Israeli PM likely to visit India as 2 nations celebrate 30 years of ties

 Gilon launched the logo virtually along with his Indian counterpart in Tel Aviv, Ambassador Sanjeev Singla

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other senior officials are likely to visit India this year as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said on Monday. In a Webinar held for the virtual launch of a special logo to set in motion the year-long celebrations to commemorate the occasion, Gilon said he feels very lucky to be Israel’s Ambassador in India when “relations are exceptional” and “beyond regular”, one of “partnership between ancient civilisations”.

To further deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, Gilon said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other officials are likely to visit India as the two countries celebrate 30 years of establishment of diplomatic ties. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had extended an invitation to Bennett from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Israel last year.

“This is an important occasion to reflect on our mutual successes as well as a good opportunity to look ahead and shape the next 30 years of our relations. I am sure that our close existing cooperation in different fields will only continue to grow and flourish in the coming years, Gilon stressed. Gilon launched the logo virtually along with his Indian counterpart in Tel Aviv, Ambassador Sanjeev Singla…Read More

Andhra govt imposes night curfew, issues fresh guidelines amid Covid surge

 The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am to check the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am to check the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state. The decision was taken following the review meeting held by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy with the officials of the health department on the COVID-19 situation. Theatres, multiplexes and cinema halls will be operational with 50 per cent occupancy or alternate seating arrangements. The government has also imposed restrictions on public gatherings, allowing 200 people outdoor and 100 inside the auditorium.

Wearing of masks is mandatory at public places and penalty of Rs 100 will be levied for the violation. Religious places in the state should follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and wearing of a mask is compulsory inside the premises. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) must be conducted for urgent testing. One COVID-19 care center will be set up in each segment….

Over 10,000 Islamic State fighters active in Iraq, Syria: United Nations

More than 10,000 Islamic State fighters are estimated to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after the militant group’s defeat, and their attacks have significantly increased this year

More than 10,000 Islamic State fighters are estimated to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after the militant group’s defeat, and their attacks have significantly increased this year, the UN counter-terrorism chief said Monday. Vladimir Voronkov told the UN Security Council that Islamic State fighters move freely in small cells between the two countries. He said the Islamic State extremist group also known as IS, ISIL and ISIS has regrouped and its activity has increased not only in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria but also in some regional affiliates.

However, in non-conflict zones, the threat appears to have decreased in the short term, he said. Measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19, such as lockdowns and restrictions on movement, seem to have reduced the risk of terrorist attacks in many countries. Nonetheless, Voronkov said, there is a continued trend of attacks by individuals inspired online and acting alone or in small groups, which could be fueled by ISIL’s opportunistic propaganda efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.

He said the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the challenges of eliminating the threat of terrorism, pointing to actions by IS and other terrorist groups seeking to exploit the far-reaching disruption and negative socioeconomic and political impacts of the pandemic.

Justin Trudeau names Chrystia Freeland Canada’s new finance minister

Freeland, considered a pragmatic minister who handled the renegotiation of the North American free trade agreement with Mexico and the U.S., would be the first woman to hold the role

Justin Trudeau named Chrystia Freeland as Canada’s finance minister, according to a source familiar with the matter, replacing Bill Morneau, who resigned Monday evening. Freeland, considered a pragmatic minister who handled the renegotiation of the North American free trade agreement with Mexico and the U.S., would be the first woman to hold the role.

“The choice of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will reassure financial markets, given her prominent stature and seniority,” Doug Porter, chief economist at Bank of Montreal, said in an email. “Given that this is clearly not a ‘placeholder’ candidate, and as someone who can be expected to stand her ground on key issues, her choice will provide some confidence.”

Freeland’s appointment was reported first by CTV News. The Canadian dollar rose against its U.S. counterpart, climbing 0.5% to C$1.3156 at 8:43 a.m. Toronto time, though it was lower versus most other major currencies. Government bond yields were little changed. Morneau announced his resignation at a press conference in Ottawa after a rift with Trudeau proved impossible to repair. He said he told the prime minister earlier Monday that he doesn’t intend to run in the next election.

Britain starts hearing US case for extraditing Wikileaks’ Julian Assange

A UK court ruled in February 2011 that Assange could be extradited back to Sweden to stand trial

Britain on Monday starts hearing Washington’s extradition request for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a test case of media freedoms in the digital age and the limits of US justice. A ruling against Assange in the case could see the 48-year-old Australian jailed for 175 years if convicted on all 17 US Espionage Act charges and one count of computer hacking he faces. Each stems from his site’s release in 2010 of a trove of classified State Department and Pentagon files detailing the realities of the US campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One video from 2007 showed an Apache helicopter attack in which US soldiers gunned down two Reuters reporters and nine Iraqi civilians in broad daylight in Baghdad. The files also disclosed the secret identities of diplomats and government agents in hostile environments — as well as locals who risked their lives by cooperating with the United States. These names were redacted by the Western newspapers with which WikiLeaks initially worked.

But a falling out with their editors prompted Assange to release hundreds of thousands of files in their original form. The US Justice Department said last May that the “human resources” compromised by Assange “included local Afghans and Iraqis, journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and political dissidents from repressive regimes”. His supporters argue that Assange’s prosecution was political — and personal — from the start.”For the sake of press freedom, Julian Assange must be defended,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said in December.

US, Taliban close to violence reduction pact; troop withdrawal not imminent

Many questions about the expected agreement remain unanswered and it’s unclear if Trump will sign off on the deal

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic that there could be a US agreement with the Taliban over the next days or weeks, but a withdrawal of American forces is not imminent. Robert O’Brien was asked whether Trump would sign off on an agreement where both the Taliban and US forces would pledge to adhere to a reduction in violence” a move that could lead to all-Afghan negotiations to end the decades-long conflict and outline a political future for the country.

The agreement would call for the Taliban and US forces to refrain from conducting attacks or combat operations for seven days, according to a person familiar with the ongoing discussions who was not authorized to discuss the proposed agreement and spoke only on condition of anonymity. I think that we’re making significant progress, O’Brien said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington.

“It’s something we’re keeping the president appraised of on a very regular basis. You hate to make predictions when it comes to Afghanistan … but I’ll say that we’re cautiously optimistic that some good news could be forthcoming on that front. The president had made it very clear that there will have to be a reduction in violence and there will have to be meaningful intra-Afghan talks for things to move forward, O’Brien said. “If both those things and a number of other conditions are met and we are able to get agreement on them, I think we could have some good news coming out of Afghanistan so we’ll have to wait and see over the next several days and weeks.”

Shiv Sena hits out at Fadnavis for targeting CM over ‘Free Kashmir’ poster

In remarks laced with sarcasm, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the placard ‘shocked the opposition leaders and awakened the nationalist sentiment in them.’

The Shiv Sena on Thursday hit out at BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis for targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the “Free Kashmir” placard displayed by a woman at a protest in Mumbai against the JNU violence.

When Mehek Prabhu, a Marathi woman from Mumbai stood up for the pain of Kashmiris by holding the placard, the opposition termed it as “sedition, the Shiv Sena said, adding that there cannot be a “dirtier example of irresponsibility”.

In remarks laced with sarcasm, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the placard “shocked the opposition leaders and awakened the nationalist sentiment in them.” “They attacked Chief Minister Thackeray and asked how this anti-national activity can happen right under his nose. The allegation was so frivolous that the opposition leaders made a mockery of themselves,” it said.

“This is not good for the state…we are worried for the opposition,” the Shiv Sena tauntingly said. After the placard with “Free Kashmir” message was seen at the protest at Gateway of India here against the JNU violence, Fadnavis had asked what exactly was the protest for and if Chief Minister Thackeray will tolerate this “anti-India campaign” right under his nose.

Brazil prez causes outrage over Amazon fires; Europe threatens to end trade

Brazil prez causes outrage over Amazon fires; Europe threatens to end trade

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has insulted adversaries and allies, disparaged women, blacks and homosexuals, and even praised his country’s 1964-1985 dictatorshipYet nothing has rallied more anger at home and criticism from abroad than his response to fires raging in parts of the Amazon region.

The far-right populist leader initially dismissed the hundreds of blazes and then questioned whether activist groups might have started the Amazone rain forest firesin an effort to damage the credibility of his government, which has called for looser environmental regulations in the world’s largest rainforest to spur development.

In response, European leaders threatened to end a trade deal with Brazil and other South American nations. Thousands of people have demonstrated in cities across Brazil and outside Brazilian embassies around the world. #PrayforAmazonia became a worldwide trending topic. Pope Francis added his voice to the chorus of concern, warning that the “lung of forest is vital for our planet.”

Bolsonaro finally took a less confrontational approach Friday and announced he would send 44,000 soldiers to help battle the blazes, which mostly seem to be charring land deforested, perhaps illegally, for farming and ranching rather than burning through stands of trees. Some say it’s not enough and comes too late….

Sushma Swaraj, poster woman for Indian politics, passes away at 67

Swaraj was born in Haryana in 1952 to a family that had no capital invested in politics. She plunged into political life during the Emergency when as a student leader

Current Affairs: She was a complex personality. Sushma Swaraj was incredibly disciplined when it came to party matters. Yet, her mercurial personality would not allow her to forgive party colleagues if she felt they had slighted her. The charm, warmth and the affection she radiated drew many to her and some actually thought they could use that to their advantage: and how terribly wrong they were ! She was stubborn, tended to be judgmental and self righteous and reverted to safe stereotypes. But she was incredibly talented, a brilliant and gifted speaker, and was a self-made woman politician in an era when it wasn’t easy. And now she’s gone and the world will be a duller place.

Before Sushma Swaraj became a poster woman for Hindu womanhood and the most powerful woman in the Bharatiya Janata Party, she was just a student leader. Sushma Swaraj was born in Haryana in 1952 to a family that had no capital invested in politics. She plunged into political life during the Emergency when as a student leader (she was studying law at the time) she organised protests against Indira Gandhi. She credited her initial success to the timing of her entry to politics: “I entered politics as part of an agitational movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan. It was a young movement and I got opportunities. Today it is much more difficult for a woman with no political family backing to make up the ladder so fast,” she once told Business Standard.

After the Emergency she won elections twice to the Haryana Assembly. She was Minister for Labour in the state government (1977-79) under Chaudhry Devi Lal. When the Jana Sangh parted ways with the Janata Party government, she became a vocal spokesperson for the party, relaunched as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After that she was elected to the Lok Sabha twice (1996 and 1998), and to the Rajya Sabha thrice (1992, 2000 and 2006).

BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj: A powerful orator and people’s minister

She started her political life with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the RSS’ student wing, and later joined the BJP

A powerful orator, an easily-accessible external affairs minister and a politician of many firsts, Sushma Swaraj was a loyal BJP soldier who was always ready to face a challenge.

Swaraj’s attachment with the party ideology and principles was apparent even hours before she passed away as she tweeted to congratulate Prime Narendra Modi after the Centre’s move to revoke the special status for Jammu and Kashmir. “I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” she said. She passed away at AIIMS on Tuesday night after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 67. Sushma Swaraj, who had a kidney transplant in 2016, had opted out of fighting the Lok Sabha elections this year due to health reasons.

She was not part of the Modi government this time and S Jaishankar replaced her as the External Affairs Minister. She left behind a legacy of an easily-accessible minister who helped the diaspora in distress with her revolutionary social media outreach. Several path-breaking measures such as the passport infrastructure expansion and enhanced engagement with the East were the highlights of her tenure as the external affairs minister.

She was only the second woman to hold the portfolio after Indira Gandhi, who briefly kept the external affairs ministry under her while being the prime minister…

Delhi LS elections: Take money from others, but vote for AAP, says Kejriwal

Kejriwal had made a similar comment in Chandni Chowk earlier, following which he was sent a show-cause notice by the Election Commission

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked voters not to deny money given to them by other political parties, but vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. “On the night of election, do they [other political parties] come to give money or not?” Kejriwal asked, without mentioning the BJP or Congress.

“What will you do? Take it, don’t deny it, but vote for jhadu (broom, AAP’s election symbol),” the AAP chief said at a roadshow in support of South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked voters not to deny money given to them by other political parties, but vote for the Aam Aadmi Party. “On the night of election, do they [other political parties] come to give money or not?” Kejriwal asked, without mentioning the BJP or Congress.

“What will you do? Take it, don’t deny it, but vote for jhadu (broom, AAP’s election symbol),” the AAP chief said at a roadshow in support of South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha. Kejriwal had made a similar comment in Chandni Chowk earlier, following which he was sent a showcause notice by the Election Commission. Chadha, meanwhile, said the youth would reject the politics of hooliganism.

“To all the political goons in South Delhi, I want to say that for a very long time, you all have imposed politics of fear and muscle in South Delhi,” he said. “But no longer. Now, the youth of this country will reject the politics of hooliganism and instate politics of honesty and decency.” “Stop intimidating and insulting the people of South Delhi and pay heed… we will neither be scared nor let you scare people any longer,” Chadha said…

Rs 300 per voter: Rs 1.5-cr seized from Dhinakaran’s party men at Andipatti

Unaccounted cash worth Rs 1.48 crore was seized. It was neatly packed in 94 packets and envelops on which the ward number, number of voters and the amount of Rs 300 per voter was written

The Income Tax Department Wednesday said it has caught Rs 1.48 crore money supposedly reserved to influence voters in Tamil Nadu’s Theni region, where a gathering bypoll is planned Thursday.

Unaccounted money worth Rs 1.48 crore was seized. It was flawlessly stuffed in 94 parcels and wraps on which the ward number, number of voters and the measure of Rs 300 for every voter was composed, I-T Director General (examinations) B Murali Kumar stated, after the medium-term attacks finished up at 5:30 AM.

“Every one of these wards are inside the Andipatti gathering fragment which is going to bypoll tomorrow,” the officer included. Kumar added that the premises have a place with a functionary of the AMMK party. Actually, the AMMK party office capacities from the beginning of the premises, he said. The office will send a report on the task to the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Election Commission in New Delhi, a senior authority said.

ALSO READ: Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore cancelled after cash recovery

The assessment office had propelled an inquiry at a store Tuesday night following contributions about speculated money. Amid the strikes, police needed to start shooting noticeable all around to scatter supporters of the TTV Dhinakaran-drove AMMK who questioned the activity.

The duty official said the “sworn proclamation of the individual present in the premises was recorded and he said that Rs 2 crore in real money was gotten there for conveyance to voters in Andipatti panchayat association region on April 16.” Describing the raids, the official said initially a group of party workers overpowered the flying squad persons, comprising district EC authorities and I-T officials, standing guard outside the premises…

LS polls 2019: We’ve taken measures to set up chowkidar in space, says Modi

Modi came down heavily on opposition parties who he said ‘belittled’ the space achievement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government had taken measures to set up a ‘chowkidar’ in space and asked people to vote for a government that can take concrete decisions and not just raise slogans.

Launching his campaign in eastern India with a rally in Jeypore area of Odisha’s Koraput district, the prime minister said the NDA government wouldn’t have been able to do any development work in the country without the support of the people. He sought blessings from his supporters for the 2019 lok Sabha elections and asserted that the NDA government has left no stone unturned to bring about development in the state.

“The NDA government has been working hard to develop road and rail infrastructure in the state. There is no dearth of funds when it comes to development work in the country. “In the last five years, the government has been able to build homes for eight lakh families, light up 3,000 houses and provide gas connections to 40 lakh homes,” Modi stated.

Referring to Mission Shakti, when India demonstrated anti-satellite (ASAT) missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, he said the government has taken measures to set up a ‘chowkidar’ (watchman ) in space. He came down heavily on opposition parties who he said “belittled” the space achievement. “Those that are criticising the anti-satellite technology will be given a befitting reply in the elections,” he claimed, urging people to vote for a government that can take concrete decisions, not the one that only raises slogans.

Click Here for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 

DMK promises to abolish NEET, bring back old pricing for petrol & cylinders

A separate budget for agriculture, loan waiver for students, free electricity are other poll promises for Lok Sabha 2019 elections

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: The M K Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has promised to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test, as part of its poll promise. The party, which has joined hands with the Congress for the upcoming LokSabha election has also promised to bring back the old pricing models for petrol & gas cylinders.

DMK President Stalin released the party’s election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April 18 in the state. The other promises of the party include metro rail projects for Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Salem, and permanent Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan refugees currently living in camps in Tamil Nadu.

The party also promised to release seven prisoners jailed in the Rajiv Gandhi assassin case, loan waivers for students, a separate budget for farmers at the Lok Sabha, free electricity for weavers, museum at Keezhadi, 0.5 per cent GDP for natural disasters, MNREGA up to 150 days….

Weak Modi’s scared of Xi: Rahul slams PM after China shields Masood Azhar

India’s bid to designate the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief as a global terrorist suffered a setback with China on Wednesday putting a technical hold on the proposal at UN

Politics News: As China again blocked a UN resolution to designate JeM chief a global terrorist, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday hit out at Prime Minster Narendra Modi, saying he was weak and scared of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Congress chief attacked the prime minister and said he had not spoken on China blocking the resolution in the UN Security Council.

The party accused the BJP of letting Masood off the hook again and also questioned Modi what was the use of “swinging” with Xi. “Weak Modi is scared of Xi. Not a word comes out of his mouth when China acts against India. NoMo’s China diplomacy: 1. Swing with Xi in Gujarat. 2. Hug Xi in Delhi. 3. Bow to Xi in China,” Gandhi said on Twitter.

India’s bid to designate the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief as a global terrorist suffered a setback with China on Wednesday putting a technical hold on a proposal to ban him following the Pulwama terror attack.

The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UNSC was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the JeM killed 44 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan.

“With China having blocked our bid to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist, the question on every Indian’s mind is, what was the use of all the swinging with Modi and President Xi,” the Congress said on its official Twitter handle. “A terrorist responsible for such bloody murders is let off the hook again by the BJP,” it claimed.

Govt warning: Twitter execs to be jailed if offensive content isn’t removed

A parliamentary panel last month asked micro-blogging site Twitter to engage more with the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of general elections and address issues on a “real-time” basis.

Latest News: Top Twitter executives could not only face financial penalties but also face upto seven years in jail if they fail to remove content and accounts that are ‘objectionable and inflammatory,” Times of India reported quoting an unnamed official from the ministry of information technology.

Twitter has been asked to comply with the provisions under the Indian IT Act or else it would face action under Section 69A of the IT Act which gives the government power to seek the blocking of content or accounts that carry information seen as detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, or has potential to create public disorder. The warning from the IT ministry comes just as the micro-blogging site faced the heat from a parliamentary standing committee over perceived biases in blocking accounts ahead of elections.

As India heads for national elections, social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have been asked to not undermine or influence the political process. In fact earlier this week, Twitter went live with its ‘Ads Transparency Centre’ for India, that would allow people to view details of political advertisements in the country, including advertiser spends and impressions data.

A parliamentary panel last month asked micro-blogging site Twitter to engage more with the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of general elections and address issues on a “real-time” basis.The Twitter officials were told that there should not be any “international interference” in the Lok Sabha polls.

This girl became the Instagram queen of Iraq. And then was shot to death

Ms. Fares’s likeness remains repeated in this internet hall of mirrors: swathed in a hotel robe, getting her hair done on Eid al-Fitr, playing video games, flaunting her intricate tattoos

BS|On Oct. 9, the Iraqi author Sinan Antoon tweeted, “Killing those who are other/different has become a ritual/hobby, practiced by individuals for fun, after having been institutionalized by the state, political parties and militias for years.” His tweet referred to reports that an Iraqi teenager had been butchered on a Baghdad street by an assailant who thought he looked gay. But Mr. Antoon could have been referring to any of the young Iraqis who have tried to break free of the rigid social codes governing both genders only to suffer vicious reprisals.

The most famous of these victims has been Tara Fares. When she was killed in September, Ms. Fares, who had 2.8 million followers on Instagram, was the sixth most popular person on Iraqi social media. At 22, she was a self-created celebrity who mixed sexy fashion shoots with video diaries in which she fired back at her conservative critics. Ms. Fares was shot dead in Baghdad’s Camp Sarah neighborhood while riding in her Porsche.

When I read about Ms. Fares’s murder, recognition hit me like a punch. Though I am 13 years her senior, when I was her age, I also worked as a scantily clad internet model. I also reinvented myself on social media, posting endless photos of myself, trying to build a following that would somehow translate into something more. Back then, qualified only for menial jobs, I also saw my looks as a fast-closing door to freedom and used them as best I could. But I am in the United States, and she was in Iraq. The stakes for Ms. Fares were far higher. Her 

BJP corporators attend birthday bash before Major Rane’s body

The BJP was left red-faced after a video went viral showing its MLA and corporators attending a birthday party in adjoining Mira Road township at a time when people were expecting to receive the body of Major Kaustubh Rane, who attained martyrdom in Kashmir.

The video, telecast by a Marathi TV channel, shows BJP legislator Narendra Mehta and a dozen BJP corporators from the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation celebrating the birthday of party corporator Anand Manjrekar in the township on Tuesday night.

The celebrations happened a day before the body of Major Rane, who was killed in Jammu and Kashmir during an operation to foil an infiltration bid, reached Mumbai.

Major Kaustubh Rane

Mehta was quick to tender an apology on the incident.

“What happened (the birthday bash) is extremely unfortunate. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

“All of us have expressed regret for it. This is not a political issue,” he told the channel.

Asked why the bash was not cancelled despite the entire township mourning the martyrdom of its resident, Mehta said the event was pre-planned.

Read full story : BS

Our Ganesh Utsav will definitely happen, no matter what decision: Uddhav Thackeray

Attacking the government, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday voiced strongly that Ganesh Utsav would take place in Mumbai “no matter what decision”, and disrupting it would be ‘Hindu droh’.

“When will Ram temple be constructed, only Ram knows but our Ganesh Utsav will surely take place. If they disrupt a Hindu festival, then it would be Hindu droh,” Thackeray said.

“Whether they rule in our favour or not, there will be Ganesh Utsav celebrations in Mumbai. Our pandal will be on the road,” he added.

“There is Hindutva government both at Centre and in the state, then why so many changes in law being brought in,” the Sena chief asked.

Thackeray also questioned the lack of action against loudspeakers put up on masjids.

“They don’t have the courage to remove the speakers put by Muslims,” he said.

Thackeray launched several attacks on the government and accused it of playing “Hindu-Muslim” politics when elections approach.

“I think once again there will be riots between Hindus and Muslims,” he said.

ARTICLE SOURCE : BS

Maratha quota leaders vow to hold strong protests on Aug 9

Maratha quota leaders said today that the community members will hold strident protests across Maharashtra on August 9 for the cause.

BHARAT BANDH : The leaders said they have decided to suspend all communications as part of the protest.

“The state government has not only failed to implement its promises made to the Maratha community before the 2014 assembly elections and in the last four years, but also delayed the procedure of withdrawing police complaints filed against the Maratha youth across the state,” said Vinod Pokharkar, a leader of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.

He accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders of not keeping the quota promise.

Pokharkar claimed that at least 2,000 youths from the community were arrested by the local police under serious charges in the state, following the agitations held last month.

“With the August 9 protest imminent, the state government ensured that hearing on the cases against the Maratha youth would take place after August 9. This means that these youths will remain behind bars till Thursday,” he alleged.

He claimed that not a single police station in districts has received the state government’s letter asking them to withdraw charges of non-serious nature against the arrested youths.

Fadnavis had announced last month that the government would withdraw non-serious charges against the Maratha youths.

Pokharkar alleged that Fadnavis seemed not keen to withdraw the cases.

Another leader Bhaiyya Patil said meetings will be held tomorrow in some districts to chalk out the strategy for the August 9 protests.

News Source : BS