Latest news with #Minorities
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Shandil urges youth to stay away from drugs
Shimla: Health and family welfare minister Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) on Wednesday administered an oath against drug abuse and illegal trafficking to the youth from various educational institutions under the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' and listed various initiatives being taken by the state govt to make Himachal Pradesh drug-free. The minister urged the youth, women, officials, employees, and people of Himachal to stay aware of the harmful effects of drugs, take active part in the campaign, and show united commitment against drug abuse. He said the directorate of Empowerment of Scheduled Castes, OBCs, Minorities, and the Specially Abled (ESOMSA) was working with NITI Aayog, the national dependence treatment centre at AIIMS Delhi, and PGIMER Chandigarh to prepare a detailed state action plan for drug prevention. Action against drugs Shandil said the state govt had taken strict action against drugs as two bills were passed recently in the legislative assembly against the drug abuse and related crimes. These bills include provisions of death penalty, life imprisonment, fine up to Rs 10 lakh, confiscation of property, rehabilitation, preventive education, and livelihood support, he informed. Under the PIT NDPS Act, the Himachal Pradesh Police have seized illegal property worth Rs 42 crore, identified the property of 70 traffickers, and detained 44 notorious drug peddlers, the minister added. He further said a campaign was being actively run at the panchayat level to identify smugglers, and drug consumers. A special task force has been formed to focus on anti-drug operations, and 13 police stations have been notified for this purpose. De-addiction centres A 100-bed, fully equipped, modern de-addiction centre will be set up at Kotla Barog in Sirmaur district, said Shandil, adding that Rs 5.34 crore has already been approved for the project. He also informed that de-addiction and rehabilitation centres were already operational in the state – four for men in Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts, and one for women run by the Red Cross Society in Kullu district. For counselling of the youth, 108 new 'Disha' centres have been set up in health institutions, and ASHA workers, doctors, and psychiatrists are also being specially trained for this purpose, the minister added. MSID:: 123278955 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
New government has failed to contain atrocities in southern Syria, research fellow says
Deadly clashes in Syria's southern province of Suwayda show the new regime is incapable of protecting all Syrians, including its minorities, says Samy Akil, a non-resident fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Dozens have died after Syrian government officials tried to intervene following attacks between local Bedouin fighters and militias linked to the Druze minority over the last week, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Damascus Wednesday.
Hans India
11-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Five-day Rottela Panduga concludes
Nellore: A five-day Rottela Pandaga which began on July 6 at Bara Shaheed Dargah in the city successfully concluded on Thursday. According to official sources, more than 5 lakh devotees of all faiths from different parts of the country and abroad witnessed the 5-day event. No untoward incidents were reported in the mega event. Elaborate arrangements were made by the administration for the success of the event. Devotees in large numbers were seen exchanging Rottelu on the last day at Swarnala Cheruvu which was packed with people on Thursday. Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh, Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana, Minorities Minister NMD Farooq, Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakara Reddy etc have visited the Bara Shaheed Dargah during the five-day event. Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy along with his family members visited the Bara Shaheed Dargah. He picked up the Arogya Rotte at Swarnala Cheruvu and offered special prayers. On the occasion, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy has thanked Collector O Anand, SP G Krishnakanth, Municipal Commissioner Y O Nandan and other departments officials for their initiative for successfully conducting the 5-day event.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
A dicey successor issue
Dala iLama the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism had announced that his successor would be chosen by Gaden Phodrang Trust in a method as per old tradition of finding his reincarnation. The Chinese government, however, insists on following the Golden Urn lottery system for choosing Dalai Lama's successor that further requires approval of imperial dynasties for all 'Living Buddha incarnations', the system in vogue for 700 years that dates to the Qing dynasty. On the Indian side, Union Minister for Minorities Kiren Rijiju says that the right to name the successor is the sole prerogative of the Dalai Lama as per conventions. Nonetheless, India is dealing with intense border disputes with China and now the contentious issue of Tibet may further propel tensions. This successor issue needs to be handled cautiously, deftly and strategically by involving the US and UN. P R Ravinder Hyderabad Only Dalai Lama should have the final say A day after the Dalai Lama stated that only a trust affiliated with his office would have the authority to decide on his reincarnation, prompting China to assert that its approval was necessary, I strongly feel that only the Tibetan Buddhist leader has the right to make that decision. The Dalai Lama is the 'most important and defining institution' for Buddhists. All those who follow the Dalai Lama feel that the Incarnation is to be decided by the established convention and as per the wish of the Dalai Lama himself. On Wednesday, just days before his 90th birthday, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism had outlined his succession plans in a long-anticipated statement from Dharamshala, where he has lived for decades. China, which considers the Dalai Lama a separatist figure, responded by reiterating that any reincarnation must receive approval from Beijing. It is essential that India must support the Dalai Lama. Bhagwan Thadani Mumbai
New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Union Minister Chirag Paswan says he wants to contest upcoming assembly elections for the ‘sake of Bihar'
PATNA: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday said that he wants to contest forthcoming assembly elections for the 'sake of Bihar' and not for himself. Addressing the 'Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam' rally at Rajgir in Nalanda district, Chirag slammed the Opposition INDIA bloc, accusing them of misleading voters for their political gains. 'Be careful about the false narrative of the INDIA bloc in the coming election,' he added. Alleging that the Opposition was creating a false narrative to mislead people against the ruling NDA, LJP(RV) supremo said that before the 2024 Lok Sabha election, they (Opposition) contended that the Constitution would be under threat if Narendra Modi was elected as PM for the third consecutive term. 'The truth is before you. The Opposition is trying to play the same game this time again in assembly elections in Bihar. But they will not succeed in their gameplan as people have already understood their ulterior motive,' he told the gathering amid applause. Recalling the Emergency during the Congress regime, Chirag said that numerous people, mostly Dalits, Minorities and OBCs, had been forcibly sterilised. Others were put behind bars and harassed on the pretext of violating the government's directive, he asserted. He alleged that Congress used the people from the Minority community as a political tool and did nothing for their welfare. 'They are trying to project themselves as champions of minorities by organising a rally against the Waqf Act in Patna. But they are silent on the Turkman Gate massacre,' he asked.
