Regional

Patna, Dec 17 (IANS) The ruling JD(U)- led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and the BJP in dry state Bihar are engaged in blame game over hooch tragedy that claimed 73 lives in Saran.

The BJP alleges that due to liquor ban in the state, spurious liquor is being manufactured leading to the death of people.
Over 1,000 people have lost their lives in hooch tragedies and state exchequer is losing Rs 30,000 crore as revenue per year, the BJP claimed.

Though Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar always takes credit of liqior ban in the state, whenever a hooch tragedy occures, he puts the onus of it on every political party which supported the Bill in the Legislative Assembly.

At the same time, Nitish Kumar also wants to prove that the "BJP is against the liquor ban" and wants to send this message to a large section of society, especially women.

During his speech in the state Legislative Assembly, Nitish Kumar asked the BJP (the lone opposition in the party in the state) to clear their stand on liquor ban, saying that: "If you advocate the withdrawal of liquor prohibition law, I will take it back."

Nitish Kumar to whom liquor ban is a move inspired by Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, said every religion recognises liquor as a bad thing.

During the investigation of Saran liquor tragedy, it came to the fore that spirits seized and kept in the Malkhana of Mashrakh police station was allegedly sold to liquor mafias for the manufacturing of alcohol and people died after consuming it.

After that, KK Pathak, the additional chief secretary of liquor prohibition department, directed the District Magistrate of every district to dispose of the seized spirits within a week and under the observation of duty magistrates.

He also asked the authorities to take samples of spirits before and after the liquor ban was imposed in April 2016 and destroy the remaining.

The findings of the investigation are a clear indication that there is a big loophole in the system. The police officials are allegedly involved in selling spirits which was used by the mafias for the making of liquor and it turned horribly wrong.

"Nitish Kumar knew the ground situation but he is taking the moral ground on liquor ban. Nitish Kumar actually believes that the large section of society is benefited with the liquor ban, especially the women. Hence, Nitish Kumar is terming liquor consumer anti-social and giving statements like 'Jo Piyega Wo Marega'," said Bharat Sharma, a Patna based political expert.

"If Nitish Kumar withdraws the liquor ban, it will turn suicidal for him and will immensely help BJP, the lone opposition party in Bihar," Sharma said.

The BJP leaders are slamming the Nitish Kumar government for "failing" to properly implement the liquor ban. It is also demanding compensation for the families of those killed in the hooch tragedies.

Sushil Kumar Modi, the Rajya Sabha MP of BJP said: "After the Bihar government imposed liquor ban in April, 2016, the first hooch tragedy happened in Gopalganj's Khajurbani village where 19 persons died and 10 persons lost their eyesight permanently. During that time, the Nitish Kumar government had given the compensation of Rs 4 lakh to every family member."

"After the incident of Chapra (Saran district), the Nitish Kumar government is saying that no compensation had been given to anyone in the past and will not be given in future too. Their claim is wrong. They should check the facts first," Sushil Kumar Modi claimed.

"Nitish Kumar brazenly says 'Jo Piyega Wo Marega'. People who lost their lives in Saran hooch tragedy belong to poor and Dalit community people, majority of whom were sole breadwinners of their respective families. Now, those families have only widows and innocent children in the house. If the state government would not help them, then who else will come to their rescue," the BJP MP said.

"The state government is giving compensation to the family members of deceased who die in road accidents. At that time, the state government does not ask whether the persons who die were coming from the wrong side. Why is the Nitish Kumar government not taking action against DSP and SP rank officers" he asked.

--IANS
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Rajkot, Dec 17 (IANS) A day after a 37-year-old rape victim was allegedly attacked with a knife in Rajkot, the police on Saturday asked her to lodge a complaint against the three miscreants after the CCTV footage of the incident was circulated on the social media.

According to the victim, her husband had borrowed Rs 50,000 from a private financier named Ajitsinh Chavda and his business partner in February this year. After the victim's husband, who's an auto-rickshaw driver, failed to repay the loan amount, he was asked to pay Rs 1,500 daily as interest to Chavda.

The victim alleged that when her husband failed to pay the interest, Chavda barged into their house, raped her and filmed the act.

In the same month, the accused allegedly took the victim to a temple and forcefully put 'Sindoor' on her forehead and proclaimed her to be his wife. Subsequently, the accused visited the victim's house several times and raped her.

After the Rajkot Taluka police refused to lodge a complaint, the victim approached the court, which directed the police to file her rape complaint.

On Thursday, the police asked the victim to record her statement but simultaneously also informed the accused, the victim alleged.

After Chavda came to know that a complaint will be lodged against him, he along with his two associates allegedly approached the victim's husband on Friday evening. Chavda initially lured him with the promise of paying money to his wife as well as exempting him from repaying the loan amount.

However, when the accused saw the victim, he along with his aides reportedly attacked her with a knife due to which she suffered injuries on her arm.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Dec 17 (IANS) Punjab Local Government Minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar on Saturday said Ferozepur has become the first district to clean all its legacy waste by disposing 7,911 metric tons (MTs).

Nijjar said Ferozepur comprising eight urban local bodies including Ferozepur, Zira, Guruharsai, Talwandi Bhai, Mallanwala, Mudki, Makhu and Mamdot have cleared all its waste.

The minister said now daily waste is being recycled. He said door-to-door segregation is around 85 per cent, while the remaining mixed waste is segregated daily and disposed of simultaneously.

Now efforts are being made to get 100 per cent door-to-door waste segregation, he said.

The government is aiming to provide a clean and pollution-free environment. Taking a step forward, in this direction, the government has started it from Ferozepur and now the campaign will be implemented in other districts, Nijjer added.

--IANS
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Amaravati, Dec 17 (IANS) Tension gripped Macherla town of Andhra Pradesh while police deployed additional forces and imposed prohibitory orders on Saturday to prevent violence following overnight attack on the house of a leader of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Police either detained several leaders of TDP or placed them under house arrest to stop them from reaching Macherla town in Palnadu district.

Blaming ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for the attack on TDP leader Brahma Reddy, the opposition party called for protests and several leaders were trying to proceed to the town.

About 40 people attacked the house of Brahma Reddy house, ransacked and set it afire. The armed mob also damaged over 10 cars and torched two vehicles. The inmates alleged that the assailants took away cash and gold jewellery by breaking open the locker.

Following the attack, tension gripped the town. Police rushed additional forces to the town. Superintendent of Police Ravi Shankar Reddy was monitoring the situation.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code were imposed to prevent further violence. Shops and business establishments were closed while on the advice of police state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended the bus services till further notice.

The SP said cases were booked in connection with the Friday's incidents. He said police were trying to identify and arrest the culprits. He, however, clarified that there was no political angle to the incidents. He termed it as a fight between two groups.

Police say tension had been brewing between two groups ever since TDP took up protest programmes against the YSRCP government.

The TDP, however, alleged that YSRCP men attacked the house of its leader with a plan and the police remained mute spectators.

Meanwhile, police in the united Guntur district placed TDP leaders under house arrest to prevent them from reaching Macherla. Tension prevailed at TDP office in Guntur as police tried to stop party leaders from heading towards Macherla.

TDP Palnadu district president B. V. Anjaneyulu was also kept under house arrest even as he was planning to call on SP to submit a complaint about Friday night's violence.

Senior TDP leader D. Narendra was placed under house arrest in Guntur as he was leaving for Macherla. Another senior leader P. Keshav warned that the ruling party would have to pay a heavy price for continued attacks on TDP leaders.

--IANS
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Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), Dec 17 (IANS) A Class-12 student has given birth to a baby in a government-run girls' hostel in Chikmagalur city of the state, sources said on Saturday.

Dalit organisations have demanded strict action against the hostel warden and district social welfare officer.

The outfits, including Dalit Sangharsh Samithi (DSS) which raised the issue, alleged that the incident had taken place in a hostel where about 200 girl students reside.

According to sources, the social welfare officer has claimed that since the girl wrapped clothes around her abdomen, they were unable to recognise the pregnancy.

The police have lodged a POCSO case in this regard and started investigations.

Raising questions on the safety of girls in government-run hostels, the activists asked how parents can send their wards to government hostels under these circumstances.

Girls' health conditions need to be checked once every three months. Had the authorities followed this rule, the incident would have come to light much earlier. Instead, the authorities have facilitated the delivery in the hostel, they charged.

The organisations have demanded registration of FIRs against the social welfare officer and the hostel warden- both women. The two should be terminated from their services, they asserted.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) Accusing the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders of making controversial remarks on the birthplace of Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party started its 'maafi maang' (Beg Forgiveness) demonstrations in Mumbai, here on Saturday.

The agitation is happening simultaneously as the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and around 50 parties and groups also launched their mega-procession in south Mumbai on various issues.

State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar, senior leader Pravin Darekar and others are spearheading the protests along with thousands of party workers waving black flags and placards, raising slogans and condemning the Sena (UBT) at different places in the city.

They have condemned the Sena (UBT)'s attempts to raise doubts on the birthplace of Dr. Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution and champion of the depressed classes.

"We have sent Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut a couple of official publications authored by BJP MLC Bhai Girkar on the life of Dr Ambedkar and urge him to read it to understand history... There are attempts to rewrite history and it is not acceptable to us. They must ask for forgiveness from the people," said Shelar.

The BJP leaders also slammed the comments of Sena (UBT) Deputy Leader and firebrand orator Sushma Andhare for ridiculing Hindu Gods, saints, the Varkaris etc and demanded to know "why is Uddhav Thackeray keeping mum on all this".

The MVA leaders like Raut and Congress state President Nana Patole have dismissed the BJP's 'maafi maango' agitation as "laughable" and intended to throw a spanner in the Opposition parties' mega-procession today.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) Senior-most leader and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Saturday morning joined the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's mega-procession to protest against the repeated slurs on iconic personalities, here.

Others who will march with him include Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, Congress state President Nana Patole, NCP state President Jayanta Patil, Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Ajit Pawar and Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve, Congress Legislative Party Leader Balasaeb Thorat and others.

Thousands of activists of various political parties, trade unions, workers, women, youth and social groups, teachers, auto-rickshaw unions, NGOs and others have gathered at a spot near Byculla flyover for the march which will go upto the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, around 5 kms away.

The Mumbai Police have deployed extra-tight security for the maha-morcha with over 2,500 personnel posted en route, drones and CCTVs monitoring all aspects of the procession and kept on standby other agencies.

This is the second biggest show of strength coming after the massive procession with some 80 parties and groups organised in Pune (December 13) along with a shutdown.

The other prominent leaders joining the procession are Samajwadi Party state President Abu Asim Azmi, Naseem Khan, Aditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Dr. Jitendra Awhad, Dilip Walse-Patil, Bhai Jagtap, Dr. Raghunath Kuchik, Vinayak Raut, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sanjay Nirupam, Anil Parab, Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, MPs, MLAs, some Maratha groups' leaders, and representatives of other organisations.

Leaders of various parties optimistically claim that the todays' procession could attract over three lakh people, with thousands of workers trooping in from all over the state since Thursday evening.

The main points of protest are the continuous insults to great personalities, the removal of the state Governor for his recent remarks, the flight of industries to Gujarat, and the Maharashtra-Karnataka border row which has suddenly flared-up.

The marchers are also highlighting the steep inflation suffered by the masses, the growing unemployment figures, lack of jobs for the youth, the derogatory statements used by certain ruling alliance ministers against women, and other burning issues.

Coming just ahead of the Winter Session of Legislature next week, today's procession, along with a series of protests held across the state in the past fortnight has apparently unnerved the ruling Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party, and it has 'appealed' to the Opposition parties to ensure that the demonstration is peaceful.

--IANS
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By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, Dec 17 (IANS) The introduction of a Private Members Bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Rajya Sabha by a BJP MP and several BJP-ruled states announcing their intention to implement the UCC have brought the controversial issue to the centrestage of politics.


The UCC has been one of the three key issues on the BJP's agenda since its inception. After its success in building the Ram temple at Ayodhya and scrapping Article 370, the saffron party now has its eyes set on the third goal.

Whether the country will ultimately agree to a UCC given the vast diversity of religious, ethnic, regional and linguistic groups across the states and their practices is debatable but political observers say the BJP clearly senses the huge electoral benefits it can derive from the highly emotive issue.

With elections in several states due next year followed by general elections in 2024, the BJP is likely to go all out to capitalise on the polarising issue.

Uttarakhand was the first state to set up a panel to explore the possibility of a UCC in the state. Madhya Pradesh too announced that a committee would be constituted to implement the UCC in the state.

The BJP had made the UCC a part of its manifesto in Himachal Pradesh but the party failed to win. In Gujarat, where the BJP retained power with a record majority, the government is likely to initiate steps towards the UCC as promised a few months ago.

In Telangana where the Assembly elections are due towards the end of 2023, the BJP is likely to use the controversial issue for polarisation.

In a state where the BJP leaders see a realistic chance of the party capturing power, they will seize the opportunity for communal polarisation.

"The BJP may use the emotive issue to build a narrative and thus consolidate itself in pockets where it is considered strong," says political analyst P. Raghavendra Reddy.

"The kind of rhetoric state BJP president Bandi Sanjay indulges in, it will not be surprising if the party decides to make it a key issue in the elections," he averred.

Bandi Sanjay had hailed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for promising to implement the Uniform Civil Code once he was re-elected. Sanjay, who's also an MP, had stated that undeterred by vote bank politics, the Uttarakhand CM has taken the BJP's campaign beyond electoral politics and demonstrated his 'nation first' conviction.

"I am sure that this much needed and awaited reform, once started from Devbhoomi will spread all across the country," he had said.

During his Praja Sangram Yatra, Sanjay has been raising several controversial issues, in a clear strategy for polarisation. The BJP leader, who completed the fifth phase of his walkathon on December 15, is likely to rake up the issue in the subsequent phases. He has already sparked a row with his comments on a few other issues.

The BJP leader demanded digging work at all mosques, saying there was a possibility of finding Shiva Lingams underneath. He also stated that if the BJP comes to power in Telangana, it will abolish all madrasas, do away with reservation for Muslims, and remove Urdu as the second official language.

Sanjay has been delivering provocative speeches, projecting himself as the champion of the rights of Hindus. He repeatedly mentions in his speeches that Hindus constitute 80 per cent of the population.

The Bharat Rashtriya Samithi (BRS), earlier the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), is likely to take a clear stand against the UCC. In the past, the party had opposed any move to bring a UCC.

As the party led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao enjoys the support of the Muslim community, it will be under pressure to speak out against the UCC.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a key political force in the state and a party friendly with the BRS and other Muslim political and socio-religious groups, has been strongly opposing any move to bring a UCC.

In Andhra Pradesh, where Assembly elections are scheduled along with the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is likely to take a clear stand against the UCC.

The YSRCP, which claims to be enjoying the support of the minorities, may not take the risk of losing it by favouring a UCC.

Political analysts said since communal polarisation is unlikely in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP may not get any major benefit by raising the issue.

Though both the TRS and the YSRCP had supported the Bill banning triple talaq and some other controversial legislation in Parliament, they are not likely to risk losing the support of the minorities by backing the UCC.

--IANS
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By Ajay Kumar
Patna, Dec 17 (IANS) As demands for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) are being raised in the country, Bihar's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) believes that it is an agenda for the BJP to polarise voters of the country for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.



"The UCC is one of those issues where I firmly believe that BJP leaders are confused about it. They are making it a hot topic in the country but not putting its points on table for the discussion," RJD Vice President Shivanand Tiwari said.

"If you want to implement the UCC in the country, you should bring its blueprint on which we would discuss its points. What are the points you would address through the UCC. How would you implement it? The Narendra Modi government should clarify it.

"Suppose Muslim men are allowed four marriages. Does the Narendra Modi government want to stop such a practice? Even in Hindu community, men do multiple marriages with different women. Is this the point under the UCC? The BJP needs to clarify it," he added.

Noting that the country has various religions and castes, he said that the Centre should give an idea about how it would implement the UCC.

"In the past, they (the BJP) have come up with the population control bill. Has this also been addressed by the Centre? At present, there is no clarity on the UCC. They are just making a noise to polarise voters. I firmly believe that the UCC will equally impact Hindu and Muslims or any other community of the country," Tiwari said.

Another senior RJD leader Chitranjan Gagan said: "The BJP has nothing to do with real issues like inflation, price rise of commodities and fuel, unemployment etc. They brought only those issues to achieve political goals. They have brought (removal of) Article 370, the Ram Mandir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) etc. The whole idea is to polarise Hindu voters.

"The entire exercise is taking place for the 2024 Lok Sabha election."

RJD national spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said: "The situation in Bihar is different from other states. It will have no impact in Bihar. We want clarity from the BJP.

"The people of Bihar are living peacefully. So what is the need of it? The state government is running under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar and people of every religion are living here peacefully. The BJP wants to disturb peace in Bihar. That is the reason why it is bringing such an issue which has no relevance to the public."

Tiwari said that in the last eight years, the BJP government "failed on every count".

"It had brought demonetisation, GST, farmers bill (which later withdrew) which badly impacted the common people. Now, they have nothing to go before the public and say that these are the achievements of the Narendra Modi government.

"The country's growth rate, enhancement of per capita income of the countrymen etc are gone downwards. Hence, they are coming with non-welfare issues to penalise the common people," he said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The recently notified Land Grants Rules 2022 in Jammu and Kashmir once implemented are set to open a can of worms exposing the plunder of the world famous Gulmarg tourist resort by the rich, influential and powerful sharks.

The lands allotted and occupied by various businessmen/hoteliers and other influential people are all forest lands recorded as ‘Gair Mumkin Jangal' (Non-cultivable forest land owned by the state).

These lands were allotted to the rich and powerful without any public auction or reference.

In many cases, the actual lessees are not in occupation of the lands over which business establishments including hotels/resorts etc have come up those are owned by big business houses.

The worst part of these illegal allotments includes felling of forest and establishment of business empires while the government got just nominal revenue as greedy businessmen made tens of millions each year.

The tourist season in Gulmarg extends from spring, summer, autumn to winter as the mountains overlooking this resort offer some of the best ski slopes in the World.

The room rent at most of these hotels and resorts ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 per night.

Ironically, the list of lands occupied in Gulmarg reads like the who-is-who of the local business community and none of the allottees/occupiers is a middle class businessman of the union territory.

A cursory look at the beneficiaries of forest lands in Gulmarg gives a clear idea as to why the influential people have pitched against the land Grants Rules 2022.

For example, Hotel Mumtaz owned by Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie alias Mushtaq Chaya, is constructed on forest land allotted originally to one Bodh Raj Sahab, but is now occupied by Mushtaq Chaya. The area originally allotted was 4 kanals, while now 7 kanals and 18 marlas are under illegal possession of the hotelier.

The Gulmarg Resort owned by Manzoor Ahmad Burza is spread over 4 kanals and 19 marlas while the original lessee, Bodh Raj Sahab was allotted 4 kanals who has since parted with the possession.

The Heaven Resort owned by another member of the Burza family, Mushtaq Ahmad Burza is spread over 5 kanals and 3 marlas while the original lease stood in the name of Bodh Raj Sahab who was allotted 4 kanals.

The Khyber Resort owned by Pinekel resorts Ltd belonging to Tramboo family is spread over 61 kanals while the original allotment of 51 kanals, 14 marlas was made to Amar Jeet Singh and Parab Jeet Singh who no longer figure anywhere now.

Hotel Nedous is spread over 103 kanals and 6 marlas while actually just 2 kanals and 13 marlas were allotted to Gulam Qadir alias Harry Nedou whose son, Omar Khalil is now the occupier.

Hotel Highland Park is spread over 68 kanals and 9 marlas while 67 kanals and 19 marlas were allotted to Sheikh Shamsuddin alias Benji Nedou, whose son Sheikh Ahmad alias Fredi was running the place.

Broadway Amla Hut spread over 20 kanals and 10 marlas was allotted to Justice Shadi Lal who no longer figures on the ground as the place is occupied by Krishen Kumar Amla.

Hotel Hilltop owner by Aijaz Ahmad Ganie alias Chaya is spread over 6 kanals and 15 marlas while original lessee was Imtiaz Ahmad Mattu who was allotted 2 kanals and 12 marlas.

Saifco Hut spread over 2 kanals and 1 marla owned by Altaf Ahmad Beigh while original the allotment was made to Khwaja Saifuddin to the extent of 2 kanals only.

These details are perhaps only the tip of an iceberg which the illegal occupiers are trying desperately to hide.

Interestingly, the actual room demand as per the tourist inflow should be 10 times more than the present occupancy available.

In order to keep their monopoly and self-dictated room prices intact, the illegal occupiers would not like the real players to jump into the arena because the end of their monopoly would mean comparatively affordable rooms for all sections of tourists.

"The demand of beneficiaries that only 20 per cent additional premium be charged may not be acceptable. The Central government has formulated several policies for monetisation of assets and extension of leases which are time tested and have withstood scrutiny of various courts," top official sources told IANS.

"Transparent revenue generation is a necessary step for real empowerment of the common man in J&K," the sources added.

--IANS
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