India News
Kanwariya violence: Supreme Court asks police to take strong action against vandals
Expressing concern at incidents of violence by Kanwariyas and other so-called religious groups, the Supreme Court on Friday, August 9, said action had to be taken against “whoever” instigating and committing violence, regardless of their religion
Vandalism and destruction of public property cannot be allowed, the Supreme Court said in strong observations about violent protests.
Agreeing that the court should lay down guidelines in this behalf instead of waiting for an amendment of the law, Chief Justice Dipak Misra noted that any such directions shall apply to all individuals or religious groups, which engages in such activities.
The observations came when a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar was hearing a petition filed by the Kodungalur Film Society against the damage to property during protests against the movie Padmaavat that was accused by Rajput groups of hurting their sentiments.
“Damage to public properties is a serious issue… This is a grave situation and this must stop. We will take action and won’t wait for amendments,” the court said.
The observations came after Attorney General KK Venugopal cited, among other instances, the recent spike in havoc unleashed by Kanwariyas.
Expressing deep concern over the failure of police machinery to stop acts of mob violence by outfits and fringe elements, especially in the context of recent attack by Kanwariyas in Delhi and UP, the Attorney General called for intervention by the Court to fix responsibility.
“There was the Maratha agitation in Maharashtra, the massive unrest across the country over the SC/ST judgment, the controversy over ‘Padmaavat’ where the nose of the actress was threatened to be cut off…what happened to the protesters? Nothing! Such episodes of such rioting transpire every other day. Are we going to allow this to happen?” Venugopal said.
“Judges might have seen media reports how Kanwariyas damaged cars, overturning it,” Venugopal added, referring to videos of Kanwars attacking vehicles including police cars.
“There has to be an FIR and responsibilities fixed,” he added.
Responding to this, Justice DY Chandrachud observed, “In Allahabad, Kanwarias blocked half the highway.”
Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, “You may burn your own house and be a hero but you cannot damage third party property.”
Advocate PV Dinesh, who was appearing for the Kodungalur Film Society, submitted that international media like BBC had given wide coverage to hooliganism unleashed by Karni Sena protesters to ban Padmavati, tarnishing India’s image in global community.
The petitioner argued that 2009 Supreme Court verdict on the subject was not being implemented.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar, reserved its judgment on Friday. The Court also directed AG and PV Dinesh to give their suggestions for guidelines, which could be incorporated in the judgment.
India News
Watch: Nitin Gadkari takes a test drive on hydrogen bus in Prague
In the video Gadkari is seen seated on the bus while officials surround him standing. One of the officials asked about the distance the bus can cover in a single charge. Gadkari said the visit is part of India’s commitment to eco friendly and sustainable transportation solutions.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is currently on an official visit to the Czech Republic. He took a test drive in a hydrogen bus. Nitin Gadkari took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared a video of the bus ride. In the video Gadkari can be seen surrounded by a group of officials.
In the video Gadkari is seen seated on the bus while officials surround him standing. One of the officials asked about the distance the bus can cover in a single charge. Gadkari said the visit is part of India’s commitment to eco friendly and sustainable transportation solutions. The video is captioned Hydrogen buses are a beacon of hope in India’s fight against environment degradation and carbon emissions. The buses will pave a greener and cleaner future.
The union minister posted a series of photographs on X, which showed the Gadkari’s test drive. Hydrogen fuel celled powered buses use air and hydrogen to generate electricity. It is a more environment friendly and sustainable mode of public transportation.
Gadkari arrived in the Czech Republic on October 1. He received a warm welcome at the Prague airport. He also participated on the ministerial session on road safety at the 27th World Road Congress in Prague. The Minister reaffirmed India’s dedication to achieving road safety targets which are outlined in the Stockholm Declarartion.
Nitin Gadkari has clearly advocated asserting that advancements and transition to green fuel. This will reduce the cost of electric vehicles when compared to petrol run vehicles within a span of two years. Variety of comments started coming on X (formerly twitter). One social media user said all school and state run buses would be run on hydrogen in the coming days. One X User was asked about the mass production of hydrogen cars. One user said the video was highly inspiring.
India News
Watch: Rajasthan independent MLA Om Prakash Hudla polishes people’s shoes
Hudla did a similar act in the year 2018. He won the election from Dausa constituency. Talking to the media Hudla said he took the initiative to polish the shoes of workers and voters. He said he wanted to make them realize MLAs are their employees and not vice versa.
As the election fever grips Rajasthan independent MLA Om Prakash Hudla became a cobbler in Dausa. He polished people’s shoes. In a video going viral on social media, Hudla is seen wearing a garland and polishing the elderly man’s shoes. He later helps the man to put the shoes on.
Many people have surrounded the MLA. One man even threw rose petals on him. Hudla did a similar act in the year 2018. He won the election from Dausa constituency. Talking to the media Hudla said he took the initiative to polish the shoes of workers and voters. He said he wanted to make them realize MLAs are their employees and not vice versa.
He said he has done it before. He was doing it again and he would continue to do it in the future. Hudla also hosted a tricolor outside a hospital on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Rajasthan will have assembly elections later this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh in preparation for the upcoming state elections. PM Modi slammed Ashok Gehlot led congress government in the state and said the Rajasthan state had been destroyed in the past five years.
PM Modi said every leader of Congress, Tyrant, rioter, goon and corrupt person has considered himself the government of Rajasthan. PM Modi added Congress had left no stone unturned in looting the state. He added The Congress has successfully deceived the people of Rajasthan.
But the Congress had failed to run the government in the state. He said Ashok Gehlot was trying to save his chief minister’s chair and almost half of the Congress party was trying to unseat him. Pilot and Gehlot have been up against each other over the past few years as Pilot was trying his level best to replace Gehlot in the Chief Minister’s position.
India News
Maharashtra: 31 patients die in government hospital in a day, state cabinet to hold meeting
Mallikarjun Kharge raised questions on the state government’s health infrastructure and demanded a thorough investigation.
The Maharashtra government will chair a meeting to discuss the deaths of at least 31 patients, including 16 children at a government hospital in Nanded district. The state government has also formed an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
The death toll at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College Hospital has surged to 31 from Monday’s tally of 24. An official concerned to the matter said that the Maharashtra Cabinet will discuss the Nanded Hospital deaths in a meeting today.
The Cabinet might decide to form an inquiry committee over the incident. Reports said that the deaths are due to inadequate facilities and a shortage of staff and medicines, according to officials.
Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, director, medical education and research, Maharashtra told news agency PTI that in 24 hours, 24 deaths have been reported at Nanded government Hospital and Medical College (GMCH). Out of these 24 patients, 12 were infants who were referred here by some local private hospitals.
Shyamrao Wakode, dean of the college, denied allegations of negligence against the hospital and told news agency ANI that deceased patients were suffering from different ailments such as diabetes, liver failure, and kidney failure.
The deaths sparked a massive political row as the opposition slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned his silence on the matter. Opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, Supriya Sule and Priyanka Chaturvedi, promptly hit out at the Eknath Shinde government over the reported deaths.
Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party wrote on social media X that the unfortunate incident of death of 24 people including 12 newborns in 24 hours in a government hospital in Nanded is literally shocking.
Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge also raised questions on the state government’s health infrastructure and demanded a thorough investigation. The top Congress leader asserted that it is said that these patients died due to lack of medicines and treatment. He further noted that a similar incident took place in a government hospital in Thane in August 2023 in which 18 patients lost their lives.
