सुप्रीम कोर्ट का ऐतिहासिक फैसला: चुनाव में धर्म, जाति के नाम पर वोट मांगना गैरकानूनी

January 2, 2017

सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने धर्म के नाम पर वोट मांगने वालों पर कड़ा फैसला लेते हुए कहा कि धर्म के नाम पर वोट मांगना गैरकानूनी होगा।

7 जजों की सविधांन पीठ ने फैसले में कहा कि प्रत्याशी या उसके समर्थक धर्म, जाती, समुदाय और भाषा के नाम पर वोट मांगते हैं तो यह गैरकानूनी होगा।

सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने कहा, चुनाव एक धर्मनिरपेक्ष पद्धति है। इस आधार पर वोट मांगना संविधान की भावना के खिलाफ है। जन प्रतिनिधियों को भी अपने कामकाज धर्मनिरपेक्ष आधार पर ही करने चाहिए। आने वाले पांच राज्‍यों में इसका असर होने की संभावना है।

कोर्ट ने यह फैसला हिंदुत्व मामले से जुड़ी कई याचिकाओं की सुनवाई के दौरान दिया। इसके तहत सवाल उठाया गया था कि धर्म और जाति के नाम पर वोट मांगना जन प्रतिनिधित्व कानून के तहत करप्ट प्रैक्टिस है या नहीं।

इससे पहले सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ ने एक याचिका में कोर्ट से हस्तक्षेप की मांग की थी जिसमें कहा गया था कि धर्म और राजनीति को मिलाया नहीं जाना चाहिए और धर्म और राजनीति को एक-दूसरे से अलग करने के लिए निर्देश जारी किया जाना चाहिए।

Mohammed Shami trolled once again after he posts photo with wife

January 2, 2017

India’s ace bowler, Mohammed Shami, on Sunday took to his Facebook and Twitter pages to extend New Year wishes. He did so by posting a photo with his wife, Hasin Jahan.

Shami wrote, ” Na sathi hai na hamara hai koi na kisi ke hum na hamara hai koi par apko dekh kar keh sakte hain ek pyarasa humsafar hai koi… Happy New Year.”

His message elicited overwhelming responses from his followers on both the social media platforms with many wishing the couple a long and successful marital life. But, there were also some, who thought the star cricketer had once again breached the teachings of Islam by posting his wife’s photo to extend New Year wishes.

Shami had recently found himself at the centre of a social media storm after he posted pictures with his wife and daughter, inviting some nasty remarks on his spouse’s dress.

He was lectured on morality by trolls because his wife was seen wearing a sleeveless gown in the photographs.

The cricketer had later slammed his critics with a social media post. He had said, ““Very good morning ?? Har kisi ko jindagi mai mukam ni milta, kuch kismat wale hi hote hai jinhe ye nasib hota hai.!.jalteee rahooooo… (Not everyone get what they desire, only a lucky few get it),” he wrote to his 40 thousand plus followers on Twitter.”

Here are some reactions from Facebook and Twitter on Shami;

Courtesy: Janta ka Reporter

Supreme Court removes Anurag Thakur as BCCI president, Ajay Shirke as secretary

January 2, 2017

Thakur was accused of perjury during a hearing on December 15 during a hearing for the case involving the cricketing body and the Justice Lodha Committee.

Image credit: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP

The Supreme Court on Monday removed Anurag Thakur from the post of president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Thakur faced perjury charges after amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam had said that he had lied under oath when he denied seeking a letter from the International Cricket Council. The top court also removed Ajay Shirke from the position of BCCI secretary.

Thakur was accused of perjury during a hearing on December 15 over the ongoing battle between the BCCI and the Justice Lodha Committee. On December 21, however, he had denied having lied under oath in the Supreme Court, saying there was “no question of perjury”.

“The two officials did not comply with the court’s July 18, 2016, order and have thereby been removed,” the top court said. “The BCCI and state board officials have failed to implement orders to bring transparency and accountability to the cricketing body,” the court observed in its ruling.

The Supreme Court has appointed senior advocate FS Nariman and Gopal Subramaniam as amicus curiae, directing them to recommend names to govern the BCCI. The senior-most vice president will serve as the acting president, whereas the joint secretary will act as the secretary, PTI reported. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for January 19.

Responding to the verdict, Justice Lodha said, “Once the committee-recommended reforms were accepted, they should have been implemented. This is the logical consequence.” He added that other sports organisations should pay heed to the Supreme court order as a template. “It’s a victory for the game of cricket. Administrators come and go, but this is for the benefit of the game.”

ICC official Dave Richardson had alleged that Thakur wanted a letter signed from the council stating that the appointments sought by the Lodha panel would breach the board’s autonomy and amount to government interference. In his affidavit, Thakur had denied allegations that he had asked the ICC for a letter against the Lodha panel’s recommendations.

On November 21, the Justice Lodha Committee had sought the Supreme Court’s approval to appoint former Union home secretary GK Pillai as an observer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and dismiss a few of the body’s top officials.

The Lodha committee was formed after the spot-fixing and betting scandal emerged during the 2013 leg of the Indian Premier League. On October 6, the apex court had directed the BCCI to either implement the Lodha recommendations or face consequences. However, on October 15, the BCCI had decided to oppose some of the “impractical” reforms suggested by the committee. The two sides have been at loggerheads over a few recommendations such as the one vote per state and one person per post rule, the age cap for office-bearers and the cooling-off period between tournaments.

Courtesy: Scroll.in

‘मोदीजी ने नोटबंदी से मरने वाले 112 लोगों का जिक्र तक नहीं किया’

January 2, 2017

नई दिल्ली। पीएम मोदी ने 8 नवंबर को देश के नाम संबोधन में 500 और 1000 के नोटबंदी की घोषणा कर दी। इसके बाद देशभर से तकरीबन 112 लोग नोटबंदी की वजह से अपनी जान गंवा चुके हैं। इसके बाद पीएम मोदी ने 31 दिसंबर को एक बार फिर राष्ट्र के नाम संबोधन दिया। जिसे लेकर वह विपक्षी दलों के निशाने पर हैं।

प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के राष्ट्र के नाम संबोधन को ’बजट पूर्व भाषण’ करार देते हुए पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी ने आरोप लगाया कि प्रधानमंत्री कालाधन एवं नोटबंदी के वास्तविक एजेंडा से भटक गए हैं। ममता बनर्जी ने ट्वीट कर कहा, ‘‘प्रधानमंत्री कालेधन एवं नोटबंदी के वास्तविक एजेंडा से भटक गए और उन्होंने वित्त मंत्री का पद ले लिया और बजट पूर्व भाषण दिया है।’’

पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि लिहाजा मोदी द्वारा दिए गए इस अग्रिम बजट भाषण से वित्त मंत्री गायब थे। मोदी बाबू थोथा चना बाजे घना। उन्होंने दावा किया कि यह हृदयहीन एवं आधारहीन भाषण था। ममता ने प्रधानमंत्री को याद दिलाया कि वह उन 112 नागरिकों के प्रति भी सम्मान प्रकट करना भूल गए जिनकी मौत नकदी पाने के लिए कतार में खड़े होने के समय हुई।

उन्होंने ट्वीट किया, ‘‘राष्ट्र के नाम संबोधन कहा जा रहा है और राजनीतिक बदले की भावना से काम किया जा रहा है। राष्ट्र के संबोधन के नाम पर वह अपना क्षुद्र राजनीतिक एजेंडा पूरा कर रहे हैं।’’ ममता ने कहा, ‘‘राष्ट्र संबोधन बजट संबोधन बन गया है। काले धन की सफाई के नाम से वित्तीय आपातकाल जारी है। बैंकों में धन उपलब्ध नहीं है। अभी तक समस्याओं का ठोस हल नहीं निकला है।’’मोदी पर हमला बोलते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि वह वादा पूरा करने के लिए 50 दिन चाहते थे किन्तु बुरी तरह विफल हो गए।

Courtesy: National Dastak

We have worked overtime for 50 days: Union official explains why bank workers plan protest for Jan 3

January 2, 2017

All India Bank Employees' Association says it wants a comprehensive probe on how some individuals got crores worth of new cash.

Image credit: Mukesh Gupta/Reuters

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, he asked the nation to bear the “minor inconvenience” for 50 days. But just over 50 days later, the cash crunch has not eased. Across the country, thousands of Automatic Teller Machines remain dry. While the Reserve Bank of India has allowed a weekly withdrawal of Rs 24,000 per account, banks have set arbitrary limits in branches due to the cash shortage. However, Income Tax department raids across India have resulted in the seizure of crores of rupees in new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. CH Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees’ Association, said these raids, and the reluctance of the income tax department to give out proper information about them, have created the impression that bankers are helping black money hoarders. The association, one of the largest unions in India, has planned a nation-wide protest on January 3 demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into illegal cash exchange and compensation for the additional workload they face after demonetisation.

Edited excerpts from an interview with Venkatachalam:

The 50 days deadline given by the prime minister for return of normalcy is over. How is the situation on the ground?
There is hardly any improvement. Branches of nationalised banks across the country are facing severe cash shortage. Many of them had to fix lower withdrawal limits so that more customers could be served. In our estimate, only 40% of over two lakh Automatic Teller Machines are functional and this too for a few hours a day. We do not think this will magically improve after December 30. The Reserve Bank of India has a duty to ensure proper cash supply. As employees, we feel our image has taken a beating as customers think we are hiding cash from them and helping the rich. In reality, nationalised banks are struggling without cash supply.

But why will the employees’ image get dented when it is the RBI and the government that are to be blamed?
This is because of what has come out of raids conducted by the Income Tax department. After these raids, media, based on information from IT officials, has reported that crores of black money in the form of new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 have been seized. This gives a false perception that bankers are colluding with fraudsters. The customers are turning angry. But let me tell you that the systems have been created in such a way that we will not be able to exchange such large amounts of cash in any branch. Basically, the systems in place in nationalised banks wouldn’t allow it. Our suspicion is that the fault lies with private ATM service providers who are allowed to handle cash. The RBI is saying it is supplying enough cash. But when you go to the ground, you see that a majority of ATMs are dry. How is this possible? Is the cash getting diverted in the middle? We see a big scam here. We demand a thorough CBI probe into this problem so that the real culprits are caught.

But bank employees were also suspended for exchanging cash beyond RBI prescribed limits…
You need to place it in context. What was the amount they exchanged? A few thousand rupees. What is the amount of new currency seized in these raids? They run into hundreds of crores. I am not defending employees who erred. But you should understand that these small violations are being magnified but real culprits are happily getting away with defrauding the public. Let the CBI probe. If people are found doing something illegal, whether employees or otherwise, let them face the music. Why is there a reluctance to probe?

Do you see the cash supply situation improving in the coming days?
We are entering a new month. People will come to the bank to access their salaries and pensions. The increase in cash supply to branches should be significant to overcome this challenge. This is where I think the RBI has not functioned well. They should put out daily figures of how cash has been sent to each branch. They do have the data but they don’t want to release it. Why so? Unions have already raised this doubt. We feel some private banks are getting cash at the cost of nationalised banks. If the RBI puts out the data, we will be able to see where all the cash is going. But above all these issues, we bank employees are hurt. Visit a branch and see for yourself. We have to hear the worst of abuses from our customers. The government shouldn’t forget we are also humans. Every employee has worked overtime over the last 50 days. Many have died due to work pressure. Despite terms of employment that guarantee us extra pay for extra time, we have not been given anything. This cannot work.

How are you going to tackle the question of additional wage?
We have called for a nation-wide protest on January 3 outside all RBI regional offices. The demands include proper cash supply to branches, extra pay and a CBI probe into cash diversion. If things do not improve, we are planning to call for a strike when all unions meet for a conference on January 8. Bankers cannot be a collateral to bad policy implementation.

Courtesy: Scroll.in

9 हजार करोड़ वाले विजय माल्या ने पीएम मोदी को दिखाया आइना

January 2, 2017

नई दिल्ली। भारत के भगोड़े शराब कारोबारी और पूर्व सांसद विजय माल्या ने ट्वीट कर पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी और जांच एजेंसियों पर निशाना साधा है। लोन डिफॉल्ट के आरोपी माल्या पर देश के कई बैंकों का लगभग 9 हजार करोड़ रुपये से ज्यादा का बकाया है।

प्रवर्तन निदेशालय भी विजय माल्या को भगोड़ा घोषित कर चुका है। इसी वजह से माल्या फिलहाल लंदन में रह रहे हैं।

इसी बीच विजय माल्या ने आज ट्विट्स कर पीएम मोदी के शासन में जांच एजेंसियों की निष्पक्षता और वैधता पर सवालिया निशान खड़े किए हैं। माल्या ने अपने पहले ट्वीट में कहा कि, 2017 में मेरी सिर्फ यही उम्मीद होगी कि सही, कानूनी और निष्पक्ष जांच को लेकर पीएम मोदी जी के विजन पर उनकी सरकार सही तरह से अमल करेगी।

वहीं दूसरे ट्वीट में माल्या ने कहा कि करप्शन पर सख्त रवैया रखने वाले हमारे डायनमिक प्रधानमंत्री क्या अपनी क्रिमिनल एजेंसी की सही, निष्पक्ष और कानूनी तरीके से जांच की गारंटी देंगे?

अपने तीसरे ट्वीट में उन्होंने भारतीय मीडिया पर निशाना साधते हुए कहा कि, यह अफसोस की बात है कि सही, निष्पक्ष और कानूनी तरीके से जांच की अपील पर मेरे ट्वीट्स को हेडलाइंस के भूखे मीडिया ने गलत ढंग से पेश किया। एजेंसियों के पास ज्यादा अधिकार होते हैं।

आपको बता दें कि, विजय माल्या पर देश के 17 बैंकों का 9400 करोड़ रुपए से ज्यादा का बकाया है। माल्या जांच एजेंसियों द्वारा गिरफ्तार किए जाने के डर से लंदन में रह रहे हैं। इसके अलावा लोन से जुड़े एक चीटिंग के केस में कोर्ट में पेश न होने की वजह से माल्या के खिलाफ नॉन बेलेबल वारंट भी जारी हो चुका है। वहीं विजय माल्या अपने ऊपर लगे आरोपों को गलत करार दे चुके है। वे कई बार दावा कर चुके हैं कि लोन डिफॉल्ट केस में वे बैंकों के साथ बातचीत कर रहे हैं।

Courtesy: National Dastak

Odhikar, Bangladesh: Enforce Human Rights Protect Vulnerable Sections, Minorities

January 2, 2017

Odhikar, a Bangladesh based human rights organization has released its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Bangladesh.

The detailed report has the following recommendations:

1. In order to restore democracy and the voting rights of the people, an accountable government must be established through free fair and inclusive elections, under neutral interim government; and initiatives must be taken to fix dysfunctional institutions through an elected government.

2. Incidents of extrajudicial killings and torture by law enforcement agencies must be investigated and the perpetrators must be brought to effective justice. The law enforcement agencies must follow international guidelines “Basic Principals on the use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials” and the “UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials”. The Government must ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture; and effectively implement the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.

3. The Government has to investigate and explain all incidents of enforced disappearance and post-disappearance killings, allegedly perpetrated by law enforcement agencies. All victims of enforced disappearance should be returned to their families. The Government must bring the members of the
security and law enforcement agencies who are involved, to justice before the law. Odhikar urges the government to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the UN General Assembly.

4. The Government should refrain from carrying out repressive, unconstitutional activities. Mass arrests and human rights violations in custody and jail should cease immediately. Filing of cases against ‘unknown’ persons leading to willful arrests, must also be stopped.

5. Repressive and violative interference to freedom of expression and on the media must be stopped. The Government must withdraw cases filed against all human rights defenders and journalists; and it should also bring the perpetrators to justice through proper investigation. The ban on the publication of the daily Amar Desh and the broadcasting of Diganta TV, Islamic TV and Channel One should be removed.

6. All repressive and abusive laws, including the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (amendment 2009 and 2013) and the Special Powers Act, 1974 must be repealed. Monitoring of the social media and internet, leading to arrests and harassment and human rights violations,
should be stopped. Repressive sections of the newly passed Foreign Donation (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2016, which are tantamount to violations of freedom of expression and association, must be repealed.

7. Attacks and repression on all minority community citizens must stop. The Government should take all measures to protect the rights of the citizens belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minority communities and ensure their security. The government should bring the perpetrators of Nasirnagar and Gobindaganj attacks to justice through proper investigation.

8. The Ready-made garment factories need to be brought under synchronized security programmes and the factories should be made with adequate infrastructural and other facilities. Violations of human rights of workers/labourers and harassment to them by the Industrial Police must be
stopped.

9. The Government must ensure the effective implementation of laws to stop violence against women and children and the offenders must be effectively punished under prevalent laws. The Government should also execute mass awareness programmes in the print and electronic media, in order to eliminate violence against women and put perpetrators to justice.

10. The Government should protest strongly against human rights violations on Bangladeshi citizens by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and take initiatives to investigate and make the Indian Government accountable and compensate the families of the victims. The Government must also ensure the safety and security of the Bangladeshi citizens residing at the border areas. The Indian Government should refrain from shifting fences near the zero line along the border thus violating international law.

11. Construction of the destructive coal-based power plant in Rampal, initiated jointly by India and Bangladesh must be stopped. The Bangladesh Government should take measures to stop the inter-river connecting project as it is as detrimental to the people and territory of Bangladesh, as is the
Rampal power plant. India must also not open or close the sluice gates of Farakka and Gajaldoba barrages unilaterally for the sake of its own benefit.

12. The international community must take effective action against the human rights violations on the Rohingya community who are victims of ethnic cleansing; and the Bangladesh government and international community should support and provide shelter and security to the Rohingya refugees.

13. The case filed against Odhikar’s Secretary and its Director under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (Amended in 2009) must be withdrawn. All repressive measures and harassment against human rights defenders associated with Odhikar should cease. The government must release the funds of Odhikar to enable it to continue its human rights activities.

Modi’s Regurgitating Old Sops, Nothing New: Universal Maternity Entitlement

January 2, 2017

Extracted from a statement by Rozi Roti Adhikar, Rajasthan and PUCL, Rajasthan on the PMs New Year Eve announcement of Rs 6000 for pregnant women

The Prime Minister, on December 31 announced a cash entitlement of Rs. 6000 for pregnant women across the country; presenting it as an original idea that will, somehow magically mitigate the hardships caused by demonetisation. A universal maternity entitlement of at least Rs. 6000 has been an entitlement for all pregnant and lactating women in the country since 2013; with the passing of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The Modi regime, in complete violation of the Act, has continued with the pilot Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) in just 53 districts of the country despite repeated demands by women across the country, civil society organisations as well as the Supreme Court asking for an explanation for the delay in universal application and implementation.

While a few years ago the IGMSY amount was increased to Rs. 6000 from Rs. 4000; to be in tune with the NFSA neither the coverage nor the budget allocated for the scheme has been enhanced by the Central government.
The budget for the scheme has remained around Rs. 400 crores while around Rs. 16,000 crores would be required to cover all pregnant women, who are around 29 million.

A real test of what the intentions after the Prime Minister’s announcement will be to see how much the budget next month will allocate funds to implement the promises. One way in which it is already obvious is how the government seeks to restrict coverage is by imposing conditionalities on access to this entitlement; as already exists in the IGMSY.

Presently it is a conditional cash transfer of Rs 6000 provided only after the first 2 births to women above 18 years.

The Prime Minister in his speech mentioned that this is for women who have institutional deliveries and immunise their children. While institutional delivery is conditionality for Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY); immunisation along with a number of other services are conditions to get the installments for IGMSY. It has been argued many a time, that imposing such conditionalities, especially in the absence of good quality of universal health services being available only excludes the most marginalised women from much needed support.

Further the eligibility criteria of 19 years of age or benefits only for the first two children also serve to exclude women who belong to vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Maternity entitlements must be seen as a right for all women, universally. In a country like India where more than 90% of women are outside of organised sector employment, cash transfers for maternity entitlements (as wage compensation as well) becomes a crucial tool.

We demand that that the Maternity entitlement as envisaged in the 2013 NFS Act be implemented in its entirety, without any conditionality making it universal as well retrospective, since September 2013, when the Law came into force.
Rs 6000 be provided universally to all women who have delivered babies since 2013 September at the earliest. All states should be directed to institute mechanisms like in Tamil Nadu to ensure that the benefit reaches all lactating mothers.

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सुप्रीम कोर्ट का ऐतिहासिक फैसला: चुनाव में धर्म, जाति के नाम पर वोट मांगना गैरकानूनी

Supreme Court removes Anurag Thakur as BCCI president, Ajay Shirke as secretary

Thakur was accused of perjury during a hearing on December 15 during a hearing for the case involving the cricketing body and the Justice Lodha Committee.

‘मोदीजी ने नोटबंदी से मरने वाले 112 लोगों का जिक्र तक नहीं किया’

We have worked overtime for 50 days: Union official explains why bank workers plan protest for Jan 3

All India Bank Employees' Association says it wants a comprehensive probe on how some individuals got crores worth of new cash.

9 हजार करोड़ वाले विजय माल्या ने पीएम मोदी को दिखाया आइना

Odhikar, Bangladesh: Enforce Human Rights Protect Vulnerable Sections, Minorities

Odhikar, a Bangladesh based human rights organization has released its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Bangladesh.

Modi’s Regurgitating Old Sops, Nothing New: Universal Maternity Entitlement

Extracted from a statement by Rozi Roti Adhikar, Rajasthan and PUCL, Rajasthan on the PMs New Year Eve announcement of Rs 6000 for pregnant women

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