Latest news with #ex-BJP
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ladakh: Statehood issue yet to be addressed, say Kargil leaders
With the Union government notifying new rules for Ladakh, allowing reservation in government jobs for locals, a 15-year residency requirement for domicile status, one-third of seats in hill councils for women, and five official languages as part of efforts to safeguard the region's interests, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has said statehood is a big issue for it. At the same time, it also said 'something is better than nothing'. The KDA, along with the Leh Apex Body (LAB), has been spearheading an agitation in Ladakh, seeking statehood, safeguards enshrined under the sixth schedule of the Constitution and a separate public service commission (PSC) for the strategic Himalayan region. In 2023, the Union home ministry had formed a high-powered committee under minister of state Nityanand Rai to discuss ways to protect Ladakh's unique culture, considering its location and strategic importance. Reacting to the Centre's notifications, KDA's senior leader and political in-charge of Jamiat ul Ulama Isna Ashariya Kargil (JUIAK), Sajjad Hussain Kargili, said, 'Though it's good, women reservation was not a part of our four-point agenda. We have been agitating for legislature. Statehood is a big issue for us.' On domicile law, Kargili said, 'Something is better than nothing. In the past six years, not even a single gazetted post (job) has been given in Ladakh.' 'We also arrived at a consensus that domicile law of 15 years should be implemented prospectively. At the same time, we want it to be made 30 years. The government has assured us to consider it,' said Kargili. 'We hope that without further delay, the Ladkah administration will now advertise jobs,' he said. Congress' Tsering Namgyal, leader of the Opposition in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Leh, welcomed 33% reservation for women in hill councils. He lambasted the Centre for fixing 15-year residency for domicile law and described it a ploy to change the demography of Ladakh. 'The LAB and the KDA wanted 1989 as the cut-off year to grant domicile certificates. This 15-year residency rule has been rejected by 80% to 90% people of Ladakh,' he said. Chering Dorjay Lakrook, ex-BJP minister and president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, refused to make any comment. 'After we study them (notifications), we will address media on Wednesday. Till then, I have been asked not to talk to mediapersons,' he said. The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) regulation was notified days after the ministry and Ladakhi representatives met on May 27 and agreed to the rules, an official aware of the matter said. It defines a domicile for jobs for a person who has resided in the UT for 15 years, studied for seven years, and appeared for class 10 or 12 examinations in Ladakh. A similar policy was announced for Jammu and Kashmir in May 2020. The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, also notified on Tuesday, says the reservation shall in no case exceed 85% of the available vacancies, excluding reservation for economically weaker sections. The official cited above said 80% of vacancies are reserved for the region's majority, scheduled tribes (STs), 4% for those living along the Line of Actual Control or Line of Control, 1% for the scheduled castes and 10% for the economically weaker sections. The ministry had proposed 95% of the reservation for locals during discussions. The third notification provides for one-third seats for women in the hill councils by rotation to different territorial constituencies. The Ladakh Official Languages Regulation recognises English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi as the official languages and says that the administrator 'shall make special efforts for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh: Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi'.
News18
28-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
10000 Supporters,100 SUVs: Brij Bhushan Holds 'Victory Parade' After Court Drops POCSO Case
Last Updated: Soon after the closure of the POCSO case against him, Singh, in an apparent show of strength, was welcomed by a massive rally at the Ayodhya airport on Tuesday. A day after a Delhi court accepted a police closure report in connection to the sexual harassment case under the POCSO Act against him, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday demanded that the Centre must find a way to 'stop the misuse" of sexual harassment laws meant to protect people. Soon after the closure of the POCSO case against him, Singh, in an apparent show of strength, was welcomed by a massive rally at the Ayodhya airport on Tuesday, drawing thousands of supporters and over 100 SUVs to the city. Addressing the media in Ayodhya, Singh said, 'I have great faith in Lord Hanuman and in myself. When the allegations were made on January 18, 2023, I said it was a lie, and everything I said has been proven true." 'Sections on preventing harassment are being misused today. I have great faith in the judiciary," he added. Referring to his previous public statement that he would hang himself if found guilty, Singh said, 'I had said that if the charges are proven, I will hang myself. What I said has been proven. I am grateful to the judiciary." Urging the government to take preventive measures against the misuse of laws, Singh stated, 'I'm not against such laws. They are important, but there is a growing trend of using them to ruin lives and settle personal scores." He asked the government to find a way to stop the misuse of sexual harassment laws. 'This is not about abolishing the law, but about reviewing its implementation," the ex-WFI chief said. 'They Used To Call Me God…' Earlier, the complaint filed by the minor wrestler's father was withdrawn after he made a startling claim midway through the probe that he had made a false complaint of sexual harassment against Singh to get back at him for perceived injustice to the girl. While Singh has been cleared in the POCSO case, he continues to face trial in another court on charges of sexual harassment filed by six other women wrestlers. However, he has rejected all the allegations. (With agency inputs) First Published: May 28, 2025, 08:51 IST
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Brij Bhushan calls for review of sexual harassment laws
AYODHYA A day after a Delhi court closed a sexual harassment case under the Pocso Act against him, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday demanded that the Centre find a way to 'stop the misuse' of sexual harassment laws. Singh said this as he held a massive show of strength in Ayodhya on Tuesday, drawing thousands of supporters and over a thousand SUVs to the city. The ex-WFI chief, who arrived at the Ayodhya airport to a grand welcome, led a cavalcade that moved through the temple town, causing long traffic jams on the third 'Bada Mangal' of the month -- a day of major religious significance in the region. Speaking to the media, he said laws dealing with dowry harassment, Dalit harassment and sexual harassment were meant for protection but were being misused despite their importance. He also urged the government to introduce provisions for double punishment in cases where a person is falsely accused. 'From the sacred land of Ayodhya, I demand that the government should ensure that these laws are not misused. The discussion is not about abolishing the law, but there should be a review to prevent the misuse of laws,' said Singh. 'I have great faith in Lord Hanuman. When allegations were levelled against me on January 18, 2023, I said it was a I said turned out to be true,' he said. 'I had faith in the judiciary and express my gratitude. Truth can be troubled, but not defeated. I do not regret what I lost, and what I gained is not insignificant,' he added Singh said the players who accused him used to call him the 'God of wrestling'. 'These players used to visit my house. I have also attended their marriages and festivals,' he added.
News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Had Trust In Lord Hanuman, Judiciary': Ex-WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh On POCSO Case Closure
Last Updated: A Delhi Court on Monday accepted the closure report filed by the Police for cancellation of sexual harassment case filed under POCSO against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday expressed happiness after Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday accepted the cancellation report filed by the Police in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case against him, saying that he had a lot of trust on Lord Hanuman and judiciary. While speaking to the reporters in Ayodhya, Singh said, 'I have great faith in Lord Hanuman and myself… When allegations were levelled against me on January 18, 2023, I said it was a lie… Everything I said turned out to be true… The sections that were imposed to prevent harassment are being misused today… I have great faith in the judiciary." #WATCH | Ayodhya, UP | On the Delhi Court closing the POCSO case against him, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, '…I have great faith in Lord Hanuman and myself… When allegations were levelled against me on January… — ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2025 He further emphasised that several sections that were imposed to prevent harassment are being misused today. A Delhi Court on Monday accepted the closure report filed by the Police for cancellation of sexual harassment case filed under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by a wrestler against the former WFI chief. 'Cancellation accepted," Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha said. Singh had appeared before the court during the proceedings, while the complainant was also called to record and verify statements in the case. On May 17, the court had summoned the complainant wrestler, who had accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment when she was a minor. The Delhi Police had previously filed a cancellation report in June 2023 after the victim withdrew her statement. During court proceedings on August 1, 2023, the complainant and her father expressed satisfaction with the police investigation, and had not opposed the closure report in the case. The police had recommended dropping the POCSO case against Singh, but charged him with sexual harassment and stalking in a separate case lodged by six women wrestlers. The police had recommended the cancellation of the complaint involving the minor wrestler, saying 'no corroborative evidence" was found. The FIR on the accusations made by the minor wrestler was filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) concerning the act of outraging modesty. However, the father of the minor wrestler later stepped forward and claimed that he had filed a 'false" complaint of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan. The father alleged that his actions were driven by anger and frustration over the WFI Chief's perceived biased treatment towards his daughter. First Published: May 27, 2025, 16:56 IST
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why wrestlers' harassment case against ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh was cancelled?
A Delhi court has cancelled the POCSO case against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Here's why the sensational case against the former BJP MP was quashed and whether the Uttar Pradesh politician is now completely free from all cases related to the wrestlers' harassment allegations. read more A Delhi court has cancelled the sexual harassment case filed against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under the POCSO Act. The court has accepted the cancellation report submitted by Delhi police in a case filed by a female wrestler, who was a minor at the time of the alleged incident. What was the case about? In April 2023, the father of a minor girl wrestler filed a police complaint against Brij Bhushan Singh. He accused Singh of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. Since the girl was under 18 at the time, the case was registered under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why was the case cancelled? Both the minor and her father took back their statements in front of a magistrate months after filing the complaint. The father later admitted he had filed a false case because he was upset about the way his daughter was being treated in the sport. After this, the Delhi police filed a cancellation report in June 2023. The report said there was no solid evidence to support the minor's allegations. What did the police investigation find? According to PTI, over 20 witnesses were interviewed during the course of the investigation and call records were checked. Photos and videos from matches and events were also examined. The police could not find anything to prove the girl's claims and filed for the cancellation of the case. What did the court say? On 26 May 2025, the Delhi court accepted the cancellation report. Additional Sessions Judge Gomti Manocha said, 'Cancellation accepted.' Earlier, in August 2023, during a private court hearing, the minor had also told the judge that she had no objections to the Delhi police's report and was satisfied with the investigation. What about the other case against Brij Bhushan? Even though this case has been cancelled, Brij Bhushan still faces another serious case. Six senior women wrestlers have accused him of sexual harassment. That case is still ongoing. The court officially framed charges against him in May 2024. The court charged him under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354 (outraging modesty), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Charges were also filed against co-accused Vinod Tomar, former assistant secretary of the WFI. Brij Bhushan was removed as WFI president following protests by top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik in 2023. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP did not give him a ticket. Instead, his son contested and won from his former constituency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
