Madhya Pradesh: Mob beats bangle seller in Indore; minister says he gave fake identity
Indore/Bhopal(PTI): A 25-year-old man selling bangles on streets was beaten up by a mob after allegedly asking his name in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city.
When asked about the incident, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal on Monday that the row erupted after the man sold bangles to women by posing as a Hindu even as he belonged to another community.
A video of the incident, that took place on Sunday in Govind Nagar area of Indore, went viral on social media.
The Indore police have registered a case on charges of promoting enmity between different groups and other offences, an official said.
In one of the viral clips, some people were purportedly seen thrashing the vendor, identified as Tasleem Ali, while he was asking for mercy.
In another video, a person beating up the vendor was seen accusing him of eve-teasing. The person was also seen abusing the vendor and inciting others to hit him. He was also seen warning the man not to be seen in the area henceforth.
When asked about the incident, minister Narottam Mishra as per the Home department's report, the person had identified himself with a Hindu name while be belonged to another community, leading to the dispute.
"In this connection, two Aadhaar cards were seized from him," he said, adding that police took action against both the sides.
The man, hailing from Hardoi district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, filed a police complaint on Sunday night, alleging that five-six persons from the mob asked his name in the Govind Nagar area and when he told them his name, they started beating him.
He also alleged that those part of the mob also used objectionable words against him and snatched Rs 10,000 from him, his mobile phone, Aadhaar card, other documents, and bangles worth around Rs 25,000.
The police official said based on the man's complaint, an FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 141 (unlawful gathering), 147 (rioting), 395 (dacoity), 120- B (criminal conspiracy) and other relevant provisions.
Efforts were on to nab those involved in thrashing him, he said.
The official also said that late Sunday night, a large number of people along with the bangle seller reached the Central Kotwali police station where they allegedly indulged in inappropriate sloganeering and breach of peace.
A separate FIR was registered against them on charges of rioting, forcibly obstructing a public way and other relevant sections of the IPC, the official said.
District Magistrate Manish Singh said members of some small outfits were suspected to be behind those who created ruckus in the Central Kotwali area while supporting the bangle seller.
They have been identified and if necessary, they might be externed and booked under the National Security Act, he said.
Eyewitnesses said in view of the ruckus created by the bangle seller's supporters, heavy police force was deployed in the Central Kotwali area as a precautionary measure and senior police personnel were also present at the spot late Sunday night.
ये वीडियो अफगानिस्तान का नहीं बल्कि आज इंदौर का है, @ChouhanShivraj जी के सपनों के मध्यप्रदेश में एक चूड़ी बेंचने वाले मुसलमान का सामान लूट कर सरेआम भीड़ से लिंचिंग करवाई जाती है ।@narendramodi जी क्या यही भारत बनाना चाहते थे आप ?
— Imran Pratapgarhi (@ShayarImran) August 22, 2021
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Modi govt by changing name of MGNREGA exposed its 'hatred' towards Gandhi: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attempting to change the name and structure of the MGNREGA, has itself exposed its "hatred" towards the poor and towards Mahatma Gandhi.
He also accused the Centre of "altering" the very structure of the scheme, by shifting nearly 40 per cent of the cost onto the state governments, and called Modi "anti federal".
Suggesting that the NDA government at the Centre start a "Ministry of Name Change", with the Prime Minister himself holding that portfolio, the CM warned of a statewide agitation against this name change move.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong objections by the opposition to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name from it.
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"The Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is attempting to change the name and structure of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), has itself exposed its hatred towards the poor and towards Mahatma Gandhi," Siddaramaiah said in a statement.
Implemented by the UPA government 20 years ago, the MGNREGA scheme has played a crucial role in eradicating unemployment and poverty in rural areas, he said, adding that "this scheme, which guarantees the right to employment to every individual, has received praise from economists both in India and abroad."
Noting that MGNREGA was a genuine form of employment guarantee, the CM said the proposed new structure under the Modi government strips away that guarantee and places the assurance of work at the whims of political leaders.
"This will further deepen caste discrimination and social inequality," he claimed.
Highlighting that the NDA government has altered the very structure of MGNREGA, a scheme whose entire expenditure was earlier borne by the Central government, by shifting nearly 40 per cent of the cost onto the state governments, Siddaramaiah said this stands as clear evidence of the "anti-federal attitude" that Prime Minister Modi has followed ever since coming to power.
"This move will also increase the migration of poor people in search of work as the proposed form does not guarantee employment in their own location -- forcing families to travel long distances to survive," he said.
Naming this scheme after Mahatma Gandhi, who sowed the dream of Gram Swaraj, was a meaningful decision, the CM said, "While Prime Minister Narendra Modi indulges in praising Gandhi during his foreign tours, within the country he has consistently engaged in attempts to erase Gandhi's legacy from key national programmes. From a parivar that seeks to glorify Gandhi's assassin Godse, what different conduct can one really expect?"
"Narendra Modi is widely known for simply changing the names of landmark schemes launched by the UPA government rather than preserving or strengthening them. It would be more appropriate for this government to start a 'Ministry of Name Change,' with the Prime Minister himself holding that portfolio," he said.
More than 25 flagship programmes launched during earlier governments were merely renamed or repackaged by the present regime, the CM further said, listing out that the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan was rechristened as the Swachh Bharat Mission, while the Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account scheme was rebranded as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, among others.
"These changes reflect a consistent pattern of altering names rather than fundamentally strengthening or expanding the original intent of these welfare initiatives," he added.
Stating that the Congress party and state government strongly condemn this "anti-people" decision of the Narendra Modi government, which has snatched food from the plates of the poor, insulted Bapu, and attempted to strangle state governments financially, Siddaramaiah warned about launching a statewide agitation against this move.
"The responsibility of preserving the MGNREGA scheme in its original form must also be taken up by the lakhs of beneficiaries of the scheme. They must hold the BJP leaders of the state accountable and exert pressure on them to raise their voices against this injustice, rising above party lines," he said.
