Irfan Pathan responds to “internal matter” debate on Twitter over farmers’ protest
New Delhi: Amidst the growing differences between people of the country over the farmers’ protest over three farm laws, former India cricketer Irfan Pathan on Thursday expressed his views after several cricketers and Bollywood stars said it was India’s internal matter and there was no need of external interferences.
Several top personalities including Akshay Kumar, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane, and others had on Wednesday tweeted after international music sensation Rihanna and Climate Change activist Greta Thunberg had expressed their solidarity with protesting farmers.
The Indian stars had called for unity among the people of the country adding that the farmers’ protests across the country were the country’s internal matters and international or external interferences were not required. This move had come hours after the Ministry of External Affairs had issued a similar statement calling on people to not rush to conclusions.
On Thursday, Cricketer Irfan Pathan took to his Twitter handle and added that India had “rightly expressed grief” when George Floyd was killed by cops in the USA.
Pathan wrote, “When George Floyd was brutally murdered in the USA by a policeman,our country rightly expressed our grief. #justsaying” (SIC).
When George Floyd was brutally murdered in the USA by a policeman,our country rightly expressed our grief. #justsaying
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 4, 2021
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K’taka HC declines stay on menstrual leave order, says issue of public importance
Bengaluru: The State Government has strongly defended its decision to grant one day of paid menstrual leave every month to women employees, telling the Karnataka High Court that the notification was issued in the larger interest of women and is legally sound. The Court, treating the matter as one of significant public importance, refused to stay the implementation of the order and adjourned the hearing to January 20.
The Labour Department’s November 20, 2025 notification was challenged by the Bangalore Hotels Association, Avirat Defence System, Facile Aerospace Technologies Ltd and Samos Technologies Ltd. Justice Jyoti Mulimani heard the petitions on Wednesday.
At the start of the hearing, the bench asked whether the State had filed its objections. Advocate General K. Shashikiran Shetty informed the Court that objections had been submitted and that copies would be provided to the petitioners.
Defending the notification, the Advocate General said the government had introduced a progressive measure aimed at women’s welfare, one that no other state in India had implemented so far. He told the Court that 72 objections were received and considered before finalising the notification. He argued that the government was empowered to frame such policy under Article 42 of the Constitution and noted that the Supreme Court and the Law Commission had earlier made recommendations in this direction.
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When the Court asked whether the notification applied to all sectors, the Advocate General replied in the affirmative. The bench observed that the matter required detailed hearing because of its wider public impact and decided to take it up in January. The Court added that petitioners may file their responses to the State’s objections before the next hearing.
Petitioners’ counsel B.K. Prashanth requested that the State be restrained from enforcing the order until the case is decided. The Advocate General responded that the government had already begun implementing the notification across all sectors.
Justice Mulimani noted that nothing would change between now and the next hearing and emphasised that the Court would consider all arguments thoroughly before issuing any direction. The bench then adjourned the matter to January 20 and asked petitioners to file any additional applications with copies to the State’s counsel.
