Communal violence over cow protection must be curbed sternly: Modi (Roundup) | NewsPatrolling.com Follow my blog with Bloglovin
New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged state governments to act tough against “anti-social elements” who break law and sought opposition support to tackle the “issue of communal violence in the name of cow protection”.
“Some anti-social elements have incited violence in the name of cow protection. Those engaged in disturbing the harmony in the country are trying to take advantage of the situation,” Modi said at an all-party meeting ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session that begins on Monday.
He asked state governments to “deal sternly against such anti-social elements”, according to an official statement quoting the Prime Minister from his address to floor leaders of parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in Parliament House.
“Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of state governments and wherever these incidents are taking place, the state governments must deal firmly with it. The state governments must also see to it that in the name of cow protection some people are settling personal rivalry.”
Attacks on people accused of beef eating or slaughtering cows have raised concerns as the targets of such violence have been minorities and Dalits.
Modi had spoken against cow vigilantes earlier as well. But that had little impact on curbing the violent incidents.
An estimated 30 people have been killed in cow-related violence since 2010. According to an analysis of IndiaSpend, a data journalism initiative, out of 63 cases of mob lynching recorded since 2010, 61 took place after Modi took power.
Twenty-four of the 28 people killed in the attacks were Muslims. In the first half of 2017, there were 20 cow or beef-related attacks in India.
Modi sought opposition support in curbing the violence that “has an impact on the image of the nation”.
He “urged all parties to extend their support to the government in fighting corruption and the issue of communal violence in the name of cow protection”, another statement from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said.
“Cow is revered as the mother in our country. Public sentiments are attached with the cow. However, people must know that there is a law to protect the cow and the violation of law is not an alternative.”
The opposition has vowed to raise the issue in Parliament, seeking answers from the government on what it was doing to end the violence.
Without mentioning India’s military standoff with China, the Prime Minister asserted that all political parties stood united to ensure the “nation’s safety and security after such concerns were raised by many leaders on recent developments”.
He said the government was “fully committed to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir and to wipe out the anti-national elements from the state” and reiterated that the path laid down by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was being pursued.
Modi also asked the opposition to support the government in conducting business in both the Houses “without disruption”. The monsoon session ends on August 11.
Jute products made by correctional home inmates showcased in Kolkata | NewsPatrolling.com Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Kolkata, July 25 (IANS) In a unique initiative, 15 inmates from the state-based Dumdum correctional home, on Monday showcased a wide array of jute products crafted by them after getting trained by professionals inside the prison.
The inmates, chosen from a group of 40 from the correctional home (as jails are called in West Bengal), after six months of skill development training by the state directorate of correctional services and a city-based social welfare organisation, produced bags, purses, pen holders, cushion covers and various other jute based products, in a bid to propagate the usage of the eco-friendly golden fibre.
“We are trying to make our inmates skilled by teaching them new skills and upgrading their existing skills. This is mainly for two reasons; when they are in the correctional home they can be gainfully employed and used and once they go out of the correctional homes, they can be employed by people and organisations,” Arun Kumar Gupta, Director General of West Bengal Correctional Services, said at the official launch of the initiative ‘Jute Story Beyond Bars’ at a auditorium here.
He said that the state office of correctional services have started several skill development training like making jute products, fabricating garments, making school uniforms and so on to engage the inmates at various state correctional homes.
“This is an ongoing process and the ‘Jute story’ is a part of that process to provide the prisoners an innovative platform in the domain of artisanal manufacture and empower their lives,” Gupta said.
Stating that skill development training inside the prisons received very enthusiastic response, the organisers of the event said the training workshops are aimed at invoking creativity and confidence among the inmates and helping them gain employable skills once they come outside.
“We started this project to promote jute as an eco-friendly product of Bengal at the international level. Also it is like a movement to harness the creativity of these people who are in a confinement for some wrongdoing in the past,” said Chaitali Das, Managing Trustee of Rakshak Foundation, that worked in collaboration with the correctional home in honing the skills of the inmates.
“These people are convicts, while some are facing serious charges. But all of them have taken great interest in this creative activity. I think that everyone of us, at our most vulnerable moment, can make a mistake. But everyone deserves a second chance,” she added.
The products made by the inmates are scheduled to feature in a three day exhibition in Sri Lanka during the SAARC meeting in September. The organisers are also planning to launch an online platform for the common people interested in buying the products.