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India Gazette
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Institutional apathy, criminal complicity": Pawan Khera slams "Double Engine Sarkar" on Balasore self-immolation case
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday slammed the 'Double Engine Sarkar' highlighting the institutional apathy and criminal complicity after a young woman in Odisha was driven to self-immolation facing relentless sexual harassment by her college Head of Department (HoD). He said that despite her repeated pleas for help, including to the Principal, Internal Complaints Committee, and even the Chief Minister and Education Minister on social media, her complaints fell on deaf ears. A student of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha's Balasore was admitted to the AIIMS Bhubaneswar hospital on July 12 after she allegedly self-immolated. Khera stressed that the victim's complaints were ignored, and even a BJP MP's demand for the HoD's suspension was brushed aside by the college Principal. 'A BJP MP had demanded the HoD's suspension but even he was brushed aside - by the college Principal. As such, it is safe to call the Double Engine Sarkar a cruel joke. Because it does not even empower a local MP from the ruling party enough to prevail over a college Principal in a matter so crucial and sensitive', Pawan Khera's 'X' post read. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday informed that he was told about the matter by the woman and her friends, following which he spoke to the college principal and the Superintendent of Police of Balasore. Sarangi said that the woman had attempted suicide before as well, and when he heard the news, the BJP MP said he called the college principal, but there was no response. 'It is a national tragedy that a young woman in Odisha was forced to set herself on fire after facing relentless sexual harassment by her college HoD. She pleaded for help - informally to the Principal, formally to the Internal Complaints Committee, and publicly to the CM and Education Minister on social media. Yet, her complaints went unheard', Pawan Khera wrote on 'X'. Pawan Khera termed the incident a 'criminal complicity' and demanded strict action against the accused, HoD, and others involved in the Balasore self-immolation case. 'This is institutional apathy but even more, it is criminal complicity. The culprit, HoD must face the law for driving a woman to self-immolation, but the Principal and the ICC must also be held accountable - not merely for negligence, but for abutment', Khera wrote on 'X'. Pawan Khera claimed that the victim was an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad office bearer in a BJP ruled state and mentioned that if this is the 'fate' of their 'own woman' what can ordinary women do with no access to networks of power. 'Notably, the victim was an ABVP office bearer in a BJP-ruled state. If this is the fate of their own, what can ordinary women - with no access to networks of power - in Odisha, and beyond, possibly expect?', Khera added. Earlier today AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas assured that the medical team is providing the best possible care to the patient of the Balasore self-immolation case. The student was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with severe burns, covering almost 90-95% of her body. She is currently on a ventilator in the ICU, and her condition is critical. 'Yesterday, we received the patient in critical condition. The patient is on a ventilator in the ICU. She has almost 90-95 per cent burns. The patient is critical, we are trying our best. We are providing the best possible care to the patient. A committee has been formed to look after various aspects, multi-disciplinary critical care...,' Dr Biswas told ANI. Balasore Police on Saturday arrested the accused in the FM (Auto) College female student self-immolation attempt case and produced her before the court. Meanwhile, the Odisha government have formed a committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged harassment case against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor at FM Auto College, who has been arrested following the suicide attempt by a female student of the college on July 12. (ANI)
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Climate
- India Gazette
"Not a word of consolation..": Pawan Khera slams PM Modi's silence on Mandi floods
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expressing grief and condoling the loss of lives in the Texas floods while keeping silent on the devastation caused by floods in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, where over 70 people are feared dead. 'The PM of India has not spoken a word of consolation to those suffering in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, where over 70 people are feared dead in the calamitous floods. Meanwhile, he is deeply saddened by the destruction caused by floods in Texas, USA,' posted Pawan Khera on X. The heavy downpour in Himachal Pradesh has wreaked havoc, with the state reporting 23 flash floods, followed by 19 cloud burst incidents and 16 landslides until July 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning for 'Extremely Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm and Lightning, Squall' for July 6. For July 7, the IMD forecast 'Very Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm and Lightning, Squall'. The weather department forecast heavy rains for July 8 and 9. According to a report issued by the Himachal Pradesh government, at least 78 people have lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh since the onset of the monsoon on June 20. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), of these, 50 deaths were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, while 28 fatalities were reported in road accidents. 'The cumulative toll due to various monsoon-related disasters in Himachal Pradesh has reached 78 as of July 6,' the State Disaster Management Authority stated. The rain-induced tragedies include 14 deaths from flash floods, eight due to drowning, eight from electrocution and accidental falls, and smaller numbers in landslides, lightning strikes, and snake bites. Mandi district reported the highest number of rain-related deaths at 17, followed by Kangra with 11. Other severely affected districts include Kullu (3 deaths), Chamba (3), and Shimla (3), the report further said. Beyond casualties, the state has also suffered widespread infrastructural and economic damage. According to SDMA data, 269 roads have been blocked, 285 power transformers have been affected, and 278 water supply schemes have been impacted. The total loss to public and private property has been estimated at over Rs 57 crore. Mandi district has emerged as the worst-hit region, with the highest number of infrastructure damages reported. A total of 181 roads remain blocked in Mandi alone, while 278 water supply schemes have been rendered non-functional across the state. Key subdivisions in the districts of Seraj, Karsog, Thalout, and Dharampur have reported extensive damage to public utilities, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri informed ANI. The impact of the monsoon this year has been deadly. Between June 20 and July 6, a total of 78 people lost their lives, with 50 of these deaths directly attributed to rain-related disasters such as flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and electrocutions. An additional 28 people died in road accidents. (ANI)
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Opposition united in opposing special revision of electoral rolls in Bihar: Cong
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Congress on Monday claimed the entire opposition stands united in opposing the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar aimed at disenfranchising the vast number of voters due to a "mischievous methodology".The party's in charge of the media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, said the Congress, along with nine political parties, have challenged the "flawed" Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the Supreme Court."Today, the Indian National Congress, along with nine political parties, came together to file a challenge to the flawed and destructive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being carried out by the ECI."The entire opposition stands together to oppose an exercise that is guaranteed to disenfranchise a vast number of voters due to its malicious and mischievous methodology. The Supreme Court has listed the matter for Thursday, July 10, 2025. Satyamev Jayate," Khera said in his post on Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the decision of the Election Commission to undertake the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.A partial working day (PWD) bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of a battery of senior lawyers led by Kapil Sibal on behalf of several petitioners and agreed to hear the pleas on who appeared for RJD MP Manoj Jha, urged the bench to issue notices to the poll panel on the petitions, saying it is an impossible task to be done within the timeline (as elections are likely to be held in November).Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for another petitioner, submitted that there are around eight crore voters in the state, of which around four crore voters will have to submit their documents under the exercise.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Mockery of Democracy': Opposition Slam SC Call On Bihar Voter Roll Revision Case,War of Words Ensue
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress, RJD, and other opposition leaders, who allege that the exercise could disenfranchise lakhs of poor and minority voters in just 25-30 days during the monsoon, a process that took over a year in 2003. Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the EC of 'mocking the democratic process,' while RJD's Tejashwi Yadav claimed the EC is 'confused' and merely functioning like a post office. Meanwhile, BJP's Syed Shahnawaz Hussain defended the move, calling voter verification routine and alleging that the opposition is spreading fear among Muslim voters for political gain.#biharvoterlist #supremecourt #electioncommission #tejashwiyadav #pawankhera #shahnawazhussain #congress #rjd #bjp #biharpolls #biharassemblypolls #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar elections: SC agrees to hear pleas challenging EC's electoral roll decision amid political uproar
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear pleas challenging the Election Commission of India's decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. This decision follows opposition from the INDIA bloc, led by RJD MP Dr. Manoj Jha, who questioned the revision's timing and process. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bihar's SIR impact Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Amid a political uproar, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission of India 's move to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar on July move comes as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) approached the apex court, challenging the poll panel's decision to carry out a electoral rolls' revision activity in Bihar just months ahead of the Assembly elections. RJD's Manoj Jha has contended that one of the most affected classes are the migrant workers, many of whom despite remaining listed in the 2003 voter rolls, are unlikely to be able to return to Bihar within the stipulated time frame of 30 days to submit their enumeration forms leading to automatic deletion of their names from the electoral roll in violation of R 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, had also indicated that they were exploring multiple options, including legal action and a mass agitation, to oppose the SIR in poll-bound Bihar, according to an ET spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters that the party had 'lost all faith in the ECI brass' after a meeting between Opposition leaders and the Election Commission the previous day. He alleged that the Commission's top officials were behaving like 'bicholia' (middlemen) of the the Election Commission on Friday said that nearly 87 per cent of Bihar's 7.96 crore voters have already been provided with semi-filled enumeration forms as part of the ongoing SIR exercise. The forms were distributed during the first visit of booth-level officers (BLOs) to nearly 1.5 crore households across the to the EC, over 6.86 crore forms have been handed out so far, with nearly 38 lakh already collected by BLOs. The Commission stated that the revision process is guided by the principle of 'Inclusion First' to ensure that no eligible voter is left addition, around 1.55 lakh booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties are also taking part in the process. Each BLA is allowed to submit up to 50 certified forms per 2025 SIR in Bihar is different on several counts. While an 'intensive' revision mostly involves a 'de novo' exercise, drawing up a fresh electoral roll from the scratch, the Bihar SIR is using the 2002-03 electoral roll as a base to build upon. At the same time, it involves a new pre-printed enumeration form included in the usual house-to-house verification format and document submission, associated with an 'intensive' revision. It is, also, very different from previous intensive revision exercises in terms of has seldom ordered a full state and full-scale intensive revision in a state 4-6 months ahead of scheduled assembly elections, as is the case with Bihar. Bihar saw its last intensive revision in 2002, a good three years away from the assembly polls held in October when the EC, on June 29, 2004 announced an intensive roll revision in eight states, it chose to leave out two states which were pending a similar intensive roll revision. These were Arunachal Pradesh & Maharashtra where assembly polls were due in October EC has, in fact, often conducted 'intensive' revision in certain areas of a state.
