Latest news with #Congress-affiliated
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Adhir Ranjan seeks PM's intervention in harassment of Bengali migrant workers
Former Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising serious concerns about the alleged harassment and detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Maharashtra and Odisha. He said the workers are facing "harassment, humiliation, physical torture, and uncalled-for detention" based solely on their language and a letter sent on Sunday, the former Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha urged PM Modi to intervene immediately and ensure the safety and dignity of these workers, many of whom are daily wage earners from West alleged that the migrant workers are being targeted simply for speaking Bengali, which is reportedly being mistaken for Bangladeshi. "It is with immense anguish and a great deal of concern that I am seeking your kind intervention that a large number of Bengali migrant workers are being subjected to," he Congress leader added that the issue is deeply disturbing as these workers are Indian citizens, contributing significantly to the local economies of the states where they work."What is deeply saddening is the fact that migrants who belong to the poor and down-trodden section of society and are bonafide Indian citizens are being harassed under the pretext of the fact that their physical appearance and accent of language spoken are similar to the people of Bangladesh," Chowdhury the situation "inhumane," he said that targeting a linguistic group on such grounds must not be allowed to continue. Chowdhury urged the Prime Minister to direct the Union Labour and Home ministries to take immediate steps to protect these workers."The Union Government under your Leadership is bestowed with the responsibility of protecting the lives and livelihood of the country's citizens," he wrote."I eagerly look forward to your kind intervention, as the Head of the Government, in protecting the lives of its Bengali-speaking citizens, who belong to the poorer section of Indian society and are interstate migrant workers," the letter read on July 13, Chowdhury had also written to President Droupadi Murmu, drawing her attention to the same on Friday, members of a Trinamool Congress-affiliated workers' union staged a protest march in Siliguri against the National Register of Citizens (NRC), condemning the reported harassment and pushback of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from BJP-ruled states.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Calicut varsity V-C sets up panel on FYUGP
P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calicut, has set up a committee to address the alleged practical difficulties in the selection of minor (subsidiary) courses under the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP) in small colleges and in specific subjects such as commerce. According to an order issued by the V-C, K. Pradeepkumar, Syndicate member, will be its convenor. The other members are Richard Scaria, Syndicate member; Manoj Mathews, Associate Professor, Chemistry, St. Joseph's College, Devagiri, Kozhikode; P.A. Ahammed Shareef, Assistant Professor, Zoology, PSMO College, Tirurangadi; K.P. Vinod Kumar, former Principal, MES KVM College, Valanchery; and Rajeev Thomas, former Principal, Marthoma College, Chungathara. Objections raised This comes against the backdrop of the objections raised by a section of teachers' organisations such as the Congress-affiliated Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) and the Indian Union Muslim League-aligned Confederation of Kerala College Teachers. They had claimed that the recent revision of a clause in the FYUGP regulations would curtail the students' freedom to choose minor courses in a different discipline from the same department that offers the major (main) course. The KPCTA also alleged that the revision will force students to pick minor courses they may not like to study, and this is likely to happen in small colleges offering a limited number of subjects. The organisation conducted a protest meeting outside the academic block of the university on July 3 and petitioned the Governor, also the Chancellor of the university. It is learnt that the Chancellor has sought a response from the V-C on the issue.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dissatisfied with disaster response, more fishers' groups to move court seeking urgent intervention
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dissatisfied with the state government's disaster response, more associations representing fishermen communities in Kerala are preparing to approach the High Court seeking urgent intervention over the recent container ship accidents and wrecks that have severely impacted their livelihood and the marine environment. The back-to-back maritime disasters along the state's coastline have plunged the fishing community into deep distress, with growing concerns over long-term ecological damage and declining income. The wrecks have disrupted fishing activities, damaged gear, and triggered a decline in fish demand. On Thursday, the High Court heard a petition filed by a Congress-affiliated fishermen's body highlighting these issues. Now, more groups are joining the legal fight. The Theera Bhoo Samrakshana Vedhi has decided to join the case, and efforts are underway to mobilise individual petitions from affected fishers across the coastal districts. Ahead of the legal move, many of these complaints are being formally submitted to the Chief Minister's Office as part of legal formalities. Meanwhile, the Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation is preparing a separate petition, focusing on the long-term consequences of the shipwrecks. The federation is also expected to legally challenge the government's decision to include the tourism sector under the list of disaster-affected categories while allegedly sidelining the direct and severe impact on the fishing community. General secretary of Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation Jackson Pollayil said that the government was hesitant to file a case against the shipping company. 'We are still suspicious of the sections under which the case has been registered. They took this step a day before HC hearing and all this shows government loyalty is not towards the affected families,' said Jackson Pollayil. He said that long-term interventions lasting for years need to be ensured to minimise and mitigate the environmental pollution. 'Fishermen are unable to go fishing and whoever went fishing suffered losses because of the shipwreck. The containers and other waste spilled from the ship have drifted and caused damage to the fishing equipment,' he said.
India Today
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Delhi University law exam delayed as students protest over withheld admit cards
Things got heated at Delhi University's Law Faculty on Tuesday morning as over 150 students were denied DU LLB exam admit cards due to low attendance. The situation quickly spiralled into a protest, with students locking the exam centre and delaying the 9:30 am paper by nearly two hours. The protests began Monday night and peaked by morning when a group of students allegedly broke into the exam department and locked up the exam centre, shouting, 'If we can't sit for the exam, no one will.' The university had to step in and break the lock to resume the exam. However, students without admit cards were not allowed to enter. PROVISIONAL RELIEF FOR DETAINED STUDENTS Later that day, the Faculty of Law issued a notice saying that students who had been detained for attendance shortage were being provisionally allowed to sit for the May-June LLB exams. This decision, they said, was made under the direction of the Competent Authority, and the students' final status would depend on an enquiry committee's outcome. ABVP ALLEGES BIAS IN ADMIT CARD DECISION The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) criticised the administration for barring nearly 300 students from sitting the exam just three days before it was set to begin. They claimed the denial was arbitrary and alleged bias in favour of DUSU president Raunak Khatri, who reportedly received an admit card despite not fulfilling the attendance rule. ABVP has demanded an explanation and the resignation of the Law Faculty Dean, accusing the administration of working in favour of NSUI, the Congress-affiliated student wing. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kavitha launches Singareni Jagruthi, expands her turf to coal belt area
Hyderabad: Stepping up her activities, BRS MLC and Telangana Jagruthi founder has launched 'Singareni Jagruthi' exclusively to expand the Jagruthi activities in coal belt areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She announced that it will work with Telangana Boggugani Karmika Sangam (TGBGKS), the BRS-affiliated Singareni workers' union. Incidentally, Kavitha is the honorary president of TGBKS, but the union has been inactive for the past one and a half years. After the formation of Singareni Jagruthi, Kavitha on Tuesday appointed coordinators for 11 Singareni areas in the coal belt, and all activities in these areas would be taken up under the flag of Singareni Jagruthi. Kavitha announced that she would constitute a women's wing of Singareni Jagruthi soon. TGBKS was once a strong workers' union in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and even a recognised union earlier. However, in the Dec 2023 elections, the union did not field any candidates due to confusion whether to contest the polls or not. Finally, almost all-important leaders of TGBKS joined Congress-affiliated trade union INTUC, which is now the recognised workers' union of SCCL. The formation of Singareni Jagruthi has assumed significance as she was the honorary president of TGBKS and can revive and strengthen the trade union in Singareni areas. The SCCL workers are important for any political party, as about 40,000 workers and their families are spread across 11 assembly constituencies in the coal belt area. In the 2023 assembly elections, Congress had won 10 of the 11 assembly constituencies in the coal belt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Singareni Jagruthi will take up various activities for the welfare of the workers and protect the rights of workers in the coming days. The Congress govt wants to ruin SCCL with its corruption. We will fight for the medical and education facilities of the Singareni workers' families," Kavitha said, while addressing the Telangana Jagruthi workers at her residence in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Kavitha, who announced the names of coordinators in the meeting, demanded that the Singareni management should restart the schools and introduce CBSE syllabus in them. The MLC also asked the govt to provide free corporate hospital treatment to the workers, apart from constructing new quarters for the workers, as many dwellings, which were constructed several decades ago, were in a dilapidated condition. She alleged that District Mineral Trust Fund (DMFT) funds were being diverted to other assembly constituencies by the ruling party from coal belt areas. "The BRS govt under KCR restarted dependent employment in SCCL, but the Congress govt wants to ruin the coal company with its corruption. The Jaipur thermal power plant cost was escalated by 5,000 crore," Kavitha said. Singareni Jagruthi would fight for the welfare and rights of the workers by chalking out programmes, she added.
