Kabul: Nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan - almost half the population - are facing acute hunger, humanitarians warned in an UN-backed report, published on Monday.The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for the country also revealed a pocket of "catastrophic" levels of food insecurity in the northeast, affecting thousands, UN News reported.The analysis was conducted in January and February by partners who include the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sister agency the World Food Programme (WFP), and many non-governmental organizations. Although humanitarian assistance helped avert a food security catastrophe over the harsh winter in Afghanistan, hunger still persists at unprecedented levels, according to the report.Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in the country, described the food security situation as dire. "Humanitarian assistance remains desperately important, as do the needs to rebuild shattered agricultural livelihoods and re-connect farmers and rural communities to struggling rural and urban markets across the country. Unless these happen, there will be no way out of this crisis," he said.The IPC was developed in 2004 to determine the severity and magnitude of food insecurity and acute malnutrition situations in a country. The report predicts there will be a slight improvement in food security in Afghanistan from June through November, with the number of people facing acute food insecurity dropping to 18.9 million.This is partly due to the coming wheat harvest, which runs from May to August, as well as the scale-up in food assistance this year and increased support to agriculture."Food assistance and emergency livelihood support are the lifeline for the people of Afghanistan. We mounted the world's largest humanitarian food operation in a matter of months, reaching more than 16 million people since August 2021," said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP's Country Director and Representative in Afghanistan.However, the report warned that any gains will be limited, as lingering drought and the economic crisis continue to threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions across the country.The partners were particularly concerned that a small pocket of "catastrophic" levels of food insecurity - IPC 5, the highest phase on the scale - has been detected, marking a first since the scale was introduced in Afghanistan in 2011.The report said that although the upcoming harvest will bring some relief for millions, that relief will only be short-term for many.Fallout from the war in Ukraine continues to put pressure on Afghanistan's wheat supply, food commodities, agricultural inputs, and fuel prices.Furthermore, access to seeds, fertilizer and water for irrigation is limited, labour opportunities are scarce, and people have incurred enormous debts to buy food over the past few months.&nbsp;—ANI

 Nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan - almost half the population - are facing acute hunger, humanitarians warned in an UN-backed report, published on Monday.

Nearly 20 Million Facing Acute Hunger In Afghanistan: UN

California:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/food-scarcity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Food scarcity</a>, including shortage of wheat a staple for nearly 2.5 billion people, has brought millions, particularly in Africa to the edge of starvation and malnutrition that could plague them for years.The United Nations is ringing loud alarm bells to warn of catastrophic hunger and deaths in the coming months but to little avail.Chair of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/african-union-and-president-of-senegal-macky-sall" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">African Union and President of Senegal Macky Sall</a>&nbsp;made an urgent trip to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin in person last week to get nearly 20 million tons of wheat out of Ukraine by cargo vessels. But he had to come away without any concrete actions to ease the hunger.The US is accusing Putin of stealing Ukraine's wheat and subverting draconian financial sanctions to sell it cheaply to African countries stricken by drought. He is finding ready takers because wheat prices have shot up more than 60 per cent this year mostly because Russia's invasion of Ukraine has blocked deliveries from those two countries. They usually provide nearly one-third of global wheat exports.<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/un-chief-antonio-guterres" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">UN chief Antonio Guterres</a>, who also met Putin personally in April, said after a visit to Africa's poverty-stricken Sahel region, "Severe acute malnutrition - a wasting disease that can kill if left untreated - is rising. Farm animals are already dying of hunger.""Leaders told me that because of the war in Ukraine, on top of the other crises they face, they fear this dangerous situation could tip into catastrophe," he added.The response from the world's seven richest countries (G7) at meetings last month was disappointing mostly because their focus remains on blaming Putin in case widespread starvation deaths occur in Africa.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to supply emergency shipments of wheat to countries requesting help to alleviate hunger. India is the world's second-largest wheat grower after China but the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that it accounted for only 4.1 percent of total global wheat exports in 2020-21.The world's largest wheat exporters are Russia, the EU, Australia, the US, Canada, Argentina, Ukraine, India and Kazakhstan. But the US and its allies are being slow in unblocking large supplies of wheat as humanitarian aid. Worse, the high costs of helping Ukraine have reduced G7 humanitarian aid pledges to only USD 2.6 billion, well below promises they made in 2021 to commit USD 8.5 billion to end famine.Indian farm productivity has made huge gains during the past decade because of improved policies and freer markets promoted by Modi's administration. The country produced 109.6 metric tonnes (mt) of wheat in 2021-22, of which 8.2 metric tons was exported, up from 2.6 metric tons of exports in 2020-21.Before reforms, no food grains were left over for export because wheat and rice are staples for India's 1.3 billion population. Shortages and rising prices can bring down governments in both federal and state elections.Fearing popular unrest, Delhi has temporarily suspended wheat exports citing price pressures stemming from poor harvests caused by life-threatening extreme heat in recent months. However, there is wide public support for waivers to make emergency shipments to alleviate hunger elsewhere.Expanding exports requires freer internal markets in India but the politics are very difficult. Modi is still negotiating with powerful farmer lobbies that want to slow down his push towards freer markets.They have long enjoyed guaranteed prices for wheat and other grains, subsidized by the government. In addition, they benefit from heavily discounted prices for water, electricity and grain storage in silos. Now, they fear having to face competitive markets for food.In global trade negotiations, the US and EU strongly oppose the subsidies but Indian farming lobbies seem to be as politically potent as in those countries. More agricultural cooperation between the West and India as fellow democracies would be helpful since India is one of the few countries capable of efficiently increasing food supplies and exports to alleviate global hunger levels.The UN says that in just two years, the number of severely food insecure people has doubled to 276 million from 135 million before the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine.Almost 21 million children are one step away from starvation and about 811 million go to bed hungry each night because they do not get enough food. This is outrageous because there is more than enough food produced in the world to feed everyone.Another shocking symbol of entrenched inequalities is small farmers, herders and fisherman produce about 70 per cent of global food supply, yet poverty and hunger are most acute among them and other rural populations.—ANI

Food scarcity, including shortage of wheat a staple for nearly 2.5 billion people, has brought millions, particularly in Africa to the edge of starvation and malnutrition that could plague them for years.

UN warns of catastrophic hunger, G7 and Putin brawl, India tries to steps up

Rome: Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has a significant impact on the global food markets and could leave an additional 11 to 19 million people with chronic hunger, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned.FAO spokesperson Boubaker Ben Belhassen told reporters that the two warring nations are major producers of agricultural commodities in the world, with a combined share of around 30 per cent of global wheat exports, reports Xinhua news agency. The countries impacted most by the conflict are in the north African region, he said. The spokesperson cited the FAO’s latest food outlook report, which pointed to a likely tightening of food commodity markets in 2022 due to the “soaring input prices, concerns about the weather, and increased market uncertainties”.Belhassen said that higher international food prices are projected to increase global food import bills to a record $1.8 trillion in 2022. “Higher import bills mainly reflected higher unit costs rather than higher volumes, with many countries, especially the economically vulnerable ones, set to face higher bills while importing smaller volumes,” he added.—IANS

Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has a significant impact on the global food markets and could leave an additional 11 to 19 million people with chronic hunger, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned.

Russia-Ukraine War Could Push 11-19 Mn Into Hunger Worldwide: FAO

New Delhi: Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik is on a hunger strike in Tihar Jail after the government did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case in which he is an accused, officials said on Saturday.Malik, 56, head of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, began his indefinite strike on Friday as he had threatened to earlier this month, they said.On Friday morning, he refused to eat anything despite repeated requests by jail authorities, the officials said. His health is being closely monitored.Appearing before a special Central Bureau of Investigation judge through video conference, Malik had said he wanted to appear physically in the case related to the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the Union home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, in December 1989.Malik informed the court that he had written a letter to the government seeking his transfer to a Jammu jail so he could appear physically in the case and contest the allegations against him.He had said he would like to personally cross-examine all the prosecution witnesses in the case and would wait for a government nod till July 22. If not, he would sit on an indefinite hunger strike inside the jail.Malik began his protest when he received no information from the government about his plea to shift him to any prison in Jammu, the officials said.The JKLF chief was arrested in early 2019 in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case registered by National Investigation Agency (NIA). Malik had pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced by a special NIA court in Delhi in May.Rubaiya Sayeed was allegedly kidnapped by the JKLF on December 8, 1989. She was freed from captivity five days later on December 13 after the then V P Singh government at the Centre, supported by the BJP, released five JKLF terrorists in exchange.The case had gone into virtual cold storage and was revived after Malik was picked up by the NIA in 2019.In January last year, the CBI, with help from special public prosecutors Monika Kohli and S K Bhat, framed charges against 10 people, including Malik, in the case that was a turning point in the Valley's volatile history.After the release of the five JKLF members, terror groups started rearing their heads. Rubaiya Sayeed had been kidnapped by JKLF members from Srinagar to ensure the release of their associates lodged in different jails, officials said.On July 15 this year, Rubaiya Sayeed appeared in the case for the first time and identified Malik and three others as the ones who took her captive. Malik was present in the court through video conferencing."This is the person and his name is Yasin Malik. He was the man who threatened me that he would drag me out of the minibus if I refused to follow their diktat," Rubaiya Sayeed told the judge.—PTI

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik is on a hunger strike in Tihar Jail after the government did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case in which he is an accused, officials said on Saturday.

Yasin Malik goes on hunger strike in Tihar jail, alleges unfair trial

New Delhi: Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is on a&nbsp;hunger strike&nbsp;in Tihar jail in New Delhi for five days, is being given intravenous fluids and his health is being regularly monitored by doctors, officials said on Tuesday.Malik began his indefinite hunger strike on Friday morning after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case, in which he is an accused.Malik, who was kept in solitary confinement in a high-risk cell in Tihar's jail number 7, has been shifted to the prison's Medical Investigation room where doctors are constantly monitoring his health status and updating officials about the same.The JKLF chief is serving a life sentence in a terror-funding case."On Friday morning, Malik refused to eat anything. He is still on a hunger strike and his health is being regularly monitored by doctors. He is being given IV (intravenous) fluids since Sunday," an official said.Appearing before a special CBI judge through a video-conference, Malik had said he wanted to physically appear in the case related to the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of then Union home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, in 1989.Malik had informed the court that he had written a letter to the government seeking his transfer to a Jammu jail so that he could physically appear in the case and contest the allegations against him.He had said he would like to personally cross-examine the prosecution witnesses and would wait for a government nod till July 22.He had also said he would sit on an indefinite hunger strike inside the jail if his plea was not allowed.Malik began his protest when he received no information from the government on his plea to shift him to any prison in Jammu.Rubaiya Sayeed was allegedly abducted by the JKLF on December 8, 1989.<img src="https://newads.rediff.com/rediffadserver/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=6301&amp;campaignid=1829&amp;zoneid=385&amp;source=_blank&amp;loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rediff.com%2Fnews%2Freport%2Fon-hunger-strike-yasin-malik-put-on-iv-fluids-in-tihar-jail%2F20220726.htm&amp;referer=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.rediff.com%2F&amp;cb=59ae21d198">She was freed from captivity five days later after the then V P Singh government at the Centre, supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party, released five JKLF terrorists in exchange.The JKLF chief was arrested in early 2019 in connection with a 2017 terror-funding case registered by the National Investigation Agency. Malik had pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced by a special NIA court in Delhi in May.—PTI

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is on a hunger strike in Tihar jail in New Delhi for five days, is being given intravenous fluids and his health is being regularly monitored by doctors, officials said on Tuesday.

On hunger strike, Yasin Malik put on IV fluids in hunger strike, 

On hunger strike, Yasin Malik put on IV fluids in Tihar jail

Bijnor (The Hawk): After his daughter eloped with her boyfriend and stole Rs. 3 lakh in cash from the family home, a dad has been on a hunger strike for the past five days.The 18-year-old girl ran away approximately a week ago, and authorities have been unable to find her.The girl was scheduled to wed a boy of her parents' choosing on October 15.The family attempted to pressure the boy's family to assist in locating the couple during a panchayat meeting, but they baulked.Later, the girl's father reported the accused in a complaint.Rajendra Singh Pundeer, the station house officer (SHO), stated, "We have lodged the case and are making efforts to locate the girl."

After his daughter eloped with her boyfriend and stole Rs. 3 lakh in cash from the family home, a dad has been on a hunger strike for the past five days.

As his daughter elopes, his father goes on hunger strike: UP

New Delhi (The Hawk): India ranks third in the first-ever global survey on the rise of centi-millionaires – those with assets of more than Rs 830 crore ($100 million) — despite having high levels of poverty, inflation, and hunger.
India boasts 1,132 of the 25,490 centi-millionaires in the globe, outpacing Switzerland, the UK, and Russia in a rapidly expanding and powerful class of ultra-wealthy IT titans, financiers, multinational CEOs, and heirs.
With an expected 80% growth rate in people worth over $100 million by 2032, India will surpass China (number 2) as the fastest growing market for millionaires, according to a report published by worldwide investment migration advisory firm Henley &amp; Partners.
"Over the next ten years, the percentage of centi-millionaires in Asia will increase by about 57%, which is twice as fast as in Europe and the US. The centi-millionaires, who are mainly concentrated in China and India, are expected to surpass their counterparts in Europe and America, according to financial journalist and author Misha Glenny.
Despite making up only 4% of the world's population, the United States, which comes in first place, is home to 38% (9,730) of the 25,490 centi-millionaires in the globe.
Large growing markets China and India, with 2,021 and 1,132 centi-millionaires, respectively, are in second and third place, closely behind it.
With 968 centimillionaires, the UK is in fourth place, closely followed by Germany in fifth (with 966).
The remaining top 10 nations for centi-millionaires are Switzerland (808), Japan (765), Canada (541), Australia (463), and lastly Russia (435).
According to the report, the threshold for being deemed "super affluent" in the late 1990s was $30 million. However, since then, asset prices have increased dramatically, making $100 million the new standard.
Furthermore, it claims that over the previous 20 years, the number of centi-millionaires has doubled and that "the current Covid pandemic and the economically and socially disruptive consequences of technology have drastically accelerated their capital accumulation."
Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, continue to predominate the centi-millionaire circle despite the fact that an increasing number of younger entrepreneurs who built successful digital companies are newbies to the club.
(Inputs from Agencies)

India ranks third in the first-ever global survey on the rise of centi-millionaires – those with assets of more than Rs 830 crore ($100 million) — despite having high levels of poverty, inflation, and hunger.

India third on centi-millionaire list, to surpass China by 2032: Report

Los Angeles: Jennifer Lawrence is more than willing to reignite the flames to play the 'Girl on Fire' once again. While promoting her upcoming comedy 'No Hard Feelings', the 32-year-old actress said that she would be "totally" open to reprising her fan-favourite role of Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' franchise. "Oh, my God - totally!" Lawrence told Variety when asked if she would ever want to pick up her character's bow and arrow once more. "If Katniss could ever come back into my life, 100 per cent," she added. As per People, Lawrence starred as the heroine of the first four 'Hunger Games' films, which are based on the young-adult dystopian book series of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The movies broke box-office records from 2012 through 2015, earning more than $3 billion worldwide. Along with Lawrence, the series featured stars including Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci and Julianne Moore. A 'Hunger Games' prequel film - 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes', based on Collins' 2020 book of the same name - is set for a theatrical release on November 17, 2023.—IANS

Jennifer Lawrence is more than willing to reignite the flames to play the 'Girl on Fire' once again

Jennifer Lawrence Is ‘Totally’ Open To Playing Her ‘Hunger Games’ Role Again

Mumbai: The Maratha groups’ agitation for reservations continued for the 7th day in Jalna even as Congress’ Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar demanded a Special Session of Maharashtra Legislature to discuss and finalise the quotas for the community here on Monday.  Wadettiwar told mediapersons that the state government should convene a special sitting of the house to consider and finalise the Maratha quotas permanently.  Maratha groups have called for bandh in pockets of Jalna, Aurangabad, Solapur, Pune, Beed and other districts as police deployed tight security in all sensitive areas.  The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray experienced the community’s ire when his motorcade was blocked briefly by the Maratha Kranti Morcha activists, while he was en route to Jalna.  Raj Thackeray alighted from his vehicle when the Marathas put forth their demands which he assured to take up before his car was permitted to go ahead to Antarvali-Sarati village, where a group led by Manoj Jarange has been on a hunger strike since August 29.  Last evening, preliminary efforts by the Maharashtra government to resolve the crisis apparently failed to fructify after the agitators refused to call off their hunger strike, demanded quotas announcement within 48 hours, and suspension of all the police personnel involved in the caning incident on September 1.  Representing the state government, Minister Girish Mahajan said that the administration is positive on the issue, but sought at least one month’s time to work out a fool-proof policy which could withstand legal scrutiny.  The past two days have seen a galaxy of ruling and Opposition leaders rushing to Jalna to express solidarity with the Marathas and demanding justice for their cause.  They included 3 ex-Chief Ministers – Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and Congress’ Ashok Chavan, descendants of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – Sambhajiraje Bhosale and Udayanraje Bhosale, and others.
—IANS

The Maratha groups’ agitation for reservations continued for the 7th day in Jalna even as Congress’ Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar 

Maratha stir continues, Congress wants Special Legislature Session for quotas

Jalna: Leader of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, Manoj Jarange-Patil on Tuesday remained adamant on his stance that the Maharashtra government should issue a Government Resolution (GR) on Maratha quotas before he would call off his indefinite hunger strike here.
A delegation led by ruling ally Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar and others met Jarange-Patil again and requested him to call off his fast and give a month’s time to the government for finalising the reservations in a fool-proof manner that would stand legal scrutiny.
However, Jarange-Patil refused to oblige and has vowed to continue his hunger strike even as another delegation sent by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will reach here later this afternoon.
“Our expectation is a decision and the GR. The entire state is hopeful that we will get the reservations today,” said Jarange-Patil, lying on a mattress due to increasing weakness.
Appearing to be in frail health, he warned on Monday night that if the government doesn’t announce its decision on Tuesday, then he would also stop drinking water, triggering fresh concerns.
Meanwhile, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar is likely to visit Jarange-Patil in Antarvali-Sarati village which was the scene of a massive police crackdown including caning and tear-gassing, on the protesting crowds there on September 1.
Besieged by a huge political backlash from the Maratha community and wide condemnation from across the political spectrum, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday tendered an apology to the victims of the police clampdown being treated in local hospitals.&nbsp;
—IANS

Leader of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, Manoj Jarange-Patil on Tuesday remained adamant on his stance that the Maharashtra government

Pro-quotas stir: Maratha protesters don’t budge, insist on GR

Jalna: Toughening stance, the striking Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil demanded that Maharashtra Government should take permission of the Governor and issue the orders on the quotas for his community immediately, here on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media at Antarvali-Sarati village, Jarange-Patil, who is on an indefinite hunger strike for the past nine days, said wearily that he has “lost all hope of any government delegation coming to meet him and resolve the issue”.&nbsp;
“I can provide all the data, right from the period of the Nizam of Hyderabad to the government… They can issue the Government Resolution (GR) within a day. It will definitely withstand any legal scrutiny,” claimed Jarange-Patil.
He reiterated that the government should club the OBCs and Marathas which will enable them a speedy decision and ensure justice is done to the Maratha community which has been fighting for many years.
Attacking the administration, Jarange-Patil alleged that a conspiracy was hatched by some officials which led to the crackdown, caning and tear gassing on the Maratha protestors here on September 1, sparking angry protests across the state since the past five days, including today to express solidarity with the cause.
“I want to inform the people that this fight is for what is due to the Maratha community and to the poor… We have no intention of holding the government at ransom. We gave them four days (till Saturday), they held a cabinet meeting today but no decision has come, so now they cannot ask for any more extension,” Jarange-Patil said.
While expressing commitment to provide the reservations in education and jobs, the state government has tried to convince Jarange-Patil to call off his indefinite hunger strike and give them a month’s time to implement it.
On Tuesday, after several rounds of discussions, Jarange-Patil extended the time-limit till Saturday though the government said it would take at least a week or ten days while some leaders again opined that it would need a month’s time to do the needful that could witness a legal test.&nbsp;
—IANS

Toughening stance, the striking Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil demanded that Maharashtra Government should take permission of the Governor

‘Maha govt should take Guv’s permission, issue Maratha quotas GR’

Mumbai: In a significant step forward, the Maharashtra government on Thursday issued orders for those with Kunbi Caste (OBC) documentary proof from the 'Nizam era' to be given Kunbi caste certificates.
This would imply that Marathas with Kunbi Caste proofs shall be eligible for OBC reservations, fulfilling one of the demands of Manoj Jarange-Patil who is on a hunger strike for the past 10 days in Jalna.&nbsp;
Simultaneously, the state government issued a written appeal to Jarange-Patil that since the administration has published the orders, he should immediately call off his hunger strike.
The response of Jarange-Patil to the GR is still not known and it is likely to be clear later in the day.
A representative of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will call on Jarange-Patil shortly with the orders and the appeal, hoping to end the 10-day long agitation, which started in Jalna on August 29 and spread across the state after the police clampdown there on September 1.
On Wednesday, Shinde had announced that those possessing Nizam-era documents (of 1960s) when the Marathas were counted as â€˜Kunbisâ€™, would be given the Kunbi caste certificates to enable them avail the OBC quotas.&nbsp;
—IANS

In a significant step forward, the Maharashtra government on Thursday issued orders for those with Kunbi Caste

Maha issues quota orders for Kunbi Marathas, appeals to Jarange-Patil to call off hunger-strike

Amaravati: For a second consecutive day on Sunday, opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh continued protests over the arrest of party supremo and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The police placed many TDP leaders across the state under house arrest and detained several others to foil protests.
Former minister Kollu Ravindra was arrested in Vijayawada. He has been actively participating in the protest programmes since Saturday morning.&nbsp;
Several key leaders of the party were placed under house arrest for a second day. Former minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy was put under house arrest at Vennelapalem in Visakhapatnam district. Visakhapatnam West MLA Ganababu and former MLA P. Srinivasa Rao were also not allowed to come out of their houses.
TDP leaders sitting on hunger strike in MVP Colony in Visakhapatnam were arrested by the police. The hunger strike camp was removed by the police personnel, who forcibly lifted the leaders sitting on the fast. The opposition party alleged that even women leaders were not spared.
In Guntur, former minister Kanna Lakshminarayana was placed under house arrest. Police did not allow several former ministers, former MLAs and other leaders from coming out of their houses in undivided Guntur district.
On a call given by TDP, several leaders sat on mass hunger strike at Prathipadu in Guntur district in solidarity with Naidu.
Kanna Lakshminarayana termed Naidu’s arrest in the Skill Development Corporation case as illegal. He said the YSRCP government was trying to implicate Naidu in a false case. The senior leader said Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was targeting those questioning his government. The former minister said the YSRCP government will have to pay the price in the people's court.
TDP leaders were also placed under house arrest in Nellore district. Police stepped up security around the house of Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy as a large number of TDP workers were gathering there. Police erected barricades to stop protestors from gathering there. For the second day, the MLA was kept under house arrest.
TDP leaders staged a protest against Naidu’s arrest in his Assembly constituency Kuppam in Chittoor district. They sat on a hunger strike in solidarity with Naidu. MLA K. Srikanth said that the Jagan government’s days were numbered.
Amid reports of protests by TDP leaders, workers were pouring in from various parts of the state. Carrying TDP flags, the party workers took out rallies, staged road blockades and sat on hunger strike.&nbsp;
—IANS

For a second consecutive day on Sunday, opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh continued protests over the arrest of party supremo

TDP continues protest over Naidu’s arrest

Mumbai: All eyes are on the all-party meeting by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Monday evening here in an attempt to resolve the vexed issue of reservations for the Maratha community.  Building up pressure, the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil, has gone off water and medicines on the 14th day of his indefinite hunger strike in Jalna.  The top leaders of parties from the ruling and Opposition have been invited for the meeting to discuss and hammer out an amicable solution to the issue.  Jarange-Patil reiterated that the Marathas are OBCs and the administration should publish a Government Resolution (GR) to the effect, and then implement it within one or two months.  Sunday evening, he issued an open appeal to the leaders of all political parties, urging them to adopt a positive stance and ensure that reservations in education and jobs are granted to the poor people in the Maratha community.  The government has said that though it is committed to giving reservations to the Marathas, they need more time to work it out in a fool-proof manner and have urged the striking leader to call off his indefinite hunger strike.  Meanwhile, Jarange-Patil’s demand has triggered strong reactions and counter-protests from the OBC community in Nagpur and other cities who are opposed to the move as it would be detrimental to their interests.  While supporting the Marathas’ cause, Congress’ Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar has supported the OBC agitation, and ruling Nationalist Congress Party (AP) Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said though he is not opposed to the Maratha quotas, it should not be at the cost of any other community.  Wadettiwar slammed the government for driving a wedge among the Marathas-OBCs who are now pitted against each other to safeguard their respective positions.  NCP President Sharad Pawar has reiterated that the Centre should hike the ceiling of quotas from the current 50 percent by 15-16 per cent to accommodate all other communities clamouring for reservations.  Adding to the government’s worries, now the Dhangar community has also gone on the warpath and demanded that its long-pending demand for quotas should be immediately accepted by the government and announced, failing which they would launch an agitation.
—IANS

All eyes are on the all-party meeting by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Monday evening here in an attempt to resolve the vexed issue of reservations

Maratha quotas: Focus on all-party meeting today; Jarange-Patil refuses water, medicines

Mumbai: Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition in Council Ambadas Danve on Monday accused the state government of not inviting his Shiv Sena-UBT for the all-party meeting this evening to discuss the vexed issue of Maratha quotas.
Slamming the government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for being "mean-minded" and "playing politics", Danve said that he has been invited in his capacity as the Leader of Opposition in the Council, but his party’s name does not figure in the invite list.&nbsp;
"Many big and small parties have been invited for this meeting. But the government has not officially invited the Shiv Sena-UBT. I have been invited as the Leader of Opposition," said a peeved Danve.
He also pointed out that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chandrakant Patil, who is heading a panel for Maratha reservations, has been invited as a Minister for the meeting and wondered "what is the government trying to achieve by this".
However, Danve said several other ministers have also been called for the meeting and asked how they are concerned in the matter.
Danve said that when the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi CM Uddhav Thackeray had convened a similar meeting, he had also invited some five dozen organisations, but today not a single organisation figures in the list of invitees.
He also questioned whether the government had appointed an official representative to meet or hold talks with the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil who is on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 14 days for Maratha quotas.
On September 2, NCP President Sharad Pawar and ex-CM Thackeray were among the first to reach Jalna’s Antarvali-Sarati village which witnessed a major police clampdown on Maratha protestors a day earlier, and later protests spread across the state.
Meanwhile, as many as 32 representatives of the ruling coalition of Shiv Sena-BJP-Nationalist Congress Party-AP, Congress’ Leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, the Congress, NCP-Sharad Pawar, other big and small parties and officials have been invited to join the ‘all-party’ meet to be addressed by the CM later this evening.&nbsp;
—IANS

Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition in Council Ambadas Danve on Monday accused the state government

Shiv Sena-UBT dropped from Maha all-party meet on Maratha quotas: LoP Ambadas Danve

Jalna: Throwing his weight behind the ongoing agitation for Maratha quotas, Shiv Pratishthan leader Sambhaji Bhide said here on Tuesday that ‘there’s no going back now’.
Bhide called on the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil, whose indefinite hunger strike entered the 15th day on Tuesday, and expressed his full support to the struggle for reservations.
He also appealed to Jarange-Patil to call off his hunger strike in view of his failing health, even as the latter resumed medication early Tuesday. ‘We are with you’ you are on the right path. This campaign must end with the grant of reservations, there is no looking back now! But, I appeal to you to please withdraw your hunger strike,” urged Bhide.
A frail Jarange-Patil smiled and said that he felt ‘stronger’ with the support of Bhide, who is addressed as Guruji by his followers and reiterated that he will not back out till the quotas are given to the Marathas.
Late on Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde convened an all-party meeting to discuss the vexed issue and announced a panel to decide on the reservations issue within a month.
On behalf of all the state political parties, Shinde announced a series of demands by Jarange-Patil which the government has conceded and urged him to call off the fast immediately.
The government has decided to withdraw cases against the protestors, suspension of three senior police officers for the police crackdown on the Marathas in Antarvali-Sarati village on September 1.
The CM added that representatives of all the parties were unanimous over giving the reservations to the Maratha community but without affecting the existing quotas of any other community or groups or meting injustice to any section.
Jarange-Patil welcomed the move to withdraw cases against the Maratha protestors and the action on the police personnel but refused to end his fast or join the newly-formed government panel on the quotas issue.
—IANS

Throwing his weight behind the ongoing agitation for Maratha quotas, Shiv Pratishthan leader Sambhaji Bhide said here on Tuesday that ‘there’s no going back now

Bhide supports Maratha quotas agitation, says ‘no going back’

Hyderabad: The leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana on Wednesday launched a 24-hour-long hunger strike here over the “injustice” with unemployed and youth by the KCR government in the state.
The hunger strike, which began at Dharna Chowk at Indira Park in the heart of the city, is being led by union minister for tourism and culture G.
Kishan Reddy, who is also the state BJP president.
BJP national general secretary and in charge of Telangana Tarun Chugh and several state leaders of the party were participating in the protest
against KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government over its indifference to the problems of unemployed and youth.
Kishan Reddy alleged that during the last nine years, the BRS government failed to provide jobs to the unemployed and also went back on its promise to pay unemployment allowance.
The BJP leader said after coming to power on the slogan of “water, funds and jobs”, KCR betrayed the unemployed. He alleged that the government has done injustice to students and unemployed who played a key role in the Telangana movement.
He asked what happened to KCR’s promise of a job to every house. “The youth had expected that they would get jobs in their own state but they have been betrayed by the KCR government,” he said.
He promised that if voted to power, BJP will provide jobs to the unemployed. He also slammed the BRS government over leak of question papers of the recruitment exams conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) and said the inefficiency of the government pushed 30 lakh unemployed into uncertainty.
The BJP leader said the unemployed were asking KCR if he had the moral right to seek votes in the coming elections.
Kishan Reddy also alleged that the ruling party leaders were taking commissions in projects. He also claimed that companies are being allowed
to set up operations in the state only after these leaders get their share.
The BJP leader also alleged that KCR was strengthening the Congress party by providing funds. He said the fight against corrupt and dynastic rule of the BRS government will continue till its defeat.
Chugh claimed that all sections of people were unhappy with the misrule of KCR. He predicted that BRS will lose power in the elections to be held in November.
He challenged the BRS government for a debate on minister K. T. Rama Rao’s claim that 100 per cent target has been achieved in distribution of double bed-room houses.
The BJP leader asked KCR what happened to his announcement to provide Rs 10 lakh to every Dalit family. He said implementation of Dalit Bandhu in the state was confined to Assembly segments where by-elections were held.
—IANS

The leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana on Wednesday launched a 24-hour-long hunger strike here over the “injustice”

Telangana BJP undertakes 24-hr hunger strike over unemployment

Hyderabad: Former Union Minister and BJP’s election in-charge for Telangana, Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said that the party will undertake various campaigns over the next 100 days to expose the KCR government’s corruption and misdeeds before the people.&nbsp;
He alleged that the state government was trying to suppress the peaceful protests by the BJP. Javadekar said since Chief Minister KCR knew that his government betrayed the youth and the unemployed, it used the force to disrupt BJP’s hunger strike in Hyderabad.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture and Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday ended his 24-hour long hunger strike over the problems of unemployed.
Javadekar offered lemon juice to Kishan Reddy to end his fast at the state BJP office.
Kishan Reddy had continued his hunger strike at the party office after the police forcibly lifted him from Indira Park and left at the BJP office.
Addressing party leaders on the occasion, the union minister vowed to continue the fight against KCR government over the problems faced by the unemployed and youth.
He said if voted to power, the BJP will solve the problems of unemployed by filling all vacancies in the government departments Kishan Reddy alleged that during the last nine-and-a-half years of BRS rule, not a single teacher, lecturer or professor was recruited.
He said the inefficiency of the KCR government led to question paper leak in the Telangana State Public Service Commission.
He said the cancellation of 17 exams pushed the unemployed into uncertainty.
The BJP leader alleged that BRS and Congress have secret understanding. He also stated that both the parties were dancing to the tunes of MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.
—IANS

Former Union Minister and BJP’s election in-charge for Telangana, Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said that the party will undertake 

BJP to undertake more campaigns to expose KCR govt: Javadekar

Malappuram: In an incident that unfolded at a busy bus station in Kuttippuram, North Kerala, a 27 year old man from Assam was found consuming the raw flesh of a cat. This distressing event took place on Saturday evening when the young man from Dhubri district in Assam found himself without any means to obtain food for several days.  Local residents at the bus station were alarmed to see the man sitting on the steps eating the carcass of a cat. Upon being informed the authorities promptly investigated the situation. A senior police officer stated that when questioned the man admitted that he had been without food for the five days.  Concerned about his well being the police provided him with food which he accepted without hesitation. However he mysteriously disappeared from the bus station after and left no trace behind.  In another development on the following morning police received information that someone matching his description was seen at a train station. Acting swiftly they located him. Asked about his circumstances. According to him he was a college student, from Northeast India who had arrived in Kerala by train in December without informing his family. The authorities reached out to his brother, who lives in Chennai. The young individual had shared the brothers contact details. After confirming the accuracy of the information it became clear that the man had been facing difficulties on his own in Kerala.  After conducting a medical examination they admitted him to a hospital in nearby Thrissur. Surprisingly he showed no signs of any mental health problems. Once his family members arrive the police plan to hand him over to them bringing an end, to this chapter in his life.
—Input from Agencies

Assam youth's desperate act in Kerala - consuming raw cat flesh due to hunger. Police intervene, admit him to Thrissur hospital. A survival story unfolds.

Assam Youth Eating Raw Cat Flesh in Kerala Amidst Hunger

Shimla: Government job aspirants, asking the state government to declare the results of the various government job recruitment exams, started a hunger strike in Shimla on Monday. These youth have declared that they will continue their strike until their demands are fulfilled. They have also decided to start a Nyay yatra to Delhi from Shimla to meet Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to tell the Congress government in the state to declare results. Scores of youth who have appeared in various examinations are waiting for results to be declared for over four years now. The results of the examination for recruiting junior office assistants in information technology (JOAIT) have not been published yet, even after the directions of the Supreme Court of India in this regard. The job aspirants for the various posts want Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene in the matter, providing justice to protesters. These protesters are reminding Priyanka Gandhi about her promise during the election that the interests of job aspirants will be protected once a Congress government is elected to power. "We have been waiting for our results for the past four years. We have been sitting on a chain hunger strike for the past three days but nobody is listening to our demands. We have started a hunger strike here. We appeared and qualified for the test four years ago and are waiting for recruitment," Saurabh Sharma, a job aspirant, told ANI. "Rahul Gandhi is doing the Nyay Yatra for youth. We elected the Congress government in the state and I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, who is entering Manipur, what his Congress government has done in Himachal Pradesh for youth. These political parties come here during the elections and don't care for youth after they win elections. We shall do a Vidhansabha Gherao protest during the budget session and if we don't get notification before Loksabha elections, they will have to face the consequences," he added. These youth have warned that they will come with their parents if their recruitment process is not started. They are disappointed because, even after they have qualified for the first stage of examinations, their recruitment process has not started.
"We will come with our parents to protest and do a hunger strike. We just want the government notification assuring us to declare our results.In JOIT 817, there are 2,27,000 youth and there are 903 post codes where 88,000 youth appeared and in JOIT 939, there are 300 posts and 167287 youth appeared. In many such cases, we cleared the exams," said another protester. The Himachal Pradesh government scrapped the Staff Selection Commission after irregularities and paper leak cases were reported in December 2022. Later, the government shifted all powers and the declaration of examinations and recruitment processes to the State Service Selection Commission and thousands of job seekers who have appeared in different examinations are demanding to declare their results.
—ANI

Job aspirants in Shimla demand the state government to declare results of recruitment exams, initiating a hunger strike. They seek intervention from Congress leaders and are disappointed by delays despite Supreme Court directions.

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