Shukla questioned the Ministry with regards to vacancies of judges and asked the Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal about the total number of judicial vacancies existing across the Indian judiciary in terms of judges and the reason behind not filling up of these vacancies. Congress MP Shukla also asked the Ministry to produce court-wise and State/UT-wise details and whether the government is taking measures to fill these vacancies in order to ensure speedy delivery of justice.

In response to this the Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that “Appointment of Judges in Supreme Court and High Courts is a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at State and Central level. While every effort is made to fill up the existing vacancies expeditiously, vacancies of Judges in High Courts do keep on arising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of Judges and also due to increase in the strength of Judges.”

In relation to the vacancies of judges across the country, the Law Ministry stated that 5,238 posts are vacant in district & subordinate courts, 359 posts are in High Courts, Supreme Court is at full strength with 0 vacant posts.

The Law Minister further added that “the filling up of vacant positions in the District Courts of the country is the responsibility of the High Courts and State Governments concerned. As per the Constitutional framework, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government in consultation with the High Court frames the rules and regulations regarding the issues of appointment and recruitment of Judicial Officers in the respective State Judicial Service. In some States, the respective High Court undertakes the recruitment process, whereas in other States, the High Court does it in consultation with the State Public Service Commission. The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide judicial order passed in January 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has stipulated certain timelines which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for initiating the recruitment process of judges in subordinate courts.”

The answer of Law Minister can be found here:

However, the Law Minister also provided the total number of pending cases across courts in the country as per information available on the National judicial Data Grid (NJDG). As per this information provided in Parliament, 83, 798 cases are pending in Supreme Court, 60,02,383 in High Courts and, in District and subordinate Courts 4,53,97,157 cases are pending.

Ministry while responding the reason behind such pendency said that “there are several reasons that lead to pendency of cases in courts which, inter-alia, include availability of physical infrastructure and supporting court staff, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz. bar, investigation agencies, witnesses and litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. Other factors that lead to delay in disposal of cases include lack of prescribed timeframe by respective courts for disposal of various kinds of cases, frequent adjournments and lack of adequate arrangement to monitor, track and bunch cases for hearing. Moreover, in case of pendency of criminal cases, the criminal justice system functions on assistance by various agencies viz. Police, Prosecution, Forensic Labs, Handwriting Experts and Medico-Legal Experts. Delay in providing assistance by allied agencies also entails delay in disposal of cases.”

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The post Law Ministry: 5,597 judge vacancies nationwide appeared first on SabrangIndia.

This year in March, while this writer was serving as a short-term resident scholar in New York, an MA Class student of Islamic studies at New York University (NYU), posted an online request for “prayers for Bangladesh”. The NYU student wrote:

“We request prayers for the easing of hardships faced by Bangladeshi students. At Dhaka University, a long-standing tradition among Muslim boys to break their fast (iftaar) in the halls were physically assaulted because they were consuming beef as part of their meal. One student even sustained injuries and began bleeding due to the violence inflicted upon him”. This set me thinking and pondering about what was going to happen in Bangladesh. Far from my country, I was doing a prognosis: what in the near future would be the fate of the nation I have always known as “the most moderate Muslim polity” in the Indian neighbourhood. In light of the violent incidents in March, the student fraternity in Bangladesh backed by an alleged support from some foreign forces (read American) student unions were getting more and more mobilised. This gave them an enabling environment to create an uproar in their country which has now resulted into the regime change. This is precisely what was behind the change of guard in Bangladesh on the 5th August of 2024.

Now when Bangladesh has accepted the regime change after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned following a mass rebellion that killed nearly 300 people, my bewilderment, which worries me more than before, is: what if the crisis would spill over to India? Amid the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, be it politically or religiously motivated, the change of guard in bleeding Bangladesh could be bad news for Indian Muslims too.

This change comes as very difficult to many moderate and mainstream Indian Muslims who adhere to the religiously pluralist, peaceful and culture-friendly Islam. The political unrest and communal violence and radical Islamist rise among the Bangladesh people is a serious threat to the Indian Hindu-Muslims’ historically healthy relations back home.

Therefore, most significantly, speaking up for the victims of violence and fostering peace and tranquillity amidst the crisis and multifaceted challenges in Bangladesh is more sagacious and essential on part of us Muslims. It will consequently help mitigate the continuing or potential communal tensions in the South Asian region.

In an unequivocal, strong press statement, IMSD has condemned the attacks on the life and property of Bangladeshi Hindus. The Daily Star published from Dacca, and other newspapers reported that on the day the students’ movement declared “independence” from the Awami League’s authoritarian regime, at least 142 people were killed in attacks and clashes around the country, with hundreds injured. Hindu houses and businesses were looted and torched in at least 27 districts. “In the anarchic situation that prevails in the country, fearing for their lives, a large number of Hindus living close to the border have been attempting to cross over to India leaving behind their homes, businesses and motherland”, the IMSD said.

The strongly-worded statement supported and endorsed by over 50 Indian Muslim intellectuals further reads: “The attack on temples, Hindu homes and businesses, and the targeting of Rahul Ananda’s secular musical space is clear indication that some fanatical Islamist groups — there is no dearth of them in Bangladesh — are pursuing their own intolerant agenda”.

Most significantly, the statement in its conclusion exhorts and urges the majority of Muslims in India and Bangladesh not to be mute and silent spectators. It rather awakens them and says: “Bangladesh politics must not be allowed to degenerate into majoritarianism as India’s has. Communalism is a sub-continental malaise and must be fought across borders. We call upon Muslim organisations and individuals in India to strongly condemn the targeting of minorities in Bangladesh.”

Not that no Islamic organisation or conventional Muslim outfit in India or Bangladesh is speaking out against the lynch mobs, arsonists looters and fanatics. We have heard and seen how a human chain was built by some Madrasa students to protect Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh. Even some of the Islamist preachers who otherwise played a communal and sometimes viciously divisive role in the past have showed a totally different face of theirs standing up for the Hindu victims of violence.

Most strikingly, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh (Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) and even Jama’at-e-Islami Hind (JeI) in India have condemned the attacks on Hindus. The JeI’s wing in Delhi-NCR (Faridabad) issued a press release in Urdu newspapers in which Maulana Jamaluddin of JeI has been quoted as saying: “Targeting any community or religious group is condemnable; we must condemn it unequivocally or this disquiet will spread.…We have urged all leaders of the community to come together to address this issue and promote a harmonious culture of understanding”.

It would not have been surprising if these words were to come from the Sufi Sunni ulema and clerics who repeatedly issued clichés like these. Astonishingly, even the Salafis and Ahl-e-Hadith as well as the Jama’at-e Islami, Hind have been known for non-tolerant attitudes towards non-Muslims and their places of worship have condemned the anti-Hindu attacks. More surprisingly, they came out to condemn these acts of violence targeting the minorities in Bangladesh with several verses from the Qur’an, as well as Ahadith and Asaar-e-Sahaba (sayings and actions attributed to the Prophet’s companions).

For instance, Assam’s well-known Deobandi scholar, Maulana Nurul Amin Qasmi who is famous for his distinct da’awah (preaching) style, went as far as to say: “We cannot comment on the internal issue of the neighbouring country. But as an Indian Muslim, I urge the Bangladeshis not to target the minorities in their country. Whether they are Hindus, Christians or Buddhists, any form of attack on innocent minority communities goes against the teaching of Islam and traditions of the holy Prophet (pbuh). Maulana Qasmi has extensively quoted from the Qur’an and Hadith to substantiate the point.

Syed Muhammad Ashraf Kichauchwi, President of All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board and chairman of World Sufi Forum, who has a huge following in Bangladeshi Sufi-Sunni pockets, especially in Chittagong, remarkably told this writer:

“The extremist fundamentalists who were in jails in Bangladesh and were banned from preaching also came out on the streets and they were doing their job under the cover of protesters, which emerged as a grave threat to the peace of the entire region. The basic idea of ​​Bangladesh was about tolerating everyone with an all-embracing faith based on love and peace, but now people with an ideology of deep-seated hatred are active. They are taking advantage of the situation to further their nefarious ends.”

He continued: In such a situation, people with the philosophy of love and acceptance should be more cautious now and should maximise their efforts to restore peace. We cannot be among those who silently watch the crisis as onlookers. He appealed to the people of Bangladesh not to give a new impetus to the ongoing riots and work for the restoration of peace on the ground. He also asked the people in India active on social media to act with restraint.

There is an urgent note of caution here. People spreading the agenda of communal hatred in our country also try to take advantage of bleeding Bangladesh to further spoil the sensitive environment and communal atmosphere in India. The way videos and pictures coming from Bangladesh are floating on the internet and the kind of provocation they are creating, pose serious threat to peace and harmony. The Indian government should put every possible check on this. It will have to think deeply and devise a decisive policy for the mitigation of the communal clash and tensions snowballing from the neighbouring country. The state agencies will have to keep an eye so that the fundamentalist ideology does not get nourished and nurtured in this backdrop. Otherwise it will be fatal for both: the country as well as the community.

Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is Sufi Mystic Indo-Islamic Scholar & Author based in Delhi. He can be reached at grdehlavi@gmail.com 

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As a result, it added, the association had to resort to protest actions.

As the faculty association of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), we remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold our dignity as dedicated educators and researchers at an institution bearing the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Unfortunately, our university is now on the brink of collapse and fragmentation.

Despite our continuous efforts to address various concerns, including appeals to higher authorities within and outside the University, our pleas have been met with indifference. Many of the issues we highlight have persisted for years; previous leaders of AUDFA have campaigned for resolution, yet little progress has been made.

The administration now operates with increasing impunity, subjecting faculty to harassment amid deteriorating working conditions. Once a respected institution dedicated to equity and social justice, the university’s standing has sharply declined.

Over the past five years, 30 to 32 faculty members have departed, while 22 are embroiled in legal battles concerning promotions, financial recoveries, and harassment, with administration frequently suggesting that they “go to court” in response to complaints. The association is escalating its protest actions until our demands are met.

A general assembly and demonstration are scheduled outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Monday, August 12, 2024, followed by a hunger strike relay starting on August 13, 2024. We call upon all individuals and organizations devoted to safeguarding the values of a public university founded on social justice, as championed by Babasaheb Ambedkar, to stand in solidarity with us.

Our Issues and demands

1. Immediate revocation of punitive transfers for faculty and staff who challenge injustices, raise concerns, or report harassment.
2. Accused Deans should be required to “step down” pending the outcomes of investigations.
3. Essential committees, such as the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) for gender/sexual harassment, the Equal Opportunities Office, and the Grievance Redressal Committees, must function in accordance with UGC guidelines. Irregularities in their formation and operation, including delays in complaint processing, hinder their effectiveness in ensuring a just work environment.
4. Immediate cessation of unjust financial recoveries from faculty members, in accordance with Supreme Court rulings on the matter.
5. Despite the passage of over 15 years, AUD still lacks a permanent campus, and we demand that construction commence without delay.
6. There is currently no major hospital empaneled with AUD; the list of available hospitals has only decreased over time. We urge immediate adoption of the DGHS scheme to ensure access to critical medical care.
7. Several faculty members have faced unwarranted denials of promotions or demotions, severely impacting their morale. We ask the administration to adopt a supportive role, especially following the UGC’s recent guidance on promotion procedures. All pending CAS promotion cases should be resolved promptly.
8. Timely disbursement of statutory gratuity dues for retiring or departing employees.
9. While we acknowledge recent improvements to classroom infrastructure, critical facilities such as the KG library and research scholars’ rooms remain in disrepair.
10. AUD has previously denied child-care leave to women employees, violating Supreme Court mandates; such requests should be honored without delay.
11. Unlike traditional universities, where department heads and deans can efficiently manage operations, at AUD, even casual leave requires Vice-Chancellor approval. A few favored individuals hold multiple committees and positions, which undermines the democratic functioning of our institution. We demand a decentralized administrative structure that distributes responsibilities equitably.
12. We insist on the rigorous enforcement of the Citizen Charter recently adopted by AUD, complete with clear timelines for processing.
13. The statutory requirements of the Right to Information Act must be respected by regularly posting minutes from meetings of the Board of Management, Academic Council, and Court.
14. Contractual faculty face significant financial and administrative challenges, including delays in salary disbursement and lack of timely access to office space, which hampers course delivery.
15. We call for the elimination of bureaucratic red tape surrounding NOC issuance for professional activities, including conferences, workshops, and lectures. Current delays and rejections undermine the academic and creative work of our faculty.
16. The administration must respect the previous allocation of office space to AUDFA and provide a designated official email address.
17. The previous email policy should be reinstated, allowing faculty and staff access to both mailing lists, and the fac staff email ID should be reactivated. We insist on immediate action to address these issues to restore the integrity and vision of our university.

Courtesy: CounterView

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In response to the question posed by INC Lok Sabha MP from Rajasthan, Ummeda Ram Beniwal, on the lack of healthcare facilities and resources, affecting patients in India, the Central Government has cited the Rural Health Statistics 2022, which suggests that massive health infrastructure gaps need to be covered in rural areas. The Minister of State for Health and Family Affairs, Anupriya Patel referred to the Rural Health Statistics 2022 data in her reply to the query put forth by Beniwal on August 9 concerning the lack of health infrastructure in the country. The data given reveals that as of July 1, 2022, rural areas face a shortfall of 48060 Sub-Centres as against the requirement of 1,93,310 such centres, with the present number of Sub-Centres being at 1,57,935.

Similarly, rural India has a shortage of 9,742 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) against its required strength of 31,640 PHCs, with 24,935 PHCs presently in use. The number of Community Health Centres (CHCs) currently in use stands at 5480 against the required strength of 7894 such centres, with a shortfall of 2852 CHCs in total.

The parliamentary answer by the MoS Anupriya Patel explained that “All India Shortfall is derived by adding State-wise figures of shortfall ignoring the existing surplus in some of the states.” However, state-wise data regarding the shortage was not included in the response. Importantly, the figures provided here does not include shortage of such centres in urban areas, thus revealing the magnitude of the issue.

Patel further informed the Lok Sabha about the Union Government’s efforts at improving health infrastructure and human resource shortage, noting that the Health Ministry provides “technical and financial support including support for recruitment of health human resource (Specialists Doctors and other health workers), to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission.”

She also said that under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) and PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) various initiatives have been undertaken, with “a total of 12,606 units of building-less sub-health centre, 881 units of building-less Primary Health Centre and 125 units of building-less Community Health Centre” being provisioned for the FY 2021-22 to 2023-24.

The response further stated that “Under PM-ABHIM, provisions have been made for construction/strengthening of 730 Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), 3382 Block Public Health Units (BPHU), 602 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and 7,808 units of building-less sub-health centre-Ayushman Arogya Mandir during the scheme period FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.”

Notably, some states, including Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya have pushed back over renaming of Ayushman centres as ‘mandirs’ questioning the imposition of dominant religious nomenclature.

The parliamentary response on the subject dated August 9 can be found here:

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Sahney also questioned the Centre on whether the government is aware of the fact that there are several social media accounts spreading communal hatred on social media?

In response, the Ministry of State Information and Broadcasting & Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan said that “The Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”) on 25.02.2021 under the Information Technology Act, 2000.”

The Minister further added that “Similarly for the content of publishers of news and current affairs on digital media and publishers of online curated content (OTT Platforms), Part-III of the IT Rules, 2021, administered by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the rules, inter-alia, provide for a Code of Ethics for such publishers.

“The IT Rules, 2021 also provide for issuance of directions for blocking of content of intermediaries and publishers for carrying content as referred under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 “in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above”. Appropriate directions are issued for blocking of access of such information that has potential to spread communal hatred and to disturb the public order, under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information for Public) Rules, 2009 by MeiTY and under IT Rules, 2021 by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting” he said.

The answer of the Ministry can be read here:

Punjab MP also gives Rajya Sabha notice for anti-hate, digital harmony private bill

Sahney submitted a bill in the Parliament, titled ‘The Online Hate Speech Prevention Bill 2024’ with the objective to curb communal disharmony and religious hatred spread through social media.

He added the purpose of the proposed bill is to foster digital harmony and responsible use of social media.

“The bill aims to ensure all the fundamental rights, ensuring equal dignity for individuals and communities as outlined in the constitution, to uphold ethical values of harmony, respect and fraternity,” Sahney said adding that he has also submitted a dossier of social media posts and accounts that have been involved in spreading hatred to various officials.

Sahney noted that the police often encountered difficulties in handling such cases due to existing legal loopholes, as current laws do not adequately cover hate speech.

The bill, he said, proposed to fill these gaps and provide a more effective legal framework to combat online hate speech, ensuring a safer and more harmonious online environment. Reported The Tribune

Sahney has flagged the issue of online hate propaganda in the past.

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The post Punjab MP seeks curb over communal hatred posts on social media appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In response to the proposed display of Ram Janmabhoomi temple float during the August 18 India Day Parade planned by the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE, group of civil society organisations including Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) have sent a joint letter to New York Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, urging them “take immediate and decisive measures to prevent the inclusion of a polarizing and divisive float in the parade” and demanded immediate removal of the float.

Notably, the Federation hosted a curtain-raising event in New York on July 8 at the Consulate General of India in the presence of Consul General Binaya S Pradhan, during which it announced that “This year, a grand replica of the newly inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir will be featured, measuring 18x9x8 feet as a powerful symbol of cultural significance and a historic moment for the global Indian community.” It was also announced that acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi would serve as the Guest of Honour for the event, which passes through New York’s Madison Avenue.

In the letter, the civil society groups termed the tableau “anti-Muslim” and said “The proposed float for the parade is a blatant attempt to glorify the illegal demolition of the historical Babri Mosque and celebrate ongoing violence and terror against 200 million Indian Muslims. This is not merely a cultural display but a vulgar celebration of anti-Muslim hate, bigotry, and religious supremacy”.

The epistolary address further mentions the involvement of far-right elements in the event and said that the event is organised by “far-right Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), in collaboration with the Indian consulate, alongside Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA)”. The letter emphasised that VHPA is an offshoot of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which is designated as a “militant religious organization” by the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) World Factbook. The civil society members also highlighted the FBI investigation against BAPS regarding its involvement in “forced labour and exploitation of low-caste labourers from India.”

The civil society organisations noted that the right-wing elements had in the past tried to foment the trouble and said that during India Day Parade in August 2022, the far-right Hindu groups transformed the parade into a “hate event” by displaying a bulldozer “alongside pictures of Prime Minister Modi and other Hindu supremacist leaders”, “symbolizing the demolition of Muslim homes in India”. The letter notes that allowing “such a hateful and bigoted celebration in NYC is an affront to American values and to harmony and peaceful coexistence among our diverse communities. It further said that the event emboldens Hindu extremists to glory acts of “violent injustice and discrimination against Muslims.”

The collective observed that the commemoration of Ram Temple was culmination of “decade-long hate campaign” and the destruction of Babri Masjid was a step towards reshaping India into Hindu-Rashtra or ethnoreligious state. The civil society groups demanded immediate removal of the float, maintaining that India is a secular state and its strength lies in diversity.

The letter was signed by the following groups: Indian American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Council on American-Islamic Relations – New York, Hindus for Human Rights, The Federation of Indian American Churches of North America (FIACONA), New York State Council of Churches, Genocide Watch, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Association of Indian Muslims of America, Center for Pluralism, India’s Civil Watch International, American Muslim Institution, Crescent School, Islamic Circle of North America, The Sikh Coalition, Dalit Solidarity Forum, Great Truth, Justice For All, Asian Children’s Education Fellowship, CAIR-NJ, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, and Ambedkar King Study Circle.

The letter can be found here:

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The post American civil society groups register protest against proposed “anti-Muslim” Ram Janmabhoomi temple float during India Day Parade appeared first on SabrangIndia.

His Excellency Jagdeep Dhankhar,

Vice President of India

Respected Sir, it needs no reminding that you occupy the august office of Indian Republic’s Vice-President after taking the following oath under Article 69 of the Indian Constitution, “that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and that I will discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter.” As Vice-President Your Excellency is also the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

Sir, it was a sad spectacle that the Nation found you glorifying the Rashtiya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Rajya Sabha on July 31, 2024, in response to the criticism of Samajwadi Party leader Ramji Lal Suman that persons connected with RSS were being appointed to crucial posts in the educational institutions after recommendation from RSS higher-ups. Instead of letting a concerned Minister respond you took charge and stated:

“RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order… I will not permit honourable member to single out an organisation which is doing national service…I hereby rule that RSS is an organisation that has full constitutional rights to participate in the development journey of this nation. This organisation bears unimpeachable credentials, comprises of people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly. To take exception that a member of this organisation cannot participate in development journey of the nation is not only unconstitutional, but beyond the rules…if we take exception like this, it is indicative of undemocratic situations. It is antithetical to the preamble of our Constitution. We are doing great disservice to the nation and the Constitution by taking such divisive stance…I increasingly find that people are engaging into divisive activities. This is a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country.”

[‘RSS has unimpeachable credentials, is global think tank of highest order: V-P’, The Indian Express Delhi, August 1, 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-think-tank-vice-president-jagdeep-dhankhar-9486650/]

Sir, when an issue of favouritism and corruption was raised by a senior Rajya Sabha member relating to RSS you went to the extent of warning that “The member was trampling the Constitution of India”.

[‘Jagdeep Dhankhar to the rescue of RSS, describes Opposition MP’s questioning of appointment as ‘trampling of the Constitution’, The Telegraph, Delhi, August 01, 2024. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jagdeep-dhankhar-to-the-rescue-of-rss-describes-opposition-mps-questioning-of-appointment-as-trampling-of-the-constitution/cid/2037729]

Your Excellency, you glorified RSS as an organisation which is “a global think tank of the highest order”, “doing national service”, and “bears unimpeachable credentials, comprises of people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly”. You declared any criticism of RSS as “trampling the Constitution of India”, “antithetical to the preamble of our Constitution”, “great disservice to the nation and the Constitution” and critics indulging in “divisive activities” as part of “a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country.”

Sir, I am shocked that as Vice-President of India you eulogized an organisation in the Parliament House of the largest democracy in the world which did not participate in the Indian Freedom Struggle for its inclusiveness, denigrated martyrs of our glorious Freedom Struggle, refused to be loyal to democratic-secular Indian polity, rejected the Tricolour as the National Flag (till year 2000!), denounced Indian Constitution demanding Manusmriti as the constitution Indian), still declares Hinduism and Casteism as synonymous, treats the largest two minorities of  the country as ‘Internal Threats’ and denies claim of Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism being independent religions, and women within RSS as servants.

I am reproducing the above-mentioned startling facts from RSS archives for your kind reference.

RSS committed to build a Hindu state

Importantly, Organizer in an editorial (titled ‘Whither’) on the very eve of Independence, rejected the whole concept of a composite nation declared:

“Let us no longer allow ourselves to be influenced by false notions of nationhood. Much of the mental confusion and the present and future troubles can be removed by the ready recognition of the simple fact that in Hindusthan only the Hindus form the nation and the national structure must be built on that safe and sound foundation…The nation itself must be built up of Hindus, on Hindu traditions, culture, ideas and aspirations.” [Organizer, August 14, 1947]

Prarthana (prayer) and Pratigya (oath) used by the RSS demand from members commitment to a Hindu religion, Hindu rashtra and Hindu cause in opposition to loyalty to democratic-secular Indian polity.

Prarthana:

“Affectionate Motherland, I eternally bow to you/O Land of Hindus, you have reared me in comfort/O Sacred Land, the Great Creator of Good, may this body of mine be dedicated to you/I again and again bow before You/O God almighty, we the integral part of the Hindu Rashtra salute you in reverence/For Your cause have we girded up our loins/Give us Your Blessings for its accomplishment.” 6

[RSS, Shakha Darshika, Gyan Ganga, Jaipur, 1997, p.1.]

Pratigya:

“Before the all-powerful God and my ancestors, I most solemnly take this oath, that I become a member of the RSS in order to achieve all round greatness of Bharatvarsha by fostering the growth of my sacred Hindu religion, Hindu society, and Hindu culture. I shall perform the work of the Sangh honestly, disinterestedly, with my heart and soul, and I shall adhere to this goal all my life. Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” 7 [Ibid, p. 66.]

Sir, thus your glorification of RSS was praise of an organization which demands commitment not to the constitutional polity of India but Hindu Rashtra.

RSS denigrated the Tricolour

Respected Sir, Tricolour is our National Flag. It was this flag carrying which thousands Indian patriots laid down their live as during the British rule it was crime to unfurl it in public. How much RSS hated it can be known by the following denigration of the Flag in its English organ, Organizer just on the eve of Independence (August 14, 1947):

“The people who have come to power by the kick of fate may give in our hands the Tricolour, but it never [sic] be respected and owned by Hindus. The word three is in itself an evil, and a flag having three colours will certainly produce a very bad psychological effect and is injurious to a country.”

RSS betrayed India’s Freedom Struggle

Your Excellency, The Non-cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Quit India Movement (1942) were two great milestones in the history of the Indian Freedom Movement, but RSS kept aloof not only from these but from other anti-colonial campaigns. Guru MS Golwalkar, the most prominent ideologue of the RSS shamelessly denigrated these movements in the following words:

“Definitely there are bound to be bad results of struggle. The boys became unruly after the 1920-21 movement. It is not an attempt to throw mud at the leaders. But these are inevitable products after the struggle. The matter is that we could not properly control these results. After 1942, people often started thinking that there was no need to think of the law.”

[Shri Guruji Samagr Darshan [Collected works of MS Golwalkar in Hindi in 7 volumes], Vol IV, BhartiyamVichar Sadhna, Nagpur, nd, p. 41. Hereafter referred to as SGSD.]

Thus, Guru Golwalkar wanted Indians to respect the draconian and repressive laws of the inhuman British rulers! After the 1942 Movement he further admitted,

“In 1942 also there was a strong sentiment in the hearts of many. At that time too the routine work of Sangh continued. Sangh vowed not to do anything directly. However, upheaval (uthal-puthal) in the minds of Sangh volunteers continued. Sangh is an organisation of inactive persons, their talks are useless, and not only outsiders but also many of our volunteers did talk like this. They were greatly disgusted too.” [SGSD, p. 40.]

Guruji tells us that RSS did nothing directly. However, there is not a single publication or document of the RSS which throws light on what the RSS did indirectly for the Quit India Movement. During this period, in fact, its mentor, ‘Veer’ Savarkar, ran coalition governments with the Muslim League.

RSS denigrates martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle

Respected Sir, I would like to know your views on the statements of ‘Guruji’ decrying and denigrating the tradition of martyrdom following which Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad, Ashfaqullah Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil and countless other patriotic Indians laid down their lives for the independence our Motherland. Here is a passage from the chapter, ‘Martyr, great but not ideal’ from Bunch of Thoughts, a veritable Geeta for RSS cadres:

“There is no doubt that such men who embrace martyrdom are great heroes and their philosophy too is pre-eminently manly. They are far above the average men who meekly submit to fate and remain in fear and inaction. All the same, such persons are not held up as ideals in our society. We have not looked upon their martyrdom as the highest point of greatness to which men should aspire. For, after all, they failed in achieving their ideal, and failure implies some fatal flaw in them.”

[Golwalkar, MS., Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana, Bangalore, 1996 edition, p. 283.]

Could there be a statement more insulting to the Indian martyrs than this? The founder of the RSS, Dr. KB Hedgewar, went one step further: “Patriotism is not only going to prison. It is not correct to be carried away by such superficial patriotism.” [CP Bhishikar, CP., Sanghavariksh Ke Beej: Dr. Keshavrao Hedgewar, Suruchi, 1994, p. 21.]

RSS’ anathema to democracy

Vice-President Sir, you will agree with me that it is due to our democratic and egalitarian polity that you have become the Vice-President of India. But if Guru Golwalkar had his say it would not have been possible. Guruji hated democracy as per his following decree which he presented before a group of 1,350 top level cadres of the RSS in 1940 at the RSS Headquarters: “RSS inspired by one flag, one leader and one ideology is lighting the flame of Hindutva in each and every corner of this great land” [SGSD, vol. i, p. 11.]

As a leading intellectual you must be familiar with the fact that decree of rule under ‘one flag, one leader and one ideology’ was also the battle cry of the Fascist and Nazi parties of Europe in the first half of 20th century. What they did to democracy is well-known to the world!

For RSS Hinduism and Casteism are synonymous

Respected Sir, allow me to ask whether you like RSS believe that Hinduism and Casteism are one and the same. The most prominent ideologue of RSS, Guru Golwalkar stated:

“The Virat Purusha, the Almighty manifesting himself… [According to Purusha Sukta] sun and moon are his eyes, the stars and the skies are created from his nabhi [navel] and Brahmin is the head, Kshatriya the hands, Vaishya the thighs and Shudra the feet. This means that the people who have this fourfold arrangement, i.e., the Hindu People, is our God. This supreme vision of Godhead is the very core of our concept of ‘nation’ and has permeated our thinking and given rise to various unique concepts of our cultural heritage.” [Golwalkar, MS., Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu Prakashana, Bangalore, 1996 edition, pp. 36-37.]

For this infallible belief in Casteism RSS strongly demanded that Manusmriti should replace the Indian Constitution. When the Constituent Assembly of India finalized the Constitution of India under the guidance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on November 26, 1949, RSS was not happy. Its organ, Organiser, in an editorial four days later complained:

“But in our constitution, there is no mention of the unique constitutional development in ancient Bharat. Manu’s Laws were written long before Lycurgus of Sparta or Solon of Persia. To this day his laws as enunciated in the Manusmriti excite the admiration of the world and elicit spontaneous obedience and conformity. But to our constitutional pundits that means nothing.” [Organizer, Delhi, November 30, 1949.]

Respected Sir, I am reproducing a selection from Manusmriti for your kind reference and would like to know whether you also believe in these decrees of the Manu Code. These dehumanizing and degenerate laws, which are presented here, are self-explanatory.

Laws of Manu concerning Sudras

1. For the sake of the prosperity of the worlds (the divine one) caused the Brahmana, the Kshatriya, the Vaisya, and the Sudra to proceed from his mouth, his arm, his thighs and his feet.
2.  One occupation only the lord prescribed to the Sudras, to serve meekly even these (other) three castes.
3.  Once-born man (a Sudra), who insults a twice-born man with gross invective, shall have his tongue cut out; for he is of low origin.
4.  If he mentions the names and castes (jati) of the (twice-born) with contumely, an iron nail, ten fingers long, shall be thrust red-hot into his mouth.
5.  If he arrogantly teaches Brahmanas their duty, the king shall cause hot oil to be poured into his mouth and into his ears.
6.  With whatever limb a man of a low caste does hurt to (a man of the three) highest (castes), even that limb shall be cut off; that is the teaching of Manu.
7.  He who raises his hand or a stick, shall have his hand cut off; he who in anger kicks with his foot, shall have his foot cut off.
8.  A low-caste man who tries to place himself on the same seat with a man of a high caste, shall be branded on his hip and be banished, or (the king) shall cause his buttock to be gashed.
9.  Let him never slay a Brahmana, though he has committed all (possible) crimes; let him banish such an (offender), leaving all his property (to him) and (his body) unhurt.

Laws of Manu concerning Women

1.  Day and night woman must be kept in dependence by the males (of) their (families), and, if they attach themselves to sensual enjoyments, they must be kept under one’s control.
2.  Her father protects (her) in childhood, her husband protects (her) in youth, and her sons protect (her) in old age; a woman is never fit for independence.
3.  Women must particularly be guarded against evil inclinations, however trifling (they may appear); for, if they are not guarded, they will bring sorrow on two families.
4.  Considering that the highest duty of all castes, even weak husbands (must) strive to guard their wives.
5.  No man can completely guard women by force; but they can be guarded by the employment of the (following) expedients:
6.  Let the (husband) employ his (wife) in the collection and expenditure of his wealth, in keeping (everything) clean, in (the fulfilment of) religious duties, in the preparation of his food, and in looking after the household utensils.
7.  Women, confined in the house under trustworthy and obedient servants, are not (well) guarded; but those who of their own accord keep guard over themselves, are well guarded.
8.  Women do not care for beauty, nor is their attention fixed on age; (thinking), ‘(It is enough that) he is a man,’ they give themselves to the handsome and to the ugly.
9.  Through their passion for men, through their mutable temper, through their natural heartlessness, they become disloyal towards their husbands, however carefully they may be guarded in this (world).
10.  (When creating them) Manu allotted to women (a love of their) bed, (of their) seat and (of) ornament, impure desires, wrath, dishonesty, malice, and bad conduct.
11.  For women no (sacramental) rite (is performed) with sacred texts, thus the law is settled; women (who are) destitute of strength and destitute of (the knowledge of) Vedic texts, (are as impure as) falsehood (itself), that is a fixed rule.

Do I need to remind you that these laws are for Hindus? I also would like to remind you that a copy of Manusmriti was burnt as a protest in the presence of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the historic Mahad agitation on December 25, 1927.

RSS celebrated the assassination of Gandhiji

Your Excellency, I hope you know that Nathuram Godse and others who conspired to kill Gandhiji, claimed to be ‘Hindu Nationalists’. They described killing as something ordained by God. RSS celebrated his killing by distributing sweets was the finding of none other than the first home minister of India, Sardar Patel. In a letter written to Golwalkar on September 11, 1948, Sardar stated:

“Organizing the Hindus and helping them is one thing but going in for revenge for its sufferings on innocent and helpless men, women and children is quite another thing…Apart from this, their opposition to the Congress that too of such virulence, disregarding all considerations of personality, decency or decorum, created a kind of unrest among the people. All their speeches were full of communal poison. It was not necessary to spread poison in order to enthuse the Hindus and organize for their protection. As a final result of the poison, the country had to suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhiji. Even an iota of the sympathy of the Government, or of the people, no more remained for the RSS. In fact, opposition grew. Opposition turned more severe, when the RSS men expressed joy and distributed sweets after Gandhiji’s death.” [Justice on Trial, RSS, Bangalore, 1962, pp. 26-28.]

Respected Sir, Gandhiji’s assassination was part of nation-building by RSS. I hope you will take note of it.

Muslims and Christians as ‘Internal Threats’ number 1 and 2

The ‘Holy’ book for the RSS cadres Bunch of Thoughts, has a long chapter titled as ‘Internal Threats’ in which Muslims and Christians are described as threat number 1 and 2 respectively. While treating Muslims as hostile element number 1 the book goes on to elaborate,

“Even to this day there are so many who say, ‘now there is no Muslim problem at all. All those riotous elements who supported Pakistan have gone away once for all. The remaining Muslims are devoted to our country. After all, they have no other place to go, and they are bound to remain loyal’…It would be suicidal to delude ourselves into believing that they have turned patriots overnight after the creation of Pakistan. On the contrary, the Muslim menace has increased a hundredfold by the creation of Pakistan which has become a springboard for all their future aggressive designs on our country.”

[MS Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1996, pp. 177-78.]

The book goes on to spit venom against common Muslims in the following words:

“…within the country there are so many Muslim pockets, i.e., so many ‘miniature Pakistans’… The conclusion is that, in practically every place, there are Muslims who are in constant touch with Pakistan over the transmitter…”

[MS Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1996, p. 185.]

Golwalkar also questioned the loyalty of even Muslim high government officials serving Indian Government in the following word: “Even today, Muslims, whether in high positions of the Government or outside, participate openly in rabidly anti-national conferences. Their speeches carry the ring of open defiance and rebellion.” [MS Golwalkar, Bunch of Thoughts, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1996, p. 187.]

While deliberating on the ‘Internal Threat’ number 2, the Christians, he says,

“Such is the role of Christian gentlemen residing in our land today, out to demolish not only the religious and social fabric of our life but also to establish political domination in various pockets and if possible, all over the land.” [Ibid., p. 193]

Your Excellency, you are supposed to be the defender of all-inclusive Indian Constitutional system. Unfortunately, you have taken sides of an organization which wants to drag India into religious conflicts to the glee of foreign enemies of democratic-secular India.

Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism not independent religions

Respected Sir, RSS regards followers of Islam and Christianity as emigrant or foreigners and demands their cleansing as these two religions are declared to be foreign religions. However, RSS has no respect for Indian religions like Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as these are not treated as independent religions but part of Hinduism. Guru Golwalkar set the agenda by declaring that, “the Buddhists, the Jain, the Sikh are all included in that one comprehensive word ‘Hindu’.” [Golwalkar, MS, the Spotlights, Sahitya Sindhu, Bangalore, 1974, p. 171.]

RSS believed that South Indian Hindus belong to an inferior Race

Vice-President Sir, it is shocking that you are glorifying RSS which as a Racist organization believed that the Race of Hindus of South India needed to be improved? I am reproducing a speech of Guru Golwalkar on this issue in context of Kerala Hindus. He was invited to address the students at the School of Social Science of Gujarat University on December 17, 1960. In this address, while underlying his firm belief in the Race Theory, he touched upon the issue of crossbreeding of human beings in the Indian society in history. He shamelessly stated:

“In an effort to better the human species through cross breeding the Namboodri Brahamanas of the North were settled in Kerala and a rule was laid down that the eldest son of a Namboodri family could marry only the daughter of Vaishya, Kashtriya or Shudra communities of Kerala. Another still more courageous rule was that the first offspring of a married woman of any class must be fathered by a Namboodri Brahman and then she could beget children by her husband. Today this experiment will be called adultery, but it was not so, as it was limited to the first child.” [M. S. Golwalkar cited in Organizer, January 2, 1961.]

Here we find Golwalkar as a Racist and male chauvinist to argue that a Namboodri Brahman male belonging to a superior Race from the North only could improve the inferior human Race from South. For him wombs of Kerala’s Hindu women enjoyed no sanctity and were simply objects of improving breed through intercourse with Namboodri Brahamanas who in no way were related to them.

Your Excellency: do you uphold such criminal views of Golwalkar; the most prominent ideologue of RSS and Guru of all RSS cadres? In RSS male cadres are swayamsevaks (volunteers) but female cadres are sevikas (servants/maids).

Respected Vice-President Sir, your glorification of RSS means that you also support anti-women RSS. RSS is an exclusive male organization, and its members are described as swayamsevak or volunteers whereas the female organization created in 1936 with the name, Rashtr Sevika Samiti describes its members as sevikas meaning female servants. The Sevikas take an oath to remain faithful, modest, guard virginity and honour but no such oath is prescribed for RSS cadres.

Sir, I beg you to enlighten the nation about your response to this naked male chauvinistic attitude of the RSS.

Your Excellency, it is sad time for Indian democracy that the top constitutional officials of the Indian Republic are using platform of Indian Parliament for glorifying an anti-national and anti-social organization. As an Indian, I appeal to your sense of honesty and conscience to remain loyal to the Oath (Article 69) which you took while assuming the office of the Vice-President of Indian Republic. Any person having faith in the RSS worldview cannot be loyal to the present Indian constitutional polity.

With regards,

Shamsul Islam

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The post Has VP Jagdeep Dhankar, violated his constitutional oath? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Reports in the last few days in the The Daily Star, The Daily Tribune and others published from Dacca, record that at least 142 people were killed in attacks and clashes around the country, with hundreds injured, and Hindu houses and businesses were looted and torched in at least 27 districts, on the day the students’ movement declared “independence” from the Awami League’s authoritarian regime.

In the anarchic situation that prevails in the country, fearing for their lives, a large number of Hindus living close to the border have been attempting to cross over to India leaving behind their homes, businesses and motherland.

The once iconic cultural hub of Rahul Ananda has been vandalised, 3,000 rare musical instruments burnt down. The attack on temples, Hindu homes and businesses the targeting of Rahul Ananda’s secular musical space is clear indication that some fanatical Islamist groups – there is no dearth of them in Bangladesh — are pursuing their own intolerant agenda.

In the midst of the continuing mayhem, there are reassuring reports that student leaders have directed their supporters to guard the places of worship of fellow countrymen from the Hindu and Christian communities. Several video clips are circulating in the social media showing students and civilians including madrasa students, setting up committees to protect temples, churches or houses of minorities.

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), the largest Islamist party in the country, has condemned the attacks on Hindus, saying there is no question of majority or minority and that all citizens have equal rights.

IMSD applauds all those organisations and individuals in Bangladesh who are speaking out against the lynch mobs, arsonists looters and fanatics, in particular those who have thrown civilian security rings around their fellow countrymen from the minority communities. We welcome the statement now even as we note that their own questionable role in the past speaks otherwise.

But the main burden of responsibility lies with the interim government to restore the rule of law, ensure peace, comfort the Hindu victims of the wanton violence, reassure them that they will be fully compensated for the destruction of their temples, homes and businesses and the perpetrators of violence will be brought to justice.

In his first address to the nation, the Noble laureate Mohammad Yunus, now the chief advisor to the new interim government, has warned those who spread the poison of anarchy would face the full power of law enforcement agencies, along with the victorious students and the people, who will make them fail.  “As the first duty of the government, we will suppress these conspirators with a heavy hand,” he has promised. The interim government must now walk the talk.

Signatories:

1. J. Jawad, Advocate, Chennai
2. Aftab Khan, Journalist, Nasik
3. Akbar Shaikh, IMSD, Solapur
4. Ahmad Rashid Sherwani, Educationist, Hyderabad
5. Amir Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai
6. Anand Patwardhan, Documentary films maker, Mumbai
7. Anjum Rajabali, Film Writer, Mumbai
8. Anwar Hussain, Corporate Executive, Mumbai
9. Arif Kapadia, IMSD, Business, Activist, Mumbra, Thane
10. Arshad Alam, IMSD, Columnist, New Age Islam, Delhi
11. Ashhar Khan, Jaunpur
12. Askari Zaidi, IMSD, Senior Journalist, Delhi
13. Bilal Khan, IMSD, Activist, Mumbai
14. Dipak Malik, Varanasi
15. Feroze Mithiborwala, IMSD, Co-convener, Bharat Bachao Andolan, Mumbai
16. Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, Sufi Mystic Indo-Islamic Scholar & Author, Delhi
17. Hasan Ibrahim Pasha, Fiction writer, Allahabad
18. Hasina Khan, Bebaak Collective, Mumbai
19. Irfan Engineer, IMSD Co-convener, CSSS, Mumbai
20. Javed Akhtar, former MP, poet, lyricist, Mumbai
21. Javed Anand, IMSD Convener, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
22. Javed Siddiqi, IMSD, writer, author, Mumbai
23. Kasim Sait, Businessman, Philanthropist, Chennai
24. Khadijah Farouqui, IMSD, Activist, Delhi
25. Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Bhiwandi
26. Masooma Ranalvi, IMSD, We Speak Out, Delhi
27. Mohammed Imran, PIO, USA
28. Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP, Varanasi
29. Najid Hussain, PIO, USA
30. Nasreen Contractor, Co-convenor, IMSD, Mumbai
31. Nasreen Fazelbhoy, IMSD, Mumbai
32. Neelima Sharma, Theatre, Social activist, Delhi
33. Qaisar Sultana, Home maker, Allahabad ()
34. Qamarjahan, Lucknow
35. Qutub Jahan, IMSD, NEEDA, Mumbai
36. (Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, Author, Activist, Mumbai
37. Rashida Tapadar, Academic, Activist, Nagaland
38. Riyaz Shaikh, Mumbai
39. Sabah Khan, Parcham, Mumbai.
40. Salim Saboowala, Social activist, Mumbai
41. Shabana Azmi, Actor, Former MP, Mumbai
42. Shafaat Khan, IMSD, Writer, Mumbai
43. Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai
44. Shama Bano, Social activist Varanasi
45. Shamsul Islam, Author, Delhi
46. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, IMSD, TV Commentator, Delhi
47. Sultan Shahin, Editor-in chief and publisher, New Age Islam, Delhi
48. Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai
49. Vibhuti Narain Rai, IPS (retired), author, commentator, Noida
50. Yash Paranjpe, Activist, Mumbai
51. Zaheer Ahmed Sayeed, Neurologist, Chennai
52. Zeenat Shaukat Ali, IMSD, Wisdom Foundation, Mumbai

The post Indian Muslims strongly condemn attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Collected under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (hereinafter BOCW Act), the labour cess funds form an important resource for the welfare of building and construction workers, with appropriate state welfare board(s) created under the Act for its proper utilisation.  Section 22 of the BOCW Act provides for the utilisation of the funds to “provide immediate assistance to a beneficiary in case of accident”, pay for group insurance schemes, make payment for pensions to beneficiaries, “sanction loans and advances to a beneficiary for construction of a house”, furnish financial assistance for the education of beneficiaries’ children, meet medical expenses of a beneficiary or their dependant for major ailments, make payment of maternity benefit to the female beneficiaries, and provide better facilities to the workers. Hence, effective utilisation of the financial resources by the welfare boards is essential for the benefits to materialise and trickle down to the beneficiary workers, especially given the monetary contributions of the workers under the BOCW Act.

However, except for Kerala, which has used 100% of its funds collected under the Act, most states/UTs have failed to effectively utilise the available funds for the benefits of the workers. This can be revealed from the data provided by the Ministry of Labour and Employment during the current parliamentary session. In response to the question posed in Rajya Sabha by G.C. Chandrashekhar, INC MP from Karnataka, regarding the utilisation of labour cess funds, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, provided the details about the utilisation of labour cess funds as of March 31, 2024. Whereas a total of 1,12,331.09 crores have been collected across all the states/UTs till March 31 this year, the spending against the same is merely 64,193.90 crores. Thus, effectively, 48,137.19 crores remained unused by the welfare boards across the states/UTs. Significantly, total number of registered BOCW workers across India stood at 5,65,16,292. It is to be noted that data for the states of West Bengal and Sikkim was available as of January, 2024 and March 31, 2022, respectively.

Notably, Gujarat, which is a leading industrial state, spent a meagre sum of 1012.22 crores against its total collection of 5549.46 crores, with 4537.24 crores remaining in its balance (including bank interests and other receipts). States like Karnataka and Maharashtra had slightly higher relative spending among industrial states, though still worse from the other well performing states/UTs like Puducherry and Kerala. Karnataka spent 7028.05 crores against its total collection of 10874 crores, while Maharashtra spent 12909.16 crores against whopping cess collection of 18579.82 crores. Kerala remained the only state to use all of its funds, with cess collection and expenditure both equalling 3457.32 crores.

The data shared by the Ministry of Labour and Employment can be found below:

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The post Labour cess utilisation remains low, Kerala only state to fully use its labour cess funds appeared first on SabrangIndia.

For the vibrant Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and Mohammad Yunus who is slated to take over the reigns of power in an unusual move, the challenge is both stark and immediate.

Reports from the Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune and even the Times of India have clearly detailed these attacks, eschewing any attempts at denial, even as they were condemned by rights activists within Bangladesh.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, in Jessore, the warehouse of Babul Saha, chairman of Bhagarpara’s Narikelbaria, was attacked and looted, while 22 shops of the Hindu community there were looted, and several houses were vandalised and plundered. The vandalism and attack took place on Monday night it was reported. At least 200 Hindu families live in the area, locals said. People from every house are now guarding the area at night. The newspaper also reported that during a visit on Wednesday, it was seen that Gobinda Saha, a resident of the area, was cleaning the broken window panes in front of his house, which were vandalized on Monday night. He told the newspaper that around 20-25 miscreants attacked their houses with machetes and sticks around 9:30pm on Monday.

“All of us in the family gathered inside the house and watched everything through the window. Around 10 people tried to break the main gate of my house. Later, they smashed the window glass with a brick,” he narrated. Biplab Kundu, a tenant of Shankar Kumar Mallick’s house, said: “After the attack on houses, we are keeping watch at night. Both men and women are having sleepless nights in fear.”

Govinda Saha said: “On information, three army patrol vehicles visited the spot. Activists of BNP and Jamaat had come to assure us of their support at night. Still, we cannot feel safe.” Additionally, the house of one Lakshmi Rani was also attacked and ornaments were looted on Monday night.

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have historically largely supported Hasina’s Awami League. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council leader Kajol Debnath said the attacks that targeted 200 to 300 houses and businesses and 15-20 temples left around 40 Hindus injured. “The situation is grave. We urge the army to ensure security for the minorities and bring the perpetrators of the attacks to book immediately,” Unity Council’s general secretary Rana Dasgupta is reported by The Times of India to have said.

For me, both journalist and rights activist, as heart-breaking as these accounts was the once iconic cultural hub of Rahul Ananda being vandalised and 3,000 rare musical instruments burnt down. The Daily Star reported the incident on August 6:

1 of 3

“Rahul Da and his family are shaken and take shelter to a secret place known to only a few. We could not contact him yet. It was not even his house, it was a rental space he was living in for decades,” said Saiful Islam Jarnal, one of Joler Gaan’s founding members,” reported The Daily Star. As soon as they had broken the gate, they started ravaging the house taking whatever they could find for themselves. They took everything from furniture, mirrors to valuables. After that, they torched the whole house along with Rahul da’s musical instruments,” said another close family source, to The Daily Star. In response, the Joler Gaan posted a song from their official page with a caption, “The house on Dhanmondi 32, once a sanctuary for Rahul Ananda and the Joler Gaan ensemble, was not just a residence but a creative hub where countless songs and instruments were crafted. Known for its open-door policy, the house welcomed all, where Rahul meticulously designed instruments that captured the unique sound of Bangladesh.

“However, this haven was tragically reduced to ashes, taking with it all of the band’s musical instruments, archives, and the family’s belongings. While the residents escaped safely, the loss extends beyond physical possessions, reflecting a deeper lament over the destruction of dreams and creative spirit. Despite the devastation, the message of resilience and the hope for a compassionate future remains, urging people to preserve dreams and not let anger overshadow love and understanding,” the post concluded.

What does this targeted, hopefully limited violence mean for Bangladesh, for the Indian sub-continent and South Asia? For those of us who have battled the corrosive intoxication of hate, from the time when Hindu temples were desecrated in that country –Bangladesh–after the shameful demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, close to 35 years ago, it seems like the beginning of a nightmare that refuses to end. A deadly spiral of tit-for-tat communal targeted violence that has once so bitterly torn us apart between 1946 and 1948. Reverberations and upheavals from that violent past tear us apart still be it in Ranchi, Ahmedabad (1969) Bombay-Bhiwandi in the early 1970s, Nellie (1983), Delhi (1984) Maliana-Hashimpura (1987), Bhagalpur (1989), Bombay 1992-1993 and Gujarat 2002. Not to mention Muzzafarnagar (2013) and the sickening individual lynchings of individual Muslims in India over the past decade.

Already the shrill and sectarian voices from those that rule Delhi and Lucknow have been heard and will no doubt impact the lives of innocent victims from among Muslims in irrational acts of “revenge”. As if the imposed plight of religious minorities under the present Indian self-proclaimed majoritarian dispensation was not bad enough to begin with.

What the young leadership in Bangladesh has brought in response this time, however has been a swift and reassuring response. “A special announcement resonated from a loudspeaker inside a mosque in Bangladesh, issued by the ‘Students Against Discrimination’ group. In a call for peace during the country’s turbulent period, the announcement urged all citizens to maintain communal harmony and protect Hindu minorities. The message emphasised the collective responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of the minority community from potential threats posed by miscreants or evil forces. The group implored everyone to remain vigilant and uphold the values of unity and protection, highlighting the importance of solidarity in these challenging times.

On Facebook and X photos annotated with English translations in the photo text, so that non-Bengali friends also can understand and acknowledge the efforts show visuals of Muslims protecting Hindu Buddhist and Christians spaces and places of worship. So, while attacks on minorities indeed took place in many areas in the country, that is precisely why the students, the people of Bangladesh spontaneously in Chittagong and elsewhere, came forward for protection, to fight the bigots of their country. India and Indians needs to condemn the violence against Hindus in our neighbouring country but also fight the bigots within ours and their poisonous narratives, using these pictures. Let us all learn how to behave responsibly as majority population in a turbulent time like this.

It has been these abiding acts and images that have offered hope even as the new dispensation yet to be seen in Dacca faces a serious test. For us in India, the challenge is to first unequivocally condemn any signs of targeted violence in Bangladesh while supporting a genuinely democratic upsurge. This is both complicated yet imperative.

Are there enough of us in India and Bangladesh to do both? Both passionately and unequivocally?

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