Page 290 - Social Issues
Odisha CM stops tree cutting for beer factory
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered the stoppage of tree cutting or a beer factory in Balrampur area of Odisha's Dhenkanal district.The Chief Minister has also directed the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to investigate the matter, reads an official statement.The development comes after hundreds of women from Balrampur village clashed with police on Saturday in Jhinkargadi forest while protesting against the cutting of trees.The scuffle took place after the protesting women were forcibly removed from the site by the police.
Swamy backs Khattar for his comment on rape
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Rajya Sabha Subramanian Swamy has backed Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, over his controversial remarks on rape victims, saying that Khattar was just "explaining the circumstances."Speaking to ANI, Swamy said, "He was just explaining the circumstances that arise because of the familiarity between a boy and a girl, who are originally friends; but when their relations turn sour, you have those jilted people who throw acid on their former girlfriends."The 79-years-old leader also stressed that criminals must be prosecuted under any circumstances. "Crime is a crime. It does not matter what the circumstances were as there are no mitigating circumstances. When the rape of a woman takes place it is defaming of her body and we cannot accept it," said Swami. Adding that there is a death penalty for such crimes and all criminals must be prosecuted.On Saturday, Haryana Chief Minister said that most of the rapes incidents ...
'Only 4.5 lakh out of 40 lakh so far apply for inclusion in NRC'
About 4.5 lakh people, out of the total 40 lakh, who were excluded in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), have claimed that they are Indian nationals, two months after the window opens for claims and objections in the Supreme Court-monitored exercise, sources said Sunday. Besides, less than 200 applications have been received by the authorities challenging the inclusion of the names of suspected illegal immigrants in the NRC, a list of Assam's residents. So far, about 4.5 lakh people have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the NRC and they have submitted relevant documents claiming that they are Indian citizens, a source privy to the development said. The issue of low turnout in the claims and objections period was also discussed at Saturday's high-level meeting in New Delhi attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv ...
Rights group says Egypt arrests 40 lawyers, activists
An international rights group says Egypt has rounded up at least 40 lawyers and activists since last month, the latest arrests in a wide-scale crackdown on dissent. Human Rights Watch said Sunday that many of those arrested were people who provided humanitarian and legal support to families of political detainees, and that some have been disappeared. Citing family members, it said the security forces did not present arrest warrants and authorities refused to say where detainees were being held. Michael Page, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch's regional office, says "the Egyptian security agencies' repression now extends to disappearing those brave men and women who have been trying to protect the disappeared and to end this abusive practice.
Leading Australia wedding magazine shuts over gay snub
A leading Australian bridal magazine has shut after being ditched by advertisers for refusing to feature same-sex couples, one year after the country changed its marriage laws. The Christian founders of "White", Luke and Carla Burrell, said they did not feature gay weddings in their magazine as they had "no desire to create a social, political or legal war". In a farewell blog on Saturday, the couple said they were targeted by activists because of their stance and forced to "pick a side". As a result, several advertisers withdrew their sponsorship making their publication "no longer economically viable", the pair added. Australian MPs late last year voted in favour of changing the Marriage Act after decades of inaction amid political wrangling. The shift followed a contentious nationwide voluntary postal vote in support of legalising same-sex marriage. Nearly 80 per cent of eligible voters took part in the poll and almost 62 per cent of those who voted chose "yes" on their ballots. To
BJP workers begin 'protest day', block highways against arrest of Surendran
BJP workers in Kerala blocked highways on Sunday to protest the arrest of party general secretary Surendran, who was taken into custody on Saturday while on his way to the Lord Ayappa shrine The protestors, including women, squatted on roads, blocking traffic at various places, including in state capital, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad and in front of Kottarakara sub-jail, where Surendran has been lodged, and also the northernmost Kasaragod district. In all the places, the protesters were seen clapping and chanting "Swamiyae Ayyappa". Addressing workers at Thiruvananthapuram, BJP leader M S Kumar said police had so far not succeeded in bringing even a single young woman to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala after the Supreme Court on September 28 allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine. While the CPI(M)-led LDF government's stand is that they were constitutionally bound to implement the court order, the main opposition Congress has said they are with the ...
Attack on CPI(M) leader's son, daughter-in-law; one arrested
: A worker of a right wing Hindu outfit has been arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a CPI(M) leader's son and his journalist daughter-in law during a shutdown called by the outfits in Kerala Saturday, police said. Julius Nikithas and wife Saniyo Manomi, working with a leading Malayalam news channel, were attacked at Kuttiady as they were going to a hospital in a car to visit a patient. Police Sunday said that a worker of a right wing outfit has been arrested in connection with the attack and a search was on to nab nine others. Nikithas, son of party district secretary P Mohanan, suffered head injuries and Manomi was also injured. The couple have been admitted to the government medical college hospital here. The CPI(M) had alleged that they were attacked by activists belonging to the Sangh Parivar. Right-wing Hindu outfits had observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kerala Saturday in protest against the "preventive detention" of Hindu Aikya Vedi state president P
Madrassa student stabbed following altercation
A Madrassa student was seriously injured after he was stabbed by a fellow student following an altercation between them, a police official said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening. The victim has been rushed to hospital and is stated to be in a serious condition. One of the accused has been taken into police custody and an investigation in underway, the official said.
Kerala BJP protests following senior leader's remand
The Kerala unit of the BJP observed a protest on Sunday by blocking highways across the state following the arrest and the subsequent remand of senior party leader K. Surendran.
BJP leader remanded to 14-day judicial custody, moved to sub jail
BJP Kerala General Secretary K Surendran, who was taken into preventive custody as he tried to proceed to the Lord Ayappa Temple, was Sunday produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences. Surendran, who had 'Irrumudikettu" (holy bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa) was taken into custody from Nilackal Saturday night as he along with two others was on his way to the temple at Sabarimala. Surendran was asked by Superintendent of Police Yatish Chandra not to proceed towards Sabarimala but he did not heed.They were then taken into preventive custody and brought to Chittar Police Station on Saturday night. Early today, they were taken to Pathnamthitta district hospital and then produced before the Pathnamthitta judicial first class magistrate at his residence. The magistrate remanded them to 14-day judicial custody. Cases under IPC 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 34
Macron's popularity falls to 25 percent: Poll
The popularity of French President Emmanuel Macron has dropped to just 25 percent, according to a major tracker poll published on Sunday. The poll by research group Ifop was published in the Journal du Dimanche a day after a nationwide "yellow vest" protest against high fuel prices that analysts say has come to represent widespread frustration with the 40-year-old president. The results of the widely watched poll showed an overall fall of four points in November from the previous month, with only four percent of respondents saying they were "very satisfied" with Macron's performance, while 21 percent were "mostly satisfied". Thirty-four percent were "mostly dissatisfied" while 39 percent were "very dissatisfied", according to the poll. The survey was conducted between November 9-17 on 1,957 people. The results reinforce a longer-term trend of French voters turning quickly on their presidents soon after their election-- something which also happened to Macron's predecessors Francois ...
Goyal claims survey commissioned by him predicts about 300 LS seats for BJP
Union minister Piyush Goyal claimed Saturday a survey, commissioned by him, of over 5.4 lakh respondents across the country revealed the BJP will win between 297-303 seats in the next year's Lok Sabha polls. The minister said he had conducted out a similar survey in 2013 that had predicted an absolute majority for the BJP in 2014, and it was right. For the 2019 elections, the survey was conducted out in August-September, he said. "I'm happy to share that the BJP looks to be between 297-303 seats by itself in the 2019 elections," he said at the annual ET awards here. He said the survey was not done by the BJP but by a private agency, generally used by media houses. Goyal said in this year's survey, there were 5.4 lakh respondents, which was an unheard of number in any such survey in the world.
Irish PM pledges to increase top income tax threshold
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's prime minister on Saturday pledged to remove more workers from paying the highest rate of income tax by increasing the threshold by more than a third if his government continues in office for the next five years.
Have given nod for Thane-Virar water transport project:Gadkari
Union Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari said Saturday that the Mumbai metropolitan region needs innovative transport solutions, and invited investors to take part in Thane-Virar water transport project. Gadkari inaugurated various projects of the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) here including country's longest ropeway from Sewree in South Mumbai to Elephanta Island. "I have already approved Rs 1,200 crore water transport project of Thane Municipal Corporation, from Thane to Virar -- Rs 600 crore in first phase and Rs 600 crore in second phase," he said. "I invite investors to come forward to participate in this project," he added. Both Thane and Virar lie in the north of Mumbai. Among other projects of the Port Trust which the minister inaugurated were floating restaurants and a Super Specialty hospital. Gadkari said the government was not interested "in making only money". "We are not interested in making only money, but we are also looking at social interest, national ...
Varavara Rao taken into custody by Pune Police
Telugu poet Varavara Rao, accused of having Maoist links, was Saturday taken into custody by the Pune Police from Hyderabad in a case related to Elgar Parishad conclave, a senior official said here. Rao was so far under house arrest in Hyderabad. Joint Commissioner of Police (Pune Police) Shivaji Bodakhe said an extension of his house arrest granted by the Hyderabad High Court expired on November 15. On October 26, the Pune Police had taken into custody co-accused Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves, while Sudha Bharadwaj was taken into custody the next day. Left-leaning activists Rao, Ferreira, Gonsalves, Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha were arrested in August after the Pune Police conducted raids at various places in the country in connection with the Koregaon Bhima violence case. Navlakha has not been taken into custody yet. The police alleged that the activists had links with the Maoists, who backed Elgar Parishad held in Pune on December 31 last year. The Parishad, the police ...
Jammu: Chakka residents demand better drainage system, stage protest
The residents here staged a protest against authorities over poor drainage system along the Doda-Bhadarwah highway in Chakka area. They alleged that last week, rainwater entered business establishments and houses due to poor drainage in the area. During their protest, they blocked the highway for hours and raised slogans against the administration and GREF authorities. Last week, after it rained for several hours, water accumulated in front of shops and even entered into residential houses located on lower side of the road, said Abdul Majeed Gojal, a Chakka resident. Station House Officer, Bhadarwah, Munir Khan reached the spot to pacify the protesters. Khan after listening to their demand, assured them that the matter would be take up with authorities concerned. Following the assurance, the people called-off their protest and vehicular movement was restored.
7,500 police personnel to be recruited in Haryana: DGP
Haryana Director General of Police B S Sandhu Saturday said the process to recruit 7500 police personnel will begin nest month. Besides, around 800 new vehicles would also be purchased for strengthening policing, he said. The DGP said at the same time, locations on the KMP and KGP expressways are being notified for opening of police stations. Earlier, Sandhu inaugurated a building at the Palwal police station. The shortage in the police force in Palwal district will be met in the recruitment process, he said. Providing security to women and girls in the state is the top priority of police, he said. Crime can be controlled by the active participation of social institutions and common people, the DGP said.
Senior Kerala BJP leader Surendran detained
Senior Kerala BJP leader K. Surendran, who arrived along with seven party leaders and tried to break the police cordon in a bid to go to the Sabarimala temple, was taken into custody by the police on Saturday night at Nilackal.
Meghalaya Governor promises action in attack on woman activist
Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Saturday promised action in the recent murderous attack on Agnes Kharshiing, a frontline women's rights activist, and her aide campaigning against alleged illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state.
Rajnath, Shah, Sonowal, Doval discuss NRC
Top functionaries of the government and the ruling BJP Saturday discussed the situation in Assam arising out of the exclusion of 40 lakh people during the update of the NRC, officials said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reviewed the ongoing exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam's residents. The meeting stressed on the need for ensuring inclusion of all genuine Indians in the NRC, an official privy to the meeting said. The Supreme Court has fixed December 15 as the deadline for filing of claims and objections for inclusion of names in the NRC. The meeting came amidst reports that the central government was considering a proposal to grant work permits, among other measures, to people living in Assam who do not qualify for inclusion in the NRC. The central government's move to amend the Citizenship Act, to grant Indian nationality to Hindu, Sikh, .
