MP police recruits' caste marked on chest
Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), April 29: Newly-recruited police constables had their chests marked with their caste -- SC (Scheduled Caste) or ST (Scheduled Tribe) -- during a medical examination here, triggering an outcry. State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh ordered a probe on Sunday.
Dhar witnessed a police recruitment drive in the past few days, the medical tests for which are being conducted these days. To identify the recruits, the district hospital marked the ones under reservation with their caste.
Dhar Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh told IANS on Sunday there might not be any malicious intent behind it.
"The last time some mistakes happened during the recruitment. The hospital may have undertook this method to avoid any mistake this time. However, a probe has been ordered."
The Home Minister tweeted that a probe has been ordered into the controversy while the Communist Party of India-Marxist said the incident was a criminal act and demanded action against those responsible under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Maharashtra assembly session begins with full recital of 'Vande Mataram'
Nagpur (PTI): Members of the Maharashtra assembly on Monday recited the full version of 'Vande Mataram' on the opening day of the legislature's winter session here, marking the 150th anniversary of the national song.
The House proceedings began with the customary recital of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, followed by 'Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha', the official state song.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar said, "It is a tradition of the legislature to recite the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram on the first day of every session. However, as this year marks 150 years since its composition, the House will recite the entire song."
The legislators then recited the full song.
Notably, the Lok Sabha has listed 'Discussion on the 150th anniversary of national song Vande Mataram' on Monday and allocated 10 hours for the debate.
The debate in Parliament is part of the year-long celebrations on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and set to tune by Jadunath Bhattacharya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hit out at the Congress, accusing it of removing key stanzas from the song in 1937 and sowing the seeds of partition.
On November 7, Modi launched year-long celebrations to commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram, aimed especially at youth and students to deepen awareness of the song's significance.
During the assembly session, Narwekar also announced the names Chainsukh Sancheti, Kishor Patil, Rahul Patil, Uttamrao Jankar, Ramdas Masram, Sameer Kunawar and Saroj Ahire as presiding officers. They will chair proceedings in the speaker's absence.
