Trump reverses Obama-era affirmative action in schools
Washington, July 4 : US President Donald Trump's administration has rescinded seven Obama-era policy guidelines that called on universities to consider race as a factor in diversifying their campuses.
In a joint letter, the Education and Justice Departments said on Tuesday that the guidelines "advocate policy preferences and positions beyond the requirements of the Constitution", reports The New York Times.
"The executive branch cannot circumvent Congress or the courts by creating guidance that goes beyond the law and, in some instances, stays on the books for decades," said Devin M. O'Malley, a Justice Department spokesman.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wrote in a separate statement: "The Supreme Court has determined what affirmative action policies are constitutional, and the court's written decisions are the best guide for navigating this complex issue.
"Schools should continue to offer equal opportunities for all students while abiding by the law."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the guidelines, published by former President Barack Obama's administration between 2009 and 2016, were "unnecessary, outdated, inconsistent with existing law, or otherwise improper", reports Efe news.
He said his decision was based on an executive order that Trump signed in February 2017 and which required the creation of committees within government agencies to identify, revoke or modify regulations they considered unnecessary.
The Supreme Court ruled in favour of affirmative action in 2016, but it has been a controversial issue in the United States for decades.
The Trump administration's move comes a few months before a court is expected to rule in October on a highly anticipated case which is pitting the Harvard University against Asian-American students.
The students have accused Harvard of systematically excluded some Asian-American applicants to maintain slots for students of other races.
Democrats and civil rights organisations denounced the administration's decisions.
Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, said the "rollback of vital affirmative action guidance offends our nation's values" and called it "yet another clear Trump administration attack on communities of colour".
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MLA Yashpal Suvarna diverts from bank irregularities by targeting Waqf, alleges Congress leader
Udupi: Udupi District Congress Minority Division President Sharfuddeen Sheikh Majoor has accused MLA Yashpal Suvarna of attempting to deflect attention from alleged financial irregularities at Mahalakshmi Co-operative Bank by shifting the focus to the waqf land issue. In a statement issued on Friday, Sheikh Majoor criticized Suvarna’s recent public protests, asserting they were a means to avoid scrutiny over the alleged mismanagement at the bank.
According to Majoor, Suvarna has faced allegations regarding his involvement in financial misappropriations at the Malpe-based Mahalakshmi Co-operative Bank, where irregularities reportedly amount to ₹20 crore. Customers have alleged that they received loans of only ₹20,000 from the bank, which later demanded repayment on loans of up to ₹2 lakh without proper documentation.
Majoor claimed that Suvarna was resorting to “diversion tactics” by making unsubstantiated accusations against the Muslim community under the guise of waqf-related issues. "By staging protests and storming into the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Suvarna is attempting to draw public attention away from the bank scandal," said Majoor.
Highlighting the BJP’s stance on waqf encroachments, Majoor pointed out that the previous BJP-led government had issued numerous notices to farmers regarding alleged encroachments of waqf land, a policy mentioned in the party’s 2014 Lok Sabha election manifesto.
The Congress leader further added that the people of Karnataka are aware of Suvarna’s tactics and the underlying intentions of his protests.
