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2018 Bhima Koregaon violence: Inquiry commission gets 3-month extension
The earlier extension granted to the Koregaon Bhima Inquiry Commission was till July 31. The comission has now been given extension till October 31 to submit its report, officials said. Violence had broken out near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district on January 1, 2018, a day after the Elgar Parishad conclave was held in Pune. Dalits visit the memorial in large numbers as it commemorates the victory of British forces, which included Dalit soldiers, over the army of the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune in 1818. The two-member commission, comprising retired chief justice of Calcutta High Court J N Patel and former Maharashtra chief secretary Sumit Mullick, is probing the circumstances that triggered the riots.
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an hour ago
- Scroll.in
Uttar Pradesh: SP member booked for teaching ‘politicised alphabets' at Saharanpur ‘PDA Pathshala'
A Samajwadi Party member has been booked by the Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly operating an unauthorised school in Saharanpur, where children were taught 'politicised' alphabets, The Times of India reported on Monday. The first information report, registered at the Dehat Kotwali police station, was based on a complaint filed by a resident identified as Maan Singh, who accused Farhan Alam Gada of politicising education and misleading children. He alleged that the children were being taught phrases like 'A for Akhilesh', 'B for Babasaheb', 'D for Dimple' and 'M for Mulayam Singh Yadav', referring to Samajwadi Party leaders and BR Ambedkar. Singh alleged that this sparked public outrage and hurt public sentiment, The Times of India reported. The incident came to light after a video, reportedly filmed at Gada's residence in Ramnagar village, was widely shared on social media, PTI reported. In the footage, uniformed children were seen participating in the lesson. सहरानपुर में समाजवादी पार्टी के एक नेता PDA पाठशाला शुरू की है,जिसमें बच्चों को A for Apple नही A for अखिलेश और D for DELHI नहीं D for डिंपल यादव पढ़ाया जा रहा #PDA l #NDA l — प्रतीक खरे/Pratik khare 😷 (@pratik_khare_) July 31, 2025 Gada had launched the first such school, called 'PDA Pathshala' after the Samajwadi Party's outreach to Pichhda (backward), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minority) communities, India Today reported. These community-run schools aim to provide free education to underprivileged children while also introducing them to the party's core ideology. He has previously said that the schools were not just for teaching the alphabet but also to educate children about the 'great men of Samajwadi ideology'. 'Just as convent schools have their own curriculum, our PDA Pathshala introduces children to socialist ideology,' The Times of India quoted him as saying. Gada has been charged under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between groups, and under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act. Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata-led state government of being anti-education. 'Even the British didn't file an FIR for studying,' he said in a post on X. 'The anti-education face of BJP has now been exposed to the public. Now BJP will be gone forever.' पढ़ाई के लिए तो FIR अंग्रेजों तक ने नहीं की थी। भाजपा का शिक्षा विरोधी चेहरा अब जनता के सामने उजागर हो गया है। अब भाजपा हमेशा के लिए जाएगी। निंदनीय! — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 3, 2025 In a related case, another leader from the Samajwadi Party, Rachna Singh Gautam, was booked for allegedly holding another unauthorised 'PDA Pathshala' outside a government school in Shahampur Garhi village in Kanpur, Hindustan Times reported. The complaint accused her of politicising children, misusing school premises and spreading misinformation. The Samajwadi Party launched ' PDA Pathshalas ' in protest against the state government's now-rolled back move to merge primary schools. The merger policy, aimed at consolidating schools with fewer than 50 students, had faced backlash for potentially increasing dropout rates, especially among children from poor, rural and marginalised communities, due to greater travel distances and reduced local access to education. The Uttar Pradesh government has defended the policy, saying it is in line with the 2020 National Education Policy and aims to enhance education quality, while optimising the use of resources.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Why the Ghislaine Maxwell case still matters, even if you're tired of hearing her name
When was convicted in December 2021 for facilitating 's sex trafficking ring, the moment felt like a closing chapter. Yet, more than three years later, her story refuses to fade. In fact, it's increasingly front and center, raising questions about privilege, justice, and whether the authorities can or will ever unearth the full scope of what happened. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Accountability that must mean something Maxwell's 20‑year sentence was meant to be a decisive statement: no one, regardless of wealth or connections, is above the law. Judge Alison Nathan made that crystal clear during sentencing, saying Maxwell wasn't being punished as a stand-in for Epstein, but for her own calculated role in grooming and deceiving underage victims. Yet, her conviction has been upheld on appeal reinforcing the legitimacy of the verdict and efforts to argue that she was shielded by Epstein's 2007 plea deal have repeatedly failed. Some still say she was made a scapegoat after Epstein died, but courts haven't bought it. Ghislaine Maxwell wasn't just a side character in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, she was central to how the whole operation worked. While Epstein may have been the face of the abuse empire, Maxwell was often the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, smoothing over the ugliness with charm, British polish, and a Rolodex full of high-society connections. Born into wealth as the daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine had always been part of elite circles. After her father's mysterious death and financial scandal, she moved to New York and became a fixture in the Manhattan social scene—where she met Epstein. Their relationship started as romantic, but even after that fizzled, they remained deeply entwined both personally and professionally. Maxwell's role, according to dozens of victims and federal prosecutors, went far beyond simply being Epstein's ex. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She was allegedly the recruiter, the groomer, and sometimes even the enforcer. Many women who came forward described her as the one who first approached them with promises of legitimate work, like massage gigs or modeling. She'd often pretend to take them under her wing, only for things to turn coercive once Epstein entered the picture. In court, she was accused of normalizing sexual abuse, manipulating girls into silence, and even participating in the acts herself. What makes it all worse is the way Maxwell used trust to gain access. She was often described as sophisticated and nurturing, someone who made victims feel safe. That false sense of security is what allowed her to facilitate a system of exploitation that allegedly spanned decades, with some victims as young as 14. In 2021, Maxwell was convicted on several charges, including sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She's now serving a 20-year sentence. A modern history student, an Oxford graduate Ghislaine Maxwell's educational background is just as elite as the social circles she moved in. Born into privilege as the daughter of British media tycoon Robert Maxwell, she had access to some of the best schools money could buy, and she took full advantage of that early on. She started her education in the UK at Headington School, a prestigious all-girls private school in Oxford. It's the same school that counts Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame) as an alum, so you get the idea, it's upscale, academic, and built for the well-connected. From there, Ghislaine went on to Balliol College at Oxford University, one of the oldest and most respected colleges in the world. She studied modern history and graduated with a degree in the early 1980s. Now, graduating from Oxford is no small feat, and it placed her firmly in Britain's intellectual and social elite. But like a lot of people in those upper-crust circles, her education was as much about networking as it was about knowledge. Oxford gave her connections some of which she likely drew on later when she entered high society in both the UK and the U.S. Interestingly, despite her academic background and degree in history, Maxwell didn't exactly pursue a career in academia or the public sector. She floated into her father's media empire for a while and later moved to the U.S., where her social life seemed to take center stage, especially once she connected with Jeffrey Epstein. Vaulted into relevance again Recently, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas a move her accusers condemned as preferential. Why does this matter? Because it signals she may still be negotiating with authorities. Reports say she's been questioned by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and offered testimony in exchange for clemency. That makes her a potentially powerful witness and that prospect is stoking political and legal backlash. The secrets Epstein took to his grave One of the enduring mysteries of the Epstein scandal is who else knew what and when. Maxwell, as one of only two people convicted for the criminal enterprise, may be one of the only living witnesses with real insight. Investigators and former prosecutors believe her testimony could implicate powerful figures possibly including politicians, financiers, or royalty. If she cooperates, fresh revelations may finally crack open the shadowy world Epstein and Maxwell inhabited. Why society still needs to listen Maxwell's case isn't just about one woman's crimes, it's about how society fails victims, how power shields abusers, and how complicity often looks like silence. Maxwell leveraged charm, privilege, and elite social circles to sustain exploitation and for years, her reputation shielded her behavior from scrutiny. Her fall was dramatic, but it also forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about wealth, gender, and influence. Survivors still haven't been heard fully Even now, survivors including Virginia Giuffre (who tragically passed away in April 2025) remain at the heart of this story. Families like hers argue any leniency toward Maxwell is a betrayal not just to the survivors but to the cause of justice. Giuffre's statements before she died are still some of the most powerful testimony to Maxwell's cruelty. A political flashpoint, not a closed case Now we come to the political dimension: speculation surrounds whether Donald Trump might pardon Maxwell or leverage her testimony for political gain. His MAGA allies are fueling the idea that she could expose a broader network of shared connections. Right-wing commentators portray Maxwell both as a potential whistleblower and a victim but many observers see these efforts as cynical political tactics. Why we're still talking about it If you've tuned out, here's why this case refuses to vanish: Justice isn't complete: Epstein died in custody, but Maxwell lives and could speak. Elite networks still intact: Unanswered questions remain about who else may have enabled or protected abuse. Systemic lessons: The case highlights shortcomings in policing, prosecuting, and protecting survivors. This isn't just another celebrity scandal. It's a cultural reckoning wrapped in a legal drama that keeps revealing new stakes. Whether you're exhausted by simply watching from afar, the Maxwell saga matters—not just for the past, but for how society chooses to confront privilege, power, and justice.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Free Palestine protest: WikiLeaks' Julian Assange joins thousands in march across Sydney Harbour Bridge - Zohran Mamdani shares video
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (AP) Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, braving heavy rain and winds, to call for an end to the war in Gaza. Assange, who returned to Australia last year following his release from British prison, was seen surrounded by family and walking alongside former Australian foreign minister and New South Wales premier Bob Carr. Assange however, did not address the crowd or speak to the media. New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani took to X to share a video of the Sydney protest, stating: 'Over 300,000 people in rain marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge today in solidarity with Gaza. Israel has been exposed — and its crimes will never be forgotten.' New South Wales Police said hundreds of extra personnel had been deployed across Sydney to manage the large-scale demonstration, which drew participants chanting slogans such as 'ceasefire now' and 'free Palestine.' Australia's Labor Party MP Ed Husic also attended the rally and urged his ruling party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to officially recognise a Palestinian state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ngo Quyen: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo While Australia has called for an end to the war in Gaza, it has yet to make a formal move towards recognising Palestine. However, in a joint statement with more than a dozen other nations on Tuesday, Australia expressed its 'willingness or positive consideration... to recognise the state of Palestine as an essential step towards the two-State solution.' International pressure has been mounting over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In recent weeks, countries including France, Britain, and Canada have signalled their intention to diplomatically recognise a Palestinian state.
