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Mulayam goes soft on Muslim quota to woo upper castes

[email protected] (TNN)
December 28, 2012

MulayamNew Delhi, December 28: Samajwadi Party has asked the Centre to facilitate "Muslim quota", betraying concern that a strident party stamp on minority politics can neutralize its fledgling attempts to bait upper castes and OBCs with 'promotion quota'.

SP leader Ramgopal Yadav said, "We will pass a resolution in UP assembly to ask the Centre to amend the Constitution to allow reservation for Muslims in jobs and education." He said the Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down religion-based quota like in Andhra Pradesh. "It is best done by tweaking the Constitution," he told TOI.

Ostensibly to ensure an iron-clad quota law, Mulayam Singh Yadav's caution to pass the buck to the Centre has surprised observers in view of his history of muscular minority politics. It is seen as realpolitik from the wily Yadav chieftain who may see the revived stridency on Muslim quota as a red rag for upper castes and non-Yadav backwards.

The Yadav camp is aggressively opposing reservation in promotions for SCs/STs in the hope that it would polarize upper castes and backwards in its favour — non-dalits are opposed to the Centre's move to restore quota. Samajwadis stalled the quota bill in the winter session of Parliament.

SP had all but forgotten its poll promise to provide 18% quota for Muslims but was forced to revive it after a vicious assault from bete noire Mayawati. In an interview to TOI last week, the BSP supremo accused Mulayam of lip service to social groups, saying the Akhilesh Yadav regime had done nothing to enact Muslim quota in nine months in power.

Though forced to react on an issue concerning its core vote base, Samajwadi camp is treading carefully. The move to pass an assembly resolution seems aimed at making minority quota appear a demand cutting across the secular spectrum that includes BSP and Congress.

The collective political stamp would dilute Samajwadi authorship on Muslim reservation and may soften the resultant anger among upper castes and backwards.

The apprehension over Hindu reaction to minority quota stems from the failure of Congress in UP polls this year. Rahul Gandhi led an aggressive campaign by highlighting the centrally-moved 4.5% sub-quota for Muslim OBCs. The party finished poorly, failing to win upper castes while triggering a backlash from backwards who saw the sub-quota as eating into their 27% share.

Mayawati's gambit behind attacking SP on minority quota appeared aimed at forcing 'Maulana Mulayam' to take an aggressive stance on the issue that would stymie his newly-attempted appeal among upper castes and sections of Hindu backwards.


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March 24,2020

New Delhi, Mar 24: Thirty-two states and Union Territories (UTs) have announced complete lockdown to check the spread of the coronavirus in the country, informed the Central government on Tuesday.
There is a complete lockdown in as many as 560 districts of the country affecting several hundred million people.
Earlier, the complete lockdown was imposed in 30 districts, as of now, almost the entire country is in lockdown to restrict public movement in an attempt to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus.
Three states -- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha -- have announced lockdown in select districts with the governments continuously monitoring the situation and ready to extend the restrictions to other districts as well.
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has announced restrictions on certain activities.
The Indian Railways has suspended all passenger train operations till March 31 in view of coronavirus.

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Agencies
July 7,2020

Bhopal, Jul 7: Anil Mishra, personal assistant to BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, has tested positive.

He has been accompanying Scindia throughout his tours post-corona infection.

His contact trail is longer than that of Scindia. He has been in touch with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Mishra was present during Scindia's meetings with the MLAs and the swearing in ceremony of the MP ministry on July 2.

BJP sources say there is concern over the possible list of people who will be put in isolation to check the spread of the virus.

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News Network
June 27,2020

New Delhi, Jun 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India fared much better compared to some other countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The PM made this observation while delivering the inaugural address to mark the 90th birth anniversary celebrations of Reverend Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan.

"Earlier this year, some people had predicted that the impact of the virus in India would be very severe. Due to lockdown, many initiatives have been taken by the Government and in this people-driven fight, India is much better placed than many other nations. India's recovery rate is rising," Modi said in his virtual address.

He further warned that the time was not apt to "let our guard down".

The prime minister greeted the Mar Thoma Metropolitan and wished him a "long life and best health."

"Dr Joseph Mar Thoma has devoted his life for the betterment of our society and nation. He has been particularly passionate about the removal of poverty and women empowerment," the prime minister said.

Praising the Mar Thoma Church for its contributions to the country the Prime Minister added that it has worked to bring a positive difference in the lives of people in the country in areas of healthcare and education.

"The Mar Thoma Church is closely linked with the noble ideals of Saint Thomas, the Apostle of Lord Christ. India has always been open to spiritual influences from many sources. It is with this spirit of humility that the Mar Thoma Church has worked to bring a positive difference in the lives of our fellow Indians," Modi said.

Followers of the Mar Thoma Church from India and abroad participated in the programme through video conference.

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