QWrap: Rahul’s Elevation ‘Rigged’; Our Campaign to End Stalking

1. The Quint Brings You 'Voices of Gujarat'

This election season, The Quint shifts the focus from the netas to the voters. From GST to unemployment, healthcare to education, Gujaratis have a lot to say. Head on to our microsite to listen to the Voices of Gujarat.

2. Rahul’s Elevation is Rigged: Maharashtra Congress Secy Shehzad Poonawalla

Congress leader and Maharashtra Congress Secretary Shehzad Poonawalla on Wednesday, 29 November, questioned the process to elect party President, calling it “rigged” and said Vice President Rahul Gandhi must first resign from his post.

Poonawalla said he would also contest the election if it was conducted in a “genuine” manner. The Maharashtra Congress secretary went on to add that he would contest the elections, but subject to a few conditions. Poonawalla went on to target the Gandhi scion’s ‘legacy’, challenging him to a televised debate.

On Tuesday, 28 November, Poonawalla also wrote a letter to Rahul Gandhi in this regard. In the letter, he first mentioned his own rise to the position of the Maharashtra Congress Secretary. Poonawalla then went on to ask Rahul Gandhi how, apart from his surname, he rose to the position of Congress Vice President in the same time span.

Find more details about Poonawalla’s shocking allegations and political reactions here.

3. Join The Quint to Make Stalking a Non-Bailable Offence

Did you know that stalking is a bailable offence in Indian criminal law? This allows stalkers to get bail without serious scrutiny, often putting the victims at further risk, including acid attacks and murder.

The Quint has collaborated with senior advocate Kamini Jaiswal and Member of Parliament Dr Shashi Tharoor to draft and submit a Bill in Parliament to make stalking a non-bailable offence.

Join us in our campaign. Sign the petition led by Varnika Kundu to show your support.

4. ‘Padmavati’ Row: Bhansali Defends Film to Parliamentary Panel

Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, on Thursday, 30 November, appeared before a parliamentary standing committee on information technology to share his views on the controversy surrounding the film.

Before the meeting, panel chairman Anurag Thakur, talking to India Today, asked why the controversy started even before the movie was certified by the censor board.

Thakur added that the committee will ask Bhansali why the film was shown to selected media houses when certification was due, and why it wasn’t shown to those who actually had objections.

For more details on who said what in the Parliamentary Panel session, click here

5. Hadiya Can Meet Husband With My Permission Only: College Principal

25-year-old Hadiya Jahan will spend the next 11 months of her life completing the BHMS course, at the Sivaraj Homeopathic Medical College in Tamil Nadu, under the Supreme Court's directions

When the Principal met reporters on Tuesday, 28 November, he had said he won’t allow Hadiya to meet her husband Shafin Jahan, but later he clarified that he shall allow it, but she will need his permission.

Listing out the hostel rules, he said there is a specific list of visitors already mentioned at the time of admissions who are the only ones allowed to meet her in the hostel, no extended hours of talking on the phone, lights to be switched off at 10 pm and visitors only once a week.

‘There are no extra restrictions or special provisions for her. Even the Supreme Court hasn’t specified anything of that kind,’ he added.

Vakasha Sachdev explains his perspective on Hadiya’s case in this detailed report.