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BJP Leaders Hold Protest Against K’taka Govt Over Cauvery Water Release

By LokMarg 27th September 2023

BJP leaders held a protest against the Karnataka government over Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Protesters raised slogans against CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar and called them agents of Tamil Nadu and DMK.

Former CM BS Yediyurappa staged a sit-in against the Karnataka government over the Cauvery water-sharing issue near the Gandhi statue in Bengaluru today.

BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said, “Our CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, they must know, that they should not behave like Tamil Nadu agents. They must realise the actual facts. In almost all our reservoirs there is no water at all and it is not sufficient for even drinking purposes… PM can’t interfere in this, the case is in SC. It’s not possible for him to interfere…”

BS Yediyurappa further said that CM Siddaramaiah and Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar were behaving like Tamil Nadu agents so Karnataka was facing the crisis.

BJP Member of Parliament from Bangalore South Tejasvi Surya said that Karnataka must stop water that is being released to Tamil Nadu.

“Karnataka government has completely failed in putting forth proper details to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) committee. Showing fingers towards to central govt is not going to work. Central official work has been done. Now it is in the hands of authorities and the Supreme Court” he said.

BJP MLA BY Vijayendra Yediyurappa said, “The present Congress govt has not taken the Cauvery issue seriously. Farmers are literally on the streets and day by day the water is flowing to Tamil Nadu. The state government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility. The question of PM intervening in this issue does not rise because it is your (present Congress government) failure…”

Responding to the protests by the BJP State Home Minister G Parmeshwara said that the state government was capable of dealing with the issue.

“As a government we have some responsibilities, let them do their politics in Cauvery issue. Government will take care of our farmers” said Parmeshwara.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Siddaramiah has said that the state will challenge the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority in the Supreme Court.

“Cauvery Regulatory Committee (CWRC) has ordered to release 3000 cusecs of water, I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will challenge it in the

Supreme Court. We don’t have water to release to Tamil Nadu” the Karnataka Chief Minister said.

The CWRC had ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023. The amount of water to be released was earlier 5000 cusecs. (ANI)

Protests Erupt In Iran On Death Anniv On Mahsa Amini

By LokMarg 17th September 2023

Protests broke out across Iran to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who passed away while being held by Iran’s morality police after being detained for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly in September last year, reported CNN.

Mahsa was imprisoned for allegedly violating Iranian law about headscarves.

According to CNN, the protests took place in a number of Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, Mashad, Ahvaz, Lahijan, Arak, and the Kurdish city of Senandaj.

Some demonstrators also shouted anti-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death slogans.

As a show of force, the authorities stationed armed guards in various places, and Lahijan in the north saw images of police pursuing protestors, CNN reported.

Even as Saturday marked the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a progressive Iranian woman who stood up against the draconian Hijab rule and whose alleged custodial death sparked furious protests, the Iranian authorities detained her father, CNN reported citing Iranian journalists and rights group.

Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died last September after being detained by the regime’s infamous morality police and taken to a “re-education centre,” allegedly for failing to wear her headscarf properly.

According to an Iranian journalist, Amini’s father, Amjad, was regularly summoned by the security officers in recent months following her daughter’s death. “Today he was detained for a few hours,” CNN reported, citing the journalist.

Amini’s family visited her grace in the western Kurdish city of Saqqez on the eve of the one-year anniversary of her death, CNN reported citing IranWire.

However, following that day, Amjad was detained by the authorities for three to four hours with his son.

Moreover, Amjad’s son was warned that he would be banished to a remote village if he encouraged people to attend Amini’s death anniversary ceremonies, the report claimed.

However, Iranian authorities denied reports of Amjad’s detention.

IRNA, Iran’s local media outlet, described the reports as “false” in a Telegram post, according to CNN. Earlier, on Tuesday, Amini’s uncle, Sada Aeli, was apprehended by the Iranian authorities, according to a member of her family and reports from the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Amini’s death triggered the largest protests Iran had witnessed in years, turning into a larger social movement with demonstrators protesting the regime’s treatment of women among other issues as well.

Earlier, on Saturday, over 20 Iranian individuals and entities connected to the harsh repression of protests after Amini’s death a year ago were subjected to penalties by the Joe Biden administration on Friday, reported CNN.

The newest round of sanctions was in retaliation for Tehran’s ruthless crackdown on the demonstrators, who took to the streets after Amini passed away while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. (ANI)

1,000 People Arrested As Protests Continue For Fourth Day In France

By LokMarg 1st July 2023

The protesters erected barricades, lit fires and shot fireworks at police in French streets as tensions grew over the fatal police shooting of a teenager that has shocked the nation. The police arrested nearly 1,000 people as the government struggled to restore order on the fourth day of unrest, CNN reported.

France’s Interior Ministry, on Saturday, said that 994 people have been detained. It also said that 2,560 fires had been reported on public roads, with 1,350 cars burned, and there had been 234 incidents of damage or fire in buildings.
Seventy-nine police and gendarmes were injured over Friday night and there had been 58 attacks on police and gendarme stations, it added.

There was an explosion in the Old Port of Marseille on Friday evening, according to BFMTV, but no casualties had been reported. It also shared a video showing damage to the Alcazar library in Marseille which it said had been vandalized during the night.

These developments take place after the death of the teenager, 17, identified as Nal after being stopped for a traffic violation in the Paris suburb town of Nanterre on Tuesday. The officer who is accused of shooting him was taken to jail.

A funeral for Nahel is scheduled to take place on Saturday morning.

Footage of the incident filmed by a bystander showed two officers standing on the driver’s side of the car, one of whom fired his gun at the driver despite not appearing to be in any immediate danger, according to CNN.

The officer has said he fired his gun out of fear that the boy would run someone over with the car, according to Nanterre prosecutor Pascal Prache.

The officer currently faces a formal investigation for voluntary homicide and has been placed in preliminary detention.

On Friday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced the “exceptional” mobilization of 45,000 police and gendarmes to avoid a fourth consecutive night of riots, CNN reported.

Amid burning debris, “vengeance pour Nael” which translates to “revenge for Nael” appeared to be spray painted on a wall in Nanterre with regards to the slain teenager and using an alternative spelling of his name, the report said.

A bank was set on fire in Nanterre and 15 people were taken in by police for questioning after a march was carried out in memory of the teenager became violent. Protesters threw fireworks at police officers in Marseille, CNN reported citing BFMTV. Six people were taken by police for questioning after they took part in a protest barred by authorities in Lille, the regional authority in a Facebook post, CNN reported. (ANI)

Delhi Sikhs Protest Sealing Of Lahore Gurudwara In Pakistan

By LokMarg 13th December 2022

A large number of people from the Sikh community in New Delhi staged a protest on Tuesday over the act of sealing Gurudwara Shaheed Bhai Taru situated at Naulakha in Lahore in Pakistan.

Members of the main organizer group, Jag Aasra Guru Ott (JAGO) party along with several other angered Sikhs marched towards the Pakistan High Commission and submitted their memorandum to the officials.

Leading the protest at Teen Murti Chowk, Manjit Singh GK, President of Jag Aasra Guru Ott (JAGO) said, “The JAGO party and Sikhs of Delhi have come here to protest against the Pakistan government who have put the lock on the historical gurudwara of Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh. The land and property of Gurudwara have already been taken by the land mafia. The Pakistan government should remove that lock and hand over the keys to Sikh communities or the Pakistan Gurudwara Prabandhak committee.”

The debate regarding the existence of the Gurudwara in Naulakha, Lahore, has raged for a long time.

Previously the Sikh community were not allowed to observe the anniversary of Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh at his Samadhi under the pressure of a local hardline Muslim group who claimed ownership rights of the land of the Samadhi.

Once again, land sharks in Lahore attempted to seize the Gurudwara’s property, causing unrest between the local Sikh and Muslim communities.

It is ironic that on one hand, Pakistan tries to portray itself as a tolerant state by opening the Gurudwara at Kartarpur, while on the other, the ruling dispensation under the pressure of mafias is sealing several religious places of minorities, escalating the tension between the majority Muslim community and other religious groups.

As per the Nehru-Liaquat agreement of 1950, both the governments of India and Pakistan solemnly agreed to the safety and security of the minorities living in the respective countries, their places of worship, and other properties.

However, the minorities living in the Islamic Republic continue to suffer as Pakistan has completely failed to honour the decisions both sides had agreed upon. (ANI)

Iran Holds 2nd Public Execution Amid Anti-Govt Protests

By LokMarg 12th December 2022

Iran on Monday carried out a public execution, the second in less than one week, related to anti-government protests in the country, The Jerusalem Post reported.

According to Iranian state television, protester Majidreza Rahnavard convicted for stabbing and killing two security agents was hanged to death in public this morning in the city of Mashhad.

Rahnavard was allegedly denied access to a counsel and tortured before arriving in court with injuries, Jerusalem Post reported citing Iranian state media. According to Iranian official media, Rahnavard admitted to the charges.

Rahnavard who was publically executed today was convicted for stabbing and killing two members of the Iranian security forces and injuring four others during the ongoing protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16. Amini died in the custody of the state’s morality police who had detained her reportedly for not properly donning her headscarf.

On Thursday, Iran carried out its first execution related to the protests. It was the first such event that was made public.

The hanged person Mohsen Shekari, was found guilty of using a machete to injure a security official and for blocking a street in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

The security officer who was a member of the Basij paramilitary force — a wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard – was injured by Shekari with a knife at a protest in Tehran on September 23.

Shekari was sentenced to death on October 23, CNN reported citing Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

Several Iranians have received death-by-execution sentences during the nationwide demonstrations after the death of Mahsa Amini. According to Amnesty International, as of November, Iranian authorities are seeking the death penalty for at least 21 people in connection with the protests.

Last year, in Iran, at least 333 people were executed, according to the Iran Human Rights. The report further revealed that 55 executions, which contribute 16.5 percent, were announced by official sources.

As many as 83.5 percent of all executions included in the 2021 report (278 executions in total) were not announced by the authorities. At least 183 executions (55 percent of all executions) were for murder charges, according to the report.

Iran has suspended its so-called morality police, which penalized women for not adhering to a stringent dress code, the Iranian prosecutor general said after the anti-hijab protest continued into the third month, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini.

Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Javad Montazeri said the morality police “was abolished by the same authorities who installed it”, The New York Times reported.

He made this statement during the meeting where officials were discussing the unrest ignited by Amini’s death in the custody of the morality police.

The unrest has amounted to one of the biggest challenges in decades to Iran’s system of authoritarian clerical rule. (ANI)

Shivaji’s Descendent Announces Protest At Raigad Fort Against Governor Koshiyari’s Remark

By LokMarg 3rd December 2022

Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Shivaji Maharaj’s descendent Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhonsle arrived at the Raigad Fort in Maharashtra on Saturday to express his protest against Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi over their alleged remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

At the Raigad Fort, Udayanraje Bhonsle has announced to launch ‘Aakrosh’ agitation to mark his protest.
The Maharashtra Governor on November 19 stoked controversy as he called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj an ‘old idol’.

Addressing a function at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad on November 19, Governor Koshyari said, “If someone asks who your idol is, you don’t have to go out looking for one. You will find them right here in Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has become an old idol now, you can find new ones — from Babasaheb Ambedkar to (Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways) Nitin Gadkari.”

This statement sparked a massive furore and drew censure from Maratha organisations and opposition leaders alike.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar slammed Koshyari over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and said that Maharashtra Governor has crossed “all limits”.

He further sought intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.

While addressing a press conference, Pawar had said “The Governor has crossed all limits. The President and the Prime Minister should intervene in this matter. It is wrong to give big posts to people who make irresponsible statements.”

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s descendant Udayanraje Bhonsle also wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the governor’s remarks demanding him to be sacked from the post.

“The statements made by the governor and the spokesperson of BJP are very contradictory to the beliefs of the nation it would only be appropriate if you could take measures to remove the Governor of Maharashtra. Your actions and deliberations in resolving this current standoff would go miles in restoring the confidence of the people of Maharashtra and the nation, that you stand in solidarity with the people’s belief and faith in Chh. Shivaji Maharaj. Thanking you,” read the letter. (ANI)

Lathi-Charge At Members Of Labour Unions Near Mann’s Residence

By LokMarg 30th November 2022

Punjab Police on Wednesday resorted to a lathi-charge on members of the agriculture labour unions who were marching towards Chief Minister Bhagwant e in Sangrur over their various demands.

The protestors, who included agricultural workers, gathered at the Patiala bypass after which they started moving towards the Chief Minister’s residence where there was heavy police deployment.
The police tried to stop the protestors who included members of eight labour organizations and resorted to the use of force which left some of the protestors injured.

Police, however, said that they did not resort to the lathi charge and stated that “an aggressive faction of protestors indulged in a scuffle”.

“No lathi charge was done, and the protest is going on in a peaceful manner. An aggressive faction of protestors indulged in a scuffle, which was later controlled by the police. We have taken cognizance of their demands,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sangrur said.

The incident created a political uproar with Bharatiya Janata Party’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Shehzad Poonawalla attacking the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of showing his “true face” and said the people of Punjab will give a befitting reply to the injustice done to them.

“Kejriwal showed his true form through a lathi-charge on Punjab farmers sitting on dharna outside CM Bhagwant Mann’s house. Instead of giving the farmers their rights, Kejriwal is weakening Punjab by investing money of Punjab in the Gujarat campaign. Punjabis will give a befitting reply to this injustice of Kejriwal,” Sirsa said in a tweet.

He also said that making promises before elections and not fulfilling them later is the “new change” brought by AAP.

“Instead of giving rights to the farm labourers protesting outside the house, doing lathi charge at them is proof of the atrocities of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Making promises before the elections and not fulfilling them after the elections is the change by AAP. People of Delhi and Gujarat should stay away from this deceitful party,” Sirsa said in another tweet.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that AAP is an “anti-people anti-peasant party”.

“The workers who were peacefully going towards the CM’s residence were brutally lathi-charged. It shows the real face of AAP. It stands for ‘anti-People anti-peasant party’. CM Bhagwant Mann is busy campaigning in Gujarat and the farmers of Punjab have been left in miserable conditions,” he said. (ANI)

TN: 19 Held For Vandalizing Properties During Protest Against NIA’s Raids

By LokMarg 25th September 2022

Nineteen persons who vandalised properties during the protest against the NIA’s raids on houses of the PFI leaders are arrested and sent to remand, informed the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police C Sylendrababu on Sunday.

“Nineteen persons who vandalised properties are arrested and sent to remand. Few from specific organizations hurled petrol bombs on a few organization functionaries’ residences and cars,” Tamil Nadu DGP told ANI.
“Those who involve in criminal acts which disturb public peace will be booked under the National Security Act,” warned Tamil Nadu DGP.

“Criminal cases have been registered on this and investigations to nab the anti-social elements are going on. Special teams have been formed to nab them. So far, 250 suspects have been investigated on this matter. Over 100 suspects are still under investigation,” he added.

Condemning this arrest, PFI demonstrated protest and 1,410 persons were arrested during the protest and later were released.

A few persons who threw petrol bombs at the house of PFI leaders were arrested. The investigation is underway while their two-wheelers were seized.

RAF, State Commando, and Special Force are stationed at Coimbatore. Over 3,500 police personnel are providing security at Coimbatore”.

Post the NIA raid on PFI and SDPI, multiple petrol bombs were hurled at the house of RSS members.

Earlier on Sunday, as many as three petrol bombs were hurled into the house of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu.

While in the earlier hours of Saturday, a petrol bomb was hurled at the house of an RSS leader near Tambaram near Chennai, said the police.

Another bottle bomb was hurdled at BJP worker Sarath’s residence in Kuniyamuthur city in Tamil Nadu on Friday night in which a car parked on the premises was damaged. (ANI)

Pak Zindabad Slogans During PFI Protest, Fadnavis Promises Action

By LokMarg 24th September 2022

‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were heard outside the District Collector’s office in Maharashtra’s Pune City on Friday where Popular Front of India (PFI) cadres had gathered against the massive crackdown by multi-agencies led by National Investigation Agency on Thursday across 15 states.

Due to high ambience noise in the original video feed some parts of slogans were faint. Information about slogans was further corroborated by reporters at the spot.
Some PFI members were detained by Pune police and they were arrested this morning. Police have registered a case.

Joint teams of the National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and police had conducted multiple raids across 15 states of the country against PFI on September 22 and arrested over 106 members.

Reacting to the sloganeering incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister said stringent action will be taken. “We will take stringent action against any person raising Pakistan Zindabad slogans in Maharashtra”.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane took to Twitter and warned those raising such slogans. He also sought a ban on PFI.

The largest-ever crackdown that was conducted against the Popular Front of India (PFI) members spread across 15 states was code-named “Operation Octopus”, sources said on Saturday.

The searches were conducted in connection with five cases registered by the NIA following “continued inputs and evidence” that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations.

A large number of criminal cases have been registered in different states over the last few years against the PFI and its leaders and members for their involvement in many violent acts.

Criminal violent acts “carried out” by PFI include chopping off the hand of a college professor, cold-blooded killings of persons associated with organisations espousing other faiths, collection of explosives to target prominent people and places, support to Islamic State and destruction of public property. They have had a demonstrative effect of striking terror in the minds of the citizens.

The PFI had on Friday called for a 12-hour shutdown in Kerala, which turned violent in parts of the state. Stone-pelting was witnessed at various places, including at the RSS office at Mattannur in Kannur. Two police officials were also injured in the incident in Kollam.

The Kerala High Court initiated a suo motu case against PFI leaders who called for a strike in the state against the arrest of its members by the NIA.

As per a Kerala HC order on January 7, 2019, nobody can call for a bandh in the state without prior notice of seven days.

Taking cognizance of the matter, the court directed the police to ensure that “adequate measures are put in place to prevent any damage/destruction to public/private property of Government/citizens who do not support the call for hartal”.

“Adequate police protection shall also be granted to all public utility services that apprehend violence, at the hands of those supporting the illegal hartal,” the court added. (ANI)