Haryana makes provision of Rs 5,000 crore for ‘Lado Laxmi Yojana’: CM Saini

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 (IANS) Three weeks after the single bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the death of Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu, who was found hanging at his official residence on October 15, 2024, his widow on Wednesday filed an appeal before a division bench.

On January 6, the single bench of the high court dismissed her petition and then, Babu’s wife, K. Manjusha announced plans to appeal against the decision.

She then said, “This is not the end. We will file an appeal with the High Court division bench,” and on Wednesday, she filed her plea and stated the present police probe was not acceptable.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government, which had initially pledged support to Babu’s family, opposed the demand for a CBI probe during court proceedings.

Naveen Babu, a reputed and upright officer, was found dead a day after his official farewell from Kannur.

The controversy began when P.P. Divya, Kannur District Panchayat President and a CPI(M) leader, attended Babu’s farewell event uninvited and accused him of corruption.

The family alleged that Divya’s remarks were politically motivated and caused immense distress to Babu.

Divya, who was later arrested and briefly jailed in connection with the case, resigned from her position amidst mounting criticism.

Ever since the suicide report came out, Manjusha and the family were unhappy with the way the police went about it and repeatedly her counsel argued that the inquest and post-mortem were conducted hastily, without the family’s presence. It was also pointed out that forceful ligature marks were found on Babu’s neck, requiring scientific examination. The family also expressed fears that Divya’s strong political connections might hinder a fair investigation by the state police.

The Kerala government opposed the plea, asserting that the state police’s ongoing investigation was impartial and based on evidence. The government’s counsel argued that the demand for a CBI probe relied on assumptions without substantial proof.

Divya’s corruption allegations against Babu stemmed from a delay in issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump application by T.V. Prasanth, an electrician at the Kannur Medical College. Notably, Prasanth was reportedly a colleague of Divya’s husband, raising suspicions about personal motives behind the accusations. Amid the uproar following Babu’s death, Divya went into hiding but was arrested on October 29, 2024 after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected. She was released on bail on November 8, 2024.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, March 4 (IANS) BJP MP K. Laxman said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given an assurance that South India will not lose a single Lok Sabha seat in the delimitation process.

The Rajya Sabha MP told media persons here that after the general census, delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies would be taken up and the reservation for women would be finalised.

Laxman said the population in Telugu states has come down compared to 2011. Though population in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has come down, the number of Parliamentary seats in these states will not come down.

The BJP leader pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act proposed increasing the Assembly seats in Telangana to 153.

Laxman also denied that there was any talk of appointing a leader from South India as the National President of the BJP.

The MP said the party has already announced party presidents for 11 states and soon presidents for other states would also be appointed.

Laxman alleged that the government of Telangana was trying to mislead the Centre over the Regional Ring Road (RRR) and asked the Congress whether it was undertaking RRR for real estate business.

He accused the Congress of repeating the mistakes of the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.

He alleged that BRS leaders tried to reap benefits with RRR alignment. He said before coming to power Congress leaders had promised to rectify the mistakes of the BRS government but after coming to power they forgot the promises.

The Rajya Sabha member said if 10 per cent Muslims were not included in the list of Backward Classes, the proposal by the Telangana government to enhance reservations for Backward Classes would be accepted.

He alleged that the caste survey conducted in Telangana was full of inaccuracies. He also remarked that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has not satisfied anyone by conducting the caste survey.

Laxman also stated that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was worried over the growing strength of the BJP in the state.

He said changing the chief minister was an internal matter of the Congress party but they wish him to remain the CM for the remaining four years.

–IANS

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Ranchi, Feb 9 (IANS) The 1857 revolution is cited as India’s first war of independence, but the tribal warriors of Jharkhand (then Chhotanagpur) had already begun their struggle against British rule years before. Among these valiant fighters was Telanga Kharia, whose 219th birth anniversary is being observed with great reverence in Jharkhand on Sunday.

Born on February 9, 1806, in Murgu village under the Sisai police station (now in Gumla district, Jharkhand), Telanga Kharia ignited the flames of rebellion against British exploitation in the minds of people. Nearly a decade before the 1857 revolt, he organised village panchayats across Jharkhand to resist colonial oppression.

These panchayats mobilised thousands, forming armed squads to challenge British rule. Alarmed by his growing influence, the British government arrested and imprisoned him. However, even incarceration could not halt his movement. Later, a loyalist landlord of the British ambushed and assassinated him.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren paid glowing tribute to him on social media, stating, “Tributes to the brave son of the revolutionary land of Jharkhand, who fought against British exploitation, on the birth anniversary of Amar Veer Shaheed Telanga Kharia.”

Former Chief Minister and Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi also commemorated him, writing, “Tributes to the great revolutionary who courageously opposed British rule, the brave son of Jharkhand, Telanga Kharia ji, on his birth anniversary!”

Telanga Kharia was born into a modest farming family. His father, Huia Kharia, and mother, Peto Kharia, raised him with values of courage and resilience. Tribal folk songs still celebrate his bravery, depicting him as a warrior from an early age.

Between 1840 and 1850, he led the formation of Juri Panchayats, which became a centre of organised resistance against the British and their allies – the feudal landlords.

At these panchayats, he trained his followers in traditional warfare, including the use of gadka (wooden stick), swords, and arrows. Sisai emerged as the primary hub of training.

According to folklore, Telanga Kharia’s skill with his sword was so extraordinary that it was said to rival British rifles and guns, as if divinely blessed.

Captured by the British, he was imprisoned in Kolkata for nearly twenty years. After his release, he resumed his fight, rallying his people against British tyranny.

On April 23, 1880, while conducting arms training at Sisai Maidan, he was fatally shot by a British loyalist hiding in the bushes.

In his memory, a tomb was built at Chandali, three km from Gumla, while his only statue stands in his native village, Murgu.

His descendants continue to live in Ghaghra village, near Murgu, where the Kharia community regard him as a revered ancestor and worships him like a deity.

Telanga Kharia’s legacy remains a symbol of resistance and valour, inspiring generations in Jharkhand and beyond.

–IANS

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