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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI MP seeks NIA probe into Dharmasthala ‘crimes'
Rajya Sabha member P. Sandosh Kumar of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday appealed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the alleged burials of bodies which took place in Dharmasthala village in Karnataka over a decade ago. In a letter to Mr. Shah, he said, '... Recent developments have brought to the fore a grim reality that cannot be ignored. What appeared over the years as isolated incidents now unmistakably point to a disturbing and systematic pattern of crimes — primarily targeting women, often silenced through coercion, and concealed with frightening impunity...' The MP said that a series of 'unsolved crimes' over several decades, primarily targeting women, reveal chilling signs of systematic violence, concealment, and administrative silence in a town that is sacred to millions across India. The letter cited a series of alleged crimes since 1979, especially involving young women, that remained uninvestigated and are part of 'a larger, deeply troubling pattern'. '... In 1979, a schoolteacher named Vedavalli was burnt alive in her bathroom after legally winning a promotion that some influential forces allegedly opposed. In 1986, Padmalatha, a young pre-university student and daughter of a local Communist leader, was kidnapped and later found naked and lifeless in the Netravati river — seemingly punished for her father's political stand. In 2004, medical student Ananya Bhat went missing during a visit to Dharmasthala; her mother, a CBI employee who tried to investigate, was physically attacked and fell into a coma. No FIR was ever filed. In 2012, two siblings — Narayan and Yamuna — were brutally murdered in their home, just metres away from the KSRTC bus stand. They had reportedly resisted pressure to vacate their land. Their house was razed soon after and replaced by a commercial building. That same year, 17-year-old Sowjanya, a PU student, was abducted, raped, and murdered. A mentally ill man was quickly framed and jailed, only to be acquitted years later. Multiple witnesses died mysteriously during the course of the case...' the letter said. '...These are not isolated aberrations. Taken together, they reveal signs of an organised criminal enterprise — one that has flourished under administrative silence,' wrote Mr. Kumar. He also flagged the alleged pattern of intimidation, harassment, and suppression faced by activists, RTI petitioners, journalists, and families who sought justice. The MP said that despite widespread protests and appeals, the State government has failed to establish a credible Special Investigation Team (SIT), and the so-called 'acquittal review committee' was never properly constituted. The MP urged Mr. Shah to immediately transfer the matter to the NIA for a fair and credible investigation. 'Let me emphasise that this appeal is made in the firm belief that the spiritual sanctity of Dharmasthala must be protected — not just in ritual or appearance, but in truth, justice, and transparency,' the MP wrote. Stressing that a town revered by millions cannot remain clouded by fear, suspicion, and buried truths, he added.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
A race against time to save Indian nurse! Why is Nimisha Priya sentenced to death in Yemen? Explained
An Indian nurse, Nimisha Priya, on death row in war-torn Yemen, will be executed on July 16 as attempts continue to win her a stay of execution. Priya was sentenced to death for the murder of a Yemeni citizen--her former business partner - whose dismembered body was found in a water tank in 2017. In 2020, a Yemeni court handed her the death sentence, and the country's Supreme Judicial Council dismissed her appeal in November 2023. The 38-year-old nurse is presently lodged in a jail in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital city that is under the control of Iran-backed Houthis. As the clamour against the sentencing of the Malayali nurse gained traction, politicians like Mehbooba Mufti and Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In a post on social media platform X, Mehbooba wrote, "Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse, is facing execution in Yemen on 16th July. She was allegedly subjected to severe abuse, and in an attempt to defend herself, a man died. Nimisha now faces the death penalty.' She said that under Yemeni law, clemency can only be granted if blood money is paid to the victim's family, an option the nurse's family is desperately pursuing. "Request Dr. S. Jaishankar to intervene immediately. Unfortunately, till now, the required funds and diplomatic pressure are both inadequate. Urgently appeal to everyone, especially women, to donate generously," Mufti wrote. Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar, in a letter to Jaishankar, highlighted that Nimisha Priya's case has "shaken the conscience of the public" over the lack of legal safeguards. "I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. Nimisha's case has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal," Sandosh Kumar wrote in his letter to Jaishankar. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today agreed to hear the petition urging the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save the Kerala nurse facing the death sentence in Yemen. A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi issued a notice to the Attorney General, seeking his assistance, and posted the matter for hearing on July 14, PTI reported. Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., appearing for the petitioner, argued that urgent diplomatic intervention is needed. He also suggested that under Sharia law, the payment of "blood money" to the victim's family could pave the way for a pardon, potentially saving the nurse's life. Nimisha Priya's lawyer, Subhash Chandran, said that if the family of the victim (the Yemeni national) is ready to accept the "blood money" and pardon Nimisha Priya, "her life will be saved." Chandran explained that Sharia law prevails in Yemen. Under Islamic law, the payment of blood money (diya) is the principal punishment for unintentional killing and culpable homicide. Diya can also be paid in murder cases in which the relatives of the victim waive their right to qiṣāṣ (retribution) and choose to receive blood money instead. Qiṣāṣ is the principal punishment for murder. The lawyer said an "immediate intervention" by the Indian government in the matter is crucial. 'We need their immediate intervention. We are ready to pay the amount. We don't need a single penny from the government. We are just requesting them to facilitate the negotiation, as we are unable to travel to Yemen,' he added. Priya, a nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 in search of better job opportunities. Her life took a tragic turn in 2017 when she was arrested after the body of a Yemeni national, Mahdi, was discovered. Currently 34, Nimisha is being held at Sanaa Central Prison in Yemen's capital. Authorities accused her of killing Mahdi by administering an overdose of sedatives and allegedly dismembering his body. Nimisha, however, denied the charges. In court, her defence argued that Mahdi had subjected her to repeated physical abuse, taken control of her finances, confiscated her passport, and even threatened her at gunpoint. Her lawyer claimed she only tried to sedate Mahdi to recover her passport, but the dosage unintentionally proved fatal. Despite her defence, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death in 2020. Her family appealed to the Supreme Court of Yemen, but the verdict was upheld in 2023. In January this year, Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi rebel group's Supreme Political Council, formally approved her execution order.
India Gazette
10-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar seeks EAM Jaishankar's intervention to save nurse Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI ) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing execution by Yemeni authorities on July 16. In a letter to Jaishankar, the CPI MP highlighted that Nimisha Priya's case has 'shaken the conscience of the public' about the lack of legal safeguards. 'I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. Nimisha's case has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal, ' Sandosh Kumar wrote in his letter to Jaishankar. This comes amid reports that the 37-year-old nurse from Kerala is scheduled to be executed on July 16. The trial court convicted her of killing the Yemeni national, a decision that was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Sandosh Kumar emphasised that Nimisha Priya 'endured repeated abuse and coercion' at the hands of her business partner and said that now Yemen has placed her on death row, 'a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations.' 'Nimisha Priya travelled to Yemen to work as a nurse, like many others who leave their homeland in search of a livelihood. Her years there were marked by grave suffering-accounts suggest she endured repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. Denied her passport and subjected to constant fear and exploitation, she found herself in a desperate situation. What followed was a tragic turn of events that has now placed her on death row in a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations. In such circumstances, the role of the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, becomes critical and urgent,' the CPI leader said. The Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar further added that the Communist Party of India has consistently stood by Nimisha Priya's family in their appeal for justice and compassion. 'Several initiatives and communications have been made over the years. We understand that the Yemeni legal system allows for resolution through the provision of diyat (blood money), which opens a window for negotiation, provided the Indian government steps in to facilitate it,' he said. The CPI MP urged the external affairs minister to use every possible diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay on the execution and pursue all available means to prevent this irreversible punishment. 'It is a question not only of saving a life but of reaffirming the nation's responsibility towards its citizens abroad, particularly those vulnerable and caught in extreme circumstances. India must speak with urgency, compassion, and resolve' Kumar said. Previously, MEA confirmed its awareness of the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance. In response to media queries regarding the case of Nimisha Priya, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter.' (ANI)
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
CPI(M) MP Sandosh Kumar urges RSS to uphold secularism, socialism in Constitution
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar on Sunday wrote a letter to RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, urging him to recognise the critical role of secularism and socialism as foundational values of the Indian Constitution after RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call for reconsideration of the words 'secularism' and 'socialism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. In his letter, Kumar criticised recent statements made by the senior RSS functionary, questioning these principles and arguing that they are essential to India's pluralistic and just society. He also urged the RSS to formally accept the Constitution and cease actions that undermine its spirit. 'These principles are not arbitrary insertions but foundational ideals that emerged from the lived experiences of India's oppressed and the visionary imagination of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and many others who sought to create a just, pluralistic Republic. In a diverse country like ours, secularism ensures unity in diversity, while socialism promises justice and dignity to each of our citizens. To ridicule or reject these values is to negate the promise made to the people of India at the moment of our nation's liberation from colonial rule,' Kumar wrote. The letter also criticises RSS's historical stance in contrast to CPI(M)'s progressive policies and its active role during the anti-colonial movement. 'While revolutionaries, peasants, workers, students, and patriotic forces, many of them from my party, the Communist Party of India, faced the British with courage and sacrifice, the RSS watched from the sidelines. We played an active role in the anti-colonial movement, participated in mass upsurges, and later, wholeheartedly supported the framing of our Constitution. We upheld the tricolour with pride, stood for land reforms, supported the abolition of privy purses, defended the public sector, fought for bank nationalisation, and worked to institutionalise social justice and labour rights. The RSS, in contrast, mocked these struggles, opposed the national flag, and undermined every progressive policy meant to democratise Indian society,' he stated. The CPI(M) leader further questioned the RSS's commitment to the Constitution, referencing MS Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, whose writings according to Sandosh allegedly viewed democracy and equality as alien to Indian culture and admired Nazi Germany. 'In this light, I wish to ask you plainly: does the RSS truly accept the Indian Constitution and its fundamental values? Or does it draw inspiration from the writings of M.S. Golwalkar, who referred to democracy and equality as alien to Indian culture and held Nazi Germany as a model? Why has the RSS never formally passed a resolution accepting the Constitution as it stands? Why do its members repeatedly undermine the Constitution, provoke communal sentiments, and promote historical distortions? India needs answers--not obfuscations,' Kumar demanded, calling for clarity and accountability. Kumar urged Bhagwat to counsel RSS cadres to uphold the Constitution, warning against the dangers of division. 'It is time the RSS stop inflaming these debates for the sake of polarisation. Our people, Dalits, Muslims, Christians, Adivasis, backward castes, women, and the poor all deserve peace, dignity, and progress, not hatred and fear. I urge you to counsel your cadres to uphold the Constitution in letter and spirit. Let us all learn from history, including the history of Guru Golwalkar's favourite Nazi Germany: those who divide societies may win temporary power, but they leave behind enduring wreckage,' he concluded. Earlier, RSS general secretary Hosabale suggested reconsidering the inclusion of the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Hosabale was addressing an event on the 50th anniversary of the emergency, held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture) and the Ambedkar International Centre. Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the emergency wasn't just a misuse of power but an attempt to crush civil liberties. Millions were imprisoned, and freedom of the press was suppressed. He remarked that during the emergency, terms like 'socialist' and 'secular' were forcibly inserted into the Constitution -- a move that needs to be reconsidered. (ANI)
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPI seeks support of political parties for impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma
NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) MP and Leader of the party in the Upper House, P Sandosh Kumar has written to the presidents of all political parties demanding their support in initiating impeachment proceedings against former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma, following the shocking reports of unaccounted hoards of cash allegedly recovered from his residence. In his letter, Sandosh Kumar stated that 'if proven true, these allegations are not only a gross betrayal of public trust but also a serious affront to the integrity of our judicial institutions.' Kumar urged all political parties to rise above partisanship and take constitutional responsibility to safeguard the credibility of India's judiciary. The Centre is weighing the option of bringing in Parliament an impeachment motion against Justice Varma, who has been indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel after the discovery of a huge sum of burnt cash from his official residence in the national capital.
