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New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Raj Thackeray's remarks about Patel community spark outrage in Gujarat; AAP, Patidars demand apology
AHMEDABAD: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's controversial remarks against Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai have sparked a political storm in Gujarat. Leaders from the Patidar community and the Aam Aadmi Party have lashed out, accusing Thackeray of inciting regional hatred and insulting national icons to revive his fading political relevance. Raj Thackeray, in a meeting on July 18, alleged that certain Gujarati businessmen and leaders had once tried to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. In his speech, he mentioned names including Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai, which did not go down well in Gujarat. Reacting strongly, Patidar leader Alpesh Kathiria slammed Thackeray's statements as an 'insult to Gujarat's dignitaries' and accused him of fostering a divisive 'Marathi mentality.' He said, 'Raj Thackeray is attempting to vilify national heroes just to stir up anti-Gujarati sentiments and breathe life into his politically defunct party.' Kathiria added, Raj has no moral right to denigrate the legacy of Sardar Patel and Morarji Desai. 'This is not just an insult to Gujarat but to India as a whole,' Kathiria said, demanding a public apology. 'Targeting Sardar Saheb and Morarji Desai is an attempt to reignite regional tension. We won't tolerate such political stunts at the cost of national unity.'
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
During Emergency, Tamil Nadu exceeded vasectomy targets under family planning programme
One of the most disturbing features of the infamous Emergency (1975-77) in India was the sterilisation drive across the country to enforce population control. In several States, there were complaints of forcible sterilisation of men, irrespective of whether they had fathered a child or not. In Tamil Nadu there were no cases of forced sterilisation. Nonetheless, the State did well in meeting its targets. The Shah Commission of Inquiry, constituted by the Morarji Desai government to probe into Emergency excesses in the country, noted that during 1975-76, Tamil Nadu exceeded the sterilisation targets fixed by the government of India, the performance being 2,70,691 vasectomy surgeries during 1975-76 against a target of 2,11,300. In the year 1976-77, 5,69,756 surgeries were performed as against the given target of five lakhs. The M. Karunanidhi government was dismissed in January 1976, seven months after Emergency was promulgated. 'The target of five lakhs set by the Government of India for 1976-77 was raised by the State Government to six lakhs. The State's target was distributed among the different districts and these were further broken down into targets for the blocks, municipalities etc. Field workers appointed by the State Government exclusively for family welfare work were given specific monthly targets e.g. 10 sterilisation cases to each Block Extension Educator/Family Welfare Health Inspector, 5 cases to each Health Visitor and one case to each Auxiliary Nurse Mid-wife,' the Shah Commission noted in its third and final report. The District Collector was given overall charge and control of the entire family planning programme in the district and was empowered to exercise administrative control over the field staff insofar as they related to the implementation of the family planning programme. Disincentives 'Some disincentives for Government servants, employees of local bodies and cooperatives were introduced vide Health and Family Planning Department's G.O. dated September 17, 1976. Subject to exceptions specified in the order, the disincentives contemplated restriction of facilities such as free medical attendance, maternity leave with pay to women employees and maternity benefits to wives of men employees, to the first three children only,' the Commission noted. Government servants having two children or less or who had got themselves/their spouses sterilised were assured preferential treatment in the matter of grant of government housing loans; loans for purchase of scooter, motor car etc.; assignment of house sites and; allotment of houses by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. The Order also envisaged that an undertaking would be obtained from the new entrants to government service that they would restrict the number of children to two except in the case of those government servants having both children of the same sex. In that event, they could have one more child. They were also expected to furnish an annual statement about the family size etc. to the Head of Office. Some of these disincentives were, however, withdrawn in April 1977 and the rest in September 1977. Role of school teachers The Commission pointed out the services of school teachers were sought to be utilised for motivational work among the public. In September 1976, the Education Department informed the Director of School Education that every teacher must get a minimum of two cases for sterilisation during the year. 'While there should be no compulsion on the part of either the motivator or the acceptor, the teacher should take active interest in this vital programme and try to exceed the target,' it said. According to the order, fulfilment of the targets would lead to commendation entries in the Character Rolls of the teachers concerned. Other incentives would take the shape of certificates of merit, appropriate cash awards and advance increments for outstanding contribution and State-level awards for the maximum motivational targets achieved. Punitive action At the same time, it was brought to the notice of the State government at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting held at Madurai on December 7, 1976 during the President's Rule, that disciplinary action had been taken en masse against the teachers and staff other than Health and Family Planning staff for their failure to achieve the Family Planning targets fixed by the Commissioners of Panchayat Unions and others. There were also allegations that circulars had been issued by overzealous Panchayat Union Commissioners for suspension/dismissal of the teachers for failure to bring cases of sterilisation. 'The Commissioner and the Secretary, Health and Family Planning Department, therefore, wrote to the Heads of the Departments concerned on December 8, 1976 requesting them to issue strict instructions to the Commissioners of Panchayat Unions and other executive authorities to withdraw all circulars threatening action against teachers etc. for non-fulfilment of the targets assigned to them,' the Commission noted. He also desired that persons who had been placed under suspension or had been dismissed from service on account of their failure to achieve family planning targets should immediately be restored to duty in the posts in which they were employed prior to their suspension/dismissal etc. The Shah Commission said the State government had submitted there was no organised resistance to the family planning programme during the Emergency nor was any person detained under MISA/DISIR or any other law for opposing the family planning programme. However, the State government did not furnish information on the number of cases of sterilisation of unmarried persons, persons having two or less children and persons more than 55 years of age. Nonetheless, it told the Commission that 90 cases of death after sterilisation had been reported during the period Emergency.
India Gazette
01-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
It has never happened that central govt has made its political agenda, govt's agenda: Digvijaya Singh on Centre marking 50th anniversary of Emergency
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): Congress leader Digvijaya Singh expressed his discontent with the Central government marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, and said that it has never happened that a central government has made its political agenda the government's agenda. Digvijaya Singh said, 'I have only one objection. Central government officials are writing letters to states and telling them to organise programs against the Emergency for one whole year. It has never happened that a central government has made its political agenda, the government's agenda. This should not happen.' Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday during the 123rd episode of his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' condemned imposition of Emergency in the country and termed the period as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. He said that country is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. During his address to the nation, he played rare archival audio of former Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who described the Emergency as a time of constitutional murder, mass arrests, and the suppression of civil liberties and press freedom. The Prime Minister asserted that every citizen should remember the ones who fought 'bravely' against the Emergency and it also inspires us to stay 'vigilant' to 'safeguard' the constitution. PM Modi said, 'Morarji Desai describes the Emergency in brief... Not only did those who imposed the Emergency murder democracy, but their intention was to keep the judiciary as their puppet... Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured... Indians refused to compromise on democracy. Finally, people won and the Emergency was lifted. Babu Jagjivan Ram powerfully about this...' MISA refers to the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). In the audio clip of Morarji Desai, the former Prime Minister is heard recounting the horrors of the Emergency. Desai is heard saying in the clip played by PM Modi in his radio address, 'When the Emergency was imposed, people were treated inhumanely. Their right to freedom was snatched away, newspapers were silenced, and the judiciary was rendered powerless. Over one lakh people were jailed. Such an arbitrary rule is rare even in world history.' (ANI)
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
"This Success belongs to our health workers": PM Modi celebrates India's Trachoma-free status recognised by WHO
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 123rd edition of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, celebrated a significant public health milestone, announcing that the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared India 'Trachoma-free.' Highlighting this achievement, PM Modi attributed the success to the tireless efforts of the country's frontline health workers. 'We resolved to eliminate trachoma and I am delighted to share with you that WHO has declared India as Trachoma-free. This is the result of the efforts of millions of people who tirelessly fought this disease without stopping. This success belongs to our health workers.' He also acknowledged the crucial role played by national initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the Jal Jeevan Mission, which contributed significantly to eliminating the root causes of trachoma. 'The 'Swatch Bharat Abhiyan' also played a major role in its elimination. 'Jal Jeevan Mission' also contributed significantly to this success. Now that clean water is reaching every household through taps, the risk of such diseases has reduced significantly. WHO has also appreciated that India not only dealt with the disease but also addressed its root causes,' he said. On October 8, 2024, the WHO declared that the Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that can cause blindness if left untreated. It was once widespread in many regions of India. He said, 'The first achievement is related to our health. Many of you might have heard about an eye disease - Trachoma. This disease spreads through bacteria, and there was a time when this disease was common in many parts of India. If neglected, this disease eventually causes blindness.' Meanwhile, during his address, PM Modi also condemned the imposition of the Emergency in the country and termed the period as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. He said that the country is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. He also played a rare archival audio of former Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who described the Emergency as a time of constitutional murder, mass arrests, and the suppression of civil liberties and press freedom. The Prime Minister asserted that every citizen should remember the ones who fought 'bravely' against the Emergency and it also inspires us to stay 'vigilant' to 'safeguard' the constitution. PM Modi said, 'Morarji Desai describes the Emergency in brief... Not only did those who imposed the Emergency murder democracy, but their intention was to keep the judiciary as their puppet... Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured... Indians refused to compromise on democracy. Finally, people won and the Emergency was lifted. Babu Jagjivan Ram powerfully about this.' MISA refers to the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, a law used extensively during the Emergency to detain political opponents without trial. (ANI)
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan, Samrat Chaudhary, Nayab Singh Saini among others listen to PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' program
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], June 29 (ANI): Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda were among those who listened to the 123rd episode of PM Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' in Gurugram on Sunday. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was also present during the occassion. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the program in Dehradun, whereas Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak did so in Lucknow. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan listened to the 'Mann ki Baat' program in North 24 Parganas, whereas Bihar Deputy Chief Miniseters Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha listened to the program in Patna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 123rd episode of his monthly radio address condemned the imposition of Emergency in the country and termed the period as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. He said that the country is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. During the programme, PM Modi played rare archival audio clips of former Prime Ministers Morarji Desai, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who described the Emergency as a time of constitutional murder, mass arrests, and the suppression of civil liberties and press freedom. Prime Minister Modi asserted that every citizen should remember the ones who fought 'bravely' against the Emergency and it also inspires us to stay 'vigilant' to 'safeguard' the constitution. 'Morarji Desai describes the Emergency in brief... Not only did those who imposed the Emergency murder democracy, but their intention was to keep the judiciary as their puppet... Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured... Indians refused to compromise on democracy. Finally, people won and the Emergency was lifted. Babu Jagjivan Ram powerfully about this...' PM Modi said. In the audio clip of Morarji Desai, the former Prime Minister is heard recounting the horrors of the Emergency. Desai is heard saying in the clip played by PM Modi in his radio address, 'When the Emergency was imposed, people were treated inhumanely. Their right to freedom was snatched away, newspapers were silenced, and the judiciary was rendered powerless. Over one lakh people were jailed. Such an arbitrary rule is rare even in world history.' OM Modi also addressed various other topics such as the eradication of eye disease trachoma, the recent celebration of international Yoga Day and women-led development enterprises shaping New India. (ANI)
