Latest news with #Viswanathan
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'This isn't about his faith': Indian-American woman slams Zohran Mamdani, says his glorification is frustrating to see
Indian-American woman Indu Viswanathan said Zohran Mamdani's glorification has been nauseating. Indu Viswanathan, an Indian-American Hindu woman who calls herself a liberal New Yorker, launched an attack against Socialist Zohran K Mamdani who is inching toward becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York after winning the Democratic primary. In a long post on X, Vishwanathan said she lived in New York since 1997 -- a year before Mamdani came to the US. She said it is "frustrating to see the gleeful, starry-eyed glorification of Zohran Mamdani, a person who glibly distorts facts, manipulates identity politics, and imports conflict like a commodity for political gain". Viswanathan said it's not about his faith, birthplace, ethnicity -- the issues people are attacking. "Let me be very clear. This isn't about his faith, his ethnicity, his birthplace, the languages he speaks, or his code switching, all of which I have seen used in attacks against him. This is New York, a city that actually thrives on and embraces diversity. Those attacks are not even worth addressing," she said. Calling Mamdani performative, opportunistic and deeply undemocratic, the Indian-origin scholar said Mamdani is not a truthful voice of the marginalized. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "Mamdani is a projection of an illiberal, anti-intellectual left-wing authoritarianism that has sunk its teeth into progressive politics. The kind of authoritarianism that makes me feel deeply pessimistic about the future of my party," she wrote. Viswanathan countered Mamdani's claim that Muslims left Gujarat Viswanathan said one of the blatant lies that Mamdani recently spouted is that Muslims left India's Gujarat. "This isn't just inaccurate or a gentle exaggeration to land a larger, more important point. It IS the point, and it is a deeply irresponsible falsehood. Gujarat is home to over 7 million Muslims today, nearly 10 percent of the state's population. To put that in perspective, there are more Muslims in Gujarat than there are in the entire United States," she said adding that Mamdani used this false claim to erase his own people -- as his father was from Gujarat -- for political expediency "With that charming twinkle in his eyes," Viswanathan added. Vishwanathan explained that it is easy to attack Mamdani on the basis of his religion, but she wants to question his integrity --- instead of raising demands for his deportation, as Republicans did.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- The Hindu
Missing ‘sub-section' prompts U.P. to delay release of man who got bail, SC orders State to pay him ₹5 lakh compensation
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to pay ₹5 lakh in interim compensation to a man who remained in jail for 28 days despite the Court's order granting him bail in an abduction and unlawful religious conversion case. The man, identified as Aftab, was granted bail by the apex court, followed by a release order by the trial court. However, State authorities delayed his release, citing that the court orders did not explicitly mention that he had been charged under Sub-section (1) of Section 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. A Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and N. Kotiswar Singh termed the State's justification both 'preposterous' and 'unfortunate'. 'The whole episode is unfortunate. Each one of the stakeholders in the process was aware as to what the man's offence was, what the crime number of the case was, what the Section under which he was charged with and what was the punishing Section. Despite this, he was sent on a spin,' Justice Viswanathan observed. While Aftab was supposed to be released on May 27, he was finally freed only on the night of June 24. 'Liberty is a very valuable and precious right guaranteed to persons under the Constitution. It cannot be bartered on these useless technicalities. We only hope no other convicts or undertrials languishing in jails are victims of similar technicalities,' Justice Viswanathan said. Addressing Director General of Prisons P.C. Meena and the Superintendent of Ghaziabad Jail, where Aftab was lodged, Justice Viswanathan remarked, 'Is this what you tell your officers? To look for Sub-sections and to see whether they have been mentioned or not? What is going on in this State… a vast State with many jails… God knows how many people are languishing in your jails despite valid judicial orders for their release on bail.' Mr. Meena assured the Bench that he would personally sensitise prison officials on the matter. The Court observed that jail authorities must not 'nit-pick' valid judicial orders to delay the release of undertrials and convicts. 'As long as basic particulars are available [in bail and release orders of courts], and there is no dispute identifying the individual, nit-picking on court orders and on that pretext not implementing them and keeping individuals behind bars would be a serious dereliction of duty to start with,' Justice Viswanathan said. 'The jail department must focus on the substance of the order and not look out for irrelevant and minute errors to use them as a pretext to deny liberty,' he added. The Bench directed the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Ghaziabad to conduct an inquiry to determine whether the absence of the specific Sub-section was indeed the reason for the delay, or whether there was 'something sinister.' 'The enquiry would focus on the reason behind the delay in release [of Aftab]. Why was he detained beyond May 27? Is the missing Sub-section the real reason or was there something sinister? The judge must independently look into whether there was any gross negligence by prison authorities, and fix responsibility on the officer/officers in case of any negligence,' the court said. The enquiry report is to be submitted to the apex court. Meanwhile, the Bench directed the State to pay ₹5 lakh in 'ad hoc, provisional compensation' to Aftab and report compliance by July 27. 'The net result of this non-issue is that the applicant [Aftab] lost his liberty for at least 28 full days. The only way to remedy the situation is to order ad hoc monetary compensation which would be provisional in nature,' the Bench said. It added that final compensation would be determined based on the outcome of the District Judge's enquiry and that the Court would also consider recovering the amount or part thereof from the officers found responsible. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on August 18.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘Travesty of justice': SC summons Ghaziabad jailer over non-release of prisoner despite bail order
The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed serious displeasure over the fact that an accused, whom it had granted bail almost two months ago, has still not been released from the Ghaziabad district jail, allegedly because the order did not mention the sub-clause of the provision under which he was charged. A bench of Justices K V Viswanathan and N K Singh directed the superintendent jailer of Ghaziabad district prison to appear in person, and the Uttar Pradesh director general of police (Prisons) to appear before it through video conferencing to ascertain what exactly happened. 'Don't take the Supreme Court for granted,' said Justice Viswanathan. Justice Viswanathan also cautioned the petitioner that it will take action against him if it finds that the non-release was due to some other reason, like detention in another case and not due to non-addition of sub-clause as claimed by him. Justice Viswanathan also warned that the court will initiate contempt proceedings against authorities if the petitioner's claim is found to be true. In its order, the court said, 'This case presents a very unfortunate scenario.' The petitioner, the bench said, was released on bail by its order dated April 29, 2025. 'The order is categoric and states that the petitioner shall be released on bail during the pendency of trial' in the concerned FIR registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UP Prohibition Of Unlawful Conversion Of Religion Act, 2021, on terms and conditions as may be be fixed by the trial court. 'After this order, the Additional District and Sessions Judge…Ghaziabad, issued a release order to the Superintendent, Ghaziabad district jail, authorising and requiring the Superintendent to release the accused forthwith from custody after furnishing a bail bond unless he is required in connection with some other case,' the order said. 'After this order, it is stated by the petitioner that he is unable to secure his liberty because, in the order of the High Court and this court, clause (1) of Section 5 of the 2021 Act was omitted, and because of that petitioner could not be released. So contending, petitioner now seeks modification of the April 29, 2025 order, to specifically include Clause (1) of Section 5'. The bench said the 'concerned sections are clearly mentioned' in its April 29 order. 'It's a travesty of justice that on the ground that the sub-section was not mentioned, the petitioner who was ordered to be released, is to date kept behind bars. This calls for a serious inquiry. We direct Superintendent Jailer, District Jail, Ghaziabad, to be personally present tomorrow. Also, DGP Prison will appear on video,' the bench added.
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC to frame guidelines on OBC certificates for children of single mothers
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its intent to lay down guidelines for issuing OBC (Other Backwards Classes) certificates to children of single mothers, allowing the use of the mother's caste certificate without requiring documents from the paternal side. A bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh heard the matter and scheduled it for final hearing on July 22. 'The present petition raises an important issue about the issuance of OBC certificate to children of a single mother where the mother belongs to the OBC category,' the bench noted in its order. The petitioner contends that existing guidelines unjustly require an OBC certificate from a paternal blood relative, father, grandfather, or uncle thereby excluding single mothers such as widows, divorcees, or adoptive mothers from securing rightful benefits for their children. Justice Viswanathan remarked during the hearing, 'Say there's a divorced mother, why should she be going after the father?', indicating the need to address systemic barriers faced by single mothers. The Supreme Court had earlier issued notice on the petition in February 2025, seeking responses from the Delhi government, Union of India, and Union Territories. On Monday, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain cited the Rameshbhai Dabhai Naika v. State of Gujarat (2012) judgment, where the Court ruled that caste identity in inter-caste marriages should be assessed based on upbringing and social environment rather than mere paternal lineage. Justice Viswanathan emphasised that similar principles must be extended to OBC cases. 'They have resolved it for SC/ST if the child is brought up in the mother's surroundings, benefits cannot be denied. That logic should apply here, too,' he said, while also affirming that the concept of creamy layer based on income would continue to apply. The petitioner, a retired MCD teacher, argued that the current rules violate Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by discriminating against single mothers from OBC communities. In contrast, she pointed out that children of single mothers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes already benefit from more inclusive criteria. The Court allowed states that wish to submit their stance to do so before the next hearing. Justice Viswanathan reiterated that the final guidelines would address complexities arising out of inter-caste marriages and social realities faced by single mothers.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
SC stays further coercive action against man facing multiple FIRs for social media posts
'Hate speech will not take us anywhere,' the Supreme Court said Monday as it stayed further arrest of Wazahat Khan, accused of allegedly hurting religious sentiments through his social media posts and on whose complaint West Bengal police arrested law student Sharmishta Panoli on similar charges. Issuing notice on his plea seeking consolidation of FIRs registered against Khan in Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana over his social media posts, a bench of Justices K V Viswanathan and N K Singh directed against any coercive action in the other FIRs or any other FIR that may be registered in future over the same allegations. The bench noted that Khan was undergoing police custody in an FIR registered at the Golf Link police station in Kolkata, and was also remanded to judicial custody in another FIR lodged in Bengal. During the hearing, Justice Viswanathan remarked orally 'these hate speeches get us nowhere'. Citing a Tamil saying, he added '…a wound inflicted by fire may heal, but one inflicted by tongue will not'. Justice Viswanathan said, 'I have been thinking, someday we will get into it…incitement to violence is a test for the speech — should it be physical violence? Need not be. It can also be verbal.' Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu appearing for Khan said the FIRs were registered in retaliation to the complaint he had made against Panoli. The bench asked why he had not attached the allegedly offensive tweets. Naidu said he had deleted those tweets and apologised before the FIRs were lodged. Apparently conveying his disapproval of the social media posts by Khan, Naidu said he is 'reaping what he has sown' but had 'learnt the lesson the hard way'. He said he was only praying to consolidate the different FIRs so that trial can happen in one place. The bench said that the alleged social media posts were 'all hate mongering' and would not fall within the ambit of free speech.
