Brutal killing of two labourers at under-construction hostel in Greater Noida triggers panic

New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrived in India late Tuesday evening on a three-day official visit, marking a key moment in the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.

This is Wong’s first visit to India after assuming office and he is accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation which includes cabinet ministers and senior officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wong are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on Thursday with the visiting PM calling on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the day.

On Wednesday, the Singapore PM is scheduled to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and other dignitaries are also scheduled to call on PM Wong during his visit to India.

The visit is expected to witness the signing of several high-level agreements across sectors, including finance, digital innovation, skill development, civil aviation, maritime cooperation, and space technology.

“Singapore is an important partner for India, including in our ‘Act East’ Policy. During the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Singapore in September 2024, bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

Lawrence Wong’s visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations, reaffirming the continued commitment of both nations to further strengthen the partnership. The MEA further stated, “The visit will provide an opportunity for both Prime Ministers to review our robust and multifaceted cooperation and to set the path for future collaboration. The two Prime Ministers will also engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest.”

Singapore and India elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during PM Modi’s visit to Singapore in 2024. The two nations are expanding and deepening collaboration in future-oriented areas like sustainability, advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, skills development, connectivity and space. This reflects the shared commitment of two nations to tackling current challenges and securing long-term resilience.

The visit comes on the heels of the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in New Delhi on August 13. During the roundtable, ministers from both countries reviewed progress in cooperation under six key pillars: Advanced Manufacturing, Connectivity, Digitalisation, Healthcare and Medicine, Skill Development, and Sustainability. Several new initiatives were identified to enhance collaboration in these areas.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state and alleging large-scale disenfranchisement of genuine voters.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, sought the poll body’s response and posted the matter for further hearing on Monday.

In her plea, Banerjee has sought urgent interim directions to restrain the ECI from deleting the name of any voter during the SIR exercise, particularly those placed under the “logical discrepancy” category, while the matter remains under judicial consideration.

Appearing for the West Bengal Chief Minister, senior advocate Shyam Divan contended that the revision exercise is being carried out in undue haste, with only 11 days remaining for the final publication of the electoral rolls, scheduled for February 14, while barely four days are left to complete hearings of objections.

Divan submitted that around 32 lakh voters are “unmapped” and over 1.36 crore voters have been placed in the logical discrepancy list.

The senior counsel alleged that nearly 70 lakh notices have been issued merely on account of minor spelling mismatches in names, a common occurrence when Bengali names are transliterated into English.

“Domicile certificates, Aadhaar, OBC certificates — none of these are being accepted. People are standing in queues for four to five hours, and yet reasons for flagging names are not being published,” Divan argued.

At this, the CJI-led Bench remarked that spelling variations due to local dialects are pan-India phenomena and cannot become a ground to exclude bona fide voters.

During the hearing, Banerjee sought and was granted permission to address the apex court.

“I can explain the problem. I belong to this state,” she said, claiming that repeated representations to the ECI had gone unanswered.

“I am from a common family. I am not important. But I am fighting for everyone,” Banerjee told the bench, alleging that the SIR process is creating discrimination and fear.

She claimed that women who change surnames after marriage and people who shift residences are being disproportionately affected.

CM Banerjee alleged that West Bengal is being selectively targeted ahead of elections, pointing out that similar exercises are not being conducted in northeast states like Assam. She further claimed that more than 100 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have died or fallen ill due to stress caused by the process, and accused the ECI of acting in violation of earlier top court directions.

Responding to the submissions, the CJI-led Bench assured that the Supreme Court would find a “practical solution”, adding that no genuine voter’s right can be taken away.

“We will not shy away from our responsibility. We will ensure a solution,” the top court said, while clarifying that the broader challenge to the validity of the SIR process is being heard separately.

Appearing for the ECI, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi submitted that the poll body was compelled to appoint micro-observers due to the West Bengal government’s failure to provide an adequate number of Class-B officers to act as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) despite repeated requests.

At this, the bench remarked that if the state government furnishes a list of officers who can be spared for SIR duties, the role of micro-observers could be reconsidered. The apex court also indicated that it would ask the ECI to examine complaints relating to name mismatches and refrain from issuing notices for minor spelling errors.

Ultimately, the apex court issued notice to the ECI on Banerjee’s plea and directed the poll body to file its response by Monday, the next date of hearing.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 10 (IANS) A nun who survived alleged sexual abuse by a Bishop has spoken out about the ordeal she has endured over the past eight years, alleging isolation, intimidation and institutional silence.

Speaking to Asianet TV, Sister Ranit said her present life feels as though her “hands and legs are tied,” as she continues to face social ostracism and uncertainty even years after the complaint was made.

Recalling the aftermath of raising the abuse allegation within the Church, the survivor said she was immediately isolated.

She alleged that three nuns were forced to leave the congregation due to sustained harassment, including stone-pelting, following the controversy.

The remaining three, including herself, now survive by doing tailoring work at the convent, she said, adding that it was the continued silence of the diocese leadership that eventually pushed them out.

Sister Ranit further alleged that Bishop Franco attempted to implicate her family members and fellow nuns in false cases, and that there were nuns within the convent who actively supported him.

She also dismissed allegations that the complaint was motivated by money, stating that she has not received even a single rupee from either the diocese or Bishop Franco.

Responding to questions on why she remained silent despite repeated abuse, the survivor said fear was the overriding factor.

A nun, she explained, is taught that moral purity is paramount, and once society is told that it has been violated, expulsion from the congregation becomes inevitable.

She said she was personally aware of several women who were forced to leave the convent under similar circumstances and were later labeled as having “run away from the convent,” a stigma that brings lifelong shame not only to the individual but also to their family.

It was this fear, she said, that compelled her to suppress the truth for years and continue living within the convent.

Sister Ranit added that similar experiences exist in several convents, but remain largely unspoken due to fear and social pressure.

Bishop Franco Mulakkal served as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar from 2013 until his arrest in 2018 on charges of raping a nun, becoming the first Catholic Bishop in India to be arrested in a rape case.

In January 2022, a Kerala district court acquitted him of all charges after examining the testimonies of 39 witnesses, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Despite the acquittal, the supporting nuns continue to pursue their cause. Following sustained controversy, Mulakkal was asked by the Vatican to resign, and Pope Francis accepted his resignation in June 2023.

–IANS

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