BJP, RSS have spread hatred and violence everywhere: Rahul Gandhi
Raichur, Oct 21: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP and RSS of spreading hatred and violence everywhere in the country, as he also targeted the saffron party governments at both the Centre and state on a host of issues.
The former AICC president was addressing the gathering at Yeragera here at the end of the 44th day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began at Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh this morning.
"If we see this country and the region today, BJP and RSS have spread hatred and violence everywhere. This country is not the country of hatred and violence and they won't benefit this country in any way," Gandhi said.
Thanking the people for giving strength and support for the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him, he said, "You have given power for unifying India, stood against hatred and violence. You have protected the Indian flag and taken it up much higher, from the people who are attacking it by spreading hatred and violence in the country."
The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Gandhi on Friday re-entered Karnataka here, after three days in neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
The yatra that entered the state near Gillesuguru at Raichur border, will march through the rural and urban segments of the district, before entering neighbouring Telangana on the morning of October 23.
Noting that walking a total distance of about 3,500 km is not easy, Gandhi said that the support, strength and love of people has made it a bit easy for him. "It is you, who are pushing me ahead."
He said the yatra is being taken out for three reasons -- to unite the country and eradicate hatred, to tell BJP and Narendra Modi-led government that they should fulfill their promise of creating two crore jobs for youth every year, and against price raise.
Pointing out that during the 7-8 hours long walk every day as part of this yatra, he and his party leaders listen to farmers, labourers, youth and women, Gandhi said they share their concerns and difficulties.
Speaking about the tax/GST on fertilisers, tractors, pesticides and diesel, he said farmers say that they are able to save only a meagre amount of money.
"Farmers, especially cotton farmers, shared their plight due to crop destruction because of rains. They also said that the BJP government hasn't done anything for them. This is the plight of Karnataka's farmers," he added.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of imposing demonetisation and "wrong GST" on the country, the Wayanad MP said small and medium traders and industries "are all finished because of it".
Stating that India is unable to provide jobs to its educated youth today and that he has met hundreds of them during the yatra, he said, "The world's second richest man is from India. India's Prime Minister has given him the country's infrastructure completely like airports, ports, agri business, road work, and is now giving him telecom sector too."
"In India on one side, there are the world's richest people, while on the other there are the world's most unemployed," he remarked.
Questioning as to where the pockets of these rich are getting money, he further said, "Whose money is this? It belongs to India's farmers, labourers and you (the common people)."
Alleging that the BJP government in Karnataka has broken all records of corruption with 40 per cent commission on everything, Gandhi said, "Even to make pakodas, 40 per cent commisison has to be given... Sub-inspector's job is available for Rs 80 lakh."
Further claiming credit on behalf of Congress for implementing Article 371J, which grants special status to six backward districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region, while pointing out that BJP had refused to do it, he highlighted the education, employment and infrastructure-related benefits that the region has gained because of the provision.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC dismisses pleas seeking review of 2023 verdict declining legal sanction to same-sex marriage
New Delhi, Jan 9: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a batch of pleas seeking to review its October 2023 verdict declining legal sanction to same-sex marriage.
A five-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, B V Nagarathna, P S Narasimha and Dipankar Datta took up about 13 petitions related to the matter in chambers and dismissed them.
"We do not find any error apparent on the face of the record. We further find that the view expressed in both the judgements is in accordance with law and as such, no interference is warranted. Accordingly, the review petitions are dismissed," the bench said.
It said the judges have carefully gone through the judgements delivered by Justice (since retired) S Ravindra Bhat speaking for himself and for Justice (since retired) Hima Kohli as well as the concurring opinion expressed by Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, constituting the majority view.
The bench also rejected a prayer made in the review petitions for hearing in an open court.
According to practice, the review pleas are considered in chambers by the judges.
The new bench was constituted after Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the present CJI, recused from hearing the review petitions on July 10, 2024.
Notably, Justice P S Narasimha is the only member of the original Constitution bench comprising five judges which delivered the verdict, as former CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices S K Kaul, Ravindra Bhat and Hima Kohli have retired.
A five-judge Constitution bench led by then CJI Chandrachud on October 17, 2024, refused to accord legal backing to same-sex marriages and held there was "no unqualified right" to marriage with the exception of those recognised by law.
The apex court, however, made a strong pitch for the rights of LGBTQIA++ persons so that they didn't face discrimination in accessing goods and services available to others, safe houses known as "garima greh" in all districts for shelter to members of the community facing harassment and violence, and dedicated hotlines in case of trouble.
In its judgement, the bench held transpersons in heterosexual relationships had the freedom and entitlement to marry under the existing statutory provisions.
It said an entitlement to legal recognition of the right to union, akin to marriage or civil union, or conferring legal status to the relationship could be only done through an "enacted law".
The five-judge Constitution bench delivered four separate verdicts on a batch of 21 petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriages.
All five judges were unanimous in refusing the legal recognition to same-sex marriage under the Special Marriage Act and observed it was within Parliament's ambit to change the law for validating such a union.
While former CJI Chandrachud wrote a separate 247-page verdict, Justice Kaul penned a 17-page judgement where he broadly agreed with the former's views.
Justice Bhat, who authored an 89-page judgement for himself and Justice Kohli, disagreed with certain conclusions arrived at by the former CJI, including on applicability of adoption rules for such couples.
Justice Narasimha in his 13-page verdict was in complete agreement with the reasoning and conclusion of Justice Bhat.
The judges were unanimous in holding that queerness was a natural phenomenon and not an "urban or elite" notion.
In his judgement, the former CJI recorded Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's assurance of forming a committee chaired by the cabinet secretary to define and elucidate the scope of entitlements of such couples in a union.
The LGBTQIA++ rights activists, who won a major legal battle in 2018 in the Supreme Court, which decriminalised consensual gay sex, moved the apex court seeking validation of same-sex marriages and consequential reliefs such as rights to adoption, enrolment as parents in schools, opening of bank accounts and availing succession and insurance benefits.
Some of the petitioners sought the apex court to use its plenary power besides the "prestige and moral authority" to push the society to acknowledge such a union and ensure LGBTQIA++ persons led a "dignified" life like heterosexuals.
