Modi pleaded me to put in good word for him with US govt after Gujarat Riots: Subramanian Swamy
New Delhi: In a recent tweet on Wednesday, Subramanian Swamy, an Indian politician and former Member of Parliament, made a significant claim regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Swamy stated that Modi had pleaded with him to put in a good word, as there were concerns that the United States might approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the Gujarat riots.
Swamy shared a picture of himself with former US President Barack Obama and captioned it “Lest Modi forgets, I remind that he pleaded with me that I put in a good word since US may move the ICC on Gujarat riots.”
The tweet by Swamy has attracted attention and sparked discussions due to the context it implies. The Gujarat riots, which occurred in 2002, were a series of communal violence incidents in the state of Gujarat, resulting in widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement. The riots, which primarily targeted the Muslim community, drew international attention and criticism.
Swamy's statement suggests that during that time, Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time of the riots, sought Swamy's assistance in potentially mitigating any actions that the United States might take against him at the ICJ. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and handles disputes between states.
Following the Gujarat riots of 2002, concerns were raised about Modi's alleged role in the violence and his government's handling of the situation. The United States, along with several other countries, took a stance against Modi and decided to deny him entry into the country.
In 2005, the US State Department revoked Modi's existing tourist/business visa under a provision of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars entry to foreign government officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom. This decision came as a response to the allegations of human rights violations during the Gujarat riots.
The visa ban remained in effect for nearly a decade, during which Modi was unable to visit the United States. However, after he became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, the situation changed. In 2014, the US government, under President Barack Obama, lifted the visa ban and welcomed Modi to visit the United States.
Lest Modi forgets, I remind that he pleaded with me that I put in a good word since US may move the ICC on Gujarat riots. pic.twitter.com/a2iEoi5Ozh
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 31, 2023
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Noida labour unrest: UP govt orders interim hike in minimum wages, says final wage fixation soon
Noida (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government has directed an interim hike in minimum wages across worker categories following unrest in Noida, with revised rates coming into effect from April 1 retrospectively, officials here said on Tuesday.
The wage hike translates into an increase of up to Rs 3,000 across categories, with workers in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad witnessing a rise of up to 21 per cent in their monthly earnings, they said
The process for final wage fixation would be taken up through a wage board to be constituted soon, and the government is also considering additional welfare measures related to workers' health, pension and education of their children, Industrial Development Commissioner Deepak Kumar said.
The wage increase has been done by the high-powered committee, formed to look into the labour issues after large-scale protests by factory workers in Noida on Monday, to provide immediate financial relief to the workers, the officials said.
"The decision was approved by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh late last night," Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam said.
According to a statement, the committee is working towards resolving industrial discord through dialogue and coordination, while also considering further measures to address workers' concerns.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to employers to ensure timely payment of wages, proper overtime compensation, weekly offs, bonuses and social security benefits, while maintaining safe working conditions, particularly for female workers, the statement said.
In Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, unskilled workers will now get Rs 13,690 per month, up from Rs 11,313, while semi-skilled workers will receive Rs 15,059, and skilled workers Rs 16,868, according to an official statement.
For other municipal corporation areas, the revised monthly wages have been fixed at Rs 13,006 for unskilled workers, Rs 14,306 for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 16,025 for skilled workers.
In the remaining districts, unskilled workers will get Rs 12,356 per month, semi-skilled workers Rs 13,591, and skilled workers Rs 15,224. The decision follows consultations with employers' bodies and labour organisations.
The government said suggestions and objections were examined to ensure a "balanced and practical" outcome.
The statement said that industries are facing global economic challenges, including rising input costs and declining exports, even as workers' demands regarding wages, overtime, safety and working conditions remain "relevant and important."
"In such a situation, it is essential to adopt a balanced approach between industry and labour," the government said, adding that provisions under the new labour codes aim to ensure fair wages and protect workers' interests.
It said it is considering an interim increase in wages based on indexation and will initiate the process for final wage fixation on the recommendations of a wage board to be constituted soon.
Meanwhile, the government dismissed as "fake and misleading" reports circulating on social media claiming that a uniform minimum wage of Rs 20,000 per month had been fixed for workers.
Clarifying the position, it said the process of determining a national "floor wage" under the new labour codes is underway at the central level and no such notification had been issued.
Industrial Development Commissioner Deepak Kumar said the decision on wage hike was taken following a detailed review of the recent developments and was aimed at providing immediate financial relief to workers while maintaining a balanced approach.
"The Uttar Pradesh government, on the directions of the Chief Minister, has decided to implement an interim increase in minimum wages. The highest increase has been given to the skilled category, and in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, the hike goes up to 21 per cent. These revised rates will be effective from April 1, 2026," he said.
The committee, which visited Noida following the unrest, said workers' representatives had maintained that their agitation was peaceful and centred around demands such as wage hikes, weekly offs, double overtime pay, safety and dignified working conditions.
At the same time, the possibility of the involvement of "external elements" in the violence was flagged, with workers themselves expressing apprehension about outsiders fuelling the unrest, they said.
To address grievances and ensure better coordination, the administration has set up a dedicated control room at the district level. Workers can register complaints and seek assistance through helpline numbers 120-2978231, 120-2978232, 120-2978862 and 120-2978702, officials said.
The state government has also issued strict directions for action against anti-social elements involved in the violence, launching a special drive to identify such individuals through technical surveillance, intelligence inputs and local information gathering.
The officials said those found responsible would face stringent legal action, including arrests and criminal cases, asserting that attempts to disturb industrial harmony and law and order would not be tolerated.
So far, over 300 people have been arrested and seven FIRs lodged at different police stations in connection with Monday's violence, Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh said on Tuesday.
