1. Mamata Silent On Jammu And Kashmir Reorganisation Bill
Trinamool MPs opposed the government’s twin strikes on Jammu and Kashmir in both Houses of Parliament but their walkout before the Rajya Sabha voted on the Reorganisation Bill raised questions.
Earlier, in a passionate speech in the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MP and spokesperson Derek O’Brien had described the government’s decisions as “constitutional immorality” and “procedural hara-kiri”.
“The right-wing is calling this ‘the Final Solution’! What does that mean? In 1942, this was the code name for the Nazi plan for genocide, to murder the Jews,” O’Brien said.
(Source: The Telegraph)
2. Statehood Focus Back On Darjeeling
The ripples of the Centre’s move to carve two Union territories out of Jammu and Kashmir were felt in far-away Darjeeling with almost all hill parties renewing the pitch for a Gorkhaland state.
As the issue of separation of the hills from Bengal got a new lease of life, the Binay Tamang camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha issued a statement saying that “in the interest of national security, the BJP must create Gorkhaland”.
The Tamang camp is an ally of the ruling Trinamool, which opposes the statehood.
(Source: The Telegraph)
3. Kashmiri Students In Kolkata Cut Off And Let Down
Students from Kashmir in the city did not mince words in expressing their anger at the turn of events, though their immediate concern was the inability to get in touch with their families back home.
A boy from Srinagar described the Centre’s decision to take away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as “totally unpleasant”.
Another from Anantnag expressed fear that the decision might lead to a “mass uprising on a disastrous scale”.
A student from Pulwama wondered how the Union government could forget that “Kashmir could never be won by sword, but through the spirit of love alone”.
(Source: The Telegraph)
4. Syama Prasad’s Associates Rejoice
Revoking of the special status of J&K finally brought posthumous victory for former Union minister Syama Prasad Mookerjee, felt his followers who had worked with him.
Amitabha Ghosh, now in his 90s, started attending Syama Prasad’s meetings when he was a teen, the first one being at Rangpur in Bangladesh. “He was more vibrant than any other leader I had heard before. He spoke about India with an enthusiasm that ignited nationalist feelings,” said Ghosh. At a gathering in Tarakeswar, he had heard Syama Prasad speak about “ek desh, ek nishan, ek pradhan in Kashmir”. “He spoke about Jammu & Kashmir in each of his public addresses and his views were widely circulated,” said Ghosh, who worked with Syama Prasad. “We supported his views on Kashmir and I am glad it is coming to fruition.”
(Source: The Times Of India)
5. Transgender Couple Tie The Knot In Bengal’s First ‘Rainbow Wedding’
Draped in red benarasi, 38-year-old Tista Das looked the quintessential Bengali bride seated beside the groom, 40-year-old Dipan Chakraborty, as the pandit chanted mantras. But this wedding had something very special about it — this was a ‘rainbow wedding’, where Tista and Dipan tied the knot to become the first wedded trans-couple in Bengal.
Tista, originally called Susanto, was born in Agarpara and underwent a sex reassignment surgery (SRS) 15 years ago. “I always believed love has no gender and Dipan and I have proved it,” Tista said.
The wedding was held at a rented hall in Agarpara’s Mahajati area and was chock-a-block with not just Tista’s friends, but also her neighbours.
Dipan, who was born as Dipannita in Lumding, was a little shy while sharing his thoughts. “I am extremely lucky to have Tista as my wife. This is the best day of my life,” he said.
(Source: The Times Of India)
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