British envoy draws attention to plastic pollution in oceans
Kolkata: Juxtaposing the naturalness of silk with the artificiality of plastic, British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith on Saturday drew attention to the health of rivers and plastic pollution in the oceans.
"It is incredibly appropriate that we are celebrating rivers at this particular point in time.. They reflect not only health of the country but also, as we have been increasingly reading in the last few days, health of the oceans, particularly relevant here in Asia," Asquith said at the closing ceremony of "Silk River India Walk" at the Victoria Memorial Hall here.
Britain joined nearly 200 countries in signing a United Nations resolution in Nairobi earlier this month to cut plastic in the sea.
"So much of plastic runs down the river into oceans... What I love is we are surrounded by something very different...silk. It is soft, beautiful, natural and valuable in sharp contrast to plastic, which is cheap, hard, artificial and ugly," he said referring to the 20 hand-woven and hand-painted Murshidabad (Bengali) silk flags crafted as part of the Indo-British Silk River partnership.
The Silk River project explores the unique relationship between London and Kolkata.
Working at 20 locations alongside the Hooghly and the Thames to reinterpret a shared heritage, Silk River aims to raise cultural awareness about the Indo-British relationship by engaging diaspora communities.
The 20 scrolls will be exhibited at the Central Hall of Victoria Memorial Hall here from December 19 to December 31.
The project was a collaborative effort -- between Kinetika, UK, and its various Indian partners, including ThinkArts, Murshidabad Heritage Development Society, Crafts Council of India West Bengal and West Bengal Tourism. It is supported by the Arts Council England and the British Council.
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CJI Surya Kant clarifies 'parasites' remarks, says 'pained' over media reports
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a strongly worded clarification on his 'parasites' remarks, saying he was "pained" by media reports that suggested he criticised youth.
"I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday," the CJI said in a statement.
Kant emphasised that his remarks were specifically directed at individuals entering the legal profession through "fake and bogus degrees" and were "misquoted by a section of the media."
The clarification follows a controversy during a hearing on Friday, when the CJI used words like "parasites" and "cockroaches" while pulling up a lawyer for his plea seeking senior designation.
"What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites.
"It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India," the chief justice said about his remarks.
