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Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Manik Sarkar tried his best to defame state govt': Tripura CM Manik Saha reacts to ex-CM's allegations of feud between allies BJP, Tipra Motha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha Thursday responded to former chief minister and veteran CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar's claim that ruling allies BJP and Tipra Motha were sparring with each other to gain political mileage ahead of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections, which are likely to be held next year. 'Time will speak for itself. You have to wait for the time. So, whenever there is a problem, we resolve it. Our former CM tried to say something else… Politically, he tried his best to defame this government and claim that we are not transparent…' Tripura CM Saha said. Citing the termination of 10,323 government school teachers by the Supreme Court during the erstwhile Left Front regime, Saha said, 'So far, employment is concerned, there is transparency. We are giving these job offers transparently. They didn't have the guts.' On Wednesday, Sarkar had also said, 'The BJP aims to expand its base, and the Tipra Motha is exerting pressure tactics to force them (BJP) to depend on them. All the public disputes are because of this. This is all about bargaining power.' He added that the BJP itself created the Tipra Motha, and that it was openly admitted by Lok Sabha MP and former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb. Speaking on the tripartite Tiprasa Accord, Sarkar said the Tipra Motha leaders were misleading the people. 'They keep on changing their stand and raising new demands. But people have begun to look through their strategies. They would be isolated politically sooner or later,' the CPI(M) leader said. Sarkar's statement came in the wake of the alleged attack by Tipra Motha workers on BJP supporters in the Asharambari area of Khowai district last Sunday. Blaming Tipra Motha for the incident, CM Saha had said in a social media post, 'Strongly condemn the violent & undemocratic attack by TIPRA Motha party workers during Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi Ji's #MannKiBaat programme at Asharambari. Several BJP karyakartas injured, 3 undergoing treatment at GB Hospital. I visited the hospital, instructed doctors to provide best care & directed police to take strict action against perpetrators. Such disgraceful acts won't be tolerated.' Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma had himself gone 'Live' on Facebook and criticised his party workers for the violence.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Meth, Yaba, Ice — these are top drugs fuelling ‘chemsex', finds AIIMS Delhi survey
Meth, Yaba, or Ice — all different forms of methamphetamine — are the most commonly used drugs during chemsex, a practice involving sexual activity under the influence of stimulants. This was revealed in a recent survey conducted by doctors at AIIMS Delhi. Yaba is a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine, while Ice is the crystal form of meth. Doctors said sexual activities performed under the influence of these stimulants have led to more HIV positive cases and other sexually transmitted diseases. Chemsex has been studied in several parts of the world, but has been an under-studied area in India. According to Dr Siddharth Sarkar, Additional Professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, anecdotally, use of substances in the context of sexual encounters has been increasing in India, especially 'among men having sex with men'. Chemsex has also been associated with a greater number of sexual partners and less frequent use of condoms. The survey noted that use of 'chems' like methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, etc., has been associated with improved mood, increased energy, and lack of fatigue, which leads to enhanced sexual experiences. Additionally, they may result in feelings of enhanced connection, cause disinhibition, and result in relaxation of sphincters. The online survey was conducted by doctors from the AIIMS psychiatry department last year. Here's what it found -It said that among 136 recruited participants (75.7% males, 44.1% of whom self-identified as homosexual), chemsex was practised by 46 participants (33.8% of the sample). -'Meth', 'Yaba', or 'Ice' were the commonest substances reported to be used, followed by MDMA, poppers, and cocaine. -Twenty-one individuals (i.e., 45.7% of the participants having chemsex) were also involved in slamsex, a specific form of chemsex that involves taking drugs via IV injection, either immediately before or while having sex. Out of these, seven were tested and were also found to be HIV positive. -About two-thirds of those who had chemsex had reported that their partners also used drugs or substances. While the research did not have direct, immediate benefits to the people surveyed, Dr Sarkar said the information gathered is helpful in better understanding chemsex. Dr Sarkar, who conducted the survey, said the most common motivation was to improve sexual pleasure, but this also resulted in several mental health issues. 'Adverse experiences were also reported, with gaps in memory and feelings of fear or anxiety being the commonest,' he said. Dr Sarkar said chemsex was more common in individuals who had greater numbers of partners, had indulged in group sex, had tested HIV positive, had sexually transmitted infections, or had taken Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medication that can be taken to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by an individual who engages in risky practices. He said this highlights the pattern of chemsex in the Indian population. 'With the limited sampling, the study suggests that risk mitigation strategies may be contemplated by individuals who indulge in the use of drugs (especially injection drug use) to facilitate sexual intercourse,' he said. Dr Sarkar said that while the sample size was low, and the identity of the respondents was kept anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, there have been instances where patients have landed in the emergency department due to excessive usage of the drugs for chemsex. How was the survey carried out? The study was an open online cross-sectional observational survey initiated from Delhi. Participants were Indian citizens, aged 18 years and above, willing to provide online informed consent. Those who were unwilling to provide informed consent were excluded. The survey was open from May 7 to July 25, 2024. The link to the questionnaire was shared through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Grindr. The initial link was sent to four contacts of the investigators. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire presented through Google Forms. The form was titled 'An online study to understand chemsex in India', which was followed by a brief description of the study and the investigators, with a contact email address. The participants were asked two initial questions about providing consent and being an Indian citizen. Some of the questions asked were about sexual orientation, number of sexual partners, sex under the influence of alcohol or substance, protection used during sex, and the reasons for taking drugs during sex. Snowball sampling was used to collect data. The online mode was chosen due to the potential reach and confidential nature of the questions. No incentives were offered to the participants for taking the survey. According to Dr Vinod Raina, Sexologist and Male Infertility Specialist & HIV Specialist practising in Delhi, the use of drugs before engaging in sexual activity has increased in the last 10 years. 'It is a common practice in other parts of the world. Chemsex is not new, but we have been seeing more sexually transmitted infections and HIV cases due to cases of chemsex in India. In my practice, I keep seeing such cases in Delhi,' he said. Dr Raina said the most common drug for chemsex is MDMA, which is available easily at a low cost and instantly increases the energy in a person to engage in sexual activity for a longer period. He said it also increases sexual desire. 'These drugs are creating havoc and have become a big problem, leading to HIV and syphilis because of prolonged unprotected sex,' he said. Dr Raina said his patients in Delhi have been getting the infection from 'rave parties'. 'I often get patients for PrEP treatment who tell me how they went to a rave party and do not remember the number of sexual partners they had,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘People who came here with dreams disgraced', say TMC MPs in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: Five Trinamool Congress MPs on Tuesday visited the city to interact with migrant workers, several of whom were rounded up and detained last week as Gurgaon police launched a drive to identify Bangladeshis and Rohingya living illegally in the city. Rajya Sabha MPs Mamata Thakur and Prakash Baraik, and Lok Sabha MPs Sharmila Sarkar, Pratima Mondal and Bapi Haldar went to Maidawas village in Sector 64, where they listened to accounts of the detention and fears of a recurrence from the settlement's largely Bengali-speaking migrant population. The MPs assured them of help by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal govt. "West Bengal is a part of India. Our people are not Bangladeshis. Police here should behave and treat them respectfully. Many people complained of being tortured and humiliated by cops even though they had all the documents… they were detained because they spoke in Bangla. Our govt is there for our people, and we will take every step to ensure their safety," Haldar, the parliamentarian from Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency, said. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Sarkar, who represents Bardhaman East in Lok Sabha, told TOI that the party delegation was sent to Gurgaon by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to address panic among people from the state after the verification drive led to many of them packing up and leaving. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Extend your summer in Mallorca Viva hotels Book Now Undo "The drive could have been handled better. These people came with dreams, but they have been disgraced in Gurgaon," Sarkar said. Starting July 18, Gurgaon police started detaining workers to follow up on the Union home ministry's May 2 directive to identify and deport illegal immigrants from the country. Around 250 people, most living in slum settlements, were detained in four 'holding centres' till police 'verified' their identity documents. Of these, 10 were eventually found to be undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. The drive sparked a political row as TMC accused BJP of targeting Bangla-speaking workers indiscriminately. "These illegal detentions are an insult to our mother tongue and ashmita (identity)… Speaking Bangla is being treated as a crime…" Mamata Banerjee had said. A senior police officer told TOI the drive was simply to identify and deport undocumented migrants. He added that many workers were seen leaving the city to go back to their hometowns in buses with West Bengal registration plates. "We had asked West Bengal authorities to verify documents within 48 hours, but they took long, and that's why people had to stay at holding centres for four days. They were given good food, bedding and filtered water. Some people are doing politics and causing unnecessary panic, forcing people to leave," the officer said. Lok Sabha MP Mondal refuted Gurgaon police's claims that the workers were detained for days because the West Bengal govt delayed the verification process. Mondal, who represents Jaynagar constituency, said police had seized workers' mobile phones. "So, they couldn't reach out to us. Still, we responded speedily to verification queries," she said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sheesh Mahal Trophy to be revived, says CAL chief Sehgal
Lucknow: After a landslide victory for a straight fifth term as president of the Cricket Association Lucknow (CAL), former IAS officer and Prasar Barati chairman Navneet Sehgal has plans to revive the prestigious tournament of Sheesh Mahal trophy in Lucknow. While the present generation of cricket lovers would most likely link the city of nawabs with Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL cricket franchise owned by the RPSG Group, but Lucknow's connection with cricket dates back to the days when the Sheesh Mahal trophy used to be quite popular. It was conducted from 1951 to 2002 by Askari Hasan. Later, after a break of a few years, Sahara India revived the prestigious tournament and conducted it till 2010, but the IPL sounded its death knell as both tournaments were played in the summer. Talking to TOI, Sehgal said, "We have a plan to revive the prestigious Sheesh Mahal trophy. The ownership of this tournament is with Sahara India, so we will discuss it with our CAL vice-president Abhijit Sarkar, who was instrumental in the revival and running of the tournament. We will conduct an official meeting and start the process after a long gap." Sarkar said, "It's a great initiative and we are ready for this, but we need a proper calendar from Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) or Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) so that all the state-level as well as national-level cricketers are able to represent their corporate teams and participate in this most popular tournament. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian NRIs Are Getting Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension On Retirement. Invest 18K/M Get Offer Undo Earlier, all top corporate teams and players came and performed here and got selected in the Indian team. " "We will try to revive the Sheesh Mahal trophy. In the last edition, we had changed the format and converted to T20 with a coloured dress. Unfortunately, for the least 15 years we have not been able to organise the tournament because of lack of a proper playing calendar," Sarkar told TOI.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
At Business Conclave, push for more Bengalis in business world
The Bengal Business Council hosted its annual convention and vision conclave on Sunday, featuring prominent entrepreneurs and industrialists in attendance. Notable figures such as economist Abhirup Sarkar and former cricketer Sourav Ganguly were also present. The convention's six-point agenda aimed to encourage more Bengalis to pursue business as a career. The key points of this agenda include: Promoting existing start-ups and small businesses owned by Bengalis to help them scale up; Encouraging internal business collaborations among council members; Fostering business development in a cooperative and collaborative manner for council members; Representing members in their interactions with the government regarding policy issues that affect them; Establishing an organization dedicated to achieving these goals and ensuring continuity. During the event, economist Abhirup Sarkar focused on the industrial structure of businesses in Bengal and the national market policy. 'Bengal was once an industrial leader, even ahead of Maharashtra and Gujarat. After independence, we had an initial advantage with established industries. However, some factors led to significant problems. The industries present in Bengal were mainly British companies focused on exports, particularly in tea, jute, and coal, rather than the domestic market. In contrast, Maharashtra was producing primarily for domestic consumption,' Sarkar explained. According to Sarkar, Bengal has consistently lagged in terms of productivity. He noted that at one time, the overall environment was not conducive to growth, and the political climate was also unwelcoming. 'The bombings during the Naxalite movement created challenges that prompted many multinational companies to relocate their headquarters,' he said. Sarkar emphasized the importance of community-based businesses: 'Worldwide, we see that once a community-based business is established, it paves the way for others to enter the market. If there is a successful community business, it can serve as an example for startups.' Discussing the impact of the Left government and its decline, Sarkar remarked, 'In the past, both Bengal and Kerala had Left governments. While West Bengal pursued large investments, often facing land shortages, Kerala focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, resulting in considerable advancement. Kerala's per capita income has more than doubled. I believe we need to concentrate on small and medium enterprises in Bengal. Even now, productivity remains low, and that must change. It would be beneficial to build a robust Bengali business community and foster cooperation. I am confident that with the right focus, Bengal can move forward, as there is no lack of potential.' Speaking at the same event, Sourav Ganguly shared his journey in sports, which began with holding the hand of his elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly. 'There will be failures, but we must remain determined. You have to master the art of success.' He believes that beyond leadership, trusting your team and teamwork are essential to achieving long-term success. 'If you don't believe in hard work, there is no point in seeking success. You must take risks to achieve something, and ultimately, you need to have sportsmanship,' Ganguly said. Ganguly further stated, 'I do what makes me happy. I am passionate about sports and will do whatever it takes to thrive in the sports sector and contribute to youth development. I don't see pressure as a burden; I see it as an opportunity. The best way to face pressure is to confront it repeatedly and maintain discipline.' He also expressed his satisfaction with the increasing number of Bengali entrepreneurs in the country. Speaking to mediapersons outside the event, on India-Pakistan being drawn in the same group, Ganguly said, 'The sport must go on. However, we must ensure that incidents like Pahalgam do not occur. Terrorism needs to be stopped, and India has taken a strong stance against it.'
