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TN BJP Slams DMK Leader Over Aryan-Dravidian Racial Theories

TN BJP Slams DMK Leader Over Aryan-Dravidian Racial Theories

Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson ANS Prasad slammed former Union Minister and DMK leader A Raja on the Aryan-Dravidian racial divide theory of the DMK leader. “How much longer will you deceive people with the outdated Aryan-Dravidian racial theories that Ambedkar himself discarded as garbage,” said Prasad.

He said that Raja, while responding to actress Kasturi’s remarks at a protest in Chennai, had once again reiterated the old narrative from the Justice Party era. “In 3000 BC, Aryans migrated from Central Asia through the Khyber Pass seeking pastures for their cattle. Brahmins soon took control of religious authority, creating the Manusmriti to establish a societal order that divided people by birth into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Prasad said that the Aryan-Dravidian theory is a fictional story fabricated by Christian missionaries like Robert Caldwell to divide Hindus and facilitate conversions.

He said that B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, dismissed the Aryan-Dravidian theory as garbage. “Figures like A. Raja conveniently ignore this and continue using this divisive theory to perpetuate racial politics in Tamil Nadu. Caste distinctions indeed exist within Hinduism, but they are gradually diminishing. When Hindus recognise a shared identity, these distinctions will fade away,” he said. The BJP leader said that efforts to eliminate caste disparities have been ongoing for ages, with great souls like Sri Ramanuja working to eradicate caste-based discrimination. He also said that for nearly a century, the RSS has worked tirelessly at the grassroots level to promote unity and eliminate caste distinctions. “Former RSS Sarsangachalak Balasaheb Deoras famously declared, ‘If untouchability is not a sin, then nothing else can be’. This firmly underscores that untouchability has no place in Hinduism,” he said.

He added that certain political parties, driven by linguistic and racial fanaticism, divide Hindus along caste lines to secure political gains. The BJP leader said that these parties form governments by securing votes from certain Hindu groups and religious minorities, but then treat Hindus as second-class citizens. “Their self-serving political strategies are the reason why caste distinctions still persist within Hindu society. Today, it is unacceptable to demean anyone by caste,” he said.

The BJP leader said that it has become commonplace to insult Brahmins, using the term ‘Parppan’ (an epithet they consider derogatory) and mocking their customs and speech openly on social media. “In Tamil Nadu, no action is taken even when complaints are filed about such incidents. This has forced Brahmins to protest, demanding legal protection. Indian Constitution grants everyone the right to protest for their rights. For over three years now, the people of Tamil Nadu have been disillusioned with the DMK government. Corruption is rampant everywhere,” he said. He added that is untouchability so prevalent within the DMK that a key leader like Raja cannot even contest in an unreserved seat. He asked what Raja’s stance on the DMK’s leadership succession by birth was and whether this was not modern untouchability, or can it be called a “Dravidian Manusmriti”.

–IANS

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Telugu-Origin Usha Chilukuri Set To Become ‘Second Lady’ Of US

Telugu-Origin Usha Chilukuri Set To Become ‘Second Lady’ Of US

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance, is set to become the first Indian-origin ‘Second Lady’ of the United States. The 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer has her roots in Andhra Pradesh and the news of her elevation has already sparked celebrations in Vadluru village in West Godavari district from where her family hails.

People in the village burst firecrackers and distributed sweets after the victory of the Republican ticket of Trump and Vance in the US Presidential elections. Earlier, some villagers offered prayers for the victory of Trump and Vance, saying this would further strengthen the India-US relations. Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh said that this is a very special moment for the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially West Godavari district. “The Second Lady designate, Usha Vance has roots in AP. We’re proud as people of AP Origin continue to make their mark in various spheres across the world,” said Minister Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Vance, the 40-year-old Ohio Senator and the running mate of President-elect Trump, is set to become the Vice President. He married the Yale-graduated lawyer in 2014. The couple has three children – Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2. Usha’s parents Radhakrishna Chilukuri and Lakshmi Chilukuri had migrated to the US in 1980. Usha, one of the three children of Radhakrishna and Lakshmi, was born and brought up in San Diego (California). A marine molecular biologist and biochemist, Professor Lakshmi Chilukuri is Provost of the Sixth College at the University of California, San Diego University. Radhakrishna Chilukuri, also known as Dr Krish Chilukuri, is a lecturer, Academic Affairs, College of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering at the San Diego State University. Usha, who has been passionate about books since her childhood, holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge Later, she joined Yale Law School where she met Vance.

Their friendship turned into love and they tied the knot in 2014. The couple was blessed by a Hindu priest in a separate ceremony. Usha worked as a corporate lawyer and litigator for some years. She was a Law Clerk to two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and argued civil cases belonging to the education, medical, and defence sectors. She was also associated with the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and Iraqi Refugee Assistance Projects. She is currently working as a litigator in the National Legal Agency.

Interestingly while studying at Cambridge, Usha worked with left-wing and liberal groups and registered her name as a Democratic Party in 2014. Four years later, she registered with the Republican Party for voting from Ohio. Usha had helped Vance organise a meeting on ‘Social decline in White America’ that formed the basis of his 2016 bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy”. She played a key role in Vance’s Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022. She was instrumental in her husband’s election as Ohio senator in 2022 and was also responsible for his campaign for the office of Vice-President.

–IANS

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Shram Suvidha & Samadhan Portals Being Made More User-Friendly: Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Minister for Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday held a review meeting on revamping the Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals to make these platforms more efficient, user-friendly, and beneficial for both employers and workers.

As the exercise to upgrade the portals gathers pace, Mansukh Mandaviya said: “The revamping of Shram Suvidha and Samadhan Portals is focused on efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of use. We are making strides toward a more streamlined compliance process for establishments nationwide by upgrading technology and technical features. This improvement will also ensure better service delivery and protection for workers central to India’s workforce.”

During the Union Budget 2024-25 speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals will be revamped to enhance ease of compliance for industry and trade. In line with this announcement, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has initiated a comprehensive revamp of the Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals.

The revamped Samadhan portal will facilitate a smoother conciliation process, enable online registration of bipartite settlements, and onboard all proceedings related to claims for gratuity, wages, equal remuneration, and maternity benefits. It will also allow for online filing of applications for intimation/permission for layoffs, closures, and more. Daily proceedings of cases in the Central Government Industrial Tribunals (CGIT) will also be accessible on the portal. These enhancements will aid workers in obtaining justice transparently, as they can monitor the status of their cases directly from their devices (computers or mobile phones). The revamped Shram Suvidha portal, with simplified registration, returns, and license forms, will become a one-stop solution for Labour Law compliance for employers. The enhanced portal will also facilitate improved data sharing between enforcement agencies, enabling automatic flagging of non-compliant establishments.

Features like predictive analysis and customised dashboards will serve as crucial tools for policy-making. This enhancement focuses on upgrading technology, optimising the user interface, and integrating advanced design features to ensure efficient case and claim processing. The improvements aim to automate routine tasks, including notification alerts, identification of non-compliant establishments, and providing users with guided suggestions for compliance. The Ministry is also focusing on making these portals bilingual to reach a wider audience and create easier access for individuals. The new portals will also offer supportive features such as video and audio tutorials, interactive chat support, among others.

–IANS

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Calcutta HC Upholds Pervious Order On Police Torture Of BJP Women Activists

Calcutta HC Upholds Pervious Order On Police Torture Of BJP Women Activists

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, upheld a previous order by a single-judge bench of the same court directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe on the alleged torture of two women BJP activists in police custody. State police arrested these two women activists after a complaint was lodged against them accusing them of making derogatory comments concerning the daughter of Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee.

Later the two women approached the single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj accusing police of excesses including physical assault while they were in police custody. On October 8 Justice Bharadwaj besides directing the CBI probe in the matter also observed that such actions on the part of the state police were simply unacceptable. Thereafter the West Bengal government approached the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hirnmay Bhattacharya and challenged the single-judge bench order. However, on Wednesday, the division bench observed that from the medical report, it was clear that there had been a physical assault on the two women’s petitions and hence that report cannot be ignored.

The division bench observed that the CBI will continue with its probe and it is the duty of the state government to see whether everything is going on as per legal provisions. On Wednesday, while holding the brief on behalf of the state government the advocate general Kishore Datta questioned how the single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI probe after hearing the matter for just a day. He also denied allegations against the state police of custodial torture in the matter. However, the division bench dismissed his argument and questioned that if the state government is so confident of the role of the state police in the matter then why is it opposing the CBI probe? The division bench also observed that the court has serious questions on even the arrest of the two women.

–IANS

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Cong Govt Soon To Seek Commission From School Teachers In Karnataka, Taunts Bommai

Cong Govt Soon To Seek Commission From School Teachers In Karnataka, Taunts Bommai

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai slammed the Congress for “drowning in corruption” and said that soon, the latter would charge monthly commissions from primary and High School teachers. Speaking to the media in Hubballi, Bommai said: “The Congress government in Karnataka was drowning in corruption.”

“The Congress government has reached a stage where it is fixing monthly commissions from even primary and high school teachers,” Bommai claimed.

Bommai said in the past, baseless accusations were made against him without evidence. “Now, there were allegations against the State Excise Department. The Finance Department is directly under the control of the Chief Minister and he must investigate how much commission is being taken for granting each license,” the BJP leader said. Responding to a question about Congress leaders’ allegations that no development occurred in the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, represented by him, the former CM said that people have witnessed the development there. “There is a big difference between the thoughts of Congress leaders and those of the people of Shiggaon. The Shiggaon constituency houses a 200-bed hospital at the taluk level, a textile park, an Ayurvedic college in Savanur, an ITI college, and more than 12,000 homes were constructed during flood situations. The roads in Shiggaon are better than those in Bengaluru. Perhaps the CM is dozing off while travelling in his car,” he quipped.

He said: “Let the Congress ministers and legislators speak about their constituencies, such as Varuna and Chamundeshwari, represented by CM Siddaramaiah.” He claimed: “No funds have been released for developmental work since this government came to power. When I was the Chief Minister, I allocated Rs 10 crore for the development of dargahs and mosques of minorities, which they later revoked. What right do they have to talk about minority welfare?” Bommai questioned. About the CM’s statement that BJP leaders are making baseless allegations against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, Bommai pointed out that the High Court has ordered an investigation into the case.

“This is the first time a sitting CM is appearing for an investigation,” he underlined. Referring to the incident in Belagavi, where the government staffer wrote a death note against the personal secretary of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, and ended his life, Bommai said an investigation should be conducted. Government officials are frustrated due to political pressure, and similar pressure is increasing on government officials in Shiggaon, he said.

–IANS

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₹ 3,600 Crore PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme To Help Talented Youth: Dharmendra Pradhan

₹ 3,600 Crore PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme To Help Talented Youth: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday lauded the Union Cabinet’s approval of the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, a significant initiative to provide financial support to meritorious students under the central sector.

The minister said the scheme will help universalise access to 21st-century higher education for India’s talented youth. “With an outlay of ₹3,600 crore, the scheme will remove obstacles to higher education and enable the Yuva Shakti of the country to pursue their dreams,” said the minister. Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will maximise access to higher education for meritorious students and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent students from pursuing education, Pradhan added. Students having annual family income of up to ₹8 lakh will be eligible to get 3 per cent interest subvention on education loans up to Rs 10 lakh and loans up to ₹7.5 lakh shall be eligible for 75 per cent credit guarantee. “Education loans will be facilitated through a transparent, student-friendly and digital application process that will be common to all banks,” the minister noted.

Pradhan further stated that education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will be facilitated to students securing admissions in the top 860 higher educational institutions based on NIRF. This will cover more than 22 lakh students every year. The financial assistance to meritorious students is a key recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and PM Vidyalaxmi is another concrete step towards implementation of NEP.

“PM Vidyalaxmi will empower millions of students from the poor and middle class,” said the minister. Meanwhile, the Department of Higher Education will have a unified portal ‘PM-Vidyalaxmi’ on which students will be able to apply for the education loan as well as interest subvention, through a simplified application process to be used by all banks.

–IANS

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Cong MP Rakibul Hussain To Be Quizzed Over Backdoor Appointments: Assam CM

Cong MP Rakibul Hussain To Be Quizzed Over Backdoor Appointments: Assam CM.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, alleging that the latter gave government jobs through the backdoor route during his tenure as state Cabinet minister, adding that he had told the police to question the Congress leader after the November 13 bypolls.

“Rakibul Hussain himself acknowledged that he had given government jobs while he was the minister in Assam during the Congress regime. However, a minister is not capable of giving jobs to anyone and hence Hussain must be questioned by the police on his claim,” Sarma told the mediapersons. “I have asked the police to interrogate Rakibul Hussain after the by-elections,” he said. Bypolls in Assam’s five assembly constituencies — Dholai, Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon, and Sidli were necessitated as five legislators from there were elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2024 general elections. Except Samaguri, where Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussain has been winning since 2001, the rest of the four seats are with the BJP-led alliance.

The BJP fielded candidates for three seats — Dholai, Samaguri and Behali. Diplu Ranjan Sarma has been given ticket in Samaguri while Diganta Ghatowar and Nihar Ranjan Das will fight for the BJP in Behali and Dholai Assembly segments, respectively. BJP’s two allies — Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) are contesting polls in Bongaigaon and Sidli assembly constituencies. The Chief Minister kickstarted his campaign for the by-elections in Assam on Tuesday from Dholai Assembly constituency in Cachar district of Barak Valley region.

He said: “We will comfortably win four seats and there is a contest for one seat. However, there are possibilities that the BJP and our allies can win all five assembly seats in the upcoming by-elections.” Voting for by-election in five Assembly seats of Assam will take place on November 13 while the ballots will be counted on November. On November 13, polling will also happen for the first of the two phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections.

–IANS

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Orthopedic Surgeon Assaulted By Alleged DMK Supporters At Trichy ESI Hospital Following Traffic Dispute

Orthopedic Surgeon Assaulted By Alleged DMK Supporters At Trichy ESI Hospital Following Traffic Dispute

A 48-year-old orthopedic surgeon, Karthikeyan, at Trichy ESI Hospital in the Milaguparai area was assaulted by a group of men allegedly belong to the ruling party DMK on 5 November 2024, following a verbal dispute, resulting in minor injuries. The police have filed charges against five individuals in connection with the attack.

The incident reportedly started when Karthikeyan, upon returning to the hospital, had a verbal confrontation with someone over a traffic dispute near the hospital entrance. Soon after, a group of approximately ten individuals arrived at the hospital and physically attacked the orthopedic surgeon within the premises.

The incident reportedly began when Karthikeyan, returning to the hospital, had a verbal confrontation with an individual over a traffic dispute near the hospital entrance. The person, identified as Praveen, a hotel owner from the Karumandapam area, was allegedly turning without using an indicator. It is also claimed that Praveen is associated with the DMK party. Soon after, a group of approximately ten individuals arrived at the hospital and physically attacked Karthikeyan within the premises. In response, hospital authorities secured the campus until police arrived, but the attackers managed to flee before they could be apprehended.

The doctor sustained minor injuries and is currently being treated at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. He has filed a formal complaint against the attackers.

The Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association (SDPGA) strongly condemned the assault, calling for the police to file charges under the Tamil Nadu Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act. Dr. Aruleeswaran, the association’s state treasurer, expressed concern about the safety of medical professionals, stating, “This attack within the hospital grounds is deeply troubling. It threatens our security. We have filed a complaint at the Cantonment police station and will wait for progress. If no action is taken by tomorrow morning, we will organize a protest.”

A police officer at the Cantonment station confirmed that an FIR has been filed against Praveen and four others, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities assured that appropriate action will be taken against the accused.

(With inputs from Times Of India)

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Go Goa Gone: Local Taxi Mafias Sounding A Death Knell To Tourism In Goa, Foreign Tourists At Record Low

Go Goa Gone: Local Taxi Mafias Sounding A Death Knell To Tourism In Goa, Foreign Tourists At Record Low

Tourism in Goa, once India’s prime beach destination, is reeling under pressures that threaten its status as a tourist haven. In 2023, visitors—particularly international travelers—have been opting for alternative destinations like Sri Lanka. The root cause? A myriad of grievances, with the local taxi mafias taking center stage, alongside high costs, inadequate infrastructure, and government oversight.

The visitor data tells a grim story. Goa saw a record 7.1 million domestic visitors in 2019. In 2022, it bounced back to around 7 million after a pandemic-induced dip in 2021, when visitor numbers hit a low of 3.3 million. Yet, foreign tourists, particularly Russians and Britons who used to flock to Goa annually, are now choosing Sri Lanka over Goa, disappointed by their recent experiences.

The Goa Taxi Mafia Issue: Tourists’ Anger and Frustration

One of the biggest grievances among tourists is the stranglehold of Goa’staxi mafia.This unregulated network of taxi drivers often charges exorbitant rates, with local drivers allegedly threatening and intimidating tourists and even locals who attempt to circumvent their services. Instances of aggressive confrontations have left visitors feeling unsafe. One German tourist, accompanied by a local Goan friend, reportedly faced intimidation from more than ten drivers, only to end up paying ₹1800 for a mere 37 km ride. Stories like these circulate widely, fueling distrust and resentment among tourists.

High Costs, Poor Infrastructure, and a Declining Experience

Beyond the issue of transport, tourists are increasingly frustrated with the high costs of hotels, food, and services in Goa. Despite these costs, the infrastructure remains subpar, especially when compared to international beach destinations like Phuket, Thailand. For many visitors, Goa’s roads, public facilities, and environmental upkeep do not justify the price. North Goa, in particular, has seen a marked decline, with beaches like Anjuna becoming overcrowded, loud, and littered, which has disenchanted visitors seeking a serene beach experience.

While the Goa government has taken steps to regulate certain activities, like cracking down on drugs, these measures have also had unintended consequences. Many foreign tourists, once drawn by Goa’s relaxed atmosphere, now find themselves deterred by increased restrictions. Added to this, the government’s inability to manage key sectors—especially transportation—has exacerbated the problem. There is widespread demand to introduce app-based services like Ola and Uber in South Goa to end the monopoly of the taxi mafia and offer fair pricing and safer options.

https://twitter.com/kpartha/status/1853790080936136880

As Goa’s reputation deteriorates, tourists are increasingly looking to other beach destinations in South Asia, where they feel they get better value and a friendlier experience. If solutions to Goa’s systemic problems are not found soon, thetaxi mafiaand other issues may indeed sound the death knell for tourism in this once-vibrant paradise.

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PM Modi’s Congratulatory Post To New US Prez Trump Takes Social Media By Storm, Hits 10 Million Views On X

PM Modi's Congratulatory Post To New US Prez Trump Takes Social Media By Storm, Hits 10 Million Views On X

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Donald Trump on his reported victory in US presidential elections, his post on social media platform X has drawn unprecedented traction, surpassing 10 million views and generating a wave of reactions.

The post, till the filing of this report, garnered around 285,000 likes, and 48,000 retweets, and received about 7,400 comments. On Wednesday afternoon, PM Modi congratulated Trump on his victory, expressing eagerness to deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

The Prime Minister also shared a series of photos showcasing their previous meetings, highlighting the camaraderie between the leaders. “Heartiest congratulations, my friend, Donald Trump, on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration further to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability, and prosperity,” PM Modi posted on X.

PM Modi’s social media post has also sparked excitement on social media, with one user labelling the relationship between the two leaders as “Best Friends.”

Another wrote, “Looking forward to a wonderful four years of friendship between two great countries,” while others revived the slogan, “Abki baar, Trump Sarkar.” A user even shared an image of PM Modi and Trump embracing each other and captioned, “Two nationalist friends now heading the two greatest democracies.”

PM Modi and Trump have long enjoyed a warm rapport, a relationship that has strengthened bilateral ties. During PM Modi’s recent US visit for the Quad Summit and UN General Assembly, Trump praised the Indian Prime Minister, calling him a “fantastic man”.

On the campaign trail, Trump even referred to the Prime Minister as a “total killer,” underscoring his respect for the Indian leader’s resolve. In a podcast interview, Trump remarked, “He’s great, he’s a friend of mine… We had a couple of occasions where somebody was threatening India. I said, let me help. I’m very good with those people.”

However, PM Modi politely declined any assistance, saying, “I will do it, and I will do anything necessary. We’ve defeated them for hundreds of years.”

Earlier, US media projected Trump would win 277 Electoral College votes, passing the 270 mark, needed to secure the presidency.

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