Indian woman Priya Serrao crowned Miss Universe Australia
Melbourne: India born Priya Serrao, whose family migrated to Australia from Middle East, has won the Miss Universe Australia title for 2019. Serrao edged past 26 other women from across the country in Melbourne on Thursday night to win the title. The 26-year-old will now represent Australia in the Miss Universe competition later this year.
“I just want to see more diversity and the fact someone that looks like me and has my background is here is amazing,” Serrao said after her win. A law graduate who currently works in Department of Jobs, Precincts and regions in Melbourne, Serrao was born in India. Her family later moved to Oman and Dubai before finally settling in Australia.
Serrao said winning the title was a huge surprise for her as it was her first beauty pageant contest. “I have never entered a pageant before and I have never done a modelling before… So this was a huge surprise. I wanted to be a part of the experience,” she added.
Western Australia’s Bella Kasimba and another Victorian Marijana Radmanovic rounded out 2019’s top three, placing second and third.
Sharing photos on social, she wrote, “I still can’t believe everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours. A huge thank you for all your support so far. I can’t wait to get started! “A few days back, while still in the competition, she had shared a photo of herself looking lovely in a blush pink dress, and wrote, “What a great end to my birthday and an even better start to @missuniverseaustralia.official nationals week.”
Courtesy: indianexpress.com
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
