Raj Thackeray's remarks about Patel community spark outrage in Gujarat; AAP, Patidars demand apology
Raj Thackeray, in a meeting on July 18, alleged that certain Gujarati businessmen and leaders had once tried to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. In his speech, he mentioned names including Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai, which did not go down well in Gujarat.
Reacting strongly, Patidar leader Alpesh Kathiria slammed Thackeray's statements as an 'insult to Gujarat's dignitaries' and accused him of fostering a divisive 'Marathi mentality.'
He said, 'Raj Thackeray is attempting to vilify national heroes just to stir up anti-Gujarati sentiments and breathe life into his politically defunct party.'
Kathiria added, Raj has no moral right to denigrate the legacy of Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai.
'This is not just an insult to Gujarat but to India as a whole,' Kathiria said, demanding a public apology. 'Targeting Sardar Saheb and Morarji Desai is an attempt to reignite regional tension. We won't tolerate such political stunts at the cost of national unity.'
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Indian Express
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The language debate in Maharashtra and a soft sedition
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The underlying causes of this crisis resurfaced with the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, especially its three-language equation. NEP aims to develop multilingualism and enhance national integration, but its implementation requires students to be taught three languages, including at least two Indian languages. On paper, it allows states to choose these languages. However, in many parts of non-Hindi India, it was seen as a surreptitious advancement of Hindi and perceived as a threat to local languages. Politicians from all parties and regions play on people's fears. They have started muddying the waters again — overt threats against Hindi speakers and migrants from Northern regions are being justified as a counter to Hindi imposition. Even the national parties are hesitant to address this problem, for fear of alienating their state units. The crisis requires us to look again at the philosophical and constitutional basis of the republic. 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an hour ago
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Kim Jong Un's sister dismisses South Korea's peace proposals, calls it 'miscalculation'
North Korea has no interest in any policy or proposals for reconciliation from South Korea, the powerful sister of its leader Kim Jong Un said on Monday in the first response to South Korean liberal President Lee Jae Myung 's peace overtures . Kim Yo Jong , who is a senior North Korean ruling party official and is believed to speak for the country's leader, said Lee's pledge of commitment to South Korea-U.S. security alliance shows he is no different from his hostile predecessor. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category CXO Leadership Cybersecurity Finance Product Management Operations Management MCA Management Others Data Science Healthcare Digital Marketing Public Policy Data Science Technology PGDM others Degree Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking healthcare MBA Project Management Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Operations Strategy for Business Excellence Organizational Transformation Corporate Communication & Crisis Management Capstone Project Presentation Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow Chief Operations Officer Programme Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Strategy Development Expertise Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends Data-driven Decision Making Leadership in the Digital Age Duration: 40 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Digital Officer Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Customer-Centricity & Brand Strategy Product Marketing, Distribution, & Analytics Digital Strategies & Innovation Skills Leadership Insights & AI Integration Expertise Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Chief Marketing and Growth Officer Starts on Apr 7, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Technology Strategy & Innovation Emerging Technologies & Digital Transformation Leadership in Technology Management Cybersecurity & Risk Management Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Technology Officer Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details "If South Korea expects to reverse all the consequences of (its actions) with a few sentimental words, there could be no greater miscalculation than that," Kim said in comments carried by official KCNA news agency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tan Tao A: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Lee, who took office on June 4 after winning a snap election called after the removal of hardline conservative Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed attempt at martial law, has vowed to improve ties with Pyongyang that had reached the worst level in years. As gestures aimed at easing tensions, Lee suspended loudspeaker broadcasts blasting anti-North propaganda across the border and banned the flying of leaflets by activists that had angered Pyongyang. Live Events Kim, the North Korean official, said those moves are merely a reversal of ill-intentioned activities by South Korea that should never have been initiated in the first place. "In other words, it's not even something worth our assessment," she said. "We again make clear the official position that whatever policy is established in Seoul or proposal is made, we are not interested, and we will not be sitting down with South Korea and there is nothing to discuss." There has been cautious optimism in the South that the North may respond positively and may even show willingness to re-engage in dialogue, particularly after Pyongyang also shut off its loudspeakers, a move Lee said was quicker than expected. Still, Lee, whose government is in the midst of tough negotiations with Washington to avert punishing tariffs that President Donald Trump has threatened against a string of major trading partners, has said U.S. alliance is the pillar of South Korea's diplomacy. "Through efforts in the areas of politics, economic security and culture, we will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance that was sealed in blood," Lee said in remarks commemorating the anniversary of the Korean War armistice on Sunday. North Korea also marked the anniversary which it calls victory day with events including a parade in Pyongyang, although state media reports indicated it was at a relatively lesser scale compared to some previous years. The two Koreas, the United States and China, which are the main belligerents in the 1950-53 Korean War, have not signed a peace treaty.
