BJP releases manifesto for Karnataka polls, reaches out to farmers

Bengaluru, Jan 30: The BJP government of Karnataka has given green signal to the proposal of hiking milk prices by Rs 2 per litre.

The new prices will come into effect from February 1. Seeking revision of prices, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) had submitted a proposal last week to the state government. Alongside the revision of milk prices, the state government has also hiked the prices of curd by Rs 2 per liter.

The sudden hike in the prices of milk, curd is likely to have a cascading effect on the milk related beverages such as coffee, tea, and milkshakes with hoteliers and eateries mulling to increase the prices of coffee and tea following the hike in prices.

Sources in the state government revealed to DH that out of Rs 2, farmers will be getting a lion’s share as their accounts will be credited with Rs 1. Another 40 paise will be given to the farmers towards the insurances of their livestock.

Another 40 paise will go to the milk salesmen in the form of commission. The remaining 20 paise will be distributed among the workforce at the milk cooperative unions as an additional incentive.

Kanpur, Jan 1: In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The poem reads thus -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge."

It was the last line that has turned into a bone of contention. Translated into English, it means, 'When thrones will vanish, only Allah's name will remain' -- implying the misleading translation by the professor.

The poem had been written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: "In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which have obviously been misinterpreted -- "When all idols will be removed, only Allah's name will remain."

The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately."

Fifteen other students have also signed the complaint filed by the professor against the protesting students.

Meanwhile, IIT students have said that the faculty member who lodged the complaint has been banned on a social networking site for posting communal content.

In an article published on the IIT-Kanpur student media portal, the students clarified what exactly happened on the day of protest and how their chant was given a 'communal and misleading' turn. They stated that they had recited a few lines of the Faiz poem in reference to the police crackdown on the Jamia students.