Tag: Protest

  • LS polls: Farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri await justice

    Amid the rising political heat, people in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri still remember the unforgettable incident that shook the country three years ago.

    Eight people including a journalist and four farmers were killed when violence broke out after an SUV ran over a group of protesting farmers in October of 2021.

    “I pass by this place everyday. We have tried a lot to forget what happened here but every time we approach this place, the images of that day flash before our eyes,” said Manjeet Singh, a resident of Tikunia pointing towards the ground where the farmers held the protest against the three controversial farm laws, which have been scrapped now. This ground lies on one side of the narrow road leading towards Tikunia, a small town located on the northern most corner of Lakhimpur Kheri district, over 215 km away from state capital Lucknow. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”The ground is a constant reminder of how nothing happens to a person with political influence,” said Satwant Singh, another Tikunia resident who participated in the protest and was a witness to the incidents. Ashish Mishra ‘Monu’, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, was made an accused in the case. Ashish Mishra was arrested after the incidents but is currently out on bail. “Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ was awarded by the BJP for the incident. The party did nothing to him and has now given him a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls,” said Rajdeep Singh, another resident who was injured in the incident. The BJP has renominated Ajay Mishra from the Lakhimpur Kheri seat. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Utkarsh Verma and the BSP Anshay Kalra. Voting will be held on May 13.

    The 2021 incident occurred in Tikunia but almost all the victims were from different places in the district.

    Mandeep Singh, the son of an elderly farmer Nacchatar Singh who was killed after being run over by the SUV, said, “We were shown how important we are in the incident. Nobody from the government has till date asked about us. We want this to change, we want to see the accused behind bars.”

    Singh declined to comment on the ongoing elections but said he wants to see a change. “Like every other farmer and local we want to see a change.”

    Surendra Singh, a relative of another victim Lovepreet Singh and also a member of farmers union, said, “This was an attack on farmers who produce grains to feed the entire country. We will continue to fight for justice.”

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) unit in Lakhimpur Kheri had objected to the candidature of Ajay Mishra.

    “This is nothing but disrespect to those killed in Tikunia and all farmers. The farmers will respond to this by their votes,” said Surinder Singh Virk, an office bearer of the farmers union.

    Though farmers, especially from the Sikh community in Tikunia and nearby areas, express anger over the incident, the same emotion is not reflected by people of other communities, particularly outside Tikunia.

    “What happened in Tikunia was wrong, nobody will support such an act but we need to come together and move ahead for development of Lakhimpur,” said Prabhat Singh, a former village head in Palia area of the district.

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav has talked about the episode in his public meeting held here but his party candidate Utkarsh Verma has made only passing reference in his public meetings.

    BSP’s Kalra, who himself comes from the Sikh community, has raised the issue in his public meetings in Palia and Nighasan area.

  • Farmers protest: ‘Will wait for Feb 18 meeting outcome, nothing will be done till then’, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal – The Economic Times Video

    The marathon talks between three Union ministers and leaders of protesting farmer unions concluded without a resolution here late Thursday while Union minister Arjun Munda termed the discussion as “positive” and said that another meeting will be held on Sunday. The farmer leaders said they will continue to stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions’ various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

  • BJP MLAs stage protest in Bengal Assembly on CAG report, allege “misappropriation” of MGNREGA funds

    Kolkata: The BJP MLAs on Tuesday tried to move an adjournment and demanded discussion on CAG report in the West Bengal assembly, which was turned downed by the Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay on Tuesday. Following the refusal, BJP MLAs staged a protest on the CAG report and alleged “misappropriation” of MGNREGA funds.

    “We were not even allowed to read our adjournment motion. We were not allowed to even discuss the CAG report in the assembly. The CAG report is not about advance adjustment as said by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but also finds mention of multiple fraud accounts which have been discovered,” Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari told mediapersons.

    Meanwhile, West Bengal unit of BJP has decided to meet Governor CV Ananda Bose on CAG report issue on March 9 and urge him to send recommendations to CAG for filing FIR against state government on the issue.Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently on the CAG report issue and non-submission of utilization letter, which was raised by BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar. The BJP on January 31 cited a CAG report to allege that “mother of all scams” to the tune of about Rs 2 lakh crore had taken place in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal.

    The Speaker turned down the demand stating that the issue has no justification to discuss in the House, following which BJP MLAs protested inside the House.

    Anti-government slogans were shouted by the BJP MLAs- Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Whip Manoj Tigga and Siligurj legislator Shankar Ghosh among others. They were carrying placards and protested outside the South gate of the assembly.“CAG reports has brought out details of many fake accounts, fund diversion issues, central government guidelines violation, misappropriation of funds. It shows corruption and theft of Trinamool Congress government,” Adhikari said.State Finance Minister (MoS) Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “There is no scope of discussion on CAG in the assembly. The report is from 2003 to 2021. The central government did not receive Utilization Certificates (UC) but have released funds. How were the funds released? How come the Centre announced that Bengal was the topmost performer in MGNREGA? And now the funds have been blocked.”

    After hearing that Mamata Banerjee will pay 21lakh workers under MGNREGA, BJP has lost their minds and made all these allegations,” Bhattacharya said.

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  • Parliament adjourned till noon amid opposition protests over Manipur

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till noon amid protest by opposition parties demanding discussion on the Manipur issue in the House.

    Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over repeated disruptions of the proceedings in the House on the “same issue”.

    He said a short-duration discussion on the issue was scheduled the previous day, but it could not take place.

    Dhankhar also did not approve 60 notices for taking up discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha which allows for suspension of the day’s business to debate on any issue suggested by a member.

    Meanwhile, opposition members started raising slogans. Around 11.25 am, the Chair adjourn House proceedings till noon.

    Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday following protests by opposition members on the Manipur issue.

    As soon as the House met for the day, opposition members started shouting slogans and held up placards Some of them were in the Well of the House while some stood near the Speaker’s Chair, holding placards, as they sought to raise the Manipur issue.

    Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that they will be given time to raise the issues.

    BSP member Kunwar Danish Ali, standing in his seat, raised slogans on the violence in Nuh in Haryana.

    “Sir, Nuh jal raha hai (Nuh is burning),” he said, addressing the Speaker.

    Three questions and related supplementary were taken up during Question Hour, which went on for around 15 minutes.

    However, as the protests continued, the proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm.

    Protests on the Manipur violence have been disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20.

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till noon amid protest by opposition parties demanding discussion on the Manipur issue in the House.

    Soon after the listed papers were tabled in the House, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over repeated disruptions of the proceedings in the House on the “same issue”.

    He said a short-duration discussion on the issue was scheduled the previous day, but it could not take place.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Dhankhar also did not approve 60 notices for taking up discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha which allows for suspension of the day’s business to debate on any issue suggested by a member.

    Meanwhile, opposition members started raising slogans. Around 11.25 am, the Chair adjourn House proceedings till noon.

    Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday following protests by opposition members on the Manipur issue.

    As soon as the House met for the day, opposition members started shouting slogans and held up placards Some of them were in the Well of the House while some stood near the Speaker’s Chair, holding placards, as they sought to raise the Manipur issue.

    Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that they will be given time to raise the issues.

    BSP member Kunwar Danish Ali, standing in his seat, raised slogans on the violence in Nuh in Haryana.

    “Sir, Nuh jal raha hai (Nuh is burning),” he said, addressing the Speaker.

    Three questions and related supplementary were taken up during Question Hour, which went on for around 15 minutes.

    However, as the protests continued, the proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm.

    Protests on the Manipur violence have been disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20.

  • Goa assembly: All 7 opposition members suspended for two days following protest over Manipur violence

    By PTI

    PANAJI: All seven opposition members of the Goa legislative assembly were suspended for two days on Monday after they protested and created a ruckus on the floor of the House over Manipur violence.

    The suspended members are Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress MLAs Altone D’Costa and Carlos Ferreira, AAP’s Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai, and Viresh Borkar of Revolutionary Goans Party.

    After Question Hour, Alemao demanded a discussion on Manipur violence on the floor of the House, claiming that the private members’ resolution moved last Friday by Cruz Silva on the issue was disallowed by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.

    All opposition members, dressed in black, started creating a ruckus on the House floor.

    The Speaker said that the entire country is sensitive about the issue.

    “The Union home ministry is dealing with the issue. The issue is discussed in Parliament. We cannot allow discussion on the issue on the floor of the House,” the Speaker ruled.

    Unhappy with the reply, the opposition members rushed to the well of the House shouting “Manipur, Manipur”.

    As MGP legislator Jit Arolkar, who supports the BJP-ruled government, continued to speak, the opposition members rushed towards him with posters and tried to prevent him from speaking.

    The opposition members were pushed out of the House by marshals.

    After the incident, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and environment minister Nilesh Cabral demanded action against the opposition members.

    Sawant said such behaviour cannot be tolerated.

    Speaker Tawadkar then suspended the seven opposition MLAs from the assembly for two days — from Monday.

    Scores of people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

    PANAJI: All seven opposition members of the Goa legislative assembly were suspended for two days on Monday after they protested and created a ruckus on the floor of the House over Manipur violence.

    The suspended members are Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress MLAs Altone D’Costa and Carlos Ferreira, AAP’s Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai, and Viresh Borkar of Revolutionary Goans Party.

    After Question Hour, Alemao demanded a discussion on Manipur violence on the floor of the House, claiming that the private members’ resolution moved last Friday by Cruz Silva on the issue was disallowed by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    All opposition members, dressed in black, started creating a ruckus on the House floor.

    The Speaker said that the entire country is sensitive about the issue.

    “The Union home ministry is dealing with the issue. The issue is discussed in Parliament. We cannot allow discussion on the issue on the floor of the House,” the Speaker ruled.

    Unhappy with the reply, the opposition members rushed to the well of the House shouting “Manipur, Manipur”.

    As MGP legislator Jit Arolkar, who supports the BJP-ruled government, continued to speak, the opposition members rushed towards him with posters and tried to prevent him from speaking.

    The opposition members were pushed out of the House by marshals.

    After the incident, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and environment minister Nilesh Cabral demanded action against the opposition members.

    Sawant said such behaviour cannot be tolerated.

    Speaker Tawadkar then suspended the seven opposition MLAs from the assembly for two days — from Monday.

    Scores of people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

  • Movie, TV stars join picket lines in fight over future of Hollywood

    Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis, Rosario Dawson and other top movie and TV actors joined picket lines alongside screenwriters Friday on the first full day of a walkout that has become Hollywood’s biggest labour fight in decades.

    A day after the dispute brought production to a standstill across the entertainment industry, Sudeikis was among the picketers outside NBC in New York pressing for progress following the breakdown of contract talks with studios and streaming services. Dawson, star of the film “Rent” and the “Star Wars” TV series “Ahsoka,” joined picketers outside Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California.

    “Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin marched with chanting protesters outside Netflix’s offices in Hollywood. Also present at Netflix were “Titanic” and “Unforgiven” actor Frances Fisher and “The Nanny” star Fran Drescher, who is president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

    The actors’ arrival energized the picket lines outside Netflix, where music blared and the sidewalks were packed with demonstrators.

    Elsewhere, “Once Upon a Time” actor Ginnifer Goodwin stood with protesters at Paramount Pictures.

    The famous faces of Oscar and Emmy winners will likely be seen with some regularity on picket lines in New York and Los Angeles, adding star power to the demonstrations outside studios and corporate offices.

    The walkout is the first double-barreled strike by actors and screenwriters in more than six decades.

    In recent weeks, many actors made a show of solidarity with the 11,500 writers, who walked out in May. On Thursday, 65,000 members of the actors’ union formally joined them on strike.

    The two guilds have similar issues with studios and streaming services. They are concerned about contracts keeping up with inflation and about residual payments, which compensate creators and actors for the use of their material beyond the original airing, such as in reruns or on streaming services. The unions also want to put up guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence mimicking their work on film and television.

    Many on the picket lines took aim at Disney chief executive Bob Iger, who said Wednesday that the damage the strikes will do to the entertainment economy is “a shame.”

    “I think that when Bob Iger talks about what a shame it is, he needs to remember that in 1980, CEOs like him made 30 times what their lowest worker was making,” actor Sean Gunn, who starred in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” said outside Netflix.

    Now Iger “makes 400 times what his lowest worker is. And I think that’s a shame, Bob. And maybe you should take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘Why is that?’”

    No talks are planned, and no end is in sight for the work stoppage. It is the first time both guilds have walked off sets since 1960, when then-actor Ronald Reagan was SAG’s leader.

    “What we won in 1960 was our health and pension plans and the existence of residuals. That was the most important strike in LA union history, and now we’re on strike together again, and honestly, this strike is even bigger,” Adam Conover, host of the TV series “Adam Ruins Everything” and member of the Writers Guild negotiating committee, said outside Netflix. “We’re going to win. If you are gaining momentum like we are, 70-odd days into a strike, you are going to win.”

    Conover was one of many picketers, including Sudeikis, who are members of both unions.

    The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others, has lamented the walkout, saying it will hurt thousands of workers in industries that support film and television production.

    The actors’ strike will affect more than filming. Stars will no longer be allowed to promote their work through red-carpet premieres or personal appearances. They cannot campaign for Emmy awards or take part in auditions or rehearsals.

    The strike triggered cancellations of red carpet events scheduled for next week for “Special Ops: Lioness,” starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

    A “Haunted Mansion” premiere event at Disneyland on Saturday was set to go on as planned, but with no actors in attendance to promote the film.

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said it was clear that the entertainment industry “is at a historic inflection point.” She urged all parties to work around the clock until an agreement is reached.

    “This affects all of us and is essential to our overall economy,” Bass said in a statement.

    The writers’ strike had already stopped much of television production, and the actors joining them immediately led to a shooting shutdown for many major films, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and the eighth instalment of Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” series. All are scheduled for release next year.

    The writers’ strike also shut down late-night talk shows and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as several scripted shows that have either had their writers’ rooms or production paused, including “Stranger Things” on Netflix, “Hacks” on Max and “Family Guy” on Fox. Many more are sure to follow them now that performers also have been pulled.

    LOS ANGELES: “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis, Rosario Dawson and other top movie and TV actors joined picket lines alongside screenwriters Friday on the first full day of a walkout that has become Hollywood’s biggest labour fight in decades.

    A day after the dispute brought production to a standstill across the entertainment industry, Sudeikis was among the picketers outside NBC in New York pressing for progress following the breakdown of contract talks with studios and streaming services. Dawson, star of the film “Rent” and the “Star Wars” TV series “Ahsoka,” joined picketers outside Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California.

    “Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin marched with chanting protesters outside Netflix’s offices in Hollywood. Also present at Netflix were “Titanic” and “Unforgiven” actor Frances Fisher and “The Nanny” star Fran Drescher, who is president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The actors’ arrival energized the picket lines outside Netflix, where music blared and the sidewalks were packed with demonstrators.

    Elsewhere, “Once Upon a Time” actor Ginnifer Goodwin stood with protesters at Paramount Pictures.

    The famous faces of Oscar and Emmy winners will likely be seen with some regularity on picket lines in New York and Los Angeles, adding star power to the demonstrations outside studios and corporate offices.

    The walkout is the first double-barreled strike by actors and screenwriters in more than six decades.

    In recent weeks, many actors made a show of solidarity with the 11,500 writers, who walked out in May. On Thursday, 65,000 members of the actors’ union formally joined them on strike.

    The two guilds have similar issues with studios and streaming services. They are concerned about contracts keeping up with inflation and about residual payments, which compensate creators and actors for the use of their material beyond the original airing, such as in reruns or on streaming services. The unions also want to put up guardrails against the use of artificial intelligence mimicking their work on film and television.

    Many on the picket lines took aim at Disney chief executive Bob Iger, who said Wednesday that the damage the strikes will do to the entertainment economy is “a shame.”

    “I think that when Bob Iger talks about what a shame it is, he needs to remember that in 1980, CEOs like him made 30 times what their lowest worker was making,” actor Sean Gunn, who starred in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” said outside Netflix.

    Now Iger “makes 400 times what his lowest worker is. And I think that’s a shame, Bob. And maybe you should take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘Why is that?’”

    No talks are planned, and no end is in sight for the work stoppage. It is the first time both guilds have walked off sets since 1960, when then-actor Ronald Reagan was SAG’s leader.

    “What we won in 1960 was our health and pension plans and the existence of residuals. That was the most important strike in LA union history, and now we’re on strike together again, and honestly, this strike is even bigger,” Adam Conover, host of the TV series “Adam Ruins Everything” and member of the Writers Guild negotiating committee, said outside Netflix. “We’re going to win. If you are gaining momentum like we are, 70-odd days into a strike, you are going to win.”

    Conover was one of many picketers, including Sudeikis, who are members of both unions.

    The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others, has lamented the walkout, saying it will hurt thousands of workers in industries that support film and television production.

    The actors’ strike will affect more than filming. Stars will no longer be allowed to promote their work through red-carpet premieres or personal appearances. They cannot campaign for Emmy awards or take part in auditions or rehearsals.

    The strike triggered cancellations of red carpet events scheduled for next week for “Special Ops: Lioness,” starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”

    A “Haunted Mansion” premiere event at Disneyland on Saturday was set to go on as planned, but with no actors in attendance to promote the film.

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said it was clear that the entertainment industry “is at a historic inflection point.” She urged all parties to work around the clock until an agreement is reached.

    “This affects all of us and is essential to our overall economy,” Bass said in a statement.

    The writers’ strike had already stopped much of television production, and the actors joining them immediately led to a shooting shutdown for many major films, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and the eighth instalment of Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” series. All are scheduled for release next year.

    The writers’ strike also shut down late-night talk shows and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as several scripted shows that have either had their writers’ rooms or production paused, including “Stranger Things” on Netflix, “Hacks” on Max and “Family Guy” on Fox. Many more are sure to follow them now that performers also have been pulled.

  • Maha: 111 people arrested during protest against refinery; Sena (UBT) says stop ‘atrocities’ 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Police on Tuesday arrested 111 people, most of them women, during a protest against a proposed oil refinery at Barsu village in Maharashtra’s coastal Ratnagiri district, an official said.

    More than 100 women were among the protesters who tried to block a road in Barsu and Solgaon areas of the district, around 400km from Mumbai, by lying on the ground to stop government vehicles from entering the proposed site of the refinery, he said.

    The protesters were booked under IPC sections related to unlawful assembly, rioting, disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant, wrongful restraint and relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, the official said, adding they will be produced before a court at Rajapur town in Ratnagiri district on Wednesday.

    Local residents fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood.

    The Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) came out in their support and demanded an immediate end to “atrocities” against protesters.

    A government team was scheduled to conduct a survey at the site in Barsu and Solgaon areas of Rajapur, on Monday, but locals started staging protests, the official said.

    During the protest, women lay on the ground to prevent vehicles of the district administration and police from entering the areas, he said.

    Considering the law and order situation, hundreds of police personnel were deployed at the project site, the official said.

    Ratnagiri Superintendent of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni and other senior police officials were at the spot to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

    Opposition leader Ajit Pawar of the NCP earlier in the day demanded that protests by locals against the refinery project be handled sensitively and urged that the state government stop the survey work till a peaceful solution was found.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut demanded an immediate end to “atrocities” against locals and asserted his party will not sit quietly on the issue and back the people.

    Talking to reporters, Raut alleged the protesters were being pressurised by Industries Minister Uday Samant with the help of police.

    “This is a government with a perverse mentality. They want a Jallianwala Bagh-like massacre. We are with people and the Shiv Sena (UBT) will not sit quiet,” Raut said.

    He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thinks he is a “messiah” of the poor, but has left on a three-day “leave” in a helicopter, a reference to the CM going to his hometown in Satara district.

    Shinde should instead take the helicopter to Barsu and meet the protesters there, said the Rajya Sabha member.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray said, “The government should stop atrocities on people and also the soil survey.”

    The former state environment minister said the government should start a dialogue with the agitating local residents.

    The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had put some conditions before giving a nod to the project which included taking the locals into confidence and explaining the details of the venture and its benefits, Thackeray said.

    MUMBAI: Police on Tuesday arrested 111 people, most of them women, during a protest against a proposed oil refinery at Barsu village in Maharashtra’s coastal Ratnagiri district, an official said.

    More than 100 women were among the protesters who tried to block a road in Barsu and Solgaon areas of the district, around 400km from Mumbai, by lying on the ground to stop government vehicles from entering the proposed site of the refinery, he said.

    The protesters were booked under IPC sections related to unlawful assembly, rioting, disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant, wrongful restraint and relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, the official said, adding they will be produced before a court at Rajapur town in Ratnagiri district on Wednesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Local residents fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood.

    The Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) came out in their support and demanded an immediate end to “atrocities” against protesters.

    A government team was scheduled to conduct a survey at the site in Barsu and Solgaon areas of Rajapur, on Monday, but locals started staging protests, the official said.

    During the protest, women lay on the ground to prevent vehicles of the district administration and police from entering the areas, he said.

    Considering the law and order situation, hundreds of police personnel were deployed at the project site, the official said.

    Ratnagiri Superintendent of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni and other senior police officials were at the spot to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

    Opposition leader Ajit Pawar of the NCP earlier in the day demanded that protests by locals against the refinery project be handled sensitively and urged that the state government stop the survey work till a peaceful solution was found.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut demanded an immediate end to “atrocities” against locals and asserted his party will not sit quietly on the issue and back the people.

    Talking to reporters, Raut alleged the protesters were being pressurised by Industries Minister Uday Samant with the help of police.

    “This is a government with a perverse mentality. They want a Jallianwala Bagh-like massacre. We are with people and the Shiv Sena (UBT) will not sit quiet,” Raut said.

    He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thinks he is a “messiah” of the poor, but has left on a three-day “leave” in a helicopter, a reference to the CM going to his hometown in Satara district.

    Shinde should instead take the helicopter to Barsu and meet the protesters there, said the Rajya Sabha member.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former minister Aaditya Thackeray said, “The government should stop atrocities on people and also the soil survey.”

    The former state environment minister said the government should start a dialogue with the agitating local residents.

    The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had put some conditions before giving a nod to the project which included taking the locals into confidence and explaining the details of the venture and its benefits, Thackeray said.

  • Congress denounces Pilot plan, says would amount to ‘anti-party activity’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday evening said any such protest against its sitting government would amount to anti-party activity.

    Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced plans to hold a day-long fast on Tuesday to press for action.

    Sukhjinder Randhawa, the Congress general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan, said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government.

    “I personally called Sachin Pilot and asked him to raise such matters at party platforms instead of going public like this,” he told PTI when asked if he had discussed Pilot’s proposed fast with him.

    Randhawa said any such action or fast is not justified and all matters should be raised within the party platforms and not publicly like this.

    “Any such action would amount to anti-party activity,” he said.

    Randhawa said the two letters Pilot was referring to for action against graft by the previous Vasundhara Raje government have never been raised before him despite several talks and discussions.

    Sources close to Pilot said he will go ahead with his day-long fast on Tuesday to press for his demand for action against corruption during the previous BJP regime in Rajasthan and added that his fight is against graft under the Raje dispensation and not targeted at anyone else.

    Pilot has said he will observe the fast at Jaipur’s Shaheed Smarak on April 11 — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

    Sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a “maun vrat” and not speak against the government.

    The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption, Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable.

    The Congress has been strongly raising its voice against corruption in the country, be it on the Adani matter or by the Karnataka government.

    If action is not taken against those responsible for graft under the Raje government, then why would people take us seriously, a source close to Pilot said.

    NEW DELHI: Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, the Congress on Monday evening said any such protest against its sitting government would amount to anti-party activity.

    Pilot on Sunday alleged that the Ashok Gehlot-led government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the BJP rule in Rajasthan and announced plans to hold a day-long fast on Tuesday to press for action.

    Sukhjinder Randhawa, the Congress general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan, said he talked to Pilot during the day and told him to raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I personally called Sachin Pilot and asked him to raise such matters at party platforms instead of going public like this,” he told PTI when asked if he had discussed Pilot’s proposed fast with him.

    Randhawa said any such action or fast is not justified and all matters should be raised within the party platforms and not publicly like this.

    “Any such action would amount to anti-party activity,” he said.

    Randhawa said the two letters Pilot was referring to for action against graft by the previous Vasundhara Raje government have never been raised before him despite several talks and discussions.

    Sources close to Pilot said he will go ahead with his day-long fast on Tuesday to press for his demand for action against corruption during the previous BJP regime in Rajasthan and added that his fight is against graft under the Raje dispensation and not targeted at anyone else.

    Pilot has said he will observe the fast at Jaipur’s Shaheed Smarak on April 11 — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who was from the Saini community to which Gehlot belongs.

    Sources said Pilot claimed that he would sit on a “maun vrat” and not speak against the government.

    The sources close to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also said that while Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption, Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable.

    The Congress has been strongly raising its voice against corruption in the country, be it on the Adani matter or by the Karnataka government.

    If action is not taken against those responsible for graft under the Raje government, then why would people take us seriously, a source close to Pilot said.

  • Adani-Hindenburg row: AAP holds protests in Srinagar, Jammu; demands JPC probe 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Police on Sunday prevented AAP workers from staging a protest outside the BJP office here over the Adani-Hindenburg row.

    Led by AAP’s central Kashmir youth president Jibran Dar, party workers assembled in Jawahar Nagar area and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

    The protesters alleged that Modi was favouring Adani, but doing nothing for ordinary people.

    Before they could reach the BJP office in the area, the protesters were detained by police and whisked away to the local police station.

    Adani Group stocks have taken a beating after US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as lies.

    The AAP also staged a protest outside the BJP office in Jammu over the issue and demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into independent India’s “biggest scam”.

    AAP workers led by senior party leaders assembled outside the BJP office in Trikuta Nagar and chanted slogans against the BJP-led government, claiming that Modi gave all resources to one person and made him the second richest person in the world.

    Terming it independent India’s “biggest scam”, senior AAP leader T S Tony said, “In 2014, Adani’s assets were worth Rs 37,000 crore.

    They increased to Rs 59,000 crore in 2018, Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2020 and Rs 13 lakh crore in 2022.

    ” “We are here to bring the BJP’s direct link to this scam before the people. the exposed government is running away and not giving answers,” he said.

    Tony, who is the chairman of the AAP’s minority welfare wing, also demanded a JPC probe into the alleged scam.

    Opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group.

    Parliamentary proceedings during the first week of the ongoing Budget Session were virtually washed out amid protests by opposition parties, including the AAP.

    JAMMU: Police on Sunday prevented AAP workers from staging a protest outside the BJP office here over the Adani-Hindenburg row.

    Led by AAP’s central Kashmir youth president Jibran Dar, party workers assembled in Jawahar Nagar area and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business tycoon Gautam Adani.

    The protesters alleged that Modi was favouring Adani, but doing nothing for ordinary people.

    Before they could reach the BJP office in the area, the protesters were detained by police and whisked away to the local police station.

    Adani Group stocks have taken a beating after US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, against it. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as lies.

    The AAP also staged a protest outside the BJP office in Jammu over the issue and demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into independent India’s “biggest scam”.

    AAP workers led by senior party leaders assembled outside the BJP office in Trikuta Nagar and chanted slogans against the BJP-led government, claiming that Modi gave all resources to one person and made him the second richest person in the world.

    Terming it independent India’s “biggest scam”, senior AAP leader T S Tony said, “In 2014, Adani’s assets were worth Rs 37,000 crore.

    They increased to Rs 59,000 crore in 2018, Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2020 and Rs 13 lakh crore in 2022.

    ” “We are here to bring the BJP’s direct link to this scam before the people. the exposed government is running away and not giving answers,” he said.

    Tony, who is the chairman of the AAP’s minority welfare wing, also demanded a JPC probe into the alleged scam.

    Opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group.

    Parliamentary proceedings during the first week of the ongoing Budget Session were virtually washed out amid protests by opposition parties, including the AAP.

  • Paper leak row rages on in Rajasthan as BJP demands CBI Probe

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: The political storm over paper leaks in recruitment exams rages on in Rajasthan. BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena has been sitting on a  Dharna in Jaipur for the last seven days demanding a CBI probe into the matter.

    Meena has been in the headlines for the protest for his supporters and unemployed youth even in the midst of heavy rain and freezing cold these days.

    Kirori Lal Meena was seen to be fighting a lone battle as he did not see any special support from other BJP leaders. But now the situation has changed as former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia took to Twitter to extend support.

    Raje tweeted that the BJP leader is on strike demanding a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case of 16 recruitment examinations including REET, RAS and Constable. 

    In another tweet, she wrote that the Rajasthan government is crushing the dreams of the youth. “The government is forgetting that this public anger of the youth will prove to be the last nail in the sinking ship of this government. The government should remember that MP Kirodi Lal Meena is not alone in fighting for the youth to get their rights, we all are with them.”

    Earlier, Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rajendra Rathore met Kirodi Lal Meena and extended their support to the demand for a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case. MP Kirori has made it clear that his fast will continue until the Gehlot government gives approval for a CBI inquiry. It is a matter of discussion as to why the BJP leaders, who till now kept a distance from Kirodii’s protests and agitations, have suddenly started supporting him. There are speculations behind this that the BJP’s top leadership can include Kirori in the Union Cabinet.

    In contrast, CM Ashok Gehlot has demanded a nationwide solution for the issue of paper leaks. Mentioning the paper leak of the junior clerk recruitment exam in Gujarat, Gehlot said that the issue has become a serious problem across the country. 

    “This is the 17th paper leak in Gujarat in the last few years,” he said.

    Gehlot further added, “There have been complaints of paper leaks and irregularities in Army recruitment, High Court recruitment, even DRDO recruitment, which shows how serious this problem is. We need a nationwide solution.”

    On the other hand, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Dotasara has raised a big question about the Gujarat government in this paper leak case. He asserted that “in the last few years there have been 15 paper leaks in PM Modi’s home state of Gujarat. Will the BJP, which incited the youth in Rajasthan, raise the demand for a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case in Gujarat?” 

    While a solution remains elusive, politics over the ticklish issue of paper leaks is intensifying in Rajasthan.

    JAIPUR: The political storm over paper leaks in recruitment exams rages on in Rajasthan. BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena has been sitting on a  Dharna in Jaipur for the last seven days demanding a CBI probe into the matter.

    Meena has been in the headlines for the protest for his supporters and unemployed youth even in the midst of heavy rain and freezing cold these days.

    Kirori Lal Meena was seen to be fighting a lone battle as he did not see any special support from other BJP leaders. But now the situation has changed as former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia took to Twitter to extend support.

    Raje tweeted that the BJP leader is on strike demanding a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case of 16 recruitment examinations including REET, RAS and Constable. 

    In another tweet, she wrote that the Rajasthan government is crushing the dreams of the youth. “The government is forgetting that this public anger of the youth will prove to be the last nail in the sinking ship of this government. The government should remember that MP Kirodi Lal Meena is not alone in fighting for the youth to get their rights, we all are with them.”

    Earlier, Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rajendra Rathore met Kirodi Lal Meena and extended their support to the demand for a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case. MP Kirori has made it clear that his fast will continue until the Gehlot government gives approval for a CBI inquiry. It is a matter of discussion as to why the BJP leaders, who till now kept a distance from Kirodii’s protests and agitations, have suddenly started supporting him. There are speculations behind this that the BJP’s top leadership can include Kirori in the Union Cabinet.

    In contrast, CM Ashok Gehlot has demanded a nationwide solution for the issue of paper leaks. Mentioning the paper leak of the junior clerk recruitment exam in Gujarat, Gehlot said that the issue has become a serious problem across the country. 

    “This is the 17th paper leak in Gujarat in the last few years,” he said.

    Gehlot further added, “There have been complaints of paper leaks and irregularities in Army recruitment, High Court recruitment, even DRDO recruitment, which shows how serious this problem is. We need a nationwide solution.”

    On the other hand, Rajasthan Congress President Govind Dotasara has raised a big question about the Gujarat government in this paper leak case. He asserted that “in the last few years there have been 15 paper leaks in PM Modi’s home state of Gujarat. Will the BJP, which incited the youth in Rajasthan, raise the demand for a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case in Gujarat?” 

    While a solution remains elusive, politics over the ticklish issue of paper leaks is intensifying in Rajasthan.