06.07.24.UT NEWS.CHENNAI.26.
‘Armstrong was strong Dalit voice, TN govt must punish guilty’: Mayawati reacts to BSP leader’s murderSays the incident is ‘highly deplorable and condemnable’Web Desk Updated: July 06, 2024 08:13 IST
Condemning the brutal murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president K. Armstrong, party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati urged the TN government to ensure that the guilty are punished.
Hailing Armstrong as “a strong Dalit voice in the state” she said the incident is “highly deplorable and condemnable.”
Armstrong, a former councillor of Chennai Corporation, was hacked by a two-wheeler-borne gang near his house in Perambur in Chennai. Two others also sustained injuries during the attack.
Armstrong died on the way to the hospital as he sustained grievous injuries in the attack.
Workers and supporters of the BSP in Tamil Nadu staged a protest outside Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital where his body has been kept in the mortuary for autopsy, demanding immediate arrest of the accused.
The motive behind the murder
While the exact reasons behind the murder remain unknown, the police have said it could be a revenge killing related to the murder of a gangster, Arcot Suresh, which happened last year.
“We are conducting an investigation. The murder seems to be linked to an earlier killing,” NDTV quoted a senior police officer as saying.
The police said eight people have been arrested in connection with the murder.
According to the police, Armstrong was overseeing the construction work of a building at Venugopal Street in Sembium when the attack took place.
Courtesy : The Week
TN BSP chief Armstrong hacked to death by gang in Chennai, eight suspects held
He was rushed to a private hospital on Greams Road where the doctors declared him brought-dead.
CHENNAI: K Armstrong (52), state president of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was hacked to death by an unidentified six-member gang near Sembium in Chennai on Friday evening. Late in the night, Chennai police said that they had secured eight suspects.
According to police, Armstrong, along with a few of his party cadres, was overseeing the construction work of a building at Venugopal Street in Sembium near Perambur around 7pm when the gang, dressed up as food delivery executives, arrived on three bikes and surrounded him. They hacked him with knives and fled the spot, leaving Armstrong in a pool of blood.
He was rushed to a private hospital on Greams Road where the doctors declared him brought-dead. His body was then sent to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for a postmortem. The Chennai City police have formed 10 special teams, led by Additional Commissioner, Chennai (North) Asra Garg, to probe the case. Two associates of Armstrong who sustained injury in the attack were hospitalised.
A case has been filed. Police are checking CCTV footage and Armstrong’s phone records to identify the suspects. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pulianthope I Eswaran and Assistant Commissioner Praveen Kumar went to the spot and conducted inquiries.
BSP State President K Armstrong being produced at the 16th Metropolitan Magistrate in Saidapet in the city on Sunday
An advocate, Armstrong was a prominent Ambedkarite voice and remembered by North Chennai residents as a political leader who educated and empowered several youth. Elected as a Chennai Corporation councillor in 2006, he unsuccessfully contested the 2011 Assembly election from Kolathur.
The 4,000 odd votes secured by him were slightly more than the winning margin secured by the then deputy CM M K Stalin over Saidai Duraisamy. He had been BSP’s state president for 17 years. There are also some cases against him. BSP national president Mayawati, in a post on ‘X’, condemned the murder and sought justice.
Retaliation for Arcot Suresh’s murder last year?
Speaking to media at RGGGH, Asra Garg said police have secured eight suspects in the case. A source said that one of the suspects could be linked to the murder case of Arcot Suresh in 2023.
Armstrong’s murder could be a retaliation for Suresh’s murder, the source said. Armstrong is survived by his wife and one-year-old daughter Savitri Bai (named by BSP chief Mayawati). At the hospital, a stream of supporters and well-wishers, including film director Pa Ranjith, mourned his death.
Party cadres staged a protest condemning the murder. Huge posse of police personnel has been deployed in the locality to prevent any untoward incident. BSP supporters staged a road roko outside the RGGGH where Armstrong’s body has been taken.
Advocate & Ambedkarite
Armstrong, an advocate, was a prominent Ambedkarite and is remembered by North Chennai residents as a leader who empowered several youth
Courtesy : TNIE
No peace even after death, Dalits carry bodies via field with police protection in Pudukkottai
“The alternative route is problematic as nearby villagers would restrict us from conducting funeral processions due to the presence of a temple. To avoid problems, we would like to respect their belief systems.
“Pearson Lenekar SR
PUDUKKOTTAI: Dalit residents of Mattaiyanpatti village in Pudukkottai are forced to carry mortal remains of their dear ones, through a paddy field paired with police protection, fearing conflict with a group of caste Hindus, who have patta over the land. The group recently blocked the pathway to the Adi Dravidar burial ground in the village, which had been in use for five generations.
On Thursday, hundreds of residents and cadre of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi staged a sit-in protest at the Adi Dravidar burial ground on poramboke land, urging the district administration to lay a proper pathway to the burial ground, to avoid confrontation.
“Before giving free patta in 2007, the administration should have taken cognisance of establishing a pathway. Citing this potential concern, we had been demanding the district administration to build a road on our traditional pathway to the burial ground, for the past three years. Caste Hindu patta holders, in December, suddenly stopped us from entering the field and the situation escalated,” said Siva, a VCK functionary.
A Urumaiah, a villager, said, “We petitioned the administration multiple times in the last six months, but to no avail. Officials should conduct surveys in order to lay a road here.”
“The alternative route is problematic as nearby villagers would restrict us from conducting funeral processions due to the presence of a temple. To avoid problems, we would like to respect their belief systems. We have also urged officials to cancel the patta if that can get the roads laid. Revenue officials have assured us of conducting a peace meeting soon. They also offered us to give police protection to carry the funeral procession if needed,” D Seenu, a protest organiser said,
In response, a revenue department official said, “We respect their traditional beliefs as they have used the path for generations and are taking steps to resolve the issue. As requested, we will conduct a peace meeting to resolve the conflict. We have also appealed them to use the alternative path which is in good condition.”
Courtesy : TNIE.
Ram Vilas Paswan: Successful Leader in Dalit Empowerment
The life of Ram Vilas Paswan is a living document of his commitment towards Dalit empowerment
Lalit Garg
The life of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, an extinguished leader of Indian Dalit politics and former Union Food Supply Minister, who created miracles in Bihar politics, has been an inspiration for creating new standards in politics. He remained active in politics for more than five decades and played the responsibilities of MLA, MP and even Union Minister very well. Paswan is considered a leader who received love and support from people of every religion and community and he was known as a development man in the country. Paswan played an important role in implementing the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. During his tenure as Railway Minister, many projects were started in Bihar and in whichever ministry he was, the poor and marginalized people were always at the centre of his concerns.
The life of Ram Vilas Paswan is a living document of his commitment towards Dalit empowerment. His 78th birth anniversary is being celebrated at the national level on 5 July 2024. Ram Vilas Paswan founded the Lok Jan Shakti Party in the year 2000 and his political journey started with the United Socialist Party. He was the only political personality who got the opportunity to work with many Prime Ministers and he was also the leader of the House in the Lok Sabha twice. He created a unique history by winning the election from Hajipur with record votes in 1977. He always fought like a karmayogi for the Dalits and the proletariat class.
Ram Vilasji, who started his political journey from 1969, played an active role in the JP movement and emerged as a firebrand socialist. He was a public servant who gave voice to the deprived classes and constantly fought for the marginalized people. His life in politics was not only a great hero who promoted the Dalits and the deprived but also an inspiration of high character and moral values.
Paswan ji was born in Shaharbanni village of Alauli block of Khagaria district of Bihar. He was born on July 5, 1946 in a Scheduled Caste family to father Jamunji Paswan and mother Siya Devi. He first married Rajkumari Devi in the 1960s, whom he divorced in 1981. He has two daughters Usha and Asha from his first wife Rajkumari. In 1983, he married Reena Sharma, an airhostess and Punjabi Hindu from Amritsar. He has a son and a daughter from her. His son Chirag Paswan is an actor turned politician, currently the national president of LJP and after winning the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections with a huge margin, he is the Union Minister of Food and Supplies, following in his father’s footsteps. He is the confidante of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as his ‘Hanuman’.
The political life of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has been a combination of many specialties and peculiarities. He contested elections 11 times and won nine of them. He once again became the Consumer Affairs Minister in the Modi government in the 17th Lok Sabha. Paswan, who could never become a major force in Bihar, kept himself a force in Delhi politics and remained a necessity for various Prime Ministers of the country for three decades. He also held important positions in the governments of Vishwanath Pratap Singh, HD Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi. This combative and resilient leader of Indian politics lived his life like a Karmayogi in politics. It is true that he was from Bihar, it is also true that he was from LJP, but the bigger truth is that he belonged to the nation, he was a national leader. He was a gem personality in the country’s politics. There were many characteristics of the personality and work of this extraordinary politician who became the voice of the poor, the deprived and the Dalits; those noble values, such closeness to public life, such simplicity, such love for religion and culture and so much truth had made his personality very high. He continued to serve the country and the downtrodden till his last breath. His death was the end of a great leader with a nationalist mindset and a messiah of the proletariat.
He was a symbol of a series of people who lived by principles and ideals. His life was unique and exemplary of purity in political life, values, culture, Dalit politics, and struggle for the proletariat, the inspiration of not bowing down or compromising by remaining firm on principles. He was always different from others, untainted in corrupt politics, Fearless in thoughts, Firm in the face of crumbling values and Dignified in the crowd that broke through the fence. The positive perception and realistic thinking associated with his life were such powerful weapons whose attack never went in vain. For Bihar, he was truly ‘Ram’, that is loved by everyone. As a young leader, he presented his independent political thinking and viewpoint by strongly and effectively opposing the atrocities and attack on democracy during the Emergency.
While helping the needy, creating new political faces, smiling and laughing, behaving affectionately with the younger ones and having a lot of fun and laughter with people of his age, the life of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan will be considered inspiring, unique and extraordinary in the sense that he touched all the concerns of life. When he was a politician, he raised his voice for the Dalits and the deprived, cared for the proletariat class, and fought for their rights. His outlook was broad and he was committed to the interests of the Dalits. He was also a Dalit agitator and the architect of political events. He was always seen connected with the concerns of revolutionaries and senior freedom fighters. Despite being a big and busy politician, his spontaneous participation in various religious and cultural activities were various aspects of his life. As much as he cared for the welfare of the Dalits, he was equally ready for the upliftment of the tribals. He got full support in the activities conducted under the leadership of Gani Rajendra Vijayji and Sukhi Parivar Foundation in the tribal areas of Baroda-Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat. He had a big plan for the welfare of Jain Tirthankaras in Bihar. He was counted among the strong leaders associated with the soil of Bihar and he had good relations with all the parties.
Ram Vilas Paswan ji was a very aggressive leader, his feelings towards everyone were always creative, and this always made him different from others. His attitude was always towards positive politics. His suggestions were so serious that they attracted everyone’s attention. He used to give suggestions to move one step ahead of politics in the direction of development. He was not only an ally of the NDA alliance, but was also the main architect of its success. He was an important character in alliance politics. He tried to ensure that the deprived section of the society gets justice and its rights are respected.
Ram Vilas Paswan gave a new direction to politics with his coordination policy, simplicity and straightforwardness. He was one of the distinguished leaders who gave life to the cultural heritage of Bihar and raised his voice for the Jain-Buddhist culture of Bihar and fought for its rights. He was a politician who ruled the hearts of the people, he could stay anywhere like an ordinary worker. Bihar and its people were always in his heart and mind. The politicians who are stuck in the arrogance of power, corruption and ego would take lessons from him. He defeated the darkness of despair, inaction, failure and indifference with his self-confidence and the hopeful lamps of life. His life’s endeavour was that people should not feel his presence; rather he worked in such a way that people remember him even when he is not among them. In this way, he gave a new dimension to his life and remained in the hearts of the people. His personality is such an ideal political personality that it can be called an inexhaustible source of development, culture, service and reformism of the proletariat class.
Courtesy : BK
Jammu and Kashmir High Court orders Centre, UT to respond to plea against including Pahari-speakers in ST list
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently asked the Central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure that they respond by August 12 to a petition challenging the inclusion of Pahari-speaking people in the Scheduled Tribe list [Mohd Anwar Choudhary v. Union of India and Ors].
Bihar’s reservation conundrum: High Court ruling puts BJP, JD(U) in a tight spot
As Patna High Court invalidates Bihar’s increased reservation policy, Congress urges Centre to amend Constitution, remove 50 per cent reservation cap.
Published : Jul 05, 2024 17:28 IST - 8 MINS READ
COMMENTS 0
Members of the Musahar community in Gaya district of Bihar. According to the caste survey, nearly 85 per cent of the State’s population are from the OBC, EBC, and SC/ST communities. | Photo Credit: RANJEET KUMAR
The reservation issue is back to the fore in Bihar, with the Patna High Court striking down the State government’s decision to increase the percentage of reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), the Scheduled Castes (SCs), and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government jobs and educational institutions to 65 from 50. The verdict could not have come at a worse time for the BJP, which is doing a tightrope walk wooing the OBCs and the SCs, as it prepares for the Assembly election due next year, while trying to maintain its core privileged-caste vote.
Acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, the court on June 20 set aside the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Amendment Act, 2023, and the Bihar Reservation (in Admission to Educational Institutions) Amendment Act, 2023, as “ultra vires the Constitution” and “violative of the equality clause” under Articles 14, 15, and 16. In its 87-page judgment, the court cited the well-known Indra Sawhney case, which put a 50 per cent cap on reservation, and a number of other judgments.
The government’s decision to increase reservation was taken on the basis of a caste survey initiated in January 23 when Nitish Kumar was the Chief Minister in the Janata Dal (United)-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress (JD(U)-RJD-Congress) government; he deserted the alliance to join hands with the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha election this year but remains Chief Minister. According to the caste survey, nearly 85 per cent of the State’s population are from the OBC, EBC, and SC/ST communities. The EBCs alone account to 36.1 per cent.
Bengaluru, Jul 5 (PTI) Karnataka BJP on Friday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of utilising Rs 14,800-crore funds meant for the Scheduled Caste Sub-plan and Tribal Sub-plan for the five guarantees.
The party said the funds meant for the welfare of downtrodden communities were diverted to fulfil the poll promises.
In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka alleged that the chief minister has “squandered” the funds for the SC/ST welfare on the pretext of funding the five guarantees.
According to Ashoka, Rs 7,881.91 crore of SCSP-TSP has been utilised for ‘Gruhalakshmi’ scheme, Rs 70.28 crore for ‘Bhagyalakshmi’ scheme, Rs 2585.93 crore for ‘Gruhajyoti’ scheme, Rs 448.15 crore for ‘Annabhagya’ scheme, Rs 2,187 crore for the direct benefit transfer of ‘Annabhagya’ scheme, and Rs 1,451.45 crore for ‘Shakti’ scheme and Rs 175.50 crore for ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme.
The BJP leader alleged that the state government has already embezzled Rs 187 crore belonging to the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
The chief minister defended the move claiming that the SCSP-TSP funds were spent on par with the SC/ST population in the state.
“Most of the beneficiaries of these guarantees are from SC/ST communities,” the chief minister claimed. PTI GMS MNK MNK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Are we competent to evaluate historical evidence? HC asks petitioner seeking Kunbi status for Marathas
Bombay HC questions competence to declare all Marathas as Kunbis, citing historical evidence. PIL seeks recognition for OBC benefits, court seeks clarity on legal duty and statutory mechanism.
The PIL claimed that Marathas and Kunbis have deep historical, social, and economic connections, which justifies recognising all Marathas as Kunbis. The petitioner argued that both communities have shared identities, farming jobs, and cultural traditions, criticising the current laws for excluding Marathas from Kunbi benefits under the OBC category.
The petition pointed to a Maharashtra government notice from January 27, 2024, which acknowledges that Marathas with Kunbi caste records are considered Kunbis. This notice showed the connection between these communities, supporting the case for unified recognition. The petitioner emphasised the shared cultural practices, festivals, social customs, and administrative records that often classify Marathas and Kunbis together, arguing that these factors show their integrated identity.
The petitioner wants a writ of Mandamus directing the state to declare all Marathas as Kunbis for caste classification and OBC benefits. Additionally, the petitioner seeks a writ of Mandamus for the immediate issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas, allowing them to access reservation benefits. The petitioner also calls for a thorough review and update of the caste classification system in Maharashtra to reflect the historical and socio-economic realities of the Maratha-Kunbi communities. As an interim relief, the petitioner requests the provisional issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas, pending the final outcome of the petition, and asks that the state be prevented from taking any adverse action against Marathas seeking Kunbi caste certificates or related benefits.
During Thursday’s hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer referred to previous Supreme Court rulings on Maratha reservation, noting that the Gaikwad Commission’s claim that all Marathas are Kunbis was not upheld. In response, the bench sought clarity on any legal obligation placed on the state to issue a mandamus.
“Tell us for seeking such declaratory relief which writ are you praying for? How can a mandamus be issued? Mandamus is for enforcing statutory legal duty. Where is the legal duty cast on the state? We need to understand the scope of 226. What is the statutory mechanism to declare a community as OBC? There are constitutional provisions and presidential orders for SC and ST. What’s there for OBC?” asked the court.
The court further inquired, “You want a declaration that the entire Maratha community is backward? What is the statutory mechanism available for declaration? For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, there are presidential orders. What is it for OBCs? What’s the statutory prescription?”
The petitioner’s lawyer referred to Article 342A (3) of the Constitution, arguing that the state has the authority to recommend the inclusion and exclusion of backward classes. Advocate general Birendra Saraf pointed out that this provision was introduced following a Supreme Court judgement and subsequent constitutional amendment.
The bench then questioned whether a government resolution would be enough for this purpose or if state legislation was needed. The case was adjourned to July 31, giving the petitioner’s lawyer time to research the court’s questions.
...
Comments
Post a Comment