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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Waste piles up in Mohali, triggers mudslinging
1 2 Mohali: Overflowing garbage and deteriorating sanitation across Mohali have sparked a full-blown political storm, with leaders from all major parties — Congress, AAP, BJP, and SAD — engaging in a blame game, staging protests, and issuing sharp statements as the city struggles under mounting waste and public frustration. The crisis at the resource management centre (RMC) has turned into a political battleground. AAP councillor Sarabjit Singh Samana, son of local MLA Kulwant Singh, led a protest outside the RMC with a broom in hand, joined by residents demanding immediate action. Protesters shouted slogans against Congress mayor Amarjit Singh Jeeti Sidhu, holding him responsible for the worsening condition of cleanliness across the city. "Garbage is piling up everywhere. The rains have only worsened the situation, and public health is at risk," Samana said. Mayor Jeeti Sidhu hit back, accusing AAP of hypocrisy. "The AAP government controls the local bodies department. If Sarabjit Samana is genuinely concerned, he should ask his own government why they are not clearing pending agendas or releasing funds," the mayor stated. He added that repeated requests for more sanitation staff and resources had been ignored by the AAP-led state government. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like From Missing Every Conversation To Hearing Every Whisper With This $140 Device Top Trending News Today Learn More Undo The BJP also entered the fray, with district president Sanjeev Vashisht visiting the protest site and criticising both the Congress-run corporation and the AAP government. "While the mayor is nowhere to be seen, the people of Mohali are suffering. Both Congress and AAP are playing politics while the city drowns in filth," Vashisht said. Former Congress cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu also weighed in, launching a scathing attack on the AAP MLA Kulwant Singh. "The MLA belongs to the ruling party. If he cannot get basic civic issues resolved despite being in power, he should resign. The people of Mohali deserve better," he said. Meanwhile, angry residents, facing uncollected garbage, stagnant water, and foul odours, expressed their dismay at the political drama. "Politicians from every party come here, shout slogans, and then leave. But the garbage remains," said BS Chawla, a resident of Phase 5. "We are the ones who suffer, while they fight among themselves." With the threat of disease outbreaks looming large, citizens have now appealed directly to MLA Kulwant Singh, chief minister Bhagwant Mann, and senior municipal officials to inspect the worst-affected areas and urgently deploy additional sanitation staff to prevent a public health crisis. As garbage continues to pile up and the monsoon adds to the mess, Mohali residents are demanding action over optics — real solutions instead of political stunts.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Best MLA award winner, party's Dalit face: All about Shailesh Parmar, Congress's ‘interim' in-charge in Gujarat
Though tendering their resignation by owning moral responsibility for electoral defeats is nothing new for party chiefs, as a norm, the post-holders would wait for a word from the top leadership before relinquishing charge. In what can be seen as departure from the rule, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Shaktisinh Gohil chose to leave the top job in the state party unit on his own on Monday by 'appointing' Shailesh Parmar, the party's Dalit MLA from the reserved Danilimda constituency in Ahmedabad city, as the in-charge of the party 'till the AICC appoints a new president'. This comes in the backdrop of the Congress's dismal performance in the Kadi and Visavadar bypolls. Gohil's decision has put Shailesh Parmar, 56, under renewed spotlight. Among the seniormost MLAs in the Gujarat Assembly, Shailesh Parmar has been winning the seat since 2012. Politics runs in the legislator's family as his father, the late Manharbhai (Manubhai) Parmar, was a formidable Dalit leader in Gujarat and a state minister in a previous Congress-run government. Before Danilimda, Shailesh Parmar also represented Shaher Kotda constituency, which was represented by his father till 1998. Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the seat in 2002, Shailesh Parmar wrested it back in 2007. In the last Assembly elections, Shailesh Parmar defeated the BJP's Naresh Vyas by a margin of over 13,000 votes. Shailesh Parmar is the party's deputy leader in the Assembly where the Congress's numbers have shrunk to 12. Shailesh Parmar has completed his Bachelor of Education from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag, in Uttar Pradesh. By vocation, he is a farmer who is also involved in construction business. In the last Gujarat Assembly, Shailesh Parmar won the Best MLA award along with the BJP's Jitu Sukhadia. Shailesh Parmar had recently accompanied the team that represented Gujarat in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting held at Sydney in November 2024. Besides Shailesh Parmar, Anirudh Dave from the BJP joined Speaker Shankar Chaudhary as observers.
The Print
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Congress in Telangana gave award to Razkar—a propaganda film that demonises Muslims
What did shock me and many others, however, was the Congress-run Telangana government giving Razakar an award at the inaugural Gaddar Telangana Film Awards, under the 'Environment/Heritage/History' category. So when Razakar bagged the Best Cinematography and Best Debut Director awards at the 15th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2025—again, not surprising. It hardly surprised anyone that the movie Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad was produced by Telangana BJP leader Gudur Narayan Reddy. After all, the propaganda film was intended to push the narrative that Muslims in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad attacked Hindus before its annexation into the Indian Union on 17 September 1948. Balladeer Gaddar, a former Naxalite turned activist who fought for Telangana statehood, is a name long associated with the Left in the state. He was linked with everyone who was ideologically opposed to Hindutva and right-wing politics. So the Congress has left many puzzled by awarding a film produced by a BJP leader. What's even more striking is that AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi—who called Chief Minister Revanth Reddy an 'RSS Anna'—has remained silent on the matter. So why is this movie winning an award a problem? For starters, its portrayal of Muslims is a terrible caricature of the community in the state, and it distorts the facts of what happened in the days leading up to Hyderabad's annexation. I tried to watch the movie—but I had to walk out halfway because I simply couldn't take any more. The false portrayals of everything were just too disturbing. Also read: Revanth Reddy is battling a series of PR disasters in Telangana. Gachibowli to HYDRAA What happened in 1948 One of the most ignored aspects of Hyderabad's history growing up was information about the annexation of the erstwhile Hyderabad state. Formed in 1724 as a Mughal vassal state by the Asaf Jahi Nizams, the last Nizam of Hyderabad was Mir Osman Ali Khan, who ruled from 1911 to 1948. The state was one of the largest in India—around 82,698 square miles—including present-day Telangana, five districts of Maharashtra, and three of Karnataka (including Bidar and Gulbarga). It was relatively peaceful, thanks to a treaty with the British East India Company in 1798 and later with the British Crown, under which the Nizams enjoyed semi-autonomous rule. But as independence approached, things changed. Osman Ali Khan—like a few other princely rulers—wanted to stay independent. That became a problem in 1947. But what is often missed is that, even before that, by 1946, peasants in Telangana had started mobilising under the banner of the Communist Party of India (CPI) against extreme feudal oppression. Also read: Kharge on same page as BJP on Telangana's 'Liberation Day' row? 'Hyderabad got azaadi on 17 Sept 1948' The Telangana Rebellion 'Vetti Chakiri'—or bonded labour—was the norm. Thousands of peasants and lower-caste people were forced to slave for Jagirdars (land revenue collectors) who controlled around 60 per cent of the state. Many of these landlords were from dominant Hindu castes. Muslims made up about 10 per cent of the state's population. The Telangana Armed Struggle, a peasant uprising, began in 1946, a year before independence, and lasted until 21 October 1951, when the CPI officially called it off. Hyderabad was annexed on 17 September 1948, when the Indian government under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent in the Army after negotiations failed. The military action was also partly driven by fears that the CPI might take control of Telangana (a fact documented in historical records). One major trigger was the rise of the Razakars in 1947—a paramilitary group led by Qasim Razvi, then head of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). A fanatic, Razvi used the group to terrorise opponents of the Nizam's rule and to attack Hindus. Also read: Modi govt's Hyderabad 'Liberation' Day reopens old wounds. KCR's 'Integration' wiser approach Razakar's propaganda What the Razakars did was horrendous, and many families in Telangana still remember being attacked. That is a fact. But it is also a fact that many Muslims, both inside and outside the government, opposed the Razakars and supported a peaceful transition. Some, like the noted Urdu poet and revolutionary CPI leader Makhdoom Mohiuddin, actively fought the feudal system as part of the Communist-led resistance. The movie Razakar, however, entirely omits this part—especially the CPI-led Telangana armed struggle. Its entire focus is on the Razakar group, which it exploits to paint Muslims in a negative light. This one-sided narrative is partly the result of earlier governments suppressing historical truths, creating a vacuum that others now fill with propaganda. And that's the point. Since Telangana's formation, the BJP has been demanding official recognition of 'Hyderabad Liberation Day'—a phrase meant to imply the state was 'liberated' from Muslim rule. But Osman Ali Khan, after 1948, continued to serve as Rajpramukh (Governor) for a few years, and lived peacefully until his death in 1967. The film essentially claims that Hindus were oppressed and killed by Muslims during the annexation. But it entirely leaves out the brutal, caste-based feudal slavery that Dalits and other oppressed classes suffered at the hands of dominant-caste Jagirdars. Even some Congress leaders in the state were caught off guard by the award. 'They've been blaming our party—blaming Nehru—for the delay in Hyderabad's annexation. So by giving this movie an award, what message are we sending out?' a senior Muslim Congress leader told me. No one else seems to have an answer either. But the BJP seems to be quietly smiling in a corner. Unfortunately, instead of confronting history with facts and nuance, we now have a film that distorts the truth and sows seeds of communalism in Telangana. Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
United News of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Ktk: BJP demands High Court probe in RCB stampede
Bengaluru, June 5 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday demanded a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge and compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the families of each deceased victim in the stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of IPL winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 33 others were injured on Wednesday in the tragic incident. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress-run Karnataka government, BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa held it "squarely responsible" for the stampede. He said the incident denoted a "criminal failure of governance". Addressing a media conference, Vijayendra accused the Congress government of turning a celebration into a "catastrophe" through its "gross negligence". "This was not an accident — this was avoidable, and it happened because the state government failed in its fundamental duty to protect its people. When over two lakh fans had gathered, there was no crowd management, no police preparedness, and no safety protocol," he said. The BJP leader alleged that while chaos unfolded at the Stadium, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Sivakumar and other cabinet colleagues were busy near the Vidhana Soudha taking selfies with IPL players. 'At a time when deaths were already being reported, ministers were engaged in photo sessions. This is the height of insensitivity,' he remarked. Taking serious objection to the Chief Minister's statement that the tragedy occurred only at the stadium and not near the seat of government, Vijayendra said, 'This is a clear attempt to deflect responsibility. While lakhs gathered for celebrations, the police were deployed to guard the VIP zone around the Vidhana Soudha. The state failed to ensure any security for the masses.' Rejecting the state government's decision to order a magisterial inquiry, he said such probes lack the power to summon senior officials and ministers. 'This is a matter of criminal negligence. A sitting High Court judge must conduct an independent probe. Anything less is a cover-up,' Vijayendra said, adding that the deaths should not be treated as mere 'unnatural deaths' but as a result of administrative recklessness. Vijayendra also raked up the issue of compensation, contrasting the state's earlier announcement of Rs 25 lakh to the family of a man who died in an elephant stampede in Kerala. 'Why not Rs 50 lakh for each family that lost a loved one here in Bengaluru due to the government's failure?' he asked, demanding the government announce the enhanced ex gratia immediately. He further urged the government to reach out to the RCB owners, reportedly based in Dubai or London, so that they also contribute to the relief package for the victims' families. Finally, Vijayendra warned the Congress government against attempting to pin the blame on the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). 'This is not about cricket associations. The state gave the green signal for the event and failed to ensure infrastructure and safety. That is criminal misconduct,' he said. UNI BDN SSP
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Donated ₹25 lakhs to National Herald, says Karnataka deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar
Amid reports of his name figuring in the ED charge sheet in the National Herald case, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday (May 23, 2025) said he and his brother D.K. Suresh have donated money to the Congress-run newspaper. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah backed his deputy, saying there is nothing wrong in donating money. 'Me and D.K. Suresh donated ₹25 lakh each to National Herald. What is wrong in that. We have donated to a newspaper run by our party. What's wrong in that,' Mr. Shivakumar told reporters in Kolhar village in Vijayapura district. He was responding a question by a journalist that his as well as Mr. Suresh's name figures in Enforcement Directorate charge sheet in the National Herald case. When he was told that ₹2.5 crore was donated, he said, "Yes we have given to the Trust. We are not denying it. Did we give it stealthily. No. We have openly given from our income." Asserting that he has donated money, the DCM said he will continue to do the same in future as well. He alleged that there is politics behind mentioning his name in the ED charge sheet. Mr. Shivakumar's brother Mr. Suresh said, "We have donated about ₹2 crore to ₹2.5 crore to the trust. We have answered all the questions raised by the (ED) officers. We are not saying that we have not donated money. We have no information whether donating was wrong." He alleged that the charge sheet has been filed in a manner to fix the Congress leaders. The former MP said the charge sheet was a political gimmick. 'This is not Sonia Gandhi's trust but Young India Trust. We donated to the Young India Trust. This was not an institution for personal gain and it was never used for personal motive,' Mr. Suresh said. To a question, he said the money donated were part of the I-T declaration. Reacting to the ED charge sheet, Mr. Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru, "Is charity wrong? There is nothing wrong in donations."
