Don't tweak Constitution, freedom fighter urges Modi
Bengaluru: Veteran freedom fighter H S Doreswamy and senior Congress leader Prof B K Chandrashekar, in an open letter, have demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi should declare that the saffron party will not change the Constitution.
The duo wants Modi and Joshi to declare that the words 'India' and 'Bharat' will not be changed to 'Hindustan,' that the words 'socialist secular' will not be deleted from the Constitution and Articles 29-30 (protection of minorities) will not be removed.
"If you fail to explicitly declare as increasingly expected by the people, we will be justified to conclude that you are bound by the founding concepts of Veer Savarkar, Golwalkar and Hedgewar of 'Hindustan' or 'Hindu Rashtra,'" the letter said. Joshi had prepared the BJP's 2014 election manifesto.
Lastly, the letter demands an explanation from Modi over his failure to create one crore jobs every year. "At least 5 lakh youth in Karnataka - both skilled and technically well-educated - expected benefit every year from your promise and voted for you. How will the BJP answer them now?" the letter says.
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Worker’s body reaches Ranchi from Saudi 4 months after death; family rejects over compensation
Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.
Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.
Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.
“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.
“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.
Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.
“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.
The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.
Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.
Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.
