Dalit student's killing in Allahabad sparks uproar in UP Legislative Council
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council today witnessed noisy scenes over the death of a 22-year-old Dalit student in Allahabad and a report in a local Hindi newspaper over the chief minister allegedly linking "samajwad to atankwad".
Both the issues were raised by Samajwadi Party members in the House.
Dileep Saroj, a second-year law yesterday succumbed to injuries, two days after he was thrashed with sticks and batons by a group following an altercation outside a restaurant in Allahabad.
Leader of Opposition and Samajwadi Party member Ahmed Hasan raised the incident as soon as the Question Hour started.
He alleged that though such incidents with Dalits were taking place across the country, the government had remained silent.
Referring to a recent dacoity in Lucknow's Kakori area, he said that crime had increased and the law and order system in the state had collapsed.
Samajwadi Party members Sunil Singh Sajan, Anand Bhadauria and Rajpal Kashyap raised the issue of the report published in the newspaper, according to which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had allegedly linked 'samajwad' (socialism) to 'atankwad' (terrorism) during an event in Lucknow.
They marched into the Well of the House demanding the chief minister tender an apology over his alleged jibe on the party.
Some SP members also hurled paper balls at the Chair, which were stopped by the Marshals.
Chairman Ramesh Yadav had to first adjourn the Question Hour and when the uproar did not subside in the Zero Hour, he adjourned the House for the day.
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Jaishankar holds talks with Russia's Lavrov; trade, geopolitics top agenda
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held "productive" talks on Wednesday to advance bilateral cooperation in energy and trade amid shifting geopolitical tensions.
Jaishankar met Lavrov, shortly after the Russian foreign minister landed in New Delhi to attend a two-day conclave of the BRICS member states beginning Thursday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and South Africa's Minister for International Relations Ozzy Lamola are among those who already arrived in the national capital for the BRICS foreign ministerial meeting.
Jaishankar and Lavrov are learnt to have deliberated on the West Asia crisis as well as the Ukraine conflict.
In a social media post, the external affairs minister described his talks with his Russian counterpart as "productive exchange of views".
"Our conversation touched upon several aspects of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, energy and connectivity, science and technology, as well as facilitating mobility of skills and talent," he said.
"Other global and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed," he said.
It is not immediately known if India's procurement of Russian crude oil figured in the talks.
In his televised opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said India and Russia have a shared interest in strengthening multipolarity and could benefit through greater "de-risking" .
"The last few years have seen a steady and sustained growth in our bilateral partnership. Its economic and energy dimensions have become pronounced. Our political cooperation is even more valuable in an uncertain and volatile global environment," Jaishankar said.
"We have expanded our collaboration in science and technology. The mobility of talents and skills has acquired greater salience and our interest in ensuring better connectivity is deeper," he said.
"The complicated international situation also merits an open exchange of views, especially between two trusted partners," he said.
The external affairs minister said India and Russia have a shared interest in strengthening multipolarity.
Jaishankar also held separate bilateral talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Vieira South Africa's Ozzy Lamola.
The external affairs minister also met Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam.
"Underlined our Neighbourhood First policy and reviewed our bilateral cooperation. Reiterated India's commitment to Maldives' progress and development," he said on X.
India, as the chair of the BRICS, is hosting the conclave of the foreign ministers ahead of the annual summit of the grouping in September.
BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
It has emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.
The BRICS meeting will be chaired by Jaishankar.
