Page 73 - Social Issues
Once on the sidelines, Pakistani Hindus hold sway in Jodhpur LS polls
Not long ago, Pakistani Hindus living in Jodhpur held little political sway. However, as time passed and they grew in numbers, the community has emerged as an important vote bank, with manifestos of political parties promising to fulfill their basic needs like water and electricity. According to Hindu Singh Soda, who runs a charity here for Pakistani Hindus, around 20,000 members of the community in Jodhpur are eligible to vote. There are around five lakh Pakistani Hindus in other districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Of these two lakh have been granted Indian citizenship, Soda told PTI. These people are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship only after living in the country for seven years and till then, they stay here on extended visas, he said. "For them, partition is not over. They are running from persecution, but basic facilities are not provided here," Soda said. "After being conferred Indian citizenship by authorities, these people are eligible to vote and to benefit
India's first case: Man fined for spitting pan masala
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has fined a man for spitting pan masala at a public place in what it claims is the first case of its kind in the country.
TMC approaches EC over Khali's citizenship after wrestler campaigns for BJP
The Trinamool Congress has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) protesting against wrestler The Great Khali's citizenship status.Khali has campaigned for BJP's Jadavpur MP candidate Anupam Hazra. In its complaint, the TMC said Khali is a US citizen."He (Khali) holds US citizenship; therefore, a foreigner shouldn't be allowed to influence the minds of Indian electors," reads a letter dated April 27.Hitting Jadavpur's streets in an open top jeep, Khali campaigned for Hazra, asking voters to vote for the BJP leader. Hazra is contesting against Bengali actress and TMC candidate Mimi Chakraborty.Elections in West Bengal were held in three phases and will continue in the remaining four phases on April 29, May 6, 12 and 19. The counting of votes will begin on May 23.
Man hangs self from tree
A 24-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the Chhapar area here, police said Sunday. The body was found hanging from a tree in Kutubpur village Saturday evening, they said. The deceased has been identified as Arpit, police said, adding the reason of his taking the extreme step is not yet known. The body has been sent for post-mortem and investigations initiated, they said.
Pope Francis donates $500,000 to migrants in Mexico
Pope Francis donated $500,000 to aid Central American migrants in Mexico, the Vatican has announced.
Trump expresses 'deepest sympathies' after California synagogue shooting
US President Donald Trump on Saturday offered his "deepest sympathies" after one person was killed and three others were injured when a gunman opened fire at a synagogue north of San Diego, California. "At this moment it looks like a hate crime, but my deepest sympathies to all those affected and we'll get to the bottom of it," Trump said at the White House.
Teenage girl murdered after sexual assault, body found in well
A teenage girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in Bhongir district of Telangana, police said Saturday. The girl (14), who had completed ninth standard, did not return from special class on Thursday and her father lodged a police complaint. During a search on Friday, her body was found in a dry well. A postmortem report said she was murdered after being sexually assaulted. Alleging that the police did not act swiftly in the incident, the villagers held a dharna, the police said. The agitation was called off only after police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat assured them of catching the culprits soon.
Sexual harassment case: HC admits plea by 10 women lawyers
The Madras High Court on Saturday admitted a plea by 10 women lawyers seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to set up a fact-finding team to probe the Pollachi sexual harassment case. The first bench, headed by Chief Justice V K Tahilramani, issued notice to the government and Director General of Police, asking them to respond by June 7, and also directed the registry to tag the same with a similar case pending before it. The incident pertains to a a gang allegedly trying to strip a 19-year-old woman inside a car near Pollachi, a town near Coimbatore, recording the act and blackmailing her using the visuals. The victim, who managed to free herself, had lodged a complaint with the police. As reports emerged that the gang had sexually harassed many more young women and blackmailed them, the state government ordered a CB-CID probe and later transferred it to CBI. The women lawyers also sought a direction to the state government to constitute a complaint committee, led by a ...
At least 16 migrants killed in Morocco road crash
At least 16 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa died Saturday when the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into an irrigation canal, state news agency MAP reported. The agency said 17 other "sub-Saharan Africans looking to become illegal immigrants" were injured and transported to hospital after the accident on a minor road near the Spanish territory of Melilla. Local authorities quoted by MAP said the driver fled the scene and an investigation had been launched into the crash. Local NGO the Moroccan Association of Human Rights said the death toll was at least 19 and added around 50 people had been travelling in the vehicle. It said the vehicle was "often used by traffickers to transport migrants". Melilla is one of two Spanish territories attached to northern Morocco that mark the European Union's only land borders with Africa. The International Organization for Migration says that 1,605 migrants crossed by land into Spain in the first four months of this year. The Moroccan ...
French protests mark 24th week despite Macron's pledges
Yellow vest protests are taking place in France's main cities for the 24th consecutive week to challenge economic policies that President Emmanuel Macron stood by while unveiling measures intended to quell the anti-government movement. In Paris, a few thousand people participated in two peaceful demonstrations on Saturday. In the eastern city of Strasbourg, near the German border, police used tear gas to stop a crowd heading toward the European Parliament building. In his response to the movement, Macron announced tax cuts for middle-class workers and plans to close France's elite college for top civil servants and politicians. But he said he would keep pushing pro-business policies opposed by protesters. They criticise Macron for his alleged favoring of the wealthy and are demanding wage and pension increases.
BJP serious on Himachal regiment formation: Thakur
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday said the Narendra Modi government in its second term would endeavour to fulfil its resolve to form a Himachal Regiment.
'BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will break before Assembly elections in Maharashtra'
Mumbai Congress chief and South Mumbai candidate Milind Deora on Saturday claimed that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will break before Assembly elections in Maharashtra, scheduled to be held later this year."Their alliance can break anytime. The Prime Minister did not mention the name of Shiv Sena even a single time at his rally here yesterday. I can give a guarantee that the alliance will dismantle before the Assembly elections in the state," he told ANI.He hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegaing that Congress wanted to put the burden on middle-class taxpayers."PM must answer first how much tax burden had the BJP put on Mumbaikars. The middle class pays tax for Swachh Bharat but after paying tax for five years, can we say Mumbai is cleaner now? Where is the money from the tax going?" Deora asked.He further questioned the Prime Minister on job loss after demonetisation. "The Prime Minister must answer how many jobs were lost due to demonetisation. It was done by him, not ..
Modi like Kalidasa in his earlier days, says Mamata
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of spreading lies, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday compared him to Kalidasa, who was considered a dimwit before he went on to become one of the greatest writers of classical Sanskrit.
UK govt fund set up to combat modern slavery across world, including India
A UK government backed fund set up to combat modern day slavery across the world has announced a grant of up to 800,000 pounds each for a new set of projects, including one in India. The Modern Slavery Innovation Fund (MSIF) supports international projects to find innovative ways of stopping modern slavery. The MSIF on Friday announced up to GBP 800,000 each for projects across the world, including to the Freedom Fund working in India, a senior official said. "Together with our frontline partners, we are providing essential support to victims of child labour, early marriage, forced labour, debt bondage and sex trafficking in high-prevalence areas of India and elsewhere," said Nick Grono, CEO of the Freedom Fund. He said that this grant will enable us to develop and roll out a highly innovative, victim-centred joint service delivery model that combines the most effective anti-slavery approaches with international social care best practice. "It will allow groups of grassroots ...
Campaigning ends in Anantnag's Kulgam district for Monday polls
The election campaign in Kulgam district, which is part of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency going to polls in three phases, ended Saturday as nearly 3.45 lakh voters will register their choice of the representative on Monday. "The election campaigning in Kulgam district came to an end this (Saturday) evening, but will continue in Pulwama and Shopian districts which are also part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency," an election official said. He said the electioneering in the district remained by and large peaceful. Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama with 16 assembly segments. The Lok Sabha polls to this constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons. Anantnag district went to polls on 23rd April, while voting in Kulgam district will be on 29th April and Pulwama and Shopian districts will go to polls on 6 May. The Election Commission has curtailed the polling duration for Anantnag Lok Sabha ...
BJP urges EC to bar Kejriwal from campaigning for 'false' statements
The BJP Saturday moved the Election Commission seeking a ban on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's campaigning for allegedly instigating fear among people over the national register for citizens. The BJP said, Kejriwal at a press conference had reportedly claimed that the BJP considers Muslims, Christians, Jains, Parsis and other minorities in India as "infiltrators". "...the manifesto of BJP only talks about illegal infiltrators and no one else," the memorandum submitted to the poll panel said. It said Kejriwal's intention was to create panic and mutual hatred among communities by misleading people. The BJP urged the Commission to censure Kejriwal and bar him from campaigning and media interaction during the Lok Sabha polls.
Trieste half-marathon excludes African runners, accused of racism
Trieste half marathon organisers are facing accusations of racism over their controversial decision to close the May 5 race to African athletes. Race manager Fabio Carini told Saturday's edition of La Repubblica the move only to allow European entries was to make a stand against the exploitation of African runners. "This year we have decided only to take European athletes to make the point that measures must be taken to regulate what is currently a trade in high-value African athletes, who are purely and simply exploited, which is something we can no longer accept." Interviewed on Rai Television Carini evoked athletes who were "under-paid and treated indecently in relation to their sporting value". Carini came under fire from an Italian member of the European Parliament, Isabella de Monte, who called the decision "serious and unworthy". "We are preventing professionals taking part in a race because they come from Africa....The situation is in the process of slipping away from us and ..
J-K administration sets up panel for smooth conduct of economic census
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor Administration has set up an eight-member state-level coordination committee for smooth conduct of seventh economic census. The chief secretary will be the chairman of the committee, according to an order by the additional secretary of General Administration Department (GAD), Subash Chibber. The members include secretaries of various departments -- industries and commerce, planning, development and monitoring, labour and employment, rural development and panchayati raj, and information technology, the order issued on Friday said. It said the deputy director general of National Sample Survey Office (Field Operations Division) will also be member, and the director general of economics and statistics will be the member-cum-nodal officer of the committee. The terms of reference of the SLCC would be to monitor preparedness, progress and hurdles in conduct of seventh economic census in the state on regular basis and ensure complete coverage of the data ...
UK watchdog to probe overseas student visa row
The UK's National Audit Office (NAO) has launched an investigation into the government's handling of a visa row involving thousands of overseas students, many of them from India. The NAO confirmed the investigation on Friday, days after a migrant group lobbying the UK Home Office in favour of the students, wrongly accused of cheating in a compulsory visa-related English language exam, had renewed its call for justice. The NAO, which functions as the UK government's spending watchdog, has linked the crisis involving an estimated 36,000 student visa cancellations with the Windrush scandal, in which thousands of Commonwealth migrants were wrongly denied their British citizenship rights. In 2014, a BBC Panorama documentary drew attention to the fraud in the UK student visa system, including widespread cheating in English Language tests. The Home Office revoked student visas where there was evidence of cheating, but its decisions have come under renewed public and parliamentary scrutiny in
Cyprus protest vigil held for officer's 7 assumed victims
Hundreds of people turned up for a protest vigil outside Cyprus' presidential palace Friday to mourn seven women and girls who police say a military officer confessed to killing and to question if authorities failed to adequately investigate when foreign workers were reported missing. The protest's organizer used a bullhorn to read out the victims' names as well as those of other missing women, and others at the memorial shouted "Where are they?" in response. Some participants held placards decrying "sexist, misogynist and racist" attitudes about women who work as housekeepers or in low-paying service jobs. In a poignant moment, a group of tearful Filipino women held lighted candles and bowed their heads in prayer for the three women and one child of Filipino descent who are believed to be among the victims. A 35-year-old Cypriot National Guard captain is in custody facing multiple homicide charges. "I felt obliged to do something for these women, all the missing women, all the killed