Kolkata: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana assembly election results analysis by independent media organizations’ journalists.
Many political observers believe that the five state’s polls (Mizoram’s results will be announced tomorrow) will have a major impact on the 2024 General Election of India, the world largest democracy. It will also reflect on the INDIA Alliance formed by the opposition parties to take on ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA. The results will impact the seat sharing, a major issue among the parties in INDIA.
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh election results being announced on the date of 39th anniversary of Bhopal Gas Tragedy is a matter of concern for the activist working for the cause of survivors and victims of the world largest industrial disaster.
Speaking to eNewsroom, Nasreen Bee said that people mourn the loss of their loved ones on this day. Now there will be noises of drums, crackers, and celebrations. The government itself mourns and marks the Bhopal gas tragedy by paying tribute to gas victims. Yet they ignored it. “The Chief Election Officer of Madhya Pradesh did not respond to our letter. When they can hold the result for 15 long days then what is the harm in holding it for the 16th day? This is a deliberate move to erase the Bhopal gas tragedy from the people’s memory,” said Nasreen.
Bhopal: Amongst the 230 Assembly segments in Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior (South) constituency witnessed a different treatment. Not because that the assembly segment enjoys rich historical and cultural landmarks for which Gwalior is known but because the assembly seat is considered to be a bastion of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The fact is that the country’s first BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born at Kamal Singh Ka Bagh, which falls under this assembly segment. Another fact is that several of the founders of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the Ram Rajya Parishad, and the Hindu Mahasabha are from this assembly segment. And in the assembly segment lies a temple in memory of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse in the Daulatganj area. Probably, the only temple that exists in the name of the father of the nation’s assassin. And where many of Godse supporters observe November 15 as “Sacrifice Day”, the day Godse was hanged to death in 1949 after being convicted of killing the father of the nation.
This is perhaps why the Gwalior (South) did not dare to break from the electoral pattern for decades. But not all of this text is agreed where a voter is the seldom king. Congress party snatched the segment from BJP’s two-time legislator Narayan Singh Kushwaha, the then Minister of State for Home Affairs in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet. In 2018, Congress party’s Praveen Pathak won by a slender margin of nearly 121 votes – the lowest margin in the last Assembly elections. Basically, the voters of Gwalior (South) shifted from the shadow of a political party towards a party that enjoys a completely different ideology.
There is a widespread perception that the caste-based demographic of the constituency offered a clear pathway for an electoral win. Combing through the data suggests that the segment is inhabited by people from different communities including Muslims, Kushwahas, Brahmins and SC ST, with their population being 36,000, 28,000, 24,000 and 54,000 respectively. Muslims were around six per cent, Jatavs 5.18 per cent, Nais 5.17 per cent, Brahmins 5.9 per cent, Vishwakarmas 4.8 per cent, Parihars 4.43 per cent, Pals 4.43 per cent, Yadavs-Khatiks 3.69 per cent, Sonis 3.69 per cent, Sindhis 3.69, Rathores 3.6 per cent, Prajapatis 3.6, Punjabis three per cent, Thakurs 1.48 per cent. The other communities such as Sindhis, Jains, Vaishyas, Marathas, Punjabis and Gurjars make up the rest of the population. The total number of sub castes and groups was 26.
On winning, Pathak began with the advantage of the segment’s electoral pattern, and played the importance of his party’s ideological card to its advantage.
“On becoming a legislator, I increased my meetings with people and community leaders. A series of sports, cultural, religious and other activities were organised to strengthen the voice of unity and friendship among the communities and people”, informed Praveen Pathak.
Praveen Pathak with voter during his campaign | eNewsroom
This followed with Pathak participating in social integration programmes where he reached out to caste influencers, traders, local chambers, businessmen, farmers, women’s self-help groups, and others.
But that was not enough, accepts Pathak by adding that “the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and the idea of Mohabbat Ki Dukan gave me a different dimension”.
Thus, in January 2022, an app named Gwalior Dakshin (South) was introduced to encourage people of his constituency to rise above caste and religious lines and participate in strengthening a new relationship with other people of the assembly segment.
In the first strike, the idea of Pragaman Gwalior Dakshin APP was floated among the people, particularly among the young bright minded leaders from different communities, from different backgrounds to join the performance-community-connection based APP. To join the Gwalior Dakshin App, a criteria was set. Each user was asked to introduce a minimum 5 fresh users or maximum 25 families.
In July 2022, both performance-community-connection APP and leadership of Pathak got tested during the municipal polls held across the state. While Pathak devoted time to show the party’s united face to the voters, the performance -people-connection based APP set the score to select a likeable preferred candidate for the 20 wards of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation.
Every ticket aspirant was asked to make his support base to join the APP with voter specifications, said a ticket aspirant. The efforts began to bear fruit with one hundred and five aspirants in twenty municipal seats who had finished first, second, third, or fourth in the previous civic polls dropped the idea to contest in the elections. As a result, for the first time in 50 years, Gwalior saw the Congress snatching a mayoral seat from the BJP/Jan Sangh.
As a result, 1251 users expanded the Mohabbat Ki Dukan philosophy that made 92350 people of the Gwalior Dakshi to remain connected 24X7.
This time again, the contest is between Kushwaha and Pathak in Gwalior (South) in the same interesting caste-based demography. Kushwaha in his campaign played up the schemes announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted welfarist policies of Narendra Modi government and underlined Prime Minister’s popularity.
During the campaign, Pathak’s arsenal included a padyatra with door to door visit, promising to deliver free educational stationery to low-income children, modernizing schools in the region, honoring local heroes, improving health facilities, and creating job opportunities.
“Much of the promises were based on the suggestions that arrived from the users of the App,” said Abhay Singh, a voter from Ward no. 37.
Finally, on November 17, the day of voting, the app was able to virtually map every voter in the segment. And Pathak, through Pragaman, was able to see and clock in real-time how his support base of nearly 1,06,000 voters of the total number of voters 2,48,400 were at their polling stations by afternoon.
Political analysts think that any candidate getting over 93,000 votes would be a sure winner.
“Since 2003, the seat is considered to be a bellwether seat – a constituency that acts as a trend indicator of the entire geographical location or mirrors the results in that region. In 2018, the seat went to the Congress with the help of Mahesh Shivhare,” a senior journalist said. Kamal Nath-led government was formed after a gap of 15 years, he added. Unsurprisingly, the Nath government fell after 15-months due to a political proposition allowing Shivraj Singh Chouhan to head the State.
Whatever may be the outcome, the voters of Gwalior (South) segment where concerted attempts are being made to resurrect Gandhi’s killer Godse will have learned a lot from an intense contest on a new medium.
Bhopal: The Election Commission of India is all set to announce the results of four state assembly elections together on December 3. As the political parties anxiously await the results in line with the predictions and exit polls, the anticipation among the voters is also visible. However, the choice of the result announcement date has sparked anger among the residents of Bhopal. December 3 holds significance as it marks the 39th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, a devastating industrial disaster that unfolded on the intervening night of 2-3 December 1984. The tragic incident claimed at least 25,000 lives and left thousands of individuals grappling with severe health issues.
Activists, survivors, and healthcare professionals have voiced their concerns about the insensitivity of choosing December 3 as counting date. It holds deep significance for the people of Bhopal. The clash between political priorities and the ongoing repercussions of the industrial disaster raises questions about the commitment to addressing the long-standing issues faced by the survivors.
Last minute revision in Mizoram’s counting date
Interestingly, the Election Commission has revised the result declaration date for Mizoram from December 3 (Sunday) to December 4 (Monday) citing that the commission had received various requests to change the date of counting from Sunday to any other weekday on the ground that December 3 (Sunday) marks a special significance for the people of Mizoram. The Election Commission revised the date of counting. Mizoram is the fifth state which went to polls on November 7. The counting date for the other four states Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will remain the same.
On November 10, five organizations working for gas victims wrote a letter to the chief election officer (CEO) of Madhya Pradesh, requesting him not to announce the election results on December 3, the anniversary and mourning day of the world’s worst industrial disaster. The candidates fighting assembly polls also registered their complaints in this regard.
The survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy are disappointed with the decision of the election commission. They say that it is a strategy to wipe out the pain and suffering, gatherings and protests, and to deviate the minds of people from the horrific disaster. Anwar Jahan, who recently went through an eye surgery spoke to eNewsroom. Her eyes weakened after the gas tragedy. “It is ridiculous that the result declaration date of one state can be changed because of religious importance while thousands of deaths and severe ailments remain ignored. When the gas leaked we didn’t know what that itchy substance was? Without knowing what was happening we ran with our small children to save our lives. We saw corpses of men, women, and cattle on the way. Can there be any excuse to downplay that? asked Jahan.
On Friday, hundreds of people staged protests across Mizoram demanding to change the counting of votes for the State Assembly election held on November 7. The Christian-majority state of Mizoram devotes much of their Sundays to the Church and associated religious activities.
The toxic substance Methyl Isocyanate leaked from Union Carbide (India) Ltd (UCIL), a subsidiary of the US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) owned by Dow Chemical Company. The factory was situated on the outskirts of Bhopal, merely 2-3 kilometers away from Bhopal station. According to a report from the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO), over 30 tons of poisonous gas adversely affected more than 600,000 workers and residents in the vicinity. The report highlighted that this disaster ranked among the major industrial accidents worldwide since 1919.
Suboor Khan, a 10-year-old gas victim, participated in a press conference commemorating the 39th anniversary of the world’s worst industrial disaster, along with other survivors and victims | Courtesy: Chingari Trust
Survivors and alarming healthcare
Nasreen Bee was five years old when the gas leaked. She was admitted to the ICU in Hamidia Hospital for fifteen days because of a toxic case. Her father, brother, uncle, and aunt died in the aftermath of the gas tragedy and now her son suffers the complications passed through her because of poisonous gas.
Speaking to eNewsroom, Nasreen Bee said that people mourn the loss of their loved ones on this day. Now there will be noises of drums, crackers, and celebrations. The government itself mourns and marks the Bhopal gas tragedy by paying tribute to gas victims. Yet they ignored it. “The Chief Election Officer of Madhya Pradesh did not respond to our letter. When they can hold the result for 15 long days then what is the harm in holding it for the 16th day? This is a deliberate move to erase the Bhopal gas tragedy from the people’s memory,” said Nasreen.
In a press conference, Dr. Shweta Chaturvedi, a yoga therapist at the clinic, shared concerning statistics about Bhopal survivors under care. Since January 1, 2022, 22 of the 3832 individuals receiving care have passed away. Notably, 64% of these deceased individuals had been diagnosed with Hypertension, and 45% had Diabetes Mellitus. In 8 out of 10 cases, the deceased had both Hypertension and Diabetes. The third most common diagnosis among the deceased was respiratory illnesses, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Nitesh Dubey, a Registration Assistant at the clinic highlighted data from their records. Among 6254 individuals receiving care, those with a history of gas exposure were more than three times more likely to be diagnosed with Diabetes, Coronary Arterial Disease, Neuropathies, and Arthritis compared to those without gas exposure. Additionally, diagnosis of Hypertension, Acid Peptic disease, Asthma, COPD, Cervical spondylosis and Anxiety disorders were twice as common among survivors of the gas disaster.
The Sambhavna Trust Clinic has been running amid a severely affected community since September 1996. It has provided long-term care to 36-thousand persons exposed to toxic gas and contaminated water. They have won several national and international awards and their research published in international journals.
Gas tragedy survivor elderly women, Rasheeda Bee (in white) and Champa Devi Shukla (in black & red) paying tribute and demanding justice for the victims | Courtesy: Chingari Trust
Condemnation and concerns
Activist Rachna Dhingra from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action strongly condemned the results date, labeling it an attempt to downplay the Corporation’s crimes with equal involvement from the government and now the Election Commission. She questioned the silence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Election Commissioner when the dates were announced. “Bhopal gas tragedy is a global issue. These people are complicit in the crimes committed against half a million people. There is no closure as the disaster persists in various forms—ongoing groundwater contamination, harm to the next generation, lack of proper medical care or rehabilitation, and the absence of punishment for those responsible for the Bhopal tragedy. Disaster isn’t a distant memory but an ongoing reality, with people succumbing to gas-related ailments, cancer and kidney diseases even today. If these political parties have any shame they will refrain from celebrations regardless of the election result,” Rachna reminded the political parties.
A report released by the Sambhavna Trust Clinic in February 2023 revealed that cancer is 2.5 times more prevalent in Bhopal gas tragedy victims compared to an unexposed population in other parts of the city. Women in the gas-exposed population were also found to be more likely to get lung cancers.
Let’s assume that the Election Commission was unaware of the gas tragedy, but what excuse does the Madhya Pradesh government have for not objecting? questioned activist Nawab Khan.
“The mourning and protest is not allowed but the celebrations have no restrictions. They want to merge the six hospitals and nine gas victim dispensaries with the health ministry. It is a complete erasure of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Narela is the most gas-affected area. Gas Relief Minister Vishwas Sarang gets votes from this area but fails to serve the gas victims,” said Khan.
Speaking on the official plans to close down the department set up for the welfare of the Bhopal survivors, Rachna informed, “We have recently come across an official document marked confidential that lays out a plan to close down the Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation (BGTRR). The plan scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting of the state cabinet proposes handing over the 5 hospitals and 9 dispensaries run by the BGTRR to the Departments of Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education.”
কলকাতা: ফের একবার কলকাতায় ফিলিস্তিনে চলমান গণহত্যার প্রসঙ্গ তুলল ফ্রেন্ডস অফ প্যালেস্টাইন। সংস্থাটি ফিলিস্তিনের পরিস্থিতির উপর একটি জনসম্মেলন করেছে, যেখানে 6 দিনের অস্থায়ী যুদ্ধবিরতির আগে গণহত্যার 40 দিনের জন্য, 4,000 টিরও বেশি শিশু সহ 15,000 জনেরও বেশি লোক নিহত হয়েছিল।
ইসলামিয়া ইনস্টিটিউটে অনুষ্ঠিত সম্মেলনে বিভিন্ন পেশাগত ক্ষেত্রের প্রতিনিধিত্বকারী বিভিন্ন ধর্মীয় পটভূমি সহ শ্রোতা এবং বক্তাদের ভাল উপস্থিতি ছিল।
ফিলিস্তিনের বন্ধুরা
কনভেনশনের মেজাজ কবি শাকিল আনসারি এই লাইন দিয়ে সেট করেছিলেন: ‘তোড় কার জঙ্গী কানুনো কো, অর থুকারা কে তুম ইউএনও কো, জুলম-সিতাম রাখে জারি, ফির ভি ফিলিস্তিন তুম পে ভরি (যুদ্ধ আইন ও শাসনের নিয়ম ভেঙে দিয়ে। ইউএনও, আপনি আপনার নৃশংসতা চালিয়ে যাচ্ছেন, এখনও ফিলিস্তিন আপনার উপর ভারী হয়ে উঠছে)।
এক কাম জো মুশকিল হ্যায়, ওহো সাক্ত হ্যায় আসান। ঘর-বৈথ কার হি কার সক্তে হ্যায় হাম জং কা আলান। বয়কট করনা হ্যায় ইসরায়েলি সামান (একটি কাজ যা কঠিন কিন্তু সহজ হতে পারে, ঘরে বসে আমরা যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করতে পারি, ইসরায়েলি পণ্য বয়কট করতে)।
এরপর লেখক ও নাট্যকার জহির আনোয়ার বলেন, “প্যালেস্টাইনে যা ঘটছে তা শুনে আপনি যদি বিচলিত না হন তাহলে বুঝতে পারবেন মানুষ হিসেবে আপনার মধ্যে কিছু একটা অনুপস্থিত আছে। প্যালেস্টাইন থেকে যে ধরনের বর্ণনা করা যায় না এমন চিত্র আমাদের মূলে নাড়া দিচ্ছে। গর্ভবতী মহিলার শরীর থেকে ভ্রূণ বের হয়ে জীবন্ত পুড়িয়ে ফেলা হচ্ছে, এটা দেখতে ভয়ঙ্কর।”
তিনি ইসরায়েলের নিষ্ঠুরতার বিষয়ে বলতে থাকেন, “ইসরায়েলের পুলিশ ও সেনাবাহিনীর মনোবল মরে গেছে। যুদ্ধে কিছু নিয়ম আছে, কিন্তু তারা শিশু, বৃদ্ধ ও নারীদের হত্যা করছে। 75 বছর ধরে, ইসরায়েল এই নৃশংসতা করেছে।
তিনি ফিলিস্তিনে ইসরাইল কর্তৃক বিপুল সংখ্যক সাংবাদিক হত্যার কথাও জনগণকে স্মরণ করিয়ে দেন। “গত দুই-তিন দশকে পৃথিবীর কোথাও এত সাংবাদিককে হত্যা করা হয়নি, যত ইসরায়েলি দুই-তিন মাসে নিহত হয়েছে। এত কিছুর পরে, তারা (ইসরায়েল-আমেরিকা মিত্ররা) আমাদের বলে যে কীভাবে আচরণ করতে হবে এবং নিজেদেরকে মানবাধিকারের চ্যাম্পিয়ন দাবি করতে হবে।
ফিলিস্তিন নিয়ে শাকিল আনসারির কবিতা শুনুন
বিশম্বর নেওয়ার, প্রধান সম্পাদক, আমাদের 1969 সালের জোট নিরপেক্ষ আন্দোলন (NAM) সম্পর্কে অবহিত করেছেন, যেখানে 100টি দেশের নেতারা অংশ নিয়েছিলেন।” ইয়াসির আরাফাতও এসেছিলেন। তাকে অভ্যর্থনা জানানো হয়। সংকটকালে তিনি ভারতকে সমর্থন করেছিলেন। আমাদের সঙ্গে আরাফাতের শুধু বন্ধুত্বই ছিল না, তিনি ইহুদিদের সঙ্গেও ভালো সম্পর্ক রাখার চেষ্টা করেছিলেন।
ফিলিস্তিনের বন্ধুরা, “৭ অক্টোবর ইসরায়েলে হামাসের হামলা মোসাদের মিথকেও ভেঙে দিয়েছে, যেটি বিশ্বের সেরা গোয়েন্দা সংস্থা বলে দাবি করেছিল। ভারত সরকার মোসাদের সাহায্য নেয়। এখন বুঝতে পারছেন এটা কতটা উপকারী?” সে যুক্ত করেছিল.
সোহান সিং আইতিয়ানা যেখান থেকে বিশাম্বর চলে গেছেন সেখানে চালিয়ে যান, “এটা উদ্বেগের বিষয় যে কেন মোদির সরকার, আমি বলব না বিজেপি সরকার, বিদেশ নীতি পরিবর্তন করেছে। দেশে কী চলছে তা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন তোলেন তিনি। এটা কারো বোধগম্যতার বাইরে। এসএস আইতিয়ানা খালিস্তান সমর্থক হওয়ার অভিযোগে কানাডা এবং আমেরিকায় ভারত সরকার কর্তৃক পাঞ্জাবি সম্প্রদায়ের লোকদের হত্যার বিষয়টি উল্লেখ করেছেন।
তিনি অভিযোগ করেন, “আজ ভারতে কোনো সংখ্যালঘু নিরাপদ নয়। কিষাণ আন্দোলনকে খালিস্তানি বলা হয়। খালসা এইড, যা সারা বিশ্বে সবচেয়ে বড় মানবিক কারণগুলির মধ্যে একটি। ”
তিনি দাবি করেন, বর্তমান পররাষ্ট্রনীতি, যা ৭৫ বছর ধরে আমাদের নীতি, পরিবর্তন করা উচিত নয়।
ফ্রেন্ডস অফ প্যালেস্টাইনের সভাপতি নাসির আহমেদ বলেন, বিশ্বের যে কোনো স্থানে সহিংসতার প্রতিটি ঘটনার পেছনে রয়েছে আমেরিকা, “এখানে ভালো সংখ্যক লোকের সমাগম হচ্ছে এই ইস্যুতে মানুষ কতটা সিরিয়াস। এটা হিন্দু-মুসলিম ইস্যু নয়। এমনকি ফিলিস্তিনে ইসরায়েলি ও ফিলিস্তিনিদের মধ্যে যা ঘটছে তা ইহুদি ও মুসলমানদের বিরুদ্ধে। এটি জায়নবাদের একটি মামলা, যা একটি রোগ। এটি আমেরিকা তৈরি করেছে। যেখানেই সহিংসতার বিষয়, সেখানেই আমেরিকা। আমরা জায়নবাদীদের বিরুদ্ধে, ইহুদিদের বিরুদ্ধে নয়।”
তিনি ঘোষণা করেন, বর্তমান পররাষ্ট্রনীতি, যা ৭৫ বছর ধরে আমাদের পরিবর্তন করা উচিত নয়।
ফ্রেন্ডস অফ প্যালেস্টেইনের আনন্দ নাসির আহমেদ বলেন, ফিলিস্তিনের বন্ধুরা আমাদের কোনো একক সহ সহ যে দলটি প্রকাশ করেছে আমেরিকা, “এখানে ভালো লোকের সমাগম হচ্ছে এই ইস্যুতে কত মানুষটা ঘুরছে। এটা বাংলাদেশ-মুসলিম ইস্যু নয়। এমনকি ফিলিস্তিনে ইসরায়েলি ও ফিলিস্তিনিদের মধ্যে যা ঘটছে তা ইহুদি ও নেতাদের বিরুদ্ধে। এটি জাবাদের একটি প্রশ্ন, যা একটি রোগ। এটি আমেরিকান তৈরি করেছে। যেখানে সহিংসতার বিষয়, সেখানে আমেরিকা। আমরা জননবাদীদের বিরুদ্ধে, ইহুদিদের বিরুদ্ধে নয়৷
Kolkata: Once again, Friends of Palestine raised the issue of ongoing genocide in Palestine in Kolkata. The organization held a public convention on the situation in Palestine, where for 40 days of the massacre before a 6-day temporary ceasefire, more than 15,000 people were killed, including over 8,000 children.
The convention that took place at the Islamia Institute had good attendance from listeners and speakers with diverse religious backgrounds, representing various professional fields.
The mood of the convention was set by poet Shakil Ansari with these lines: ‘Tod kar jungi kanoono ko, aur thukara ke tum UNO ko, julm-sitam rakhe zari, phir bhi Palestine tum pe bhari (By breaking norms of war laws and ruling out UNO, you are continuing with your atrocities, still Palestine is weighing heavy on you).
Ek kaam jo muskil hai, woh ho sakta hai asaan. Ghar-baith kar hi kar sakte hain hum jung ka alaan. Boycott karna hai Israeli Samaan (A work which is tough but can be easy, by sitting at home, we can announce the war, to boycott Israeli products).
Thereafter, Zahir Anwar, a writer and dramatist, said, “If you do not get disturbed by the news and what is happening in Palestine, you can understand that something is missing in you as a human. The kinds of non-describable images coming out of Palestine, is shaking us to the core . Pregnant women being burnt alive with the fetus coming out of her body, it is a horror to watch.”
He continued on the cruelty of Israel, “The morale of Israel’s police and army is dead. There are some rules in wars, but they are killing children, elderly and women. For 75 years, these atrocities have been committed by Israel.”
He also reminded people about the killing of a large number of journalists by Israel in Palestine. “In the last two-three decades, many journalists have not been killed anywhere in the world, as many Israelis have been killed in two or three months. After all these, they (Israel-America allies) tell us how to behave and claim themselves champions of human rights.”
Listen to Shakil Ansari’s poetry on Palestine
Bishamber Newar, the chief editor, informed us about the 1969 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), where leaders from 100 countries participated.” Yasir Arafat had also come. He was welcomed grandly. He had supported India in crisis. Arafat had not only friendship with us, but he had tried to have good relations with Jews too.”
“The attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 has also shattered the myth of Mossad, which claimed to be the best intelligence agency in the world. The Indian government takes help from Mossad. Now you can understand how useful it is?” he added.
Sohan Singh Aitiana continued from where Bishamber left, “It is a matter of concern that why Modi’s government, I will not say it BJP government, has changed the foreign policy. He questioned what was going on in the country. It is beyond anybody’s understanding. SS Aitiana pointed out the issue of Punjabi community people getting killed by the government of India in Canada and America allegedly for being Khalistan supporters.
He alleged, “No minority is safe in India today. Kisan Andolan is termed Khalistani. Khalsa Aid, which is one of the biggest humanitarian causes across the world is also being disturbed. ”
He demanded that the present foreign policy, which has been our policy for 75 years, should not be changed.
Nasir Ahmed, president of Friends of Palestine, said that behind every instance of violence anywhere in the world, America is there, “The good number of people gathering here is a message of how serious people are on this issue. It is not an issue of Hindu-Muslim. Even what is happening in Palestine between Israelis and Palestinians is against Jews and Muslims. It is a case of Zionism, which is a disease. It has been created by America. Wherever there is a matter of violence, America is there. We are against Zionists and not against Jews.”
Justice Taufiqueuddin, Father Sunil Rozario, Dr Kalim Haique and Anis Rafi were other speakers.
A resolution was also passed against the barbarism by Israel and America in Palestine and read out in English, Bangla as well as in Urdu, on the occasion.
কলকাতা: খড়গপুরের ছাত্র আইআইটিিয়ান ফয়জান আহমেদ হত্যা তদন্তের জন্য গঠিত বিশেষ তদন্তকারী দলকে কলকাতা হাইকোর্ট 19 ডিসেম্বরের মধ্যে চূড়ান্ত প্রতিবেদন জমা দিতে বলেছে, আইআইটিিয়ান ফয়জান আহমেদ হত্যা কৌঁসুলি এসআইটি প্রধানকে চিঠি দিয়েছেন। অভিযুক্তদের নারকো এবং ট্রুথ সিরাম বিশ্লেষণ পরীক্ষা পরিচালনা করুন, জুন মাসেই হাইকোর্টের নির্দেশে।
আইনজীবী অনিরুদ্ধ মিত্রের আইপিএস অফিসার জয়রামনের কাছে লেখা চিঠিতে বলা হয়েছে, যিনি এসআইটির নেতৃত্ব দিচ্ছেন:
“আপনি জানেন যে আমার মক্কেলদের দায়ের করা একটি রিট পিটিশনের উপর মাননীয় বিচারপতি রাজশেখর মন্থার 14.06.2023 তারিখের একটি আদেশের মাধ্যমে, আইআইটিিয়ান ফয়জান আহমেদ হত্যা তদন্তকারী নবগঠিত টিমকে নারকো বিশ্লেষণ এবং সত্য সিরাম পরিচালনা করার নির্দেশ দেওয়া হয়েছিল। হত্যাকাণ্ডের বিষয়ে আলোকপাত করার জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় কোনো সাক্ষী বা ব্যক্তিদের পরীক্ষা করা হবে।”
এতে আরও উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে, “যেহেতু এটি 22.11.2023 তারিখে মাননীয় আদালতে দল কর্তৃক দাখিল করা প্রতিবেদনে জমা দেওয়া হয়েছিল যে IIT-এর অনুরোধে তাদের পরীক্ষার অভিযোগের ভিত্তিতে 25.11.2023 পর্যন্ত শিক্ষার্থীদের জিজ্ঞাসাবাদ স্থগিত করা হয়েছিল। কর্তৃপক্ষ, আমার ক্লায়েন্টরা বিশ্বাস করেন যে এই ধরনের জিজ্ঞাসাবাদ 14.06.2023 তারিখের নির্দেশিত নির্দেশ অনুসারে একটি অর্থপূর্ণ পদ্ধতিতে পরিচালিত হবে, এবং বেপরোয়াভাবে নয় যাতে অভিযুক্তদের চিহ্নিত করা হয়, হত্যার জন্য মামলা করা হয় এবং হেফাজতে নেওয়া হয়।”
চিঠিতে আরও উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে যে আদালতের আদেশ অমান্য করলে আদালতের নজরে আনা যেতে পারে।
“14.06.2023 তারিখের আদেশে উল্লেখিত পূর্বোক্ত নির্দেশের অ-সম্মতি পরবর্তী শুনানির তারিখে মাননীয় আদালতের নজরে আনা হবে।”
চিঠিতে 14 জুন, 2023-এর হাইকোর্টের আদেশও সংযুক্ত করা হয়েছে।
আইআইটিিয়ান ফয়জান আহমেদ হত্যা মামলার বিষয়
14 অক্টোবর, 2022-এ, তৃতীয় বর্ষের মেকানিক্যাল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং ছাত্র ফাইজান আহমেদের আংশিক পচা মৃতদেহ আইআইটি খড়গপুরের হোস্টেল থেকে উদ্ধার করা হয়েছিল। খবর পেয়ে আসামের তিনসুকিয়ার বাসিন্দা ফাইজানের বাবা-মা যখন খড়গপুরে পৌঁছলেন, তখন আইআইটি কর্তৃপক্ষ দাবি করেছে যে 23 বছর বয়সী এক ছাত্র আত্মহত্যা করেছে। পরে পুলিশও একই ধরনের বক্তব্য দেয়। তবে অভিভাবকদের অভিযোগ, তাদের ছেলেকে হত্যা করা হয়েছে। ময়নাতদন্তের পর মৃত্যুর কারণ জানতে পারেনি খড়্গপুর পুলিশ। কলকাতা হাইকোর্টের দরজায় কড়া নাড়লেন অভিভাবকরা। আদালত পুলিশের কাছে মৃত্যুর কারণ জানতে চাইলেও তারা সন্তোষজনক জবাব দিতে পারেনি। বিচারপতি রাজশেখর মন্থার আদালত মৃত্যুর কারণ খুঁজে বের করার জন্য ফরেনসিক বিশেষজ্ঞ অজয় গুপ্তকে নিয়োগ করেছে। ডাঃ গুপ্তা প্রথম ময়নাতদন্তের ভিডিও ক্লিপিংয়ের মাধ্যমে রক্তক্ষরণের লক্ষণ খুঁজে পান এবং নতুন পোস্টমর্টেম করার জন্য আদালতকে অনুরোধ করেছিলেন। তিনি কলকাতা মেডিক্যাল কলেজ হাসপাতালেও এটি করাতে চেয়েছিলেন। আদালত অনুমতি দিয়েছেন। ফাইজানের মৃতদেহ আসাম থেকে কলকাতায় আনা হয় এবং দ্বিতীয় ময়নাতদন্তের পর স্পষ্ট হয় যে আইআইটিিয়ানকে খুন করা হয়েছে। বিচারপতি মান্থা আরও তদন্তের জন্য একটি বিশেষ তদন্ত দল (SIT) গঠন করেছেন। 14 জুন তার আদেশে বিচারপতি মান্থা আরও উল্লেখ করেছেন যে প্রয়োজনে দল অভিযুক্তদের নারকো বিশ্লেষণ এবং সত্যের সিরাম পরীক্ষা করতে পারে। আইআইটি কেজিপির পাশাপাশি বাংলা সরকার এসআইটি দ্বারা তদন্ত বন্ধ করার জন্য ডিভিশন বেঞ্চে চলে যায়, কিন্তু ডিভিশন বেঞ্চ যেটিতে কলকাতা হাইকোর্টের প্রধান বিচারপতিও ছিলেন, বিচারপতি মান্থার আদেশ বহাল রাখেন।
গত শুনানিতে, 28 নভেম্বর, জয় সেনগুপ্তের আদালত, যেখানে বর্তমানে মামলাটি শুনানি হচ্ছে, তার ধীর তদন্তের জন্য SIT-এর সমালোচনা করেছিল।
Kolkata: As the Special Investigation Team, formed to probe the murder of IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed has been asked by the Calcutta High Court to submit its final report by December 19, the counsel of IITian Faizan Ahmed has written to the head of SIT to conduct Narco and Truth Serum analysis test of the accused, as directed by the high court in June itself.
The letter written by advocate Aniruddha Mitra to IPS officer Jayaraman, who is heading the SIT stated:
“You are aware that by an order dated 14.06.2023 passed by the Hon’ble Justice Rajasekhar Mantha on a writ petition filed by my clients, the newly constituted team investigating the killing of Faizan Ahmed had been directed to conduct Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests on any witness or persons deemed necessary to throw light on the killing.”
It further mentioned, “Since it was submitted in the Report filed by the Team in Hon’ble Court on 22.11.2023 that interrogation of the students had been deferred till 25.11.2023 on the alleged ground of their examinations at the request of the IIT authority, my clients trust that such interrogation shall be conducted in a meaningful manner as directed by the said order dated 14.06.2023, and not in a perfunctory manner so that the accused are identified, booked for murder and taken into custody.”
The letter also pointed out that non-compliance with court orders can be brought to the notice of the court.
“Non-compliance of the aforesaid direction contained in the order dated 14.06.2023 will be brought to the notice of the Hon’ble Court on the next date of hearing.”
The letter also enclosed the high court Order of June 14, 2023.
About IITian Faizan Ahmed murder case
On October 14, 2022, the partially decomposed dead body of third-year mechanical engineering student Faizan Ahmed was recovered from his hostel at IIT Kharagpur. After getting the news, when the parents of Faizan, a resident of Tinsukia, Assam reached Kharagpur, IIT authorities claimed that a 23-year-old student had committed suicide. Later police also gave a similar statement. However, parents remain alleging that their son was killed. After the postmortem, Kharagpur police could not ascertain the cause of death. Parents knocked at the door of Calcutta High Court. The court also asked the cause of death from police, who could not give a satisfactory answer. The court of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha appointed forensic expert Ajoy Gupta to find out the cause of death. Dr Gupta after going through the first autopsy’s video clipping found haemorrhage signs and requested the court for a fresh postmortem. He also wanted to get it done at Calcutta Medical College Hospital. The court granted the permission. Faizan’s body was brought from Assam to Kolkata and after a second autopsy, it got clear that the IITian was murdered. Justice Mantha constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe further. In his order on June 14, Justice Mantha also mentioned that if necessary the team can perform Narco Analysis and Truth Serum tests on the accused. IIT KGP as well as the Bengal government moved to the division bench to stop the investigation by SIT, but the division bench which also comprised the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, upheld the order of Justice Mantha.
In the last hearing, on November 28, the court of Jay Sengupta, where the case is presently being heard had critized SIT for its slow investigation.
Kolkata: Women in India are on the verge of getting one-third reservation in the Indian parliament. They are excelling in the political, social, diplomatic, and cultural arenas. Saira Shah Halim, an educator and rights activist, stated during the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference in Baku in 2023.
The NAM conference, focusing on advancing the rights and empowerment of women was held on November 20 and 21.
The conference was co-organized by Azerbaijan, the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as Uganda and Uzbekistan, the next chairs of the organization.
On the first day of the conference, a side event organized by the Institute of Young Democrats provided an opportunity for NAM Member States and NGOs to discuss themes such as women’s rights, empowerment, and other critical gender equality issues.
Institute of Young Democrats Chairperson Yegana Hajiyeva said, “We are honored to host this gathering of esteemed guests and participants, all of whom are representatives of NAM member countries. This unprecedented event marks a significant step forward for the NAM region, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality.”
In her speech, the specially invited guest, Saira Shah, also informed the gathering that the legal marriage age for girls in India has been increased from 18 to 21.
“We also have a program called Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl Child and Educate Her), she informed NAM members.
“There is a plethora of women voices in India, and women are doing wonders in the political arena, social arena, diplomatic arena, and cultural arena,” she mentioned.
When Saira was delivering her speech, the screen in the background was displaying profiles and pictures of Indian women achievers.
Listen to Saira Shah Halim’s speech
Despite India’s progress, challenges persist
However, the rights activist also addressed the challenges still plaguing India, particularly impacting the women’s community.
“Female infanticide is still being practiced in India,” Saira, the mother of two daughters, also mentioned. “The social injustices like the dowry system are also a norm, where society thinks that girls are a burden. But activists are talking about this discrimination and making people aware that girls are equal to boys.”
“There are a large number of villages where electricity is yet to reach. Because of this, a huge part of the country, especially girls, have no exposure to digitalization or computerization,” Saira expressed concern.
She talked about the uniqueness of India and mentioned that every state in India is a different country because of its diversity. There are hundreds of languages and dialects being spoken in India.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he safe return of the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel near Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, is a matter of great satisfaction for the entire nation. Kudos to all those involved in the rescue operation for the last 17 days. The tale must have been horrifying but the way we saw the smiling workers coming out, reflected their energy level despite all odds. Yes, in one sentence, these are the sons of the soil, who toil hard to make our lives better.
There are three issues involved here. One, which has been projected by the government is the rescue effort to save the lives of the people and we must give full credit to those who were involved in it. All the agencies of the government did this herculean task with a great sense of duty. The result is the government has been able to send a signal to the families of the workers trapped that it cares for their lives and would go to any extent to protect their lives. Perhaps, the government has succeeded in communicating this message. Every government or party does that and the government would take all the credit for the successful operation. So Congratulations to all those who were involved in it.
The second part is the company engaged in the operation which remained out of sight and out of scrutiny till now. Who gave them the contract and whose company is this? Whether it flouted the norms of tunnelling in the region where a safe passage must have been prepared in advance. Will the accountability be fixed for this company?
And the third is the most important part and it is the policy level decision. How long will you rob the #Himalayas? Will the government and its advisers ever think to maintain the sanctity of the Himalayas and that they can not really claim victory over nature? Please don’t try to tame the Himalayas. If you feel your big machines and experts can tame the Himalayas then you are grossly mistaken. At the end of the day, it was the rat miners who took us to ultimate ‘victory’. It seems that the government has still not learnt its lessons from various disasters that have been occurring in the Himalayas. This year, Uttarakhand saw terrific rains, landslides, cloudbursts and floods but in the din of an unprecedented crisis that happened due to Himachal rains, it was lost. The fact is that even in Himachal, the massive devastation that has happened was not purely ‘natural’ but purely the outcome of the concretisation process and building of various hydropower projects which we are unable to manage properly. ‘Experts’ with greed feel that states like Uttarakhand are not able to use their maximum potential of the Hydro Power projects and are advising the government to go for bigger projects. The Char Dham High Way is not yet completed and most of the time the roads are getting ‘thrashed’ by the mountains. We all need good roads but we have to understand the fragility of the Himalayan regions. Anyone familiar with the Uttarkashi region will vouch for how sensitive it is. Nobody denies making our roads comfortable but it also needs to be seen how much comfort we want to give to ‘people’. Don’t make the region flooded by religious tourists which will ultimately bring destruction. A small place like Kedarnath, where five thousand people at one time is an extremely high number, is hosting lakhs of people. Will it not damage the sacred areas? How are you going to meet the daily needs of the people? Where is the ‘sewage’ system?
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel along with other rescue operatives gather near the face of the collapsed under construction Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of India’s Uttarakhand state, on November 28, 2023 | Courtesy: AJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images
It looks like we don’t care about what is happening to local people. After the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, developmental projects have increased and so have the disasters. The 2021 disaster at the Raini-Tapovan area particularly on the Rishiganga-Dhauliganga confluence showed the might of nature again when the entire hydropower project got swept away, apart from the lives of several hundred workers mostly outside Uttarakhand. Joshimath and many other towns in Uttarakhand are endangered. So far, not much has been done. After a few months, we forget things.
We request policy planners to think seriously about all the projects in the Himalayas. Maintain the dignity, sanctity and serenity of the Himalayas and its sacred rivers worshipped by all. Don’t destroy our heritage, for the Uttarakhand region, they are our identity.
The incidents also reveal that the projects in Uttarakhand are so far not giving any employment to local people. Whether in Tapovan or Silkyara tunnel, most of the workers and labourers working are outside the state which reflects how the companies do not trust local people and bring the outsiders to get their things done.
The servile media convert every tragedy into an event and focus on these events so that people don’t discuss the real issue of safety and protection of the Himalayas. As the rescue operation has succeeded and thanks to all those who worked day and night to do this task, it is time, for the government to seriously ponder over and order an audit of all the projects in the Himalayan region.
I am still remembering the warning by legendary Girda about this ‘development. He was a visionary. He still reminds us about the Himalayas and development. Says, Girda,
एक तरफ बर्बाद बस्तियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
एक तरफ डूबती कश्तियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
एक तरफ हैं सूखी नदियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
एक तरफ है प्यासी दुनियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
अजी वाह! क्या बात तुम्हारी,
तुम तो पानी के व्योपारी,
खेल तुम्हारा, तुम्हीं खिलाड़ी,
बिछी हुई ये बिसात तुम्हारी,
सारा पानी चूस रहे हो,
नदी-समन्दर लूट रहे हो,
गंगा-यमुना की छाती पर
कंकड़-पत्थर कूट रहे हो,
उफ!! तुम्हारी ये खुदगर्जी,
चलेगी कब तक ये मनमर्जी,
जिस दिन डोलगी ये धरती,
सर से निकलेगी सब मस्ती,
महल-चौबारे बह जायेंगे
खाली रौखड़ रह जायेंगे
बूँद-बूँद को तरसोगे जब –
बोल व्योपारी – तब क्या होगा?
नगद – उधारी – तब क्या होगा??
आज भले ही मौज उड़ा लो,
नदियों को प्यासा तड़पा लो,
गंगा को कीचड़ कर डालो,
लेकिन डोलेगी जब धरती – बोल व्योपारी – तब क्या होगा?
वर्ल्ड बैंक के टोकनधारी – तब क्या होगा ?
योजनकारी – तब क्या होगा ?
नगद-उधारी तब क्या होगा ?
एक तरफ हैं सूखी नदियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
एक तरफ है प्यासी दुनियाँ – एक तरफ हो तुम।
Girda.
These wise words of Girda, the Jankavi of Uttarakhand are still valid for all. Will we ever learn our lesson? The Himalayas need our attention. They enchant us and give us enormous joy, standing for us as our borders. It is time, we bow to its might and respect it and enjoy its beautiful localities for which a bit of inconvenience should be acceptable to all. You can’t have all your home luxuries travelling to the abode of nature. Let me say, that there can be no luxury than enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas and its supremely pristine rivers and rivlets. Let us all protect and respect them.
It was a pleasant surprise to see former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh on the front pages of Manustream Media. Though they would never have given him space in today’s time it was an advertisement provided by the Tamil Nadu government and Bania Brahmin media is ready to do anything for the cash. That is the commitment. I was amazed to see the front page of Dainik Jagran, one of the most communal and hate-mongering dailies in north India which used to abuse VP Singh, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav in the aftermath of the government’s decision to implement Mandal Commission Report. Unfortunately, Mulayam Singh Yadav compromised and sent the owner of Jagran, Narendra Mohan to Rajya Sabha later but look at the attitude of the paper. It is terribly communal and anti-social justice even today. So, VP Singh on the front pages of such newspapers must have given a rude shock to those who were happy with his not being around. So, newspapers were happy to ignore the passing away of VP Singh, in Delhi, on November 27, 2008 as they were busy reporting the Mumbai terrorist attack. They completely ignored his death but today’s advertisement therefore must have shocked them but then they had to take it with a pinch of salt.
While Manustream media or casteist Brahmanical leaders of both BJP and Congress may have a point to ignore VP Singh because he brought the issue of social justice to the mainstream of India which was still dominated by the caste elite, the silence and ignorance of those who enjoyed fruits of power and can be safely said to have benefitted from his policies though Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan remained close to him till the end the real strength to VP Singh came from Karunanidhi who party DMK, organised a massive rally in favour of the Mandal Commission Report when the north Indian leaders were calculating pros and cons of his politics.
More than 35 years have passed since VP relinquished his power but he remains absolutely essential for the politics of social justice and secularism. Unfortunately, the social justice parties in north India started ignoring VP to get the votes of the savarnas. That is why to please the Brahmins and Banias in particular, the Samajwadi party and Mulayam Singh Yadav went out of his way to get them plum posts. The dominant caste journalists always enjoyed the curtsy of the Samajwadi Party. Can you imagine, a person who was twice chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, a finance minister of the country, President of Uttar Pradesh Congress, a Defence Minister as well as the Prime Minister of India, does not have anything in the name of memorial in the country. We have a big memorial for Sanjay Gandhi without him being any minister but we don’t have anything for a man who altered the political discourse in the country.
While Congress and BJP can be faulted for the same. The pain and disappointment come from other parties including RJD. For the last 35 years, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had mostly Janata-Samajwadi parivar ruling but they never bothered. I don’t know the politics in Chennai. I am not sure why Lalu Yadav, Tejasvi or Nitish were not invited to unveil the statue of VP Singh. It is obvious that the Congress party might not have liked the idea. Congress’s Brahmanical seculars-liberals have no time for remembering the person as most of them hate the VP for Mandal ‘sin’.
The problem with the Congress party is that it refuses to learn its lessons. I had said many times that had Rajiv Gandhi supported VP Singh when BJP withdrew the support, it would have been a different story today but then Rajiv Gandhi criticised the implementation of the Mandal Commission report on the floor of the house. It was an extremely bad decision. Mandal was an opportunity which Congress lost. After years, Rahul is saying the Caste census but not a single Congress leader repeated it. Except for Siddaramaiah, one does not see the same enthusiasm by Kamal Nath. Unfortunately, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders had no time to say a few good things about VP Singh. Frankly speaking, Congress acted like the BJP at that time when VP Singh was forced to quit. We know how the Brahmanical leaders of the Congress party right from Kalpnath Rai to Ratnakar Pandey, KK Tiwari were let loose like barking at VP Singh. How the media was misused shamelessly (a pattern that BJP is diligently following now) to target VP Singh. So much so that M J Akbar, a favourite of Rajiv Gandhi was asked to write a false story about VP Singh’s bank account in St Kitts.
Today, the BJP is using the same tactics. Congress needs to learn the lessons. In the VP Congress relationship, it is the Congress party which was the main villain and not VP Singh who remained loyal to Congress ideology and rarely spoke against Gandhis personally.
Whatever the political repercussions, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s one action has made the entire event historical. MK Stalin has proved that he is far more mature than his contemporaries whether in the Congress Party or among the social justice forces. Tamil Nadu has always given due respect and acknowledged the role played by VP Singh. The Dravidian government has put the VP in the company of Dr Ambedkar, Thanthai Periyar, Anna Durrai, and Karunanidhi and it is a big honour. The forces of Social justice in Uttar Pradesh refused initially to acknowledge the VP’s contribution because he was not one among them. It is sad. If we are unable to acknowledge and respect the role played by VP then why would anybody stand up to justice? Stalin’s action made other leaders who enjoyed power in north India, look too small. VP Singh was prime minister for 11 months but his actions shook the power structure. It was he, as a prime minister or man in power, who respected and acknowledged Baba Saheb’s contribution to our country and not only gave Bharat Ratna along with Nelson Mandela but also installed Baba Saheb’s portrait inside the Parliament which was ironically not there. Today, the nation demanded, whether India’s parliament should not have the portrait of VP Singh inside the Parliament. Let the social justice government make a big monument and Smarak of VP Singh in their state as a fitting tribute to the man who was once termed as ‘Raja nahi faqeer hai, desh ki taqdeer hai’. VP Singh certainly deserves better from all of us who believe in social justice and secularism.
