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Outrage alert: Sri Sri explains why farmers commit suicide

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9 years ago

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Outrage alert: Sri Sri explains why farmers commit suicide

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spiritually mature guru believes pranayam will stop farmers’ hunger pangs

By Sujit Bhar

If you are spiritual enough, you can get away with denigrating an entire agitation of poor, starving farmers; you can laugh away wanton destruction of irreparable, delicate ecosystems, and you can still be worshipped as a guru who can save the world.

Or so it seems, going by the logic that Art of Living (AoL) propagator, the immensely rich, international guru of good life, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has given.

In a recent media interaction in Mumbai, he has come out with this bizarre logic. He reportedly told the media that “lack of ‘spirituality’ was one of the reasons that leads to farmer suicides.” And then he gave the solution as well: “I appeal to all the people who work in this field (of spirituality) to reach out to farmers,” said a media report . This is probably as bizarre as the Tamil Nadu government’s recent assertion in the Supreme Court that farmers aren’t committing suicide in state (there have been 82 recent cases recorded) because of the drought, but because of personal reasons, arising out of “natural causes”.

But, then, the state government comprises politicians and bureaucrats, who cannot be taken seriously in the best of times. So what about our so-called “spiritual” leaders? This is the same person who showed absolutely no remorse when the Yamuna floodplains were destroyed through the huge extravaganza that supposedly yielded great spirituality for the country and saved many souls.

Instead, an expert committee has reported back to the Supreme Court that the huge extravaganza had “destroyed” the Yamuna floodplains to such an extent that it will take a decade or more to return to some semblance of normalcy. And the resuscitation process will cost no less than Rs 13.29 crore.

Not only that, with the case being heard by the Supreme Court, Sri Sri  issued a comment saying if it was so wrong (the AoL extravaganza) why was it not stopped beforehand? Why was it allowed to go ahead? Expectedly, the apex court rebuked the Great Guru, and Sri Sri had been somewhat quiet about this since, till now. At the press conference in Mumbai, where he made this outrageous comment about farmers, he was asked by reporters about the AoL extravaganza that destroyed the Yamuna floodplains. His reply was a cryptic: “Truth will prevail.” What that means, only the spiritually mature Sri Sri would be able to clarify, but one guesses that science does establish truism way better than any level of spirituality can.

But wait a second. Sri Sri has his own scientists as well. About the AoL extravaganza he also reportedly said: “I have full faith in the judicial system… There is an NGO which is carrying on malicious campaign… There is some disadvantage of being popular… But we have not done anything wrong. Our panel of 15 independent scientists have established fair report and we have always been and would be extra-sensitive towards the environment.”

Basically, one summarises, we, as a country are only fooling ourselves. To be fair, these so-called godmen need to do what they do. Because, as in their own words, they have to be “popular”, whatever the consequences. And in condoning them, and even reporting every non-scientific and inhumane comment they utter, even the media has proved to be insensitive.

Taking in the bigger picture, though, how different are they from our politicians? At least, people in politics have to be elected. These so-called godmen do not have to go through that pain either. But overall, both categories function the same way as soon as they are “popular”.  And public probity, nature and actual dharma, can go rot in the woods.

This is why the Tamil Nadu government can issue such absurd statements and that is why Sri Sri believes pranayam will “remove suicidal tendencies” in the farmers. The overall thought process is of denial and indifference. There is no real thought put into finding out if the farmers actually are hungry, and how no level of “pranayam” will remove that hunger. There is no need to find out how nature is being trodden to dust under hundreds of dancing feet in a programme that has benefited none but Sri Sri and his cohorts.

When science loses its footing in society, such absurd claims of “spirituality” and “natural causes”, find a foothold. The loser in all this is society itself, blind in faiths that bind them to the spiritual poverty that our Great Guru is ostensibly trying to alleviate.[/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.

Published

3 hours ago

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August 16, 2026

By

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.

Published

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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