Uttar Pradesh: Mockery of Ramarajya!
Today is Gandhi Jayanti. Mahatma Gandhi introduced the values of ‘Rama Rajya’ in administration and brought them to the fore. ‘If a woman is able to walk freely on the streets at midnight without any fear, it means that Rama Rajya has been established’, was Gandhi’s stand. In a mockery of the grand Ram Mandir being constructed in Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit woman has been brutally raped and murdered. Not just that, amidst opposition from the family, the police cremated her body in the middle of the night. The state that has been in the news for the ‘construction of the Ram Mandir’ is now in the news for brutal rapes of Dalit women. Ironically, the chief minister of the state, identified as one where the highest number of rapes is committed, is a self-proclaimed ‘Yogi.’ When the entire nation is up in arms against the rape that was committed in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, attempts are being made to repress the agitations using police force. The agitation under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been stopped by the police who also assaulted him.
Atrocities and rapes against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh are not new. But the government is not able to quietly bury such attacks as in the past as Dalits and people’s organizations all across the country are now alert and are awakened more than ever before. In the past, a woman was raped by a BJP leader, but attempts were made to silence the woman and her family for raising their voice against the accused. She got justice after a long-drawn battle. The rape against the woman in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh two weeks ago is worse than that incident. The woman was not only raped but was brutally tortured. Her bones were crushed to pieces and tongue cut off. Battling between life and death, she died on Tuesday. The government that had to provide justice to the victim’s family is trying to protect the accused as is the norm. If the police had arrested the accused immediately after the incident, the events would not have taken the present turn. The police did not respond when a complaint was filed. Only after public outrage, did the police reluctantly arrest the accused. Now, senior police officers are claiming that the woman was not raped and are justifying their stand citing the post-mortem report which, according to them, has said the same. Normally, the police will not allow a body to be burnt if a murder is being suspected as sometimes there can be a need to perform a post-mortem the second time. In such situations, the body is buried. But in the Hathras incident, the police burnt the body in the middle of the night without handing it over to the family. The family was in fact kept under house arrest. Now, when everything is complete, the police have issued a statement that the ‘post-mortem report does not establish rape.’ Even if loopholes in the post-mortem report are pointed out, the police have closed the possibility of examining the body the second time. In addition, a conspiracy is being hatched to make sure that protestors do not enter the village by declaring it as ‘Covid infected.’
The entire country is facing embarrassment due to the atrocities and rapes committed against women in Uttar Pradesh which occupies the top position for crimes against women. After Adityanath became the Chief Minister, the state has not only seen a severe setback in health and education sectors but has also taken on the label of ‘Jungle Raj’ due to its notoriety in crime. Two years ago, the state witnessed a spate of children’s death due to the paucity of oxygen cylinders. The government then made a futile attempt to frame the doctor who rushed to help the children an accused and to imprison him. Chief Minister Adityanath has also gained notoriety for repressing people’s agitations by using the police. It is also being alleged that Uttar Pradesh is being covertly ruled by the activists of Yogi Adityanath’s Yuva Vahini. If the background of these activists is studied, we can understand why Uttar Pradesh is filled with criminals. A cursory glance at Adityanath’s background would also provide reasons for the present blood-splattered atmosphere of Uttar Pradesh. Before being anointed as the Chief Minister, Adityanath was facing several criminal charges and the Yuva Vahini under his leadership was a den of criminals. He also has a background of having given a call for raping women of a particular community in a public meeting before becoming the chief minister. Adityanath became eligible to become a chief minister only for delivering ‘attack, hit, and kill’ speeches inciting violence wearing the Hindutva mask but with no knowledge of social movements. In such a context, how can an environment be created where women, Dalits, and weaker sections live in peace? Criminal activities and atrocities against women became normalized after Adityanath became the chief minister. Miscreants behaved as though they were given a license to perform criminal acts. In Uttar Pradesh, atrocities are being committed against ‘Sitas’ in the name of ‘Rama’. The followers of Adityanath are trying to deface Rama with their sins. It is a mockery of the idea of Mahatma Gandhi’s Ramarajya. If Adityanath who has completely failed as the chief minister does not demit office, it appears that women in Uttar Pradesh will have no choice but to mourn their lives.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
