Latest news with #HRF
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
HRF demands reinstating VSP's terminated contract workers
Visakhapatnam: Expressing solidarity with agitating contract workers of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant who were terminated, the Human Rights Forum (HRF) demanded reinstating all the 3,000 of them with immediate effect. HRF AP state president KV Jagannadha Rao and HRF AP and TG coordination committee member VS Krishna emphasised that the management must abandon attempts to terminate a further 1,800 contract workers. 'We condemn the management's use of police to intimidate workers instead of engaging in dialogue and seeking democratic resolution of issues raised by them. Resorting to fear tactics instead of negotiation, particularly when production at the plant is being affected, is unacceptable,' they stressed. Contract workers are the backbone of daily operations at the plant but they continue to be denied basic rights, job security and dignity at the workplace. Their persistent demands for regularisation and fair wages remain to be unmet, the HRF representatives expressed concern. The Central government is orchestrating a systematic conspiracy to privatise the steel plant by granting Rs.11,440 crore package, waiving GST and other dues and making the plant lucrative for the private players, Jagannadha Rao and Krishna stated. 'We condemn this attempt to hand over a precious industrial asset built on the sacrifice of 32 lives and voluntary land donation by people belonging to 69 villages to corporate interests on a platter,' they said. In the 40-year history of the VSP, such intimidation tactics and huge police deployment were never witnessed. The suspension of protesting workers and the issuance of show-cause notices, the HRF representatives said, were in direct violation of the Industrial Disputes Act of 1948. HRF calls for immediate stoppage of punitive actions by the management and a democratic and peaceful resolution of grievances of employees and contract workers at the VSP and attempts to privatise the steel plant are halted.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Contract workers' strike at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant: Human Rights Forum condemns privatization push, demands immediate reinstatement
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Human Rights Forum (HRF) stands in solidarity with the ongoing agitation by contract workers of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Contract workers at the VSP have been on an indefinite strike for the past 10 days to realise their legitimate rights in the face of sustained threats by the management. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The HRF, led by KV Jagannadha Rao, HRF AP State President, and VS Krishna, HRF AP and TG Coordination Committee member, demands that the 3,000 contract workers who were recently terminated under the govt's retrograde privatisation policies be reinstated immediately. The management must abandon attempts to terminate a further 1,800 contract workers. We condemn the management's use of police to intimidate workers instead of engaging in dialogue and seeking a democratic resolution of issues raised by them. Resorting to fear tactics instead of negotiation, particularly when production at the plant is being affected, is unacceptable. Contract workers are the backbone of daily operations at the plant, but they continue to be denied basic rights, job security, and dignity at the workplace. Their persistent demands for regularisation and fair wages are met not with dialogue, but with intimidation and removal. It is common knowledge that the central govt is orchestrating a systematic conspiracy to privatise the steel plant by sanitising its financials—issuing an Rs 11,440 crore package, waiving GST and other dues, and making the plant attractive for private players. We condemn this attempt to hand over a precious industrial asset—built on the sacrifice of 32 lives and the voluntary land donation by people of 69 villages—to corporate interests on a platter. In the 40-year history of the VSP, we have not witnessed such intimidation tactics and huge police deployment. The suspension of protesting workers and the issuance of show-cause notices, we believe, are in direct violation of the Industrial Disputes Act of 1948. These actions are nothing but the implementation of the regressive new labour codes that the govt is actively pushing. HRF calls for the immediate stoppage of punitive actions by the management and a democratic and peaceful resolution of grievances of employees and contract workers at the VSP. All attempts to privatise the steel plant must be halted.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tenali police draw flak for beating accused in public; HRF seeks judicial probe, Jagan slams rights abuse
GUNTUR: A viral video showing police personnel publicly thrashing three young men, accused in several cases, in Tenali has sparked outrage, prompting the Human Rights Forum (HRF) to demand a judicial inquiry. The video, circulated on May 26, shows Tenali II Town police beating the accused in full public view, an act the HRF called degrading and unconstitutional. The incident relates to a case registered on April 25 following a complaint by Constable Kanna Chiranjeevi. The constable alleged that four men: Vemu Naveen alias Killer, John Victor, Doma Rakesh, and Shaik Karimulla attacked him the previous night near Ithanagar, reportedly due to prior enmity and his role in summoning them for counselling in a drug-related case. Police said the accused, armed with a knife, attempted to kill the constable, who escaped. The case was registered under multiple sections of the BNSS. Naveen remains absconding; the others were arrested on April 26 and are in judicial custody. Police also said Naveen, Victor, and Rakesh have multiple criminal cases and rowdy sheets against them. HRF condemned the police's public thrashing, stating that regardless of the charges, law enforcement must follow due process. It demanding action against the officers involved under relevant laws. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the source of the leaked video. Responding to the incident on X, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the brutal assault of Dalit and minority youth by Tenali police. Jagan accused the Chandrababu Naidu-led government of violating human rights and fostering police impunity.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
HRF condemns Tenali Police for public beating of accused youth
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has strongly condemned the Tenali police for publicly assaulting three young men accused of attacking a police constable, calling the incident a gross violation of constitutional rights and the rule of law. In a press release on Tuesday (May 27, 2025), HRF Andhra Pradesh State vice-president G. Siva Nageswara Rao, general secretary Y. Rajesh, and secretary G. Rohith, demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident and strict action against the police personnel involved under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A video that surfaced on May 26, 2025, shows two police officers thrashing the youth in public, an act allegedly committed on April 25. According to the HRF, 'Three youth — Vemu Naveen (absconding), Ch. John Victor, Karimulla, and Rakesh — were booked for assaulting a police constable, after a complaint by constable Kanna Chiranjeevi, who allegedly was assaulted by the youth on April 24 over past enmity.' While the accused reportedly have prior criminal cases and were allegedly involved in ganja-related activities, HRF emphasized that no crime warrants public punishment. 'The police must act within the law, not above it. Publicly beating accused persons is an affront to human dignity and justice,' the statement said. Reacting to the development, Guntur District Superintendent of Police S. Satish Kumar told The Hindu that he ordered a detailed inquiry into these allegations and a suitable action will be taken on the persons responsible.
Local France
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French court blocks Telegram founder from Norway trip
Durov, 40, was detained in Paris in 2024 and is under formal investigation over illegal content on his popular messaging service. He had been due to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum on Tuesday, addressing the annual gathering on the subject of free speech, surveillance and digital rights. But organisers the Human Rights Foundation said he had been stopped from travelling in person by a French court. He will now address the event virtually, they added. "It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed," HRF founder and CEO Thor Halvorssen said. "Technologies like Telegram are basic tools for those resisting tyranny. This is more than a disappointment for our community; it is a setback for freedom." In March, Durov was allowed to leave France and travel to Dubai, where his company is based. Earlier this week however, he was stopped from going to the United States to talk with investment funds. Advertisement Since his arrest, Durov had appeared to bow to Paris's demands for stronger efforts to ensure illegal content -- such as child abuse and drug trading -- was not on Telegram. But he has also alleged that the head of France's DGSE overseas intelligence service had asked him to ban pro-Russian accounts from the platform before recent presidential elections in Romania. The DGSE has rejected the claims.
