Rajasthan: Government open to talks, says Raje
The Gujjar community in Rajasthan on Thursday held protests to demand that that 5% of government jobs in the state be reserved for them. Demonstrators in Bharatpur blocked trains on the Delhi-Mumbai line, officials said. A spokesperson for the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti said that community members would only call off their agitation once their demands had been met. State Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said that the government was open to talks with the community, adding that the matter was currently being examined by state courts.
Jammu and Kashmir: Curbs imposed to halt Hurriyat rally
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday imposed restrictions in Srinagar to prevent the moderate Hurriyat Conference from holding a rally to commemorate the death anniversary of seperatist leaders Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone. Both were killed by militants. Hundreds of policemen and Central Reserve Police Forice personnel were deployed to patrol parts of the city, as checkpoints and barricades were erected in many places. Life was disrupted in most parts of the Kashmir Valley after Farooq’s son and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for a strike. Umar, who was scheduled to lead the rally, was placed under house arrest by state authorities on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu: Jaya to make first public appearance
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will make her first public appearance after eight months in Chennai on Friday. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader will chair a meeting of the party’s MLAs at its headquarters. She is likely to be re-elected as the leader of the party in the state legislature at the meeting. Senior party officials said that Jayalalithaa would be sworn in as Chief Minister sometime between Friday and Sunday. The AIADMK leader was acquitted in a disproportionate assets case on May 11 by the Karnataka High Court.
Maharashtra: Muslim denied job by Mumbai firm
A Muslim man's job applicant was turned down by a Mumbai-based diamond firm on Tuesday on religious grounds. Zeeshan Ali Khan was told by Hari Krishna Exports that his candidature had been rejected as the company only hired non-Muslims. After drawing criticism over the issue, the firm later emailed Khan, regretting its actions. However, company founder Savji Dholakia denied accusations of institutional discrimination and blamed an employee of the company’s Human Resources Department for the incident. “We have 71 Muslims in our firm along with people from all castes such as Patels and Marwaris,” Dholakia said.
Telangana: Two killed in bus accident
Two people were killed and 25 others injured after the bus they were travelling in overturned in the Khammam district of Telangana on Thursday. Officials said that the state-run Road Transport Corporation bus carrying 44 passengers overturned before crossing a bridge near the Godavari River. While one woman died on the spot, the driver of the bus later succumbed to his injuries, said officials. Five of the injured were in critical condition, they added. State Transport Minister PM Reddy ordered an inquiry into the accident.
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The Gujjar community in Rajasthan on Thursday held protests to demand that that 5% of government jobs in the state be reserved for them. Demonstrators in Bharatpur blocked trains on the Delhi-Mumbai line, officials said. A spokesperson for the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti said that community members would only call off their agitation once their demands had been met. State Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said that the government was open to talks with the community, adding that the matter was currently being examined by state courts.
Jammu and Kashmir: Curbs imposed to halt Hurriyat rally
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday imposed restrictions in Srinagar to prevent the moderate Hurriyat Conference from holding a rally to commemorate the death anniversary of seperatist leaders Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone. Both were killed by militants. Hundreds of policemen and Central Reserve Police Forice personnel were deployed to patrol parts of the city, as checkpoints and barricades were erected in many places. Life was disrupted in most parts of the Kashmir Valley after Farooq’s son and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for a strike. Umar, who was scheduled to lead the rally, was placed under house arrest by state authorities on Wednesday.
Tamil Nadu: Jaya to make first public appearance
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will make her first public appearance after eight months in Chennai on Friday. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader will chair a meeting of the party’s MLAs at its headquarters. She is likely to be re-elected as the leader of the party in the state legislature at the meeting. Senior party officials said that Jayalalithaa would be sworn in as Chief Minister sometime between Friday and Sunday. The AIADMK leader was acquitted in a disproportionate assets case on May 11 by the Karnataka High Court.
Maharashtra: Muslim denied job by Mumbai firm
A Muslim man's job applicant was turned down by a Mumbai-based diamond firm on Tuesday on religious grounds. Zeeshan Ali Khan was told by Hari Krishna Exports that his candidature had been rejected as the company only hired non-Muslims. After drawing criticism over the issue, the firm later emailed Khan, regretting its actions. However, company founder Savji Dholakia denied accusations of institutional discrimination and blamed an employee of the company’s Human Resources Department for the incident. “We have 71 Muslims in our firm along with people from all castes such as Patels and Marwaris,” Dholakia said.
Telangana: Two killed in bus accident
Two people were killed and 25 others injured after the bus they were travelling in overturned in the Khammam district of Telangana on Thursday. Officials said that the state-run Road Transport Corporation bus carrying 44 passengers overturned before crossing a bridge near the Godavari River. While one woman died on the spot, the driver of the bus later succumbed to his injuries, said officials. Five of the injured were in critical condition, they added. State Transport Minister PM Reddy ordered an inquiry into the accident.
