Month: March 2021

TMC’s 1st List Of Candidates Out; Mamata To Contest Nandigram

By LokMarg

Announcing the name of the candidates for the West Bengal Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she will be contesting from the Nandigram constituency as announced earlier.

The incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced the list of 291 candidates and left three seats for its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said she will contest from Nandigram and not from the Bhowanipore constituency, from where she has been the sitting MLA since 2011.

“We are the first political party to announce the candidate list. Today, we are releasing a list of 291 candidates, which includes 50 women, 79 SCs, 17 STs and 42 Muslim candidates. On three seats of north Bengal, we are not putting up our candidates. In three seats — Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong — Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will contest the elections and whoever wins will support us,” she informed.

“I will contest from Nandigram as I stick to my words. From Bhowanipore constituency, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay will be contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections,” she added.

The TMC chief said the party was not able to provide seats to many because they have to bring new candidates forward.

Suvendu Adhikari is the current MLA from Nandigram. Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee and TMC leader has now switched to BJP in December, last year.

West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes in the state will take place on May 2. (ANI)

Voice Against Haryana Factory Owners & Farm Laws

EXCLUSIVE–Nodeep Kaur: You Must Fight To Live With Dignity

By LokMarg

Nodeep Kaur, the 24-year-old Dalit labour rights activist who was jailed for raising her voice against Haryana factory owners and farm laws, says her fight against injustice is far from over

It is rare and difficult for a woman to become a full-time activist. When a woman raises her voice for a cause, it is taken lightly. I learnt this at an early age, when my mother used to work in the fields and raised her voice for a rape victim. Later, I saw this at every stage of my life and most recently at the farmers protest on Singhu border. There were so many women who had come there but rarely were they given a chance to express their views on stage.

My mother taught me that if we were to live with dignity, we must raise our voice. I have seen her struggle, and the discrimination and the torture that a farm worker may face at the hands of big landlords. My mother always said the poor must stand unitedly to get their voice heard. Or we would be crushed.

Two years back, in 2019, I came to Delhi to be with my sister Rajvir Kaur. This was a time when protests were being held in the capital against Citizenship Act and NRC (national register for citizens). I felt moved by its social impact and actively took part in the demonstration.

When the lockdown was implemented, my father lost his job. As our financial situation dwindled, I looked for a job to support our family. Some of my friends in Kundli (Haryana) told me that I could find work in the factories there and I went ahead. I again witnessed how the factory owners were exploiting the labour.

In every industrial area, the factory owners keep a bunch of roughnecks who do not let labourers raise their voice. The labour is not supposed to challenge the factory owners for their due legal rights. There were longer hours and many workers had long pending wages. The proprietors used lockdown as an excuse to hold their dues. I knew the unity was important if the labour had to take on the owners. I joined the (Mazdoor Adhikar) Sangthan there.

Nodeep Kaur addresses the media during a press conference

When we started helping labourers get their pending wages, the factory owners were alarmed. During one of the protests they even fired at us. And when the protesters retaliated, the police came to their rescue and protection. Law enforcement agencies unabashedly sided by the rich.

Yet, we were able to get the dues of some 300 labourers paid. The factory owners felt the heat. There are thousands of workers in the area with similar cases. Paying their dues would be a financial and prestige setback for the proprietors. Besides, if it worked in Kundli, then they feared that it will have an effect on other industrial areas as well.

Meanwhile, as labourers we lent our support to farmers protesting against Central laws right from November 26, the day when the protests started. We raised a tent at Singhu border from day one and also organized a labour strike to express our solidarity and support to the farmers. More than 2,000 labourers took off from their work and came marching to the farmers protest site.

We thus came across as a threat to both the local industrialists as well as the state. So in a planned manner, when we were protesting peacefully on January 12, the quick response teams of the company came. While I was talking to them, the police began lathicharge on the protesters, including women. They dragged me. It was natural reaction of my fellow labourers to resist the action. But for this, I was charged with unlawful assembly, trespass, criminal assault, intimidation and even attempt to murder. Clearly, they wanted to create a sense of fear in others and keep the factory owners in good humour. That’s why I believe the arrest was all planned in advance and accordingly executed.

As told to Mamta Sharma

Nodeep Kaur At Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Delhi

EXCLUSIVE–Nodeep Kaur Recounts Her Stay In Prison

By LokMarg

Nodeep Kaur says she studied books by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and sang revolutionary songs with fellow inmates every day to keep her morale high

The image of a prison in my mind was different from what I saw in person. I had always imagined jail to be a place inhabited by outlaws and criminals. There was fear also in my mind when I was ushered into the barrack for under-trials. But I soon realized that many of the inmates were languishing because they had rubbed the State the wrong way.

Whoever stands up before the powerful or tries to be the voice of the people, he or she runs the risk of arrest and charges that a judge will find difficult to grant bail for. I feel fortunate that my case was highlighted and concerned citizens raised their voice in my favour. My lawyers too worked diligently. Else, I could be just another labour activist languishing in prison.

I found to my dismay that jails officials disallowed any book to be delivered from outside. Also, you cannot get a pen or a notebook to write down. So whatever books I could get hold of in the jail, I read most of them. There were books on Ambedkar and penal laws. Ironically, I could see it there that the reality of laws in paper and on the ground was so different.

I would talk to other inmates and discuss their cases. I saw that even women had been charged with acts like POCSO and rape. These charges make chances of a bail dismal. There was gloom.

During our protests, I had picked up many songs that talked of revolution, justice and hope. I would sing those numbers with the fellow inmates. It lifted the atmosphere. In a short time, it became a routine. Every evening, ginti band hone se pahle (before the final roll-call) we would all sing together. Thus, talking to inmates, reading, reciting poems or talking about what was happening in the protests outside helped me sail through that time.

Nodeep Kaur during her visit to Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi

Punjab and Haryana High Court granted me bail last week (February 26). But achieving bail is not an end in it itself. The fight is far from over, and it is a long fight ahead. My bail doesn’t mean that the condition of the labourers has improved. Workers’ demands have not been met by the factory owners. Many other innocent people are in jail and even today caste and religion divides our society. My fight will continue for a just society.

I will continue to support farmers at the Singhu border and also raise voice for labour rights. My parents have supported me in my fight. Even when I was in jail, they said they want me to continue my fight for the people. Those who fight for the rights of others, leave behind a legacy.

I came to know that some famous personalities highlighted the issue of my arrest and false charges. It may have helped the case, but it is the support that I got from the people makes me humble and proud.

Read Part I – Nodeep Kaur: You Must Fight To Live With Dignity

As told to Mamta Sharma

Vegan Diet May Lead To Poorer Bone Health: Study

By LokMarg

Consuming a vegan diet is known to have many health benefits ranging from weight loss to keeping cholesterol in control, but did you know that following a vegan diet also comes with some ill effects?

According to a new study, people following a vegan diet had lower ultrasound values, which indicates poorer bone health. In the study from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the bone health of 36 vegans, as well as 36 people following a mixed-food diet, was determined with an ultrasound measurement of the heel bone.

The result: on average, people following a vegan diet had lower ultrasound values compared to the other group. This indicates poorer bone health.

In the study, the scientists also determined biomarkers in blood and urine. This aims to identify nutrients that might be related to diet and bone health. Out of 28 parameters of nutritional status and bone metabolism, it was possible to identify twelve biomarkers most strongly associated with bone health – for example, the amino acid lysine and vitamins A and B6.

The results show that in most cases, the combination of these biomarkers was present in lower concentrations in vegans. This could be a possible explanation for the poorer bone health.

“A vegan diet is often considered health-conscious. However, our scientific findings indicate that a vegan diet does affect bone health,” said BfR President Professor Dr Andreas Hensel.

Nutrition plays an important role in bone health. This was more closely investigated in the BfR’s cross-sectional ‘Risks and benefits of a vegan diet’ study. 72 men and women participated in the study.

The bone health of all participants was assessed at the heel bone using ultrasound measurements. Information on age, smoking status, education, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol consumption were also collected.

By using a statistical model, the BfR was able to identify a pattern of twelve biomarkers that play an important role in bone health from 28 nutrition- and bone-relevant parameters from blood or urine.

It was shown that in combination vitamins A and B6, the amino acids lysine and leucine, omega-3 fatty acids, selenoprotein P, iodine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, calcium, magnesium, and a-Klotho protein were positively associated with bone health. Conversely, lower concentrations of the hormone FGF23 were observed at higher ultrasound levels in this pattern.

Taking into account other scientific studies, the results indicate that vegans intake fewer nutrients that are relevant for the skeleton and are mainly found in food of animal origin. (ANI)

Congress To Move No-Trust Motion Against Khattar Govt

By LokMarg

Congress will give a no-confidence motion to the Speaker against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) government in Haryana on Friday, said former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday.

Addressing the press conference, the Congress leader said that his party also plans to bring many “Adjournment” and “Calling Attention” motions to draw the attention of the government to the multitude of problems faced by the people of the state.
A day before the budget session of the Legislative Assembly, Hooda said the people of the state face a multitude of problems and the Opposition will raise these effectively in the ensuing session.

“The Congress is going to bring no-confidence motion, Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee bill, many adjournments and calling attention motion against the government. We will seek answers on issues such as farmers’ neglect, rising unemployment, changes in domicile regulations, rising crime, paper leaks, liquor and registry scams,” he said.

Hooda said the Congress will give a no-confidence motion to the Speaker tomorrow and he would then decide when the House will discuss the motion and vote on it.

“The opposition demands that all issues related to public interest must be discussed during the session and all the MLAs should get full time to highlight these issues,” he said.

“The BJP-JJP coalition government, which has failed on every front, will have to respond to all the scams like liquor, registry, recruitment, paper leak, mining in the house. The Congress will expose how the government is constantly ignoring the farmer movement and persecuting the farmers. A private member bill will be brought to amend the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act to provide MSP rights to farmers,” the former Chief Minister added.

The Leader of Opposition said that the slogan of 75 per cent reservation in private jobs was the biggest fraud with the youth of Haryana because, in Section-5 of this law, the government has already given a bypass to the job seekers. “Section 5 provides that any industry can avoid giving reservation to local youth by pretending that special abilities and competencies are needed,” he said.

“Even before the enactment of this law, the coalition government had brought changes to the altering the Haryana domicile rules which would deny the rights of the youth of the state. According to the new rules, now a person from any state can easily get Haryana domicile. On the basis of this, people of other states can get not only reserved 75 per cent private jobs but also government jobs reserved for SC and BC category,” Hooda stated.

“If the government does not change the domicile rules, youth from SC and BC sections in the state will find it difficult to get jobs. Just as the general category from other states were preferred over youths from Haryana in SDO recruitment, young local residents from SC and BC category would face a similar fate after the change in domicile rules,” he added.

Taking a dig at the government, Hooda stated that the government is busy playing with the rights of every section of the society. “This government neither the farmer is getting a fair price for their crops, the youth are not getting employment, workers are not getting work and government employees are not getting respect from those in power,” he said.

Responding to the question of increasing debt on the state, the Leader of Opposition said the total debt on the Haryana from the day the state was formed to the day when then the BJP took office six years ago was Rs 60,000 crore.

“In the six years of the BJP government, this debt has increased to Rs 2.25 lakh crore. Despite this, the Chief Minister is not telling the public the exact figure of the debt on the state. They are misleading by adding the amount of ‘Uday’ to the state’s debt,” he added. (ANI)

Army Starts ‘Radio Chinar’ Community Station In Kashmir

By LokMarg

The Indian Army launched its first community radio station ‘Radio Chinar’ on Saturday in Sopore of Baramulla district in North Kashmir to bridge the gap between jawan and awaam (people).

Speaking to media persons, Army’s corps commander LT General BS Raju said, “The main aim of this new initiative is to get connected to the local youth directly and Radio has the ability to reach out to the people living in remotest parts and makes them aware of various schemes and programmes of the government.”

The radio station will have coverage around north Kashmir. It will be available at the frequency of 90.4 FM MHz. The service will be available in Baramulla district and other parts of north Kashmir.

“Community Radio Station will primarily play all genres of songs starting from Sufi songs in the morning and as the day will progress, will gain tempo in the pitch of songs with a mix of Hindi and Punjabi,” said Sajid Ahmad, a radio jockey.

The residents and local councilors appreciated this initiative of the Indian Army saying it will help to “bridge the gap between jawan and awaam”. (ANI)

BJP Declares Sreedharan Its CM Candidate For Kerala

By LokMarg

Kerala BJP chief on Thursday announced that ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan will be the party’s chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

“E Sreedharan will be BJP’s Chief Minister candidate in the upcoming Kerala Assembly Elections 2021,” Surendran said.
Earlier in the day, E Sreedharan visited the Palarivattom flyover which is being reconstructed now.

He said the people of Kerala will elect his party to power and he is expecting a “big” victory in the Assembly elections.

“People know very well what is good for them and what is good for the state. I am very confident they will elect BJP to power. I am expecting a big victory,” he said.

“I have made only one demand to BJP that I want to contest in a constituency not far away from Ponnani where I am residing now,” he added.

The BJP leader also said that it is the “mental” age rather than the “physical” age that decides what responsibilities one should take up.

“It is the age of the mind that matters, not only the age of the body. Mentally, I am very alert and young. So far, I don’t have any issues with health. I don’t think health will be much of an issue. I will not be working as a normal politician. I will continue to work like a technocrat,” he said.

Surendran on Wednesday announced a 16-member state election committee which included E Sreedharan, who recently joined the party.

The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced.

For Assembly poll 2021, the number of polling booths in Kerala has been extended from 21,498 to 40,771. The counting of votes will be held on May 2.

The tenure of the 14th Kerala legislative assembly will come to an end on June 1, 2021. A total of 2,67,88,268 electors will elect the candidates in Kerala for the 15th legislative assembly. (ANI)

Three Bengal Celebs, One BJP Leader Joins Trinamool

By LokMarg

Three Bengali celebrities on Thursday joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls.

Singer Aditi Munshi, who is also the wife of North 24 Parganas Trinamool Youth Congress president Debraj Chakraborty, joined TMC at the party headquarters in Kolkata in the presence of the veteran leader and MP Sougata Roy.
Earlier today, actor and film director Dheeraj Pandit and actor Subhadra Mukherjee joined the TMC here.

Also, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Usha Chowdhury changed camp and joined TMC along with the actors.

Elections for the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal will begin on March 27. The state is set to witness eight-phase Assembly polls this year. (ANI)

US Report Lists Syria, Tibet As Least Free Regions In World

By LokMarg

Syria and Tibet have been ranked as the first and second least free region in the world, according to the latest rankings of Washington-based watchdog Freedom House, which keeps a tab on global political rights and liberties.

The report, “Freedom in the World 2021: A Leaderless Struggle for Democracy,” is based on a study of political freedom around the world. The countries and territories were given a score between zero to hundred where zero indicates least free and 100 indicates most free.

According to the report, Tibet scored -2 out of 40 for political rights and 3 out of 60 for civil liberties, receiving a total score of 1 out of 100. Meanwhile, Syria is the least free country in the world.

This year’s report assessed over 200 nations and territories, of which 83 countries and one territory were rated ‘Free’, 63 countries and four territories were ‘Partly Free’ and 49 countries and 10 territories were ‘Not Free’.

Tibet is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party government based in Beijing, with local decision-making power concentrated in the hands of Chinese party officials.

According to the report, residents of both Chinese and Tibetan ethnicity are denied fundamental rights, but the authorities are especially rigorous in suppressing any signs of dissent among Tibetans, including manifestations of uniquely Tibetan religious belief and cultural identity.

State policies encourage migration from other parts of China, reducing the ethnic Tibetan share of the population, the report added.

The report found that the share of countries designated Not Free has reached its highest level since the deterioration of democracy began in 2006, and that countries with declines in political rights and civil liberties outnumbered those with gains by the largest margin recorded during the 15-year period.

The report downgraded the freedom scores of 73 countries, representing 75 per cent of the global population. (ANI)

Delimitation Panel Gets 1-Yr Extension To Redraw J&K Seats

By LokMarg

The Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, set up in March 2020 to redraw the parliamentary and assemblies constituencies, has got a one-year extension from the Central Government.

A gazette notification has been issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on March 3, 2021, in this regard.
Earlier, the delimitation panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, was set up for one year. Now the notification said that the time period of the panel has been extended from one year to two years.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 provides that the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission.

The Act, which was notified by the government on August 9, 2019, paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it.

In February last year, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said those who want Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir should help in the delimitation process and not make excuses.

“PM has assured the entire nation and the delimitation commission has begun its work. I request that those who want election soon should help in this delimitation process, instead of making excuses,” he said.

“There are constitutional institutions in India. The decision is taken by the Election Commission. Let the work related to delimitation get completed, the Commission will definitely conduct elections,” he added. (ANI)