Rejection of international aid act of vengeance: CPI-M
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 : Lashing out at the Centre, CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Thursday that clinging to rules that will deny aid from foreign countries to flood-hit Kerala is nothing but an act of vengeance by the Centre.
"This should be seen as a follow up to statements that have come from Sangh Parivar agencies asking people not to contribute to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund," he told the media.
The UAE has offered Rs 700 crore and Qatar Rs 35 crore to help Kerala, where the worst floods in nearly a century has left some 370 people dead, more than a million people homeless and caused widespread destruction.
"This is the latest example of an anti-Kerala stand taken by the Centre. India avails huge amounts of assistance from countries and other international agencies... If the Centre feels that India is not going to accept international aid from various countries for Kerala, there is no issue if the Centre compensates it," said Balakrishnan.
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Himachal’s Sammoo village does not celebrate Diwali due to centuries-old 'curse’; Here’s why
Hamirpur: The residents of Sammoo village in Hamirpur district located in Himachal Pradesh are continuing a centuries-old tradition of not celebrating Diwali. No houses are lit during the festival, no special dishes are prepared, and no sounds of crackers are heard.
This is an ancient custom that people have been following for ages due to the fear of a curse from a woman who committed Sati on Diwali, according to a PTI report.
The legend goes that, many years ago, the woman who had left for her parent's home to celebrate Diwali received news that her husband, a soldier in the king's court, had died. The woman, who was pregnant, was devastated and burnt herself on her husband's pyre. It is believed she cursed the villagers, declaring that they would never again be able to celebrate Diwali.
As a result, the village has not celebrated the festival since, with elders reportedly warning younger generations that celebrations would invite misfortune, disaster, and deaths.
Bhoranj panchayat pradhan Pooja Devi stated that since she got married and moved to this village, she has never witnessed Diwali being celebrated. “Even if the villagers settle outside, the curse of the women won’t leave them. Some years ago, a family from the village settled far away were preparing some local dishes for Diwali when their house caught fire. The people of the village only worship Sati and light diyas in front of her,” Pooja Devi was quoted as saying by the news agency.
The report also cited another village elder, who has lived through more than 70 Diwalis without celebration, mentioning that whenever someone attempts to celebrate, tragedy strikes the village.
“For hundreds of years, people have refrained from celebrating Diwali. On the day of Diwali, if a family, even by mistake, bursts crackers and makes dishes at home, then disaster is sure to happen,” the report quoted another villager.
The people in the village have tried a lot of measures, such as havans and yagyas, to get rid of the curse. However, nothing has reportedly worked.
