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Jadavpur University hosts the first Harry Potter event in Kolkata

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Jadavpur University hosts the first Harry Potter event in Kolkata

Kolkata: Jadavpur University is all set to give the college goers of Kolkata the taste of the first ever Harry Potter event in the city.  Alohomora: Unlock the Magic, a two-day event for the Potterheads of the city, has been designed to indulge in fun and soak in the Pottermania.

The students of the University have an agenda, very much like Harry Potter and his friends had in J. K. Rowling’s series.

Speaking to eNewsroom, Saranya Basu, one of the JU students, who has played a pivotal role in structuring the event said, “We at JU have tried to understand the significance of Harry Potter, in today’s world or rather India. We in university, are at an age where we are almost ready to enter the realm of adulthood, just like the trio from the book. Given the present situation, as we enter the space of higher education, we are realising that the autonomy of an educational institution is crucial to impact and influence its students. When this autonomy of the institution is at stake, is making us fight for it as we understand the message sent us in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – interference is never a policy.”

He then added, “This precisely is the inspiration behind our two-day event ALOHOMORA: Unlock the Magic.”

The event was born out of the need to analyse and express Harry Potter in the context of the endangered freedom of the educational institutions and of the people of India as a whole. They have even launched the Daily Scribe, the paper presentation event, which aims to highlight the issue of witch-burnings and witch-lynchings throughout history, and the intervention of government in the education system and its representation in the magical world as a reflection of our modern society.

Shutters, a photography competition, as part of the event aims to provide a platform to emerging photographers, as a means of expressing themselves, and what they perceive as magic. However, the event has been specifically designed to highlight the intervention of the authorities in the autonomy of an educational institution and destroying the hegemony of the political power that lies with the privileged few in the country today. Prisoner of the Azkaban will be screened to showcase the inspiration behind Alohomora.

 

Adding to that Shouvik Kumar Guha, assistant professor, National University of Juridical Sciences, who has recently introduced a law course based on Harry Potter said, “This is one of the biggest inject of high-quality creativity in the world of education. This out-of-the-box event will not just enthuse the students but will bring out the best of both the world.”

On being asked why now, he said, “This type of an event wouldn’t come from traditionalists. Creative thoughts can only come from youths. Given the fact that JU is a hub for such revolutionary concepts, it comes as no surprise that they have given a complete contemporary connect.”

On being asked about what type of events have been designed to engage the youth, Arup Mondal, from team Alohomora said, “At Jadavpur University, we believe that parley is the path to true democracy. Hence, we present two events, the W.A.S.P. – The Wizard’s Astonishingly Scintillating Parley and the Wizengamot—a simulation of a mock ministry, one that is poised to deal with the biggest threat they have faced in the recent past; the return of Voldemort. These two events take us straight to the heart of what is imperative to the ministry in the wake of the return of the Dark Lord; the absence of a consolidated leadership and how it affects a whole community.”

To add more vigour to the event, Quizzitch – quiz for the Potterheads, The Warlock’s Quest, a simulation of the eponymous Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and a Quidditch match for the muggle players who have been disappointed at the lack of a Hogwarts acceptance letter and a way to play the best sport in the world.

So, if you are a Potterhead, dreaming of bringing about a change in the world around you, feel free to walk into the world of magic being recreated at JU on March 19 and 20. Just remember to say Alohomora, for the magic to unlock!

Woman delivers a baby on the railway platform, doctor and TTE ask for baksheesh

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Woman delivers a baby on the railway platform, doctor and TTE ask for baksheesh

Gaya/Ranchi: A woman gave birth to a baby in Gaya railway station in wee hours of Friday. It was around 2 am, when the railway doctor assisted the lady in the delivery. But even before the mother and child could settle, the doctor along with two Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE)s demanded Rs 300 as baksheesh (tip).

Recounting the details was good Samaritan, Swati Narayan, who had to catch a train for Ranchi, was sleeping at the platform, when she woke up, “I saw a blanket soaked in blood following which I realized that the woman had just delivered a baby. But the parents were stunned by the demand of the doctor and the TTEs.”

She further said, “When I intervened and mentioned that it was illegal to ask money for the delivery. Then they reduced the amount to Rs 250, adding that it was needed for the certificate, as they needed to get the delivery registered.”

Swati, a Right to Food activist added, “But who are they to issue birth certificate? In fact, the mother needed to be immediately shifted to a hospital. The parents were worried a lot, as the child had not cried since birth.” While arguing with the Railway officials, Swati took photos of the TTEs and tweeted it. When they realized they were being captured, they left the place.

woman railways Gaya platform doctor samaritans
The lady doctor and the TTE who were demanding backshees at Gaya Junction

“After they left, I called the ambulance, but it did not came, so the parents along with the newborn took an auto and rushed to the nearest hospital.”

Later, Swati lodged an online FIR about the incident and also wrote to the Women Commission about the incident.

After tweeting the incident to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM)s, she came to know that one Shreenath Sah, who was travelling in the same train Ganga Damodar Express (13330) was the first one to notice the pain of the pregnant lady. Following which he had tried calling on 182 and 138, but when the calls were not attended, he had tweeted,

“@PiyushGoyal sir kindly help one pregnant lady travelling in 13330 currently and she feels too much pain … I had tried 182 and 138 but only bg responses are coming. The lady is at last bogi of Mahila compartment #emergencymedicine (sic).”

It was after his tweet, DRM Mughalsarai had arranged for a doctor to assist the lady to deliver the baby at Gaya Junction.

Meanwhile, the father, Dilip Kumar, when contacted did not want to talk about the incident, while the mother while talking to eNewsroom said, “Baby is fine.”

Will BJP’s poor bypoll performances impact on 2019 Lok Sabha Elections?

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Will BJP’s poor bypoll performances impact on 2019 Lok Sabha Elections?

New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah might have often said that losing Lok Sabha bypolls was not bigger than winning state elections but available statistics indicates a dissatisfactory trend for the ruling party ahead of General Elections 2019.

Post the historic win of the Saffron Alliance in the 2014 general elections, the performance of BJP and its alliance in the Lok Sabha bypolls over the last five years has been underwhelming. Since May 2014, BJP has seen a significant decline in getting success in Lok Sabha bypolls. The party has only managed to win only 6 seats out of the 30 seats, where bypolls held between 2014 and November 2018.

BJP received a major setback in March 2018 when it lost the losses in the by-election held in UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s home turf – Gorakhpur and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya’s former seat – Phulpur in Allahabad. The party also lost in Bihar’s Araria, which the RJD managed to retain.

Of all Lok Sabha seats that had witnessed bypoll post 2014, 15 were previously held by the BJP. The party has not added any new seats to its kitty and lost 9 of their seats. Of the only 6 seats that BJP has managed hold back, two of party’s wins came in 2014, the year Narendra Modi won his historic mandate, and the other two came in 2016. Between 2015 to March 2018, BJP did not win a single by-election. In 2018, party succeeded in retaining of its 2 seats – Palghar (Maharashtara) and Shimoga (Karnataka) constituencies.

In contrast, the Congress has won 6 of the Lok Sabha battles in the bypoll battle. Of these six seats, the Congress retained the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat and wrested the other 5 from the BJP’s kitty. After Congress and BJP both the parties bagging 6 seats each, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) managed four wins each, to grab the third position.

In 2014, by-elections were held in five constituencies. All five seats were retained by the respective parties that had won them in the General Election. BJP retained Maharashtra’s Beed and Gujarat’s Vadodara, which Modi had won and vacated in 2014. The BJD retained the seat of Kandhamal in Odisha, the SP retained UP’s Mainpuri and the TRS managed to hold the seat of Medak in Andhra Pradesh.

The year 2015, however, saw a slight reversal, with BJP losing Ratlam constituency in Madhya Pradesh, to Congreess, which it won in 2014. On the other hand, the TRS held the Warangal seat while the TMC held the Bangaon seat in West Bengal.

BJP performed better in 2016, when it retained the Lakhimpur seat in Assam and the Shahdol seat in Madhya Pradesh. However, it failed to wrest TMC’s strongholds – Coochbehar and Tamluk in West Bengal. In the Tura bypoll, BJP’s Meghalaya unit chose not to contest the polls and instead, supported the NPP, which won the election.

For BJP, 2017 began on a bad note. The party lost two bypolls in Punjab. In Amritsar, the Congress managed to retain the seat while in Gurdaspur, it wrested a seat that BJP had won four times. In Kerala, too, the party lost the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll and in Srinagar, its ally PDP lost its seat to NC’s Farooq Abdullah.

BJP witnessed another string of losses in 2018. Of the eight seats which previously had BJP MPs, six were lost. It succeeded in retaining only 2 seats from Palghar (Maharashtara) and Shimoga (Karnataka) constituencies.

In February 2018, BJP lost the bypolls in Rajasthan’s Ajmer and Alwar, to the Congress. It also failed to defeat TMC in West Bengal’s Uluberia. Besides the losses in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the party lost in the Araria bypoll in Bihar to the RJD.

However, other including SP, TRS, NPP, IUML and BJD have fared better and managed to retain their respective seats. TRS managed to retain the two of its seats which went for the bypolls. The best strike rate, was of TMC. Four seats from West Bengal that had TMC MPs and witnessed by-elections between 2014 and 2018 were retained by it.

The only party that seems to have failed in retaining its seat in the past five years is BJP.

Chaibasa, the bone of contention for JMM and Congress in Mahagathbandhan!

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Chaibasa, the bone of contention for JMM and Congress in Mahagathbandhan!

Ranchi: Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, who hails from Jharkhand, tweeted on March 11, regarding the issue plaguing the mahagatbandhan.

“BJP has given up sitting seats in Bihar and Jharkhand to have alliances. The opposition parties are not ready to compromise even on non existing seats. Good luck to them (sic).”

The situation is exactly the same in Jharkhand, where except Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha (JMM), no opposition party is in condition to make any claim. There are about fourteen Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand, out of which twelve were won by BJP and the remaining two by JMM.

But now there is more than one claimant Mahagathbandhan party on many Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand.

First of all mahagathbandhan, which has mainly four parties in it—Congress, JMM, JVM and RJD is already weak in Jharkhand. As communist parties are not part of it here, Left has not been accommodated into the mahagathbandhan even for one single seat.

So when they say, that they have formed the alliance to fight against BJP, keeping communist parties out, the claim is somewhat hallow.

Practically, CPI-ML or CPI will field candidate on two seats—Koderma and Hazaribagh, as CPI-ML has been the runner up on two consecutive times in 2009 and 2014 in Koderma while CPI had won Hazaribagh seat in 2004. Now, communist parties are under one roof, so they can impact on more than three Lok Sabha constituencies of Jharkhand.

“The major problem with two main political parties of Jharkhand —JMM and JVM is, they are fighting Lok Sabha election but trying to execute everything keeping an eye on assembly polls. Without BJP being reduced to minimum parliamentary seats in Jharkhand and dethroned from center, it will not be easy for opposition to come into power in Jharkhand,” reacted a Left leader.

Amid these, CPI’s Bhuneshwar Mahto claimed that Left parties will fight on all fourteen seats.

While Arup Chatterjee, Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC)’s MLA from Nirsa, Dhanbad told eNewsroom, “We are in wait and watch, to see what decision mahagathbandhan takes on Left parties. If they will not give us any seat, MCC will also not support their candidate in Dhanbad.”

Now coming to gathbandhan’s seat sharing understanding so, Congress claims for seven seats, left four for JMM, two for JVM and one for RJD.

Initially, JMM who is looking beyond Lok Sabha polls, was ready to give ‘big brother’ status to Congress, despite being the largest party in state, was slow to react on this seat sharing. But when they found that Chaibasa seat which has five JMM MLAs was gone to Congress, then it expressed unhappiness.

This seems to be the reason behind, as why JMM’s working president Hemant Soren did not attend Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s Ranchi rally.

There is an interesting claim by RJD too. The party which has not a single MLA in Jharkhand wants to fight on two seats. There is an understanding among gathbandhan parties to offer RJD, Chatra Lok Sabha seat, but they also want to fight from Palamu.

“We consider Congress as big brother and are ready to give them six seats, but we want Chaibasa,” said a JMM leader. He wished to be anonymous, but has also claimed that the gathbandhan is intact and that they will fight together.

Congress is in a fix, Hemant Soren and JVM chief Babulal Marandi recently met in Ranchi and left a message that they are together, if Congress is not accepting their formula, they can go ahead, leaving Congress.

“In Jharkhand, Congress, which has no MP in the state, if they fight on six seats under gathbandhan, there is chance that they can win four seats, while they may win 2, if fight independently. They are getting good share, but not listening to other allies will hamper their chance only,” said Amit Raja, a political analyst.

Ramadan will not affect voting percentage of Muslims believe commoners

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Ramadan will not affect voting percentage of Muslims believe commoners

Kolkata: The dates for the 2019 General Election have been announced. And not many political parties are happy with the dates allocated for West Bengal elections. Trinamool Congress minister and mayor of Kolkata Firhad Hakim was the first to raise it.

During a media interaction, he brought up the issue of Ramadan clashing with the election timings. He even alleged that Modi-led government “didn’t want the minorities to cast their votes in huge numbers” during the seven-phase election in Bengal.

With Bengal having over 31 per cent voters hailing from the Muslim community the election date seems to have become a major political issue, especially for districts like Malda and Murshidabad, where Muslims constitute about 50 per cent of the population.

Reacting on the same, Md Rafay M Siddique, convenor, Loktantrik Janata Dal, West Bengal said, “This move is a deliberate one, with the sole agenda of benefiting BJP in Bengal as it will definitely affect the Muslim turnout.” However, he went on to add, “Given the present political scenario, it is now the duty of the Muslim leadership to ensure that every single Muslim voter casts his vote. If required special arrangements for the wheelchairs etc needs to be made for those coming out to vote despite fasting in the scorching summer heat.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi was also quick in reacting to Hakim’s comment. Owaisi even criticised the TMC minister for raising and unnecessary controversy and even requested politicians from politicizing Ramadan.

Reacting on the same Ghazala Yasmin, assistant professor, department of journalism and mass communication, Aliah University said, “It shouldn’t because the religious obligations of Ramadan don’t stop us from performing our worldly duty, they never have. And the present situation warrants complete participation of all sections of society including Muslims to come out and vote in unprecedented numbers to save the spirit of democracy and salvage the social and economic fabric of the country.”

On being asked if the move, as alleged by politicians was a deliberate move to restrict Muslims from voting she said, “I can’t comment whether it’s a deliberate move or not but it surely puts the onus on us to detoxify the politics of the country by casting our votes in an intelligent manner.”

Speaking along the same line was Khidderpore’s Maulana Ashraf Qasmi, he said, “We can’t accuse the election commission like this, we have faith on it and our system. We can only request them to consider doing something with regards to making voting easier for those fasting, as it would be really very hot in the month of May. We have no issue with Ramadan and election coinciding. But it’s the heat, which may create some health issue of old and the weak while waiting in cue. If some special care is taken to provide shamiana (tent) or seats for us to sit then it would be fine.”

“However, I would request every single individual to not use heat and Ramadan as an excuse to not cast their vote. We must come out in great numbers to give a clear electoral mandate to India,” he added.

Repeal land acquisition amendment and scrap Godda Adani Power project: demands Jharkhand civil society

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Repeal land acquisition amendment and scrap Godda Adani Power project: demands Jharkhand civil society

Ranchi: Repeal Land Acquisition Amendment Act 2018 (Jharkhand) and Land Bank policy. Laws that are blatantly and repeatedly used for suppression of freedom of expression and harassment of activists should be immediately repealed. Few examples are Sections124A (sedition) & 499 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

All the projects that are being undertaken without consent of Gram Sabha and by violating land laws should be scrapped including, Icha-Kharkai embankment, Godda Adani Power project, Palamu elephant corridor and Mandal dam. Samta judgement, Fifth Schedule and PESA should be implemented in letter and spirit. Rules for PESA to be formulated. Forest Rights Act should be enforced fully. And there should be complete transparency in funding of political parties.

These and many other significant demands were made by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha from all political parties to include it in their manifesto, for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

The Mahasabha is a coalition of more than thirty progressive organisations, activists and intellectuals working in different parts of Jharkhand for the rights of poor, Adivasis, Dalits, women and minorities.

“Mahasabha believes that our state and country are passing through a phase of undeclared emergency. Peoples’ rights and basic tenets of democracy are under attack: amendment in Land Acquisition Act, starvation deaths, lynching incidents, increasing atrocities on Adivasis, Dalits, minorities and women, state-sponsored communalism, attacks on the freedom of expression, harassment of activists, attacks on traditional self-governance systems of Adivasis, to name a few,” read the press communiqué issued by the mahasabha.

Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha hopes that 2019 elections will lead to formation of a government that will be committed to ensuring people’s rights, preservation of constitution and democratic institutions and committed to secular and democratic values.

JJM also mentioned that it will discuss the question of political commitment on these issues with the people across the state.

Below are mahashabha’s demands in full:

Gram Sabha and Natural Resources

  • Repeal Land Acquisition Amendment Act 2018 (Jharkhand) and Land Bank policy. No amendment, against the interest of Gram Sabha and people at large, should be made in land laws. Land taken over or identified under these policies should be immediately returned to the owners / Gram Sabha.
  • All those projects that are being undertaken without consent of Gram Sabha and by violating land laws should be scrapped Icha-Kharkai embankment, Godda Adani Power project, Palamu elephant corridor, Mandal dam are few examples falling in this category.
  • Samta judgement, Fifth Schedule and PESA should be implemented in letter and spirit. Rules for PESA to be formulated. Forest Rights Act should be enforced fully and all community and individual claims should be accepted.

Civil and Democratic Liberties

  • Laws that are blatantly and repeatedly used for suppression of freedom of expression and harassment of activists should be immediately repealed. Few examples are Sections124A (sedition) & 499 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Preventions) Act and National Security Act. All fabricated cases filed under these laws / provisions in Jharkhand should be withdrawn.
  • Immediate release of under trial prisoners languishing in Jharkhand’s jails since a long time. Immediate release of Adivasi under-trials, falsely branded as Naxals (more than 3000 in number).
  • Repression by administration and security forces in Khunti district by claiming Pathalgarhi to be unconstitutional should be immediately stopped. All cases to be withdrawn, police camps to be winded up, victims to be compensated and perpetrators of repression should be punished.

Domicile and Reservation

  • Present domicile policy of the state to be repealed. Instead domicile policy to consider only those who are native inhabitants of Jharkhand as local residents to be formulated.
  • Rules should be framed to ensure maximum participation of local residents in decision-making positions at all levels of all government and private jobs. At least 50% reservation should be ensured for Adivasis, Dalits, and backwards in promotion in government jobs. At least 33% reservation should be ensured for women in all areas. All vacant posts in all departments should be filled within one year of formation of government.
  • Provision of 10% reservation for financially weak candidates (which is primarily a reservation for savarnas) should be scrapped since this provision is against basic principles of reservation and social justice.

Social Security, Healthcare and Education

  • Universal basic services and social security for all citizens to be guaranteed for – food, nutrition, universal common education till secondary level, and maternity benefits. Aadhaar-based biometric authentication should be removed from all welfare programmes and public services and Aadhaar should not be made mandatory for any welfare programme and public services.
  • Universal PDS with at least 7 kg food grain per person, pulses and edible oil. Expansion of Dal-Bhat Kendras with improved services. Social security pension of at least Rs 3000 per month for all elderly, specially abled, single women and members of particularly vulnerable tribal groups. Maternity benefits of at least Rs 6,000 per child to all pregnant women (without conditionalities). Cooked nutritious meal, with six eggs per week, for all children in Anganwadis and midday meals in schools.
  • Expansion of employment guarantee programme to urban areas and for skilled labour as well. Expansion of the right to work for every rural family under NREGA to 200 days per year with minimum Rs 300 per day wages or minimum wage of the state, whichever is higher.
  • Expansion of Right to Education to cover equal and free education for all children up to Class 12. Order of merging schools should be recalled by Jharkhand govt and closed schools should be reopened.
  • All citizens should be provided common, free and quality health services through public health system. Delivery of government health services to be strengthened at all levels, especially for primary and preventive care.

Agriculture

  • All recommendations of Swaminathan Committee should be implemented and farmers should be paid procurement price of 50% over and above the C2 cost of cultivation. All surplus produce of farmers should be procured on time. One-time comprehensive loan waiver. Control of all forest produce should be vested with Gram Sabha.
  • Irrigation facilities based on rainwater, rivers, rivulets and existing dams should be ensured. Irrigation management should primarily be done by Gram Sabha and at secondary level by Panchayati Raj institutions.
  • Cow Protection Act of Jharkhand should be scrapped and restrictions on trade of animals should be withdrawn.

Religion, Culture and Language

  • Freedom of religion act, Jharkhand should be scrapped. Adivasi religion, by the name of Sarna or some other name (decided by the Adivasi communities), should be officially recognised.
  • Adivasi and regional languages of Jharkhand should be used in official communications and these should be made additional medium for education in schools.
  • Special provisions and schemes for comprehensive development of minorities based on recommendations of the Sachar Committee. Separate budget provisions should be made for minority communities.

Transparent, Accountable Governance and Electoral Reforms

  • Complete transparency in funding of political parties. Restrictions imposed for lodging complaints by citizens on public representatives and government officials should be withdrawn. Right to recall elected representatives should be made fundamental right.
  • Sanctity of Right to Information Act should be maintained, without any form of dilution. A decentralised grievance redress mechanism should be established in the state. Online facility for filing Right to Information applications in the state to be established.

Why leaving Giridih Lok Sabha seat may cost dearly for BJP in Jharkhand

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Why leaving Giridih Lok Sabha seat may cost dearly for BJP in Jharkhand

Ranchi: The news of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting into an alliance with All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) for 14-Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand did not surprise many. As AJSU is in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and both parties had fought together during 2014 assembly polls. But BJP leaving Giridih Lok Sabha seat for AJSU has shocked everyone, from BJP leaders to political pundits.

In doing so, BJP has left a seat at a place, where the party has not lost in the past 30 years last in Lok Sabha polls (except two for time – in 1991 and 2004, when Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha (JMM) had won).

And most significantly, the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Ravindra Pandey who has been denied ticket from Giridih has won five times.

Also it’s not only about Pandey, but Giridih is one of the few seats in Jharkhand, where all the electoral heads – MP, MLA, Mayor and Deputy Mayor belongs to the BJP.

While some are saying that AJSU is not a strong party base in Giridih to win a Lok Sabha seat. It is not easy also for BJP that it votes can be transferred to AJSU candidate. The latest example is AJSU president Sudesh Mahto loosing from its traditional seat- Silli, despite BJP’s alliance in 2018’s bypoll. In most cases, a ruling party or its alliance win in bypoll, but here Raghubar Das led BJP government rule could not change fate of AJSU chief who has been voted out twice between 2014 and 2018.

AJSU has five MLAs in Jharkhand assembly.

The first reaction of Giridih MP was also not to believe the news, “Where you have heard that Giridih seat has been given to AJSU. The parliamentary panel has only decided to get into an alliance with AJSU and give them one seat, but it is yet to decide on the seat,” he reacted while talking to eNewsroom.

When asked if anybody from party had contacted him, the reply from the five times MP was a big no.

Later, Pandey told other media organizations that he had not been contacted by the party before such a major decision, “It seems BJP is a big party now and where a five time MP had no importance to be contacted before such decisions.”

Significantly, the adjacent Lok Sabha constituency’s BJP MP, Ravindra Rai too, expressed shock which has been reported in newspapers, in regards to the decision of giving Giridih seat to AJSU. He has termed the decision as being suicidal for the party.

Rai’s statement is important, as he has been Jharkhand’s state president for BJP, and under his leadership, BJP had fought Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and won 12 out of 14 seats.

“As it was being believed that because of poor performance, Ravindra Pandey would not be getting the ticket this time. But by changing the candidate, BJP can win the seat. However, it seems, like BJP was under pressure from AJSU for the Giridih seat, which they have grabbed,” said Amit Raja, senior journalist while talking to eNewsroom.

While another senior journalist, Kamal Nayan said, “In the last two days, I met many BJP workers, and found that there is a bit resentment among them, they are not happy with the party’s decision. However, they may not hit the streets to protest against the decision, but they will express this anger while casting their vote.”

Survey conducted by many television news channels telecasted on the eve of poll date announcement, has confirmed the fear of the BJP being turned into reality, with the NDA being limited to three seats in Jharkhand.

Political observers believe that BJP’s decision to not contest from Giridih seat will have a direct impact on at least three other seats – Koderma, Dhanbad and Godda.

Rahul Gandhi finds a staunch admirer in Babulal Marandi

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Rahul Gandhi finds a staunch admirer in Babulal Marandi

Giridih: In an exclusive interview with eNewsroom, Babulal Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand claims that he is an admirer of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The words have great significance, as 61-year-old Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) chief is considered a seasoned politician. Marandi has been four-time Member of Parliament (MP) and also a Union Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet. Marandi, who formed JVM after quitting Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be bowled over by Rahul Gandhi’s simplicity, also feels that PM Narendra Modi should abstain from making fun of the Gandhi scion. With Lok Sabha election round the corner, Marandi talked at length. Following are the excerpts of the engaging conversation that covered right from Rahul Gandhi, his party’s fight against forcible land acquisition for the Adani Power in Godda, and the status of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) post-Pulwama attack:

eNewsroom: How much faith do you have on Congress President Rahul Gandhi?

Babulal: When we are forming the Mahagathbandan with the Congress, which is the largest and oldest party, we accepted its leader Rahul Gandhi, as the Gathbandhan’s leader too.

On a personal level, I have watched him closely to arrive at this understanding that Rahul Gandhi thinks about the country, about the common man and the poor. His lifestyle is very simple and wherever he goes, he appears to be like one of the common man. There is no show off even during press conferences and he definitely tries to connect them. So I think such young leaders should be supported. If an alliance happens then it will be good. And in these many years I have assessed that what he says, he does it.

eNewsroom: Recently at an event in India’s premier engineering institute, Prime Minister Narendra Modi poked fun at Rahul Gandhi, on the pretext of asking a question to one of the innovators working on a programme that can help Dyslexic children. How do you see it, especially when you have just admitted that you admire Rahul Gandhi’s simplicity?

Babulal: I always have maintained that be it Modi ji or anybody else, we should not criticize others. Everyone has their own style of speaking, reading and doing things, everyone has their own uniqueness. Earlier people used to address him as Pappu and Yuvraj too, which is wrong in democracy.

He comes from such a family background where Motilal Nehru was a lawyer, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was also a qualified lawyer and served the nation as its Prime Minister. Trimurti Bhavan is a living example of their legacy.

What I mean to say is, even after coming from such royal background he still leads a simple life. Wherever I saw him, be it at the Parliament or anywhere else, I have found him being humble.

Even being in politics and at this age, he did not try to look different but tried to connect with the common man. At least in this matter, I am a fan of him.

His personality should not be made fun of, he can be criticized for the wrong decisions he takes. Even I can or will oppose things which I will not like.

Watch Babulal Marandi speaking about Rahul Gandhi and on Air Strikes:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWLeg7ew-uo[/embedyt]

 

eNewsroom: Your party has been fighting against the forcible land acquisition in Godda by the government for Adani Power Plant. Several JVM leaders have gone to the jail for protesting against it, but the Jharkhand government has not just supported it but has also declared the entire power plant area as an SEZ (Special Economic Zone). How you see it?

Babulal: We have fought a lot, both on the road and inside the assembly. But the government has planned to support Adani power plant. However, it was because of our opposition that they have managed to acquire only 500 acres of land, they actually had planned to acquire 2000 acres of land. The compensation amount was earlier reduced to Rs 3.5 lakhs per acres, which has now been increased to Rs 50 lakhs per acre. But yes with regards to the SEZ order, I will say that the Modi government should declare entire Jharkhand or even Santhal Pargana as SEZ, as it will benefit Adani Power Plant.

eNewsroom: Has the terrorist attack in Pulwama, followed by the air strikes made you and others in Mahagathbandhan, rethink the strategy?

Babulal: Yes, immediately after the Pulwama attack, followed by air strikes it looked as if BJP would be benefitted during the elections. But the way the BJP leaders misinformed people, only for their claims to be rubbished by the international media. Also, Imran Khan not wasting time in releasing Abhinandan dented Modi and Amit Shah’s propaganda. A minister even said, “We did not go to kill anyone”. So, the government is now on back foot, which makes clear that it was a political stunt. BJP should not politicise the incident. I think it may now have a reverse impact.

eNewsroom: But Amit Shah has mentioned the number of terrorist killed, while PM Modi has stated – Gush Kar Marenge….

Babulal: If you want to kill, then go and do so, who has stopped you? But it’s like jo badal garajte hai wo baraste nahi (Thundering clouds seldom rains). America did not say anything before entering Pakistan to kill Osama. They even threw his body into the ocean. But we did not kill anyone and are shouting. These days nothing can remain hidden. Media is omnipresent. Strangely enough, all international media has denied any killing.

The 300 terrorists getting killed from the airstrikes have, in fact, made a mockery of India before the world.

Martyr’s wife waits for job and land promised to her

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Martyr’s wife waits for job and land promised to her

Giridih/Ranchi: Reshmi Updhyay was only 19 when she got married. However, within four years, she became a widow. Reshmi, is the wife of martyr Sitaram Upadhyay, a constable of Border Security Force (BSF), who was killed on May 18, 2018 when Pakistan violated cease fire in the Jammu border.

Sitaram is survived by two children, a three-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.  Reshmi, who is single child of her parent, has a difficult life already as not only is her father is deaf, but her father-in-law is also blind. Martyrdom of Sitaram, has made things even more unbearable for her as her family is now having to survive without any steady source of income.

Making things difficult for her is the Jharkhand government.

“It has been over 10 months, but I have yet to get the job and land that had been promised by the government. The land had been promised at two places, one in the township, for residential purpose and other in rural area for agricultural. But, at least I should get the residential purpose land,” Reshmi told eNewsroom.

She further narrated, “But more than the land, I am in need of a job. As now I have to think about the future of my children. I have got a certain amount as compensation from BSF and the state government, but if I will spend them now, then I do not know what will happen in the future. In the hope of getting job, I did not apply for any petrol pump or gas agency license as then I may not get job.”

Listen to the wife of martyr Sitaram Upadhyay

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMzL808SD_s[/embedyt]

 

Reshmi, who had left her graduation midway wants to become a graduate too, by appearing for the final year course.

The widow, till date has met three deputy commissioners of Giridih—Manoj Kumar, his successor Neha Arora and her successor Rajesh Pathak, a dozen times. Reshmi also wrote for Jan Sanwad, a public hearing platform which is organised by the Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das. But she is yet to get any response.

She has also been invited by the Jharkhand cabinet minister Dinesh Uraon to attend Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha foundation day function.

“On November 22, when the foundation day of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha was celebrated, I had been called to attend the event. During the event everyone, including the ministers promised of getting me a job soon, but it is yet to happen,” she rued.

A forth night ago, Reshmi had met deputy commissioner Rajesh Pathak, who had promised her that during the meeting of Sthapana Samiti (emplacement committee), a decision would be taken.

When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Giridih Rajesh Kumar Pathak, he told eNewsroom, “The meeting had held and the committee has agreed for Reshmi Upadhyay’s job.”

But the widow, who is eagerly waiting for her job, and met officers several times, have not got any official communication about the development.

“I did not receive any information regarding it. Hope it has been done and soon i will hear about it,” she added.

While her job process may have pushed forward, but the land promised to her yet to be provided. And the big question is, why even after such show of high respect for armed forces by political parties, still a martyr’s widow has to run pillar to post to get what she has been promised by governments?

BJP’s misrule is making us unsure of when a war or riot will happen: Hemant Soren

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BJP’s misrule is making us unsure of when a war or riot will happen: Hemant Soren

Giridih: “Today the condition of our country is such that at borders, army men, who in general are the son of farmers, are getting killed, while farmers are being forced to commit suicide inside the country because of BJP’s misrule. BJP is neither capable of handling state nor country,” said Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jharkhand.

Soren junior was addressing a rally on the occasion of the 46th Foundation day of JMM, Giridih at Giridih’s Jhanda Maidan. During his half an hour-long speech, the former chief minister also addressed the crowd in the local tribal language.

“Today the situation is such that anytime a war can be declared, here in Jharkhand, anytime a communal riots can be instigated,” he declared. “Now, the time has come to think for everyone and arrive on a decision about who should be given the charge of the country, for then only the constitution and democracy will be saved,” Soren said.

The JMM leader especially highlighted, how during the BJP rule, atrocities was being inflicted on tribals and schedule caste. He said, “The way atrocities is being inflicted on tribals and schedule caste across India it has never happened in the history of India. How the forest and lands belonging to the tribals of Jharkhand has been looted. Gair Majurwa Land is being converted into government land banks and is being looted. The animal husbandry has been ruined. Cattle markets have been shut down. Children belonging toTribal and schedule caste community are unable to study as schools are being closed in rural areas.  ”

He then added, “If you hope for something from this government, the you will have to face the bullet or stay behind bars. However, with election around they are luring the common man with schemes, they will give money to us in February and loot us from March.”

Watch Hemant Soren’s speech

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMrnAQowwU8[/embedyt]

 

Expressing anguish over what has been happening off late, he said, “What BJP did is – create fights between the tribals, forward and backward castes and the minorities. Even para-teachers died in large numbers when protesting, as they fought for their rights. A large number of lynching cases, which never happened in the past 18 years, has place in Jharkhand. Due to lynching, we lost many friends from the minority community, but surprisingly, the killers are being garlanded by BJP leader Jayant Sinha. What the hell is going on in the country?”

Just ahead of addressing the rally, JMM working president told in a press briefing that the politics on air strikes, is not in the interest of the country, but BJP is playing it the most. “BJP is connecting the bravery of armed forces to itself,” alleged Soren.

He also claimed that BJP during its tenure has given nothing but displacement, migration and unemployment to the people of Jharkhand.

“The policy of state government is to give power to Bangladesh, water to Bihar and employment to outsiders. In fact, the chaal and charitra of BJP have been anti-Jharkhand,” he alleged.

On the recent Supreme Court order for the eviction of tribals from forest area, Soren said, “Both the centre and state governments did not present the tribal’s perspective before the court; they have been asked to evict the forest. It was only after a mass protest, that the government had filed a petition in the court.”

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