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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Whistleblower Gram Panchayat member killed by land mafia
NAGPUR: A 30-year-old Gram Panchayat member and BJP leader was brutally murdered on Tuesday morning in Saoner tehsil, allegedly by individuals linked to the land mafia. The victim, Atul Patil, was stabbed to death at Pipla, which falls under the jurisdiction of Khaparkheda police station in the district. Patil, a vocal whistleblower who had exposed several land scams, had filed multiple complaints against illegal land dealings, including schemes orchestrated by village sarpanch Vishnu Kokadde, a Congress leader and a close associate of former Maharashtra minister Sunil Kedar. The murder has sparked outrage and raised political temperature in the region, especially as the Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections are near. The police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder - Himanshu Kumbhalkar, 19, who is the prime accused, and Vishnu Kokadde, 41, who had previously faced charges of forgery and cheating in a ZP land allotment scam exposed by Patil. According to police sources, Patil had used the Right to Information (RTI) Act to uncover fake documents used to develop unauthorised layouts. His complaints led to the registration of cases against Kokadde, a Gram Panchayat secretary, and others. It is alleged that Kokadde and his wife, former Nagpur Zilla Parishad president Muktabai Kokardde, misused their political influence to issue fraudulent No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and earn crores of rupees through illegal land deals. Senior Inspector Arvind Katlam of Khaparkheda police station revealed that Kumbhalkar had called Patil out of his house under the pretext of resolving an old dispute. 'As Patil stepped outside, he was ambushed. A brief scuffle broke out, but Kumbhalkar overpowered him and stabbed him multiple times,' said Katlam. Patil was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Both accused were produced in Saoner court, where Kumbhalkar was remanded to police custody till June 21 and Kokadde till June 19, for further investigation. The murder is also believed to be linked to the political rivalry between Patil and Kokardde in the area. However, police officials maintain that the land scam exposure appears to be the main motive. BJP leaders staged a 'rasta roko' protest demanding swift justice and immediate arrest of all those involved in the conspiracy. The agitation was led by local MLA Ashish Deshmukh and district president Manohar Kumbhare, who accused the authorities of failing to protect a whistleblower. Deshmukh has also demanded that the case be heard in a fast-track court. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the region to prevent any law and order issues.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Land acquisition by KIADB: KRRS threatens protest march to CM's Mysuru residence over delay in compensation payment
Alleging a scam in the payment of compensation for the acquisition of land in Nanjangud taluk's Chikkayyanachatra hobli by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has threatened to lead a march to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence in Mysuru if the issue is not resolved in a week's time. Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Wednesday, KRRS leader Badagalapura Nagendra said the KIADB acquired about 1,123 acres of land across Immavu, Adakanahalli, and Tandavapura in Chikkayyanachatra hobli of Nanjangud taluk. A part of this acquired land has also been earmarked for the proposed film city to be set up by the State government. About 700 families of farmers from the villages of Immavu, Hulimavu, Immavu Hundi, and Adakanahalli Hundi, who had also submitted applications for compensation under the Geni or tenancy rights, were excluded from payment of compensation, Mr Nagendra pointed out. Following agitations by the aggrieved farmers, the KIADB, at its board meeting, decided to pay an ex gratia amount of ₹4 lakh per farmer with unauthorised cultivation on the acquired land and sanctioned a total of ₹18 crore that was disbursed through the Deputy Commissioner to Nanjangud Tahsildar. Mr. Nagendra alleged that the compensation was distributed to ineligible farmers from different taluks of Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts, leaving the eligible farmers high and dry. Contending that 'corruption and irregularities' had taken place in the distribution of the compensation, Mr. Nagendra said the farmers are demanding a thorough investigation and punishment for the guilty, adding that genuine cultivators should be provided the compensation they deserved. Despite an agitation by the farmers for the last two weeks during which the matter was brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, the issue has not been resolved. Mr. Nagendra claimed that the applications filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking details of the compensation paid to the farmers, too, had been denied, raising further suspicion. Hence, he said the farmers have set a deadline of one week for the government to resolve the matter. If not, a protest march will be taken out from the protest site in Nanjangud to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence in Mysuru, where a demonstration will be held, Mr. Nagendra warned. Opposition to Cauvery Aarti and Amusement Park Mr. Nagendra highlighted the opposition by the farmers to the government's plan to hold the Cauvery Arati and the construction of an Amusement Park at KRS reservoir. He urged the government to cancel its plan to hold Aarti at KRS reservoir by spending a whopping ₹92 crore. Expressing opposition to the proposed Amusement Park at KRS, Mr. Nagendra said the farmers of Mandya had opposed the project as it posed a threat to the safety of the KRS dam. Similarly, 'anti-people and anti-environment' projects like 'Disneyland' too had to be scrapped following a public outcry, he reminded the government. Fake seeds and Fertilisers Mr. Nagendra expressed concern over the circulation of fake seeds and fertilisers in the market on account of the Agriculture Department's failure to supply the required amount of commodities to the farmers even after the start of monsoon. He urged the government to immediately curb the menace and ensure adequate and timely availability of seeds and fertilisers to the farmers. The KRRS has also extended its support to the 'Devanahalli Chalo' call given by Samyukta Horata Karnataka on June 25 to protest against the forced acquisition of land by KIADB in Channarayapatna hobli in Devanahalli taluk in Bengaluru Rural district.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Calcutta HC orders Centre to restart MGNREGA in West Bengal from August 1 after three-year halt
After nearly three years of inactivity, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will resume in West Bengal from 1 August 2025. The decision came after a directive from the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, ending a funding freeze imposed by the Centre in March 2022 over allegations of widespread irregularities. A division bench headed by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) ruled that the scheme must be implemented prospectively. The court also permitted the central government to continue its ongoing enquiries into past misuse, while allowing special conditions to be imposed on West Bengal alone, if needed, to prevent recurrence. The Centre had cited financial irregularities in wage disbursement as the reason for halting funds. These included inconsistencies found in 31 out of 63 inspected MGNREGA worksites, according to replies under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo 'It is not in dispute that certain irregularities have been pointed out by the Centre in the disbursement of wages under the MGNREGA scheme,' the court said. The bench confirmed that action had been taken in response to these findings. Recoveries were already underway, and the funds were now being held in a designated bank account managed by the state's nodal agency for MGNREGS. Live Events 'No one can allow a person who illegally took advantage of the scheme to go scot free,' the court observed. Yet, it underlined the need to draw 'a line between past actions and future steps to be taken to implement the scheme.' The judges made clear that indefinite suspension of the scheme was not permissible under law. 'The scheme of the Act does not envisage a situation where the scheme would be put to cold storage for eternity,' the bench said. The court clarified its focus was on prospective implementation. 'At this juncture, the court is concerned about the implementation of the scheme in West Bengal prospectively,' it noted. The order also reaffirmed the Centre's power to investigate financial irregularities and to impose 'special conditions, restrictions and regulations, which have not been imposed in other states of the country, so as to ensure that no illegality or irregularity occurs.' The Centre had stopped disbursing MGNREGA funds to West Bengal in March 2022. The last financial year in which the state received funds was 2021–22, during which it got ₹7,507.80 crore. In the three years that followed, it received nothing. This freeze came at a cost. A Standing Committee on Rural Development told the Lok Sabha in March that the funding suspension had 'severe consequences', including distress migration and disruption of essential rural infrastructure projects. Even though misappropriation under MGNREGA was reported from several states, data from the Union Ministry of Rural Development—reported by Hindustan Times—showed that none besides West Bengal faced such prolonged restrictions. MGNREGA is a demand-based law that guarantees 100 days of unskilled manual work every year to rural households that seek it. It is one of India's largest social welfare programmes. The Centre provides 90% of the funding. West Bengal alone has more than 34 million registered MGNREGA workers. The suspension left many of them without any wage-backed support, especially during the post-pandemic recovery years. Back in April, the Calcutta High Court had questioned the Centre's continued withholding of the scheme. It had asked why the programme had not been resumed in districts where no confirmed financial misappropriation had occurred, such as outside of Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Malda, and Darjeeling (GTA). While the court has now cleared the path for resumption, it also empowered authorities to impose stricter oversight measures. The goal is to ensure the issues that led to the suspension—misreporting, fake job cards, and duplicate beneficiaries—do not reappear. The ruling balances accountability with urgency. It recognises that while corruption must be addressed, millions of livelihoods also depend on the programme. For the people of Bengal's rural heartlands, 1 August may now bring not just a new month, but a long-overdue chance to work again.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MMC Act most significant reform in journalism landscape realised by Madani govt
LUMUT: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act, which came into effect yesterday, marks the most significant reform in the country's journalism landscape, realised under the Madani government. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Madani government had succeeded in realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) after nearly 50 years of anticipation among media practitioners. "This is the most significant reform that we (Madani government) have introduced. "With the establishment of the Media Council, media organisations can now independently and freely deliberate on matters such as journalistic ethics and the future of the media in our country, without interference or influence from any party, including the government," he said. "For us, especially our colleagues in Keadilan (PKR) within Pakatan Harapan, as well as our friends in Umno who have long championed media freedom, this has become a reality with the establishment of the Media Council," he said. He was speaking at the Communications Minister and the Madani Community session, held in conjunction with the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas Penerangan (ASAS) programme organised by the Department of Information at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Information Department director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, at a press conference following the National Journalists' Day (Hawana) 2025 main celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday, announced that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act would come into effect on June 14, 2025. He also announced that he would soon hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC founding board to assist in shaping the council's next steps and future activities. The three-day Hawana 2025 celebration, which concludes today, is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency. The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day to commemorate the publication of the first edition of "Utusan Melayu" newspaper on May 29, 1939, honouring the contributions and services of media professionals as vital agents in shaping an informed society.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
MMC Act most significant reform in journalism landscape, realised by MADANI govt
LUMUT: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act, which came into effect yesterday (June 14), marks the most significant reform in the country's journalism landscape, realised under the MADANI Government. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the MADANI Government had succeeded in realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) after nearly 50 years of anticipation among media practitioners. 'This is the most significant reform that we (MADANI Government) have introduced. With the establishment of the Media Council, media organisations can now independently and freely deliberate on matters such as journalistic ethics and the future of the media in our country, without interference or influence from any party, including the government,' he said. 'For us, especially our colleagues in Keadilan (PKR) within Pakatan Harapan, as well as our friends in UMNO who have long championed media freedom, this has become a reality with the establishment of the Media Council,' he said. He was speaking at the Communications Minister and the MADANI Community session, held in conjunction with the Northern Zone B Akademi Asas Penerangan (ASAS) programme organised by the Department of Information (JaPen) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-MIMET) here today. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and JaPen director-general Julina Johan. Fahmi, at a press conference following the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 main celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) yesterday, announced that the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act would come into effect on June 14, 2025. He also announced that he would soon hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC founding board to assist in shaping the council's next steps and future activities. The three-day HAWANA 2025 celebration, which concludes today, is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency. The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day to commemorate the publication of the first edition of 'Utusan Melayu' newspaper on May 29, 1939, honouring the contributions and services of media professionals as vital agents in shaping an informed society.
