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'100 per cent organic state' Sikkim gets FAO award
India's "100 per cent organic state" Sikkim has won the "Oscar for best policies", conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the world's best policies promoting agroecological and sustainable food systems. Sikkim won the Future Policy Award 2018, beating 51 nominated policies from 25 countries, according to a statement. Policies from Brazil, Denmark and Quito (Ecuador) bagged silver awards. The award is co-organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Future Council (WFC) and IFOAM - Organics International. Sikkim became the first state in India to officially announce adoption of organic farming in the year 2003 to ensure long term sustenance of soil fertility, protection of environment and ecology, healthy living and decreasing the risk of health ailments. In 2003, Sikkim stopped imports of chemical fertilizers in the State and since then the cultivatable land there is practically organic and farmers of Sikkim are traditional users of organic manure. "Sikkim is the first organic state in the world. All of its farmland is certified organic. At the same time, Sikkim's approach reaches beyond organic production and has proven truly transformational for the state and its citizens," the statement said. Embedded in its design are socioeconomic aspects such as consumption and market expansion, cultural aspects as well as health, education, rural development and sustainable tourism. The policy implemented a phase out of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. The transition has benefitted more than 66, 000 farming families. The Sikkim tourism sector has benefitted greatly from the state's transition to 100 per cent organic as the number of tourists increased by over 50 per cent between 2014 and 2017, it said. "As such, Sikkim sets an excellent example of how other Indian states and countries worldwide can successfully upscale agroecology," it said. The 2018 Future Policy Award (FPA) commended proven policies that effectively scale up agroecological approaches at local, national and international levels. It celebrated outstanding examples for accelerating the transformative change in the way food is produced and consumed. Winners of this year's Future Policy Award will be celebrated during World Food Week in a ceremony on Monday at FAO headquarters in Rome.October 15, 2018 -
Sonowal, AASU welcome court martial verdict on 1994 fake encounter
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the All Assam Students' Union Monday welcomed a court martial verdict sentencing seven Army personnel, including a major general, to life imprisonment for a fake encounter 24 years ago and said the long wait for justice had finally ended. The summary general court martial looked into the extra-judicial killing of the five people in February 1994 after a unit of the Punjab Regiment picked them up along with four others from different places in Tinsukia. Those found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by the court martial, held at the 2 Infantry Mountain Division at Dinjan in Dibrugarh district of Assam, are Major General A K Lal, Colonels Thomas Mathew and R S Sibiren and JCOs and NCOs Dilip Singh, Jagdeo Singh, Albindar Singh and Shivendar Singh. "It is a welcome judgement. The judgement will strengthen people's faith in judiciary and the Army," Sonowal told PTI. He said the verdict, which was delivered Saturday, will be a deterrent to people in authority not to engage in unlawful acts and to behave responsibly and in a fair manner. The verdict will give solace to the families of the victims, who were innocent students and youths, the chief minister added. Sonowal said the judgement is a reflection of India's democratic values where human rights and fairness are respected. "The Army has also worked in a fair manner without any prejudice," he said. During the fake encounter at Dangori in Tinsukia district, Sonowal was AASU president and had sought an impartial probe into the case. "The long wait of the families for justice has come to an end and I hope the higher authorities will uphold the judgement," he said. "Justice has been given at last and we welcome it," added AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath. The verdict will have to be confirmed by the "higher competent authorities" like the Eastern Command in Kolkata and Army Headquarters in New Delhi, officials said. The Army men can file appeals against the verdict before the armed forces tribunal and the Supreme Court. The Army detained the group of nine at the Dhola Army camp after the general manager of Assam Frontier Tea Limited at Talap Tea Estate, Rameswar Singh, was killed by Ulfa militants. The five later killed on February 23, 1994 were Prabin Sonowal, Pradip Dutta, Debajit Biswas, Akhil Sonowal and Bhaben Moran. "We are happy that we and the family members of our five victims are victorious in our legal battle. We believe in democracy and welcome the verdict. We thank the legal system for giving justice," Nath told PTI. There can be no compensation for the loss of the families of the AASU members but they have finally got justice, he added. "Many innocent people, including young men and women, lost their lives in Army operations in Assam," the leader of the influential students organisation claimed. AASU general secretary Luringjyoti Gogoi said the government should give a government job to a member of each of the five families. "As Chief Minister Sarbananda Snowal was then AASU leader and then AASU leader Jagadish Bhuyan, who had filed a case against the fake encounter, is now an MLA, it is their responsibility to take the initiative to rehabilitate the five families by giving a government job to a member of each victim family," he said. The AASU leaders were taken to Dholla Army Camp where they were detained following the killing of Assam Frontier Tea Limited general manager Rameswar Singh at the Talap Tea Estate by ULFA exremists, said a family member of one of those who were killed. He did not want to be identified. Bhuyan had filed a habeas corpus in Gauhati High Court which had ordered the Army to produce the nine AASU leaders at the nearest police station on February 21, 1994, he said. According to the case history, the Army produced five bodies on February 22 at the Dholla Police Station, which refused to accept the bodies, while the remaining four were released in different locations. Huge protests erupted across the state after the incident with AASU demanding justice for its leaders.October 15, 2018 -
এন আৰ চিৰ খচৰাত অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত নোহোৱা, ডি ভোটাৰ ৰূপে হাৰাশাস্তিঃ ভেৰগাঁৱত বৰ্মন-কছাৰী জনগোষ্ঠীৰ প্ৰতিবাদ
অসমৰ ভূমিপুত্ৰ বৰ্মন-কছাৰী জনগোষ্ঠীৰ লোকসকলৰ ভাৰতীয় নাগৰিকত্বৰ বৈধ নথি-পত্ৰ থকাৰ পাছতো ৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় নাগৰিকপঞ্জীৰ খচৰাত নাম অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত নোহোৱাৰ লগতে জনগোষ্ঠীটোৰ লোকসকলক ডি ভোটাৰৰ নামত হাৰাশাস্তি কৰাৰ প্ৰতিবাদত আজি সদৌ অসম বৰ্মন-কছাৰী ছাত্ৰ সন্থাৰ ওদালগুৰি জিলা সমিতিয়ে ভেৰগাঁও মহকুমা সদৰত তিনিঘণ্টীয়া প্ৰতিবাদী ধৰ্ণা কাৰ্যসূচী ৰূপায়ণ কৰে ৷ বৰ্মন জনগোষ্ঠীৰ লোকসকল দেশৰ স্বাধীনতাৰ ৭১ বছৰৰ পাছতো শৈক্ষিক, সামাজিক, অৰ্থনৈতিক আদি সকলো দিশতে অৱহেলিত হৈ অহা সত্ত্বেও চৰকাৰে কোনো ব্যৱস্থা গ্ৰহণ নকৰাত বৰ্মন কছাৰী ছাত্ৰ সন্থাই বাৰম্বাৰ আৱদন-নিৱেদন কৰাৰ উপৰি আন্দোলনৰ কাৰ্যসূচী গ্ৰহণ কৰি আহিছে ৷ ইয়াৰ পাছতো এন আৰ চিৰ নামত অসমৰ ভূমিপুত্ৰ জনগোষ্ঠীটোক হাৰাশাস্তি কৰি অহাৰ প্ৰতিবাদত আজি জনগোষ্ঠীটোৰ কেইবা শতাধিক পুৰুষ-মহিলাই হাতে-হাতে বেনাৰ, প্লেকাৰ্ড লৈ বিভিন্ন শ্ল’গানেৰে প্ৰতিবাদ সাব্যস্ত কৰে ৷ শুদ্ধ এন আৰ চি প্ৰস্তুত কৰাত বৰ্মন কছাৰীসকলে আদৰণি জনাই আহিছে যদিও সম্প্ৰতি বিজেপি নেতৃত্বাধীন চৰকাৰে জনগোষ্ঠীটোক চৰম প্ৰতাৰণা কৰা বুলি অভিযোগ কৰে ৷ বৰ্মন-কছাৰীসকলক এন আৰ চিৰ খচৰাত অন্তৰ্ভুক্তৰ লগতে ‘ডি’ ভোটাৰৰ নামত হাৰাশাস্তি কৰাৰ সমস্যাটো শীঘ্ৰে সমাধানৰ দাবী জনাই সংগঠনটোৱে আজি উপায়ুক্তলৈ স্মাৰক-পত্ৰ প্ৰেৰণ কৰে ৷October 15, 2018 -
Gauhati HC notice to Assam govt, police over Nagaon DSP suspension
The Gauhati High Court has issued notices to the Assam government and police over an alleged conspiracy to suspend a deputy superintendent of police. Accepting a writ petition filed by Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police Sabita Das, who was placed under suspension for allegedly asking for a bribe, the high court issued notices to eight parties Friday. The court of Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak issued notices to the Assam government, home secretary, home and political secretary, director general of police, additional DGP (administration), additional DGP (law and order), Nagaon superintendent of police and Nagaon Sadar police station officer-in-charge. The petition by Das was filed on October 9 and was accepted three days later. The next date for hearing was fixed on November 24. Das claimed in the petition that "she is a victim of departmental rivalry and the whole alleged complaint is an outcome of the intolerant attitude shown by the petitioner towards illegal activities of some of her subordinate officers, who are the blue-eyed boys of some of her superior officers". "The petitioner (Das) has every reason to believe that the complaint filed against her and the subsequent departmental inquiry is an outcome of the conspiracy done by some of the officials of her department," the writ petition said. Das alleged the whole procedure of conducting the inquiry against her, based on which the suspension order was issued, was "arbitrary and adopted with malafide intention", making it liable for setting aside and quashing. "The petitioner through her inquiry reports...has raised question over the nexus of some of the police officials with criminals and also about undisciplined behaviour of some of her subordinate officers, but till date no action has been taken against those police officers," Das alleged. The suspended DSP also claimed in the petition that she has not received any subsistence allowance till date, making it difficult for her to survive. When she had enquired about it, the Nagaon SP informed "as the order of suspension did not contain anything about payment of subsistence allowances, hence it cannot be paid to her, which is illegal, arbitrary and not sustainable in law", it said. The incident took place on the midnight of August 31, when Das picked up four youths for allegedly consuming alcohol inside a car in Nagaon city. The youths could not produce any documents for the car or identity proofs. They were handed over to the Nagaon Sadar Police Station for further action as per law and were released next afternoon after routine paperwork. However, on September 3, one of the four, Sourabh Hazarika, claimed that a home guard Jyoti Khound had allegedly sought a bribe of Rs 40,000 on behalf of Das and filed a complaint before the DGP. A departmental enquiry was conducted by additional DGP (administration) against Das and the report was submitted on September 7, following which she was placed under suspension on September 17. Das claimed in the writ petition that she was not even informed about the enquiry and her version was not recorded, whereas she came to know about it only after receiving the suspension order. The DSP had even filed a complaint against Hazarika and Khound on September 5, but no action was initiated. There was no action or even an inquiry conducted against the homeguard Khound.October 15, 2018
Opinion
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মাটিৰ মোল আৰু মূল্য
এইখন কাকততে উদীয়মান সাহসী সাংবাদিক কংকণ বৰঠাকুৰে পৰিৱেশন কৰা এক সংবাদ-প্রতিৱেদনৰ পৰা অৱগত হ’লোঁ যে একালত অসমৰ সাংস্কৃতিক ৰাজধানী ৰূপে পৰিচিত যোৰহাট নগৰৰ একাংশ লোকে এই নগৰত অৱস্থিত ঘৰ-বাৰী বিক্রী কৰি ক্রমশঃ এক বহিঃ প্রব্রজনৰ প্রৱণতা প্রদর্শন কৰিছে৷ এই বিষয়টোৰ গুৰুত্ব কেৱল যোৰহাটবাসীৰ বাবেই নহয়, গোটেই খিলঞ্জীয়া অসমীয়া সমাজখনৰ কাৰণেই অতি বেছি৷ অসমীয়া সমাজ-জীৱনত মহানগৰী গুৱাহাটীৰ পাছতে যোৰহাট, ডিব্রুগড়, তেজপুৰ, শিৱসাগৰ, নগাঁও, বৰপেটা, উত্তৰ লক্ষীমপুৰ, নলবাৰী, বঙাইগাঁও, গোলাঘাট, তিনিচুকীয়া, গোৱালপাৰা, মঙলদৈ ইত্যাদি নগৰসমূহে বিশেষ ভূমিকা গ্রহণ কৰি আহিছে৷ কিন্তু উল্লিখিত নগৰ-মহানগৰসমূহৰ ভিতৰৰ একাংশ ইতিমধ্যে বহিৰাগত জন-সমষ্টিৰ কবলত পৰিছে৷ অসমীয়া সংস্কৃতিৰ একো-একোটি স্নায়ুকেন্দ্র হিচাপে পৰিগণিত হোৱা নগাঁও, বৰপেটা গোৱালপাৰা আদি কেইবাখনো নগৰ পূর্ববংগমূলীয় সম্প্রদায়ৰ লোকসকলে চৌদিশৰ পৰা গ্রাস কৰি আনিছে৷ আনকি ঐতিহ্যমণ্ডিত তেজপুৰ নগৰৰ বেলিকাও একে ভাবুকিৰ সৃষ্টি হৈছে৷ যিকেইখন সদৰ নগৰীত খিলঞ্জীয়া অসমীয়াৰ প্রাধান্য এতিয়াও বর্তি আছে, সিবোৰৰ ভিতৰৰ যোৰহাট মহানগৰীয়েই সর্বপ্রধান৷ লক্ষণীয়ভাৱে এই নগৰখনৰ পার্শ্বৱর্তী অঞ্চলসমূহ এই পর্যন্ত বিদেশী নাগৰিকৰ আগ্রাসনৰ পৰা বহুলাংশে মুক্ত হৈ ৰৈছে৷ ইয়াৰ বিপৰীতে গুৱাহাটী মহানগৰীতো ঘাইকৈ পূব দিশে অৱস্থিৰ মায়ং-পৰিতৰাৰ পৰা আগ্রাসনৰ সূচনা হৈ গৈছে৷ এই সর্বনশীয়া পৰিঘটনাটোলৈ মন কৰিলে অদূৰ ভৱিষ্যতে খিলঞ্জীয়া অসমীয়াসকলৰ কি গতি হ’বগৈ, সেই কথা ভবাটোৱেই টান হৈ পৰিছে৷ নিজাকৈ একোখন গৃহভূমি অবিহনে একোটা জাতি কিম্বা জনগোষ্ঠীয়ে আপোন অস্তিত্ব ৰক্ষা কৰি চলাটো কিমান কষ্টকৰ, তাৰ উদাহৰণ বিচাৰিলে ইতিহাসৰ পাতে পাতে পোৱা যায়৷ তেনে স্থলত অসমীয়া জাতিয়ে সুপ্রাচীন গৃহভূমি এই সুজলা-সুফলা ব্রহ্মপুত্র উপত্যকা এৰি পৃথিৱীৰ ক’ত দ্বিতীয় এখন গৃহভূমি বিচাৰি পাব, সেই কথা অতিশয় চিন্তনীয় হৈ উঠিছে৷ এই যে জাতিটোৱে ক্রমান্বয়ে আপোন গৃহভূমি হেৰুৱাবৰ উপক্রম কৰিছে, তাৰে একাংশ কাৰণ ইতিহাসপ্রসূত আৰু আন একাংশৰ বাবে অসমীয়া মানুহখিনি নিজে জগৰীয়া৷ অসমীয়া মানুহখিনিয়ে মাটিৰ মোল আচলতে এতিয়াও বুজিব পৰা হোৱা নাই৷ নহ’লে সৰু সৰু অজুহাতত বহুসংখ্যক অসমীয়াই নিজৰ দখলত থকা সোণসেৰীয়া ভূ-সম্পত্তি পানীৰ দামত বহিৰাগত লোকসকলৰ হাতত তুলি নিদিলেহেঁতেন৷ লক্ষণীয়ভাৱে অসমীয়া মানুহে মাটি বিক্রী কৰাৰ কাৰণবোৰো অতি বিচিত্র৷ উত্তৰাধিকাৰ সূত্রে লাভ কৰা বিশাল ভূ-সম্পদ অলাগতিয়াল বোজা বুলি ভবা লোকৰ সংখ্যা এইখন অসমত এটা সময়ত নিচেই তাকৰ নাছিল৷ এনে এচাম মানুহেই ছোৱালীৰ তোলনি-বিয়া পাতিবৰ কাৰণেও মাটি বিক্রী কৰিছিল৷ ল’ৰা চহৰত ৰাখি কলেজত পঢ়াবৰ নিমিতেও এচামে খেতিৰ মাটি হয় বন্ধকত থৈছিল নতুবা বিক্রী কৰিছিল৷ আনহাতে কেতিয়াবা এৰাব নোৱৰা বিপদত পৰি অনেকে মাটি বেচিবলৈ বাধ্য হৈছিল৷ এনে বিপদ-আপদৰ ভিতৰত জটিল ৰোগৰ চিকিৎসা কৰোৱা অথবা অপৰাধ সংঘটিত কৰা পৰিয়ালৰ কোনো সদস্যক আইনী মেৰ-পেঁঁচৰ পৰা উলিয়াই অনা আদিয়েই প্রধান৷ গুৱাহাটী মহানগৰীৰ মাজ-মজিয়াত বর্তমান সোমাই পৰা এক বৃহৎ পৰিমাণৰ মাটিৰ গৰাকী আছিল পোনতে জনজাতীয় ভূমিপুত্রসকল৷ এইসকলৰ ভিতৰত ভৈয়ামৰ কার্বি, বড়ো, গাৰো আদিয়েই প্রধান৷ অসমৰ ৰাজধানী শ্বিলঙৰ পৰা গুৱাহাটীলৈ নমাই অনাৰ সময়ত এচাম মাটিৰ দালালে ভূমিপুত্রসকলৰ অগাধ ভূ-সম্পত্তি নামমাত্র মূল্য দি হস্তগত কৰি লয় আৰু মহানগৰীখনত বর্তমান তেনে একোকঠা মাটিৰ মূল্য কোটি টকাৰো অধিক৷ আজিৰ পৰা চাৰি-পাঁচ দশক পূর্বে গুৱাহাটীৰ তেনে একোটা অঞ্চলত হয়তো ভূমি ক্রয়-বিক্রয় হৈছিল কঠাই প্রতি এক বা ডেৰ হাজাৰ টকাত৷ পূবোর্ক্ত ভূমিপুত্রসকলে কেতিয়াবা এবটল ফটিকাৰ কাৰণেও সেই দৰত মাটি বিক্রী কৰি দূৰ-দূৰণিৰ গ্রামাঞ্চললৈ গুচি যোৱাৰ অনেক কাহিনী আমি শুনিছোঁ৷ সি যি নহওক, বর্তমান গুৱাহাটীৰ উপকণ্ঠ অঞ্চলবিলাকতো মাটি দুষ্প্রাপ্য হৈ উঠিছে৷ পূবে সোণাপুৰ, ক্ষেত্রী, আনকি জাগীৰ’ড পর্যন্ত ক’তো এচিকটা মাটিও কিনিবলৈ নোপোৱা হৈ আহিছে৷ মহানগৰখনৰ পূবে-পশ্চিমে-উত্তৰে-দক্ষিণে অৱস্থিত অধিকাংশ মাটি বহু বছৰ আগেই এচাম অনা-অসমীয়া ব্যৱসায়ীৰ হাতলৈ গুচি গৈছে৷ সেই ভূভাগৰ ওপৰত সম্প্রতি অলেখ ব্যৱসায়িক প্রতিষ্ঠান আৰু উদ্যোগে মূৰ দাঙি উঠিছে যদিও সিবোৰৰ ভিতৰত অসমীয়া কিম্বা থলুৱা ব্যক্তিৰ স্বামিত্ববিশিষ্ট প্রতিষ্ঠানৰ সংখ্যা তেনেই নগণ্য৷ ওপৰৰ আলোচনাৰ পৰা এটা কথাই স্পষ্ট হৈ উঠিছে যে অসমৰ খিলঞ্জীয়া লোকসকলে মাটিৰ প্রকৃত মূল্য অর্থাৎ মোল অতীততো বুজিব পৰা নাছিল আৰু বর্তমানেও বুজিব পৰা নাই৷ কেইখনমান খমখমীয়া নোটৰ প্রতি ওপজা লালসাৰ ফলতে অসমৰ হীৰামূলীয়া ভূভাগ দ্রুত গতিৰে বহিৰাগত লোকসকলৰ হাতলৈ গুচি গৈছে৷ এই ভূমি হস্তান্তৰণৰ সর্বনশীয়া প্রক্রিয়াটো কেৱল নগৰাঞ্চল কিম্বা ৰাষ্ট্রীয় পথকেইটাৰ দুয়োকাষতে সীমাবদ্ধ হৈ থকা নাই৷ বৰঞ্চ গ্রামাঞ্চলসমূহতো এই সমস্যাটোৱে পৃথক ৰূপত গা কৰি উঠিছে৷ বর্তমান সময়ত গ্রামাঞ্চলৰ খিলঞ্জীয়াসকল সততে নগৰমুখী হোৱা দেখা গৈছে৷ গুৱাহাটী মহানগৰীৰ এটা সৰু ফ্লেট কিনিবৰ বাবেই হয়তো গাঁৱত থকা দহ বিঘা মাটি কোনোবাজনে বিক্রী কৰি দিছে৷ নতুবা কোনোবা এটা চৰকাৰী কার্যালয়ত পিয়নৰ চাকৰি এটা কিনিবৰ বাবে সম পৰিমাণৰ মাটি বন্ধকত থৈছে৷ কিয়নো আজিৰ চাম অসমীয়াৰ মানসিকতাই হৈছে এনে৷ গাঁৱত দহ পুৰা ৰুপিত মাটি থকা মানুহৰ ল’ৰা হৈয়ো উন্নত কৃষি-পদ্ধতি অৱলম্বনৰ জৰিয়তে সমনীয়া দহজনক এক সজ আদর্শ দেখুওৱাৰ সলনি পিয়ন-চকীদাৰৰ চাকৰি একোটাৰ পিছত দৌৰিবলৈহে তৰুণ প্রজন্মৰ অসমীয়াই ভাল পোৱা হৈছে৷ ইয়াৰ ফলত অসমৰ গ্রামাঞ্চলসমূহতো মাটিৰ মোল বুজা মানুহৰ সংখ্যা ক্ষিপ্র গতিৰে হ্রাস পাবলৈ ধৰিছে৷ তথাকথিত শিক্ষিত যুৱক-যুৱতীহঁতে সাতামপুৰুষীয়া কৃষি-কর্মলৈ পিঠি দি চহৰৰ চিক৲মিকনিত ভোল গৈছে৷ এনেকৈয়ে বর্তমান সময়ত খিলঞ্জীয়া অসমীয়াই ইকূল-সিকূল, দুইকূল হেৰুৱাবৰ উপক্রম হৈছে৷ অর্থাৎ গ্রামাঞ্চলৰ অসমীয়াই চহৰমুখী হৈ মহামূল্য কৃষি ভূমি বহিৰাগত কৃষি-শ্রমিকৰ হাতত সমর্পণ কৰাৰ জাতিধবংসী প্রক্রিয়াটোত ইন্ধন যোগাইছে আৰু আনহাতে চহৰাঞ্চলত পুৰুষানুক্রমে বসবাস কৰি অহা এচাম ভূমিপুত্র সামান্য ধনৰ লোভত পৰি অৱশেষত বাটৰ ভিকহুলৈ ৰূপান্তৰিত হৈছে৷ অতিসম্প্রতি তৃতীয় এটা প্রৱণতাই অসমত গা কৰি উঠা আমাৰ দৃষ্টিগোচৰ হৈছে৷ নিজ নিজ সন্তানসকলে দেশৰ অন্য ৰাজ্যত চাকৰি সূত্রে থিতাপি লগাৰ গইনা লৈ অসমৰ নগৰ-চহৰত থকা মাটি-ভেটি বিক্রী কৰি দি বেংগালুৰু, পুনা অথবা কলকাতাত সৰুকৈ ফ্লেট একোটা হ’লেও কিনাৰ প্রক্রিয়া এটা এচামে আৰম্ভ কৰিছে৷ এতিয়ালৈকে এই তৃতীয় প্রক্রিয়াটো সিমান প্রকট হৈ উঠা নাই যদিও অদূৰ ভৱিষ্যতে এনেদৰে অসম ত্যাগ কৰা অসমীয়া মানুহৰ সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি পোৱাৰ সম্ভাৱনা অস্বীকাৰ কৰিব নোৱাৰি৷ এই প্রক্রিয়াটোৰ অন্তৰালত একাধিক মনস্তাত্ত্বিক কাৰক সক্রিয় হৈ থকা বুলি মোৰ ধাৰণা৷ অদূৰ ভৱিষ্যতে অসমৰ খিলঞ্জীয়াৰ আধিপত্য বর্তি নাথাকিবগৈ বুলি এচাম অসমীয়াই ইতিমধ্যে ধৰি লৈছে৷ তদুপৰি সতি-সন্তানৰ জীৱিকা অর্জনৰ নিশ্চয়তা নোহোৱাটোৱেও এচাম সামর্থযৱান অসমীয়াক নিজ গৃহৰাজ্য ত্যাগ কৰিবলৈ প্রণোদিত কৰিছে৷ কিন্তু কাৰণ যিয়েই নহওক, প্রৱসুৱা জীৱন একোটা আঁকোৱালি ল’বলৈ নিজ গৃহভূমিৰ মাটি-ভেটি বেছি দিয়াটো মোৰ দৃষ্টিত পলায়নবাদৰে নামান্তৰ৷ অৱশ্যে অসমত থকা পৈতৃক সা-সম্পত্তি বিক্রী নকৰাকৈ নিজা সামর্থযৰে ৰাজ্যৰ বাহিৰত ঘৰ-বাৰী আদি স্থাৱৰ সম্পত্তি কোনোবাই আহৰণ কৰিলে, তেনে ক্ষেত্রত অসন্তোষ কৰাৰ একো কাৰণ নেদেখোঁ৷ কিন্তু অসমত খিলঞ্জীয়া অসমীয়াৰ আনুপাতিক জনসংখ্যা এনেয়েও কমি আহিছে৷ এতেকে আন এচাম অসমীয়াই উন্নত জীৱনৰ সন্ধানত চিৰকালৰ বাবে স্বৰাজ্য ত্যাগ কৰি গ’লে তাৰ ফলত অসমত অসমীয়া সংখ্যালঘু হৈ পৰাত ইন্ধান যোগোৱা নহ’বনে? মাটিক অসমীয়া মানুহে ইমান দিনে উৎপাদনৰ আহিলা অথবা বাসস্থান হিচাপেই গণ্য কৰি আহিছে৷ কিন্তু এই মাটিয়েই যে জাতি গঠন প্রক্রিয়াৰ অন্যতম কেন্দ্রীয় উপাদান, সেই মহত্ত্বপূর্ণ সত্যটোকে উপলব্ধি কৰিবলৈ গৰিষ্ঠসংখ্যক অসমীয়া আজি অসমর্থ৷ এই প্রসংগতে কওঁ যে মাটি-ভেটি ৰক্ষাৰ দিশত ৰাজ্য চৰকাৰখনৰ দায়িত্ব যিমান খিলঞ্জীয়া জনসাধাৰণৰ দায়বদ্ধতাও তাৰ তুলনাত কোনো গুণে কম নহয়৷ সম্প্রতি সমগ্র দেশজুৰি এখন অভিলাষী স্বাস্থ্য বীমা আঁচনি প্রৱর্তিত হোৱাৰ ফলত চিকিৎসাৰ কাৰণে মাটি বিক্রী কৰাৰ অপৰিহার্যতা পূর্বৰ তুলনাত হয়তো হ্রাস পাব৷ কিন্তু ছোৱালী বিয়া দিয়াৰ বেলিকা? এনেবোৰ পৰম্পৰাগত লোকাচাৰ পালন কৰিবলৈ গৈ কোনো খিলঞ্জীয়া পৰিয়াল যাতে বাস্তুহাৰা হ’ব লগা নহয়, তাৰ ব্যৱস্থা সমাজেহে কৰিব লাগিব৷ লগতে এইটো কথাও মন কৰিব লগীয়া যে কোনো চৰকাৰে আইন প্রণয়নৰ জৰিয়তে মাটিৰ ক্রয়-বিক্রয় বন্ধ নকৰে৷ কিয়নো এডোখৰ মাটি যিমানবাৰ বেচা-কিনা হ’ব, চৰকাৰৰ হাতলৈ সিমানেই ৰাজহ আহিব৷ কিন্তু এটা কাম চৰকাৰে অৱশ্যেই কৰিব পাৰে৷ সেইটো হৈছে মেঘালয়, অৰুণাচল প্রদেশ অথবা অসমৰে অন্তর্গত বড়ো স্বায়ত্তশাসিত জিলা আৰু কার্বি আংলং স্বায়ত্তশাসিত জিলাত প্রৱর্তিত ব্যৱস্থাৰ অনুৰূপে ৰাজ্যৰ সকলো জিলাতে বহিৰাগতক মাটি বিক্রী বন্ধ কৰা৷ এই ব্যৱস্থা বলৱৎ কৰিবলৈ যদি সংবিধান সংশোধন অপৰিহার্য হৈ উঠে, তেনেহ’লে তাকে কৰা হওক৷ অসমীয়াক সাংবিধানিক সুৰক্ষা প্রদানৰ বিধান অসম চুক্তিতে অন্তর্ভুক্ত কৰা হৈছিল৷ ইপিনে জাতি-মাটি-ভেটি ৰক্ষাৰ ধবনি দিয়েই বর্তমানৰ ৰাজ্য চৰকাৰখন দিছপুৰত ক্ষমতাধিষ্ঠ হৈছে৷ মোৰ বিশ্বাস যে ৰাজনৈতিক ইচছাশক্তি থাকিলে চৰকাৰ এখনে কৰিব নোৱৰা কাম একো নাই৷ শেষত যোৰহাটৰ ভূ-সম্পত্তি ত্যাগৰ প্রসংগটোলৈ উলটি আহিব খুজিছোঁ৷ মোৰ ককাদেউতা দেৱীচৰণ বৰুৱাদেৱে যোৰহাটৰ তৰাজান এলেকাত আজিৰ পৰা প্রায় বাৰ দশক পূর্বে পাঁচশ টকাৰ বিনিময়ত এক বিশাল ভূ-সম্পত্তি ক্রয় কৰিছিল৷ পাছত তাৰে একাংশ আমাৰ দেউতা-বৰদেউতাহঁতে দেৱীচৰণ বৰুৱা বালিকা বিদ্যালয় আৰু মহাবিদ্যালয় স্থাপনৰ অর্থে দান কৰে৷ তাৰ পাছতো ৰৈ যোৱা বহু পৰিমাণৰ মাটি বিভিন্ন পাৰিবাৰিক কাৰণত বহু দিন পূর্বেই বিক্রী হৈ যায়৷ ফলত তৰাজান অঞ্চলত মোৰ নামত আজি একঠাও মাটি নাই৷ অৱশ্যে দেউতাহঁতে কোনো বহিৰাগত লোকক মাটি বিক্রী নকৰাটোৱেই মোৰ বাবে একমাত্র সাত্বন্না৷ সি যি নহওক, কর্মসূত্রে বিগত তিনি দশক কাল মোৰ জন্মভূমি যোৰহাটৰ বাহিৰত অতিবাহিত কৰিছোঁ যদিও এই ঠাইখনৰ প্রতি মোৰ টানটো দিনক দিনে বাঢ়িহে গৈছে৷ প্রায় চাৰি বছৰ আগে লিচুবাৰীৰ ৰামকৃষ্ণ নগৰত মোৰ কষ্ট উপার্জিত ধনেৰে দুকঠা মাটি ক্রয় কৰিবলৈ সমর্থ হৈছোঁ৷ সম্প্রতি মই লাভ কৰিবলৈ থকা অৱসৰকালীন ভাট্টাখিনি লাভ কৰিলে সেই ঠাইতে থকা আৰু দুকঠা মাটি কয় কৰাৰ সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছোঁ৷ এই চাৰিকঠা মাটিকে কেন্দ্র কৰি জীৱনৰ অৱশিষ্ট দিনকেইটা গঠনমূলক কার্যত ব্যস্ত থাকিব পাৰিলেই মোৰ জীৱন সার্থক হোৱা বুলি ভাবিম৷ প্রতিজন অসমীয়াই যদি একেদৰে নিজৰ ওপজা মাটিডোখৰৰ প্রতি এক আত্মীয়তা অনুভৱ কৰিবলৈ লয়, তেনেহ’লে জাতীয় জীৱনৰ সন্মুখত উপস্থিত হোৱা এক গভীৰ সংকট দূৰ হ’ব বুলি মই বিশ্বাস কৰোঁ৷ ফ’ন: ৯৮৬৪০-৩৫৫২৮October 15, 2018 -
এজন পুৰুষ আৰু ১৪গৰাকী শোষিত নাৰী
এজন পুৰুষ আৰু ১৪ গৰাকী নাৰীক যৌন শোষণ– কোনো লম্পট সন্নাসী বা ভণ্ড প্রেমিকৰ প্রতাৰণাৰ কাহিনী নহয় এয়া৷ দেশৰ এজন কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রীৰ বিৰুদ্ধে ১৪গৰাকী নাৰীয়ে একেমুখে এই অভিযোগ উত্থাপন কৰিছে৷ মন্ত্রী বুলি ক’লে, অলপ দূৰলৈ এনে অভিযোগ স্বীকাৰ কৰি ল’বই পাৰি৷ কাৰণ ভাৰতবর্ষৰ ৰাজনীতিত হত্যা, ধর্ষণত অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তিৰ সংখ্যা তেনেই কম নহয়৷ কিন্তু অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তিজনৰ নাম যদি হয়– এম জে আকবৰ, বহু কথাই মনলৈ আহে, বহু বিষয় আলোচনাৰ প্রসংগ হৈ পৰে৷ এম জে আকবৰ সম্প্রতি ভাৰতবর্ষৰ বৈদেশিক পৰিক্রমা বিভাগৰ ৰাজ্যমন্ত্রী৷ কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রী হিচাপে তেওঁক যিমানে জানে, তাতকৈ বহু বহু বেছি পৰিচিত এজন সাংবাদিক হিচাপে৷ ভাৰতৰ যিকেইগৰাকী সফল সাংবাদিকৰ নাম প্রথম শাৰীত ল’ব পাৰি, তাৰ ভিতৰত অন্যতম এম জে আকবৰ৷ বর্তমান তেওঁ এজন ৰাজনীতিক৷ মোদী মন্ত্রীসভাৰ গুৰুত্বপূর্ণ সদস্য৷ কিন্তু তাৰ আগলৈকে তেওঁৰ পৰিচয় আছিল দ্য টেলিগ্রাফ, দ্য এছিয়ান এজৰ দৰে জনপ্রিয় কাকতৰ সম্পাদক হিচাপে৷ ইণ্ডিয়া টুডে, হেডলাইনছ টুডে, ডেক্কান ক্র’নিকেল, দ্য ছানডে গার্ডিয়ান– ক’ৰ লগত জড়িত হৈ থকা নাই এম জে আকবৰ অর্থাৎ মোবাশ্বৰ জাৱেদ আকবৰৰ নাম৷ সংবাদ মাধ্যমৰ লগত সামান্য সম্পর্ক থকা সকলো মানুহৰ বাবে এটা স্মৰণীয় নাম৷ ২০১৪ চনত তেওঁ বিজেপিত যোগদান কৰে আৰু ২০১৫ চনত ঝাৰখণ্ডৰ পৰা ৰাজ্যসভালৈ মনোনীত হৈ আহে৷ অৱশ্যে ১৯৮৯ৰ পৰা ১৯৯১ পর্যন্ত এম জে আকবৰ আছিল কংগ্রেছ দলৰ আনুষ্ঠানিক সদস্য৷ কিন্তু সেইবোৰ পৰিচয় মানুহে মনত ৰখা নাই৷ এম জে আকবৰক জানে– ‘নেহৰু ঃ দ্য মেকিং অব৲ ইণ্ডিয়া’ ‘ৰায়ট আফটাৰ ৰায়ট...’, ‘এ ইষ্ট’ৰী অব৲ জিহাদ’ আদিৰ দৰে অবিস্মৰণীয় গ্রন্থৰ লেখক হিচাপেহে৷ সেইগৰাকী জনপ্রিয় সম্পাদক-সাংবাদিক, আজি দেশৰ বৈদেশিক মন্ত্রীগৰাকী যৌন শোষণৰ গুৰুতৰ অভিযোগত অভিযুক্ত৷ ১৪ গৰাকীকৈ সতীর্থ মহিলা সাংবাদিকে আকবৰৰ বিৰুদ্ধে এনে অভিযোগ উত্থাপন কৰিছে৷ কেন্দ্রীয় চৰকাৰৰ মন্ত্রীগৰাকীৰ আটাইতকৈ ঘৃণনীয়, এগৰাকী মহিলা সাংবাদিকে কর্মজীৱনত সন্মুখীন হোৱা আটাইতকৈ প্রত্যাহবানমূলক কাহিনীটো শেহতীয়াকৈ প্রকাশ পাইছে ‘দ্য ৱায়াৰ’ত৷ লিখিছে ‘ফ’র্চ’ বার্লোচনীৰ কার্যবাহী সম্পাদক ঘাজালা ৱাহাবে৷ তেওঁ লিখা সংক্ষিপ্ত কাহিনীটো এনেধৰণৰ– ১৯৮৯ চনত ঘাজালা আছিল স্কুলৰ ছাত্রী৷ এদিন দেউতাকে পঢ়িবলৈ হাতত তুলি দিছিল এম জে আকবৰৰ ‘ৰায়ট আফটাৰ ৰায়ট’ গ্রন্থখন৷ কিতাপখন দুদিনতে শেষ কৰি তেওঁ কিনি আনিছিল একেজন লেখকৰ আৰু কেইবাখনো গ্রন্থ৷ এনেকৈয়ে এগৰাকী স্কুলীয়া ছাত্রীৰ বাবে আৰম্ভ হৈছিল– প্রিয় লেখকজনক আৱিষ্কাৰ কৰাৰ নতুন যাত্রা৷ ক’ব নোৱৰাকৈ এম জে আকবৰক তেওঁ আদর্শ হিচাপে লৈছিল আৰু মনে মনে সাংবাদিক হ’বলৈ প্রস্তুতি চলাইছিল৷ ১৯৯৪ চনত এম জে আকবৰৰ নেতৃত্বত প্রকাশ হৈছিল ‘দ্য এছিয়ান এজ’ নামৰ নতুন কাকতখন৷ সেই কাকতখনতে শিক্ষার্থী সাংবাদিক হিচাপে যোগ দিলে ঘাজালা ৱাহাবে৷ প্রিয় লেখকগৰাকীক ওচৰতে পোৱাৰ আনন্দ, আদর্শ সাংবাদিকগৰাকীৰ সহকর্মী হোৱাৰ অত্যুৎসাহে ঘাজালাক আত্মহাৰা কৰি তোলে৷ কিন্তু কাকতৰ প্রকাশ আৰম্ভ হোৱাৰ লগে লগে তেওঁ শুনিবলৈ আৰম্ভ কৰে– উপ-সম্পাদক, সাংবাদিকসকলৰ লগত থকা এম জে আকবৰৰ গোপন প্রণয়ৰ কাহিনী৷ ‘দ্য এছিয়ান এজ’ৰ প্রতিটো সংস্কৰণত যে আকবৰৰ এজনীকৈ গার্লফ্রেণ্ড আছে, সেয়া বিশ্বাস কৰি ল’বলৈ বেছি দিন নালাগিল৷ ঘাজালা ৱাহাবৰ বাবে সেইবোৰ মাথোঁ ব্যথা কৰিবলগীয়া কথা নাছিল৷ সাংবাদিকতাৰ পথত খোজ দিয়া এগৰাকী যুৱতীৰ বাবে সেয়া আছিল শিকাৰ সময়, নিজক গঢ়াৰ সময়৷ কিন্তু ঘাজালাৰ ওপৰত এম জে আকবৰৰ লোভী চকু পৰিবলৈ বেছি দিন নালাগিল৷ এদিন তেওঁৰ চকী মেজ স্থাপন কৰা হ’ল সম্পাদক আকবৰৰ কেবিনৰ সন্মুখত৷ যাতে দর্খন সামান্য খুলিলেই চকুত পৰে৷ লাহে লাহে এম জে আকবৰে সঘনাই ঘাজালাক নিজৰ কোঠালৈ মতা হ’ল৷ অফিচিয়েল কামৰ সলনি বেছিভাগ সময়তে ব্যক্তিগত সুখ-দুখৰ কথা পাতিব বিচাৰে৷ ঘাজালাই বিৰক্তি পোৱা যেন দেখি সম্পাদক এম জে আকবৰে নতুন কৌশল ৰচিলে৷ তেওঁ যেতিয়া সাপ্তাহিক স্তম্ভ লিখিবলৈ লয়, ঘাজালাক সন্মুখৰ চকীত বহাই ৰাখে৷ এটাই অজুহাত অভিধানৰ প্রয়োজন হ’লে ঘাজালা ৱাহবে চাই দিব৷ এনেদৰে এদিন অভিধান চাই থাকোঁতেই প্রৌঢ় সম্পাদকজনে যুৱতী সাংবাদিকগৰাকীক পিছফালৰ পৰা সাবটি ধৰি শৰীৰৰ গোপন অংগত হাত বুলাবলৈ ধৰিলে৷ কোনোমতে ঘাজালাই এম জে আকবৰৰ বিষাক্ত বেষ্টনীৰ পৰা মুক্ত হৈ বাথৰুমত সোমাল আৰু চকুপানীৰে নিজৰ অপৰাধবোধ বোৱাই দিলে৷ অন্য এদিন নিজৰ কেবিনৰ দুৱাৰ বন্ধ কৰি চুমা খোৱাৰ অপচেষ্টা চলালে৷ ১৯৯৭ চনৰ কাহিনী এইবোৰ৷ বাৰে বাৰে যুৱতী সাংবাদিকগৰাকীয়ে সহ্য কৰি গ’ল৷ এদিন যেতিয়া নিজৰ ক্ষোভ আৰু অসন্তুষ্টিৰ কথা মুকলিকৈ জনাই ঘাজালাই পদত্যাগ কৰিবলৈ সাজু হ’ল– এম জে আকবৰে এজন সর্বহাৰা প্রেমিকৰ দৰে কাকূতি-মিনতি কৰিবলৈ ল’লে৷ আনকি ঘাজালা ৱাহাবক ‘দ্য এছিয়ান এজ’ৰ আহমেদাবাদ সংস্কাৰণৰ সম্পাদকৰ পদ দিয়াৰ প্রতিশ্রুতি দিলে৷ কিন্তু সম্পাদক হোৱাৰ আগতে তেওঁৰ মনলৈ বাৰে বাৰে প্রশ্ন আহিছিল– আকবৰক আৰু কিমানদিনলৈ প্রতিহত কৰিব পাৰিব? ধর্ষণ কৰিব পাৰে নেকি এম জে আকবৰেহ্ল প্রভাৱশালী সম্পাদকজনে চৰম ক্ষতি নকৰেতো? এনে বহু প্রশ্ন মনত লৈয়ে এদিন ঘাজালা ৱাহাবে ‘দ্য এছিয়ান এজ’ৰ চাকৰি এৰি আহিছিল৷ বহু হূদয় কঁপোৱা কাহিনীৰ মুকলি প্রকাশেৰে তেওঁ আজি যোগ দিছে METOO (মী টু) কেম্পেইনিঙত৷ ১৯৯৭ চনত মুকলিকৈ ক’ব নোৱৰা কাহিনীবোৰ আজি খুলি প্রকাশ কৰাৰ সুযোগ আনি দিছে ‘মী টু’ কেম্পেইনিঙে৷ সেইবাবেই কেৱল ঘাজালা ৱাহাব নহয়, এম জে আকবৰৰ যৌন শোষণৰ ভয়ংকৰ কাহিনীবোৰ মুকলিকৈ ক’বলৈ আগবাঢ়ি আহিছে, তেওঁৰ একালৰ সহকর্মী-প্রিয়াৰামানী, প্রেৰণা সিং বিন্দ্রা, সুতাপা পল, চাবা লকবী, কাদম্বৰী এম ৱাদে, হৰিন্দৰ বাৱেজা, অঞ্জুভাৰতী, সুপর্ণা শর্মা, সুমা ৰাহা, মালিনী ভুপ্তা, কণিকা গেহলট আদিয়ে৷ ভিন ভিন প্রতিষ্ঠানত এম জে আকবৰৰ লগত তেওঁলোকৰ অভিজ্ঞতাবোৰ সমানেই ভয়াৱহ৷ হ’ব পাৰে, অভিযোগবোৰ পুৰণি৷ কিন্তু পৰিস্থিতি জানো পৃথক হ’লহ্ল যৌন শোষণৰ বলি হৈ তেতিয়া মহিলাবোৰ ঘৰাঘৰি হৈছিল আৰু এম জে আকবৰে পৰিস্থিতিৰ সুযোগ তুলি দেশৰ মন্ত্রীসভাত নিজৰ স্থান নিগাজিী কৰিছিল৷ সেইবুলি লোহাত মামৰ লগাৰ নিচিনা অপৰাধবোৰ পুৰণি হৈ যাব নেকিহ্ল তেতিয়া পৰিবেশ নাছিল, পৰিস্থিতি নাছিল৷ এতিয়া অবদমন যিমানেই বেছি হৈছে, সিমানেই বিদ্রোহৰ তীব্রতাও বাঢ়িছে৷ সঠিক সময়ত, সঠিক কথাবোৰ কৈ দিয়াতো সকলোৱে সমীচীন বুলি ভাবিছে৷ সেয়া এংগ্রী অভিনেতা নানা পাটেকাৰৰ হাতত নির্যাতিতা হোৱা তনুশ্রী দত্তই হওক বা ক্ষমতাশালী সম্পাদক এম জে আকবৰৰ হাতত শোষিত সহকর্মীসকলেই হওক৷ এটা কথা সঠিক যে গোপন কৰিব বিচৰা কথাবোৰ এদিন জ্বালামুখীৰ দৰেই উদ৲গিৰণ হয়৷ দেশৰ আজিৰ পৰিস্থিতিও সেয়াই৷ দুর্ভাগ্যৰ বিষয়টো হ’ল– নানা পাটেকাৰ-তনুশ্রী দত্তৰ কাহিনীয়ে সংবাদ মাধ্যমত যিমান চর্ লাভ কৰিছে, যিমান স্থান দখল কৰিছে, কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রী এম জে আকবৰৰ নির্যাতনৰ বাতৰিয়ে তাৰ এক ভগ্নাংশও ঠাই পোৱা নাই৷ বিশেষকৈ হিন্দী আৰু আঞ্চলিক সংবাদ মাধ্যমত৷ যিদৰে আশাৰাম বাপু, ৰাম-ৰহিমৰ কুকর্মক লৈ আমি সৰৱ হৈছিলোঁ, তেনেদৰে এম জে আকবৰক লৈও সচেতন হোৱাৰ প্রয়োজন নাইনে? আজিৰ এজন দায়িত্বশীল মন্ত্রীয়ে তেওঁৰ পূর্বৰ কর্মজীৱনত অবাধ যৌন অপৰাধ সংঘটিত কৰিছিল আৰু এই বর্তমানত ১৪গৰাকী নাৰীয়ে সেই শোষণৰ বিৰুদ্ধে প্রকাশ্য বিদ্রোহ ঘোষণা কৰিছে– ইয়াৰো কোনো মূল্য নাই নেকি? ১৪গৰাকী মহিলা সহকর্মীৰ ওপৰত যৌন শোষণ চলোৱা এজন মানুহৰ মন্ত্রী হৈ থকাৰ অধিকাৰ আৰু কিমান দিনলৈ সুৰক্ষিত হৈ থাকিব? এম জে আকবৰৰ ঘৃণনীয় অতীতৰ ওপৰত তেওঁৰ মন্ত্রীসভাৰ সতীর্থ ৰবি শংকৰ প্রসাদ, সুষমা স্বৰাজে মন্তব্য দিবলৈ অস্বীকাৰ কৰিছে৷ আনকি সততে সকলো অপৰাধক ‘তীব্র নিন্দা’ কৰি অহা গৃহমন্ত্রী ৰাজনাথ সিঙেও বিষয়টোত সুবিধাজনক মৌনতাৰ স্থিতি লৈছে৷ অভিযুক্ত এম জে আকবৰ আৰু মন্ত্রীসভাৰ অভিভাৱক নৰেন্দ্র মোদীও নিমাত৷ ৭১ বছৰ অতিক্রম কৰা ভাৰতীয় গণতন্ত্রত নাৰীৰ সাহসিকতাৰ তেনেহ’লে কি ইমানেই মূল্য? দেশ কিমান আগবাঢ়িছে সেয়া পৃথক আলোচনাৰ বিষয় কিন্তু ভাৰতীয় নাৰীয়ে মুখ খুলিবলৈ শিকিছে সেয়া আজিৰ বাস্তৱ৷ চৰকাৰে নাৰীৰ অধিকাৰ, নাৰীৰ মর্যাদাক সন্মান কৰিবলৈ শিকক, সময় থাকোঁতেই৷ ১৪ গৰাকীকৈ নাৰীয়ে যৌন শোষণৰ মুকলি অভিযোগ উত্থাপন কৰাৰ পাছতো বিজেপি নেতৃত্বই যদি এম জে আকবৰক ৰক্ষণাবেক্ষণ দিয়াৰ কথা ভাবিছে, সেয়া হ’ব সমগ্র দেশৰ নাৰীৰ প্রতি মুকলি অপমান৷ কেৱল টয়লেটে নাৰীৰ স্বাভিমান সুৰক্ষিত নকৰে– কর্মক্ষেত্রত, হাটে বজাৰে নির্যাতিতা নাৰীসকলৰ স্বাভিমান ৰক্ষাৰ দায়িত্বও এই চৰকাৰ, এই প্রশাসনৰেই৷ হয়, সময়োচিত পদক্ষেপেৰে নাৰীৰ মর্যাদা সুৰক্ষিত কৰক– অন্যথা নাৰী অধিকাৰক সন্মান জনোৱা দেশবাসীৰ বিচাৰৰ সন্মুখীন হ’বলৈ চৰকাৰ বাহাদুৰ সাজু হওক৷ ফ’ন: ৭৬৩৮০-৫৮৬৩৩October 15, 2018 -
কলকাতাত দুর্গা পূজা চোৱাৰ আনন্দ
দুর্গা পূজা বুলি ক’লেই আমাৰ দৰে আন বহুতৰেই মনটো কিবা এটা ভাল লাগে৷ দুর্গা পূজাৰ সময়ত সকলোফালে এক ফৰকাল বতৰৰ লগতে সমগ্র পৰিবেশটোৱেই কিবা এটা বেলেগ হয়৷ পূজা আহিছে, পূজা আহিছে– সকলোফালে যেন এটাই খবৰ৷ আনহাতে এই দুর্গা পূজাৰ সময়তে আন এটা কথাৰ বাবেও মনটো কিবা এটা ভাল লাগি থাকে৷ সেইটো হৈছে পূজাৰ সময়তে পৰিয়াল, বন্ধু-বান্ধৱ নাইবা কোনো ভাল লগা সম্পর্কীয় লোকৰ স’তে কেইদিনমান কোনোবা এখন ভাল লগা ঠাইত আনন্দমনে কটাই অহাটো৷ সেইটো অসমৰ ভিতৰতে হওক বা বাহিৰতে হওক নতুবা পাৰিলে একেবাৰে বিদেশৰ কোনোবা চহৰতে হওক– যিকোনো নতুন ঠাই এখন চাব পাৰিলে বিশেষকৈ পর্যটকক আকর্ষণ কৰা একোখন মফচলীয়া ঠাইলৈ যাব পাৰিলে মনটোত কিবা এটা বিমল আনন্দ লগাৰ লগতে ফুৰি-চাকি আহি নিজৰ নিজৰ কামবোৰ পুনৰ দুগুণ উৎসাহেৰে কৰিব পাৰি৷ সম্ভৱ সেইবাবেই উন্নত দেশৰ প্রায়বোৰ মানুহেই বছৰেকত একোবাৰ দীঘলীয়া ছুটী লৈ ভ্রমণত ফুৰিবলৈ যায়৷ আজিকালি অৱশ্যে উন্নত দেশৰ মানুহেই নহয়, ভাৰতবর্ষ, চীনদেশ, পাকিস্তান, শ্রীলংকা আদিৰ দৰে উন্নয়নশীল দেশৰ মানুহে আৰু আনকি আফ্রিকা মহাদেশৰ দৰে বিভিন্ন অনুন্নত দেশৰ মানুহেও ক’ৰবালৈ ফুৰিবলৈ যায়৷ আমাৰ অসমীয়া মানুহবোৰেও আগতে ফুৰাৰ কথাটোত এনেদৰে গুৰুত্ব দিয়া নাছিল যদিও আজিকালি কিন্তু বহুতো ব্যক্তি বা পৰিয়াল দুর্গা পূজা, কালী পূজা, বৰদিন, গৰম বন্ধ আদিৰ বন্ধত ফুৰিবলৈ যায়৷ আমি নিজেও সৰুৰে পৰা প্রথম মা-দেউতাহঁতৰ লগত আৰু পিছলৈ নিজে অর্থাৎ বন্ধু-বান্ধৱ বা পৰিবাৰৰ লগত ফুৰিবলৈ ক’ৰবালৈ ওলাই যাওঁ৷ আমি একেবাৰে সৰু থাকোঁতে ডাঙৰ-দীঘল হোৱা চফ্রাই চাহ বাগিচাত বা ওচৰে-পাঁজৰে থকা মথুৰাপুৰ, নাফুক, সোণাৰি, জবকা আদি ঠাইত বাগানীয়া দুর্গা পূজা চোৱাৰ মধুৰ স্মৃতিখিনিও কেতিয়াও পাহৰিব নোৱাৰি৷ সেয়া আনে ভাল পাব নে নাপায়, মই ঠিক ক’ব নোৱাৰিলেও চাহ বাগিচাত জন্ম হোৱা বা ডাঙৰ-দীঘল হোৱা সকলোৱেই যে ভাল পায়, সেই কথা মই ভালদৰে জানো বা অনুধাৱন কৰোঁ৷ অৱশ্যে চাহ বাগিচা এৰা আমাৰ অজি বহু বছৰেই পাৰ হ’ল যদিও এতিয়াও কিন্তু কেঁচা চাহপাতৰ গোন্ধটো আমাৰ নাকত মাজে-সময়ে লাগিয়েই থাকে আৰু যিকোনো ভাললগা চাহ বাগিচা এখনৰ মাজেদি পাৰ হৈ যাবলগীয়া হ’লেই আমি সদায় গাড়ীখন বাৰে বাৰে ৰখাও বা ড্রাইভাৰকো ৰখাবলৈ কওঁ৷ আচৰিত সেই মায়া৷ নিজৰে কেতিয়াবা আচৰিত যেন লাগে৷ সি যি কি নহওক, দুর্গা পূজা বুলি ক’লে আমাৰ কলকাতা মহানগৰতেই দুর্গা পূজা উপভোগ কৰি আটাইতকৈ ভাল লাগে কিজানি৷ এনেয়ে আমি কলকাতালৈ যাব লগা হ’লে ভাল নাপাওঁ৷ বৰঞ্চ আমনিহে পাওঁ৷ আনহাতে দুর্গা পূজাৰ সময়ত কলকাতাৰ চেহেৰাই কিবা এটা বেলেগ হৈ যায় বাবে আমাৰ (মোৰ আৰু পৰিবাৰৰ লগতে কেইবাটাও বন্ধু পৰিয়ালৰ) বৰ ভাল লাগে৷ সম্ভৱ সেইবাবেই কলেজত পঢ়া দিনৰ পৰা এতিয়ালৈকে বহুকেইবাৰেই কলকাতাত দুর্গা পূজা চাবলৈ গৈছোঁ৷ আমাৰ দৰে দেশ-বিদেশৰ বহুতো পর্যটকো সেই সময়ত কলকাতালৈ আহে দুর্গা পূজা চাবলৈ৷ কলকাতা চহৰখনক কিয় ‘চিটি অব৲ জয়’ অর্থাৎ আনন্দ বা স্ফূর্তিৰ চহৰ বুলি কয়, সেই কথা দুর্গা পূজা আৰু বৰদিনৰ সময়তেই ভালদৰে উপলব্ধি কৰিব পাৰি৷ ধনী-দুখীয়া সকলো ধৰণৰ মানুহৰ মনতে ইমান স্ফূর্তি কৰাৰ শক্তি অর্থাৎ মানসিকতা আছে যে ভাবি ভাবি মই কিবা এটা আচৰিতো হওঁ৷ ভাবি চাওকচোন, এই বছৰ কলকাতা চহৰতে (আচলতে মহানগৰতে) ২,০০০ অধিক স্থানত দুর্গা পূজা আয়োজন কৰিছে৷ তাৰ মানে অসমৰ গুৱাহাটীকে ধৰি সকলোবোৰ চহৰ-নগৰত হোৱা দুর্গা পূজাবোৰ ধৰিলেও কলকাতাৰ সমান নহ’বগৈ কিজানি৷ কলকাতাৰ প্রায়বোৰ পূজা মণ্ডপৰ গে’ট, ৰভা, লাইটৰ চিকমিকনি চালে অতি চকুৰোৱা আৰু প্রত্যেক বছৰেই সেইবোৰ এনে নতুন নতুন কৌশলেৰে সাজি উলিয়াই যে সকলোৱে অধিক আগ্রহেৰে বাট চাই থাকে৷ কিছুমান পূজা মণ্ডপত অসমৰ কিছুমান পটছবি অংকন কৰাও দেখিছোঁ৷ উদাহৰণস্বৰূপে ২০০৮ চনত কলকাতাত দুর্গা পূজা চাবলৈ যাওঁতে কিছুমান নতুন ধৰণৰ ডেকৰেশ্যন যেনে পার্ক চার্ছত অষ্টভুজ মন্দিৰ, হিন্দুস্থান পার্কৰ সার্বজনীন পূজা মণ্ডপত অসুৰৰ শিং দুটাৰ মাজত দুর্গা গোসাঁনী, বাদামতলাত কাঠত খোদিত কৰা ‘বটতলা স্থাপত্য’, চেতলাত বিশ্ব উন্নয়ন, পদ্মপুকুৰত কাঁচৰ ছবিৰ মণ্ডপ, ৯৪ পল্লীত সাক্ষৰতা, বাবুবাগানত দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকাৰ শৈলী, খিদিৰপুৰত গংগাৰ বনবিবি, বেহেলাত ওড়িষাৰ উপাখ্যান আদি চাই বৰ ভাল লাগিছিল আৰু আগতে নেদেখা বহুতো নতুন নতুন কৌশল পটভূমিৰ ওপৰতো অংকন কৰা দুর্গা পূজা মণ্ডপ দেখিছিলোঁ৷ এবাৰ দক্ষিণ কলকাতাৰ ‘সুৰুচি সংঘ’ নামৰ এক পূজা মণ্ডপত ‘আছাম থীম’ বা ‘অসম আর্হি’ৰ বৃহৎ দুর্গা পূজা মণ্ডপটো দেখি কিবা এটা গর্ব অনুভৱ কৰিছিলোঁ৷ আমি সেই পূজা মণ্ডপলৈ সপ্তমীৰ দিনা দিনৰ ১২ মান বজাতে গৈছিলোঁ, মানুহৰ ভিৰ কম পাম বুলি৷ পিছে তালৈ গৈ দেখিলো বৃহৎ এক দীঘলীয়া শাৰী৷ আমিও শাৰীত থিয় হ’লোঁ আৰু প্রায় ৪০-৪৫ মিনিট শাৰী পতাৰ পাছতহে সেই মণ্ডপৰ কেম্পাছত সোমাব পাৰিলোঁ৷ বহু আঁতৰৰ পৰাই আমি প্রকাণ্ড গে’ট এখন দেখিছিলোঁ, য’ত লিখা আছিল– ‘বিহু গানেৰ সুৰে, ব্রহ্মপুত্র তীৰে’৷ গে’টখনৰ পৰা দীঘল পূজা মণ্ডপৰ মূল স্থানলৈ দুয়োকাষে ফুলাম জাপি আৰু গোমোচা আঁৰি থোৱা দেখিছিলোঁ৷ মূল পূজা মণ্ডপটো শৈৱ, শাক্ত আৰু বৈষ্ণৱ– এই তিনিওটাকে এক কৰি শিৱদৌল, কামাখ্যা মন্দিৰ আৰু এটা নামঘৰ সজা হৈছিল৷ মণ্ডপটোৰ চাৰিওফালে ব্রহ্মপুত্র নদীখন একাবেঁকাকৈ বোৱাই দিয়াৰ লগতে পাৰে পাৰে অ’ত-ত’ত হাবি-জংঘল, গঁড়, হাতী আদি আছিল আৰু এটা কোণত আছিল মাজুলীৰ চাংঘৰ, য’ত চাৰি-পাঁচজনমান ডেকা-গাভৰুৱে পৰম্পৰাগত সাজ-পোছক পিন্ধি বহি আছিল৷ সেইদৰে ‘নামঘৰ’টোৰ ভিতৰতো ছয়-সাতজনমান পুৰুষে ধুতী-চাদৰ পিন্ধি একান্তমনে নাগাৰা নাম গাই আছিল৷ বাহিৰফালে আকৌ মাইকত বাজি আছিল– ‘সন্ধিয়াৰ আকাশত বগলী উৰে, আইৰে ঘৰলৈ মনতে পৰে...’ গীতটোৰ এক সুৰধবনি বাজি আছিল৷ ইয়াৰ লগতে কিছু আঁতৰত যোৰহাটৰ পৰা যোৱা বিছজনমান ডেকা-গাভৰুৰ দল এটাই ঢোল-পেঁপা লৈ বিহু নাচি আছিল আৰু মানুহবোৰে জাউৰিয়ে জাউৰিয়ে হাত চাপৰি মাৰি আছিল৷ সেইবোৰ চাই-মেলি আমি আটাইকেইটা পৰিয়ালে কিছু দূৰৈত থকা এখন প্রসিদ্ধ বঙালী হোটেলত দুপৰীয়া দুর্গা পূজা স্পেচিয়েল নামৰ এক অতি তৃপ্তিকৰ খানা খাবলৈ গৈছিলোঁ৷ (আচলতে আমি কোৱা কাৰণে টেক্সী ড্রাইভাৰে আমাক হোটেলখনলৈ লৈ গৈছিল)৷ সেইদিনা সেই স্পেচিয়েল বঙালী খানাত প্রথমতে একোখন ডিচৰ ওপৰত এখন ডাঙৰ কলপাত পাৰি দিছিল আৰু তাৰ ওপৰত ধোঁৱা ওলাই থকা গোবিন্দ চাউলৰ গৰম গৰম ভাত (আমাৰ জহা চাউলৰ দৰে) আৰু কাষত নিমখ, কেঁচা জলকীয়া, চালাদ, কচুন্দি অর্থাৎ সৰিয়হ বটা, দুবিধমান আচাৰ আৰু ভাতৰ ওপৰত ডাঙৰ এটুকুৰা ভজা ইলিচ মাছ দিছিল৷ সেই ইলিচ মাছৰ ডাঙৰ ডাঙৰ টুকুৰাবোৰ দুই-তিনিজন ল’ৰাই ফ্রাইপেন একোখনত ভাজি আনোতে চোঁ চোঁ শব্দ এটা কৰি আছিল আৰু ইলিচ মাছটুকুৰাৰ লগতে অলপমান মাছ ভজা তেলো ভাতৰ ওপৰত দি গৈছিল৷ মানুহবোৰে (বঙালী গ্রাহকেই বেছি আছিল) সেই ভজা মাছৰ তেল, কেঁচা নিমখ, কেঁচা জলকীয়াৰ লাড়ু লাড়ুকৈ সানি ভজা ইলিচ মাছৰ স’তে খোৱা দেখি আমিও তেনেদৰে খাইছিলোঁ৷ সেইখিনি খাই শেষ কৰিছিলোঁ কি নাই, একোটা সৰু সৰু বাটিত ডাঠ ৰহৰ দাইল, ডালনা (মিক্সড ভেজিটেবল), আলু ভাজি আদি দি গৈছিল৷ ইয়াৰ পিছে পিছে আন এটা বাটিত ‘মাছৰ ঘাণ্ট’ (আমাৰ মুৰীঘণ্ট) আৰু একোখন ডিছত গোটা গোটাকৈ ডাঙৰ একোটা পাভ মাছৰ ঝাল বা ডাঠ জোল৷ ইয়াৰ পিছে পিছে মাছৰ তেল-পিঠাগুড়ি দি সানি কৰা একোটা গৰম গৰম মাছৰ তেলৰ বড়৷ বড়টো পাতখনত দিওঁতে কঁপি আছিল৷ আৰু ভাতৰ লগত সানি খাওঁতে ফচ৲ কৰি শব্দ এটা হৈ মাছৰ তেলবোৰ ভাতখিনিত ছিটিকি পৰিছিল৷ সেইখিনি খাই উঠাৰ লগে লগে আন এখন মজলীয়া ডিছত তেলাল খাছী মাংস বা চিকেনকাৰীৰ (যিয়ে যি খায় ভাল পায় সেইমতে) মাংসৰ স’তে ৰঙচুৱা অলপমান ডাঠ গৰম জোল দি গৈছিল৷ আটাইতকৈ শেষত একোটা-একোটা নতুন মাটিৰ মলত এবাটিকৈ মিষ্টি (মিঠা) দৈ আৰু আন এটা বাটিত ডাঙৰ কোমল ৰসগোল্লা একোটা দিছিল৷ সেইদিনা আমি আটাইবোৰে বৰ তৃপ্তিৰে সেই ভাতসাঁজ খাইছিলোঁ৷ আমি সেইবাৰ নৱমীৰ দিনা পুৱাতে কলকাতাৰ পৰা ২০০ কিল’মিটাৰ আঁতৰত থকা দীঘা নামৰ ঠাইখিনিত সাগৰৰ পাৰত এখন ধুনীয়া হোটেলত থকাৰ লগতে পিছদিনা পৰিবাৰৰ স’তে মটৰ চাইকেল এখন ভাৰা লৈ (আমি আটাইবোৰে একোখনকৈ মটৰ চাইকেল ভাৰাত লৈ) সাগৰৰ পাৰে পাৰে বহু দূৰ ফুৰাৰ লগতে আটাইবোৰে সাগৰত বহু সময় গা ধোৱা, সাঁতোৰা, ডাবৰ পানীখোৱা আৰু শেষত এখন চালিৰ তলত চাফা হোটেলত গৰম গৰম নাস্তা-পৰঠা আৰু আমি দেখুৱাই দিয়া ডাঙৰ আঁৰি মাছৰ দৰে সাগৰীয় মাছ এটা (তেওঁলোকে মাছবোৰ জীয়াকৈ আঁৰি থৈ দিয়ে, কুটি বাছি ফ্রাই কৰি দিয়া মাছৰ টুকুৰাৰ স’তে) মাছবোৰ ভাজি তাৰ ওপৰত গুড়ি জালুক, নেমু ৰস দি দিছিল) খাই (লগত আলু ভাজি এখনো দিছিল) বৰ ভাল লাগিছিল৷ আনহাতে আজিৰ পৰা ষোল্ল-সোতৰ বছৰমানৰ আগতে অর্থাৎ ১৯৯৭-৯৮ চনমানত আমি একেলগে গুৱাহাটীত সদায় থকা কেইবাটাও বন্ধু পৰিয়াল একেলগে ওলালো– ৰে’লত উঠি কলকাতালৈ যাবলৈ আৰু কলকাতাত দুর্গা পূজা উপভোগ কৰিবলৈ৷ সেইবাৰ আটাইবোৰ ৰে’লত যাম বুলি আগতেই থিৰাং কৰিছিলোঁ যাতে গুৱাহাটীৰ পৰা ষষ্ঠীৰ দিনা যাওঁতে বাটে-ঘাটেও ৰে’লৰপৰাই দুর্গা পূজা চাই যাব পাৰোঁ আৰু লগতে ৰে’লত গৈ থাকোঁতে ‘চায় গৰম’, ‘ঠাণ্ডা ঠাণ্ডা ডাবৰ পানী’, ‘কোককলা’, ‘পেপচি’, ‘বাদাম ভাজা’, ‘চতপতি চানা’, ‘ঝলমুড়ি’, ‘বাৰ মিচল তেৰ চোৱাদ’, ‘গৰম লালমোহন’, ‘কমলা সন্দেশ’, ‘বইল ডিম’, ‘পুৰি-চবজি’, আদিৰ জুতি লৈ যাব পাৰোঁ আৰু আড্ডাও মাৰি যাব পাৰোঁ৷ এইদৰে প্রায় সম্পূর্ণ এটা দিন ৰে’লত গৈ যেতিয়া কলকাতা পালোঁগৈ তেতিয়া দেখিলোঁ সকলোফালে এক আনন্দময় পৰিৱেশ৷ কলকাতাত দুর্গা পূজা মানে আমাৰ অসমীয়াত ক’বৰ দৰে ‘এনেয়ে বুঢ়ী নাচনী, তাতে নাতিনীৰ বিয়া’ অর্থাৎ সকলোফালে যেন স্ফুর্তিয়েই স্ফুর্তি৷ আমি আটাইকেইটা বন্ধু একেলগে তিনি দিন ঘূৰি-পকি বিভিন্ন পূজা মণ্ডপসমূহত ঢাক-ঢোল বজোৱা, আৰতি কৰা আদি চাই৷ প্রসিদ্ধ হোটেল আৰু বঙালী বন্ধুৰ ঘৰত ৰন্ধা খানা খাই (মোৰ মনত থাকি যোৱা কেইবিধমান খানা হৈছে– চিংৰি মাছৰ মলাই কৰি, ভাপা ইলিচ (ভাপত দিয়া ইলিচ মাছ, চিতল মাছৰ ডাঙৰ কলঠিৰ ঝাল-জোল, শুকানকৈ পিঁয়াজ দি ভজা পাঠা মাংস, ভেটকী মাছৰ ফিলেট ফ্রাই, পয়োধি, দৈ আদি) পুনৰ এদিন জগন্নাথ এক্সপ্রেছত উঠি পুৰি পাইছিলোঁগৈ৷ আমি সেইবাৰ সাগৰৰ পাৰত এখন ধুনীয়া হোটেলত চাৰি দিন অতি আনন্দমনে থকাৰ লগতে ধলপুৱাতে আটাইবোৰ সাগৰৰ পাৰে পাৰে ফুৰা, শামুক বোটলা, দুই-তিনি ঘণ্টা সাগৰত গা ধোৱা, ৰাতি সাগৰৰ পাৰত বহি সাগৰৰ ঢৌবোৰৰ তর্জন-গর্জন শুনা আদি কথাবোৰে আমাৰ মনবোৰক কোনোবা সপোন ৰাজ্যলৈ লৈ গৈছিল৷ আজিৰ পৰা দুবছৰ মানৰ আগতেও অর্থাৎ ২০১৫ চনত পৰিবাৰ আৰু মই আৰু লগতে কলকাতাত থকা পৰিবাৰৰ ডাঙৰ বাইদেউ-ভিনদেউ, ল’ৰা-ছোৱালী আটাইবোৰ কলকাতাত দুদিন দুর্গা পূজা উপভোগ কৰোঁতে মন কৰিছিলোঁ কলকাতাৰ ভিতৰুৱা সকলো সৰু-ডাঙৰ ৰাস্তাতে আৰু মানুহৰ ঘৰত সকলোফালে কেৱল শাৰী শাৰী লাইট আৰু চুবুৰিয়ে চুবুৰিয়ে দুর্গা পূজা আয়োজন কৰিছে৷ আমি বাইদেউৰ ঘৰৰ বেলকনিত বহি কথা পাতি থাকোঁতেও দেখিছিলোঁ অনবৰতে ‘ধেধেং-ধেধেং’কৈ ঢাক-ঢোল বজাই বজাই মানুহ কেইজনমানে অহা-যোৱা কৰি আছে৷ মাজে মাজে একোটা বেণ্ডপার্টীৰ দলো বিভিন্ন সুৰেৰে সেইবোৰ বজাই অহা-যোৱা কৰি আছে৷ সেইবোৰ হেনো ওচৰ-চুবুৰীয়াই পইচা তুলি তেনেদৰে ৰাস্তাই ৰাস্তাই গান-বাজনা কৰিবলৈ দিয়ে৷ মামণি বাইদেউহঁতৰ কাষৰে এঘৰত কেইবাপুৰুষো ধৰি পাতি অহা দুর্গা পূজাতো ভাগ লৈছিলোঁ আৰু শেষত আমি আগতে নেদেখা ‘সেন্দূৰ খেল’ বুলি এক আনন্দ-উৎসৱ কৰি অহা দেখিছিলোঁ৷ আমি দুর্গা পূজাৰ শেষত পুনৰ পুৰী আৰু চিল্কা হ্রদলৈ গৈ তাত দুদিনমান সকলোৱে একেলগে আনন্দমনে থাকি আহিছিলোঁ৷October 15, 2018
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12 feared dead, four missing in landslide in Titli-hit Odisha
At least 12 people were feared dead and four missing in a landslide triggered by heavy rain after cyclone Titli in Odisha's Gajapati district, Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi said Saturday. The incident occurred when some villagers took shelter in a cave structure following very heavy rainfall Friday evening, he said. "There are reports about death of 12 people in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Baraghara village under Rayagada block in Gajapati district. We are verifying them," Sethi said. Four people were missing and they were feared trapped under the debris, he said. The district collector of Gajapati was asked to visit the spot to ascertain the situation and give a detailed report, he said. After getting the report, financial assistance will be provided to the affected people as per government provisions, Sethi said. He said the area where the landslide took place was remote and the roads to location were blocked by uprooted trees. A rescue team, including personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rushed to the area which was ravaged by incessant rainfall. The cyclone had made a landfall on Thursday southwest of Gopalpur near Palasa, said an official. Meanwhile, rescue and relief operation gained momentum as water has started receding in other areas, officials said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was reviewing the situation, was slated to undertake an aerial survey of some of the affected areas, including Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts. As many as 1,27,262 people were sheltered in 963 relief centres Friday, while the NDRF and the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were deployed to speed up rescue and relief operations, Sethi said. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Puri, Kandhamal and Kendrapara districts were affected by floods, he said, adding Ganjam was categorised as the "worst-affected". Two helicopters requisitioned from the Indian Navy are being engaged in air dropping operation in Ganjam district, said officials. The chief minister has directed Finance Minister Sashi Bhushan Behera and SC-ST Development Minister Ramesh Majhi to proceed to Kandhamal district to monitor the relief and restoration work, an official in CMO said. Patnaik had earlier formed a three-member ministerial team to visit the flood-affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts and monitor the operations there. The state government cancelled the Dusshera vacation of all its employees in southern and central division, including Bhubaneswar, in view of cyclone Titli and subsequent flooding in different parts of the state. About 60 lakh people were affected in the cyclone and flood and normal life was badly hit in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts where the flood situation remained grim as water levels in major rivers such as Rushikulya and Bansadhara crossed danger marks, official sources said. Sethi said Balasore district was also affected by flood.October 13, 2018 -
Maneka proposes panel to probe MeToo allegations, Bollywood biggies speak out
Union minister Maneka Gandhi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday strongly backed women who narrated their experiences of sexual misconduct and more as the #MeToo floodgates opened wider with high-profile directors Sajid Khan, Subhash Ghai and Luv Ranjan the latest to be 'outed'. While big Bollywood projects "Housefull 4" and "Mogul" faced an uncertain future with their stars saying they would not work with those accused of sexual harassment, Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said she plans to set up a panel of legal experts to look into the allegations. She also asserted that she believes in the "pain and trauma" of every complainant. Rahul Gandhi said the truth needs to be told "loud and clear in order to bring about change". "It's about time everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity. I'm glad the space for those who don't, is closing," he said in his first comments on the #MeToo movement. Neither of the two Gandhis spoke on the multiple allegations against Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, who has been accused by several former women colleagues of sexual harassment when he served as editor at various media organisations. More women should come out and address the issue of sexual harassment and narrate their experiences, Maneka Gandhi said. "I believe in all of them. I believe in the pain and trauma behind every single complainant... I am proposing to set up a committee with senior judicial and legal persons as members to look into all issues emanating from the #MeToo campaign," she told PTI. Though Rahul Gandhi did not mention Akbar, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the charges against the minister. "Modi ji and morals travel in opposite direction. Modi ji will not seek Akbar's resignation on moral grounds but if he fears his vote bank is affected and he will suffer politically... then he will even sack him," Govil told reporters. As demands escalated for action against Akbar, Bollywood grappled with its own demons. Farah Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Ajay Devgn and Bipasha Basu were among the big stars who backed the movement against sexual exploitation. After Aamir Khan dropped out of "Mogul" because its director Subhash Kapoor faced sexual harassment charges in 2014, the shooting of "Housefull 4" was postponed following the allegations against its director Sajid Khan and actor Nana Patekar. Akshay Kumar, 51, said he wouldn't work with "proven offenders". "I will not work with any proven offenders and all those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve," he said. Director Farah Khan also spoke out against her brother Sajid, saying she doesn't endorse his behaviour and stands in solidarity with any woman who has been hurt. "If my brother has behaved in this manner, he has a lot to atone for," she said. The anguished response came after three women actors and a journalist shared graphic details of the sexual harassment they faced at the hands of Sajid, who announced he is stepping down as director of "Housefull 4" till he can allay the allegations. Sajid's cousin, actor Farhan Akhtar, said the allegations were shocking. "I cannot adequately stress how shocked, disappointed and heartbroken I am to read the stories about Sajid's behaviour," he tweeted. Bipasha, who worked with Sajid in "Humshakals", said she always found his behaviour towards women offensive. "Pyaar Ka Panchnama" director Ranjan and Ghai are the two other big names to be accused of rape and harassment. Recounting what had happened when was called for an audition for "Pyaar Ka Punchnama", an anonymous actor told Mid-Day that Ranjan asked her to strip down to her inner wear because he wanted to see how she would look in a bikini scene. She said she got the role but things did not improve as Ranjan kept asking her details about her love life. Eventually, she said she decided not to be a part of the film. Ranjan has denied all the allegations. It is not clear whether the allegations will impact his upcoming project with Devgn and Ranbir Kapoor. Devgn, however, said his production house will not tolerate harassment. "My company and I believe in providing women with utmost respect and safety. If anyone has wronged even a single woman, neither ADF nor I will stand for it," he tweeted. Writer Mahima Kukreja shared an anonymous post of a woman levelling rape charges against Ghai on Thursday, saying she was a "very credible media/lit personality, who does not want to be named". In the post, the woman claims Ghai, 73, harassed her while she worked with him on a film and one day during a late music session, he spiked her drink and raped in a hotel. Ghai, who denied the allegation, issued a fresh statement Friday. "I am deeply pained to be gripped in this movement but thank those who know me and respect I shower to women and their dignity," he tweeted. Clearly, the storm, which started with Tanushree Dutta's allegations against Patekar last fortnight and has felled big names such as Alok Nath, Vikas Bahl and his production house Phantom Films and comic collective AIB, shows no signs of abating. Police is investigating Dutta's complaint while Patekar has denied the allegations. There were also allegations of harassment against an executive of Tata, which released a statement saying the matter has been taken up by an internal panel. "Appropriate action will be taken as soon the enquiry is completed."October 13, 2018 -
Cyclone Titli enters Bengal; 3 dead in Odisha, 1 in WB
Cyclone Titli weakened into a deep depression and entered West Bengal Friday, triggering incessant rainfall even as it claimed four lives - three in Odisha and one in Bengal. The cyclone and the accompanying heavy rain have wrought damage in Bengal's Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts adjoining Odisha. It left one person dead in Paschim Medinipur district and uprooted trees along state highway number 5, holding up traffic, authorities in the two districts said. Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram are witnessing incessant rain since Thursday night. The MeT department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gangetic West Bengal till Saturday, ahead of Durga Puja festivities. It said the cyclone has weakened into a deep depression and is moving northeast. Paschim Medinipur district Magistrate P Mohan Gandhi said a 35-year-old security guard was killed when a 12-foot factory wall collapsed on him at Kharagpur following heavy rains on Friday. Ten others were injured in various rain-related incidents. In neighbouring Jhargram district, the storm caused mud houses and Durga Puja pandals to collapse in Rohinibazar, Sankrail and Jhargram block areas. The weatherman said the deep depression is likely to cause heavy to very heavy rain in North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, Howrah and Hooghly districts. Heavy rain is likely in Kolkata, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur districts till Saturday, the Met department said. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha, deep sea areas of North and Central Bay of Bengal till Saturday. Tourists at Digha and other adjacent sea-side resorts have been advised not to get into any sea-bound activities till Saturday as squall with speed of 45 to 55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph will prevail along and off the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha. In Odisha, the toll in the natural calamity rose to three after two bodies were recovered in Ganjam district, near where it made its landfall, as the state government deployed NDRF and ODRAF personnel to speed up rescue and relief operations. One of the two bodies was that of a 40-year-old fisherman from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, police said. The other body is that of a 45-year-old man of Bhuta Pankal village under Sorada block in Ganjam district. On Thursday, the body of an eight-year old boy, who had slipped into a canal at Saradhapur village under Hinjili police station, was found by locals, police said. In Andhra Pradesh, eight lives were snuffed out by the storm on Thursday. The Odisha government is, however, yet to confirm the deaths. "We have seen media reports of the deaths of two or three persons in districts. We are verifying it," Chief Secretary A P Padhi told scribes on the human casualty due to Cyclone Titli. The state deployed NDRF and ODRAF personnel Friday to speed up rescue and relief operation mainly in the southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada where more than 60 lakh people were affected by flood due to heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone. The flood situation in three districts, which received the highest rainfall for three days under the impact of Cyclone Titli, is grim as the water levels in major rivers like Rushikulya and Bansadhara have crossed their danger marks, official sources said. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said people in Balasore district were also affected by the flood. The decision to step up relief and rescue operation was taken at a high-level meeting where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the situation. In a video conference with the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada, Patnaik gave instructions for intensifying rescue and relief operation on a war footing as people faced the twin calamities of cyclone and floods. Patnaik stressed on quick repair of breaches in several river embankments and directed district collectors to provide cooked food to people evacuated from their homes. He constituted a three-member ministerial committee to visit the three worst-affected districts to monitor rescue and relief operation. Two helicopters were requisitioned from the Indian Navy mainly for rescue and air dropping of relief materials in Ganjam district as its villages are cut off due to the submergence of roads with rain and flood waters, Padhi said. Low-lying areas in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and the pilgrim town of Puri were also waterlogged due to rains. The swollen Mahendratanaya river submerged vast stretches of Gajapati district cutting off road communication between Andhra Pradesh and Paralakhemundi in Odisha's Gajapati district, official sources said. Train services were affected by the cyclone and floods and at least 16 trains were cancelled and several others rescheduled by East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Friday due to submergence of railway tracks, an ECoR official said. Director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre, H R Biswas said heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue to pound parts of the state, including Balasore, Bhadrak and Dhenkanal districts, till Saturday.October 13, 2018 -
MeToo: Police begins probe into Patekar case; Smriti Irani says Akbar will speak
The #MeToo movement gathered pace on Thursday with more women speaking out on sexual harassment at workplace and support pouring from various quarters, including union minister Smriti Irani, even as she said it was for her cabinet colleague M J Akbar to speak on charges against him. The Mumbai Police began its probe against actor Nana Patekar, dance director Ganesh Acharya and two others on a complaint filed by actor Tanushree Dutta, even as fresh sexual harassment allegations tumbled out including against actors, journalists and advertising professionals. While demands continued for action against union minister M J Akbar, who has been accused by several former female colleagues of sexual harassment when he served as editor at various media organisations, the government and the ruling BJP leaders maintained it was for him to speak on the issue. While the BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad refused to answer questions relating to the journalist-turned-politician, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai that it was for the Minister of State for External Affairs, to respond to the charges even as she favoured justice for the "ladies who are speaking out". Akbar, who is on a trip abroad and is scheduled to return on Sunday, has not spoken as yet on the charges against him. A BJP leader said the party expects Akbar to offer an explanation to the party's top brass on the allegations against him before it takes a call on his future. The party leader said the allegations were serious but there were several aspects to it, including that there was no legal case against him. While some opposition parties including CPI(M) and Shiv Sena demanded Akbar's resignation, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the #MeToo campaign is a "very big issue", but he will comment on that in detail at a press conference later. Some BJP leaders are of the view that the charges against Akbar would do no good to the party's image in the run-up to crucial state assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, more so when the party has gone on an overdrive to highlight the Narendra Modi government's "pro-women credentials". Incidentally, the women's wing of the saffron party will embark on a five-day relay marathon from Friday to publicise the pro-women schemes of the government. Irani, a former TV actress and herself a vocal politician, urged people not to mock the women who are speaking out against the harassment meted out to them. She said women do not go to work to be harassed but to work to live their dreams and earn a respectable living and it must be very difficult for them to come out and talk about whatever happened in their professional lives. A top RSS functionary also appeared to support the #MeToo movement, currently sweeping the country's landscape. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale expressed his opinion on the #MeToo movement by sharing a Facebook post of Ankhi Das, Public Policy Director of the social networking site, on his Twitter account. Das in her post had said,"You needn't have a #MeToo moment to support the woman journalists who have narrated their victimisation. You needn't even be a woman. You just need to have a sensibility of what is right and what is wrong." Hosabale, who is seen as a moderate face of the saffron organisation, tweeted her post and said, "I liked it. She has articulated what I was feeling." In Koklata, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya said Akbar is part of the government and it is for the government to decide. BJP MP Udit Raj, who recently termed the #MeToo movement a "wrong practice", again questioned what if complaints outing men for allegedly sexually harassing women proved wrong and the prestige of a man was destroyed. Meanwhile, a case relating to the #MeToo campaign reached the Delhi High Court with some persons facing accusations of sexual harassment seeking to restrain the accuser from airing her alleged ordeal on social media or any other platform. In Mumbai, the police said it will record statements of witnesses before summoning Patekar and three others in connection with the complaint filed by Tanushree Dutta, whose allegations against fellow actor is being seen as having kickstarted the #MeToo movement in India. Dutta has accused Patekar of touching her inappropriately on the sets of a Bollywood film in 2008. She filed a police complaint in the matter last Saturday. A police official said the investigation is at a preliminary stage and all facts need to be verified fist as it was a 10-year-old case. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said it wanted a "fair" investigation into allegations against Patekar. As fresh cases continued to be naratted, writer-director Piyush Mishra was accused by a former newspaper staffer of inappropriate behaviour during a party. Mishra said he was probably a "few drinks down" and apologised if he made the "lady uncomfortable". Actor Deepika Amin said Alok Nath's reputation of an alcoholic and a harasser was common knowledge in the Hindi film and television industry. Amin, who recently worked with Nath in "Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety", said several years ago the actor tried to "barge into her room" when they were shooting outdoors for a telefilm. Actor Himani Shivpuri said Alok Nath was like "Jekyll and Hyde" whose predatory behaviour was an "open secret" in the industry and has become public now.October 12, 2018
World
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India wins election to UN Human Rights Council with highest number of votes
India was elected to the United Nations' top human rights body on Friday for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019, getting 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates. The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections here for new members to the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council. India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category. Along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and Philippines had also staked a claim in the same regional group. Given that there were five nations vying for five seats in the Asia Pacific category, India's election to the Council was all but certain. Following the election, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told PTI that India's win with the highest number of votes “reflects India's standing in the international comity." He further tweeted "Voting for a Happy Outcome. Thanks to the support of all our friends @UN , India wins seat to Human Rights Council with highest votes among all candidates." In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 votes, Bangladesh 178, Bahrain and Philippines 165 each. India got the highest number of votes among all 18 countries in the five regional categories. The new members will serve a term of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 term. Its last tenure had ended on December 31, 2017 and in accordance with the rules, it was not eligible for immediate re-election since it had already served two consecutive terms. Created by the Assembly in March 2006 as the principal United Nations body dealing with human rights, the Human Rights Council comprises 47 elected Member States. On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows: African States, 13 seats; Asia Pacific States, 13 seats; Eastern European States, 6 seats; Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats; and Western European and other States, 7 seats. The new members elected Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eritrea, Somalia and Togo in the African States category, Bulgaria and Czech Republic in the Eastern European States group, Argentina, Bahamas and Uruguay in the Latin American and Caribbean States group and Austria, Denmark and Italy in the Western European and other States category. Commenting on the elections, rights group Human Rights Watch said “In ridiculous vote devoid of competition, UN General Assembly elected #Philippines, #Eritrea, #Bahrain & #Cameroon to be among new members of @UN#HumanRights Council in 2019-2021. Such votes make mockery of word ‘election'. It said Human Rights Council member states should seek to neutralise any attempts by its “worst members to shield themselves and other serial rights abusers & keep doing good work on #Yemen, #Myanmar, #Syria, #Burundi & other crises.” Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet assumed the role of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September this year, succeeding Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who had in June this year released a first ever report on Kashmir that was rejected by India.October 13, 2018 -
Sitharaman visits Rafale manufacturing facility in France
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Friday visited a production facility of French aerospace major Dassault Aviation near Paris where the Rafale jets to be supplied to India are being manufactured, official sources said. They said during her visit to the plant in Argenteuil, Sitharaman spoke to officials of the Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, and took stock of progress in production of the fighter jets whose delivery to India will begin in September next year. Sitharaman arrived in Paris Thursday on a three-day visit in the midst of a massive controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets under a Rs 58,000 crore government-to-government deal between India and France. Last evening, Sitharaman held wide-ranging talks with her French counterpart Florence Parly on ways to deepen the strategic and defence cooperation between the two countries. The talks were held under the framework of the annual Indo-French defence ministerial dialogue which was agreed to during the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in March. The two defence ministers comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of the bilateral defence cooperation, which is a key pillar of the India-France strategic partnership, an official statement said. They also exchanged views on contemporary regional and international developments of mutual interest. Both sides discussed ways to deepen defence related official as well as operational level interactions. It was agreed to expand the scope and complexity of the regular joint exercises (SHAKTI, VARUNA and GARUDA) in the future, the statement said. Recognising that India-France partnership in the Indian Ocean Region is important for preserving and promoting the common strategic and security interests, the two leaders noted the continuing implementation of the "Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region”. It was not immediately known whether the Rafale deal figured in the talks. She also called on French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation. In her interaction with the top leaders of the French defence industry, Sitharaman urged them to undertake and expand their defence manufacturing in India under the Make in India initiative as well as promote defence technology and R&D cooperation with Indian stakeholders such as Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited etc. Sitharaman's visit to France came in the backdrop of a fierce political backlash between the ruling BJP and Congress over the procurement of the jets. In a report Wednesday, French publication Mediapart said Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, had to choose Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offsets partner in India as a trade-off for getting the deal. When asked about the allegations, Sitharaman said that offset obligations for the deal are mandatory but not the names of the companies. In a statement, Dassault Aviation said it has "freely chosen to make a partnership with Reliance Group, as it rejected the report by French publication Mediapart". The latest report followed former French president Francois Hollande's comments last month that France was given "no choice" on selection of the Indian partner for Dassault and the Indian government proposed the name of the Indian company. Hollande was the French president when the Rafale deal was sealed. The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the deal, saying the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government when it was negotiating the deal. The Congress has also been targeting the government over selection of Reliance Defence as an offset partner for Dassault. The government has vehemently rejected the allegations and asserted that it did not have any role in the selection of Reliance Defence.October 13, 2018 -
Hurricane Michael death toll hits 16
The death toll from Hurricane Michael rose to at least 16 on Friday amid fears it would continue to climb as search-and-rescue teams scour the debris of the Florida town that bore the brunt of the monster storm. "Mexico Beach is devastated," Florida Governor Rick Scott said of the town where Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Wednesday. "It's like a bomb went off," Scott said as he toured the town of 1,000 people on the Gulf of Mexico. "It's like a war zone." Rescue teams were using sniffer dogs in Mexico Beach on Friday in a search for victims who may be buried under the rubble in the debris-strewn community. Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned that he expected the number of deaths to rise. "I hope we don't see it climb dramatically but I have reasons to believe we still haven't got into some of the hardest hit areas," he said. "What's happening is search and rescue is trying to get into the rubble to make sure that there's nobody covered up, trying to assess if there's additional casualties there," Long added. Dozens of structures in Mexico Beach -- homes, shops and restaurants -- were lifted off their foundations by storm surge and 155-mile per hour (250 kph) winds and moved hundreds of feet inland or smashed to bits. "Very few people live to tell what it's like to experience storm surge," Long said. "Storm surge causes the most amount of loss of life." State officials said Mexico Beach was under mandatory evacuation orders but some residents decided to stay and try to ride out the storm. "You hope that somehow at the last minute a bunch of people got up and left or went somewhere else," Florida Senator Marco Rubio told CNN. But judging from the number of homes reduced to "sticks," he said "my sense is they are going to find more victims." Bob Tenbrunson, a Mexico Beach retiree, rode out the storm at his daughter's house in nearby Panama City and returned to survey the damage to his home. "I was going to stay here until it turned to a Cat 4," he said. "So I followed the mandatory evacuation order and left with my wife. "Luckily we did not get a surge," Tenbrunson said of his home. "I've got two trees on the roof and a couple of holes on the roof. I have been trying to patch it up the best I can." The rest of Mexico Beach did not fare as well, and most of the beachfront homes, restaurants and stores were obliterated by the storm. "I spent my life savings and retirement to stay here so I can't sell it now," Tenbrunson said.October 13, 2018 -
Trump mocks #MeToo movement
US President Donald Trump has mocked the #MeToo movement as he intensified his criticism of the campaign against sexual harassment and assault which nearly hit his Supreme Court pick Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump's claim that #MeToo prevents him for using the phrase is his latest volley against the movement, which became a force after sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein surfaced last year. "There's an ex pression, but under the rules of #MeToo, I am not allowed to use that ex pression anymore. I can't do it," Trump said at a mid-term election rally in Pennsylvania, and then he pointed at the phrase "the girl that got away". "It's the person that got away. The old days, it was a little different than Pennsylvania to it," he said as he spoke about winning the state in the 2016 presidential election Pointing to the media, Trump said he would use the original phrase, except for the media. "I would do it except for these people up there. They would say, did you hear what President Trump said? Did you hear what he said?" he said imitating reporters. "So, there is an ex pression, but we'll change the ex pression. Pennsylvania was always the person that got away. That's pretty good," he said amidst applause from the audience. The revelation of the allegations against Weinstein inspired many women to reveal their own stories of sexual assault, but Trump has recently taken shots at the #MeToo movement by expressing concern for men who are accused of sexual assault or harassment. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's recent confirmation hearings renewed attention to the topic as the Senate considered Christine Blasey Ford's accusation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her. The president had said the notion that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted someone and that the allegations from Ford and other women could be taken as fact made this a “very scary time for young men in America.” Trump had earlier mocked the #MeToo movement at a rally in July. He did so while simultaneously mocking Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and saying that should she win the Democratic nomination in 2020 and they were to debate, he would toss an ancestry test to her and dare her to take it. During the 2016 presidential campaign, at least 13 women accused Trump of misbehavior ranging from sexual harassment to sexual assault. They came forward in the wake of a 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape that was released in October 2016 in which he is caught saying on a hot mic: "And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything." The President denies all the allegations against him.October 12, 2018
Business
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Think of NE as global market: Sonowal to industry captains
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday urged industry captains to take advantage of North East's geographical proximity to South East Asian countries and invest in the region. "The entire North East and South East Asian countries have a collective market of 800 million population and it is imperative that the region, which has huge potential, must be viewed in an investment friendly manner," Sonowal said during a panel discussion organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) '[email protected]' conclave here. He said the North East is now absolutely peaceful and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to ensure connectivity under the 'Act East Policy' will help create a presence for the region in the global market. "Earlier, Assam was known for violence, flood and erosion but the prime minister, who has visited the region 29 times during the last five years, has changed the narrative. Guwahati was earlier the gateway of North East, but now it is destined to be the gateway to South East Asia," he added. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that his state is the largest in the region with the richest diversity and immense potentialities but connectivity was a sore issue which is being successfully addressed by both the Union and state governments. "We are ready to make tailor-made policies and the investors can judiciously use the resources to generate employment and income for the young generation and help in creating a new India," he said. Referring to hydel projects, Khandu said that clearance for them takes 5-7 years and the local population have to taken into confidence as they are extremely attached to the environment. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said hydro electric generation is a tedious process and the investors should look into smaller projects with better technology. He said that his government has adopted the vision '[email protected] in 2022' as the state will be half-a-century-old then and entrepreneurs are being promoted to utilise the huge potential in varied fields. He also called for promoting North East as a brand with a focus on infrastructural connectivity with ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb said that earlier adhocism was the rule but now a holistic understanding of the region is being adopted. Tripura has a very high literacy rate, human capital, surplus power which it sells to Bangladesh and the neighbouring country has agreed to give access to the Chittagong port soon which will lead to great economic change not only for the state but for the entire region. "Tripura has shed its ideological baggage and is receptive to new ideas," he added. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjie said that they would support the phenomenal energy of North East and take advantage of tbe international connect. A state of the art skill development centre would be set up in the region, strengthen its women's wing - Indian Women Network - to empwer women and promote techonology, innovations and startups in the region, he added. Earlier, the CII felicitated four sportswomen of the region - M C Mary Kom for boxing, S Mirabai Chanu for weightlifting, Dipa Karmakar for gymnastics and Hima Das for athletics under its sports promotion initiative.October 13, 2018 -
4th Industrial Revolution to provide more job opportunities:Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday allayed fears of job loss due to technological development, saying the '4th Industrial Revolution' will change the nature of jobs and provide more opportunities. Speaking at the launch of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he said his government is open to policy changes to help reap benefits of the fourth industrial revolution. "Our diversity, our demographic potential, fast-growing market size and digital infrastructure has potential to make India a global hub for research and implementation," he said. While the previous industrial revolutions eluded the country, India's contribution to the 4th Industrial Revolution would be astonishing, he said. "India was not independent when the first and second industrial revolution happened. When third industrial revolution happened, India was struggling with challenges of just attained independence," he said. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, blockchain and big data hold potential to take India to new heights, the Prime Minister said. Reeling out the achievements of his government, Modi said teledensity has increased to 93 per cent and nearly 50 crore Indians now have mobiles. India is the largest mobile data consuming country in the world and also the one with the cheapest data rates, he said, adding mobile data consumption has increased 30 times in four years. Over 120 crore Indians have Aadhaar, he said, adding work to connect all the 2.5 lakh village panchayats with optic fibre would be completed soon. In 2014, only 59 panchayats were connected with optic fibre while presently 1 lakh are connected, Modi said.October 12, 2018 -
Sensex recaptures over 600 pts ahead of key macro data, Nifty reclaims 10,400
The BSE benchmark Sensex staged a strong comeback by recovering over 600 points in opening trade Friday following fresh purchases made by domestic investors ahead of key macroeconomic data to be released later in the day, fall in global crude prices and rupee recovery. Positive leads from most other Asian markets too fuelled the uptrend. The 30-share Sensex climbed 639.80 points, or 1.88 per cent, to 34,640.95 with all the sectoral indices trading in the positive zone. The gauge had plummeted over 750 points to end at a six-month low. The NSE Nifty was trading above the 10,400-mark, up 174.30 points, or 1.70 per cent, at 10,408.95. Meanwhile, the rupee strengthened by 38 paise to 73.74 against the US dollar in early trade in the forex market after global crude prices eased. Brokers said besides rupee recovery, built-up of positions by investors ahead of index of industrial production (IIP) numbers for August and inflation data for September - to be released later in the day - too impacted investor sentiment here. In the Sensex pack, prominent gainers were M&M, Yes Bank, Maruti Suzuki, Adani Ports, IndusInd Bank, Vedanta, Asian Paints, RIL, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, ITC, Hero MotoCorp, Coal India, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank, HDFC Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC and Bajaj Auto, rising up to 4.08 per cent. However, shares of country's largest software exporter TCS fell 2.13 per cent even after the company Thursday reported a 22.6 per cent jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 7,901 crore in the July-September 2018 quarter. Shares of oil marketing companies such as HPCL, BPCL and IOC remained strong and rose further by up to 5.33 per cent on falling global crude oil prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 3 per cent to quote at USD 80.37 a barrel. Stocks of Aviation companies - Spcejet, InterGlobe and Jet Airways - too were in better shape, rising up to 5.02 per cent, supported by falling crude prices. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) made purchases worth a net of Rs 1,888 crore Thursday, provisional data showed. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.11 per cent, Singapore rose 0.18 per cent, and Taiwan gained 1.17 per cent in their late morning deals. However, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.25 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.12 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 2 per cent in Thrusday's trade.October 12, 2018 -
Sensex crashes over 1,000 pts on global sell-off
Benchmark BSE Sensex Thursday crashed over 1,030 points to slip below the key 34,000-mark in early trade, tracking a global sell-off as the rupee hit yet another record low of 74.45 against the US dollar. Traders attributed the carnage in domestic bourses to the sell-off in international bourses after US stocks tumbled on heavy correction in tech stocks, fresh concerns over Fed rate hike and looming impact of the US' trade war with the China. Rising 10-year US treasury bonds, jumping above 3 per cent last week and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashing its global growth forecast and weakness in emerging markets, too spooked investors. The 30-share BSE Sensex, which had gained 461.42 points Wednesday, slipped below the 34,000-mark by crashing 1,030.40 points, or 2.95 per cent, to 33,730.49 in opening trade. The broader Nifty slipped below the 10,200-mark by tumbling 281.70 points, or 2.69 per cent, to 10,178.70. Widespread selling pulled down all sectoral indices led by realty, IT, metal and banking, that fell up to 3.66 per cent. Top laggards include SBI, Tata Steel, Infosys, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, Yes Bank, Maruti Suzuki, HUL, TCS, HDFC, ICICI Bank, Adani Ports, Wipro, Tata Motors, ITC, Coal India, Bajaj Auto, L&T, Sun Pharma IndusInd Bank and M&M, dropping up to 3.99 per cent. In the forex market, the rupee slumped by 24 paise to an all-time low of 74.45 against the dollar due to heavy demand for the US currency from importers. Foreign portfolio investors sold shares worth a net of Rs 1,096 crore Wednesday, provisional data showed. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan's Nikkei plunged 3.41 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 3.53 per cent, Singapore exchange was down 2.64 per cent and the Korean bourse fell 2.28 per cent in late morning deals. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 3.15 per cent Wednesday, its biggest fall since February.October 11, 2018
Sports
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Shuttlers win two more gold as India ends with 72 podium finishes
India recorded its best-ever showing by adding two more gold, a few silver and some bronze medals for a total of 72 podium finishes as the 2018 Asian Para Games drew to a close here Saturday. With 15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze medals, India was placed ninth in the overall tally. In the last edition in 2014, India won 33 medals (3 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze). In men's singles SL3 class badminton, India's Pramod Bhagat defeated Ukun Rukaendi of Indonesia 21-19 15-21 21-14 to clinch the gold medal. Athletes in the SL3 category generally have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking or running balance. Athletes with cerebral palsy, bilateralpolio or loss of both legs below the knee compete in half-court (lenghtwise) to minimise the impact of their impairment. Para shuttler Tarun added another gold for India on the final day of the event by beating Yuyang Gao of China 21-16 21-6 in the men's singles SL4 class. The SL4 class athletes have a lesser impairment compared to SL 3 and play full-court. Players with impairment in one or both lower limbs, unilateral polio or mild cerebral palsy fall in SL4 category. Continental giants China were at the top of the peking order with 172 gold, 88 silver and 59 bronze followed by South Korea (53 gold, 25 silver and 47 bronze) and Iran (51, 42, 43). Earlier Friday, Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik bagged her second bronze. K Jennitha Anto clinched the gold in women's individual rapid P1 chess event after beating Manurung Roslinda of Indonesia 1-0 in the final round, while Kishan Gangolli got the better of Majid Bagheri in the men's individual rapid VI - B2/B3 event to claim the top spot. Rapid P1 event is for physically impaired athletes while rapid VI - B2/B3 event features partially blind competitors. In para-badminton, Parul Parmar notched up a 21-9 21-5 victory over Wandee Kamtam of Thailand to win the gold medal in the women's singles SL3 event. Athletes in this class have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/running balance but they play in standing positions.October 13, 2018 -
Shuttler Lakshya stumbles in final hurdle, settles for silver in Youth Olympics
Promising Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen settled for a silver medal after he lost the men's singles summit clash against Li Shifeng of China in straight games at the Youth Olympics here. Sen, the reigning junior Asian champion, lost 15-21 19-21 in a 42-minute final match to bag the silver. He had beaten Shifeng in straight games in the quarterfinals of the Asian Championships in July but on Friday evening, it was the turn of the Chinese to turn the tables on the 17-year-old. In both the games, Shifeng led all through and Sen was playing catch-up, eventually failing to succeed. In the first game, Shifeng took an early lead and raced to 14-5 in no time. Sen made a fine recovery to narrow down the gap to 13-16 but he could not sustain it and Shifeng went ahead 18-13 and then made it 20-14 to have six game points. Though Sen saved one game point, the Chinese won the next one to pocket the first game in 17 minutes. The second game was a closer fight than the first but the Chinese was leading all the time. Shifeng was ahead 8-7 initially but the gap widened to 12-7 before Sen made it 11-14. The three-point gap remained for some time before the Chinese made it 18-14 and then 19-14. Sen made a last-ditch effort to save the match by winning three straight points but Shifeng still made it 20-17 to have three match points. Sen was still not throwing the towel as he reeled off two straight points to make it 19-20 and just one point away from a deuce. But his Chinese opponent was a hard nut to crack as Shifeng won the final point to clinch the match and the gold. The India admitting to committing early mistakes and gave full credit to his Chinese rival. "He was very good and won the crucial points. I couldn't push myself tough I managed to prolong the inevitable," said Sen after his final. "But I am happy to be the second Indian to bring back a medal in badminton from such an elite championship," he added. It was a sort of a revenge for the Chinese whom the Indian had beaten in the quarterfinals of the Asian Championships earlier this year. Congratulating on Sen's performance, Badminton Association of India president Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Lakshya is a world class prospect and I would like to congratulate him on his medal winning performance at the Youth Olympics. "I was particularly happy with the way he fought his way back in the semifinals and can certainly say that world badminton has a new rising star in him. "He showed tremendous character and fighting spirit and this surely is not the end of it." This was India's fourth silver along with three gold in the ongoing Youth Olympics.October 13, 2018 -
India win 5 gold, Deepa wins 2nd bronze on penultimate day of Asian Para Games
Para athletes added two gold medals to India's kitty after chess players and a shuttler grabbed yellow metals as the country continued its impressive performance at the Asian Para Games where Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik bagged her second bronze on Friday. K Jennitha Anto clinched the gold in women's individual rapid P1 chess event after beating Manurung Roslinda of Indonesia 1-0 in the final round, while Kishan Gangolli got the better of Majid Bagheri in the men's individual rapid VI - B2/B3 event to claim the top spot. Rapid P1 event is for physically impaired athletes while rapid VI - B2/B3 event features partially blind competitors. In para-badminton, Parul Parmar notched up a 21-9 21-5 victory over Wandee Kamtam of Thailand to win the gold medal in the women's singles SL3 event. Athletes in this class have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking/running balance but they play in standing positions. "I work as a coach in the Gujarat's Sports Authority of India. My target is Paralympics. I will play in the World Championships next," Parmar said after winning the gold. "So, I want support from my office and I need sponsors. When we go to play international tournaments we don't have sponsors and we have to fund ourselves. I request the government to help us," she added. Later, para athletes further made it a memorable day for the Indians. It was double delight for India in the men's javelin throw F55 event as Neeraj Yadav and Amit Balyan clinched the gold and silver medals respectively. While Neeraj's best effort was 29.24m, Amit threw the spear to 29.79 to win the silver. The bronze was bagged by Vietnam's Kieu Minh Trung with a throw of 28.27m. It was a one-two finish for India in the men's club throw F51 event too with Amit Kumar and Dharambir bagging the gold and silver respectively. Amit Kumar created a Games record en route the gold with a throw of 29.47, while Dharambir's best effort was 24.81. The bronze in this event went to Radhi Alharthi of Saudi Arabia. Para swimmer Swapnil Patil clinched a silver in the men's 100m backstroke in the S10 category. The S10 classification covers physical impairment. Patil earlier won a bronze in the men's 400m freestyle. India also won a bronze medal in the men's C4 Individual Pursuit 4000m cycling event with Gurlal Singh claiming the third position. This event is for athletes with a below the knee amputation and a prosthesis on one leg. Earlier in the day, Rio Paralympics silver-medallist Deepa Malik bagged her second medal at the ongoing competition when she clinched the bronze in the women's F51/52/53s discus throw. Deepa produced her best effort in her fourth attempt, a 9.67 metre throw to claim the third spot. Elnaz Darabian of Iran took home the gold and set a new Asian record with her best throw of 10.71m. Fatema Nedham of Bahrain won the silver with an effort of 9.87m. The other Indian in fray, Ekta Bhyan, who won the gold in the women's club throw event, finished last in a four-strong field with a best attempt of 6.52m. In F51/52/53 category, athletes have full power and movements in their arms, but none in their abdominal muscles and typically no sitting balance. They compete in seated positions. Deepa had earlier won a bronze in women's F 53/54 javelin throw event. In the women's discus throw F11 category, Nidhi Mishra claimed a bronze covering a personal distance of 21.82m. The F11 classification covers visual impairment. India now have 63 medals in the Games, which conclude on Saturday. Thirteen of these are gold, 20 silver and 30 bronze.October 13, 2018 -
Manu wins silver, men's hockey team progresses to semis at YOG
Young shooting sensation Manu Bhaker became the second Indian after judoka Tababi Devi to win two medals at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) after winning a silver while the men's hockey team moved to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Poland here on Friday. In a unique format, Manu combined with Tajikistan's Behzan Fayzullaev in the 10m air pistol mixed international and settled for a silver after losing the gold medal match 3-10 to Germany's Vanessa Seeger and Bulgaria's Kiril Kirov. The India-Tajik pair had on Thursday come through qualification with a score of 751. They then beat an Egyptian-Thai pair 10-4 in the round of 16 at the Parque Polideportivo Roca shooting range in the Argentine capital. They beat a pair from Lithuania and Moldova 10-8 in the quarterfinals and then overcame Andria Ibarra of Mexico and Dymtro Honta of Ukraine 10-3 in the semifinals. The German-Bulgarian pair however started strong in the finals and was 3-0 ahead at one stage before winning 10-3 to emerge champions. According to the format, the gold medal winner of the individual event is paired with the athlete who finished 20th in the final. India thus wrapped up their shooting campaign with two gold and three silver medals. Of the eight medals won by the Indian contingent so far, five are from shooting. Manu and Saurabh Chaudhary had won gold in the men's and women's 10m air pistol events, while Shahu Mane and Mehuli Ghosh had won silver in the men's and women's 10m air rifle events, earlier in the Games. On the hockey turf, Shivam Anand (1st, 8th minutes) sounded the board twice while Maninder Singh a(3rd) and Sanjay (17th) were the other goal scorers for India in the quarterfinals of the Hockey 5s competition at the Parque Polideportivo Roca. Poland's goals came from the sticks of Eryk Bembenek (16th) and Michal Nowakowski (18th). The Indian women's hockey 5s team beat South Africa 5-2 in their final Pool A match to advance to the quarterfinals of the Youth Olympic Games here. The Indians finished in the second spot in their pool with 12 points, behind leaders Argentina. Mumtaz Khan (2nd, 17th minute), Reet (10th), Lalremsiami (12th) and Ishika Chaudhary (13th) scored in India's convincing victory over South Africa on Thursday as the team ended the pool stages on a winning note after Wednesday's defeat to hosts Argentina. On the badminton courts, title favourite Indian Lakshya Sen recovered from a game deficit to beat Kodai Naraoka 14-21 21-15 24-22. Swimmer Srihari Natraj failed to qualify for the finals of the men's 200m backstroke after finishing sixth in Heat 1 with a timing of 2:04.80, which was overall 13th best. Only eight best made it to the final. Indian archers -- Akash and Himani -- were consistent with their shots to earn good rankings in individual events. Himani finished third in the women's recurve individual ranking event while Akash was placed fifth in the men's recurve individual event with 679 points.October 13, 2018
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