Day: August 29, 2019

New JPCC chief gets thunderous welcome

Source: dailypioneer.com

A sea of supporters gave a thunderous welcome to Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee’s (JPCC) newly appointed president Rameshwar Oraon amid loud beats of Dhols and Nagadas at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi on Wednesday. Oraon, a former IPS officer, who replaced another former IPS officer Ajoy Kumar at the helm in the Congress party here, was accompanied by the five executive presidents, who will take the reins of the party in their hand along with Oraon in Jharkhand.

Even though the Congress party had to face a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, Oraon seemed to be oozing with confidence on Wednesday as he walked out of the airport along with his team and greeted the party workers. “Sonia Madam Ki Lalkar, Badlo Badlo Yeh Sarkar (Sonia Madam has challenged to uproot this Government). This will be our slogan for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand,” said Oraon.

Interestingly, the new team on the driving seat for the Congress party here has representatives from Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Minority and even General caste. Manas Sinha, Rajesh Thakur, Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, Sanjay Paswan and Irfan Ansari –made executive presidents of the JPCC to maintain unity among workers and add a new spark of life to the otherwise ailing party—also seemed visibly enthusiastic about the polls.

“The sea of supporters here is evidence to Congress party’s growing support. Our role hereon will be to unite all our workers and put in all our efforts in winning the upcoming elections,” said Oraon as chants of Rahul Gandhi Zindabad and Sonia Gandhi Zindabad reverberated at the Congress party’s State headquarters in Ranchi later in the day.

Oraon admitted that the party has failed to gather all its workers and translate their electioneering into votes in the past. He, however, said that Congress party still found several supporters in the rural areas of Jharkhand and the party will cash on this support. “If you travel to the interiors, you will notice that people are unhappy with the ruling Government and they have a soft corner for the Congress party. I know that if we put in efforts, the results will be visible in the next elections,” said Oraon.

He added that the tribal community in Jharkhand is unhappy with the Government’s constant efforts of making changes to the Chottanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPT). “We will go to the interiors and inform the people about the failures of the incumbent Government,” Oraon said.

Oraon and his team of five executive presidents were appointed by party’s National President Sonia Gandhi on Monday. The position of President in JPCC remained vacant since former MP Ajoy Kumar’s resignation on August 9. Kumar, in his resignation, ridiculed his fellow leaders in the party which left many senior leaders red faced here. Oraon, however, said on Wednesday that he did not wish to talk about the past and only wants to focus on the future.

The party took out a huge rally from airport to Congress Bhavan via Rajendra Chowk, Mahatma Gandhi Road and Albert Ekka Chowk on Wednesday. During the rally, Oraon and his team garlanded statues of freedom fighters, including tribal hero Birsa Munda, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and BR Ambedkar.

VBJ launches two new jewellery collections

Source: newindianexpress.com

CHENNAI: Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers launched two stunning nature-inspired, handcrafted platinum collections called The Ginkgo Leaf and Buddha Pod on Wednesday. This marks the brand’s foray into the designer platinum jewellery segment. 

The collections from the VBJ Creative Centre were unveiled by Jithendra Vummidi, managing partner at Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, and Vaishali Banerjee, MD of the Platinum Guild International – India.
“The simplistic, light-weight and contemporary style is suitable for office and daily wear,” said Jithendra. “Our focus has always been to deliver exclusive collections to ensure that our customers get unparalleled styles.”

The Ginkgo Leaf collection is inspired by the Ginkgo tree, a symbol of resilience and beauty. “It holds within it an untold story of a women’s strength and courage,” he said. “In addition to symbolising longevity, life and endurance, the collection is a tribute to all women who have displayed inner strength in trying times.”

The Buddha Pod collection is handcrafted with diamonds encrusted delicately upon platinum. The collection is inspired by the unique ‘heart-shaped’ Buddha pod seed. The Buddha Pod is meant to metaphorically represent a woman’s heart as she spreads infinite love to one and all.

“Both collections have a unique design story through contemporary designing,” said Vaishali. “Each piece of jewellery has the finesse and elegance that is synonymous with the language of platinum jewellery. I am sure that these designs will talk to the discerning young consumers in India.”

The collections comprise neckpieces, earrings, rings and bracelets crafted in a metal that is 30 times rarer than gold.

41 years on, Jharkhand’s Konar irrigation project inauguration today

Source: hindustantimes.com

The much-delayed Konar irrigation project, foundation of which was laid in 1978 with estimated cost of Rs 11.43 crore, will finally be inaugurated after 41 years on Wednesday when its estimated cost rose to Rs 2,176.25 crore.

Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das will inaugurate a part of the project which include 25-meter intake structure, 4.29-km tunnel, 2.04-km tunnel extension and 2.28-km canal at Bishnugarh in Hazaribag, irrigation department officials said on Tuesday.

Canal work of 103.14 kilometers covering 30 villages of Hazaribag and Giridih has been completed at cost of Rs 477 crore. Rest 301-km canal work will be done by 2021, officials said.

The irrigation project meant to rejuvenate over 62,955 hectare farmland of three districts – Hazaribag, Bokaro and Giridih covering 85 villages – was mooted in early 70s by the then Bihar government.

The water from the Konar dam will be supplied to farmland.

The idea was to use the water from Konar dam, built by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) in Hazaribag and inaugurated by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955, for irrigation purpose. Then Bihar governor Jagannath Kaushal had laid the foundation of the irrigation project in September 1978. The cost of the project was then estimated at Rs 11.43 crore.

However, the project hanged in balance since 1980 after the death of five labourers during construction of tunnel, officials said.

The project was further delayed due to various reasons such as shortage of funds, problems in land acquisition, forest clearance and others. After creation of Jharkhand in November 2000, the project got breather again.

The then Jharkhand chief minister, Arjun Munda, again laid foundation of the tunnel in 2003. However, contractor left the work midway. In 2012, tender for the project was again floated and work was again started in 2013.

As per the price index of 2017, the cost of the project was revised to Rs 2,176.25 crore and Rs 477.19 crore has already been spent by July 2019, the officials said.

Executive engineer of irrigation department in Hazaribag, Abhishek Minz, said that the canal work of 103.14 kilometers covering 30 villages of Hazaribag and Giridih had already been completed.

“The total canal length from Hazaribag to Bokaro via Giridih is 404.17 kilometers. We have fixed deadline to complete the rest 301 km canal by 2021. Once the project gets completed, all 85 villages from 14 blocks of three district would get irrigation facility,” Minz said.

Minz said land acquisition and forest clearance had been bottlenecks for the project, as they took much time.

“This is why, department has now decided to cover 267.42 km through pipeline instead of open channel,” Minz said.

Gaya Panchayat Tonsures,Punishes Minor Girl For Getting Gangraped?

Source: english.sakshi.com

Patna: In horrific incident members of a panchayat in Bihar’s Gaya district “punished” a minor girl who was gangraped by people from her own village. The girl’s head was tonsured and she was paraded through the village, a police officer said here on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old girl was kidnapped by residents of her village on August 14 and gangraped, sources in the police headquarters said.

The girl narrated the incident to her parents who then approached the local panchayat for justice two days later.

However, the members of the panchayat accused the girl of making unfounded allegations against the accused, who enjoy clout in the area, and punished the minor by tonsuring and parading her through the village, they said.

The incident came to light when the victim and her parents lodged a telephonic complaint with the office of the Director General of Police a week after the panchayat’s verdict.

Six people, including five members of the panchayat, were arrested on August 26 after recording the statements of the victim and her parents, Mohanpur SHO Ravi Bhushan said.

Gaya Mahila Thana in-charge Ravi Ranjana said the arrested persons have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days after being produced before a designated court while the girl’s statement was recorded before a magistrate after her medical examination.

She said the girl is yet to recover from the trauma but has been able to identify one of the accused.

Meanwhile, the State Women Commission has shot off a missive to Gaya police chief, demanding speedy justice to the victim besides summoning the five panchayat members.

“It is a very serious matter. We have asked the Gaya SSP to ensure that the accused are awarded strict punishment and the victim gets justice. We have asked the five panchayat members to appear before us and explain why such an inhuman treatment was meted out to a minor girl,” State Women Commission Chairperson Dilmani Mishra said.

Shiva, Hanuman of Bind caste, says Bihar minister

Source: hindustantimes.com

Senior BJP leader and cabinet minister in Nitish Kumar government, Braj Kishor Bind, has stirred a fresh row by claiming that Hindu Gods Shiva and Hanuman belonged to Bind caste. Bind is an OBC caste found in south west Bihar.

“When Lord Ram could be a Kshatriya, Krishna a Yadav then how not Lord Shiva and Hanuman could be a Bind,” the Bihar minister for mining, Braj Kishor Bind said while speaking to media during a visit to his home district Kaimur on Wednesday. Traditionally, members of Bind caste are known for their expertise in digging mud and fishing.

Referring to ancient Hindu text Shiv Puarana, Bind said that it was clearly mentioned in Part 2, chapter 36 of the holy book that Lord Shiva belonged to Bind caste. A book on ancient Indian history written by Vidyadhar Mahajan (BD Mahajan) had also referred Lord Shiva belonging to Bind caste, he claimed.

The minster went on to add, “I am a proud descendant of Lord Hanuman and Shiva and my Bind community. It is not the first time I have announced this fact. I revealed this secret on Tuesday in  presence of Bihar Governor, deputy CM and a couple of ministers, besides an august gathering of around 1500 people during felicitation function at Bapu Sabhagar. I can reiterate the same again and again with pride.”    

“According to the Hanuman Chalisa, a text written by famous medieval saint Tulsi Das, Hanuman was the son of Lord Shiva,” the minister claimed referring to the stanza- Shankar Suwan Keshari nandan (son of Shiva and Keshari).

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath during last parliamentary elections had created a similar row by saying that Lord Hanuman was a Dalit and a forest dweller.

The election commission had imposed a ban on his electioneering for three days.

“Now, Hindus and worshippers of Lord Shiva and Hanuman are highly confused on whether to believe Yogi Adityanath, the head of Nath Sampraday and Mahant of Guru Gorakshnath Peeth or the Bihar minister of his own party. It’s time the BJP top leadership takes a call on deciding who is right and who is wrong,” said Pt Bagishwari Prasad Dwivedi, a professor of Sanskrit and an authority on ancient texts.

“I have not seen such reference in Shiv Purana but will again read the book in light of the minister’s claim,” professor Dwivedi said.