India intensifies efforts to save nurse Nimisha Priya facing execution in Yemen
New Delhi: The Government of India has pledged to extend all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi recently upheld the death sentence against Priya, who was convicted in 2018 for the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national. According to media reports, the sentence could be carried out within a month.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed its commitment to the case, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter."
The verdict has devastated Priya’s family, who have been fighting for her release since her conviction. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, for several months, attempting to negotiate a pardon by offering "blood money" to Mahdi’s family as per Yemeni law. However, negotiations have been complicated by financial and legal hurdles, including demands for substantial pre-negotiation fees by the lawyer engaged by the Indian Embassy.
Nimisha Priya, originally from Palakkad, Kerala, moved to Yemen for work but found herself embroiled in a dispute with Mahdi, who had initially helped her establish a clinic. Priya claimed in court that Mahdi misused their professional association to manipulate clinic ownership, harass her, and seize her passport. Her appeal alleged that years of abuse and financial exploitation culminated in the events of 2017, when Mahdi died after being sedated during a confrontation.
While Priya's appeals to Yemeni courts have been exhausted, her fate now hinges on securing a pardon from the victim's family and tribal leaders. Efforts led by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council and crowdfunding initiatives have faced transparency issues, further complicating the case.
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Tej Pratap Yadav to contest from Mahua assembly seat in Bihar polls
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Patna (PTI): Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the RJD by his father and founding president Lalu Prasad, has announced that he would contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections from Mahua seat in Vaishali district as an Independent candidate.
He is currently the MLA of Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here on Saturday evening, he said, "Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from Mahua assembly seat as an Independent candidate. My opponents must have started to feel an itch."
"I have people's support... a large number of people are now connected with my 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav', a social media platform to reach out to people," he added.
He further claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would not retain his post after the assembly polls.
"I am confident that 'chacha' (Nitish) will not become the CM... those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them," he said.
The former Bihar minister was expelled from the party on May 25 by his father Lalu Prasad for six years.
He was expelled a day after he reportedly confessed on social media to being "in a relationship" with a woman named Anushka.
He, however, later deleted the Facebook post with a claim that his page was "hacked". Lalu Prasad also disowned Tej Pratap due to his "irresponsible behaviour".
A few days after his expulsion from the party, Tej Pratap had alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav.
He had voiced his sentiments in a couple of posts on his X handle, blaming the crisis on 'Jaichand', a metaphor for traitors.
His expulsion came barely a few months ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, which the RJD will fight under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Born to Prasad and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers of Bihar, the two brothers are among four of nine siblings active in politics.
Tej Pratap Yadav had made his political debut in the assembly polls of 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet.
