India

Chandigarh, Sep 21 (IANS) Days after Chandigarh University in Punjab's Mohali district saw widespread agitation by students over the alleged "leaked objectionable videos", a huge protest broke out in another private university, Lovely Professional University, after a student allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room.

The protesting students alleged this was the second suicide reported on the campus on the outskirts of Jalandhar city in the past 10 days.

Amid heavy police deployment, the protesting students demanded to know the reasons behind both the suicide cases.

They said that news about the last suicide had gone unreported as university authorities settled the issue "within the closed doors".

Police have identified the deceased as a 21-year-old male student, studying in the first year of B. Design. He hailed from Kerala.

Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh told the media, "We received information about the suicide of the first-year student of the university at around 5.30 p.m. on September 20 following which a police team rushed to the varsity for investigation and sealed the spot."

As per the police, a suicide note was also recovered, citing personal reason for taking the extreme step.

As the news about suicide spread, students gathered in large number on late Tuesday to protest with slogans "We want justice". They were demanding thorough investigation into the incident.

Lovely Professional University (LPU) in a statement said: "LPU fraternity is saddened by the unfortunate incident. The initial investigations by the police and the contents of the suicide note point towards personal issues of the deceased.

"The university is providing full support to the authorities for further investigation. The university mourns the loss of the student and expressed its condolence to the bereaved family."

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, investigating the case, said prima facie the student was having some personal issues, as has been suggested by the suicide note left by the deceased.

"The parents of the student have been informed, who are reaching the university. Further police investigation is under process," he said.

The incident in prestigious LPU comes four days after protests rocked Chandigarh University campus as some students claimed that a hosteller had recorded several objectionable videos of women students in the washroom.

As the matter drew angry political reactions, Chandigarh University authorities clarified that "no videos were found of any student which are objectionable, except a personal video shot by a girl which she shared with her boyfriend".

Also dismissing reports of suicide attempt by some students who were allegedly filmed, the authorities said: "There are rumours that seven girls have committed suicide whereas the fact is that no girl has taken any such step".

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav on September 19 constituted a three-member all-women Special Investigating Team (SIT), under the supervision of Additional DGP Gurpreet Deo, to investigate allegations by Chandigarh University hostellers.

The DGP had said one student and two others were arrested.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan was discharged from the hospital late at night, official sources said Wednesday.

"MLA Khan was discharged from AIIMS around 12.30 a.m. at night. He is at the Anti-Corruption Branch now," the official source confirmed to IANS.

Khan was on Tuesday admitted to AIIMS hospital in the national capital following chest pain.

The AAP MLA was arrested on September 16 in a case pertaining to financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of Delhi Waqf Board.

On September 20, Khan complained of chest pain after which the ACB officials took him for an echocardiogram to Delhi's BH Rao hospital from where he was referred to AIIMS as the doctors noted some changes in the ECG.

Before Khan's arrest, the Anti-Corruption Branch had summoned the legislator while it parallely conducted raids at four locations connected to him and found incriminating material at multiple places.

As alleged in the FIR, MLA Khan while working as Chairman of Delhi Waqf Board illegally recruited 32 persons violating all norms and government guidelines and with allegations of corruption and favouritism. The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal recruitment.

Further, it was alleged that as Chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, Amanatullah Khan rented out a number of properties of the Board illegally with allegations of corruption and favouritism.

"He has allegedly misappropriated the funds of Delhi Waqf Board comprising grants in aid from Delhi Government," a senior official said.

During ACB's raid at four locations, Rs 24 lakh cash was recovered and two illegal and unlicensed weapons, cartridges and ammunition were also seized.

According to the source, the AAP MLA will be produced before the Rouse Avenue court at 4 p.m.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing some of the petitioners challenging the Karnataka High Court judgement on hijab, on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that hijab adds to dignity and makes a woman very dignified when she wears it, like a Hindu woman who covers her head - it is very dignified.

A bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia told Dave that the definition of dignity has changed with time, and it keeps changing. Dave replied true!

Dave argued that girls wearing hijab to the school do not violate anybody's peace and safety and there is certainly no danger to tranquillity. And, there is only one aspect of public order, which could be argued, he added.

Dave submitted that the girls want to wear the hijab, so whose constitutional right is violated? The other students'? The school? He differentiated between Sabarimala judgment and the hijab case. The bench replied that in that case petitioners did not have a fundamental right to enter the temple. Dave said now it has been established that everyone can enter the temple.

The bench queried Dave, in many schools, there can be disparity, therefore, uniform is there and one cannot see richness or poverty. Dave said I am for uniform and every institution likes identity.

The bench added that it has a very limited question - whether headgear can be allowed. Dave said uniform is an unnecessary burden in society and most can't afford it, and pointed out that he sees this with his caddies in the golf course.

Dave claimed that a series of acts in Karnataka targeted the minority community. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, interjected saying, "We are not in a public platform. Please stick to pleadings".

Dave submitted, why is it that suddenly after 75 years the state thought of bringing this type of prohibition? It came like a bolt from the blue. He added that Article 25 is crystal clear, and the constituent Assembly debates cement that. Dave emphasized that the test is not essential practice, but religious practice. He cited that in deciding the question, whether a given religious practice is an integral part of the religion or not, the test always would be whether it is regarded by the community following the religion or not.

Dave concluded his arguments for the day. The apex court has started hearing the Karnataka government counsel and the hearing will continue in the afternoon session.

The apex court is hearing petitions challenging the Karnataka High Court's judgement of March 15 upholding ban on Hijab in pre-university colleges.

--IANS
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Lucknow, Sep 20 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP) for criticising the health sector in the state and said the latter should recall the situation in its regime.

Responding to SP leader of opposition Akhilesh Yadav's charge in the state assembly, Yogi said that the SP has been in power four times and the statistics prove that there was a rise in mortality rate of mother and child during that time.

"Earlier, 1,200 to 1,500 deaths due to Encephalitis used to take place every year in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Today, because of the concerted efforts of the double engine government, the death rate has reached zero," he said.

The Chief Minister further said that Samajwadis have mastered the art of preaching to others.

"In the SP regimes, primary health centres were on the verge of closure, the number of doctors was inadequate. We have improved the response time in emergency services and are pursuing the policy of one district, one medical college."

Earlier, Akhilesh had raised the issue of inadequate health services, citing the recent incident of a man who brought his child to Lucknow from Sitapur for oxygen.

He said that the incident was an example of the situation in the health sector.

He said that there was a paucity of ambulances, stretchers and medicines in government hospitals and government doctors were following the practice of referring patients to private hospitals.

Akhilesh also raised the issue of custodial deaths and referred to the recent incident in Gonad where a power employee died in police custody.

--IANS
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Gandhinagar, Sep 20 (IANS) Veteran leader Shankersinh Vaghela in a letter to Union Surface and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has requested to review the Bharat Mala project Green Expressway passing through North Gujarat. Farmers are opposed to the road plan because fertile land will be acquired instead of the barren land.

Vaghela said, "Farmers approached me and submitted that land survey numbers originally shown for the land acquisition in GPS maps of the project have not been incorporated. Officers are misleading and wrong survey numbers have been stated for the land acquisition, may be under the political, religious or social pressure."

He further stated in the letter that "the original proposed was a straight highway, it would have not required fertile agricultural land and would not affect a large number of farmers. But with changes in design on ground, now fertile land will be acquired." In the larger interest of farmers and for smooth implementation and execution of the Green Expressway, Vaghela requested Gadkari to personally look into the issue to ensure that the original design was implemented.

Farmers in Gandhinagar, Mehsana or Tharad in Banaskantha are opposing the project because fertile land is going to be acquired, on which they are tilling three crops in a year, their livelihood is dependent on the agriculture income, the compensation amount will not be enough to buy equal piece of land because agriculture land prices have shoot up in Gujarat.

--IANS
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Kanwal Sibal
New Delhi, Sep 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Samarkand has to be seen in the context of the several geopolitical dimensions of this organisation which also have a bearing on India's strategic interests. These include stability in Central Asia, combating terrorism and religious extremism, China's role in the region, promoting multipolarity.



This summit took place when Russia is involved in the Ukraine conflict and China has committed aggression against India in Ladakh. In fact, its forces are still massed there, and it continues to expand its military infrastructure across the length of our border.

Relations between the US and both Russia and China have deteriorated sharply, while our relations with the US have greatly improved. The US and Europe are also unhappy with us on our unwillingness to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine.

At the summit, therefore, PM Modi had to engage in carefully balanced diplomacy that would preserve our equities with all sides. His remarks at the summit were therefore carefully crafted. He confined them to India's achievements in specific sectors, with an eye on the prospects this creates for beneficial cooperation primarily with the Central Asian states.

He noted that India will grow 7.5 per cent this year - the highest amongst the world's largest economies (more than China with President Xi listening). He mentioned the strides made by India in innovation with more than 70,000 Start-ups and more than 100 unicorns.

He offered to set up a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation in the SCO. In the area of food security, he emphasised the promotion and cultivation of millets and proposed a Millet Food Festival under the SCO. Capitalising on the setting up of a WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat (China lost out) he announced an Indian initiative to establish a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine.

Prime Minister Modi eschewed any reference to terrorism or security issues in general, which would have been normal, if made, given our concerns that we share with Central Asia. He steered clear of all that could be construed as having an anti-West connotation. He mentioned the Ukraine crisis (to avoid any criticism that he was ignoring the issue), but in the context of disruption of global supply chains resulting in the whole world facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis.

He bracketed it with the pandemic and stressed the need to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region (a dig at China), which would need better connectivity, and in stating that "we all give each other full right to transit), he implicitly drew attention to Pakistan's failure in this regard, with the Pakistan PM listening in.

There was some speculation, fueled by the agreement on disengagement on PP15 in Ladakh just before the SCO summit, that PM Modi and President Xi may meet on the margins of the SCO summit. This was however unlikely without adequate preparations in advance to ensure positive results from the meeting.

A meeting at this point with President Xi would not have been a normal meeting between heads of friendly countries to exchange views on bilateral and multilateral issues, review progress in ties and discuss possibilities of expanding them further.

With China, the issue of disengagement and de-escalation on the border would have been central to the agenda of the meeting, and unless there were signals that the Chinese side was willing to make a major move to de-escalate, a meeting at the top political level would have frozen the stalemate in ties for the foreseeable future.

The Modi-Putin meeting was, of course, expected. Its tenor would have been of interest to the West, keeping in mind its unhappiness about our unwillingness to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine and instead of subscribing to energy sanctions actually stepping up oil purchases from Russia. Interestingly, PM Modi, in his opening remarks at his meeting with President Vladimir Putin expressed concern about the problems of food security, fuel security and fertilisers for developing countries in particular as a result of the Ukraine crisis, which he intended to discuss in his meeting with the President.

He appealed to the Russian President to also contribute to finding some way out, putting thus some of the onus also on President Putin to resolve the crisis, consistent with India's call for diplomacy and dialogue to end it, but more pointedly than what we have said in public so far. (It is interesting that the Chinese side have some questions and concerns about Ukraine that Putin himself referred to in his opening remarks during his meeting with President Xi). Modi was also even handed in thanking both Putin and Ukraine for their help in evacuating our students from Ukraine. By saying that he believed that "today's era is not of war" and that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue are "such things that touch the world", Modi was batting for peace, as befits a responsible leader. He added that he awaited the chance to discuss further with President Putin how "we can move forward on the path of peace in the coming days".

The West will construe Modi's remarks as a publicly expressed implicit disapproval of Putin's decision to launch a military operation, which is manifestly wrong. But this gives our side a talking point against western charges that India is not criticising Russia. Modi, however, balanced these opening remarks on his concerns about Ukraine by lauding the strength of India-Russia ties, even calling them unbreakable.

Putin was cordial in his remarks, referring to Modi's birthday, the special and privileged partnership between the two countries (which Modi did not), the active cooperation of both sides on all international platforms. He candidly said that he knew Modi's "position on the conflict in Ukraine, your concerns that you constantly express", and that he wanted to end the conflict too, but put the blame on Ukraine's leadership to refuse negotiations and settle the issue on the battlefield, while promising to keep India informed of developments.

This public admission by President Putin about PM Modi having conveyed his concerns over Ukraine to him "constantly", puts the latter's opening remarks in perspective and that it was by no means a "rebuke".

The Russian leader appreciated Modi's video message to the participants of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, fondly remembered his visit to New Delhi in December last year and the fruitful negotiations with PM Modi and invited him to visit Russia.

He noted that Russian supplies of fertilisers to India had grown eight times, large-scale joint projects in the oil and gas sector and nuclear power industry were consistently being implemented, noting also that for Russians, India's rich history and ancient culture are traditionally of great interest. In this regard, he proposed to intensify the negotiation process on an agreement on visa-free tourist trips. The positive tenor of his remarks is notable.

After their closed-door meeting PM Modi in his tweet has described his meeting with Putin as "wonderful", with a discussion on furthering bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, defence and other areas. Altogether it was a successful summit from India's point of view.

( is India's former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Russia. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative)

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative

Lucknow, Sep 20 (IANS) Parthiv Patel proved he still retains his reputation of being a pocket-sized powerhouse as he smashed a 17-ball 34 on Monday to help the Virender Sehwag-led Gujarat Giants clinch a two-wicket win against Harbhajan Singh's Manipal Tigers in the fourth match of the Legends League Cricket (LLC).

The Giants have won two-out-of-two matches and occupy the top spot on the points table.

Chasing Manipal Tigers' 120/8, Parthiv's blitzkrieg, which included six boundaries and a six, helped the Giants finish off the match with 16 balls to spare, but they lost eight wickets in the chase, giving Sehwag some anxious moments.

On a challenging pitch at the Ekana Stadium here, the former India wicketkeeper-batter, who boasts a T20 strike rate of 123.84, changed the complexion of the match after the Giants struggled at the start.

Former Zimbabwe pacer Chris Mpofu dismissed Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over of the Giants' chase. But Parthiv took the attack to the opposition camp by hitting three consecutive boundaries in the third over, bowled by English pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom.

Parthiv followed that up with a six and three more fours in the next over, bowled by Mpofu. The left-handed batter was finally out for 34, but by then he had made the Tigers bowlers shaky. The Tigers tried to claw their way back late in the match with Harbhajan (2/23) and Muttiah Muralitharan (2/10) picking up four wickets between them.

The Giants were pegged back, but Graeme Swann hit two fours in the 17th over to release the pressure. The Giants finally won in 17.2 overs when Murali bowled a wide.

--IANS

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Lucknow, Sep 20 (IANS) An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man, living as a tenant in the house of the victim, in the Gudamba police station area of Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow.

The accused, identified as Vinod, 24, has been arrested.

The Gudamba police, releasing a video statement on the matter, said, "Two days after the abuse, the child complained of discomfort and pain in her private parts after which her parents took her to a doctor where the parents were told that the child had been raped. A complaint was lodged by the family with the police."

The child has been admitted to a hospital where her condition was said to be serious.

The accused has been arrested, a case has been filed against him, and an investigation is underway, said the police.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking a direction to declare "Talaq-e-Ahsan" and all other forms of unilateral extra-judicial dissolution of marriages under Muslim personal laws as illegal, arbitrary, void, and unconstitutional being irrational and in contravention of Articles 14, 15, 21 and 15 of the Constitution.

A bench of Justices S.K. Kaul and A.S. Oka agreed to hear the petition and issued notices to the Centre and others, including the National Commission for Women.

The plea, filed by a Pune-based woman, said she was divorced by her husband by "Talaq-eAhsan" procedure by sending a letter through Speed Post after being driven out of her matrimonial home after she refused to pay them money for down payment for purchasing a new car and to avail loan for making payment of the balance amount and repay the same in full on her own.

The petition said per the customs and procedure, "Talaq-e-Ahsan" requires pronouncement of Talaq once followed by abstinence from conjugal relation for three lunar months or 90 days and thereafter, if the parties to the marriage do not resume their conjugal relationship with 90 days, the marriage is dissolved.

The plea also sought directions to the Centre and others to frame guidelines for a gender neutral, religion neutral uniform ground, and procedure for divorce.

The plea, filed through advocate Nirmal Kumar Ambastha, said: "The petitioner tried to approach the local police against the atrocities and harassment by her husband and in laws and also against the unilateral dissolution of marriage, but the local police did not register the case on the ground that 'Talaq-e-Ahsan' is a recognised process for dissolution of Muslim marriages".

The plea contended that all the procedure for dissolution of marriages like Talaq-e-Ahsan and others are available to Muslim men only as an extra-judicial unilateral procedure for dissolution of marriage, which is neither harmonious to modern day principles of gender equality nor an essential religious practice.

The plea submitted that petitioner's husband sent her a letter of divorce on July 16, through Speed Post, levelling various baseless and untrue allegations against her.

"Muslim personal law insofar as it allows the men to unilaterally dissolve marriage by 'Talaq-e-Ahsan' and all other forms of unilateral extra-judicial dissolution of marriages, but does not allow the women to do the same, is void being violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India. Since Muslim Personal Law is a law within the expression 'Law in force' as contained in Article 13(1) of the Constitution of India and it must be void for contravening any rights under Part III thereof," said the plea.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) Party sources said on Monday that interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has hinted that she does not have any reservations against senior party leader Shashi Tharoor running for Congress President's post.

Sonia Gandhi gave her nod shortly after meeting Tharoor and a few other Congress leaders on her return following a medical check-up abroad. Tharoor, who was one of the G-23 members of the party who had demanded sweeping reforms in the Congress, is now likely to throw his hat into the ring for the race to the top party post, voting for which will be held on October 17.

Meanwhile, Congress' state units have been passing resolutions to make Rahul Gandhi the next party President, including in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, among others. However, Congress' Central Election Authority (CEA) has said that such resolutions will not have any bearing on the election process.

Madhusudan Mistry, Chairman of CEA, said, "These resolutions have no bearing on the election process."

While the notification for the Presidential election will be issued on September 22, there is still suspense over the candidates who will contest for the top party post.

While the G-23 group is gearing up to field a candidate and Thiruvananthapuram MP Tharoor is its top choice, for party loyalists, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is the preferred choice, sources said.

However, Gehlot is reportedly reluctant to leave chief ministership and move to Delhi. In that scenario, former Union minister Mukul Wasnik or leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, could emerge as the front-runners, as both belong to the Scheduled Caste community.

The nominations are to be filed between September 24 and September 30.

--IANS
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