A discredited Mamata Banerjee plays out populism along with 'Bengal talent' parochialsm .... almost throws a challenge to Supreme Court :::: Fact check .... support base is on decline

 "The Supreme Court must clarify who is deserving and who is not. Give us the list. No one has the right to break the education system," said Mamata Banerjee on the apex court's order on cancellation of teachers' job in West Bengal. 

"In the Vyapam case in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, so many people were killed. They have not got justice till today. In NEET, many allegations surfaced. The Supreme Court did not cancel the examination. 

The development comes days after the Supreme Court on April 3 upheld the cancellation of 25,752 school job appointments made through the 2016 West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment.

"Please don't consider that we have accepted it. We are not stone-hearted, and I can even be jailed for saying this, but I don't care," said West Bengal CM.

Why is Bengal being targeted? We want to know. You are scared of Bengal's talent," she told a gathering of sacked teachers at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium.  

(These words only betray her nervousness)   

The Supreme Court last week cancelled the appointments of more than 25,000 teachers and school staff recruited by the West Bengal School Service Commission.  

This was done as large-scale irregularities were found in the recruitment process of 2016.    

Citing legal precedents, the court said this is a case "wherein the entire selection process has been vitiated and tainted beyond resolution." "Manipulations and frauds on a large scale, coupled with the attempted cover-up, have dented the selection process beyond repair and partial redemption. 

The credibility and legitimacy of the selection are denuded," the bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar said in its order.

The order noted that the School Service Commission "has been candid enough to admit; (i) rank jumping, that is, to say candidates having lower rank were preferred over those having higher rank, (ii) out of panel appointments, that is, candidates who are not in the panel of shortlisted candidates have been recommended and appointed, (iii) candidates who were not recommended by WBSSC were appointed by the Board, and (iv) manipulation of the OMR scores".

The court also noted that the School Service Commission had destroyed the OMR sheets and said there is "no justification" for this move.

"In spite of the factual background and the credible evidence indicating irregularities, WBSSC initially did try and cover up the lapses and illegalities. The cover up itself has made the verification and ascertainment more difficult or rather impossible given the scale of camouflage and dressing up done at each stage. We are convinced that the entire selection process was intentionally compromised due to the illegalities involved," it said.

The court said that candidates not found to be tainted won't need to refund salaries they received through the years, but their services will be terminated. The court asked the state government to repeat the recruitment process in three months.

Under fire, Mamata Banerjee has responded by accusing Opposition parties BJP and CPI-M of hatching a conspiracy aimed at the "collapse of the state education system". 

Targeting the rivals today, she said, "You have people everywhere. But don't snatch jobs from teachers to target me. Remember, an injured tiger is more dangerous. It's an attack on our government," she said.

(Targeting the CPI-M is deliberate as she is scared that the Muslim support base may go back to the Marxists) 

"We have to accept the court's order, seek clarification and file a review petition too. You have not received a termination letter, so you keep working," she said, asking the teachers to continue working. 

Earlier, teachers at the gathering said they won't take an exam again to qualify for the job. "We will file a review petition and we will urge the West Bengal government and School Service Commission to file review petitions too," a teacher said.

"If the Supreme Court provides us clarity, we will be grateful. If not, we will find a way and stand by you. Suffer for two months, you don't have suffer for 20 years. And I will compensate for those two months too. You won't have to beg," Mamata Banerjee said.

 

"There is no basis...", says sources in Govt of India vis-a-vis claims by Bangladesh on 'extradition' pleaof Sheikh Hasina

“There is no basis for the observation made by the press secretary on the extradition request,” says a source in the Govt of India amid row over comments made by Bangladesh on the maiden interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief advisor Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus. 

According to a Facebook post from Bangladeshi side, when Yunus raised Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, the “response was not negative”. 

Alam also claimed Modi had said: “We saw her [Hasina’s] disrespectful behaviour towards you [Yunus].”

The sources say PM Modi had responded to various specific issues raised by Yunus by saying that these were best discussed by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

“There is no basis for the observation made by the press secretary on the extradition request,” one of the people said, emphasising that such attempts call into question the seriousness and the good faith of Bangladesh’s interim government.

India has no far not responded to the request made by Bangladesh’s interim government last year for the extradition of Hasina, who is living in New Delhi in self-exile since she left Dhaka last August after the collapse of her government.

Indian officials have said the Bangladesh side has not completed several legal formalities related to the extradition request.

The people further said that Modi had spoken during the meeting with Yunus about the progress in bilateral relations since 2014 and characterised the ties as a “deep friendship between our societies and peoples”. They pointed out that that Bangladeshi side’s characterisation of Modi’s remarks regarding the relationship with Yunus and the previous government of Sheikh Hasina were inaccurate.

Modi, the people said, had also mentioned the importance of elections as the basis of legitimacy in any democracy. They said “continued procrastination” in this regard would damage the reputation Yunus.

The people also said the Bangladeshi side’s contention that attacks on the country’s minorities were a “social media concoction” was a contradiction of the facts on the ground.

At their meeting in Bangkok on Friday, Modi directly conveyed India’s deep concerns about the safety of Bangladesh’s Hindus and other minorities to Yunus and said he expects Dhaka to ensure their security and thoroughly investigate instances of atrocities against them. This was the first face-to-face meeting between Modi and Yunus since the fall of Hasina’s government.

The security of Bangladesh’s minorities has emerged as the most contentious issue between the two sides since the interim government assumed office last August, and New Delhi has repeatedly urged Dhaka to ensure their security.

The Bangladesh interim government’s account of aspects of the meeting between chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including attacks on minorities and the extradition request for former premier Sheikh Hasina, was “mischievous and politically motivated”, sources say.  

Why faulty claims by Dhaka ?? 

Primary reason is Yunus could not handle such a big occasion. By now it is clear the Yunus regime and Yunus himself have displayed 'immaturity' vis-a-vis foreign policy matters with regard India. 

Firstly, Yunus had blundered by talking about northeast India during his visit to China. It only gave credence to the theory that the interim administration under Yunus is not giving importance to an improved relationship with India.   

In a lighter sense, one may also point out at the fact that Yunus's body language betrayed nervousness. He sat with a set of papers while Narendra Modi handled things with much ease. 

Post meeting analyses:

* Yunus should appreciate he 'got' the opportunity to meet Narendra Modi after repeated requests and after eight months since he could take over the reins of Bangladesh.

** Yunus's gift to Modi - an old snap only shows 'desperation' on the part of Dhaka that look, our leader is important and a decorated individual who was given some recognition in 2015 by Namo himself. 

Optics and substance ought to be understood. 

*** PM Modi made a strong case for a 'democratic, stable and inclusive' Bangladesh and that means Hindu minorities in that country should be treated with respect they deserve. 

^^^ Modi also focused on building a relationship based on pragmatism and people centric. This was advantage Yunus because Modi did now show any preference about internal dynamics in Bangladesh's electoral politics. 

*** PM Modi also asked Dhaka to investigate properly the cases of atrocities on Hindus.   

"The Prime Minister also underlined India's concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Government of Bangladesh would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating all cases of atrocities committed against them," said foreign secretary Vikram Misri. 

*** Most timely warning was that - "any rhetoric (on the part of Dhaka in particular) that vitiates the environment is best avoided". 

This was certainly in reference to Yunus making a totally unwarranted statement on north east India.  

ends

Road to 'Naga Solution' :::: There are several ways to skin a cat ..... Modi Govt should use 'Waqf Bill passage' strategy ---- Should defeat and expose those who thrive in Blackmailing

There are several ways to skin a cat. 

The 'system' is only part of the victim of one of the basic laws of physics, life and also politics that is the Gravitational pull. It takes one downwards -- come what may and whatever you do.

When we say the BJP-led Modi government should make use of  'Waqf Bill passage' strategy in Parliament vis-a-vis Naga Solution Roadmap; we are not implying any HIndu-Muslim narrative. 

The reference should be understood from the perspective of the strategy drawn out by BJP's floor managers in both the Houses of Parliament.  

It's the strategy to defeat and expose those who thrive in blackmailing. 

"If you do not do in our ways, who knows what we can do" --- for long this dictum worked for India's Sickularism establishment. This particularly was for Muslims and for long the Congress, communists and other political parties respected that 'fear mongering' and encouraged a mix of appeasement and accommodation. 

In other words - it is like giving a long rope way. In the context of Nagaland and the Naga issue; the matter is understood quite easily. 

So even the campaign against R N Ravi was entertained and he was moved out. Ravi as the state Governor had rightly diagnosed the basic 'source of power' of the blackmailing forces - the extortion. Hence he had to go !! 

But a spoiled child is never expected to be the disciplined cool boy in the classroom. He would fancy another demand - mostly unreasonable ones. 

The puppets and puppeteers know the art very well.  

Why guns have say ?

Lately the disease has spread ... somewhat by external influence as well. 

Boleros and cash flow were being suspected. Now in March-April 2025, even New Delhi can sense the 'push' from behind. 

The NNPG has split almost leaving a long term impact on the very peace process. 

The Status club patrons and philosophy-guides were too happy as the NSCN (Unification) split.  

Even the March 22 'adventurism' could not work as a quick-fix and the blame game continued.  

The moral of the lesson is no one seems to take the peace process seriously. The word 'peace' is so often used so casually that the real power of the word is not understood well today. 

The Journey for 'peace' always requires spirit of accommodation and sacrfice. Where is that found even if there was 'instigation' to fight ? 

Naga guerrilla fighters

Both the camps seemingly believe - 'my way or highway'.  This comes from a belief that we can 'threaten' or blackmail the peace seekers. 

This is only one part of the story. The other story is also a case where agencies smell - Desperation. 

A few Naga underground groups are getting their acts together to even 'control' or influence the course of happening in Myanmar.  

This is also to use as a tool to blackmail the peace seekers and the Govt of India -- 'obey our diktats or else we go the other side'. 

Notably, the other side is no heaven. There were killings and clashes and now came the killer tremor. Yet the big talks do sell. 

Dream merchants know what is the weakness of the market and the gullible customers. 

In the case of Waqf Bill also such market strategy of blackmail was set into motion. If you bring the Bill, we will debate, stage drama and stall the Bill in the level of a select committee.

At the next stage, we will create fears in JD-U of Nitish Kumar and TDP.  And even further --- we know how to threaten Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP of Andhra Pradesh. 

What will happen to your Muslim voters? 

The government did not blink.  It gave a clear message to allies such as JD-U and TDP. It also send in emissaries to YSRCP and Biju Janata Dal camps. 

Ultimately, the game called 'blackmail' was defeated. Similar firm handling is required with regard the Naga talks too. 

The stakeholders are already very weak. People's trust and respect are on decline because no results are coming even after months and years of parleys. They are silent; that does not mean they would be passive Bolero travelers with 'white and brown envelops' lifelong. 

Once the power of blackmailing is stalled and exposed; things will fall like a pack of cards.  

The world's fifth largest economy which has shown enough resilience even against Donald Trump's tariff blackmailing, can easily give a befitting response to people who have made a fashion of testing its patience. 

The experience of Waqf Bill handling in Parliament will certainly make Amit Shah wiser.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is never shy about taking big risks. Fortune will favour a decisive leader. 

ends 

Peace apostle also wants 'peace' in India's northeast 

Look at Congress journey .... meaning downslide ... ::: It does not have CM in Tamil Nadu for 58 years, in West Bengal for 48 years, in Odisha for 25 years, in Bihar for 35 years & Gujarat and UP for over three decades

"Waqf isn't there in several Islamic nations like Indonesia, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, so why is it here in India? 

If we talk about India, then do Sikhs, Parsis and Christians have such powers?","  BJP lawmaker Sudhanshu Trivedi said in Rajya Sabha during the debate on the Bill.  

This highlights Muslim appeasement of the Congress and perhaps single biggest reason why Congress is where it is found today. 

Is Congress also paying a price for Entitlement, Arrogance and Dynast ? 

Paradox about Indian politics is such that there is some kind of commonality between the Congress and the BJP.

If one is asked, can Congress pose a serious challenge to Narendra Modi or the BJP? The obvious answer is: No. But what immediately goes to suit both the BJP and the Congress is that --- no one else can.

The Congress is now battling not for protecting India's democracy and Sickularism. It has to struggle every inch to keep itself relevant and floating. The grand old party does not have organisational strength, nor an inspiring leader and even an effective political dialogue and right narratives pull the heartstrings.

But in last few months - since Rahul Gandhi's hat-trick in defeat; it has ensured three berths in Indian Parliament for the first family -Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha and her two dotting children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandh Vadra in Lok Sabha. 

But look at the Waqf Bill debate neither of the three spoke. Rahul is Leader of the Opposition and his sister Priyanka represents Wayanad parliamentary seat - a hub of sizable Muslims. 

Those who ran down the Modi-Shah duo after June 4, 2024 election results must be regretting for what they prophesised then. 

Taking on the BJP and the NDA under Modi is totally different form 2004 when the Congress could take on the election managers of BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani. 

Team Namo is totally different and ruthless. 

Coming back to the debate in Rajya Sabha on Waqf Bill; BJP MP Trivedi dismissed the opposition's argument that Hindus can also donate to Waqf. 

He questioned the logic behind this claim, stating that if Islam does not accept prayers from non-Muslims, how can it accept donations from Hindus? 

"The government has supported poor and honest Muslims, while some opportunistic leaders have tried to mislead the country." He further said that poor and Pasmanda Muslims would appreciate the government's efforts once the Waqf Bill is passed, describing it as a ray of hope for honest and sincere Muslims.

"... We have given this Bill- ‘UMEED’ name but some people dreamt of ‘UMAH’. ‘UMAH’ means an entire Islamic nation. People who wanted ‘UMEED’ are seeing the ray of hope, however, those who wanted ‘UMAH’ can be seen disappointed," he said.

The story of Congress decline can be also assessed on the basis of onetime die-hard Congress leaders.

A few years back, the Congress also lost Junior Scindia, who is now comfortable being Narendra Modi's Minister handling important portfolios of Communication and DoNER.

However, the political takeaway in the big picture scenario is something more deep and of much more significance.

Congress often plays the Dalit card. In Punjab by making a Dalit Chief Minister in India’s agri-rich food bowl province, the Congress leadership had given a bigger message to the vast Dalit community across the nation. But it did not work well in Punjab itself. 

An estimated 17 per cent of Indians are Dalits and these include Sikhs as well. There are sizable Christian population, who also want social and community recognition as 'Dalit Christians'. In Indian politics there is also something called ‘soul of the Congress party’. That soul could be yearning for the uplift of Dalits and other deprived sections.  But when it comes to voting, the Dalits rarely support and trust Congress these days. 

In 2021-22, the Congress was working to a plan and thus made a nationwide attempt to win back Dalits which for multiple reasons deserted the party in last 2-3 decades.

Rahul Gandhi personally took the initiative to make a Dalit – Mallikarjun Kharge – the new Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and later also Congress president. The symbolism was not much palatable as a talented Shashi Tharoor was sidelined and the fact was Rahul wanted to remote control Kharge. 

Importantly, Kharge was given the post replacing former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who again has been a longtime family loyalist. In 1998 when Sonia Gandhi took over as President staging a coup against 'harmless' Sitaram Kesri, Azad was a key Man Friday.

Dalits make up at least 20 per cent of the population in Uttar Pradesh. The challenge before the Congress now will be to stay relevant to fight Modi and the BJP in 2029.

Almost situation prevailed during 2024 polls when the Congress had to struggle hard to get back its 'national rhythm and appetite' to fight Narendra Modi. 

The regional satraps such as Mamata Banerjee are ambitious and do not have much faith in Rahul's ability to deliver.

Trinamool Congress is now concerned about fast approaching 2026 assembly polls.

Of course, once state elections are over in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, there could be more regional contestants.

For its part within the party fold and amongst rank and file, the Congress faces a major challenge in the form of factionalism.

It is true 'factionalism' is abundantly available inherent’culture of the party.

In several states across India, the BJP ideally wants to be like it is in Gujarat, where the grand old party is its only major competitor but it has chronic illness on twin fronts of leadership (no good face) and organisational weaknesses.

The fact that Maharashtra is a state known for Shahu Maharaj and BR Ambedkar does not offer any formidable challenge to the RSS and the BJP today. 

The NCP of Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena under Uddhav Thackeray have been sidelined and the Congress appears to be an easy push over.  

The invincibility, analysts talk about the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah led BJP looks to be a gift from the Congress. 

ends 

Blogger 

1980 - as BJP was floated ..... Vajpayee was the Vikas Purush and L K Advani -- the Loh Purush ::: To do politics around Hindu Hriday Samrat was still far off

And they made it happen. Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and veteran L K Advani deserve all credit for floating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 6th, 1980.  

The 13 April 1980 editorial of the RSS-run 'Organiser' said: "Although many would like to give the old Jana Sangh name to the new party, it was but appropriate that the new party should get a new name . . . there are significant new elements which can only broaden its base." 

first rally Ram Lilla Maidan, Delhi - 1980

It is said 'one man' Vajpayee found hard to expunge was Nanaji Deshmukh. The co-founder of the Jana Sangh was older than Vajpayee, and perhaps the only man remaining in the party (old Jan Sangh) who could call him ‘Atal’ without the honorific ‘ji’ at the end. 

But Nanaji was by now disillusioned with the way the Janata Party had put ambition before principle. Equally, he resented how methodically Vajpayee had demoted him. 

Nanaji could have made a public scene, as was standard in other parties. Instead, he announced his retirement from politics, claiming that he had turned sixty and wanted to set an example. Nanaji decided to move to Chitrakoot, a forested area in central India, and work with tribals. 

Many years later in January 2019, Nanaji was awarded Bharat Ratna - the highest civilian award by the Modi government. 

Originally called Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh was deputed to Uttar Pradesh to function as a RSS Pracharak. It may be mentioned here that during 2002 Gujarat riots, Late Deshmukh had visited the western state and had disapproved the violence in the state.

"Gujarat has been caught in a heart rendering genocide orchestrated as a reaction to the ghastly carnage staged at Godhra. Do we want to divide our country once again on a Hindu-Muslim basis?," Nanaji had said on April 9, 2002 during his visit to Ahmedabad, as recalled in blogger's book 'Godhra - Journey of a Prime Minister'. 

It is also worth mentioning here that BJP stalwart L K Advani in his autobiography, 'My Country My Life', had written --- “If the birth of the Janata government was a lesson in defending democracy, its demise was a harsh reminder about the propensity of power-hungry leaders to undo the gains of a popular democratic movement.”

Atal ji and Nawaz Sharif - 1999

Architect of Rath Yatra politics - who missed Prime Ministership 

Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi had threatened democracy.

Before the end of the Emergency (June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977), major events would take place.

Just before the sixth Lok Sabha polls in March 1977, in a successful move in  Indian politics, the Opposition presented a united front against the Congress. 

Of the seven national parties then, four — Congress (O), Bhartiya Jana Sangh (BJS), Socialist Party and Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD) — informally merged into one party, along with a few groups like Congress For Democracy (CFD), which was named the Janata Party. 

It is true one of the problems was the erstwhile Jan Sangh leaders in the Janata Party taking part in RSS activities. In a seeming reference to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani, among others, socialist stalwart Madhu Limaye objected to this soon after the party’s formation.  This was labeled as 'dual membership'.

The Janata parliamentary board on March 19, 1980, decided by a majority vote that none of its functionaries could take part in the day-to-day activities of the RSS.

This complicated the situation for the Janata Party’s BJS camp since its history made it virtually impossible to dissociate from the RSS. 

After Indira Gandhi returned to power the 'exit' of Advani and Vajpayee from the Janata Party looked imminent. The BJP was floated on April 6, 1980. 

Vajpayee became the founding president and L K Advani the general secretary.

Gauging by the politics of that era, bot the veterans worked on a political ideology even giving it the phrase of commitment to Gandhian socialism.

Both Vajpayee and Advani worked on a right synthesis for commitment to Hindu nationalism and the discipline of RSS values. But they had to embrace the  'policies and politics of Jayaprakash Narayan'. 

Vajpayee knew this could also come handy to keep the RSS at some length when the real polity and running of the organisation came. 

By then, both also believed that they had become 'expert' at working together to balance parliament, BJP interest, pro-Hindutva movement and voters. 

Advani was the Loh Purush - iron-willed leader -- and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Vikas Purush (development man) and also a more 'acceptable' face for future political maneuvering.  

The Vajpayee-Advani chemistry was very effective. In Hindi journalism that came to be known as 'Jugal Bandi'. 

Many years later on May 23rd, 2019 after the BJP won an enormous mandate in the general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah walked in step with each other raising hands and making victory sign when they visited the new BJP headquarters in Delhi to a shower of flowers.

illustration: 'The Print'

Earlier, the BJP had the trust of the party members, intellectuals admired it but Narendra Modi aided by Amit Shah has helped the party gain the trust of the entire nation.

2002 and politics around Modi was a 'redefining' moment 

The real strength in BJP's politics and for matter in the bond between RSS and the Lotus party is the fact that the RSS does not interfere in the BJP’s day-to-day functioning. 

Though there have been many BJP members with an RSS background, the Sanghparivar fountainhead has remained a distinctly different and 'separate' engaged more in social work but playing the ideological mentor.

1999 ::::: Vajpayee, blogger and a few Delhi colleagues 

ends 

Rooted in Ramayana days, Pamban Bridge holds deep spiritual significance :::: PM inaugurates India's first vertical lift sea bridge

 PM Modi inaugurates India's first vertical lift sea bridge in Tamil Nadu

Rooted in Ramayana days, the Pamban Bridge holds deep spiritual significance, as the Ramayana recounts the construction of Ram Setu beginning from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.

New Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram with mainland Bharat  

"On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force," PM tweeted.

India’s first vertical lift sea bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram was inaugurated today (Apr 6) on the occasion of Ram Navami. 

The rail bridge, known as Pamban, has been built at a cost of Rs 550 crore.  

Close to 30 trains, with up and down journeys, are expected from Rameswaram station. The island will have direct trains from Secunderabad, Kanniyakumari, Bhubaneswar, Okha, and Firozpur Cantt, apart from Ayodhya, Varanasi and Chennai.

Executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, the project navigated significant challenges—from environmental constraints and logistical hurdles to the rough waters and strong winds of the Palk Strait.

The bridge holds deep spiritual significance, as the Ramayana recounts the construction of Ram Setu beginning from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.  

Connecting Rameswaram to mainland India, the bridge has been built at a cost of Rs 550 crore. The 2.08-km-long structure features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that elevates to 17 metres, enabling the smooth passage of large ships without disrupting train services.

Designed to be future-ready, the bridge incorporates stainless steel reinforcements, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints for enhanced durability and reduced maintenance. It is also equipped for dual rail tracks, anticipating future traffic needs. A special polysiloxane coating guards it against corrosion, ensuring a long service life in the challenging marine environment.

The original Pamban Bridge, constructed in 1914 by British engineers, was a cantilever structure featuring a Scherzer Rolling Lift span. For over a century, it served as a crucial link for pilgrims, tourists, and traders travelling to and from Rameswaram Island.

 Trains will cross the Bay of Bengal to reach the stations on Pamban island

Two railway stations in Tamil Nadu – Mandapam and Pamban – are close to five kilometres apart and have been connected by trains since 1914 when the Pamban Bridge was built by the British. A couple of trains were crossing the stations daily. But the Pamban Bridge was getting old and couldn’t bear the burden of these trains.

Of the five km distance between the two stations, two kilometres is the length of the Bay of Bengal between the mainland of India and Pamban island. While Mandapam was the last railway station on mainland India, Pamban is a small station situated on Pamban island, which further connects to the Rameswaram railway station.

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Karnataka High Court bats for Uniform Civil Code :::: ".... under Hindu law, a daughter is given equal status as a son, the same is not under Mahomedan law"

Karnataka High Court bats for Uniform Civil Code: Will give justice to all women

The court emphasised that personal laws based on religion often result in unequal treatment of citizens-particularly women-despite their equal status under the Indian Constitution.  

"A 'woman' in Hindu law has a birthright equal to that of a son. When under Hindu law, a daughter is given equal status and rights in all respects, enjoying rights as that of a son, the same is not so under Mahomedan law," Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar wrote in his judgment.

He added, "The court is of the opinion that our country needs a Uniform Civil Code in respect of their personal laws and religion. 

Only then the object of Article 14 of the Constitution will be achieved."

The judge also referred to the Constituent Assembly debates, pointing out that the UCC has been a contentious subject since the drafting of the Constitution.

"Dr BR Ambedkar, in his most illustrious speech, argued in favour of the Uniform Civil Code," the order noted, backing Ambedkar's vision for a truly secular and egalitarian India.

These remarks were made during the court's adjudication of a property dispute among the heirs of Abdul Basheer Khan, who died intestate. His children-including Shahnaz Begum, now deceased - became embroiled in a legal battle over the division of his assets. Shahnaz's husband, Sirajuddin Macci, pursued her claim in court after her passing, alleging she had been wrongfully denied her share.

In 2019, a Bengaluru trial court had ruled that three properties belonged to the joint family estate and granted Shahnaz's legal representative a 1/5th share. Her siblings - Samiulla Khan, Noorulla Khan, and Rahath Jan - appealed the ruling, while Sirajuddin filed a cross-objection seeking inclusion of more properties.

Justice Sanjeevkumar, in a recent ruling on a family property dispute, made a strong case for UCC, observing that its enactment would address long-standing inequities across religious personal laws. 

"The enactment of legislation on Uniform Civil Code as enshrined under Article 44 of the Constitution of India will achieve the object and aspirations enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution," the court stated.

The court further observed that the lack of a uniform civil framework has led to unequal treatment of women from different faiths, even though all citizens are equal before the law. 

 The High Court upheld the trial court's findings on the joint family status of the three properties but dismissed the cross-objection, stating there was insufficient evidence to support Sirajuddin's claim over the additional properties.

Nevertheless, it was during this case that the High Court used the opportunity to stress the broader legal and constitutional implications of unequal personal laws. Justice Sanjeevkumar reiterated that enacting a UCC would not only ensure gender equality but also strengthen the democratic and secular fabric of the nation.  

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to implement Uniform Civil Code.  

The UCC eliminates discriminatory practices in personal laws, promoting gender equality and women's rights. Simplifies Legal Procedures: associated with marriage, divorce, and inheritance.

The saffron party was the first to promise the implementation of UCC if it comes to power and the issue was part of its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto.

 

Why is Article 44 important?

 

The objective of Article 44 of the Directive Principles in the Indian Constitution was to address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise diverse cultural groups across the country. 

Dr B R Ambedkar, while formulating the Constitution had said that a UCC is desirable but for the moment it should remain voluntary, and thus the Article 35 of the draft Constitution was added as a part of the Directive Principles of the State Policy in part IV of the Constitution of India as Article 44. 

It was incorporated in the Constitution as an aspect that would be fulfilled when the nation would be ready to accept it and the social acceptance to the UCC could be made.

 

Ambedkar in his speech in the Constituent Assembly had said, "No one need be apprehensive that if the State has the power, the State will immediately proceed to execute…that power in a manner may be found to be objectionable by the Muslims or by the Christians or by any other community. I think it would be a mad government if it did so."

 

 

The origin of the UCC dates back to colonial India when the British government submitted its report in 1835 stressing the need for uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts, specifically recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.

Actor-turned-BJP leader and Union Minister Suresh Gopi is in news :::: He defends new Waqf Bill .... faces 'impropriety' issue with regard film L2: Empuraan

Union Minister Suresh Gopi said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill would benefit Kerala's Munambam residents protesting land claims. 

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation and remaining silent in Parliament debates.

“Waqf is an institution meant for the greater good. However, certain barbaric practices within it needed to be eliminated,” he said.

“The Bill is a legal step towards ending such practices, the Union Minister said on Friday.

He said that the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament would benefit the residents of Kerala’s Munambam, who have been protesting for revenue rights over their properties in opposition to the Waqf Board’s claims.

Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism reiterated that the bill would prove advantageous to the residents of Munambam. 

“Waqf is an institution meant for the greater good. However, certain barbaric practices within it needed to be eliminated,” he said, without elaborating, adding that “The Bill is a legal step towards ending such practices.”  

'Who are you to ask? Be very careful...' MP Suresh Gopi's media outburst over Jabalpur attack ......  

During a press interaction, Gopi became visibly agitated when asked about the recent attack on Christians priests in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.  

"Who are you to ask? Who are you asking? Be very careful when you're speaking! Who is this media? The common people here are bigger than you."  

When media persons insisted that the question was valid, Gopi responded angrily, stating that legal action would be taken in connection with the incident.  

On Thursday, the Minister (Suresh Gopi) asserted that the censor board never put any pressure on the makers of Malayalam film 'L2: Empuraan', which is now being shown in theatres after multiple cuts.  

He was replying to CPI MP John Brittas, who had decried the cuts in the Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan as an assault on freedom of speech and expression.

Responding to Brittas, Gopi said: "I am ready to take any punishment if this turns out to be false. It was the decision of the producer and the lead actor of the film, with the permission of the director of the film, to remove 17 portions of the film. 

"It was their decision."  

Gopi also took a dig at CPI-M MP Brittas and asked him whether his party would be courageous enough to re-release the film '51 cuts : T P Chandrasekharan'.  

"He (Brittas) was talking about a cinema Empuraan. Does he dare to have a re-release of 51 cuts: T P Chandrasekharan," the minister said.

The film he mentioned is about Chandrasekharan, a Left party leader, who was hacked to death in 2012 allegedly by his former party workers.

The deceased had sustained 51 injuries on his body before he breathed his last. 

The arguments were exchanged when the Upper House was discussing the Waqf Bill.

ends