Stop politics over use of Bangla across India
It's a travesty that someone writing an official letter does not know the name of the country's second largest language. Bangla is not only one of the 22 official languages enshrined in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule; last year, the Union government also listed it as one of the country's 11 classical languages, whose criteria include high antiquity, textual heritage and original tradition. Rabindranath Tagore not only wrote the national anthems of India and Bangladesh, but he also inspired Sri Lanka's.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
25 minutes ago
- Hans India
Contract driver dies by suicide: BJP MP, two others booked
Chikkaballapura: An FIR was registered against BJP MP K Sudhakar and two others on charges of abetment of suicide following the death of 35-year-old contract driver employed under the Zilla Panchayat in Chikkaballapura, police said. The deceased, identified as M Babu, died by suicide on Thursday morning, allegedly by hanging himself from a tree on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner's office, police said. Babu reportedly left behind a suicide note in which he named BJP MP Sudhakar and two others, alleging they were responsible for his death, police added. According to police, Babu had been working as a contract driver in the Zilla Panchayat for the past six to seven years and was assigned to the chief accounts officer. "A suicide was reported early this morning at the Chikkaballapura DC office premises. We received information at around 8.30 am that someone had died by hanging from a tree," Superintendent of Police Kushal Chouksey told PTI. Citing a preliminary inquiry, the SP said Babu had told his wife that he was scheduled to drive an officer to a meeting and left home with the official vehicle. Instead, he went to the DC office premises and allegedly died by suicide. "We recovered a death note from the scene, which mentions several names. We are verifying the allegations and investigating the case from all possible angles," he added. Another senior police officer said the note named BJP MP Sudhakar, a Zilla Panchayat accounts assistant, and a man identified as Nagesh. Babu alleged that Nagesh and the accounts assistant had "cheated him of several lakhs of rupees", claiming they could help him secure a government job "using the MP's influence"."These are serious allegations. A thorough investigation will determine whether the MP was directly involved or if his name was misused. We are examining all angles," the officer said. Further investigation is underway. Based on the complaint of deceased person's wife, the FIR was registered at Chikkaballapura Rural police station under sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the relevant sections under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. In the FIR, BJP MP Sudhakar has been named as accused 1, Nagesh as accused 2 and Manjunatha as accused 3. Reacting to the incident, earlier in the day, BJP MP Sudhakar told reporters in New Delhi that he was "deeply pained" by the death but denied any connection to the deceased. "I heard about the suicide at the DC office in Chikkaballapura. It has deeply saddened me. I offer my condolences to the family. I have never seen or met this person, Babu, in my public life," Sudhakar said. The MP, a former minister and three-time MLA, said he had helped many youths secure employment and did not understand why his name was mentioned in the note. "I have no information about the other two individuals named in the note. I've heard that Nagesh and Manjunath allegedly promised Babu a job and took Rs 10-15 lakh from him. I don't know them personally," he added. Sudhakar said Nagesh's father-in-law was a former JD(S) taluk panchayat president who joined the BJP after he did. "We had appointed him as the president of the Chikkaballapura Development Cell," the MP added.
The Hindu
25 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Hegseth reposts video featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote
The man who oversees the U.S. military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. The extraordinary repost on X from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, made on Thursday night, illustrates a connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women. All of Christ for All of Life. — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) August 8, 2025 In the post, Mr. Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The report featured a pastor from Wilson's church advocating the repeal of women's right to vote from the Constitution, and another pastor saying that in his ideal world, people would vote as households. It also featured a female congregant saying that she submits to her husband. 'All of Christ for All of Life,' Mr. Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video. Mr. Hegseth's post received more than 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organisation Vote Common Good, said the ideas in the video are views that 'small fringes of Christians keep' and said it was 'very disturbing' that Mr. Hegseth would amplify them. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Associated Press on Friday that Mr. Hegseth is 'a proud member of a church' that is affiliated with CREC, and he 'very much appreciates many of Mr Wilson's writings and teachings.' In May, Mr. Hegseth invited his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Mr. Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defence Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails. 'I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world,' Mr. Wilson said in the CNN report.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Vote Theft' Protest Rally: DK Shivakumar Seconds Rahul Gandhi's ‘Legal Bank' Proposal
Last Updated: The plan includes creating a battery of lawyers, constitutional experts, and civil society members to act as watchdogs against any wrongdoing or violations of the Constitution Karnataka's deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, during Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bengaluru on Friday as part of his protest against ' vote theft", announced that the Congress government supports the setting up of a 'legal bank" in the state. 'I agree with you, Rahulji," said Shivakumar, speaking at the protest rally. 'It is your wish that 'legal banks' should be set up to protect the rights of every voter at the booth level. I assure the party that we will work towards setting up such banks on the lines of blood banks." Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP of orchestrating what he called a 'huge criminal fraud" in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, specifically pointing to the Mahadevapura assembly segment, where he claimed over 1,00,250 votes were 'stolen" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Calling it a 'vote chori" (vote theft) operation, the Congress leader alleged that the fraud was carried out with the help of the Election Commission. Both the BJP and EC have rejected these claims. So, what exactly are these 'legal banks"? Congress insiders explained that during an All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi proposed starting 'legal banks". 'The role of a legal bank would be to protect democracy, votes, and most importantly, our Constitution," a senior Congress functionary told News18. The proposal includes creating a strong battery of lawyers, constitutional experts, and members from civil society who would act as watchdogs against any wrongdoing or violations of the Constitution. Their job would be to maintain constant vigilance and act immediately. As one leader put it, 'Justice delayed is almost like justice denied, so it is better to act swiftly and have the first-mover advantage." Congress state units already have legal cells, but this initiative is expected to be extended to the districts and down to the grassroots, ensuring every Congress worker can access legal aid without delay. Many party workers are currently battling legal cases or facing what the Congress alleges are false charges, and a dedicated legal aid unit would provide swift and methodical relief. The larger goal, insiders say, is to build a stronger legal team within the party and fight for justice for the people. Rahul Gandhi had also pointed to the BJP's alleged targeting of specific constituencies, with particular focus on the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, where Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan lost by just 32,707 votes to the BJP's three-time MP PC Mohan. The Congress alleged major fraudulent activities, including 'fake votes" to a scale of close to 1 lakh in one constituency itself, played a role in the defeat of the party's candidate and believes the legal bank will be a tool to fight such cases in the future. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
