Hate Speech in Sillod: Suresh Chavhanke calls for economic boycott of Muslims
Sillod: In a controversial speech delivered in Sillod, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, on August 14, Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News, made several inflammatory remarks targeting the Muslim community. Chavhanke, known for his provocative rhetoric, urged an economic boycott of Muslims and called for the removal of what he described as "infiltrators" from the country.
Chavhanke claimed that there are 10 crore "infiltrators" in India, including Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, Pakistanis, and Afghans, who he blamed for the majority of crimes in Maharashtra.
He further alleged that the population of Hindus in the state has significantly declined and justified the demolition of a mosque near Vishalgad, comparing it to actions taken by Shivaji as claimed by him.
This is from #Sillod, #Aurangabad, #Maharashtra.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) August 16, 2024
On August 14, #SureshChavhanke delivers anti-Muslim hate speech filled with conspiracy theories, call for economic boycott of #Muslims and an oath to remove Infiltrators from the country.
"Do you know how many Infiltrators, we… pic.twitter.com/LkrmHG0rC5
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Only 13 percent of encroached forests recovered in ten years in Karnataka: Report
Hubballi: The Karnataka Forest Department has made little progress in recovering encroached forest land, managing to reclaim only 13.6 percent of the total encroached area over the last decade.
From 2014-15 to 2024-25 (March), the department resolved 7,621 cases and recovered just 31,317 acres of forest land, as reported by Deccan Herald on Sunday.
Data cited by DH shows that nearly 2.30 lakh acres of forest land in the state were encroached upon by August 2024, with the department having filed 1.19 lakh cases against the encroachers. However, the process of clearing encroached land has been slow, primarily due to the legal procedures involved and delays in joint surveys conducted by the revenue and forest departments. The process is further delayed due to appeals by the litigants in higher courts.
In the past two years alone, the department has managed to recover just 5,113 acres of land. Environmental activist Girish D. V. from Chikkamagaluru, speaking to DH, criticised the Forest Department's handling of the issue, stating that the recovery of encroached land often happens only when directed by courts. "Forget about clearing legacy encroachments, the department is unable to prevent fresh ones. Every day, the state is losing forest land," he remarked.
An interim annual report from the Forest Department (2024) highlighted that between March and December 2024, 900 new cases of forest land encroachment were registered. Girish also pointed out that a lack of political will to clear encroachments has limited the department’s ability to prevent new ones.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre acknowledged the slow pace of recovery, attributing it to legal obstacles, multiple claim documents, and the livelihoods of marginal farmers. He told the news outlet that the state government was using technology, including satellite surveys, to curb new encroachments.
Khandre further emphasised that the state government has "zero tolerance" toward forest encroachments and they would go after influential persons to recover forest land. He added that they are fighting to recover leased forest land from private parties and restore it as forest land.
