Haryana government | SabrangIndia

Haryana: Why are 40,000 teachers’ posts lying vacant?

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 10:49:12 +0000

Image Courtesy:thedailyguardian.com

The Haryana school education department has a shortage of around 40,000 teachers in 14,000 schools run by the state government. This is in addition to a shortage of 6,000 supporting staff in these schools which need around 12,408 sweepers, peons and watchmen.

Haryana education minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar placed this information in the State Assembly on Tuesday. He had to respond to a question asked by MLA Nayan Pal Rawat, who represents the Prithla assembly in Faridabad, and is an independent MLA. He had asked about the “total number of secondary, high schools and other schools in the state and the number of students, teachers and other staff posted,” stated news reports.

The education department replied that it “has 46,459 vacancies of different posts, including 398 of principals, 112 headmasters, 13,974 graduate teachers (PGTs), 20,467 trained graduate teachers (TGT), 4,846 primary teachers (PRTs) and 6,662 of other supporting staff like sweeper/chowkidar/peon.”

According to the minister, there are 14,473 government schools in the state where 25,30,868 students are studying. According to a report in The Telegraph, some of the vacancies haven’t been filled since 2015. Till October 31 this year, recruitment for 26,704 posts in different departments was pending before the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), and for another 1,070 positions before the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), stated the news report.

The government run schools reportedly have a “requirement of 46,861 TGTs, but only 26,394 are available”and of “the total sanctioned posts of 39,808 PGT, 35.1 percent haven’t been filled yet.” The schools need 2,341 principals but have 1,843, and need 1,071 headmasters but only 959 are available. According to reports 4,846 posts of primary teachers are yet to be filled, in government schools, as well as 437 posts of lecturers lie vacant and haven’t been filled even after an advertisement was issued this year.

Earlier this month, the state of the education sector in Uttar Pradesh, lay exposed as aspirant teachers engaged in state-wide protests to condemn recruitment irregularities and the brutal lathi-charge on individuals observing a candle march on December 5, 2021. A large group of hopeful teachers had gathered in Lucknow to condemn the infamous irregularities in the 2019 Uttar Pradesh exam that was to recruit 69,000 assistant teachers across UP. The recruitment drive initiated prior to the global pandemic, and when the second wave of the pandemic subsided, the aspirants resolved to step out on the streets and demand their dues from the BJP-led UP government. However, the peaceful protesters ended up facing heavy police lathi-charge. The incident sparked huge outrage among Opposition party leaders and the masses.

Interestingly, the Union Ministry of Education told the Parliament on August 2 that 41% of posts reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) at central universities and research institutions continue to remain vacant. Dharmendar Pradhan, the Education Minister had responded to a query raised by Lok Sabha MP Dharmendra Pradhan on the total number of sanctioned and vacant posts for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other Backward Classes (OBCs) in all Central Universities and research institutions, and why the same have remained vacant.

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Haryana lifts decades old ban, allows gov’t employees to join RSS, Jamaat-e-Islami

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:18:53 +0000

Image Courtesy:english.madhyamam.com

The Haryana government has now lifted a decades-old order that banned the state’s government employees from taking part in any Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities. The state’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, is a proud veteran RSS pracharak. His government has withdrawn the orders, issued in 1967 and 1980, which restricted government employees from participating in the activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

According to media reports, the ban was lifted on Monday and the order issued stated: “With the coming into effect of the Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees’ Conduct) Rules, 2016, government instructions…dated 2.4.1980 and…dated 11.1.1967 are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect as they are no longer relevant.” This order was issued by the state’s general administration department.

The order that prompted strong political reactions, also allowed Haryana government employees to join Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). According to the Indian Express, Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan issued the instructions that “the earlier issued letters in 1967, 1970 and 1980 are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect as they are no longer relevant”.

Media reports recalled that in January 1967, the political and services branch of, the then chief secretary’s office had stated that the government “held the activities of organisations such as the RSS and the Jamaat-e-Islami to be of such a nature that participation in them by the government employees would attract disciplinary action under service rules.” Haryana government had then issued an instruction “that participation in RSS activities by government employees would invite action under the service rules.” Then in April 1980, instructions were issued by the then general administration department of Haryana’s chief secretary’s office restraining “state government employees from any association with RSS activities. The two orders are now dust.

अब हरियाणा के कर्मचारीयों को “संघ” की शाखाओं में भाग लेने की छूट ।

सरकार चला रहे हैं या भाजपा-RSS की पाठशाला! pic.twitter.com/2SNpHXj0wR

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) October 11, 2021

Will Haryana be the next Hindutva hotbed?

The wider implications of this new order, which blurs the lines of professional conduct and socio-political affiliations, even if RSS claims it is not a political body. Recently Haryana has had a spate of communal incidents, often it is the Muslim community that has been harrased or threatend for various reasons. Vigilante groups have also voiced anti-Muslim sentiments at various Mahapanchayats or community meetings held across the state. Many of these have given calls for violence against the minority communities, and offer stages from which known communal faces make hate speeches.

An example was a call for violence given by the man better known as the ‘Jamia shooter’. Well known rabble rouser Suraj Pal Amu of Karni Sena, now a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman in Haryana is famous for asking Haryana residents to ensure that “no Taimur, Aurangzeb, Babur and Humayun are born” and “we will not give houses here on rent to the Pakistanis… Remove them from this country…”

Then there are public communal acts such as once by a group of people, identified as residents of Gurugram, objecting to namaz being allowed in an open public space have become frequent. They alleged that “namaz” in the approved open plots spoils law and order, when the police try to inverne and diffuse the tension. They start chanting “Bharat Mata ki jai” which has unfortunately been turned into an aggressive war cry by right-wing groups.

As recently as October 13, according to social media alerts hundreds of members of the Hindutva groups Durga Vahini gathered in Haryana’s Indri area, where calls to purportedly unleash communal violence were being broadcast. In the audience were young children.

On 13th October, hundreds of members of the Durga Vahini and children as young as 5 gathered in Haryana’s Indri for “Shastra Poojan”. Listen to the chilling message being delivered to these small children. They’re exhorting children to committ targetted kilIi’ngs of the “enemy.” pic.twitter.com/5UVZZXZyMv

— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) October 13, 2021

This is illegal assembly of people with weapons in the name of “Shastra-Poojan”. Video is from Bajrang Dal, Jind. To fight against what and whom are they picking up weapons?@police_haryana, please take action. pic.twitter.com/bsXRy1ZHVP

— Kaushik Raj (@kaushikrj6) October 11, 2021

This is crucial to note, because such permissions, and complaints against such permissions both land up at the government offices, which may now have RSS members on the job.

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Karnal lathi-charge: Major win for farmers, as judicial inquiry ordered against Ayush Sinha

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:44:07 +0000

Image Courtesy:scroll.in

In some relief to farmers who were demanding justice for Karnal lathi-charge victim Sushil Kajal, the Haryana state government has agreed to provide jobs to two family members of the deceased farmer. It has also agreed to send former SDM Ayush Sinha on leave, pending judicial inquiry for ordering a brutal lathi-charge on protesting farmers in August.

Talks between farmer leaders and the state government on September 11, 2021 ended with the administration agreeing to conduct a judiciary inquiry in the month, supervised by a High Court judge.

Breaking:Govt BOWS 2 Farmer Demands! Farmers’ Leadrs & Hary Govt hv reached agreement
1. Haryna Govt hs agreed 2 gve job 2 kins of shaheed Sushil Kl wthn a week at DC rate
2. Ayush Sinha 2 be sent on leave & a retd HC judge 2 investi police assault! #FarmersProtest @KisanSabha

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) September 11, 2021

Since August 28, farmers have been protesting the violent attacks on famers at Bastara toll plaza near Karnal city. The attack resulted in the death of 55-year-old farmer Kajal and severe injuries to many other protesters present at the site.

Condemning this incident, thousands of farmers gheraoed (surrounded) the City Mini Secretariat for three days, demanding murder charges against Sinha and due compensation to the martyr’s family members.

“Kajal was always present at every farmer protest. Even on August 28, he was present to support the movement, even though his family suffers from poverty,” said farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni.

Several districts across India held protests in support of the Karnal agitation and burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

On Friday, similar talks took place between authorities, but continued till Saturday as members failed to reach an agreement regarding action against Sinha. At the time, farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) condemned the government for not taking action against the guilty officers and instead promoting them. Sinha presently enjoys the role of Additional Secretary in the Citizen Resources Information Department.

It also condemned Home Minister Anil Vij, who said the administration will take action against the government.

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AIKS demands thorough judicial inquiry into farmer Sushil Kajal’s death

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:49:06 +0000

Start a judicial inquiry into the death of farmer Sushil Kajal, said All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leaders on September 1, 2021 after a visit to the deceased’s family at Raipur Jattan, Karnal district.

During a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, AIKS General Secretary Hannan Mollah and Finance Secretary P. Krishnaprasad, spoke about how Sushil’s mother Murthi Devi said he died due to internal injury after the police lathi-charge on Saturday.

According to Murthi Devi, Sushil suffered injuries to the back of his head and shoulder. He was in severe pain but wasn’t admitted into the hospital by the police. He had to come home and died in the night. His mother said his face was swollen and the abdomen had turned “bluish in colour”.

Farmer leaders who were present at Bastara Toll plaza at the time corroborated the same. They added that those protesters who were severely injured were forced to vacate the hospital after first aid.

“The delegation has come to the conclusion that Sushil Kajal has been murdered due to the internal injury and bleeding due to severe lathicharge by the Haryana police. Instead of taking him to the hospital and ensuring the best treatment to save his life, the police did the criminal act of preventing treatment to the victim,” said Mollah.

As such, he reiterated farmers’ demand to immediately suspended SDM Ayush Sinha and charge him with murder. Further, Mollah demanded that the victim’s family members be compensated with Rs. 25 lakh compensation and government jobs. According to Kajal’s wife Sudesh Devi no police or revenue officers visited the family after her husband’s death.

The AIKS also provided immediate relief of Rs. 1 lakh to the family of the victim from the Kisan Struggle Fund. The delegation stressed the need for a judicial inquiry by the High Court considering Kajal’s body was cremated in the village without post mortem on August 29. Further, Krishnaprasad questioned how the Superintendent of Police Ganga Ram Puniya could declare a heart attack as the cause of death without a post mortem report.

“This is a purposeful act to hide the truth and protect the culprits. The BJP-led Haryana government is shamelessly trying to protect the culprits by not ensuring post mortem after they received the report of death of the farmer. Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar has no moral authority to remain in power,” he said.

His comment was against the BJP-JJP state government’s recent decision to be “tough with protesters” in case of violence.

Advocate Vasu Kukreja, one of the prominent members of the farmers’ legal cell, told Sabrang India that farmers’ petition relating to the Karnal violence was registered by the Punjab and Haryana Court on Wednesday.

Support for Kajal’s family

Haryana farmers remain enraged at Sinha’s deplorable order to police officers sanctioning the “attacking and breaking heads of agitating farmers”. AIKS leaders called for a fact-finding report by a team of advocates, doctors and farmer leaders to investigate the cause of death and ensure strictest action against the culprits.

Meanwhile, Karnal Bar Association members protested at the Mini Secretariat, seeking an FIR against Sinha and others involved in the lathi-charge. They gave a two-day ultimatum to the government.

Similarly, the All India Lawyers’ Union also announced that it will organise a protest march on September 2 from the Supreme Court to Haryana Bhawan. Several political leaders from different parties also voiced their condemnation against the Haryana government.

In Gaya in Bihar, a joint Kisan Convention, planning for the September 25 Bharat Bandh, strongly condemned the Karnal violence. Then Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district farmers expressed their anger against the Karnal incident by observing a hunger fast.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said Haryana farmers have been fighting as equal partners for their rights

“Meanwhile, it is also clear who is instigating the Haryana Khattar-Chautala government to unleash a war against its own citizens”, he said in a press release.

Earlier, the Gharonda Kisan Panchayat warned the government that if authorities do not take the necessary action against the Karnal incident by September 6, farmers will lay siege to the Mini Secretariat. The SKM has promised support for the same.

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Haryana govt agrees to dismiss police cases against 350 farmers

Tue, 25 May 2021 12:24:38 +0000

Image Courtesy:tripurateer.com

The Haryana government withdrew police cases against 350 farmers on May 24, 2021 following a massive demonstration involving over 10,000 farmers in Hisar organised by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).

Farmer leaders said the state government mobilised over 3,000 police and Rapid Action Force personnel to suppress the protest. However, thousands of farmers arrived outside the Divisional Commissioner’s office in tractors, trollies, cars and other vehicles.

Thus, on Monday, the SKM delegation and the Divisional Commissioner engaged in talks moments before the farmers began the gherao of the public office. The official agreed to dismiss all cases registered regarding the May 16 events and those prior to it. Further, farmers will receive compensation for the vehicles that were damaged by the police. Moreover, a family member of farmer Ramachandra, who died on Monday due to heart attack, was assured a job. The Hisar administration also expressed regrets for the brutal lathi-charge and tear gas shells by the BJP-JJP state government against farmers on May 16.

“It led to hundreds of farmers being seriously injured. To add insult to injury, the administration went back on its word and slapped criminal police cases under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other IPC sections against over 350 farmers. On that day thousands of farmers were demonstrating peacefully at a programme in Hisar that was attended by Chief Minister Khattar,” said the SKM.

Prominent SKM leaders, who participated in the meeting with the administration included Balbir Singh Rajewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Rakesh Tikait, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Dr Ashok Dhawale, Yudhvir Singh, Kanwaljit Sandhu, Abhimanyu Kohar, Inderjit Singh, Surendra Singh, Ranjit Raju, P Krishna Prasad, Major Singh Punnuwal, Som Vir Sangwan, Phool Singh Sheokand, Sumit and others.

Present farmers also came down heavily on the anti-people and pro-corporate Modi regime and resolved to intensify the ongoing farmers agitation across the country on May 26.

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Delhi: FIRs against farmers resume as Assembly election vote counting concludes!

Mon, 03 May 2021 13:13:11 +0000

Image Courtesy:scroll.in

Hours after counting for state assembly elections concluded, the Haryana government on May 2, 2021 filed FIRs against farmer leaders under Section 144 and other sections of the Epidemics Act for holding mahapanchayats.

According to Advocate and legal advisor for the protesting group at Ghazipur border, the complaints were filed against BKU leader Rakesh Tikait and others at Bhiwani and Ambala police in Haryana on Sunday evening under Sections 269 and 270 of the Epidemics Diseases Act, 1987. The state government announced a seven-day lockdown from May 3 in nine districts.

Punjab Students Union State President Ranveer Singh Randhawa, State Senior Vice President Hardeep Kaur Kotla, Kirti Kisan Morcha leaders Bir Singh, Jagmandeep Singh Padhi, Rupinder Sandoya, Mistri Mazdoor Union Leader Tarsem Singh Jatpur and singer Pamma Dumewal were also charged with police cases by Punjab Police Noorpur Bedi (Ropar). Prior to this, the Moga police also registered a case against young farmers Sukhjinder Maheshri and Vicky Maheshri.

The move is reminiscent of the 2020 call by the central government to clear all anti-CAA protest sites such as Shaheen Bagh under the guise of social distancing. Accordingly, the FIRs were condemned by members of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) by the government in the name of the Coronavirus.

“Governments should stop disturbing the struggles of the people immediately and should cancel the cases lodged against young peasant leaders, otherwise, farmers will take this fight ahead,” said the SKM.

Regarding the recent elections, the group welcomed the “public mandate against the Bharatiya Janata Party”. Leader said West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala residents rejected the divisive communal politics of the BJP.

“At a time of severe health crisi and crumbling infrastructure due to lack of planning with lots of innocent citizens falling prey to the callous neglect of this government, and at a time when livelihood crisis is starkly apparent, the BJP tried to spin its communal polarisation agenda as the main issue confronting voters,” said SKM leader Darshan Pal.

Farmers called on the BJP to listen to people’s mandate which includes repeal of the three agricultural laws and legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP).

“Our campaign with state assembly voters asking them to punish BJP stands vindicated. BJP’s efforts not to make citizens’ livelihoods issues – the anti-farmer central farm laws and the anti-worker Labour Codes – as an election issue has clearly failed,” said the SKM.

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Haryana gov’t trying to trap farmers in false cases: SKM

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 05:37:26 +0000

Farmers group Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) condemned the Haryana Recovery of Damages to Property during Disturbance to Public Order Bill, 2021 introduced by the state government dubbing it a tactic to “trap agitators in false cases,” said an official press release on March 16, 2021.

Calling the law a “fiasco,” leaders accused the state administration of trying to suppress the on-going farmers movement, and to trap participants in false cases. This legislation comes at a time when farmers such as Ranjeet Singh are getting bail after the Republic day incident. Singh will be released from jail on March 17.

Accordingly, the SKM termed this law as a fiasco of the Haryana government, where the public has socially boycotot even the Chief Minister of the state.

“A resolution has been passed against the farmers in the Haryana Legislative Assembly regarding the social boycott of JJP and BJP MLAs, which we strongly oppose. This is the result of the pressure created by the farmers of Haryana on the JJP and BJP MLAs,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.

Similarly, the SKM reiterated that members have always been in favour of dialogue provided the central government removes various obstacles and opens a path for dialogue. During previous meetings, farmers clarified they would not agree to the government’s former proposal.

While farmers agitate against the three farm laws – the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – bank employees and officers went on a total two days’ strike on March 15 and March 16 against the Centre’s move to privatise public sector banks.

Tens of thousands of workers participated in the demonstrations across India, with support from Central Trade Unions and almost all independent industrial federations. On Wednesday, General Insurance employees will observe demonstrations. During this time, farmers will meet with trade unions, transport unions and other people’s rights organisations, and chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Bharat Bandh. Later, on March 18 LIC employees will protest privatisation.

Meanwhile, the Kisan Adhikar Yatra in Odisha reached Kashipur in the Gajapati district on Monday. The Yatra is getting stronger with overwhelming support from farmers and local people, and farmers are also strengthening the movement by organising small meetings, said the SKM.

In Bihar, all seven yatras returned to Patna after visiting about 35 districts. In this series, farmers organized more than 300 meetings and travelled about 5,000 km to establish direct communication with two thousand villages and about one lakh farmers.

“It has been more than three months since this movement was started on Delhi borders. Beyond political differences, the government is also not showing basic humanity. Nearly 300 farmers have died in this movement. Road accidents have caused heavy losses to many farmers. The government should break its arrogant attitude and provide all possible help to the farmers who were martyred and injured in this movement,” said the SKM.

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Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan: Muslims for composite Indian nationalism

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:52:54 +0000

Image Courtesy:thereports.in

As per the recent communiqué from Chief Minister of Haryana M.L. Khattar’s, the Government of Haryana has decided to change the name of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Hospital in Faridabad to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hospital. So far we have witnessed the name changes by present ruling dispensation aplenty. Most of these changes involved the changing of names of roads/cities, which had names of Muslim rulers. Aurangzeb Road was changed to APJ Abdul Kalam, Allahabad to Prayagraj, Mughal Sarai to Pundit Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Faizabad to Ayodhya. In recent elections in Hyderabad, the UP Chief Minister Adiyanath Yogi said that the name of Hyderabad should be changed to Bhgyanagar. Shiv Sena, which was a long time ally of BJP, has been calling for name change of Aurangabad, Ahmadnagar, and Pune among others. While Shiv Sena has woken up to electoral advantages of name change from Muslim rulers names to Hindu rulers lately, BJP is adept to this game and playing it to the hilt. Its major propaganda has been against Muslim Kings (Temple destruction, forcible conversion, oppression of Hindu women etc.) and reflected on the present Muslim community.

What is different this time, in Haryana Governments’ move is that it is not the Muslim King whose name is being changed. It is the name of one of the great Indian Nationalists, one who stood rock solid against British rule, one who opposed the partition in the name of religion and one who was the devout follower of Father of the Nation: Mahatma Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan. He is also addressed as Badshah Khan or Bacha Khan with love and affection. He is also known as Frontier Gandhi.

He was a major leader from North West Frontier Province (NWFP), who due to his anti-British stance was jailed by the British and later also jailed by Pakistan authorities for his standing for plural, democratic values. Khan had founded Khudai Khidmatgar, which pledged to work for the nation, oppose British rule and follow the path of non-violence and amity. Khudai Khidmatgar’s agitation and resistance to British rule was best reflected in Kissa Khwani Bazar. This incident happened in Peshawar in 1930 when British armored vehicles trampled and shot the protesters, who were peacefully demonstrating.

Khan was the one who was totally against the concept of partition and when Congress leadership had to reluctantly accept the partition and NWFP was to be part of Pakistan, Khan said to Congress leadership, ‘you have thrown us to the wolves’. After partition many of his followers who migrated to Faridabad, built this hospital in the memory of their leader. Some of these followers of his who are still alive do say that they have no problems with the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but probably a new hospital can be built in his name sparing the cherished memory of one of the great freedom fighters, one who stood for his principles to the end.

The present ruling dispensation, which was not the part of freedom movement, wants to erase the imprint of Islam and Muslim’s contribution to the building of Indian nation. While medieval Muslims kings have been demonised to the hilt, now BJP seems to be turning its attention to the Muslims who were an inseparable part of the freedom movement. The understanding being spread is that Muslims had been separatists, and so Pakistan was demanded by them. This is a totally superficial understanding of the history of the Independence movement. The Muslim League which had its roots in the nawabs and landlords did not represent the majority of Indian Muslims. Surely Muslim League did succeed in attracting some middle class elements but the large majority of Muslims never supported it. Only elite, property owners and degree holders had the right to vote some of who stood with Muslim League while the average Muslims were with the freedom movement.

Muslim League did succeed in forming ministries in Sindh and Bengal in collaboration with Hindu Mahasabha but average Muslims kept aloof from its separatist politics. The point is that while Jinnah is known as the Muslim leader, it is not generally known that there were other Muslim leaders who were either part of national movements or through their organisations they supported the politics of freedom movement in opposition to the separatist politics of the communalists who believed in ‘two nation theory’, nation based on religion. Shamsul Islam in his book ‘Muslims against India’s partition’ brilliantly brings forth the politics of ‘Nation loving Muslims’ (as he calls those Muslims who stood with the values of Composite nationalism).

In response to Jinnah’s Pakistan resolution, Allahbaksh who was twice the premier of Sindh Province not only returned his titles to support the 1942 Quit India movement. He had earlier formed ‘Azad Muslim Conference’ to oppose the demand of partition of India. He organised this Conference to oppose the demand of partition with huge response from the average sections of Muslim community. Allah Baksh in his speech stressed that our religions may be different but we have to live as a joint family respecting the different opinions of our family members. There are many other significant leaders who had substantial following among Muslims and were for Hindu Muslim unity. Shibli Nomani, Hasrat Mohani, Ashfaqulla Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Shaukutllah Ansari, Syed Abdullah Barelvi, Abdul Maziz Khwaja are some of these.

Similarly Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a tall leader who led the Congress number of times and it was under his President-ship of Congress in 1942 that the call of Quit India movement, the greatest anti- British campaign, was given. Many a Muslim organisation like Jamiat-E-Ulema Hind, Momin Conference, Majlis-E-Ahrare Islam, Ahle Hadis, Maualans of Barelvi and Deoband and many others stood unflinchingly to support national movement. Muslim League was totally against these Nationalist Muslims.

Changing the name of the hospital in the memory of Bacha Khan symbolises the further growth of sectarianism where ruling party wants to undermine and erase the contribution of Muslim freedom fighters, who contributed immensely in the making of modern India.

* The writer is a human rights defender and a former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay).

Other pieces by Dr. Puniyani:

Bid Curb Inter-faith marriages: Ruse to Restrict Women’s Freedom

Charlie Hebdo Cartoons and Blasphemy Laws in Contemporary Times

Was Mughal Rule the period of India’s Slavery?

Kashi- Mathura: Will temple politics be revived?

Scapegoats and Holy Cows

Freedom of Religion: Indian Scenario

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Change of Land Use permission granted to Adani raises eyebrows

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 13:18:06 +0000

Image Courtesy:kractivist.org

On May 7, 2020, even as the rest of the country was reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning, Haryana granted permission to Adani Agri Logistics (Panipat) Ltd. to change land use for setting up a warehouse for agricultural produce.

The permission is granted an area measuring 90015.623 Sqm in the revenue estate of village Naultha & Jondhan Kalan, Tehsil Israna, District Panipat for an amount of Rs. 27,00,469/- on account of conversion charges.

One of the conditions for granting permission is that Adani will “give at least 75% employment to the domiciles of Haryana where the posts are not of technical nature and a quarterly statement indicating the category wise total employment and of those who belongs to Haryana shall be furnished to the G.M.D.I.C. Panipat.”

The permission is valid for a period of two years. The permission memo may be viewed here:

The timing of the CLU grant is curious given how the three agricultural bills were passed in September 2020. This has led many to believe that Adani was aware of the move and preparing for it.

The Communist Party of India Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) shared a copy of the permission memo on Facebook stating, “Nearly a month before the agri ordinances were approved by the cabinet, Haryana govt permitted the setting up of a warehouse by the #Adani group on more than 22 acres of land with a conversion fee of only 27 lakh rupees. The bills just followed.”

Adani has already started construction of silos for storage of foodgrains procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on the land. SabrangIndia had reported earlier on how it was in June 2016, that Adani Agri Logistics Ltd (AALL) a part of Adani Ports and Logistics first entered into an agreement with the FCI to build two silos to store wheat. These were to be constructed in Kotkapura in Punjab and Katihar in Bihar. The two silos were to have a joint capacity of 75,000 tonnes and the project was estimated to cost Rs 80 crores. But as the project grew many new silos were constructed.

As per AALL’s website, “Adani Agri Logistics Limited (AALL) has signed an exclusive service agreement with the Food Corporation of India. The project has been implemented at a total cost of nearly Rs. 700 crores.” AALL explains further, “The key feature of the project is that the entire handling of the food grains, right from receiving at Base Depots, cleaning and drying as well as storage and transportation to field depots is carried out in bulk form, thus minimizing the losses. These units are notified procurement centers of FCI, where farmers deliver their produce directly in bulk form.”

Balraj Singh, sarpanch of Naultha told The Tribune that the Adani group had started purchasing land in the region three years ago and construction began a few months ago. “The group started purchasing land nearly three years back and paid Rs 30 lakh per acre to farmers to begin with. Gradually, it kept revising the rates and the price went up to Rs 2 crore per acre, leaving landowners who sold their land initially a little sore,” said Singh. He also said, “The land purchased by the group was not cultivable. It does not have any supply for irrigation and the water in the area is brackish, making it unsuitable for cultivation.”

The land purchased by the group in Naultha is close to the highway and next to a railway track. Construction also began in Jondhan Kalan about a month ago.

However, Adani group has clarified in a statement posted on Twitter that it neither buys foodgrains from farmers, nor does it have a role in deciding prices of foodgrains, in wake of allegations of hoarding and appropriation of railway lines by a Youtube channel:

https://twitter.com/AdaniOnline/status/1336333077757345801

#FakeNewsAlert

Our statement in response to the misleading video posted by the Loktantra TV YouTube channel that is leveraging the ongoing farmer crisis in order to malign our reputation and misguide public opinion. #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/k4eeEGTpHa

— Adani Group (@AdaniOnline) December 8, 2020

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Cop gets drenched in water, farmer slapped with attempt to murder case!

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 11:38:33 +0000

Image Courtesy:latestly.com

He is being hailed across the country as a braveheart hero who risked injury but turned off a high-pressure water cannon to save his fellow farmers, and their food and clothes, from getting soaked in the dead of winter. But, according to the Haryana Government, Navdeep Singh has made an attempt to murder, because a policeman got drenched when the nozzle turned in his direction. A few seconds before that happened, the water cannon was shooting high pressure jets at protesting farmers.

Navdeep Singh, son of a farmers’ body leader Jai Singh, has been charged with attempt to murder which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, along with other charges including rioting and violation of Covid-19 rules. The young man, however, has said he has done none of that, and was only attempting to save the farmers and their supplies from getting soaked. No one was reported injured in the incident, videos of which went viral on social media soon after.

“I have no regrets,” says Navdeep Singh speaking to a local news channel, “We did not think of what could happen, we left home thinking even if we get shot in the chest we will fight for our rights.” From the video it appears that Navdeep Singh had in fact risked his own life and limb, when he leapt from the water cannon vehicle after turning it off, onto another vehicle to avoid a beating from the policeman who had also climbed atop the tanker to nab him.

The young farmer has not become the centrepoint of the most iconic moment of the protest yet. The 26-year-old Navdeep Singh has been accused, for the second time this year by the Haryana Government, of attempt to murder, for shutting off the tap of the water cannon that was firing jets of ice cold water upon the marching farmers, including senior citizens. He was also interviewed by local media outlets but one of the most telling one is by Rubika Liyaquat of ABP news, who tries her best to appear ‘objective’ while asking him leading questions, however Singh remained poised, calm and articulate and told her what transpired.

“We were walking towards Delhi from Ambala on November 25, the police had put up barricades and we requested them to allow us to pass. We told them we need to go towards Delhi and talk about our rights”. The police asked the group to wait for half an hour but they got more forces deployed. “We then moved ahead removing the barricading and they launched the water cannons on us, it was very high pressure. Navdeep then recalled how he then jumped from his trolley tractor onto the water cannon and turned the nozzle away, “But it completely turned to the other side, water drenched the policemen (on the road) who cleared the way, then police started hitting me with lathis from below. One climbed atop and tried to grab me, then I jumped onto a tractor trolly,” he recalled how he risked his life to avoid being possibly hit by the police.

Anchor Liyaquat continued to ask him “why was he the only one who climbed atop the water cannon when all other farmers were protesting on the ground?” She asked him why he “claimed the tap drenching cops” was an ‘accident’? Navdeep calmly replied that they were carrying supplies (food and clothes) in their trolleys in preparation for a long wait in Delhi, and he wanted to save them from getting drenched. She then asks him why he jumped from the water cannon. He did it to keep the march going.

https://news.abplive.com/videos/news/farmers-protest-navdeep-singh-narrates-experience-after-fir-filed-under-section-307-1399044

According to Navdeep, the farmers’ purpose was to reach Delhi, he said it is not just IPC 307 that he has been accused under, “but no one was hurt, we did not injure anyone. They have accused me of 307 earlier, in September when they accused me under section 307 on September 10 at a rally (at Pipli near Kurukshetra) when we were lathi charged at a protest rally.” Even then no one was hurt, but the police charged Navdeep under section 307 in two different police stations.

Anchor Liyaquat asked him if he “did not feel it was wrong to ‘target’ the policemen doing their duty?”

“We have not targeted them, we have not fired at them,” he replied calmly, the anchor then had no choice but to ask him basic questions like which aspect of the law was most objectionable and if he was affiliated to any unions. He said he was affiliated with Bharatiya Kisan Union after the farming laws were passed in Parliament. While all those with vested agendas are trying to now find reasons to add political motive to the actions of a young farmer, Navdeep Singh continues to be hailed as a hero.

“For the BJP, anyone who protects our Annadatas is a criminal. For the rest of India, he is a true hero!

Navdeep Singh, a young man whose only ‘crime’ was turning off a water cannon which the BJP govt was using on farmers, has been charged with Attempt To Murder. For the BJP, anyone who protects our Annadatas is a criminal. For the rest of India, he is a true hero!#FarmerProtest

— Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) November 28, 2020

#Navdeepsingh pic.twitter.com/8rfbxe9OUn

— Sajjad Ambedkar (@sajmad) November 28, 2020

“Who exactly gets murdered as a weapon is turned off is beyond me. All my respect to Navdeep Singh”

Stopping a weapon of assault, a water cannon, is apparently an attempt to murder. Who exactly gets murdered as a weapon is turned off is beyond me. All my respect to #Navdeepsingh https://t.co/r2Q9FLxLrD

— Rishika Malik (@rishikamlk) November 28, 2020

सूखी रोटी मुँह में ठूँसी पेट पे मुक्का मार दिए
हमरा बटुआ हमसे चोरी उल्टा हमें उधार दिए

सर पे पत्थर बाँध के औंधे मुंह फेंके पानी में
हमरे ही किरदार को छीने हमरी ही कहानी में

काहे का गुणगान तुम्हारी ऐसी तैसी
गरियाएँगे सीना तान तुम्हारी ऐसी तैसी

बहुत हुआ सम्मान तुम्हारी ऐसी तैसी pic.twitter.com/Z35YE5V5P5

— Hussain Haidry (@hussainhaidry) November 28, 2020

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