Latest news with #Jayaprakash
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Congress leaders wanted Indira ji, JP to talk, find a meeting ground… But it didn't happen due to her coterie': Govindacharya
In the early 1970s, K N Govindacharya was the RSS Patna Vibhag pracharak, putting him at Ground Zero of the student-led protests that snowballed into a mass agitation against the Indira Gandhi government, and led to her invoking the Emergency. Now 82, the once powerful BJP general secretary, representative of the party's push beyond its Brahmin-Bania base, is more engaged in social and environmental activism. He talks to The Indian Express about his recollections of the Emergency, including his meeting with Jayaprakash Narayan. Excerpts: On March 18, 1974, there was firing in front of the Assembly in Patna when students tried to storm it, and the offices of two pro-agitation newspapers, Pradeep and Searchlight, were torched. That day a MISA warrant was issued against me and Ram Bahadur Rai. On March 19, we quietly met Jayaprakash ji; I had worked with him during drought relief in 1966. He first said you people are upadravi (troublemakers), and have torched two newspaper offices. I told him that both torched offices belonged to newspapers that were supportive of the students' agitation… I asked him to make enquiries to test my claim. It was then decided that on March 27, there would be a small protest. Shivanand Tiwari was arrested that day. Jayaprakash ji then announced that if curfew was not lifted by March 29, he would take to the streets. Curfew was lifted a day earlier. On April 8, JP held a rally at Gandhi Maidan, where he talked of vyavastha parivartan (systemic change). JP had to go to Vellore soon after that for treatment, as he was unwell. The students' agitation continued, with some support from other organisations, but began to lose steam. So we decided to make Opposition MLAs resign… In between, there was a police lathicharge in front of a girls' school in Gaya. JP said that this government cannot stay, and that the Assembly should be dissolved. From May 8- 9 (1974), Opposition MLAs began to resign. In early June, Jayaprakash ji returned from Vellore. On June 5, the Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti planned a protest. The procession was attacked by activists of the Indira brigade… The then district magistrate told the gathering that it should stay calm, and police would act action against only miscreants. JP endorsed what the DM said, and gave the gathering a slogan – Sampoorna kranti ab naara hai, bhaavi itihas hamara hai (Total revolution is our slogan now, the future will be ours). After that, the rains began, and all activities were carried on in-house. Early in October, a Bihar bandh was called. In November 1974, Indira Gandhi commented that since JP is 'so democratic', the coming elections would determine who had the support of the people. JP accepted the challenge, and said that the agitation would take an all-India form. No, she had begun to become intolerant. (Congress) Young Turks like Chandra Shekhar ji wanted talks between Indira ji and JP; they wanted to find a meeting ground… But that did not materialise because of her coterie – like Om Mehta, R K Dhawan, Makhanlal Fotedar… After the jolt from the court, there was a sudden change in her. We heard that she got to know that there would be a show of strength at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting. So, she moved towards the imposition of internal Emergency. On June 25, 1975 (the day the Emergency was imposed), I was in Varanasi and heard something was about to happen. So I returned to Patna by Punjab Mail, and decided not to go to the RSS office but first assess the situation. I sent a student there to figure out what was happening, and he said there were police all around, and the premises were being searched… I had learnt from the (1974) Bihar agitation how to work underground. That same night, I met six of our workers to decide where all our prominent state leaders would take shelter. We decided to withdraw money collected during RSS guru dakshina (before bank accounts get frozen) and to hide the list of those who donated it. I managed to stay in hiding through the Emergency, and was eventually sent to jail for one day after (the 1977 Lok Sabha) elections had already been declared. On February 24, 1977, I had gone to Bhagalpur for a poll campaign. At the house where the meeting was being held, police came. An informer had given the tip-off. The cops asked for Govindacharya. People told them I had left. They asked me, I said I was Ram Bharose Tiwari, and my father was Jogeshwar Tiwari. Police left, but returned, because of what the informer had told them. I was to be sent to jail, but the Sangh had got the news. A bail application was immediately submitted. The next morning I got bail. I never stayed for more than a week at any place. I travelled through Bihar, Assam, Bengal, Odisha, Manipur and other parts of the Northeast. I used to stay in the homes of ordinary organisation workers. Jayaprakash ji was released from jail within months because of his kidney ailment, and came back to Patna after treatment. Bhaurao Deoras of the RSS wanted to meet him. We found ways for it. A professor, Ramakant Pandey, asked me to convey to JP that he should go for a morning walk each day. The plan was to decide beforehand where he would have breakfast, and to bring the person who wanted to meet him to that house in advance… Police and intelligence personnel would be stationed outside. In 15 minutes, the conversation would be over… Once JP met Bhaurao ji in this manner. We did this six-seven times. I went to JP with the RSS prant pracharak, and he said we should get sweets. We said you have diabetes and are on dialysis. He said it doesn't matter. He ate sweets that day. Many did not want to contest the elections, some were in jail. Some were released because they were candidates, and then many of those in jail wanted to contest to secure their own release. George Fernandes wasn't released. He won from jail. Till February (1977), we did not sense that people were supporting us. Then, there was a game changer: Jagjivan Ram, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna and Abdullah Bukhari entered the campaign for us. This made a big change. Phir jwaar badhta hi chala gaya (the tide then kept on rising).
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
First-of-its-kind in Kerala: Rest centre unveiled for cancer patients' bystanders at Kottayam medical college
K ottayam: In its diamond jubilee year, Kottayam medical college has unveiled a rest centre for bystanders of cancer patients — a first-of-its-kind for govt hospitals in Kerala. The initiative was spearheaded and funded by the 1985 MBBS batch of the college. Inaugurating the centre, devaswom, port and cooperation minister VN Vasavan lauded the alumni for their contribution. "A restroom for bystanders of cancer patients, unique and first of its kind in the state, reflects the humane side of healthcare that considers not just the patients but also those who stand by them in their most vulnerable moments," the minister said. Medical college principal Dr Varghese Punnose presided over the event. Medical college superintendent Dr TK Jayakumar, Kottayam Institute of Child Health (ICH) superintendent Dr Jayaprakash KP, senior cardiologist Dr Jabir A, Dr Jose Tom, Dr Sam Christie Mammen, Dr Susan Uthup, Dr Suresh Kumar and Dr Tigy Thomas Jacob spoke at the event. Dr Jayaprakash and Dr Jabir are also senior office-bearers of Class 1985 Kottayam medical college society. The 1,000 square foot building, adjacent to the cancer ward, features separate, hygienic resting areas for men and women, complete with modern bathrooms, two-tier beds, a secure access control system, CCTV surveillance, and a well-equipped dining area. The project, proposed by Dr TK Jayakumar was accepted by the 1985 alumni batch and completed at a cost of Rs 35 lakhs, Dr Jabir said. The announcements from the ICU of the cancer ward will be made audible in the restrooms via speakers. The facility will be maintained by the staff and nurses of the cancer ward, alongside the hospital's housekeeping department, Dr Jayaprakash said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Forest department officer in ACB net for taking bribe
Vijayawada: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials arrested Gubbala Venkata Venu Jayaprakash, deputy range officer of forest dept in Machilipatnam, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000. According to ACB officials, the accused demanded the bribe from Vannamreddy Venkata Ravindranath, a resident of Balaramunipeta in Machilipatnam. Ravindranath submitted an application to renew the Form-II licence for his wood industry and depot. Jayaprakash allegedly sought the bribe in return for processing and recommending the application to higher officials. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached ACB authorities in Vijayawada, who registered a case under Section 7(a) of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Acting on the complaint, ACB officials laid a trap and caught Jayaprakash red-handed while accepting the bribe amount. Investigations revealed that this is not the first time the officer faced corruption charges. In 2017, while serving in Rajahmundry range, he was caught by the ACB in Eluru while taking a bribe of Rs 60,000. Jayaprakash was produced before the ACB special court in Vijayawada on Wednesday. ACB has appealed to the public to report any instances of corruption in govt depts by contacting their local ACB office or by using toll-free number 1064, mobile number 9440440057, or by sending an email to: complaints-acb@
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Wales Online
Woman vanishes from £1m family home to attend court case in secret
Woman vanishes from £1m family home to attend court case in secret Hemalatha Jayaprakash, 44, told her husband she was going to view offices Hemalatha Jayaprakash suddenly vanished just before her and her family were due to go on holiday (Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live ) A mum told her husband she was going to view offices for her new job but she was travelling to court after defrauding her former boss if £166k. Hemalatha Jayaprakash and her family had been packing for a holiday to India to visit loved ones when she fled the £1m home in Great Barr, Birmingham. The 44-year-old mum of two appeared in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court for several days, having pleaded guilty to fraud and abuse of position. Meanwhile, her husband and two children knew nothing about her crime, and it appears she was desperately hoping that by entering a guilty plea, she may avoid a custodial sentence without them ever finding out. However, on Wednesday, May 21, she was jailed for two years and three months. Her worried family began searching frantically for her, visiting hospitals in case she had been in a car crash. Talking to Mail Online, Mr Jayaprakash said he even reported his wife as a missing person. He described her actions as "beyond belief." He recalled: "We were doing our packing, I was aware my wife had applied for another job and she said she had got it." When he later discovered a Facebook post where her ex boss detailed the imprisonment and sentence he spoke of his shock. He added: "We have not been struggling financially." Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Article continues below Mr Jayaprakash told the MailOnline: "We had absolutely no idea. My wife didn't need the money and we are trying to find out what really happened, and maybe she was coerced by someone. We don't have any money issues. " Birmingham Crown Court heard how his wife ran a rental property empire and £1 million house. However, in her role as a city centre-based Northwood estate agents for 12 years she made dozens of illegal transfers from business and client accounts to herself, Birmingham Live reports. Hemalatha Jayaprakash was sentenced to two years and three months in jail (Image: BirminghamLive/BPM ) During the time, she was working as a personal assistant to the director. Jayaprakash claimed in court she used some of the money to pay her child's school fees and to help relatives in India who lost their homes to flooding. The managing director, Nin Rehal, said her actions had been devastating, having learned she even took money while he was out of the office caring for his dying mother. When Mr Rehal sold the business in December 2023, a £26,000 discrepancy was discovered and the accounts were examined. It emerged that payments had been made to non-existent landlords to a bank account, which was revealed as Jayaprakash's account thanks to an expenses claim. Mr Rehal said it had caused him 'immense' distress and 'devastating' financial losses. The director said the loses meant he had to release equity from his family home to make ends meet, alongside supporting his two children at university. He added: "Meanwhile, Mrs Jayaprakash resides in a £1m property, purchased outright in 2018, and benefits from income generated by a portfolio of at least eight rental properties." Overall, Jayaprakash had taken £167,062.68 over the course of 158 transactions from January 2021 and March 2024, reports BirminghamLive. Court recorder Amy Jackson said: "Everything I have read about this lady takes me to the belief she is from an affluent background where she ought not to need to steal to fund a lifestyle and effectively does lead a lavish lifestyle. This was pure greed." During sentencing, the judge said: "This was a long-running and significant fraud and abuse of trust." From their sprawling family property which is named Gleneagles after the luxury Scottish spa retreat, Mr Jayaprakash told Mail Online he had checked with family in India and they had not received any money and said his grown up daughter did attend a fee paying school but he had paid for. Article continues below Samreen Akhtar, defending told the court: "Her family members are regrettably unaware (of her conviction). She has had no support in terms of these proceedings." Jayaprakash will serve up to 40 per cent of the 27-month term in custody. She was heard wailing as she was sent down to her cell. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing to determine confiscation, costs and compensation will take place on August 26.
Metro
02-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Fraudster mum stole £166k from firm and gorged on Greggs and Deliveroo takeaways
A personal assistant stole more than £166,000 from a former business director while living in a £1million home. Hemalatha Jayaprakash, 44, joined the Birmingham-based Northwood estate agents in 2012 as a personal assistant to director Nin Rehal, 57. Jayaprakash stole more than £6,000 knowing he was out of the office because his mother had passed away 24 hours earlier. The officer manager splurged on lottery tickets, Greggs and Deliveroo takeaways. When he decided to sell in 2023, Jayaprakash's fraud was exposed when the accounts were examined. In court, Jayaprakash said she sent money to pay her child's school fees and help relatives in India who lost their homes in floods. Jayaprakash wailed in anguish when she was jailed for two years and three months at Birmingham Crown Court on May 21 after pleading guilty to fraud and abuse of position. Rehal said he was 'devastated' that he had been betrayed by his trusted personal assistant. He said: 'This fraud was not opportunistic; it was calculated, premeditated and a sustained scheme executed over multiple years. 'I used to confide in Jayaprakash in daily meetings, sometimes in tears, but she would tell me not to worry about the office, all is in control with the team.' Jayaprakash turned up at Rehal's mother's funeral with her husband. Rehal said: 'This is the level of greed, deception and betrayal we are dealing with.' He told the court he had to release equity from his family home to make ends meet, including supporting his two children at university. Rehal added: 'Meanwhile, Mrs Jayaprakash resides in a £1million property, purchased outright in 2018, and benefits from income generated by a portfolio of at least eight rental properties.' Jayaprakash's husband said his family had no idea about her deception and were planning a family trip to India. She told him she was driving off in the family Land Rover to view offices for a new job but was instead appearing in court. The family only found out she had been jailed 12 hours later, following their own search and getting in contact with police. Jayaprakash told MailOnline: 'We weren't aware of any of this, it is such a difficult time for the family. We had absolutely no idea. 'My wife didn't need the money and we are trying to find out what really happened, and maybe she was coerced by someone. More Trending 'We don't have any money issues, we are not struggling financially, so why would she do this? 'We cannot comprehend this, it is beyond belief and we are totally shattered and devastated. It is such a shock.' Recorder Amy Jackson said: 'Everything I have read about this lady takes me to the belief she is from an affluent background where she ought not to need to steal to fund a lifestyle and effectively does lead a lavish lifestyle. This was pure greed.' A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held on August 26 to determine issues around confiscation, costs and compensation. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Benefits cheat mum said she had severe MS while posting about running 10k races MORE: Man who burned Koran outside embassy says verdict is 'assault on free speech' MORE: Moment Scottish gangster chased through his Spanish pub and shot dead
