer of the state said. In the final roll, the number of total electors are 6,97,60,868 out of which there are 3,57,83,463 male voters. Women account for 3,39,75,979 voters and the number of third gender voters are 1426, the official said. "Total additions to this list is around 20,67,303 electors. The number deletions from the previous electoral list is 3,57,030 voters," the official said. In order to facilitate citizens for more enrollment, officials will visit polling stations on January 27 and receive forms from the citizens.
Shift 3 Lankesh murder accused to Mumbai from Bengaluru: HC
The Bombay High Court Monday ordered that three accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case be shifted from a Bengaluru jail to Mumbai's Arthur Road prison to enable them to file affidavits and defend a petition by the Maharashtra ATS seeking their custody in an arms haul case. Justice Mridula Bhatkar gave the direction when hearing an application filed by the state Anti-Terrorism Squad seeking custody of the three accused Amol Kale, Amit Baddi and Ganesh Miskin. The three are currently lodged at the central prison in Bengaluru after they were chargesheeted for their alleged role in the killing of writer-journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017. In October 2018, the ATS took custody of the three for their alleged involvement in a case pertaining to recovery of arms at Nalasopara on outskirts of Mumbai. They were then produced before a Mumbai sessions court, which remanded them in ATS custody for six days. The sessions court later refused to extend their police remand and sent them to judicial ..
Protests against Citizenship Bill in Manipur
Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill were held in parts of Manipur by Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) and six students' organisations on Monday. The protestors, who took out processions and staged sit-ins in various districts, demanded to know the stand of the BJP-led state government on the contentious bill. MPP president O Jugindro said the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, if passed in the Rajya Sabha, would reduce the population of indigenous people of the northeastern states, including Manipur, to "microscopic minority". The party would oppose the bill tooth and nail, he said. Jugindro said the MPP had organised a procession against the bill from the party's office to the Raj Bhavan but the demonstrators were stopped by police at the nearby Kangla Gate. Sit-ins were held by the students' bodies at Moirang Lamkhai in Manipur's Bishnupur district, Wangoi in Imphal West district, Nongmeibung Bazaar and Kongba Bazaar in Imphal East district, president of All Manipur Students ...
40 injured in Kabul truck bomb blast
40 people have been injured in a powerful truck bomb explosion that rocked the Green Village compound here on Monday, a place mostly habited by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreigners.Tolo News quoted the Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) as confirming that at least 40 people were wounded in the blast and have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish further added that the explosion which took place in Kabul's Police Division 9, damaged many houses near that area.However, the local police did not report any deaths so far.Investigations are still underway.
Names of men in sexual harassment cases be kept secret till investigation ends: BJP MP
BJP parliamentarian Udit Raj has demanded that names of men involved in sexual harassment cases not be disclosed till completion of investigation, saying the accused is scarred even if exonerated later. The MP from northeast Delhi Lok Sabha seat had earlier termed the #MeToo movement a "wrong practice", at a time when more and more women were coming out with their stories of sexual harassment, last year. He had said there was no way a man's could be saved from being tainted, even if the charges of sexual harassment against him were found incorrect. Indian society is unlike others & hence name of males also be kept secret in sexual harassments till investigation is completed. VP of janpack in noida committed suicide under pressure that even if he is exonerated, scar will remain & thousands r doing it (sic)," Udit Raj tweeted on Monday. The body of Swaroop Raj, 35, an assistant vice-president in Genpact was found hanging from the ceiling fan at his Noida residence in December. ..
SC dismisses plea seeking quota in jobs for persons suffering from thalassemia
The Supreme Court Monday refused to hear the plea seeking grant of benefit of reservation in government jobs to persons suffering from thalassemia, sickle cell and hemophilia diseases. The top court on August 3 last year had sought the response of the Centre on the PIL filed by Reepak Kansal for grant of benefit of reservation in government jobs to persons suffering from thalassemia, sickle cell and hemophilia diseases. "Having heard the petitioner in person and upon perusing the relevant material on record, we are not inclined to entertain this writ petition. The same is accordingly dismissed," the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said. "However, it will be open for the petitioner to represent his case and the cases of others like him before the competent authority, if so advised," the bench, comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and S K Kaul, said. The plea had said that the Union government was "unjustified" in not giving quota benefit in employment to persons suffering from .
Assam CM shown black flags as protests against Citizenship Bill continue
Black flags were waved at Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in his constituency Majuli on Monday and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi went on a 24-hour hunger strike on the first day of Assamese Magh or Bhogali Bihu festivities as agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill continued. Sonowal was shown black flags for the second consecutive day by members of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and several other local organisations in Majuli, when he arrived there by helicopter to participate in an official function. The protestors shouted slogans against the chief minister, the centre and state governments and demanded withdrawal of the controversial Bill. Police took several protestors into custody and dispersed the others. On Sunday too, Sonowal was shown black flags by the AJYCP and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) protestors outside the Kaziranga University where he had gone to participate in its convocation. The bill, which was
Bru refugees seek continuation of ration in relief camps
A day before their relief assistance from the central government was supposed to be stopped, the umbrella organisation of the 32,000 odd Bru refugees living in Tripura urged the Centre on Monday to continue with it. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard. Inmates of the six relief camps at Kanchanpur sub-division in North Tripura district are scared and they sought to continuation of relief assistance in the forms of free ration and cash dole, the letter signed by MBDPF president A Sawibunga, vice-president R Laldawngliana and general secretary Bruno Msha said. Panic gripped the refugees after Abhedananda Baidya, sub-divisional magistrate of Kanchanpur, declared last week that they will be deprived of ration supplies and cash from January 15, if the Union government does not extend its deadline for doling out benefits to ...
