Latest news with #RowlattAct
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong likens Maha Security Bill to colonial-era Rowlatt Act
1 2 Nagpur: Congress state president Harshavardhan Sapkal said the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill is nothing short of a modern-day Rowlatt Act, "designed to criminalise dissent and repress constitutional freedoms in Maharashtra". Addressing a press conference at Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi recently, Sapkal warned that the BJP-led govt's public safety bill is aimed at targeting activists, reformers, and civil society groups under the garb of "urban Naxalism." "The 1919 Rowlatt Act gave the British unchecked powers to arrest Indians without trial. Devendra Fadnavis wants to revive the same colonial mindset through this black law," Sapkal said. He described the Bill as "draconian," enabling the state to imprison individuals or shut down organisations without investigation. "It categorises offences as cognisable and non-bailable. This is a naked attempt to criminalise dissent," he said. The MPCC chief accused the state govt of invoking "urban Naxalism" as a vague and weaponised label to silence those advocating caste justice, gender equality, and constitutional rights. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Far Does $1,000,000 Go in Retirement? Fisher Investments Canada Learn More Undo "Even followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi are being branded as threats. Are saints Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram and Mahatma Gandhi next in line?" he asked. Citing an RTI response from the Centre, Sapkal noted that no verified data exists to support the state's narrative on "urban Naxal" networks. "This is a smokescreen to bring the state under surveillance and fear," he said. The Congress leader asserted that his party stands firmly against the Bill and any effort to impose a monolithic national identity. "India belongs to Gandhi's vision, not to the venom of majoritarian rule," Sapkal said.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Student delegation visits Delhi Assembly
New Delhi: Aspart of the National Governance Tour 2025, a delegation of 45 bright students from 28 states—representing premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NLUs, and other leading universities,visited the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Monday. The group held an interactive session with Speaker Vijender Gupta on the theme: 'Strengthening Legislative Transparency and Accountability in Urban Governance.' In a vibrant dialogue, students explored various facets of public participation and institutional oversight within Delhi's legislative processes. They engaged actively with Speaker Gupta, asking insightful questions and exchanging views on the role of youth in strengthening democratic governance. Addressing the delegation, Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasized the pivotal role of legislative institutions in a democracy and encouraged students to contribute actively to public life with integrity and a spirit of service. Applauding the participants' keen interest in planned and democratic governance, he answered their questions during a 20-minute Q&A session. 'This Assembly belongs to the people,' said Gupta. 'Your curiosity and participation are powerful symbols of India's democratic future.' He also informed the students about several reform initiatives currently underway in the Delhi Assembly, including the recent adoption of the Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) developed by the Government of India. This system enables real-time tracking of audit objections raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), marking a significant stride toward greater transparency and accountability. Further showcasing the Assembly's commitment to sustainable governance, Gupta shared that a 500-kilowatt solar power project is being installed within the Assembly premises, expected to be completed by July. Once operational, this initiative will reduce the annual electricity expenditure by approximately Rs 2 crore. 'This project reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and economic prudence,' he added. Delving into India's legislative history, Gupta recounted a significant moment from March 18, 1919, when the Rowlatt Act was passed in Delhi. During the heated debate, Mahatma Gandhi was present in the visitors' gallery and later addressed the public outside the Assembly premises. Speaker Gupta described this event as a defining example of civil resistance and people's participation, marking the deep roots of India's democratic journey. In conclusion, Gupta urged the youth to become future torchbearers of democratic values, transparency, and accountability, and to act as a bridge between citizen leadership and institutional governance.
News18
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kesari 2.0: A Roaring Tribute To CS Nair, The Lion Who Shook An Empire
Last Updated: Kesari 2.0 is a mirror to our conscience, a fist against oblivion. It demands that we teach this history, seek a genuine British apology, and honour Nair with the Bharat Ratna As they say—and believe—that men don't cry, I cried my heart out when I waded into my nearest theatre to watch Kesari 2.0. This isn't just a film; it's a blazing inferno that scorches the silence shrouding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and resurrects the towering legacy of Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair—a nationalist lawyer nearly erased by the Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra dynasty and their Marxist historian lapdogs. With Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan delivering performances that sear the soul, Kesari 2.0 demands that we honour Nair with a posthumous Bharat Ratna and immortalise Jallianwala's martyrs in stone and memory. Rewind to 13 April 1919—Amritsar's Jallianwala Bagh. Thousands—men, women, and children—had gathered for Baisakhi, some protesting the oppression of the Rowlatt Act. In ten brutal minutes, General Reginald Dyer, a psychopath in British garb, sealed the only exit and unleashed 1,650 rounds. Over a thousand fell, their blood soaking the earth; thousands more lay wounded. The British, masters of deception, pegged the toll at 379—a number as vile as the act itself. Yet, 77 years after Independence, this genocide festers in silence. The Congress, which ruled for decades, barely uttered its name. The British? Unapologetic. Their 'regret" a hollow mockery, devoid of atonement. Kesari 2.0 shatters this apathy through C.S. Nair, portrayed with blistering intensity by Akshay Kumar. Nair, a Keralite lawyer knighted by the British, was no soldier but a legal giant—the sole Indian on the Viceroy's Executive Council and a former Congress president. Outraged by the horror of Jallianwala, he resigned in protest, shaking the colonial core. His book, Gandhi and Anarchy, accused Punjab's Lieutenant Governor, Michael O'Dwyer, of complicity, sparking a defamation trial in London's King's Bench. For five and a half weeks, Nair faced a hostile English jury and judge—unyielding—his courtroom battle a global exposé of British barbarity. Kumar embodies Nair with a fire that burns through the screen—his eyes ablaze with defiance, his voice trembling with righteous grief. But it is R. Madhavan, as a British-aligned lawyer, who steals the breath from your lungs. Madhavan isn't just supreme—he's a revelation, a force of nature whose performance is nothing short of divine. His character, torn between loyalty to the Crown and the stirrings of conscience, walks a tightrope of intellect and emotion—and Madhavan navigates it with surgical precision. Every glance, every pause, every word drips with gravitas—his presence commands the screen like a maestro conducting a symphony of tension. In courtroom clashes with Kumar's Nair, Madhavan's delivery is electrifying, his voice a velvet blade that cuts deep. This is Madhavan at his zenith, proving he is not just an actor but a sorcerer who conjures raw, pulsating humanity. His performance alone is worth the ticket—it is a masterclass that will echo in cinematic history. Director Karan Singh Tyagi weaves a masterpiece, blending historical grit with emotional heft. The screenplay, sharp as a khukri, slices through colonial lies—each line a spark of rage and sorrow. The production, backed by Dharma Productions and inspired by The Case That Shook the Empire by Nair's great-grandson Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, recreates 1919 with haunting fidelity. The massacre scene, underscored by Teri Mitti 's soul-rending notes, isn't just witnessed—it's lived. Every bullet feels like a stab to the heart. Kesari 2.0 isn't just cinema; it's a reckoning. Why was Nair's legacy buried? Why did the Congress, under the grip of the Nehru-Gandhi-Vadra clan, erase a man who once led their own party? Shashi Tharoor's admission—that Nair's portrait gathers dust behind those of Indira and Rajiv at Kerala's Congress HQ—is a stinging indictment of dynastic erasure, abetted by Marxist historians peddling a curated narrative. This film is a corrective, a defiant resurrection. It demands a memorial for Jallianwala's martyrs, their names etched in stone to honour those slain by the inhuman British Crown. And isn't it poetic justice that India's economy, once looted by those colonisers, now dwarfs that of the United Kingdom? This is Bharat's revenge. Nair, who traded privilege for truth, deserves the Bharat Ratna. Posthumously, it would rebuke the Congress's amnesia and salute a patriot who rattled an empire. As I left the theatre, tears staining my cheeks, I felt both rage and redemption—rage at the silence cloaking Nair and Jallianwala, redemption in this film's refusal to let them fade. Kesari 2.0 is a mirror to our conscience, a fist against oblivion. It demands that we teach this history, seek a genuine British apology, and honour Nair with the Ratna. Go watch it. Let Kumar and Madhavan break you, enrage you, and inspire you. Let's build that memorial, award that Ratna, and ensure Jallianwala's cry echoes in Bharat's soul forever. Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
Times of Oman
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
India: PM Modi, leaders pay tribute to Jallianwala Bagh "martyrs" on 105th anniversary
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, calling it a "dark chapter" in India's history and a "major turning point" in the country's freedom struggle. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "We pay homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh. The coming generations will always remember their indomitable spirit. It was indeed a dark chapter in our nation's history. Their sacrifice became a major turning point in India's freedom struggle." Several other leaders also remembered the victims and the impact of the brutal massacre, which took place on April 13, 1919, during British colonial rule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote, "The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is a dark chapter in India's freedom struggle that shook the entire country. The anger that arose among the countrymen due to the cruelty of the British rule, which had reached the pinnacle of inhumanity, turned the freedom movement into a struggle of the masses." Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also paid tribute, stating, "Homage to the innocent martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. India will forever remain indebted to them. The colonial barbarity that day in 1919 gave rise to a new wave of national consciousness, more fierce, fearless and resolute for freedom." "May the sacrifice of the brave men, women and children inspire us to protect our sovereignty, inclusivity and freedom," he added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also posted his tribute on X: "Tributes to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their determination, courage and sacrifice for our freedoms will never be forgotten." The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place on April 13, 1919, remains one of the darkest chapters in India's colonial history. According to the Ministry of Culture, the massacre marked a turning point in India's freedom struggle and is remembered as a symbol of courage and resistance. The massacre occurred in Amritsar, Punjab, where thousands had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh during the festival of Baisakhi. The gathering was also meant to peacefully protest against the Rowlatt Act and demand the release of leaders Dr Satyapal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew. British officer Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, without issuing any warning, ordered his troops to fire on the unarmed crowd. According to the Ministry of Culture, "1650 rounds were fired. The firing ceased only after the ammunition had ran out." While official British records put the death toll at 291, Indian leaders like Madan Mohan Malviya estimated over 500 deaths. According to the Ministry of Culture, Brigadier General Dyer showed no remorse for his actions during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In his testimony before the Hunter Commission, he displayed an "unapologetic attitude" when asked about the aftermath of the firing. As cited by the Ministry, he was questioned, "After firing took place, did you take any measures to attend to the wounded?" to which Dyer replied, "No, certainly not. It was not my job. Hospitals were open, and they should have gone there." The Ministry of Culture also highlights how General Dyer's actions during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre were promptly acknowledged and approved by the colonial authorities. As per official records, 'Sir' Michael O'Dwyer, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab province, sent a direct message to Dyer stating, "Your action correct. Lieutenant-Governor approves." The brutality of the act led Rabindranath Tagore to renounce his Knighthood. Udham Singh later assassinated Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Province, who had backed the action. According to the Ministry of Culture, "The Jallianwala Bagh It stands as a symbol of struggle and sacrifice and continues to instill patriotism amongst the (Indian) youth." A memorial was set up by the Government of India in 1951 at Jallianwala Bagh to commemorate the spirit of Indian revolutionaries and the people who lost their lives in the brutal massacre. The memorial, as per the Ministry, stands as a symbol of struggle and sacrifice and continues to instill patriotism amongst the youth. In March 2019, the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum was inaugurated, showcasing an authentic account of the massacre.
