'Bosnia is always with Palestine' hundreds of protesters take to street in Bosnia against Israel
Sarajevo: In a display of solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, hundreds of protesters marched through the streets of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sunday. The demonstration, held in Sarajevo's Bascarsija district, braved adverse weather conditions to voice support for Palestine, carrying flags and placards denouncing occupation and the tragic loss of life, particularly among children.
The protesters, undeterred by rain, chanted slogans and displayed a banner reading, "Palestine, you are not alone, Bosnia is always with you." The message resonated with the historical context, referencing the atrocities suffered by Bosnian Muslims during the 1990s massacres carried out by Serb soldiers.
The Bosnian conflict erupted in 1992, resulting in the loss of thousands of Bosnian Muslim lives. The Srebrenica massacre in July 1995, where over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed, remains a stark reminder of the brutalities endured. The Bosnian protesters sought to draw parallels between their own history and the plight of Palestinians in the face of Israeli attacks.
Safija Tadefi, one of the organizers, highlighted the objective of raising awareness about the dire situation in Palestine and advocating for a ceasefire, an end to genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. She stressed the recurring need for peaceful walks to express solidarity with Palestine, calling on individuals in influential countries, especially the USA, to pressure their governments to intervene and halt the violence.
The protesters congregated in front of Sebilje fountain in Baščaršija and proceeded towards the center of Aria, where a humanitarian bazaar was organized. The initiative included efforts to collect donations for essential supplies, such as waterproof tents, to be delivered to Gaza.
Safija Tadefi emphasized collaboration with the organization Human Appeal, actively involved in providing aid in Gaza. The protest aimed not only to express support but also to contribute to humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by the ongoing conflict.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
