Civil society in Bangalore condemns India’s abstention in the UNGA to vote for a truce
Says, K'taka police, govt deliberately curtailed people’s right to freedom of speech, expression
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru for Justice and Peace organization in a release on Tuesday strongly condemned India’s abstention in the UNGA to vote for a truce. “It is condemnable that India decided to abstain from voting in the UNGA for an immediate, sustainable and durable humanitarian truce.”
The civil society organization also questioned the Indian government for stifling voices of solidarity with Palestinians despite India’s historical support for the Palestinian cause.
“ Our Prime Ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh to our current Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken in favur of the rights of the Palestinian people. Even the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi stood in support of the Palestinian independence. In fact on the 19th of October the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement in support of the rights of the Palestinian People,” the release added.
It further pointed out that the Israeli military forces are performing “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians,” through ground invasion. “Israeli political leaders have issued statements showing clear intent to commit a genocide of the Palestinian people.” The release also mentioned that mass bombardment of all of Gaza violates the rules of Humanitarian law encoded in the Geneva conventions and stated that Israel’s latest bombing of Jabaliya refugee camp killing hundreds is a latest demonstration of impunity with which Israel violates the rules of war. The release further stressed, citing the UN General Assembly. “Genocide is a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups, as homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human beings’ and ‘such denial of the right of existence shocks the conscience of mankind.”
In the meantime, the organization has strongly expressed its disappointment with the actions of the Karnataka police, which have curtailed protests and public expressions of solidarity with Palestine. It accuses the police of pursuing criminal action against peaceful protestors and mentions the Congress Working Committee's resolution in support of Palestine, contrasting it with the actions of the Karnataka police.
In the release the organisation has also demanded immediate action from both the Central and Karnataka state governments. From the Central government, the demands include an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and efforts to end Israel's occupation of Palestine. While, from the Karnataka state government, the demands incude, upholding the right to freedom of speech and expression and withdrawing FIRs against protestors.
Simultaneously, the Bengaluru for Justice and Peace organization strongly condemned the actions and emphasized the moral obligation of people to speak up for the rights of Palestinian people, especially as the situation continues to escalate. “Bengaluru for Justice and Peace strongly condemn the Karnataka police and the state government for failing its people, and deliberately curtailing their constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. As the Israeli government is indicating that they will even resort to the use of nuclear weapons, it is the moral obligation of people everywhere to speak up for the rights of Palestinian people,” read the release.
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Rains lash several parts of Tamil Nadu, cyclonic storm brewing
Chennai (PTI): Rains lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, and the India Meteorological Department said the depression over Bay of Bengal has formed into a deep depression and it is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm on November 27.
Chief Minister M K Stalin chaired a high-level meeting here at the Secretariat to review the precautionary measures and rushed NDRF and State teams to Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagappatinam and Cuddalore districts.
Chennai and nearby districts of Chengelpet, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur, the northern coastal city of Cuddalore and Cauvery delta areas, including Nagapattinam were among the places that received rainfall, which was mild to moderate in many areas and heavy in a few places.
Due to the rains, heavy traffic congestion was witnessed here in many areas including the arterial OMR Road and traffic flow was affected in several areas as roads came under sheets of water. Also, in Chennai, there was delay in the landing of 7 flights.
State-run Aavin said it has taken all steps to ensure unhindered milk supply to the people and announced that eight of its parlours here will be open 24 x 7.
Stalin, through video conferencing, reviewed the action plan to tackle the situation. Very heavy rainfall forecast covers the districts of Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Cuddalore. District collectors and IAS officials, tasked with monitoring and coordinating rain-related tasks took part in the meeting.
Collectors apprised the chief minister that adequate number of relief camps and medical teams were on standby and all other necessary arrangements were in place too. Stalin told officials that relief centres must be 'ready with all the amenities' and people should be evacuated in advance from low lying areas.
An official release here said that two NDRF teams have been dispatched to Thanjavur district. For each of the districts of Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagappatinam and Cuddalore, two teams ---one from NDRF and the other from the State-- have been dispatched.
Also in such districts, first-responders and volunteers are also ready for deployment. "Already, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea and a majority of boats have returned to shore."
As regards fishermen who have gone for deep sea fishing, they have been informed to move to the nearest harbours.
The state and district level emergency operation centres are functioning 24 x 7.
Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam and top state officials participated in the meeting chaired by the chief minister.
According to the IMD, the depression over Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression and it is about 770 km south-southeast of Chennai and 570 km south-southeast of Nagapattinam.
In its update, the IMD said on 'X': "It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm on 27th November. Thereafter, it will continue to move north-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast skirting Sri Lanka coast during subsequent 2 days."
