Varanasi demolition: BJP slams use of AI to ‘mislead’ nation for political gain

Delhi, June 1 (IANS) A major demolition drive is underway at Madrasi Camp, a slum cluster located along the Barapullah drain in Southeast Delhi’s Jangpura, following a directive from the Delhi High Court to clear the area for the restoration and cleaning of the drain.

The operation, which began amidst heavy deployment of paramilitary forces and the Delhi Police, is targeting the removal of over 300 slums.

The residents of the area have launched protests, raising concerns about inadequate rehabilitation, even as some families have been offered alternative housing in Narela.

Of the 370 shanties located at the site, 215 families have been identified as eligible for relocation under the Prime Minister’s ‘Jahan Jhuggi Waha Makaan’ rehabilitation scheme and have been offered flats in Narela.

Initially, only 189 families were included in the relocation plan. However, a revised list added 26 more families.

Seeing her home demolished, a resident told IANS, “What should I say? They have looted us. We have nothing left now. ‘Jaha Jhuggi Waha Makaan’ is a lie. They lie about allocating homes. Everything they say is a lie.”

“Right now, I don’t even have the courage to speak about it,” she added, wiping her tears.

Madrasi Camp, which was established between 1968 and 1970, is being cleared for a restoration project involving the 16-kilometre-long Barapullah drain — a Mughal-era structure estimated to be around 400 years old.

The demolition is a result of the Delhi High Court’s May 9 order, directing authorities to clear encroachments to facilitate cleaning and restoration of the oversaturated drain.

The court order followed a public interest litigation filed during the 2024 monsoon, highlighting severe flooding in parts of Nizamuddin East and Jangpura.

The court had instructed multiple civic agencies — including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Public Works Department (PWD) — to take action and restore the drain to prevent future flooding.

On September 1, 2024, the MCD carried out the initial phase of the demolition, tearing down several homes and evicting all street vendors from the area.

Several families have not yet received flat allotments, fueling further discontent among the residents.

Over the past eight months, Madrasi Camp has been a focal point of political confrontation and administrative conflict.

Various civic agencies and political parties have been embroiled in disagreements over the demolition process and responsibility.

When the first wave of demolitions occurred in September 2024, the AAP, which was then in power in Delhi, accused the BJP of orchestrating the evictions. The AAP leaders also joined a section of the residents in protest against the move.

In response, the BJP leaders aligned with another faction of the camp’s residents and blamed AAP for the mismanagement and lack of rehabilitation efforts.

The political battle intensified during the Assembly elections held in February this year when leaders from both parties visited the area and promised support to the affected families.

–IANS

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Kolkata, June 17 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Tuesday that it has charge sheeted four more accused in the attack case of BJP leader Priyangu Pandey at Bhatpara, which took place in August last year, in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

The four accused have been identified as Pious Prasad a.k.a. Sujal, Md. Tipu a.k.a. Tipua, Mohit Mahato a.k.a. Sahi, and Md. Javed a.k.a. Anda.

As per the NIA statement, all four of them have been charged under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act in the 3rd supplementary chargesheet filed before the NIA Special Court, Kolkata, on Monday.

“With this, a total of 18 accused have been charge-sheeted so far, of whom 17 have been arrested and one is still absconding. NIA investigations have revealed that the four men now charge-sheeted were actively involved in the criminal conspiracy related to the attack on the entourage of Priyangu Pandey with explosives and firearms near Gate No. 3 of the Anglo Indian Jute Mill staff quarters in P.S Bhatpara area,” the NIA statement read.

The attack took place while Priyangu Pandey and his team were on their way to the residence of a former BJP Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore constituency in North 24 Parganas district, Arjun Singh.

“Pandey’s driver Ravi Verma and one of his close aides, Rabi Singh, suffered gunshot injuries in the attack,” the NIA statement read.

The NIA investigation has already exposed a criminal conspiracy behind the attack, which has been detailed in the charge sheet.

After the attack, Pandey accused the ruling Trinamool Congress activists of leading the pre-planned attack on him.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs directed the transfer of the case from the West Bengal Police to the NIA, expressing concerns over public safety since explosives and firearms were used during the attack.

Thereafter, NIA started the investigation after registering a first information report in the matter.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 2 (IANS) Karnataka Minister for Higher Education M.C. Sudhakar on Friday said that an announcement on granting menstrual leave for college students would be made if directions are issued by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Minister made the statement in Bengaluru while responding to a media query on the issue. He said that if the Chief Minister issues directions, the government would announce menstrual leave for female students studying in colleges as well as postgraduate programmes in universities.

“Once directions come from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a decision will be taken, and his word will be final,” Sudhakar said.

It may be recalled that the Karnataka government recently announced one-day menstrual leave for working women, under which women aged between 18 and 52 years are entitled to one day of paid leave every month.

The policy provides for a paid holiday to allow women to rest during menstruation and applies to permanent, contractual and outsourced employees.

The government order in this regard was issued on November 12, 2025, directing employers to provide a total of 12 paid menstrual leaves annually.

However, the Karnataka High Court on December 9 issued an interim order staying the government notification directing registered industrial establishments to provide one-day menstrual leave for working women.

The interim order was passed while hearing petitions filed by the Bangalore Hotels Association and the management of Avirata AFL Connectivity Systems Limited, challenging the government notification.

Later the same day, the High Court recalled its interim stay on the State government’s notification. The matter is scheduled to be relisted after the winter vacation, with the High Court resuming work from January 5.

The government notification, issued on November 20, 2025, mandated industrial establishments to provide paid menstrual leave to women employees.

The petition seeking to quash the government order stated that the establishments are registered under various labour laws — including the Factories Act, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, the Plantations Labour Act, the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, and the Motor Transport Workers Act — under which employees are entitled to only 12 days of leave per year.

The Karnataka Cabinet had approved the Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025, in October last year, granting women one paid leave per month.

–IANS

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