Gujarat Confidential: A bus ride
Call for Name Change
Opposing Turkey's support for Pakistan during India's recent military confrontation with the neighbouring country, Surat BJP MP Mukesh Dalal has written a letter to Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal, requesting her to change the name of Turkiwad, a locality in the walled city area of Surat, with immediate effect. Dalal, in the letter, has said that the name Turkiwad was like an 'insult' to the people of Surat. A few days ago, some people from Surat had also written a letter to the SMC commissioner with the demand for a change of name for Turkiwad.
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The Hindu
6 minutes ago
- The Hindu
SC organisations in Tiruppur float a joint front for retrieval of Panchami land
A joint front has been formed by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and fraternal Scheduled Castes (SC) organisations in Tiruppur district for retrieval of Panchami land. For the first time, the joint front that also consists of Adhi Tamizhar Peravai, Tamilpuligal Katchi, Dravida Tamizhar Katchi, Adhitamizhar Munnetra Kazhagam, Adhhithamizhar Katchi, Makkal Adhigaram, Puratchi Bharatham, Bahujan Samaj Katchi, Samuga Needhi Makkal Katchi, Dravida Chiruthaigal Katchi, Desiya Thazhthappattor Makkal Nala Iyakkam, Viduthaigal Vengaigal Katchi, Tamil Nadu Thazhthappattor Nila Urimai Iyakkam, and Samuga Viduthalai Katchi have joined hands to retrieve about 10 acres of Panchami land in Tiruppur city and surroundings that were now under the ownership of non-SCs. The land registered by other community members must be rendered invalid, the joint front emphasised in a petition submitted to Tiruppur Collector Manish S Narnaware at the Collectorate on Monday at the end of a rally by its members from the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Bus Stand. The registration of the Panchami land in the name of non-SCs must be scrapped as per the earlier government orders and the rulings of the Madras High Court, A. Tamilvendan State Coordinator, Panchami Nila Meetpu Kootiyakkam, VCK, said. As per the High Court ruling on August 12, 2015, the patta, chitta, adangal and ayan patta registrations of Panchami land in the names of non-SCs will have to be made invalid, Mr. Tamilvendan pointed out. The joint front has submitted the details of the survey numbers of Panchami land under 'illegal occupation' at Pudhupalayam in Avinashi Taluk, 15 Velampalayam village in Tiruppur North Taluk, Tiruppur Town and Nallur village in Tiruppur South Taluk. The petition called for prosecution of Revenue Department officials who were responsible for registration of Panchami lands in the names of non-SCs under Tamil Nadu Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1973, Section 21.3 (11). After submission of the petition, the joint front sat for a meeting to chart out the next course of action. 'After decades of struggle, all like-minded entities have decided to put up a joint fight specifically for retrieval of the land that rightfully belongs to us in pursuit of a tangible outcome, Karthik, Tiruppur district unit secretary of Tamil Puligal, said, adding: 'We are collating information on the Panchami land in Dharapuram, Udumalpet, and Madathukulam. The total extent of Panchami land under illegal occupation and the prospective SC beneficiaries will be determined.'
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
‘Shouldn't Impose Kannada On Non-Kannadigas In Bengaluru': Congress Leader's Remark Sparks Outrage
Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad said that the language should not be used as a 'weapon' or tool of imposition Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad, son of senior MLA NA Haris and the current president of the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress, in a video podcast, said Kannada should not be 'imposed" on non-Kannadigas in Bengaluru. The statement, which has now gone viral, has sparked outrage among Kannadigas online. Nalapad, on the show hosted by RJ Rapid Rashmi, was talking about 'five ways to make Bengaluru youth-friendly". He said that during a recent salon visit, he was asked by a staff member whether, as a politician, he also supported 'hitting people in the name of Kannada". Nalapad said that the language should not be used as a 'weapon" or tool of imposition. 'Love your language," he urged, adding that pride in Kannada should not be allowed to 'demolish Bengaluru." He also said, 'North Indians saying they built Bengaluru is also wrong." Viewers were quick to respond to his comment. 'In Karnataka what else you want to speak, not asking to learn Kannada immediately here, it tells what kind of love u have towards Kannada," wrote," one wrote. 'If you don't make them speak Kannada, forever you will speak to them in their Hindi, they will never learn your language being here I have seen a lot of people like him who speaks Urdu they always support hindi people, also they always speak in Hindi to them and make them comfortable instead of teaching them Kannada, never admitted themselves as Kannadigas though they are born and bought up here ,dear kannadigas don't trust such people I have seen many example like this," another wrote. A comment read: 'Bengaluru is a Kannada city. It is the responsibility of outsiders to learn Kannada." Another user wrote, 'If you're not Kannadiga by roots or by respect, you're just a guest." Critics also questioned Nalapad's political legitimacy in Karnataka, claiming he was born into power but lacked cultural alignment with the state. 'Uses Karnataka for career, but rejects Kannada for convenience," another user posted. However, a section of users praised his remarks, calling them inclusive and considerate. 'It is pleasant to hear the youth leader talk about the importance of Kannada, which must not be imposed on our guests," read one post. Who is Mohammed Haris Nalapad? Nalapad was arrested in 2018 in connection with the assault of Vidvat Loganathan, the son of a businessman at a cafe in Bengaluru. The brutality of the attack had shocked Karnataka. He was then suspended from the party for six years. In February, Nalapad appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Bitcoin scam. 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.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian diplomat visits Syria for meetings with regime led by al-Sharaa
New Delhi: India has made a formal outreach to Syria's provisional government led by former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, with a middle-ranking diplomat visiting Damascus for meetings with Syrian ministers. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. (REUTERS) This was the first official visit to Damascus from the Indian side since al-Sharaa, whose group was once affiliated to al-Qaeda, assumed power after ousting the regime of Bashar al-Assad following a lightning offensive last December. There was no official word from the Indian side on the visit by Suresh Kumar, director of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) division of the external affairs ministry. Kumar's meetings with Syria's foreign and education ministers in Damascus on Monday were reported by State-run SANA news agency. 'A beginning had to be made and India had to register its presence. You have to open the door at some point,' a person familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Syria's foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and the Indian delegation led by Kumar discussed 'issues of mutual concern and ways of enhancing relations between the two countries in the interests of both peoples', SANA reported. The meeting between Kumar and Syrian health minister Musab Al-Ali focused on enhancing health cooperation, particularly in the fields of pharmaceutical industries and medical training, according to another report by SANA. The two sides also discussed a mechanism for implementing a scholarship for Syrian students, and allocating a specialised engineering cooperation programme for government employees. Al-Ali stressed Syria's aspiration to establish a strong partnership with India in pharmaceutical industries and health technologies in order to support the national health sector and provide medicines. Kumar said India will continue funding specialised training courses for Syrian personnel, coordinate the training of Syrian doctors in Indian centres, and enhance cooperation in nursing, pharmaceutical industries and pharmaceutical exports, the report said. India has had strong political ties with Syria and both countries were key members of the Non-Aligned Movement. India's traditional support for Arab causes such as the issue of Palestine was appreciated by Syria. India also backed Syria's right to the Golan Heights, currently occupied by Israel, and its full return to the country. Under the Assad family, the Syrian government usually backed India at multilateral forums, including on the issue of Kashmir. In response to a request from Damascus for emergency humanitarian aid in 2021, the Indian government gifted 2,000 tonnes of rice to Syria. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India sent 10 tonnes of medicines to Syria. This was the largest medical assistance from any country to Syria during the pandemic. India has been monitoring the situation in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. At the time, India evacuated 77 Indian nationals from Syria. 'We hope that the new constitution, due to be drafted, takes into account the interests of all the sections of the Syrian society,' the external affairs ministry said in a statement around the time of the change of government. In January, al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who went by the name Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, became president of the provisional government. People familiar with the matter said the outreach to Damascus was influenced by Syria's strategic location in West Asia – the country shares borders with five key regional actors, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon – and the long-standing ties between the two sides. The outreach also follows the US decision to end sanctions on Syria after a meeting between al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump in May.
