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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Capts, Badals, Majithias continue family legacies to backstab Punjab: CM
Khatkar Kalan (Nawanshahr): Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday laid the foundation stone of the Martyr Bhagat Singh Heritage Complex here, issuing a call to the people to back his administration in eradicating drugs and corruption – a fitting homage to the iconic martyr. In a scathing attack, CM Mann alleged that the ongoing war against these scourges had "exposed the ugly face" of traditional political parties, accusing them of colluding to "plunder the state" and perpetrate a "genocide of youth through drugs". "Captains, Badals, and Majithias continued the dubious legacy of their families to backstab Punjab and its people for their vested interests," he alleged. The CM went on to claim that the ancestors of Bikram Singh Majithia , currently behind bars for "his involvement in drug trade", had betrayed the people by hosting a dinner for General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer on the very night of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He further asserted that Captain Amarinder Singh , "very vocal about the human rights of his nephew Majithia," and his family possessed a "dubious track record of deceiving Punjab by standing with every force inimical to the state, whether they were Mughals, Britishers, or now BJP". Mann, however, insisted the event was "not a political function but a solemn occasion to pay tributes to the great martyrs". He said that for the first time in Punjab's history, a CM and his entire cabinet took the oath of office on the sacred land of Khatkar Kalan. Cabinet minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, MLAs Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, and Santosh Kataria, among others, were present at the ceremony. CM hands over cheque to fallen ASI's family Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Monday handed over a cheque worth Rs 1 crore to the family members of ASI Dhanwant Singh, who died during the call of duty. He said that the ASI attained martyrdom on Jan 18 while performing his duty in Nawanshahr. MSID:: 122956102 413 |
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Roshanara Club with revamped sport facilities, wellness and banquet areas, opens its doors after almost 2 years
After being closed for renovation for nearly two years, the century-old Roshanara Club reopened its doors to the residents of the Capital on Sunday. Renovated and restored by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the heritage club now boasts of revamped sport facilities as well as modern wellness and banquet areas, among others. The club, spread across 22 acres, was taken over by the DDA for renovation on September 29, 2023. This was after L-G V K Saxena – in his maiden visit to the club on January 12, 2023 – noticed that the 'majestic structure was lying in a dilapidated state with poor maintenance with a crumbling facade', the DDA said in a statement. Saxena, who unveiled the revamped club, said, 'It is a big moment for us, as this heritage club has been restored and relaunched. I congratulate the people of Delhi on this occasion. Delhi is a city of heritage and in the last three years, a number of heritage (sites) have been restored and we are committed towards (restoring) more in the future.' The club was established on August 15, 1922 as an elite recreational and social retreat for the Britishers residing in the area around present-day Delhi University and Civil Lines. It was named after Begum Roshanara, the daughter of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was buried in the neighbouring Roshanara Bagh. The club is considered the birthplace of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which was formed in 1928 when Indian cricket administrators gathered at Roshanara Club. 'Particular attention was given to the preservation of the club's architectural legacy. The century-old façade, including the European-style doors and windows, Mangalore-tiled roof, and intricate wooden trusses, have all been carefully restored. Antique chandeliers and original furnishings were refurbished and reupholstered to revive their classic charm,' the DDA said in its statement. It added that indoor facilities at the club now include a main lounge, card and billiards rooms, banquet area, bar and dining hall, library, gym, squash and badminton courts, a swimming pool, and a wellness area with yoga, sauna, and steam rooms. Outdoor amenities include clay, grass, and synthetic tennis courts, cricket grounds, a mini football zone, basketball area, and a jogging track. The DDA said civil works involved anti-termite treatment, waterproofing, marble polishing, wooden flooring repairs, and renovations to sanitary facilities. Important upgrades were made to the squash and badminton courts, swimming pool, and various places in the club house building. While electrical systems were overhauled, AC cooling was enhanced by providing requisite units, ducting and wiring were concealed, and damaged fittings, switches and light fixtures were replaced. Chandni Chowk BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, Model Town BJP MLA Ashok Goel, DDA Vice Chairman N Saravana Kumar, and senior officials also attended the launch. Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Challenges galore as India eyes developed nation status by 2047
In the past, India struggled a lot to cope with social conflicts, unrest and distrust among various sections of people, and paid a heavy price for institutionalizing economic and income inequalities, caste and religion based discrimination. One may agree or disagree, we continue to pursue the policy of divide, deprive and rule with a very fragile affirmative landscape even after so many decades of Independence. Therefore, I was not surprised at all when religious story-tellers of a particular caste were put to the kind of abominable treatment in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, which drew global dismay, anger, anguish and agony. The incident took place sometime in June 2025 and was debated and discussed for long nationally. Unfortunately, such identical incidents are reported from across the country every now and then, but without raising an eyebrow among those who matter the most in our socio-economic and political framework. None of us can vouch for the fact that such heinous and inhuman incidents won't be reported any more, but must be curtailed effectively if we are really interested in realizing the goal of inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047. India was never a strong nation when discrimination on the pretext of caste and religion was rampant. India was a powerful country so long as we were living in a well-knit inclusive society. Foreign invaders looted us, not because we were weak, but we were a fragmented society with multiple boundaries and demarcations drawn with the foul colour of caste, religion and ethnic considerations. Britishers capitalized on that as well and enslaved us for nearly two hundreds of years. I would not like to get into the debate of good or bad done by the Britishers to us, but will certainly reiterate the fact that they ruled over us for such a long time with the help of the people of this great country only. I would have been on cloud nine had I found the assertion of the World Bank that India's Gini Index-2025 stands at 25.5, placing our country as the fourth most equal country globally, behind only the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus, in sync with the ground realities. Similarly, the World Bank's Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief revealed that 171 million Indians were lifted out of extreme poverty between 2011 and 2023. The share of the population living on less than $2.15 per day, a standard measure for extreme poverty, has plunged from 16.2 per cent in 2011-12 to just 2.3 per cent in 2022-23. Under the World Bank's revised extreme poverty line of $3.00 per day, the rate for 2022-23 stands at a modest 5.3 per cent. Can someone tell us what kind of facilities a household of four members can have even if they earn $5 per day in Tier-II or Tier-III cities? It will be extremely difficult for them to meet even their basic needs. In recent decades, India has witnessed a surge in developmental initiatives, ranging from digital transformation to infrastructure expansion, skill development missions, and economic reforms. Government programmes like Digital India, Startup India, Skill India, and flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat or PM AwasYojana reflect an ambition to uplift the nation and empower its citizens. However, the million-dollar question remains: What grand purpose will these initiatives ultimately serve if a significant section of the population continues to be systematically deprived of their rightful share in the country's resources, opportunities, privileges, and responsibilities? No doubt, India is a vibrant and complex democracy, home to immense cultural, linguistic, caste, and religious diversity. Yet, this diversity often masks deep-rooted structural inequalities. Large segments of the population, especially those from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and religious minorities, remain underrepresented in key sectors like education, employment, and policymaking. The gap between aspiration and access remains stark. Despite constitutional guarantees and decades of affirmative action, socio-economic mobility for many remains limited. For instance, while urban centres flourish with digital and financial services, many rural and tribal communities still lack reliable access to electricity, clean water, quality healthcare, and education. Similarly, while metropolitan cities speak of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, countless young Indians in small towns and villages are yet to receive foundational skills or job opportunities. Moreover, the issue is not merely one of access but also of recognition and participation. True nation-building requires equitable participation in decision-making processes and sharing of both responsibilities and benefits of growth. When significant populations are systemically sidelined through structural bias, caste-based exclusion, or regional neglect, the very legitimacy of these national initiatives comes under scrutiny. Unless the benefits of growth are equitably distributed, and unless every citizen feels a sense of belonging and ownership in the nation's progress, even the grandest policy visions risk becoming hollow symbols. In essence, for any initiative to have real transformative impact in India, it must be rooted in social justice, ensure proportional representation, and consciously bridge historic gaps so that all Indians, regardless of their background, have a fair share in the republic's promises and potential. We must pause and reflect deeply: Why, despite having the world's finest Constitution, a visionary document crafted under the leadership of Bharat RatnaDr BR Ambedkar, are we still struggling to address the socio-economic and political nightmares faced by millions of our own people? The Constitution promises justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity. Yet, large sections of society continue to grapple with poverty, unemployment, caste and gender discrimination, and political marginalization. This disconnect is not due to any flaw in the Constitution itself, but in our collective failure to implement its spirit with honesty and inclusivity. The rising social unrest, distrust in institutions, and frequent communal and caste-based tensions point to deeper systemic issues that remain unaddressed. By engaging in honest introspection and public discourse, we can uncover where we are going wrong, whether in policymaking, governance, or social behaviour. Such enlightenment is essential if we are to heal the fractures in our society. It will help us move towards reconciliation, bridge divides, and truly realize the vision of an inclusive, harmonious, and Viksit Bharat, a developed India where no citizen is left behind. The dream is not distant. It demands courage, integrity, and unity of purpose.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assembly may hold spl session on ‘targeting' of Bengalis
Kolkata/New Delhi: Bengal assembly is likely to convene a special session on the alleged discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrants in different states. A source said Trinamool Congress MPs on Wednesday submitted notices in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, demanding discussion on the alleged targeting of Bengali-speakers. Notices have also been submitted to take up the issue of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, which is taking place in Bihar and will be extended to other states. According to sources in the parliamentary office, the special assembly session may run from Aug 8 to Aug 21. In addition to the proposal concerning migrant workers, four important bills may also be presented. Talks are on between the parliamentary and legal departments on this matter. Once drafts of the bills are finalised, speaker Biman Banerjee will officially announce the session. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The steps coincide with Trinamool announcing that CM Mamata Banerjee would hit the streets in Birbhum as part of state-wide protests, which start on on July 27 and will be held every Saturday and Sunday. The CM had announced the plan for the protests at Martyrs' Day rally on July 21. Speaking to reporters, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: "Who gives BJP the right to say that Bengalis are Bangladeshis? Why are they stoking the fire? Britishers may have introduced divide and rule, but it is BJP that is implementing it now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo They are dividing society, they are dividing people. In 1947, Britishers were driven out; in 2026, BJP will be driven out of Bengal, and then India." "This is sheer anger and vengeance by BJP for being politically routed in Bengal repeatedly," he added. "If the police in BJP-governed states are not accepting Aadhaar, PAN and even EPIC, then why is the Centre issuing them in the first place? These BJP-run states are demanding proof by seeking birth certificates of parents. Can BJP netas in Bengal, or those in BJP-governed states, provide birth certificates themselves?" Ghosh said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No puja of live cobra this Nagpanchami as well in Battis Shirala, MLA appeals to residents to abide by court order
Kolhapur: The residents of Sangli's Battis Shirala were hopeful of getting permission from the authorities to perform puja of live cobra, a tradition they claimed to be seven centuries old. However, local MLA, Satyajit Deshmukh has appealed to them to follow the Supreme Court's guideline banning live snake worship. During the campaign for the assembly elections, Amit Shah had reportedly assured the residents that the traditional Nagpanchami of Shirala would be restored. Deshmukh later met him in Delhi, raised the issue in the assembly, and secured a meeting with the Union forest minister. Desmukh said since the process involves an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, it would take some time to restore the traditional Nagpanchami celebrations involving live snake workship. Therefore, he requested the residents to follow the SC guidelines for the upcoming festival on July 29. "We have succeeded in raising the issue at appropriate platforms. We are hopeful that someday a way out will be found, and the Shirala residents will again perform puja of live snakes. The Supreme Court order had banned the practice in 2014. I have appealed to the residents to abide by the SC order for the upcoming Nagpanchami celebrations." The residents said performing the puja of a live cobra snake is part of their culture and should be allowed like the way Jallikattu and bullock cart races, which were earlier banned, and are now allowed. The old texts mention the puja of a live snake. Even the Britishers were fascinated by the tradition and mentioned about this in the Gazette during their reign, they said. A senior official from Sangli said police and forest staffers would stage a march in the town informing resients that violators of the SC order would be punished. The forest department uses drone cameras to keep watch on snake catchers. It has been found that the believers catch snakes and hide them in matkas or gunny bags and take them out on Nagpanchami. The women, who believe the snake to be their brother, gather in the houses where the snake is kept and perform puja. The tradition was banned by the courts after wildlife activists brought to their notice that cobra snakes, which are protected species, are harmed during the procession and while holding competitions over whose cobra snake lifts its head high, looks healthy, and beautiful. The organisers have denied any such harm to the animal.
