Delhi Confidential: ‘SP Ki Pathshala'
Missing Link
Two days after the Congress held a convention for its OBC leaders and workers at Talkatora stadium, there are whispers that it may take a while for the party to walk the talk vis-a-vis poll-bound Bihar. The party's screening committee for Bihar, some insiders say, does not have a local OBC leader. There are talks among the OBC workers that a state like Bihar with a large OBC population should have local OBC leader(s) in the screening committee, especially when Rahul Gandhi is reaching out to the OBCs.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Walls Echo With Netaji's Voice': Three Decades On, SP Set To Lose ‘Command Centre' Kothi No. 4
Last Updated: The district administration has cancelled the allotment of the bungalow, originally made in 1994 in the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, citing violations of rules and government needs The iconic Kothi No. 4 in Moradabad's Civil Lines, which for over three decades served as the Samajwadi Party's nerve centre in western Uttar Pradesh, will no longer be a part of the party's heritage. The district administration has cancelled the allotment of the bungalow, originally made in 1994 in the name of SP founder and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, citing violations of rules and present government needs. District magistrate Anuj Singh confirmed that the property must be vacated within 30 days. 'Municipal bungalows can only be leased for a maximum of 15 years. This property has remained with the SP for over 31 years. With the growing demand for government offices and residences, we had no option but to reclaim it," Singh said. A Symbol of SP's Political Nerve Centre Situated opposite the Police Training College in Moradabad's most prestigious VIP enclave, Kothi No. 4 is spread across 953.71 square meters, with four rooms, a sprawling lawn, and ample parking. Its boundary wall, painted green, has long been a marker for SP supporters. It was inaugurated by Mulayam Singh Yadav on July 26, 1994, days after being allotted to him as SP's national president at a token rent of Rs 250 per month. A plaque at the entrance still bears his name, along with that of then urban development minister Ramashankar Kaushik and local SP leaders. For SP, the bungalow was not just a headquarters but a cradle of its western UP expansion. Here, strategies were forged, movements were launched, and countless cadres cut their teeth in politics. Epicentre of Historic Movements A senior Samajwadi Party leader from Moradabad, recalling the bungalow's past, said: 'This Kothi was more than an office—it was our command centre. During the Mandal agitation, the Rampur‑Tiraha incident, and later the Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day protests, this place remained the main meeting point where strategies were drawn, workers assembled, and Mulayam Singh's vision was communicated. To take it away now is a calculated move by the Yogi government to weaken our morale and erase our roots from western UP." Mandal Commission & OBC Assertion (1994) The senior SP leader said in March 1994, Mulayam Singh's government implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations, granting 27 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to OBCs. While the decision sparked sharp protests in Uttarakhand and parts of western UP with a smaller OBC base, it cemented Mulayam's image as the protector of backward classes. Kothi No. 4 became the hub of mobilisation in Moradabad, with district leaders and students gathering daily to strategise, coordinate with state leadership, and counter anti‑reservation campaigns. Rampur‑Tiraha Firing (October 1994) Just months later, on 1–2 October 1994, police firing on activists demanding a separate Uttarakhand state at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar rocked the region. Six people were killed, with disturbing allegations of sexual violence. The fallout shook the Mulayam government. SP leaders recall that Kothi No. 4 turned into a crisis centre—'We held emergency meetings here, issued statements, and managed the anger of supporters who were deeply shaken," said a veteran worker. Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day Protests (2001) In 2001, Mulayam led state-wide protests against Rajnath Singh's BJP government under the banner of Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day, highlighting the hardships of farmers and the neglect of security personnel. Moradabad was one of the strongest centres of the agitation, with businesses shut and SP cadres clashing with police. At the heart of the mobilisation was Kothi No. 4, where directives from Mulayam were relayed and arrested workers' families found support, SP leaders told News 18. A Blow to Party Cadre Local Samajwadi Party leaders and workers say the move has come as a jolt, particularly at a time when the party is preparing for crucial political battles in the state. SP's district president Jaiveer Yadav said, 'This Kothi is not just a building, it is an emotional legacy tied to Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). From here, the party expanded in western Uttar Pradesh. We have informed national president Akhilesh Yadav, and he has asked us to pursue a legal fight against the administration's decision." Another senior SP activist in Moradabad, requesting not to be named, termed the decision a calculated move by the Yogi Adityanath government. 'This is not merely about rules. The BJP knows the symbolic importance of this Kothi for Samajwadis in western UP. By taking it away, they want to send a message and weaken the morale of party workers. It is a deliberate attempt to erase our presence from a place that has seen every major movement of the SP in this region." Administration Cites Rule Violation However, the district administration has cited three key reasons for the cancellation, stating that the allotment was in the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who passed away on October 10, 2022, and no transfer request was made thereafter. Secondly, the property lies on Nazul land, officially recorded as government property under Moradabad Municipal Corporation, which needs it for officers' residences and official projects. Thirdly, the rent has not been regularly deposited in recent years. top videos View all However, the uncertainty has already stirred unease among local cadres. The loss of Kothi No. 4 means SP will now have to find a new district office — a challenge both logistically and symbolically. For residents of Moradabad, especially older SP workers, the bungalow remains a part of living political history. 'From rallies to late-night meetings, this place has seen everything. Its walls echo with the voice of Netaji," said 68-year-old supporter Ram Kishore, recalling the first time he saw Mulayam inaugurate the office in 1994. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Akhilesh Yadav Mandal commission moradabad mulayam singh yadav samajwadi party Uttarakhand view comments Location : Moradabad, India, India First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:30 IST News politics 'Walls Echo With Netaji's Voice': Three Decades On, SP Set To Lose 'Command Centre' Kothi No. 4 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. 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Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Verdis: Roblox creator forms a new country with 400 citizens in unclaimed land between Croatia and Serbia, and it's real
Synopsis Daniel Jackson, a 20-year-old, has proclaimed himself president of the Free Republic of Verdis, a micro-nation established on a disputed area between Croatia and Serbia in 2019. Despite facing challenges with Croatian authorities, including detention and deportation, Jackson continues to advocate for Verdis's recognition and access, seeking support from Serbia and envisioning a future return to the land. Daniel Jackson's Verde A 20-year-old man has gone viral on Reddit after he declared himself president of a self-proclaimed nation called the Free Republic of Verdis, located in a small disputed area along the Danube River between Croatia and Serbia. Daniel Jackson, who founded the micro-nation in 2019, says Verdis now has its own flag, cabinet, currency, and around 400 is located on a 0.5-square-kilometer patch of forest known on maps as "pocket three." The area remains unclaimed by either Croatia or Serbia due to an unresolved border dispute. Jackson told news agency SWNS that he discovered the area was technically unowned and decided to act on an idea he first had as a teenager. "Verdis was an idea I had when I was 14," said Jackson. "It was just a bit of an experiment at first with a few mates. We have all dreamed of creating something crazy."Jackson, a digital designer who creates virtual worlds on Roblox, began working seriously on Verdis at the age of 18. He introduced laws, selected official languages, English, Croatian, and Serbian, and adopted the Euro as the national currency."We started making Verdis a reality when I was 18 by forming some laws and a flag," he said. "We have now built up a government and have a great cabinet." Verdis is accessible only by boat from the Croatian city of Osijek. Despite its remote location, Jackson claims over 15,000 people have applied for citizenship, and more than 400 have been approved. Each citizen receives a Verdisian passport, though Jackson warns it should not be used for international October 2023, Croatian police detained Jackson and several others who attempted to settle in the area. They were deported and Jackson was banned from re-entering Croatia for life."They deported us but couldn't give a reason why," Jackson said. "They said we were a threat to homeland security."Since then, he has operated what he calls a "government in exile" and accused Croatian authorities of installing surveillance to block access from the Serbian side."We have had a lot of problems with Croatian authorities, but we do want a good relationship with them in the future," he said. "They haven't taken to us kindly and have been aggressive."Jackson now travels often to Belgrade, Serbia, where he says officials have been more open to his project. He continues to advocate for access to Verdis and hopes to return there one day."It is a matter of when, not if, we get back on the land," he said. "Croatia doesn't claim the land, so we have the right to it, and we believe that we have a good chance."Jackson said the Free Republic of Verdis started with just four people. The micro-nation now selectively approves citizens based on their skills, especially in areas like medicine or policing."It is a very small country so we have to be careful who we let in," he legal obstacles and setbacks, Jackson insists the goal is not personal power but creating a working, community-driven micro-nation."If successful, I would step down from my position and call an election," he said. "I am not interested in power at all … I just want to be a normal citizen. It has been eye-opening, and I am quite proud of what I have achieved.""To the naked eye it is just a lot of forest, but when you realize that you are in a country you have created, it is magical," he added.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Delhi police's 'Bangladeshi language' label for Bengali an 'insult', says TN CM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday said the Delhi police's alleged description of Bengali as a Bangladeshi language was a "direct insult" that exposed a dark mindset and he supported his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on the issue. Stalin said the Delhi Police, under the Union Home Ministry, has described Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language." This is a direct insult to the very language in which our National Anthem was written, he said. In a social media post, he said: "Such statements are not inadvertent errors or slips. They expose the dark mindset of a regime that consistently undermines diversity and weaponises identity. In the face of this assault on non-Hindi languages, Hon'ble @MamataOfficial Didi stands as a shield for the language and people of West Bengal. She will not let this attack pass without a fitting response." On August 3, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamta Banerjee lashed out at the Delhi Police for referring to the Bengali language as "Bangladeshi national language" in a purported letter, alleging that it was "insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional."
