Yamini Aiyar steps down as Centre for Policy Research Chief after criticizing PM Modi's governance
New Delhi: Policy scholar Yamini Aiyar has resigned as the President and Chief Executive of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) following her recent article critiquing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, which was published in The Economist.
In her article titled "Yamini Aiyar laments the damage done to Indian democracy under Narendra Modi," Aiyar expressed concern about what she described as "creeping authoritarianism" in India as it prepares for its 18th general election. She criticized Modi's governance style, characterizing it as marked by aggressive centralization, a cult of personality, and an exclusionary Hindu-nationalist ideology, which she argued is eroding India's democracy.
Acknowledging that Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to win a third term in power, Aiyar wrote that "the space for the political opposition, media, academia, and civil society to freely express their views is fast shrinking."
Following the publication of her article, CPR announced Aiyar's resignation, stating that she would step down from her role as of March 31, 2024, to focus more on her research interests. Dr. Srinivas Chokkakula, Senior Fellow at CPR and Ministry of Jal Shakti Research Chair, has been appointed as the new President and Chief Executive, effective April 1, 2024.
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No evidence of arms seizure in Sandeshkhali, recovered items might be brought by CBI: CM Mamata
Kulti (WB), Apr 27: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said there was "no evidence" of arms seizure in Sandeshkhali, asserting that CBI teams conducted searches without informing the state police.
She expressed skepticism regarding the operations, stating that the recovered items "might have been brought by officials of the central agency".
“Even if a firecracker goes off in Bengal, the NIA, CBI, NSG are coming to investigate. It seems that a war is going on. The state police were not informed. It is not known what was found. There was no evidence. The seized items might have been brought by them (CBI) in a car," Banerjee said here.
She was addressing an election rally for TMC's Asansol Lok Sabha candidate Shatrughan Sinha.
The CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, officials said.
The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case.
Teams of the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI), the bomb detection squad, the National Security Guard (NSG), the central paramilitary forces and the West Bengal Police were part of the searches at the village -- a riverine delta -- on the fringes of the Sunderbans in North 24 Parganas district.
