India News
Sushma Swaraj confirm killing of 39 Indian labourers in Iraq
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has confirmed the killing of 39 Indian labourers, mostly from Punjab, at the hands of Daesh (IS) who were stranded in Mosul (Iraq) since 2014.
Giving a statement in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Swaraj said that the bodies of the deceased were exhumed and DNA samples sent for forensic test. The relatives of the 39 Indians were made to undergo DNA test last year. The Iraqi authorities have confirmed the identity of the dead bodies. They were kidnapped by ISIS in Mosul in 2014.
Among the dead, 31 belong to Punjab, 4 to Himachal Pradesh while the remaining four belong to Bihar and West Bengal. Government will send a special aircraft for bringing the dead bodies with proper documentation along with their identities.
Until October last year, both India and Iraq could not confirm the deaths of the 39 abducted Indian labourers. Sushma Swaraj had been reiterating that she cannot declare the abducted people dead until confirmation from the concerned authorities in Iraq. She said, “It is a sin to declare a person dead without concrete evidence. I will not do this sin.”
Read More: Won’t commit sin by declaring missing Indians in Iraq dead without evidence: Sushma Swaraj
Iraq’s foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jafri, while visiting India in July last year said, The Iraq government does not have any confirmed information regarding the 39 Indians lost in Iraq. Even, we do not have any information regarding the mortgaged Indian workers. There is no information that whether they are dead or alive.”
Read More: Iraqi Government Has No Clue of 39 Missing Indians
Earlier Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has given wrong information. Former foreign minister Shashi Tharoor had also questioned, “Why is the government trying to misguide the nation? Why did Sushma Swaraj give false information regarding the lost Indians? Since last 2 years, the government is saying that they are kept in the jail of Iraq. This is all false information.”
Read More: India intensifies search for 39 missing Indians in Iraq through DNA samples
Mosul was captured by Daesh (IS) terrorists in June 2014 defeating Iraqi Army. Around the same time there were unconfirmed reports of killing of 39 Indian construction labourers. But due to lack of accessibility to the captured areas, Iraqi government could not confirm or deny the reports. The city was recaptured by Iraqi forces after a year-long operation in July 2017.
Iraq, Syria, Iran and Russia have been alleging that Daesh terrorists were financed and supported by Israel, US and their regional allies. Huge devastations and mass killings were caused by the terror group in Iraq And Syria since 2011. Iranian military advisors, Hezbollah fighters, Mobilization forces and Iraqi army have jointly defeated Daesh (IS) terrorists and most of the territories were re-captured.
In December last year, Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi had announced that the fight against Daesh (IS) was ended after three years of combat operations droving the extremists from all the territory they once held.
India News
Goa child rights body serves notice to Education department after worms found in mid day meals
Peter F Borges, Chairperson Goa state commission for protection of child rights said this shocking, sheer, neglect and outrageous that the meal had been consumed by children. He added the MDM scheme has elaborate monitoring systems in state, district and local levels.
The Goa state Commission for Protection of Child Rights served notice to the state Education department as worms were found in mid day meals served to children. Officials of the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration on Tuseday took food samples from three schools. This came in response to a complaint from schools in Priol said worms were found in Soya Chunks Pulao which was served as the mid day meal.
Peter F Borges, Chairperson Goa state commission for protection of child rights said this shocking, sheer, neglect and outrageous that the meal had been consumed by children. He added the MDM scheme has elaborate monitoring systems in state, district and local levels.
He said the school management committee (SMC)s are responsible for continuously monitoring the wholesomeness of the midday meal served to the schoolchildren. They are responsible for the hygiene standards and the service of the meal and the timeliness of good quality ingredients on a daily basis.
The commission has called for investigation in the incident and an enquiry so that necessary action can be taken against those found responsible for the incident. It has further sent directives to the education department to file status of all mechanisms at various levels in place.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingade told the media after the complaints were received the food and Drugs administration officials were summoned. They also collected the food samples and a report was awaited. He said the supplier has been told to stop the supply till the issue is cleared. According to reports the education department will take action against the self help group supplying the mid day meal. The mid day meal is served to students from Class I to Class VIII. The food is served to 160 lakh students of 1400 aided and government schools.
Bihar news
Nitish Kumar on ‘digital library’ inauguration in Bihar’s Banka asks officials to change signboard language to Hindi | Watch video
The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, went to inaugurate a ‘digital library’ in Banka district where he noticed the language of the signboard of the newly established ‘digital library’.
The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, went to inaugurate a ‘digital library’ in Banka district where he noticed the language of the signboard of the newly established ‘digital library’ and asked the officials to change the signboard as the information was written in the English language.
CM Kumar said he respects the English language but Hindi is a part of the tradition. He further schooled the officials saying you are ending the importance of the Hindi language, adding that it is our language. Officials present at the moment were asked to change the board by CM Kumar.
In March, Kumar made headlines for ridiculing a farmer who used English words in his speech at an event, demonstrating his consistent disapproval of the use of English in public settings.
Nitish Kumar reminded the farmer that using smartphones during COVID-19 was causing people to distance themselves from their own language in Bharat, Bihar.
Look at what has happened to people. They are distancing themselves from their language, Kumar interrupted, when people learn words through smartphones. Is it England, Kumar questioned the farmer. Your language should be used since you have been conversing with farmers in Bihar and Bharat, Nitish Kumar said.
As per the reports, the Chief Minister of Bihar carried out unannounced inspections at several government offices and discovered that a considerable number of ministers from his cabinet were missing in action. The observations revealed that while the majority of the ministers belonging to his party, JD(U), were present, a significant number of ministers from his alliance party, RJD, were found to be absent, the reports added.
According to reports, the development occurred amidst speculations that CM Kumar may switch alliances and join the BJP.
During the G20 event, the Prime Minister cordially introduced Nitish Kumar to none other than the esteemed US President Joe Biden.
It was worth noting that this was the initial encounter between PM Modi and Nitish Kumar following the latter’s party, JD(U), ending its affiliation with the BJP last year. Instead, they joined the Mahagathbandhan and formed a government with RJD and other opposition parties.
India News
Watch: Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel injured in road accident
The minister suffered injuries because the air bags of the car did not open after the collision of the vehicles. Principal of Trauma centre Dr Sunil Singh and Dr RB Kamal said everything is normal in the X ray.
UP Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel received injuries when his car rammed into another vehicle in his convoy. The accident took place on the Mirzapur Prayagraj highway near Meja road. According to reports emergency brakes were applied by the vehicle leading the convoy to prevent an accident with a motorcycle. The minister received injuries on his chest and legs due to the accident of the vehicles in the convoy.
Immediately a police team with senior district officers reached the area of the accident. The minster was taken to a hospital. He is receiving treatment in the trauma centre. In the video it can be seen the car of Minister Ashish Patel is completely damaged in the accident. A crowd of people have gathered around the damaged vehicle.
The minister suffered injuries because the air bags of the car did not open after the collision of the vehicles. Principal of Trauma centre Dr Sunil Singh and Dr RB Kamal said everything is normal in the X ray. Ashish Patel is also the husband of Anupriya Patel. She is the Union minister of State for Commerce and state in the Indian government. She is also the president of Apna Dal (Sonelal) Party. She is the daughter of ApnaDal founder Sonelal Patel
Ashish Patel is an MLC in the UP assembly and the technical education minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. Patel is undergoing treatment at the Mirzapur Trauma Centre. In the video doctors can be seen attending the minister. It was the 14th wedding anniversary of the politician couple.
Anupriya Patel had also posted about her marriage anniversary on X (formerly Twitter). She wrote walking on the irregular path of life facing the ups and downs , the couple lost something and got something. In another post she said they were just characters on the stage of life.
