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Not In My Name protest meet makes Modi speak against killings

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9 years ago

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Not In My Name protest meet makes Modi speak against killings

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Lilly Paul

What started as a Facebook post ended with hundreds of people taking to the streets at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to join the protest, “Not In My Name”, initiated by filmmaker Saba Dewan. The protests started at 6pm on Wednesday (June 29) and was attended by students, artists, activists and common people of Delhi along with the family members of 16-year-old Junaid, who was killed on June 22 in a Mathura-bound train.

The protest made headlines around the country and even in the foreign press. The immediate effect of the protest was the breaking of months-long silence by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said on Friday (June 29) that killing in the name of an animal sacred to majority Hindus was wrong, a comment that came seven days after the horrific killing that moved the conscience of the entire country.

“Killing people in the name of ‘gau bhakti’ is not acceptable,” Modi told a crowd at the centenary celebrations of the Sabarmati Ashram, according to agencies. “No person in this nation has the right to take the law in his or her own hands.”

Till Thursday, there had been not even an acknowledgement of the killing of the 16-year-old Junaid by the Prime Minister, neither of any other cow related killing so far. There have been 28 cow related killings from 2010 and 86 percent victims were Muslims and 97 percent of such attacks happened after the NDA came to power in 2014, according to a report by Indiaspend.

Reacting to Modi’s comment senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said: “I am glad that the Prime Minister finally came out and said something, but it is not enough. We have to put our money where our mouth is. We want action. The ground reality is something else. What is the government going to do? What action plan do they have? Are we to live in terror?”

At Jantar Mantar on Wednesday the protest was observed to register the people’s anger over the incessant lynchings of Muslims by cow and beef vigilantes. Apart from Delhi, protests were held in 11 other Indian cities of Allahabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram.

More importantly, it received primetime coverage by all major television news channels, including foreign channels. Back from another of his hurricane international tours, Modi, at least, reacts when his image is in danger of being tarnished.

The event witnessed an emotional moment when Junaid’s brother Mohammed Asaruddin read out a letter, called “letter to his mother from heaven”,  written on behalf of Junaid. It read: Dear Ma, I am home. Mother you lied when you said Hindus and Muslims are brothers because how can a brother watch his brother being killed and do nothing to save him. I am alive now. Here there is no fear of marauding mobs. Yours, Junaid.”

People could be seen crying uncontrollably in the protest after Asaruddin read out the letter. He quivered as he read out the letter against the backdrop of ‘lynch map of India’, a map made on the dais spotting the states in red where mob lynchings have took place since 2015.

Works of revolutionary poets Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi were recited in the event. Veteran journalist Vinod Dua too read out a couplet by Faiz in the event. Actor-dancer Maya Rao performed on an act she composed for the event.

“Junaid was my brother, my fellow countrymen, I have seen Bharat Mata weeping in the eyes of his mother”, read a placard in the protest. The other one read, “hum sab musalmaan hai, hum sab insaan hai (We all are Muslims, we all are humans)”.

Although the protest was attended by hundreds, it is not sure if the common people participated in substantial numbers. The place was filled with students, lawyers, educationists, activists and artists. Muslims wearing traditional attire with a black band could also be spotted in the protest.

Although many families joined the protest with their children, still the presence of the common public was missing. Even the auto-drivers dropping the people to the venue could be seen asking their customers about the issue behind the protest. Some performances were still due as people left due to rain.

Although the intention and the motive behind the protests were genuine but lesser participation suggest that people are yet not aware of the cynical lynchings taking place across the country. This is the same Delhi which had turned out in huge numbers during the Nirbhaya rape tragedy. But such a turnout of people was missing in this protest.

The protest was also criticised by both left and the right groups for its idea and execution. Still the protests could be marked as a beginning of resistance against mob lynchings.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

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10 mins ago

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August 16, 2026

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Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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