Latest news with #CAA-NRC
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Others Don't Need To...' Uddhav Keeps Maharashtra Pot Boiling With Cryptic Message On Brother Raj
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief is in Delhi to attend the INDIA bloc meeting Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is in the national capital for the crucial INDIA bloc meeting, the first in-person gathering of the opposition bloc since the Lok Sabha elections. The two-day visit has also seen him meeting key leaders and voicing strong opinions on national issues—all while staying tight-lipped about one name that sparks maximum curiosity: Raj Thackeray. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Uddhav was asked if the MNS chief would be discussed during the alliance meetings. His response was brief but telling: 'We are brothers. Others don't need to discuss us." With that one sentence, he put a lid on growing speculation around a possible political understanding—or fallout—between the two Thackerays. The INDIA bloc meeting is being held at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's residence. It's the first face-to-face strategy session post the Lok Sabha results. Uddhav Thackeray, who arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Day 1 of his visit. The two leaders reportedly discussed the future roadmap for Maharashtra and the role of the INDIA bloc ahead of upcoming civic elections. When asked further about Raj Thackeray, Uddhav declined to elaborate, simply stating, 'We will talk about that in Mumbai." Uddhav also used the platform to question the Modi government's decisions on multiple national matters. He raised concerns over the sudden removal of the Vice President, saying, 'Why was he abruptly removed? Where is he now? That should be discussed first." He also targeted the Centre over foreign policy and citizenship laws, alleging that an 'undeclared CAA-NRC" is already being implemented through the backdoor. Referring to voter list revisions in Bihar, Thackeray asked, 'Is this a soft launch of NRC? People are being asked to prove their identity. Isn't that how NRC and CAA were to be implemented?" Uddhav further slammed the decision to not use VVPATs (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails) in upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra. He questioned the logic behind holding polls without a verifiable trail. 'What's the point of voting if we can't see where our vote is going?" he asked. Thackeray also confirmed that Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA leaders for dinner on Thursday as part of the alliance's coordination efforts. 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.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pinjra Tod rose and fell, but women students still seek complete freedom
Natasha Narwal is hard to reach. Those who were fellow student activists less than a decade ago have moved on to their careers and have lost touch with her. A well-known activist said Ms. Narwal could be contacted only on Signal, known to be a highly secure messaging app. She sent across her number on Signal but deleted it and said, 'I can't see a way to share her contact here. I will give you Natasha's roommate's number and she can put you in touch with her.' Eventually, the efforts to reach Natasha weren't successful. Natasha Narwal was in jail for more than a year a couple of years ago in connection with the CAA-NRC protests. And that possibly explains her media weariness. Natasha, however, cut her teeth in activism with a more everyday cause -- discriminatory practices in girls students hostels. Break the cage was a call to female hostel occupants, who faced the brunt of curfew timings, moral policing, and more. Natasha Narwal and her comrades also pushed for the implementation of UGC Regulations 2015 on prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions, issued on May, 2, 2016. As per these regulations, they demanded functional internal sexual harassment complaints committee cells (ICCs) with democratically elected student representatives. The movement also demanded infrastructure such as street lights and safe public transport around campus areas. They organised marches where hundreds of women turned up. A notable one was on October 3, 2016, in Delhi. The march began from LSR, through Kailash Colony, Amar Colony, and National Park — areas full of PGs in which a large number of women students from colleges such as Gargi, Kamla Nehru, Deen Dayal, and Deshbandhu lived. The idea behind the protests in Delhi colleges soon inspired similar campaigns elsewhere. In December 2016, women students of Sree Keralavarma College, Thrissur, Kerala, started an indefinite sit-in strike, outside the locked gates of their women's hostel, against the 4 p.m. curfew, forcing the administration to give an assurance that the timing would be extended. Women students had classes till 3.30 p.m., which meant that immediately after their classes were over, they had to rush to the hostel. This was also a hostel where women were not allowed to possess mobile phones. In January 2018, Pinjra Tod started an online petition that would be submitted to Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar, urging him to 'immediately remove patriarchal and unconstitutional curfew from all women's hostels'. At this point in time, the movement had made some headway with institutions like Mumbai University, BITS Pilani, and IIT-Roorkee that had done away with curfews. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued notices to seven universities and colleges in December 2016 for discrimination in hostel timings for boys and girls. The move came after Pinjra Tod compiled a report on discriminatory rules and living circumstances in hostel accommodations and complained before the commission. In 2018, a group of Panjab University students protested for 48 days, demanding round-the-clock freedom of movement for female hostel residents. They rejected the university's initial proposal to allow limited late-night movement between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. with conditions like logging entries and submitting applications after 11 p.m. The university eventually agreed to allow unrestricted movement, with the only condition being that students exiting hostels after 11 p.m. must log their details in a register. Till date, it stays the same. The Pinjra Tod campaign did bring to the spotlight important issues even if its achievements were not commensurate with the high profile nature of the campaign. The social ideas that the campaign battled have shown resilience in the Indian education system. Today, we see technology behind leveraged to advance those impulses. For instance, biometric tools are being used to monitor and curb women's movement and physical and mental space.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2020 anti-CAA riots: Delhi HC reserves bail plea order in Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam case; both accused of 'masterminding violence'
NEW DELHI: The on Tuesday reserved its order on the bail pleas of activists and Umar Khalid in connection with a UAPA case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 Delhi riots. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence. The bail pleas have been pending since 2022 and were heard by different benches over time. Both Imam and Khalid are accused of being part of a larger conspiracy that led to the communal violence in Northeast Delhi, which resulted in over 50 deaths and left more than 700 injured. The case is being prosecuted under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, opposed the bail pleas, arguing that the riots were not spontaneous but part of a pre-planned conspiracy with a sinister motive. 'If you do anything against your nation, you better be in jail till you are acquitted,' Mehta said, adding that prolonged incarceration alone is not a valid ground for bail. According to the police, the violence was 'clinical and pathological' in nature. The speeches made by the accused allegedly followed a common pattern referencing the CAA-NRC, Babri Masjid, triple talaq, and Kashmir, which the police claim helped incite fear and unrest. Imam's counsel argued that he was 'completely disconnected' from the time, place, and co-accused in the case, including Khalid. His speeches and WhatsApp chats, they said, contained no incitement to violence. The defence also pointed to parity with other accused who have been granted bail and highlighted the prolonged pre-trial detention of the applicants. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The February 2020 riots broke out amid nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Initially, clashes occurred between supporters and opponents of the laws but soon escalated into days of large-scale violence involving arson, stone-pelting and gunfire. Police have accused Khalid, Imam, and others of being the "masterminds" of the violence and say there is no evidence that the prosecution has intentionally delayed the trial. They further argued that the right to a speedy trial is not a "free pass" in cases involving such serious allegations.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP minority wing's chaupal in Shaheen Bagh to encourage women to join army gets tepid response
New Delhi: Inside a hall adorned with brightly coloured banners of BJP's minority wing at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday, a chaupal was organised to encourage women to join the Indian Army. It was a stark contrast to the passionate protests that echoed through the lanes of Shaheen Bagh in 2020. Shaheen Bagh was the epicentre of the CAA-NRC protest in 2020. The chaupal drew a small gathering of mostly party workers. When the event started, five women were present, but after a few minutes, only two were left. Both women were associated with the party's minority wing. Speaking at the event, Jamil Siddiqui, national president of BJP's Minority Morcha, said the chaupal was organised after the successful completion of 11 years of tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We are talking about govt schemes and achievements of the Prime Minister, highlighting how he elevated India's status globally and led the country to new heights of success. We are also encouraging our daughters to step out, pursue education, and join the workforce, including the military. " Giving the example of Col. Sofia Qureshi, who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, Siddiqui said: "Sofia, a daughter of our society, showcased the strength of Indian women to the world, demonstrated female empowerment, and made a mark for her community, Islam, India, and Indian culture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Capital Gains Exemptions for Seniors SmartAsset Learn More Undo We want our daughters to receive military training, join the army, become Agniveers, and, if necessary, fight enemies at the border like Colonel Sofia. They should be able to protect themselves from harassment and domestic violence." He added that with similar discussions, they aim to organise numerous gatherings across the country. When asked about the tepid response received to the chaupal, Siddiqui said: "We have invited only key party workers here. It is a type of training for them as we will discuss with them. Our representatives will then go around Delhi, visiting homes and holding meetings to inform people about govt schemes. We will encourage our daughters to step out, advance, and participate in education and employment." A copy of the Indian Constitution was also distributed among the participants. Outside the chaupal, women said they were unaware of the programme as there was no announcement or publicity about it. However, women added that Col Qureshi is an inspiring figure for them. Aeman Hayat Siddiqui, who aspires to become a teacher, said, "Col Qureshi is an inspiration. We want our daughters to make progress and make the country proud." She added, "I completed my education and am looking for a govt job. We want the govt to create more vacancies." Mariam, a NEET aspirant, said: "Col Sofia Qureshi's journey is motivating for everyone. I feel that women can achieve anything."
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
JNUSU contestants invoke ‘Pahalgam', ‘religion' and ‘Palestine' in intense debate
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) elections hit a fever pitch on Wednesday night as presidential candidates raked up the Pahalgam terror attack and invoked religion as a key topic point in the presidential debate held on the Jhelum ground. The presidential debate has been a longstanding tradition of the JNUSU polls and was attended by various student organisations. The event started at 11.30pmwith the sound of drumbeats, which were soon replaced by slogans of 'Azadi' and 'Lal Salaam'. Posters of 'Hindu Lives Matter' were also a common sight. With multiple student organisations present at the spot, the event got off to a rough start due to continuous disruptions. The student election committee brought in order by threatening to pause the debate if the crowd did not follow social decorum. The election process, after minor bumps, is back on track, with the polling process set for Friday. The polling will take place in two sessions, from 9am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The counting of votes is expected to take place on the same day and the announcement of results on Monday. A total of 7,906 students are set to vote this year, 57% male and 43% female voters. Each of the 13 candidates was allotted 12 minutes to present their political ideologies. A two-minute silence was observed before the speeches in memory of the Pahalgam attack victims. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) presidential candidate Shikha Swaraj said in her speech, asked, 'To those who say terrorism has no religion, were the victims not asked their faith before being killed?' All India Students Association (AISA) candidate Nitish Kumar retaliated with equal fervour, saying: '...CAA-NRC has been implemented, and inside the Parliament, Opposition is asked to lower their gaze while talking; but on the other hand, there is no action when they insult Ambedkar.' Students' Federation of India candidate Choudhury Tayyaba Ahmed's speech, meanwhile, was disrupted multiple times by ABVP, as she got on the stage to point out the 'flaws of the right'. 'Today, the biggest danger to the liberalisation of people is the corporate Hindutva... They are doing politics out of violence,' she said. National Students' Union of India (NSUI) candidate Pradeep Dhaka thundered on the stage with references to several international and national political issues, weaving in hot-button issues of Palestine, Manipur and Bilkis Bano. A common part of most speeches were flaws of the administration, lack of proper academic resources and students' needs taking a back seat in the power struggle between the Left and Right bodies. This year, the JNU student elections have been marked by several changes in contestant dynamics. The long-standing unity of the Left was broken, with the AISA allying with the Democratic Students Federation (DSF), while the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA), AISF, and PSA have each nominated their own candidates.
