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Four aid workers in North Waziristan killed by jihadists for helping women develop household skills

By
The Commune
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north waziristan
Featured Image: Security forces in North Waziristan

In another case of aid workers being targeted and murdered, four women were killed by Islamic jihadists on Monday (22 February) in the Mirali area of North Waziristan. North Waziristan is a district in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

The aid workers were ambushed by two gunmen as they were driving through a village in the North Waziristan district. This particular area in Pakistan is infamous for the targeting of aid workers. Many men and women who are involved in polio vaccination in the area have been killed by militants.

According to local police chief Shafiullah Gandapur, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far but it was surely an act of terrorism. Gandapur said that the murdered aid workers were affiliated with a programme run by a local institute to develop household skills for women who are oppressed and live under puritanical Islamic law.

A search and strike operation has been initiated in the Mirali tehsil to arrest the terrorists.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the attack and tweeted, “HRCP condemns the killing of four women social workers in #NorthWaziristan. The state must bring to book the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The re-emergence of terror groups in the area is a matter of grave concern.” They also tweeted, “It is the responsibility of the authorities to protect the lives and property of citizens at all costs. HRCP shares the grief of the families and colleagues of the four women who lost their lives.”

Pakistani-Canadian activist Terek Fatah tweeted, “How long will Muslims kill Muslims to fulfill their centuries-old lust piety via bloodshed?”

https://twitter.com/TarekFatah/status/1363921290155941896

Pakistan has the rare distinction of being one of the few nations where people still suffer from polio. This attack could further complicate matters if and when the COVID vaccination drive takes place in this region, where the Taliban has a very strong presence.

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Hindu Samhati enters the fray, forms new political party to contest WB polls

By
The Commune
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hindu samhati

Hindu Samhati, a popular pro-Hindu organisation active in West Bengal, announced the formation of its political party, Jana Samhati on Sunday. The party will contest the West Bengal assembly polls that are due in March-April this year.

The party plans to contest at least 170 of the 294 seats.

Hindu Samhati was formed in 2008

Hindu Samhati, which observed its foundation day on Sunday, has grown in several districts of the Eastern state, especially in south Bengal. The organisation was founded in 2008 by Tapan Ghosh, a former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak. Ghosh died in July 2020 after having been diagnosed with COVID-19 a fortnight before his death.

The group regularly monitors and reports violence against Hindus in West Bengal. It also works with both governmental and other NGO agencies to ensure protection and legal support to the persecuted Hindu populace in West Bengal. The group has been instrumental in the return of several Hindu women and minors who were abducted by members belonging to a particular community.

The Hindu Samhati made headlines during the Basirhat communal riots in 2017 when Tapan Ghosh provided legal protection to two Hindu minor boys whose lives were threatened.

“Hindu Samhati will continue to work as an independent organization. The Jana Samhati, which has been registered as a political party, will contest 40 seats in north Bengal and 130 in the south Bengal. Right now, we have no plans to have allies. We supported the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but there has been a paradigm shift in its position since then. Common people have to pay a price if it comes to power in Bengal. Hindus are losing their faith in the BJP,” Debtanu Bhattacharya, president of the Jana Samhati, said.

Registered as an NGO, Hindu Samhati has often been at odds with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Hindu Samhati had backed the BJP in 2019 but the leadership has now returned to its old position.

“The BJP is making false promises on the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Several Hindu groups from Assam and Tripura are in touch with us. Hindus are languishing in detention camps in Assam. In Bengal, the backward Matua community, which demanded enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act, is being used as a pawn to secure votes,” Debtanu Bhattacharya added.

Bhattacharya is heading Hindu Samhati since mid-2018 when Ghosh quit the organisation. Around the same time, a group of Hindu Samhati leaders also left and formed an organisation called Singha Bahini which is headed by Devdutta Maji.

Last month, Maji joined the BJP and appealed to all Hindu groups outside the Sangh Parivar to support the BJP in the coming polls.

‘Contest only between BJP and TMC’, says BJP spokesperson

The West Bengal unit of the BJP has said that it plans to win at least 200 seats in Bengal, where Muslims comprise about 30 per cent of the population. The party performed well in the 2019 Lok Sabha seats, winning 18 of the state’s 42 seats.

Samik Bhattacharya, chief spokesperson of the WB BJP, said that any political party can join the race but it will essentially remain a two-party contest between the BJP and the TMC. “In a democracy, all are free to contest but the smaller forces will become ringside viewers,” Bhattacharya stated.

Jana Samhati’s entry into the electoral fray adds yet another element to Bengal’s politics and the burgeoning growth of Hindutva politics in India.

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Kerala CPI (M) govt sold deep-sea fishing rights to a US firm; cancels deal after outrage

By
The Commune
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kerala deep sea fishing

The embattled Communist Party of India (Marxist) government in Kerala is in a bind after it was discovered that the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an American company for deep-sea fishing, reports Organiser.  

Now, the ideologically anti-capitalist, communist CPI (M)-led government in Kerala and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are entangled in a huge political controversy right before the assembly elections that are scheduled to take place in the next two months. 

News about the MoU, which hands over the deep-sea fishing rights to the American firm and ensures that it has a corporate monopoly, has put a huge question mark over the integrity and the hypocritical stance of the ruling CPI (M), as the party opposed the Centre’s farm laws.

The deal was signed by Kerala Industrial Development Corporation (KIDC), which is the arm of the investment promotion agency under the Industries Department, with the EMCC International India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of New York-based EMCC Global Consortium LCC.

However, due to outrage among the public, the MoU now stands cancelled by the red-faced government. CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Industries Minister E P Jayarajan and Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma now not only deny that they ever met with EMCC executives, but are also denying the existence of the MoU which was signed in 2020. The meeting allegedly took place at the CM’s residence in August 2019.

Many in Kerala have called this now-cancelled MoU an attempt at the monopolisation of the state fisheries sector. The newly-formed Matsya Mekhala Samrakshana Samiti, a forum intending to preserve the coastal wealth of Kerala, has accused the Communist government of trying to sell Kerala’s marine wealth to the US firm. The Samiti has called for a coastal hartal on February 27.

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Defence Acquisition Council approves ₹13,700 crores for indigenous weapons systems

By
The Commune
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india indigenous weapons
Featured Image: BrahMos weapon systems displayed during a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade
in New Delhi | Credits: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), has approved capital acquisition proposals of various weapons and equipment required by the three armed forces.

The statement released by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday (23 February) said three Acceptance of Necessities (AoNs) for an overall cost of ₹13,700 crore were accorded and have been accepted as the highest priority category of Defence Acquisition ― Buy Indian – IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured).

As per the press release, all these acquisition proposals will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. The proposal also includes weapons platforms and systems designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Under the proposals cleared by the DAC, is the order placed for 118 Arjun Mark 1A tanks days after Modi handed over the first Arjun Mark 1A tank to the Indian Army in Chennai.

The DAC is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard. This body was formed in 2001 after the Kargil war, which showed that the three services lacked modern defence equipment, leading to the reforming of the national security system.

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100 CPIM cadres join the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram as Kerala nears assembly elections

By
The Commune
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Kerala: 16 Candidates To Contest In Wayanad, 10 In Palakkad & Six In Chelakkara

In a major embarrassment and setback for the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), two of its branch committees in Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram) merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just weeks ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala.

The Communist Party, in the poll-bound state of West Bengal, has also faced similar desertion of state units merging with BJP. However, the CPIM cadres joining the BJP in Kerala is a big blow.

BJP Thiruvananthapuram district president V V Rajesh has also announced that the Mullur CPI-M branch office will be converted to the BJP office. More than 100 activists of CPI-M, led by area committee member and former president of Vizhinjam panchayat, Mukkola Prabhakaran joined BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi and V Muraleedharan.

BJP state president K Surendran tweeted, “More than 100 local office bearers from @CPIMKerala, @INCKerala and @JanataDal_S have joined @BJP4India in the presence of hon’ble Union minister @JoshiPralhad ji. Kerala is a Tripura in the making. No one can stop the saffron surge in Kerala.”

Recently, ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan also joined the BJP, giving the saffron party a huge boost in the upcoming elections.

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India signs Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement with Mauritius

By
The Commune
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Dr. Anup Wadhawan, Commerce Secretary, Government of India, and Ambassador Mr. Haymandoyal Dillum, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Government of Mauritius signed the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA)  in Port Louis yesterday, in the august presence of Prime Minister of Mauritius Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, and External Affairs Minister, Govt of India, Mr. S. Jaishankar.

CECPA  is the first trade agreement signed by India with a country in Africa. The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural Persons, Telecom, Financial Services, Customs Procedures and Cooperation in other Areas.

CECPA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries. The CECPA between India and Mauritius covers 310 export items for India, including foodstuff and beverages (80 lines), agricultural products (25 lines), textile and textile articles (27 lines), base metals and articles thereof (32 lines), electricals and electronic items (13 lines), plastics and chemicals (20 lines), wood and articles thereof (15 lines), and others. Mauritius will benefit from preferential market access into India for its 615 products, including frozen fish, specialty sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment, and apparel.

As regards trade in services, Indian service providers will have access to around 115 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors, such as professional services, computer-related services, research & development, other business services, telecommunication, construction, distribution, education, environmental, financial, tourism & travel-related, recreational, yoga, audio-visual services, and transport services.

India has offered around 95 sub-sectors from the 11 broad services sectors, including professional services, R&D, other business services, telecommunication, financial, distribution, higher education, environmental, health, tourism, and travel-related services, recreational services, and transport services.

Both sides have also agreed to negotiate an Automatic Trigger Safeguard Mechanism (ATSM) for a limited number of highly sensitive products within two years of the Signing of the Agreement.

(Source:PIB)

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“Coimbatore to get metro soon, survey underway”: OPS in the financial budget for state

By
The Commune
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Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam presented the financial budget for the 11th time in the Assembly on Tuesday. Referring to the achievements of the government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Finance Minister said that the government has completed five years by falsifying the predictions of the opposition.

An insurance scheme of ₹4 lakhs in case of death of the head of a family below the poverty line and ₹2 lakh in case of natural death has been announced. An interim budget of ₹5,000 crores has been allocated for the crop loan waiver scheme and ₹738 crores for the crop insurance scheme for farmers.

It has been informed that the first phase of the 3 phase project to improve transport, health, and drinking water facilities in Chennai will be implemented at a cost of ₹3140 crores.

A detailed feasibility report for the first phase of the Coimbatore Metro Rail project, valued at ₹6,683 crores, has been prepared and is under study. The Finance Minister said that computer science will be introduced for students from class 6 to class 10 and has allocated ₹5,478 crores for higher education. ₹100 crores have been allocated for the modernization of the police and ₹9567 crores have been allocated for the police.

The Tamiraparani, Karumeniyaru, Nambiyaru link project has been approved in principle at a cost of ₹6941 crores and is scheduled to be completed by March 2022. In the interim budget, ₹22,218 crores have been allocated for rural development and ₹18,750 crores for state highways. The Government of Tamil Nadu has also allocated ₹3548 crores for the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme and ₹3700 crores for the Prime Minister’s Urban Housing Scheme.

It has been reported that 12,000 buses, including 2,000 electric buses, will be procured in the next few years and the transport sector has been allocated ₹623 crores to purchase new buses.

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“Representation of women in Parliament should increase”: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu

By
The Commune
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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for ending low representation to women in Parliament and legislatures and called upon all political parties to reach a consensus on providing reservation to them.

Releasing a postal stamp brought out in memory of late Smt. Eashwari Bai, educationist, social reformer, and a former MLA, the Vice President paid rich tributes to her. SmtEashwari Bai’s contributions to the political and social spheres are truly laudable and left a deep imprint on the public mind, he added.

He said that Smt. Eashwari Bai had been the voice of the people as an opposition leader. She constantly advocated the cause of Children, NGOs, Teachers, Agricultural labourers, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, he added.

Shri Naidu said that although the 17th Lok Sabha has the highest number of 78 women members, they account only for 14% of the total number.

Pointing out that reservations for women in the local bodies have politically empowered lakhs of women in the country, he said introducing reservation for women in Parliament and legislatures need urgent attention and consensus of all political parties.

Expressing his anguish over the increasing disruptions instead of meaningful discussions and debates in legislatures and Parliament, Shri Naiducalled upon all parliamentarians and other public representatives to raise the standards of debate in every forum.

Observing that the mantra for a healthy democracy is to discuss, debate, and decide and not disrupt, the Vice President said that frequent disruption of Parliament and legislatures was tantamount to disrespecting the people’s mandate. “Agree to disagree and be tolerant of the mandate of the people”, he added.

Shri Naidu emphasized that it is the responsibility of both the ruling and opposition parties to ensure the effective functioning of our legislatures.

The Vice President also urged all political parties to adopt a consensual approach on matters of national importance like the country’s security, eliminating corruption, and ensuring social justice. He said that there should be consensus on reforms to accelerate development, eliminate delays, diversions, and dilutions in the delivery of schemes and reaching out benefits to the needy.

“Similarly, all political parties must speak in one voice on empowering people, promoting transparency and accountability in the system”, he added.

The Vice President also urged all political parties to evolve a code of conduct for their members, particularly public representatives.

Appealing to the people to elect their representatives on the basis of 4Cs—Character, Conduct, Calibre and Capacity, he said “unfortunately, another set of 4Cs—cash, caste, criminality, and community—is trying to hold politics hostage to its vicious interests and needs to be completely eliminated for India’s democracy to flourish and become a role model for other nations”.

Shri Naidu opined that for a healthy democracy, the Government and opposition should respect each other. He also appealed to the youth to enter politics with a missionary zeal to serve the needy and poor in society.

(Source : PIB)

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Dr. Hanumantha Rao gets appointed as the Director of AIIMS Madurai

By
The Commune
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Hanumantha Rao has been appointed as the Executive Director of the AIIMS Hospital in Thoppur, Madurai. Dr. Rao currently serves as the Dean of SV Institute of Medical Sciences at Tirupati.

A notification issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Training dated February 22, 2021, stated, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr. Mangu Hanumantha Rao as the executive director of AIIMS at Madurai.”

Similarly, Shakti Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the Executive Director of the AIIMS Hospital in Vijaypur, Jammu, Dev Singh Katoch as the Executive Director of the AIIMS Hospital in Rajkot, Gujarat and Vir Singh Negi as the Executive Director of the AIIMS Hospital in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Executive Director in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Jammu, Rajkot, Madurai and Bilaspur in Level 15 of the Pay Matrix plus admissible NPA on a short term contract basis, for a period of three years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post (which may further be extended up to 05 years) or till the incumbent attains the age of 70 years or until further orders. Whichever is the earliest,” said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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Precious deities found in temple pond in Coimbatore

By
The Commune
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The discovery of three idols made of semiprecious metals submerged in the temple pond at the Patteeswarar temple in Coimbatore has caused quite a stir. This temple is present in the Perur locality of the district.

The pond belonging to this temple is usually found to be brimming with water. Due to the lack of precipitation in the area, there was very little water in the pond. On what seemed like a usual day, devotees had visited the pond to wash their legs before entering the temple. To their surprise, they had discovered three idols made of semiprecious metals in the pond. They immediately notified the temple authorities.

The local police have now recovered the idols and are investigating whether the three idols belong to the Perur Patteeswarar temple or looted from another temple and thrown into the pond here.

A Perur police official said the idol was recovered from the temple pond and was being investigated by the police. It will be sent for archeological research and carbon dating to find how old the idols are. Religious activists fear that burglaries from temples over the last few months have led to an increase in the number of people stealing idols thinking they are gold and smuggling them for artistic value, and are demanding that security provided to the temples be increased.

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