Farmers' leader Sharad Joshi passes away

December 12, 2015

Pune, Dec 12: Veteran farmers' leader Sharad Joshi, who spearheaded several campaigns across the country to press for remunerative prices for agriculturists, died here today.

sjJoshi, 81, was suffering from age-related ailments and the end came at his residence here, according to his family.

An erudite scholar, Joshi also had a term in the Rajya Sabha as an elected member from 2004-10, when he served on as many 16 parliamentary committees.

He gave up a decade-long lucrative assignment with International Bureau of Universal Postal Union (UPU) based in Switzerland in 1977 to return to India and take up the farmers' cause.

He formed his trend-setting outfit Shetkari Sanghatana in 1979, galvanizing the unorganized farmers' movement in the state.

After launching the outfit from his farm at Chakan near here, Joshi shot into limelight by leading a prolonged agitation of onion growers in Nashik district, which took a violent turn leading to his arrest.

He soon expanded his sphere of activity by taking up the issue of remunerative prices for a wide range of farm produce like sugar cane, rice, cotton, tobacco and also milk and joined hands with Mahendra Singh Tikait, farmers' leader from the North to set up a non-political co-ordination committee of all farmers' organisations in the country 1982.

Launching his initial stir from his home state Maharashtra, Joshi later spread his wings and influence in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and also to the south by organizing agitations for remunerative prices in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Liberal and progressive in outlook, he also sought to amalgamate the farmers' cause with that of women's empowerment and organized a massive rally of women farmers and farm labourers at Chandwad in Nashik in 1986 attracting about two lakh women.

An erudite scholar, Joshi hailed for his deep knowledge of agricultural economics as he famously sought to distinguish between the conceived image of "elitist "India" and "Bharat", rooted in the country's soil and ethos.

Entering the realm of politics, he floated a political party in 1994 named "Swatantra Bharat", envisaging in its manifesto a complete revamp of the country social, economic and political system aimed at minimal government interference.

He also served as chairman on Central government's Agriculture Consultative Committee in 1990-91 with a cabinet rank.

Active till the end, Joshi had authored many books in English and Marathi dealing with various issues concerning agricultural economics and also women's empowerment.

Just as he turned 81 recently, he had expressed his desire to rejoin the farmers' cause dear to his heart on the issue of the controversial Land Acquisition Bill.

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Agencies
June 19,2020

Srinagar, Jun 19: Suspended Jammu and Kashmir DSP Davinder Singh, arrested while ferrying two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway earlier this year, was granted bail by a Delhi court on Friday, his lawyer said.

Singh and another accused in the case - Irfan Shafi Mir - were granted the relief by the court in a case filed by special cell of Delhi Police, noting that the probe agency failed to file charge sheet within 90 days from his arrest, as prescribed under law, their lawyer M S Khan said.

The bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of like amount.

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News Network
February 2,2020

New Delhi, Feb 2: The Congress on Sunday released its manifesto for Delhi polls, promising to implement unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000-7,500 per month and cashback schemes for water and power consumers, if voted to power.

Presenting the manifesto, Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra said the party will provide free power up to 300 unit per month.

The manifesto also committed to spend 25 per cent budget each year on fighting pollution and improving transport facilities.

An unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000 for graduates and Rs 7,500 for post graduates per month will be provided under the Yuva Swabhiman Yojna, he said.

The Congress will launch flagship cashback schemes for power and water supply to benefit consumers saving these resources. The party, if voted to power, will open 100 Indira Canteens to provide subsidised meals at Rs 15, Chopra said.

The Congress will challenge the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Supreme Court and demand the Centre to withdraw the law. The party will also not implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the existing form of the National Population Register (NPR), if voted to power in Delhi.

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News Network
January 7,2020

New Delhi, Jan 7: The government has asked public sector undertakings to dissuade their employees from participating in the 'Bharat Bandh' called on Wednesday and advised them to prepare a contingency plan to ensure smooth functioning of the enterprises.

Ten central trade unions have said around 25 crore people will participate in the nationwide strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.

Trade unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had adopted a declaration in September last to go on the nationwide strike on January 8.

"Any employee going on strike in any form, including protest, would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," said an office memorandum issued by the government.

"Suitable contingency plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the ministry/department," it added.

It also issued instructions not to sanction casual leave or other kind of leave to employees if applied for during the period of the proposed protest or strike and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance-free entry into the office premises.

The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training prohibit the government servants from participating in any form of strike, including mass casual leave, go-slow and sit-down, or any action that abet any form of strike.

Besides, pay and allowances are not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority.

The central trade unions are protesting against labour reforms, FDI, disinvestment, corporatisation and privatisation policies and to press for a 12-point common demands of the working class relating to minimum wage and social security, among others.

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