Tag: Delhi University

  • Over 500 Professors, Research Scholars Join #Academics4NaMo Campaign |

    NEW DELHI: As the general elections are approaching, political activities have increased exponentially in diverse spheres. Different groups are gearing up to enter the election mode. Keeping this in view, Academics4Nation, a group working among professors and researchers, has launched a campaign called #Academics4NaMo. More than five hundred professors and research scholars have joined this novel initiative. Its first meeting was held at the South Campus of Delhi University, which was attended by academics from prestigious Universities including JNU, Delhi University, IIT, Ambedkar University, IIMC, and many other educational institutions.

    The central aim of #Academics4NaMo is to apprise the intellectual world of the work done by the Modi government in the last ten years. In the coming days, several such meetings will be organized in different educational institutions and research institutes of the country, highlighting the achievements of the Modi government through discussion.

    In the meeting held in Delhi, the Director of Delhi University South Campus and member of the Advisory Council of Academics4Nation, Prof. Shri Prakash Singh asserted that the time is right for Bhārat to regain its glory through the development journey envisioned by the Honorable Prime Minister. 

    It is imperative to take this message to the thinkers, writers, and researchers of the country. All this is possible only when Narendra Modi is re-elected as the  Prime Minister in 2024.

    Dr Devi Dayal Gautam, Convenor of Academics4Nation, stated that the objective of this initiative is to ensure the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time by creating a pragmatic narrative and right discourse through scholarly enterprise.

    Dr Swadesh Singh, founder and former Convenor of Academics4Nation, informed that a similar effort was also made in the 2019 general elections, which was highly appreciated. 

    He affirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won the battle of numbers, and now it is time to advance the accurate narrative. Dr Singh highlighted the role of mainstream media and social media in communicating facts and eliminating disinformation. Other faculty members contributed enthusiastically through their suggestions to run this campaign effectively.

    The meeting concluded with a firm resolve that this campaign will contribute intellectually in favour of PM Modi in the upcoming 2024 elections through brainstorming, dialogue, and action. The new website of Academics4NaMo www.academics4namo.com was also presented at the meeting.

  • Prominent citizens support Delhi University’s decision to include Savarkar in syllabus

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A group of former judges, bureaucrats, diplomats and generals on Wednesday came out in support of Delhi University’s decision to include V D Savarkar in its political science syllabus, contending that it was required for a fair narration of the history of India’s national movement.

    In a statement, the group also supported the varsity’s decision to drop poet Mohammad Iqbal from the syllabus, arguing that his writings were associated with the idea of a separate Muslim nation, which led to the “tragedy of India’s partition”.

    “Grave injustice was done to many historical personalities who laid down their lives for this country to help India break free from the clutches of British imperialism,” said a statement, issued by 123 prominent personalities that include former Foreign Secretary Shashank, former High Court judges S N Dhingra, M C Garg and R S Rathore, among others.

    “It is particularly unfortunate that till the current inclusion of Savarkar’s contribution and philosophy in the Delhi University syllabus, universities under Congress-Leftist influence intentionally suppressed his contribution and ideas for our great motherland,” the statement said.

    It noted that Savarkar was called “The Father of Hindutva” for his enunciation of ‘Hindutva’ ideology in his remarkable piece of literature “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu”.

    “He propagated ‘Hindutva’ as a geopolitical concept, unifying diverse communities under a shared cultural and civilizational identity,” the statement said.

    It said Savarkar simultaneously championed Dalit rights and worked ardently towards caste eradication and promoting social equality, and his vision of India as one nation was central to the ideology of “Akhand Bharat”.

    “Savarkar’s views on freedom, social reform, and national unity make him an enduring figure in Indian history.

    By studying Savarkar’s political ideologies, students will gain insight into the factors that shaped India’s nationalist movement and its subsequent trajectory,” the statement said.

    It described poet Iqbal, who had penned the song “Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara”, as a “divisive figure” who sowed the seeds of secession in the country.

    “As President of the then Punjab Muslim League, he (Iqbal) championed the cause of a separate Muslim nation. Iqbal who wrote ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara’ goes on to talk about Islamic Khilafat, recommended Islamic Ummah and changed ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara’ to ‘Chino-o-Arab Hamara, Hindostan Hamara, Muslim Hai Hum, Watan hai Saara Jahan Hamara’,” the statement said.

    “Iqbal became radicalised and as the President of the Muslim League, his ideas ran counter to democracy and Indian secularism. Many of Iqbal’s writings have been associated with the idea of a separate Muslim nation, ultimately leading to the tragedy of India’s partition,” it said.

    “This concept of the Two-Nation Theory played a significant role in the partition of India, resulting in the trauma and suffering of millions of displaced in India’s East and West,” the statement said.

    NEW DELHI: A group of former judges, bureaucrats, diplomats and generals on Wednesday came out in support of Delhi University’s decision to include V D Savarkar in its political science syllabus, contending that it was required for a fair narration of the history of India’s national movement.

    In a statement, the group also supported the varsity’s decision to drop poet Mohammad Iqbal from the syllabus, arguing that his writings were associated with the idea of a separate Muslim nation, which led to the “tragedy of India’s partition”.

    “Grave injustice was done to many historical personalities who laid down their lives for this country to help India break free from the clutches of British imperialism,” said a statement, issued by 123 prominent personalities that include former Foreign Secretary Shashank, former High Court judges S N Dhingra, M C Garg and R S Rathore, among others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “It is particularly unfortunate that till the current inclusion of Savarkar’s contribution and philosophy in the Delhi University syllabus, universities under Congress-Leftist influence intentionally suppressed his contribution and ideas for our great motherland,” the statement said.

    It noted that Savarkar was called “The Father of Hindutva” for his enunciation of ‘Hindutva’ ideology in his remarkable piece of literature “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu”.

    “He propagated ‘Hindutva’ as a geopolitical concept, unifying diverse communities under a shared cultural and civilizational identity,” the statement said.

    It said Savarkar simultaneously championed Dalit rights and worked ardently towards caste eradication and promoting social equality, and his vision of India as one nation was central to the ideology of “Akhand Bharat”.

    “Savarkar’s views on freedom, social reform, and national unity make him an enduring figure in Indian history.

    By studying Savarkar’s political ideologies, students will gain insight into the factors that shaped India’s nationalist movement and its subsequent trajectory,” the statement said.

    It described poet Iqbal, who had penned the song “Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara”, as a “divisive figure” who sowed the seeds of secession in the country.

    “As President of the then Punjab Muslim League, he (Iqbal) championed the cause of a separate Muslim nation. Iqbal who wrote ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara’ goes on to talk about Islamic Khilafat, recommended Islamic Ummah and changed ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara’ to ‘Chino-o-Arab Hamara, Hindostan Hamara, Muslim Hai Hum, Watan hai Saara Jahan Hamara’,” the statement said.

    “Iqbal became radicalised and as the President of the Muslim League, his ideas ran counter to democracy and Indian secularism. Many of Iqbal’s writings have been associated with the idea of a separate Muslim nation, ultimately leading to the tragedy of India’s partition,” it said.

    “This concept of the Two-Nation Theory played a significant role in the partition of India, resulting in the trauma and suffering of millions of displaced in India’s East and West,” the statement said.

  • Elgar Parishad case: Former DU professor moves HC seeking bail for medical treatment

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Former Delhi University professor Hany Babu, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking temporary bail on health grounds.

    Babu has been in jail for almost two years, He needed bail for three months for undergoing cataract surgery and getting treatment for upper abdominal pain and osteoarthritis at the private Breach Candy hospital here, his petition said.

    The plea came up on Friday before a division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and P D Naik which posted it for hearing on December 13 and directed the National Investigation Agency to file its response.

    Babu claimed that he has lost vision to a significant degree due to cataracts and also suffers from acute and unrelenting pain in the stomach and knees.

    Authorities at the Taloja Central Prison violated his fundamental right to healthcare and medical treatment which is guaranteed under Article 21 (right to personal liberty) of the Constitution, it alleged.

    The Elgar case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial.

    Pune Police (who probed the case before it was transferred to the NIA) claimed that the conclave had been backed by the Maoists.

    MUMBAI: Former Delhi University professor Hany Babu, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking temporary bail on health grounds.

    Babu has been in jail for almost two years, He needed bail for three months for undergoing cataract surgery and getting treatment for upper abdominal pain and osteoarthritis at the private Breach Candy hospital here, his petition said.

    The plea came up on Friday before a division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and P D Naik which posted it for hearing on December 13 and directed the National Investigation Agency to file its response.

    Babu claimed that he has lost vision to a significant degree due to cataracts and also suffers from acute and unrelenting pain in the stomach and knees.

    Authorities at the Taloja Central Prison violated his fundamental right to healthcare and medical treatment which is guaranteed under Article 21 (right to personal liberty) of the Constitution, it alleged.

    The Elgar case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial.

    Pune Police (who probed the case before it was transferred to the NIA) claimed that the conclave had been backed by the Maoists.

  • 40 DU students, teachers detained during protest on campus in support of G N Saibaba

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The police here on Saturday detained around 40 students and teachers protesting at the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty without permission to press for the release of former professor GN Saibaba, officials said, hours after the Supreme Court stayed his acquittal by the Bombay High Court in a Maoist-links case.

    The Left-backed All India Students’ Association, however, claimed the number of detainees is higher, and also alleged the protesting students and teachers AISA members were “beaten up and manhandled” by the police.

    The protest was organised after the Supreme Court suspended a Bombay High Court order acquitting Saibaba and others in a Maoist-links case.

    “Students and professors who were peacefully protesting against the stay on the acquittal and wrongful incarceration of our professor, G N Saibaba were brutally detained, beaten up and manhandled,” AISA National Working General Secretary Prasenjeet.

    “Around 60 people were detained. The protestors were taken to two police stations. Some of the students were taken to the Maurice Nagar Police Station and the rest were taken to Burari Police Station,” he added.

    The police said the students were told they were not given a permission by the university administration to hold a protest on the campus, but they insisted and “misbehaved with the police and security staff of the university”.

    “On Saturday around 2.30 pm, some students having affiliation with AISA and other Left organisations started gathering outside the Arts Faculty, Delhi University North Campus. Initially some five students came and started raising slogans,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

    “They were explained about the denial of permission to hold protest and were directed to disperse, but instead of dispersing they started calling their other friends for protest and their number rose to around 40,” Kalsi added.

    The action was taken after the university authorities gave in writing to take legal action as protesting students were disturbing the peace, police added.

    “During the process of removal, they resisted and misbehaved with the police and security staff of the university. Now the situation is peaceful,” the police said.

    The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had on Friday acquitted Saibaba and ordered his release from jail, noting that the sanction order issued to prosecute the accused in the case under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was “bad in law and invalid”.

    The high court had also allowed the appeals filed by five other convicts, acquitting them of all charges. The prosecution had moved the apex court against the acquittal. Saibaba, 52, is lodged at the Nagpur Central Jail.

    NEW DELHI: The police here on Saturday detained around 40 students and teachers protesting at the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty without permission to press for the release of former professor GN Saibaba, officials said, hours after the Supreme Court stayed his acquittal by the Bombay High Court in a Maoist-links case.

    The Left-backed All India Students’ Association, however, claimed the number of detainees is higher, and also alleged the protesting students and teachers AISA members were “beaten up and manhandled” by the police.

    The protest was organised after the Supreme Court suspended a Bombay High Court order acquitting Saibaba and others in a Maoist-links case.

    “Students and professors who were peacefully protesting against the stay on the acquittal and wrongful incarceration of our professor, G N Saibaba were brutally detained, beaten up and manhandled,” AISA National Working General Secretary Prasenjeet.

    “Around 60 people were detained. The protestors were taken to two police stations. Some of the students were taken to the Maurice Nagar Police Station and the rest were taken to Burari Police Station,” he added.

    The police said the students were told they were not given a permission by the university administration to hold a protest on the campus, but they insisted and “misbehaved with the police and security staff of the university”.

    “On Saturday around 2.30 pm, some students having affiliation with AISA and other Left organisations started gathering outside the Arts Faculty, Delhi University North Campus. Initially some five students came and started raising slogans,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

    “They were explained about the denial of permission to hold protest and were directed to disperse, but instead of dispersing they started calling their other friends for protest and their number rose to around 40,” Kalsi added.

    The action was taken after the university authorities gave in writing to take legal action as protesting students were disturbing the peace, police added.

    “During the process of removal, they resisted and misbehaved with the police and security staff of the university. Now the situation is peaceful,” the police said.

    The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had on Friday acquitted Saibaba and ordered his release from jail, noting that the sanction order issued to prosecute the accused in the case under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was “bad in law and invalid”.

    The high court had also allowed the appeals filed by five other convicts, acquitting them of all charges. The prosecution had moved the apex court against the acquittal. Saibaba, 52, is lodged at the Nagpur Central Jail.

  • SC to hear Maharashtra govt’s appeal against acquittal of ex-DU professor G N Saibaba on Saturday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special sitting on Saturday to hear Maharashtra’s plea against the Bombay High Court order acquitting former Delhi University Professor G N Saibaba in a case relating to his alleged Maoist links.

    A bench of Justice M R Shah and Justice Bela M Trivedi is likely to hear the matter at 11 am. On Friday, the top court had refused to stay the Bombay High Court order.

    Following the High Court acquitting Saibaba, the Maharashtra government swiftly moved the apex court seeking a stay on the order which was declined.

    The top court, however, allowed Maharashtra to move an application before the registry requesting an urgent listing of the matter.

    A bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli had told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing and sought a stay on the verdict, that the court can not stay the acquittal order as the parties are not before it.

    More than eight years after his arrest, the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted Saibaba and ordered his release from jail, noting that the sanction order issued to prosecute the accused in the case under the stringent provisions of the UAPA was “bad in law and invalid”.

    The Nagpur bench of the high court allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba challenging a 2017 order of the trial court convicting and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special sitting on Saturday to hear Maharashtra’s plea against the Bombay High Court order acquitting former Delhi University Professor G N Saibaba in a case relating to his alleged Maoist links.

    A bench of Justice M R Shah and Justice Bela M Trivedi is likely to hear the matter at 11 am. On Friday, the top court had refused to stay the Bombay High Court order.

    Following the High Court acquitting Saibaba, the Maharashtra government swiftly moved the apex court seeking a stay on the order which was declined.

    The top court, however, allowed Maharashtra to move an application before the registry requesting an urgent listing of the matter.

    A bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli had told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who mentioned the matter for urgent listing and sought a stay on the verdict, that the court can not stay the acquittal order as the parties are not before it.

    More than eight years after his arrest, the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted Saibaba and ordered his release from jail, noting that the sanction order issued to prosecute the accused in the case under the stringent provisions of the UAPA was “bad in law and invalid”.

    The Nagpur bench of the high court allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba challenging a 2017 order of the trial court convicting and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

  • Bombay HC acquits ex-DU professor G N Saibaba in Maoist links case

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case, and ordered his immediate release from jail.

    A division bench of Justice Rohit Deo and Anil Pansare allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba challenging a 2017 order of the trial court convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

    Saibaba, who is wheelchair-bound due to a physical disability, is currently lodged at the Nagpur central prison.

    The bench also allowed the appeal of five other convicts in the case and acquitted them. One of the five died pending hearing of the appeal.

    The bench directed for the convicts to be released forthwith from jail unless they are accused in any other case.

    In March 2017, a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district had convicted Saibaba and others, including a journalist and a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student for alleged Maoist links and for indulging in activities amounting to waging war against the country.

    The court had held Saibaba and the others guilty under various provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

    NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case, and ordered his immediate release from jail.

    A division bench of Justice Rohit Deo and Anil Pansare allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba challenging a 2017 order of the trial court convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

    Saibaba, who is wheelchair-bound due to a physical disability, is currently lodged at the Nagpur central prison.

    The bench also allowed the appeal of five other convicts in the case and acquitted them. One of the five died pending hearing of the appeal.

    The bench directed for the convicts to be released forthwith from jail unless they are accused in any other case.

    In March 2017, a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district had convicted Saibaba and others, including a journalist and a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student for alleged Maoist links and for indulging in activities amounting to waging war against the country.

    The court had held Saibaba and the others guilty under various provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

  • Rare dinosaur ‘egg-in-egg’ found by Delhi University researchers in Madhya Pradesh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A team of researchers from Delhi University has discovered an ‘egg-in-egg’ dinosaur egg from Madhya Pradesh, which is probably the first time in the fossil history, a statement issued by it said.

    According to the researchers, the discovery is a “rare and important find” as no ovum-in-ovo’ egg was found in reptiles until now.

    The findings have been published in the latest issue of the journal Scientific Reports.

    The abnormal titanosaurid dinosaur egg was discovered in the Bagh area in MP’s Dhar district, and could provide important insights into whether dinosaurs had reproductive biology similar to that of turtles and lizards, or crocodiles and birds, their immediate cousins, they said.

    The Upper Cretaceous Lameta Formation of central India has been long known for the discovery of dinosaur fossils (both skeletal and egg remains).

    The authors documented a large number of titanosaurid sauropod nests near Padlya village close to Bagh town.

    While studying these nests, the researchers came across one ‘abnormal egg’.

    The research team found a sauropod dinosaur nest consisting of 10 eggs including the abnormal egg which had two continuous and circular eggshell layers separated by a wide gap reminiscent of ovum-in-ovo (one egg inside another egg) pathology of birds, read the statement.

    The microstructure of the pathological egg as well as that of an adjacent egg in the same nest identified it with that of titanosaurid sauropod dinosaurs.

    Until this find, no egg-in-egg abnormal fossil egg was found in dinosaurs and for that matter in other reptiles like turtles, lizards, and crocodiles, it said.

    In the past, it was suggested that dinosaurs had a reproductive function similar to that of turtles and other reptiles, in contrast to the segmented reproductive tract of crocodiles and birds with separate regions of membrane and shell deposition, the statement said.

    Although crocodiles have separate regions of shell membrane and mineralised shell deposition, they ovulate and release all the eggs simultaneously like turtles and other reptiles, as opposed to sequential ovulation of birds, which lay one egg at a time, it added.

    “The finding of ovum-in-ovo egg from a titanosaurid nest opens up the possibility that sauropod dinosaurs had an oviduct morphology similar to those of crocodiles or birds and they may have adapted to a mode of egg-laying characteristic of birds,” said DU researcher Dr Harsha Dhiman, lead author of the paper.

    Professor Guntupalli V R Prasad, who is the corresponding author of the published article, concurred with his colleague.

    The new pathological egg is a rare and important find as no ovum-in-ovo egg was found in reptiles until now and as it brings out significant information on whether dinosaurs had a reproductive biology similar to that of turtles and lizards or their immediate cousins crocodiles and birds, he added.

    The new find highlights the fact that central and western India hold great potential for dinosaur fossils which may offer important information on dinosaur oospecies diversity, nesting behaviour, and reproductive biology, the statement said.

  • Reducing India to civic nation bound by Constitution disregards its history, civilisation: JNU VC 

    The Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor said universities are not competitors but collaborators.

  • GN Saibaba threatens to launch hunger strike in Nagpur jail amid privacy row

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Former Delhi University (DU) professor G N Saibaba, serving a life sentence for Maoist links in Nagpur, has threatened to launch an indefinite fast inside his jail cell if a CCTV camera which allegedly captures footage of the toilet and bathing area is not removed, his family members said and alleged that authorities refused a water bottle to him.

    They also claimed that jail authorities purposely placed a steel thermos beside Saibaba’s cot which he cannot lift due to his medical condition, as a result of which he doesn’t have a bottle to drink water frequently in the extreme heat.

    Saibaba’s wife Vasantha Kumari and his brother G. Ramadevudu wrote to the Maharashtra home minister on May 14 requesting him to intervene in the matter and provide Saibaba “privacy and dignity”.

    When contacted, Nagpur Central Jail Superintendent Anup Kumre on Sunday said the cameras were installed to keep a watch on prisoners lodged in all the ‘Anda’ (oval-shaped) cells.

    “The installation was done only for the administration and security purposes,” he said.

    As per the letter, the wide-angle CCTV cameras were put in front of the small cell on May 10 which can capture video of the entire cell including the toilet seat, bathing place and everything in the small cell.

    “So, he cannot use the toilet for urinals or cannot even take a bath before the camera, as the camera records video of everything 24X7 hours. Now how can Dr G. N. Saibaba live in these circumstances?” the letter questioned.

    Saibaba’s kin alleged that the installation of the camera was aimed at “intimidating and insulting” him and violating his privacy.

    “His right to privacy, life and liberty is at risk because he cannot use the toilet, take bath, or change clothes in front of a camera that’s not only running 24 hours but also recording everything and watched constantly in the office of the Jail superintendent,” they claimed.

    “Why a 90% disabled person is targeted like this? Did he violate any prison rule in the past five years?” the family questioned and alleged that this was only to torture and harass him.

    This 24-hour camera surveillance is a clear violation of our fundamental right to privacy, life, and liberty.

    It is intimidation, insult, and violation of his bodily integrity.

    Prisoners convicted or otherwise are entitled to all constitutional rights except the right to mobility and a few others, it further stated.

    “Under these strain conditions, he has decided to go on a hunger strike indefinitely till death or the camera is removed, and the responsible prison administrators apologize for knowingly and brutally violating natural body rights and the rights provided by the constitution,” the letter stated.

    The letter stated that Saibaba is planning to sit on a hunger strike in the next two days in the Nagpur Central Jail.

    The letter claimed that Saibaba is also facing several health issues in the jail.

    “He is falling unconscious in his anda cell frequently. He is suffering from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (heart problem), hypertension, paraplegia, syphoscoliosis of the spine, anterior horn cell disease, acute pancreatitis, gall-bladder stone, rotator cuff injury, fatty degeneration of rotator cuff muscles etc.”

    “An ACT scan report has indicated a cyst in his brain. All these medical and health issues are developed to be addressed immediately,” the letter said.

    Before fixing the cameras, Saibaba’s advocate Aakash Sarode had gone to jail mulakat to meet Saibaba on May 9 and given him a few items along with a water bottle, his family members claimed.

    “However, the prison administration refused to take the water bottle but accepted the rest of the items provided it to him.

    By evening 6 pm on the same day, the superintendent of the jail, along with a huge number of prison personnel raided his anda cell.

    They collected used and thrown old (drinking water) bottles, glasses, and other inmates’ old bottles.

    “They placed his steel thermos beside his cot and took photographs. He is the only one in the entire Anda cell who doesn’t have a bottle to drink water frequently due to extreme heat. His hands are not working due to shoulder muscle damage; hence he cannot lift the (steel) thermos. He by himself cannot go and get water since he is a physically challenged person,” the family alleged in the letter.

    They requested the jail authorities to provide privacy and dignity to Saibaba and instruct the persons concerned in the Nagpur Central Jail to remove CCTV cameras that are keeping his privacy at stake.

    They also demanded proper diagnosis and medical treatment for Saibaba’s health issues and the grant of parole to enable him to get proper medication and required medical support, which is not available in Nagpur.

  • Ex-students of prominent institutes write to PM, president over ‘Bulli Bai’, ‘Sulli Deals’ cases

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Over 250 former students of prominent institutions across the country, including the IIT-Bombay, the Xavier School of Management (XLRI), the Delhi University (DU) and the National Institute of Design (NID), have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, demanding immediate action against the accused in the “Bulli Bai” and “Sulli Deals” apps cases.

    They alleged that women in the country have never been more unsafe in online and offline spaces.

    Asserting that the “silence of those at the helm” regarding such incidents indicates an apathy towards women’s safety and emboldens the perpetrators of these hate crimes, they urged the leaders to take quick steps to ensure justice to the affected women.

    The signatories to the letter also requested the government to set up school curricula that engage young girls and boys around issues of positive masculinity, gender and gender socialisation from an early age.

    “There is a constriction of the spaces for expression and participation of women, especially from minority groups, Dalit women and girls. The social system and political economy have been historically stacked against women. Growing incidences of intimidation and harassment of women across various spaces indicate a threat to the gains made through these past efforts,” the open letter read.

    “Women in India have never been more unsafe both in online and offline spaces. From physical harm to sexual violence to outright violation of dignity and rights in online spaces seems to have become commonplace enough for our political leaders to not notice anymore.”

    “Adding to this is the rising culture of hate and divisiveness in the country, which also affects women disproportionately. Incidents like Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai are manifestations of this culture that targets women, minority women in these cases, for daring to have a voice of their own. Dalit women and girls have also been at the receiving end of violence in many spheres,” it added.

    The “Sulli Deals” app had triggered widespread outrage as it had put out details of more than 100 prominent Muslim women, allowing users to participate in an “auction” of those women.

    The accused was arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell from Indore in Madhya Pradesh earlier this month.

    The “Bulli Bai” app too targeted Muslim women by putting them up for an “auction”.

    “We are writing this open letter expressing our solidarity with women and girls who have to face this violence. We urge that the makers of these apps be brought to justice, demand condemnation of such hate-driven actions and speeches by the government and urge the current leadership to work with IT and media companies to ensure accountability in keeping such channels safe for women,” the letter read.