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The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Right-wing group storms Ghaziabad eateries over sale of meat during Sawan
Members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal on Thursday (July 17, 2025) stormed a KFC outlet in Ghaziabad, demanding a ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food during the Hindu month of Sawan. A similar protest was staged outside a neighbouring outlet of local eatery chain Nazir, leading to the temporary closure of both establishments. Visuals of the incident circulated widely on social media showed members of the outfit carrying saffron flags and chanting slogans such as 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Har Har Mahadev', while forcibly pulling down the shutter of the KFC outlet. In the video, the group is seen entering the restaurant, confronting staff, and demanding that operations be stopped. 'All of these products should be banned immediately, we will not tolerate this in Sawan,' a protester is heard shouting. Also read:Why should a vegetarian order from non-veg serving eatery if it hurts sentiments? Consumer panel says Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident, holding it responsible for what they termed a deterioration in law and order. 'Such actions are a violation of the fundamental rights of citizens. When there is no ban, how can individuals storm a food chain and force it to shut down? It is a design to create disorder in society through groups that have become mainstream after the BJP assumed power. Holy occasions are being used to fuel tension on communal lines,' Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary, Congress, said. VIDEO | Abhishek Srivastava, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Indirapuram, says, "A few youths created ruckus demanding a food outlet to close. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot immediately and removed them. Normal operation at the outlet was ensured. A… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 18, 2025 The Samajwadi Party also condemned the protest. 'If the BJP or right-wing groups want a ban on meat sales, they should ask the government to close slaughterhouses and prohibit the sale of meat across India for one month during Sawan. Half of the slaughterhouses are run by BJP-linked people. Such unruly action in closing a food chain highlights a failure of governance,' party spokesperson Sunil Singh Yadav 'Sajan' said. The incident also triggered debate on social media, with many users criticising the actions of the protestors. Sawan, also known as Shravana, is considered a holy month in the Hindu calendar, particularly by devotees of Lord Shiva. Many observe fasts and refrain from consuming meat, alcohol, and even onion and garlic during this period. The Kanwar Yatra, a major pilgrimage, is also undertaken during this time.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala University administrative crisis rages on as V-C rejects Registrar's files
The governance crisis at Kerala University rages on with Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal refusing to consider files forwarded by Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar. On Wednesday alone, Dr. Kunnummal returned unsigned three files that were forwarded by Dr. Kumar, while accepting and clearing nearly 25 files that were forwarded by Director (Planning and Development) Mini Dejo Kappen, who has been assigned the Registrar's responsibilities by the Vice-Chancellor. However, on Thursday Dr. Kappen sought permission to recuse herself from the additional charge of Registrar. The Vice-Chancellor is yet to respond to the request. The Vice-Chancellor also wrote to the Governor, stating that Dr. Kumar's return to campus was unauthorised and in defiance of clear directives. He had also issued directives to university officials not to process files signed by Dr. Kumar, while underscoring that any administrative action that bypassed official instructions would not be tolerated. Despite these objections, Dr. Kumar reported for duty and occupied the Registrar's office as usual. When questioned about the file movement, he told mediapersons: 'Let it be, let us wait and watch.' The Vice-Chancellor's directives to bar Dr. Kumar from entering the campus has evidently remained futile, as the university's security wing expressed inability to implement the order. Meanwhile, the Left-backed Syndicate members have urged the Vice-Chancellor to convene an urgent meeting of the body to resolve the existing impasse. Syndicate member G. Muralidharan said the Syndicate viewed the ongoing pattern of repeated statutory violations with due seriousness. The Vice-Chancellor, they alleged, was bypassing the Syndicate and making unilateral decisions. He also pointed out that the login credentials of the digital document filing system remains with Dr. Kumar, while cautioning that anyone acting on unauthorised orders could face serious consequences in the future. In related development, BJP-linked Syndicate members have moved the Kerala High Court over administrative crisis in the university. Amidst the administrative chaos, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest on the university campus. They accused Dr. Kunnummal of politicising the institution and using the dispute to further certain vested interests. Cautioning that the student community was being affected by the ongoing political tug-of-war, SFI State president M. Sivaprasad urged the State government and the Governor to find a way to end the deadlock.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Ex-BJP city councillorarrested for runningfinancial fraud racket
Jaipur: A 56-year-old former BJP councillor was arrested Monday for allegedly running a financial fraud racket that duped several people with fake promises of subsidised govt schemes and high returns on investments. The Malpura Gate police station identified the accused as Kanta Chhipa, a resident of Sanganer, who continued the scam even after one of her alleged accomplices, Mala Singh, was arrested earlier. The case was filed on March 3 by Trilok Chhipa, 29, a resident of Krishna City, who alleged that Kanta and others were collecting money from residents by offering cheap rations, scooters, mobile phones, and quick monetary returns. Victims were reportedly lured with offers such as Rs 22,000 in return for a deposit of Rs 5,000, and ration kits worth Rs 2,200 sold for Rs 1,200. Scooters priced at Rs 1 lakh were allegedly offered for Rs 50,000. Police said her close aide Mala Singh, who was also part of the fraud, fled before being arrested. "Kanta touted the scheme as a BJP-linked initiative to win people's trust," said an official, adding that after Mala went underground, Kanta allegedly took over operations, going door-to-door in localities to collect funds while failing to deliver the promised items or issue refunds. A special team was formed under the East District police to probe the matter. Officials said several pieces of evidence, including video footage and online transaction records, were seized. Kanta was sent to judicial custody. "Further investigation is underway to trace the full extent of the racket and identify other accused who were part of the racket," said an official. Police said that they also seized incriminating evidence, including payments made through different methods to the accused.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
60 years of Deendayal Upadhyaya's ‘integral humanism': BJP-linked groups line up events
To commemorate 60 years of 'integral humanism' propounded by Jana Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, a slew of organisations linked to the BJP are set to hold a two-day conclave to discuss its contemporary relevance. Deendayal Upadhyaya had introduced the concept of integral humanism over a series of four public lectures in the 1960s, which eventually became a part of the Jana Sangh's doctrine. The conclave, which will be held from May 31 to June 1, will include several sessions that will each cover a current issue through the lens of integral humanism, also referred to as 'ekaatma maanav darshan' in the BJP-RSS circles. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to chair the introductory session of the conclave, Union Health Minister and BJP president J P Nadda and Vivekananda International Foundation chairperson S Gurumurthy will lead the valedictory session. Among those expected to be present at the event are Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama for the session on the economy, and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for a discussion on sustainable development. Abhinav Prakash, vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), will address a session on youth, and BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash will speak on social justice and 'links' between the thoughts of Upadhyaya and B R Ambedkar. Mahesh Chandra Sharma, a BJP leader and president of Research and Development Foundation for Integral Humanism that is among the conclave's organisers, described Upadhyaya's integral humanism as 'relevant for today's challenges'. 'Deendayal ji believed that the individual and society cannot be looked upon as fragments. They are integrated. The family is the core that joins them. We need to strengthen the family system. We need to formulate a policy system that integrates the individual and society – be it in the realm of economy or education,' said Sharma, who was the editor of the 15-volume Collected Works of Deendayal Upadhyaya published in 2019. 'Today, the context and key concerns have changed, but we find aspects of his (Deendayal Upadhyaya's) thought, and of his actions as the general secretary and president of the Jana Sangh, as relevant for today's challenges. The aim of the seminar is to take to the people the continuing relevance of Upadhyaya,' said an organiser of the conclave. The BJP-linked research group Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, publishing house Prabhat Prakashan, Research and Development Foundation for Integral Humanism, and Public Policy Research Centre will jointly organise the seminar. Among various subjects to be covered during the conclave is 'Securing Bharat: From Sovereignty of Borders to Strength of Civilisation', coming against the backdrop of the current discourse on national security in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. With the Narendra Modi government having recently announced the enumeration of caste in the forthcoming Census, one session will be on 'Legacy of Leadership – Nationalism and Social Justice'. There will also be sessions on women, education and rural development. The seminar would be part of multiple events around Upadhyaya being planned by the organisers. A 'curated collection of literature on Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya' will be on display, and books on related themes will also be released. The organisers have contacted over 500 universities for students to submit articles on Upadhyaya's thought, and the authors of the best pieces are likely to be in attendance to present their views. A website on integral humanism is also being readied so as to spread Upadhyaya's views to the younger generation. The outcome of the seminar will also be published, as per a concept note on the event. One organiser said many smaller events on Upadhyaya will be held throughout the year. In late April, some lectures on Upadhyaya were also held in Mumbai.
