INDIAWant freedom in India, not from India: Kanhaiya
Manash Pratim Gohain | TNN | Mar 4, 2016, 06.51 AM IST
Kanhaiya Kumar gestures as he addresses a meet inside JNU campus. (Reuters photo)
NEW DELHI: Returning to a hero's welcome in the university after spending three weeks in detention over sedition charges, JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar delivered a powerpacked political speech.
"I am not asking for freedom from India, I am asking for freedom in India," said Kanhaiya during an hourlong address peppered with humour and sarcasm, which Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal described as "brilliant".
"I have many differences with the prime minister but I agree with his tweet - Satyameva Jayate. I also say Satyameva Jayate, the truth shall triumph, because it belongs to the country and the Constitution," said the 28-yearold, showing no signs of trauma from his jail stint and the attack on him by lawyers at Patiala House courts.
Amid loud cheers from nearly 3,000 students, Kanhaiya said he saluted the soldiers guarding the country. "But the soldiers who die at the border are the sons and brothers of those who die within the country," he said, referring to farmer suicides. "Don't create a false divide." His reference was clearly to criticism that those raising 'anti-national' slogans insulted the sacrifices of martyred soldiers.
"Soldiers are not responsible for war but those making them fight are. Is it wrong to ask for freedom from the problems in the country?" he asked, amid cries of "Aawaz do, hum ek hain" by the students, who swayed back and forth as they chanted slogans at the end of his speech. Taking the fight directly to PM Narendra Modi, Kanhaiya said, "Mann ki baat karte hain, sunte nahi (He speaks his mind but doesn't listen)... Today the PM was speaking about Stalin and Khrushchev. I felt like entering the TV and telling him, 'Modiji, please speak about Hitler and Mussolini'."
The PhD scholar dwelt at length on why the government had come down hard on JNU. "Don't think sedition is being used as a political tool against some students... These are tricks the government is playing to divert attention from its jumla," said the student, in an address in Hindi that was beamed live by TV channels.
He added that the crackdown on JNU was also because the university students spoke out against the death of Hyderabad Central University research scholar Rohith Vemula. "You killed one Rohith. The andolan you wanted to suppress has now become so big," Kumar said.
"I am not asking for freedom from India, I am asking for freedom in India," said Kanhaiya during an hourlong address peppered with humour and sarcasm, which Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal described as "brilliant".
"I have many differences with the prime minister but I agree with his tweet - Satyameva Jayate. I also say Satyameva Jayate, the truth shall triumph, because it belongs to the country and the Constitution," said the 28-yearold, showing no signs of trauma from his jail stint and the attack on him by lawyers at Patiala House courts.
Amid loud cheers from nearly 3,000 students, Kanhaiya said he saluted the soldiers guarding the country. "But the soldiers who die at the border are the sons and brothers of those who die within the country," he said, referring to farmer suicides. "Don't create a false divide." His reference was clearly to criticism that those raising 'anti-national' slogans insulted the sacrifices of martyred soldiers.
"Soldiers are not responsible for war but those making them fight are. Is it wrong to ask for freedom from the problems in the country?" he asked, amid cries of "Aawaz do, hum ek hain" by the students, who swayed back and forth as they chanted slogans at the end of his speech. Taking the fight directly to PM Narendra Modi, Kanhaiya said, "Mann ki baat karte hain, sunte nahi (He speaks his mind but doesn't listen)... Today the PM was speaking about Stalin and Khrushchev. I felt like entering the TV and telling him, 'Modiji, please speak about Hitler and Mussolini'."
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Stupid guy corrupt mind communist cannot able curb amything in kerala and west bengalThe PhD scholar dwelt at length on why the government had come down hard on JNU. "Don't think sedition is being used as a political tool against some students... These are tricks the government is playing to divert attention from its jumla," said the student, in an address in Hindi that was beamed live by TV channels.
He added that the crackdown on JNU was also because the university students spoke out against the death of Hyderabad Central University research scholar Rohith Vemula. "You killed one Rohith. The andolan you wanted to suppress has now become so big," Kumar said.
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Vijayakanth snubs BJP, refuses to meet Union minister Javadekar
TNN | Mar 4, 2016, 06.46 AM IST
CHENNAI: In a sign that the DMDK is shying away from an alliance with the BJP , DMDK chief Vijayakanth virtually snubbed Union minister and BJP pointsman for the Tamil Nadu elections Prakash Javadekar by avoiding a meeting with him on Thursday and taking off on a tour of his constituency Rishivandiyam in Viluppuram district.
Premalatha, Vijayakanth's wife, denied there was any talk on alliances and she had been visiting her mother in Vadapalani while Vijaya kanth was in Rishivandiyam.
With BJP general secretary Mur lidhar Rao also in the city, there was much speculation earlier in the day about him joining Javadekar for last minute talks to persuade Vijaya kanth to come on board the NDA against the backdrop of the DMK DMDK inching closer to a deal. Java dekar's visit, under cover of an offi cial function at the Anna University , caught the state party unit by complete surprise. State BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararjan was in Tirupati on a personal visit.
Local party cadres were left redfaced as they had no intimation about Javadekar's impending visit."We learned that Javadekarji wanted to keep his visit a secret and exited the Chennai airport from the departure lounge. Where was the need for such subterfuge?" a party functionary asked. However, state BJP leader Tamilisai in a damage-control mode said, "Javadekar was on an official visit that had nothing to do with alliance talks and it is not necessary that he should always announce his travel plans." Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan also told reporters that there were no alliance talks during the day . Javadekar had on February 28 said he intended to visit Chennai again after the budget. The next day , however, BJP sources had said Javadekar would not be coming to Chennai this week as he was in favour of the state party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan to convincing Vijayakanth to seal the deal before he comes visiting to officially announce it. Significantly , the DMDK had issued a press statement on February 28 within hours of Javadekar meeting Vijayakanth at the latter's suburban residence that it was a courtesy call.
Earlier in December last year, Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP national general secretary in-charge of TN, Murlidhar Rao had an infructuous meeting with the DMDK chief at the latter's residence following his remarks he was not sure his party was with the NDA.
Premalatha, Vijayakanth's wife, denied there was any talk on alliances and she had been visiting her mother in Vadapalani while Vijaya kanth was in Rishivandiyam.
With BJP general secretary Mur lidhar Rao also in the city, there was much speculation earlier in the day about him joining Javadekar for last minute talks to persuade Vijaya kanth to come on board the NDA against the backdrop of the DMK DMDK inching closer to a deal. Java dekar's visit, under cover of an offi cial function at the Anna University , caught the state party unit by complete surprise. State BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararjan was in Tirupati on a personal visit.
Local party cadres were left redfaced as they had no intimation about Javadekar's impending visit."We learned that Javadekarji wanted to keep his visit a secret and exited the Chennai airport from the departure lounge. Where was the need for such subterfuge?" a party functionary asked. However, state BJP leader Tamilisai in a damage-control mode said, "Javadekar was on an official visit that had nothing to do with alliance talks and it is not necessary that he should always announce his travel plans." Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan also told reporters that there were no alliance talks during the day . Javadekar had on February 28 said he intended to visit Chennai again after the budget. The next day , however, BJP sources had said Javadekar would not be coming to Chennai this week as he was in favour of the state party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan to convincing Vijayakanth to seal the deal before he comes visiting to officially announce it. Significantly , the DMDK had issued a press statement on February 28 within hours of Javadekar meeting Vijayakanth at the latter's suburban residence that it was a courtesy call.
Earlier in December last year, Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP national general secretary in-charge of TN, Murlidhar Rao had an infructuous meeting with the DMDK chief at the latter's residence following his remarks he was not sure his party was with the NDA.
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Floods killed over 4,200 people in 3 years, Lok Sabha told
TNN | Mar 4, 2016, 06.31 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday informed Lok Sabha that 4,226 people died and property worth over Rs 44,112 crore was damaged due to floods and soil erosion by rivers during 2013-15. Overall, it affected 51.86 million people in one or the other way during the period.
The floods killed 1.98 lakh cattle and affected around 13.88 million hectares of land during the period. In a written response to a Parliament question, water resources minister Uma Bharati said the maximum damage worth over Rs 27,801 crore was reported in 2015 with West Bengal alone suffering loss of property, including crops, houses and public utilities, worth over Rs 25,353 crore.
In response to a question on central assistance to affected states, Bharati said 517 works were approved during the period at an estimated cost of Rs 12,360.24 crore. Of these, 293 works were completed. The government released funds worth Rs 4,610.09 crore for the works over the three years, she added.
"As regards soil/bank erosion and controlling recurring floods, related schemes are formulated and implemented by state governments as per their priorities, since the subject of flood management falls within the purview of states. However, the government of India supplements their efforts by rendering technical advice and promotional financial assistance to enable state governments to undertake flood management and antierosion works in critical areas," she said.
Her ministry has also initiated a study of siltation and erosion in major rivers in order to enable states to undertake a combination of structural measures like embankments and channel improvement through dredging and non-structural measures like flood forecasting and flood plain zoning for effective mitigation of damages.
The floods killed 1.98 lakh cattle and affected around 13.88 million hectares of land during the period. In a written response to a Parliament question, water resources minister Uma Bharati said the maximum damage worth over Rs 27,801 crore was reported in 2015 with West Bengal alone suffering loss of property, including crops, houses and public utilities, worth over Rs 25,353 crore.
In response to a question on central assistance to affected states, Bharati said 517 works were approved during the period at an estimated cost of Rs 12,360.24 crore. Of these, 293 works were completed. The government released funds worth Rs 4,610.09 crore for the works over the three years, she added.
"As regards soil/bank erosion and controlling recurring floods, related schemes are formulated and implemented by state governments as per their priorities, since the subject of flood management falls within the purview of states. However, the government of India supplements their efforts by rendering technical advice and promotional financial assistance to enable state governments to undertake flood management and antierosion works in critical areas," she said.
Her ministry has also initiated a study of siltation and erosion in major rivers in order to enable states to undertake a combination of structural measures like embankments and channel improvement through dredging and non-structural measures like flood forecasting and flood plain zoning for effective mitigation of damages.
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