AAP leader flogs himself in public for failing to get justice for those wronged in BJP-ruled Gujarat
Surat, Jan 6: Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Italia on Monday flogged himself at a public meeting in Surat in Gujarat as penance for "failing to ensure justice" for the victims of various crimes committed in the BJP-ruled state and to awaken people from their slumber.
Seeking forgiveness from stage, the AAP national joint secretary flogged himself by pulling out his trouser belt after citing the recent incident of a Patidar woman being booked and arrested at Amreli for allegedly trying to defame a BJP leader.
Addressing the gathering, Italia said he was fighting legal, social and political battles for the victims but "the corrupt nexus of officials and leaders under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule" has made it hard for people to get justice.
"Gujarat has witnessed many incidents such as Morbi suspension bridge collapse, Vadodara boat capsize case, different hooch tragedies, fire incidents and government recruitment exam paper leak cases, but I have been unable to ensure justice to the victims," he said before flogging himself even as leaders on the stage rushed to stop him.
Citing a more recent case of a woman being booked and arrested (before being granted bail) for allegedly trying to defame a BJP leader, Italia said he was punishing himself for not ensuring justice to the "innocent daughter of Amreli."
Later, Italia released a video statement in which he said he and other AAP leaders have been fighting to provide justice to many victims and even met police officials and moved court but in vain.
"Today, when I was speaking on the Amreli incident, I was very shocked and thought how is it possible that no one gets justice in Gujarat. BJP leaders make cruel statements, which are like pouring salt on burn injuries. I flogged myself for failing to ensure justice," he said.
Italia said only people of Gujarat can provide justice to these victims, adding that he hoped his act would awaken the "sleeping soul of the people".
Once it happens, there will be no place for injustice in Gujarat, the AAP leader asserted.
It may be noted that Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai had recently flogged himself to protest the rising incidents of crime against women in the DMK-ruled southern state.
ગુજરાતની જનતાની સૂતેલી આત્માને જગાડીશું,
— Patel Nirav (@Official_Nirav_) January 6, 2025
ભાજપના ત્રાસથી પીડિત જનતાને ન્યાય અપાવીશું 💯 ✅@Gopal_Italia @AamAadmiParty pic.twitter.com/qcdjdmTKbd
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States have money to give freebies but not to retired judges: Supreme Court
New Delhi (PTI): States have enough money to give freebies to people who do no work but they claim financial constraints when it comes to paying salary and pension to judges of the district judiciary, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih made the oral observation after Attorney General R Venkataramani submitted that the government has to consider financial constraints when deciding the pay and retirement benefits of judicial officers.
"The state's have all the money for the people who don't do any work. Come elections, you declare ladli behna and other new schemes where you pay fixed amounts. In Delhi, we have announcements now from some party or the other saying they will pay Rs 2500 if they come to power," the bench remarked.
Venkataramani submitted that genuine concerns of financial burdens must be taken into account.
The observation was made while the apex court was hearing a plea filed in 2015 by the All India Judges Association regarding pension to retired judges.
The top court had earlier said it was "pitiable" that some retired high court judges were getting a pension ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000.
