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Violence returns to Saharanpur in Mayawati shadow, Bhim Army looks to grow

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Violence returns to Saharanpur in Mayawati shadow, Bhim Army looks to grow

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bhim Army’s Nawab Tanwar says Mayawati’s visit is a political ploy on seeing the Bhim Army’s success in Saharanpur

Rajesh Sinha

Violence returned to Saharanpur on Tuesday, with members of the two communities – Thakurs and Jatavs – clashing after the visit of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati in Chandpur.

The cycle of violence has not come to a standstill in Saharanpur. But it has flowered in Dalit assertion. Led by the Bhim Army in this part of Uttar Pradesh, it is finding resonance in other parts, notably in Gujarat which had seen Dalit mobilisation after cow vigilantes flogged six Dalits in Una for skinning dead cows.

The upsurge, that has followed the rise of Hindutva politics in the country and in the state and is, at least, partly in reaction to it, is also an indication of how disconnected BJP’s rivals – even that party of the Dalits, the Mayawati-led BSP – are with society and the issues faced by different sections comprising it.

Floundering for ways to counter the BJP, they missed the stirrings in Dalit society. Small wonder, then, that those engaged in this ‘uprising’ assert they are not with any political party, have no political affiliations. But Delhi did colour Blue on Sunday. Barring a few websites and newspapers, the nation’s media chose to not cover it. That is now turning into a groundswell, the gathering at Jantar Mantar that has scared the powers that-be and their media.

Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar ‘Ravan’ has been unavailable for questions. APNLive spoke to Nawab Satpal Tanwar, one of his key lieutenants, on Tuesday when Mayawati was headed for Saharanpur.

Asked if the Bhim Army supported Mayawati or wanted her support, he started by asserting that Bhim Army is a social organisation and it has no relation or affiliation whatsoever with any political organisation.

“If Behen ji (Mayawati) is going there, we do not oppose BSP and we are not against her. We are against parties that propagate communalism and spread communal hatred. But I would like to say this – that this incident (of Rajput attack on Dalits) is now one month old. After we demonstrated our strength at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi with a crowd of ‘several lakhs’, without anyone’s help, Behen Mayawati realised our power and decided to go to Saharanpur. Her visit is meant only to serve her own interests,” he said.

Tanwar said the fight would not end here or stay confined to Saharanpur. He regretted that the government had deployed anti-terrorist squads and the special task force in Saharanpur. “They are treating us like terrorists and equating us with Naxalites,” he rued. He said the next plan was for a rally at Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi. He said as the main organiser of Bhim Army’s campaigns, he was in touch with Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani. They plan to organise another rally and tie up with Dalits in other parts of the country to make it a larger movement, said Tanwar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Vodafone Idea in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink, other satellite providers

Vodafone Idea is exploring partnerships with satellite communication providers, including Starlink, to expand internet connectivity in uncovered areas and rural regions.

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Vodafone Idea in talks with Starlink for satellite internet services

Vodafone Idea is currently in exploratory discussions with multiple satellite communication providers, including Elon Musk’s Starlink. This move comes shortly after its telecom competitors, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, secured agreements with Musk’s company to introduce Starlink’s satellite internet services in India.

The company disclosed its ongoing talks on Wednesday after Indian stock exchanges sought clarification regarding its stock movement. Earlier in the day, a local financial news platform reported Vodafone Idea’s interest in satellite internet services.

Vodafone Idea’s satellite broadband strategy

Vodafone Idea’s Chief Technology Officer, Jagbir Singh, highlighted the company’s vision for satellite connectivity. “Our strategy is to provide services—whether fixed or mobile—in uncovered areas, where satellite makes perfect sense,” Singh stated in the report.

Additionally, the company aims to expand fixed wireless broadband coverage in rural areas and smaller towns, where traditional infrastructure deployment is cost-prohibitive.

Starlink’s expansion in India

Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently partnered with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to distribute Starlink’s satellite internet services in India. These partnerships will allow the telecom giants to stock Starlink’s equipment in their retail stores, providing direct access to the satellite communication service for consumers across thousands of locations.

However, Starlink’s entry into the Indian market remains subject to government approval before it can officially commence operations in the country.

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Dreaming of Harvard? Tuition is now free for middle-income families

Harvard University will offer free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less per year, with full financial coverage for those under $100,000.

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Harvard University, free tuition, financial aid, middle-income families, Ivy League education, tuition-free college, Harvard admissions, student financial support

Harvard University has taken a major step toward making education more accessible and affordable by offering free tuition for undergraduate students whose families earn $200,000 or less per year. This initiative, set to begin in the 2025-26 academic year, is expected to benefit thousands of students from middle-income families who aspire to study at the prestigious Ivy League institution.

The university will also provide full financial coverage, including tuition, housing, food, health insurance, and travel expenses, for students from families earning $100,000 or less annually.

Eligibility criteria for Harvard’s tuition-free education

Harvard’s new financial aid structure will be based on household income:

Families earning $100,000 or less:

Full financial coverage, including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs.

Additional $2,000 start-up grant in the first year.

A $2,000 launch grant during the junior year to support the transition beyond Harvard.

Families earning $200,000 or less:

Tuition fees waived.

Additional financial aid to cover billed expenses based on financial circumstances.

Families earning above $200,000:

Many will still qualify for financial aid, depending on their specific financial situation.

Harvard’s commitment to affordability

Harvard University previously offered free tuition to students from families earning less than $85,000 per year. The new financial aid expansion aims to make higher education more accessible to students from middle-income backgrounds, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to attending one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber and Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi Hoekstra announced the initiative on March 17, stating that the goal is to broaden access and remove financial constraints for talented students.

The university’s financial aid team will work individually with students and families to match assistance based on specific financial circumstances. Students can visit Harvard’s official website for further details and application guidelines.

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AAP leader Satyendar Jain faces fresh Rs 7 crore CCTV fraud allegations

Delhi ACB has filed a fresh corruption case against Satyendar Jain, alleging he took a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive penalties in a Rs 571 crore CCTV project. AAP denies all charges.

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AAP Minister Satyendar Jain

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) finds itself mired in yet another controversy as former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain faces fresh corruption allegations in connection with a Rs 571 crore CCTV installation project. The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against Jain, accusing him of taking a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive a Rs 16 crore penalty imposed due to project delays.

According to the ACB’s statement released on Wednesday, the case has been registered under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations stem from the installation of over one lakh CCTV cameras across Delhi’s 70 Assembly segments, with a second order of an additional 1.4 lakh cameras allegedly placed after the initial delay.

The case is reportedly based on the testimony of an official from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), who detailed alleged irregularities and “shoddy” installations. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi has criticized AAP, accusing the party of suppressing the investigation when it was in power.

BJP Attacks AAP Over Corruption Allegations

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva has slammed AAP over the fresh charges against Jain. He alleged that the tender for the Rs 571 crore project was awarded to BEL, and Jain took a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive off financial penalties. “BJP had complained then also… but AAP tried to suppress the investigation. No matter how much you tried to hide corruption, you have to answer now,” Sachdeva stated.

Neither AAP nor Satyendar Jain has responded to the allegations yet.

More Legal Trouble for AAP Leaders

This fresh case adds to the mounting legal troubles for top AAP leaders. Satyendar Jain, who was granted bail in October last year after spending two years in custody in a money laundering case, is also facing prosecution in a disproportionate assets case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are also battling corruption charges. Kejriwal has been accused of misusing public funds for promotional posters, while Sisodia is embroiled in an alleged Rs 2,000 crore scam linked to classroom construction in Delhi government schools. Jain is also named in this case.

The controversial Delhi liquor excise policy scam also remains under investigation. Last month, a Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report stated that the state suffered a Rs 2,002 crore loss due to policy irregularities.

AAP Denies Charges, Calls It a Political Vendetta

AAP has dismissed all allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and orchestrated by the BJP to tarnish its image. The party has also denied accusations that Kejriwal misused Rs 45 crore of taxpayers’ money for renovating his official residence.

Despite its denials, AAP suffered a massive defeat in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP secured 48 of the 70 seats, marking a significant power shift in the capital after nearly three decades.

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