At least three die in avalanche on Nepali mountain

Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, after the party’s debacle in the state Assembly elections, in his New Year message on Wednesday asked the party workers to take up issues of unemployment, inflation and discrimination of Marathis in their own land.

He also asked the workers to put in place a contact room in every party office to monitor atrocities against women and pursue such cases if they are not registered. “And if still nothing happens, then go and beat those who are involved in committing atrocities against women,” his message reads.

The MNS chief directed the party workers to keep a vigil against hoarding of goods and commodities with the sole intention of providing relief to those affected by inflation. He asked them to inform the relevant departments about hoarding and try to become a link between farmers and consumers.

“This year holds a special significance in the chronology because it marks the end of a quarter of a century. There have been so many changes in almost every aspect of human life that seemed like a different era just 25 years ago. During this 25-year period, our party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has stabilised, and the party has seen many ups and downs. And all this has taught us a lot,” said Raj Thackeray.

“Even though a lot has changed in these 25 years, many things have remained the same, in a metropolis like Mumbai, which is the capital of Maharashtra, Marathi people feel insecure. Young people do not get work, but at the same time, job opportunities are available to those coming from outside the state. The unemployed do not have a caste, but they are made to feel that caste, and they incite conflicts between castes. The lives of all workers, from farmers to the poor, are being ruined by inflation. And at the time of this and every other problem, people remember the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, but forget the party at the time of voting,’’ said Raj Thackeray.

“…We should accept this and move forward with some changes. After the Assembly results were declared on November 23, 2024, I participated in some public programmes, but deliberately avoided political commentary. I am still mulling over what exactly happened and I will speak about it in detail soon. But I appeal to the Mansainiks to forget what happened. Within a few weeks of the election results, the crackdown against Marathi Manoos started, and at that time the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was expected to give a blow, and that is what we did. Basically, the fact that Marathi people are being used only for voting has been highlighted. In this, atrocities against women are increasing. There is a conflict between the two communities in the state, both of which are Marathi-speaking. And inflation has made people miserable,” he commented.

“In short, open shakhas (party offices) to the public once again. And yes, while doing all this, you want to use social media to promote your work, but see if social media is not using you, or if you are not possessed yourself to it. In this situation, Mansainiks should put aside their own discomforts. We are not doing anything with the elections in mind, so it is our responsibility to take action in all this. As I said earlier, if someone attacks Marathi, I will come as a Marathi and if someone puts a finger on a Hindu’s neck, I will come as a Hindu, that is what we are doing,” Raj Thackeray said in his New Year message.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, Aug 13 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is not merely a government initiative but a people’s movement, requiring active participation from the youth, women, children, educational institutions, voluntary organisations, saints, and social bodies.

“Once the youth are freed from the grip of drugs, nothing can stop India from becoming a developed nation,” he said while addressing the state-level function in Panchkula, near here, on the fifth anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

Saini said on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on August 15, 2020, to lead the country towards a healthy, prosperous, and bright future and unite people against drug abuse.

He said the government has resolved to make Haryana drug-free. Recently, a Cyclothon was organised in which lakhs of youth participated, pledging to stay away from drugs.

The campaign has emerged as a large-scale mass movement, drawing participation from youth, women, children, educational institutions, and voluntary organisations, with support from saints and Khap panchayats.

The Chief Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing rapidly, becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy, showcasing its strategic strength through ‘Operation Sindoor’, and achieving major successes in sports.

The Prime Minister has set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047, and Haryana is contributing to this journey by touching new heights of development, he said.

Saini emphasised that to sustain and accelerate national progress, it is essential to keep youth away from drugs and engage them in productive work.

The campaign has, in the past five years, spread awareness and inspired society to break free from addiction, he said.

The Chief Minister said the government enacts strict laws against drug trafficking and ensures the harshest punishment for offenders.

To strengthen enforcement, Haryana has established an inter-state secretariat in Panchkula with seven other states to share intelligence and coordinate anti-drug efforts.

However, he noted, eliminating drugs from society cannot be achieved by law alone. Public awareness, social participation, and especially youth engagement are essential, said Saini. –IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Friday organised a dialogue programme titled “Parents’ Town Hall” in Janakpuri Assembly, informing parents that all 1,700 private schools will come under the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025.

During the interaction, Ashish Sood clarified that due to a loophole in the 1973 law, only 300 of Delhi’s 1,700 private schools were subject to fee regulation.

“With the new law, all private schools will now come under the ambit of fee regulation. The new process also lays down specific timelines – committee decision by 15 July, district-level decision by 30 July, and final decision by September. If no decision is made within 45 days, the matter will go to the appellate committee,” he said.

Sood shed light on every important detail related to the Education Bill such as how the Bill was implemented, what rights parents have under it, and how they can be part of this historic change. Parents were given comprehensive information on all these aspects.

Around 200 parents from Janakpuri participated in the programme, discussed the Education Bill with the Minister, and sought detailed information on various provisions. They also shared several important suggestions with the Minister and requested him to address their concerns about the Bill at the earliest.

The Education Minister assured parents that every child in the capital will now get quality education and that no child will be deprived of education due to financial reasons.

He said that private schools are necessary for Delhi, but transparency and accountability in fee fixation are equally essential.

The Minister informed the gathering that in the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 was passed with a majority.

This Bill will put an end to arbitrary practices by private schools and ensure transparency in fee fixation, active participation of parents, and veto power on fee hikes.

The Bill provides that if any school increases its fees without government approval, it will face a fine ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, and in case of failure to refund excess charges, double the penalty will be imposed.

The Director of Education will be given powers similar to an SDM to ensure uniform action against all schools.

Sood said that previous governments neither brought transparency in the education sector nor created a robust system or law for fee regulation. Those who claimed to be the architects of an “education revolution” only carried out a liquor scam.

Our government has prepared this Bill after discussions with parents and several education experts, which will not only curb the commercialisation of education but also protect children’s dreams, he said.

He informed parents that in the new process of fee determination for private schools, parents and other stakeholders will have direct participation and a clear role. This will not only bring transparency but also protect parents from the burden of exorbitant fees.

The Minister further said that parents sent their children to private schools because the previous government, under the guise of an “education revolution,” made no real improvements in education and only misled people through advertisements.

He emphasised that if government schools had better classrooms, environment, and facilities, no parent would be paying Rs 10,000 per month in fees. Under the new law, several stakeholders – including parents, students, teachers, non-teaching staff, school management, and government representatives – will be involved in the process of fee fixation.

–IANS

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