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Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Notices barring Brahmins from performing rituals spark row
Motihari: A recent incident in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district, where a religious preacher and his associate were allegedly assaulted, has had ripple effects in Tikulya, a village in Bihar's East Champaran district. In response to the Etawah episode, some youths in Tikulya, located near the India-Nepal border under Adapur police station, put up warning boards at the village's entry points on Monday, barring Brahmins from performing religious rituals. The notices have since been removed by the villagers. The incident in Etawah, which took place on Saturday, involved the alleged humiliation and assault of a 'kathavachak' (religious storyteller) and his associate, both from the Yadav community, by some people. Their heads were allegedly shaved as part of the attack. In Tikulya village, which is predominantly inhabited by members of the Yadav community, notices appeared at all entry points. "Is gaon me Brahmano puja karana sakht mana hai, pakde jane pr dand ke bhagi honge (It is strictly forbidden for Brahmins to perform puja in this village; if caught, they would be punished)", the notices read. These warnings quickly spread to nearby areas. Some locals clarified that their objection was directed at people who, despite identifying as Brahmins, lacked knowledge of the Vedas and Puranas and were known to consume liquor and meat. They said they held no objection to Brahmins who were well-versed in scriptures. Ram Prit Yadav, a 72-year-old former MLA and Congress leader from Tikulya, said he was unaware of the incident as he was on way to Deoghar. He condemned the act and expressed confidence that peace would prevail among villagers of all castes. "My village is Yadav-dominated with a single Brahmin family, but they are respected and loved by everyone here. This act seems to have been carried out by some anti-social elements," he said. While the mukhiya of the Bakhari panchayat is currently in jail, the panchayat's sarpanch, Lakshmi Yadav, said he was unaware of the incident or any threats issued by villagers. "I will ensure action is taken against those responsible," he said. Village police chowkidar, Sanjay Yadav, said a few people were responsible for putting up the notices and did so in the name of the village. "The villagers did not support them and all the warning boards have now been removed," he added. Dhirendra Kumar, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Raxaul, said the matter was under investigation. "An FIR will be lodged against those found guilty of this mischief," he said.
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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
MoEF trying to 'subvert' FRA: Over 90 forest rights groups writes to PM
Over 90 forest rights groups have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the Union environment ministry is attempting to "subvert" the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and demanding that Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav clarify his reported statement that the "FRA leads to forest degradation." PTI reached out to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for comment. A response is awaited. The groups, comprising Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective of Himachal, among others, said in their June 28 letter, copies of which have been sent to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and the ministries of Environment, Tribal Affairs and Social Justice, that Yadav, in a statement published in a newspaper on June 5, "cited titles granted under the FRA as a reason for forest degradation." They called the statement "false, misleading, legally untenable and an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the FRA." They alleged that it is part of a "consistent series of subversion" by the environment ministry, which, along with the forest bureaucracy, has "stiffly resisted and disrupted" the implementation of the FRA for the last 16 years. The groups pointed to a 2009 report submitted by the ministry to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which said that the FRA had assigned rights to protect approximately 40 million hectares of community forest resources to village-level democratic institutions and that other forest-related laws needed to be fine-tuned in light of the Act. Citing data presented by Yadav in the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2023, the groups alleged that while the minister blamed the FRA, tribals and other forest rights holders for forest degradation, he "conveniently overlooked" the fact that the ministry itself allowed the illegal diversion of over 3 lakh hectares of forest land since 2008 for non-forest activities, leading to deforestation and without complying with the FRA. They further alleged that the ministry submitted legally untenable data on encroachments in Parliament and the National Green Tribunal. The letter claimed that the ministry makes no reference to the FRA or its statutory body, the Gram Sabhas. According to the law, the rights of forest dwellers recognised and vested under the FRA must be determined, demarcated, recognised and recorded. Only after this process is completed can the extent of encroachment be determined and, subsequently, eviction proceedings be initiated under state laws. The FRA prohibits eviction under Section 4(5) without satisfactory completion of this process. The groups also alleged that the National Tiger Conservation Authority, on June 19 last year, ordered the expedited relocation of 64,801 families from core areas of tiger reserves, in "complete violation" of the FRA, the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and other applicable legal frameworks. They claimed that this has increased the risk of displacement, forced evictions, curtailment of rights and criminalisation of forest dwellers, pushing many into states of economic and social insecurity across the country. The letter also pointed out that the "India State of Forest Report 2023," published by the Forest Survey of India, blamed titles issued under the FRA for negative changes in forest and tree cover. The groups expressed concern over recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (now renamed Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980), which were passed despite strong opposition from constitutional bodies like the NCST, scientists, conservationists, forest rights groups and forest-dwelling communities. They warned that these changes would "adversely impact India's forest and ecological security". The groups urged the prime minister to immediately halt what they termed as the environment ministry's attempts to subvert the FRA. They also demanded that Yadav publicly clarify and withdraw his statement linking the FRA to forest degradation and that the ministry immediately inform the Supreme Court and the NGT about the legal status of forest encroachments under the FRA, clearly stating that no action on encroachment can be taken until the FRA implementation process is complete.
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Madhya Pradesh CM to unveil water conservation works of Rs 1,518 crore as Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan concludes today
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has renewed his appeal for water conservation as Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan, which has been running for three months across the state, will conclude on Monday. The closing ceremony of the campaign will be held in Khandwa district today and Yadav will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of water conservation works worth over Rs 1,518 crore in the programme. Before leaving for Khandwa, the Chief Minister said that the campaign was held due to inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has initiated several programmes for water conservation. 'From Gudi Padwa (March 30) to June 30, we ran Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan across the state for three months with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the campaign, I am going to Khandwa to lay the foundation stone and inauguration of various works related to water conservation worth over Rs 1518 crore,' he said. 'Khandwa district has done the best work in water conservation across the country and it has been recognised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti,' he added. He said 57,207 water conservation works done under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan, worth around Rs 578 crore, will be inaugurated today. 'Additionally, 888 water conservation works done under Watershed Development Component-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, at a cost of Rs 63.46 crore, will also be inaugurated. For Khandwa district too, various water structures, including wells, ponds, especially farm pond schemes, Amrit Sarovar schemes, will be dedicated,' the Chief Minister said. 'Awareness about water conservation has also increased across the state. The old Bawadis (stepwells) have improved. We have also given different types of awards under the campaign,' he added. Yadav also emphasised the importance of water in human life. 'No work can be done without water, neither we will be able to worship nor be able to live a day or a moment of life. Let us all come together, save water, and save lives ahead. Madhya Pradesh is home of rivers and it has its own importance. After this, we will lay more emphasis on planting trees under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' which will maintain the natural beauty of water bodies and play a life-giving role in water conservation. Plantation work will be started,' he said. (ANI)
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Punjab police says international drug cartel busted, over 60 kg heroin recovered near Pakistan border in Rajasthan
In a joint operation with the BSF and Rajasthan Police, Punjab Police on Monday (June 30, 2025) recovered over 60 kg of heroin near the international border in Barmer in Rajasthan after dismantling a drug cartel, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Mr. Yadav disclosed the arrest of nine persons from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir for the crime Also Read | Man held with 2 kg heroin in Punjab's Amritsar 'In a massive crackdown, #Amritsar Commissionerate Police, with the support of #BSF and #Rajasthan Police, dismantles a major international drug cartel operated by #Pak-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and #Canada based handler Joban Kaler and recovers a huge consignment of 60.302 Kg Heroin from near the International Border in Barmer, Rajasthan,' Mr. Yadav wrote in a post on X. In a massive crackdown, #Amritsar Commissionerate Police, with the support of #BSF and #Rajasthan Police, dismantles a major international drug cartel operated by #Pak-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and #Canada based handler Joban Kaler and recovers a huge consignment of 60.302 Kg… — DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) June 30, 2025 His post added, 'Nine key operatives & hawala operators arrested from across #Punjab, #Haryana, #Rajasthan & #JammuAndKashmir.' Mr. Yadav said investigation was underway, with the 'forward and backward linkages' of the drug network being traced.
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"There Are Kathavachaks Who Charge Rs 50 Lakh": Akhilesh Yadav Jabs Dhirendra Shastri
Lucknow: Amid an ongoing controversy over the assault on a non-Brahmin ' kathavachak ' (religious storyteller) in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a jibe at religious leader Acharya Dhirendra Shastri and said there are many storytellers who charge Rs 50 lakh. "Many kathavachaks charge Rs 50 lakh for an event. Can anyone afford Dhirendra Shastri for a katha (religious ceremony) at their residence? He takes the money under the table," he told reporters in Hindi. Mr Yadav said he doesn't know how much Mr Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, charges for storytelling, but claimed "it is not free". There was no immediate response from Mr Shastri. 'Kathavachak' Row In UP Akhilesh Yadav's charge comes days after two Bhagwat Katha preachers, Mukut Mani Yadav, and his aide, Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and humiliated in a village in Etawah. The incident on June 22 allegedly took place when it was found that they belonged to the Yadav caste. The incident triggered widespread protests in the village and led to the arrest of four accused -- Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey -- all residents of the village. Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had shared a video of the incident, which showed the accused purportedly saying, "You are getting punished for coming to the village of Brahmins." He has attacked the ruling BJP over the alleged assault and said the incident was part of a larger conspiracy to divide Uttar Pradesh along caste lines by bringing in "planted elements" from neighbouring states.
