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Deborah Baker's 'Charlottesville' reveals essence of the new American right
Shreekant Sambrani
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Charlottesville: A study of rage and resistance
by Deborah Baker
Published by Penguin Random House
442 pages ₹1,299
Charlottesville in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a city of about 50,000, evenly divided among white and black residents. It is among the oldest cities in the state, with great historical significance. Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States and its third President, is just outside the city. Jefferson's successor as President, James Madison, the 'father of the Constitution,' and the author of the Virginia Compromise, which equated electorally five freed slaves to three white persons, was
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The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Opposition seeks apology over MLC's ‘urban Naxal' remark on wari pilgrimage
Holding copies of the Constitution, Opposition leaders staged a protest on the steps of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday (July 3, 2025), condemning Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande's remarks alleging the presence of 'urban Naxals' in the annual Ashadhi wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Leaders across the Opposition spectrum — including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve (Shiv Sena-UBT), Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad — accused the Mahayuti government of attempting to defame a centuries-old religious tradition and demanded an apology from the ruling alliance. 'This is not just an attack on the wari, but on Maharashtra's cultural identity. The government must immediately withdraw these remarks and apologise to the warkari community,' Mr. Danve said during the protest. The Ashadhi wari is a revered annual pilgrimage during which lakhs of devotees — known as warkaris — walk to Pandharpur to offer prayers to Lord Vitthal. Ms. Kayande, a nominated member of the Upper House, claimed in the Legislative Council on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) that urban Naxals had infiltrated the wari and were attempting to mislead devotees. 'Atheist individuals who do not believe in God have entered the wari. This is a serious matter. Under the guise of groups like Samvidhan Dindi, Paryavaran Wari, and Lokayat, they are staging street plays, delivering speeches, and influencing warkaris,' Ms. Kayande alleged. She also cited past instances where pieces of meat were reportedly thrown during the procession. She urged the Mahayuti government to act swiftly to preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage and said the proposed Maharashtra Public Security Bill would help curb such disruptive elements. 'During last year's Lok Sabha elections, these same elements spread a false narrative about the Constitution being changed,' Ms. Kayande added. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena faction that nominated Ms. Kayande, told the House that the government had taken cognisance of the matter and had directed the Home Department to investigate the claims. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam also said his office had received complaints about attempts by alleged 'urban Naxals' to disrupt social harmony and assured the House that the matter would be taken seriously. The Opposition, however, dismissed the remarks as baseless and politically motivated. They alleged that the comments were part of a deliberate attempt to politicise a spiritual event and discredit the peaceful warkari movement. 'This is an attempt to sow division under the guise of security concerns. The government must stop targeting religious gatherings with ideological labels,' Mr. Awhad said.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trade pact: Jakarta's $34 billion play to secure tariff deal with US
The US and Indonesia will sign trade and investment pacts worth $34 billion as part of Jakarta's efforts to secure a tariff deal ahead of a July 9 deadline. Indonesia plans to invest in the US and purchase American agricultural goods and $15.5 billion of energy products under a memorandum of understanding to be signed on July 7, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday. While the MoU is part of Indonesia's negotiations to secure lower US tariffs , it doesn't represent a final agreement, Hartarto said. "We have to see later the final announcement by our US counterparts," he added when asked about a tariff rate deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo The planned MoU involves Danantara, a new sovereign wealth fund under President Prabowo Subianto that manages Indonesia's state-owned enterprises, and private entities including flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia , instant noodle maker Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur and a local feed mills association, he said. Hartarto, who is leading Indonesia's efforts to reduce Washington's planned 32% tariffs on Indonesian imports, said Southeast Asia's largest economy aims to secure more favorable terms than neighboring Vietnam. Hanoi, which had a $123.5 billion trade surplus with the US last year, struck a deal late Wednesday for a tariff rate of 20%, down from a proposed 46%. Live Events Southeast Asian nations, among the hardest hit by US President Donald Trump's planned tariffs, have been racing to seal trade deals with Washington before the July 9 cutoff to avoid increased rates. Indonesia has already eased or eliminated some import restrictions as part of a bid to shrink its $18 billion trade surplus with the US. Jakarta has also pledged to remove non-tariff barriers and boost imports of US products, potentially including oil, liquefied petroleum gas and soybeans. Hartarto also said the US has no concerns about transshipment involving Indonesia and hadn't broached the topic in trade discussions, unlike in Vietnam.
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Business Standard
38 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Fashion to misuse social media in garb of freedom of speech: Allahabad HC
Rejecting the bail plea of a person accused of posting objectionable content on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian armed forces, the Allahabad High Court has observed that it has become a "fashion among certain groups of people" to misuse social media in the garb of freedom of speech. Rejecting the bail application of one Ashraf Khan on Wednesday, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal observed that the freedom of speech guaranteed under the Constitution does not extend to such acts which disrespect high dignitaries and create disharmony among citizens. The court said it has become a "fashion among certain groups of people" to misuse social media in the garb of freedom of speech and expression by making unfounded allegations against high dignitaries, posting such material which creates disharmony and hatred among the people. The accused, Ashraf Khan alias Nisrat, was booked under sections 152 (acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) and 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at PS Sasni of Hathras district. The accused allegedly uploaded edited videos on his Facebook ID during the recent India-Pakistan military face-off. According to the prosecution's case, the applicant-accused allegedly posted content showing that Prime Minister Modi was moving adjacent to a donkey running a cart and thereafter also showing him seeking an apology from Pakistan. In the alleged post, it was further shown that Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, who had briefed the media along with Col Sofiya Qureshi during Operation Sindoor, was sitting with Pakistan's army chief. The post mentioned that PM Modi was running to save himself from the Pakistani missile. Another post said "Pakistan Air Force Zindabad" and also showed Indian aircraft being destroyed by Pakistani aircraft. Certain other "objectionable" posts against Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Modi were also posted by the applicant. During the course of the hearing, the counsel for Khan submitted that the applicant was innocent and the objectionable post had not been forwarded by the applicant even though it was found on his mobile. On the other hand, the state's counsel argued that the alleged posts on social media created disharmony among people of India and also showed disrespect to the Indian military and Indian Air Force, and therefore, his bail plea was opposed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
