Important News - 2025-04-21
21 April 2025
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World Affairs (2)
Grand Mufti Kanthapuram Praises Pope Francis for Humanitarian Efforts
India’s Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, praised Pope Francis for his significant contributions to humanity, particularly his efforts in supporting refugees and minorities, promoting religious harmony, and advocating for global peace. The Grand Mufti highlighted the Pope’s strong ties with the Arab community and the Muslim world, referencing his Easter message expressing solidarity with those suffering in Palestine and calling for support for those struggling with hunger. He also recalled his personal interactions with Pope Francis during international conferences in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and Bahrain in 2022, where they developed a warm and friendly relationship.
Bishop Anaparambil Commends Pope Francis as Advocate for Marginalised
Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil of Alleppey and Apostolic Administrator of Cochin has praised Pope Francis for his unwavering advocacy for the marginalised and his role as a moral leader in a divided world. In a statement issued on Monday, Bishop Anaparambil highlighted the Pope's efforts to address global issues such as environmental protection, interfaith respect, and the plight of the weak. He described Pope Francis as a beacon of moral conscience who stood against nationalism, ethnic chauvinism, and religious intolerance. The Bishop emphasised the Pope's universal appeal and his consistent stand for the marginalised, calling him a true shepherd for all humanity.
Politics (5)
Yathindra Confident in Police Action Over Ambedkar Banner Vandalism in Vajamangala
Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah expressed confidence on Monday that the police would soon identify and apprehend those responsible for tearing banners of B.R. Ambedkar in Vajamangala village. The incident occurred on Friday, prompting villagers to protest on Saturday, leading to the registration of a case by the police. Yathindra, who visited the village, stated that the police had obtained CCTV footage from nearby locations and were actively working to nab the culprits. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) State president M. Krishnamurthy criticized the delay in arresting the accused, calling the act 'despicable.' Krishnamurthy, addressing a press conference, urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara to intervene and ensure immediate action. He also demanded that a case of sedition be filed against the accused and warned of a BSP agitation if the arrests were not made within eight days.
Telangana HC Declares Chennamaneni Ramesh a German Citizen, Strips Ex-MLA Status
Chennamaneni Ramesh, a former MLA from Vemulawada, should not be referred to as an ex-MLA since he was not an Indian citizen when he won the Assembly elections, stated Congress Whip Adi Srinivas. Speaking at the Telangana High Court after receiving a cheque for ₹25 lakh, part of the fine imposed on Ramesh, Srinivas emphasized that he had been fighting to prove Ramesh’s non-Indian citizenship, a claim upheld by the High Court on December 9, 2024. The court declared Ramesh a German citizen without Indian citizenship. Ramesh was elected four times as MLA from Vemulawada—twice on a Telugu Desam ticket (2009, 2010) and twice on a BRS ticket (2014, 2018). Srinivas, who lost thrice to Ramesh, won the 2023 election on a Congress ticket. Srinivas stated that Ramesh’s case might be the first globally where an individual became an MLA without being a citizen of the country. He urged the State government to investigate Ramesh’s false claims and initiate criminal action, adding that he would approach the court to recover salaries and financial benefits Ramesh received as an MLA.
Supreme Court Upholds Land Acquisition for Wayanad Landslide Rehabilitation Project
Revenue Minister K. Rajan has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss a special leave petition filed by the Elstone Estate management. The petition challenged the government's takeover of land for rehabilitating survivors of the Wayanad landslides. The Minister stated that the court's order upholds the government's decision to acquire 64.47 hectares of land in Kalpetta, Wayanad, under the Disaster Management Act. The government has already deposited ₹44 crore in the High Court registry and initiated the construction of a model township. Despite initial apprehensions, the court refused to halt the ongoing construction work. Earlier, a Division Bench of the High Court had permitted the government to take symbolic and physical possession of the land after depositing ₹17 crore. The Minister assured that the project, which includes houses, anganwadi, playground, road, and library, will be completed by March 2026 and dedicated to the public within a year.
BRS Condemns TPCC Chief’s Remarks on Telangana Farmers’ Agricultural Practices
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has strongly criticized the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president, B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, for his remarks suggesting that farmers from the Andhra region had taught agriculture to the Telangana farming community. Former minister V. Prashanth Reddy condemned these comments, stating that they insulted the centuries-old farming traditions of Telangana. Reddy emphasized that Telangana’s agricultural practices, characterized by crop diversity including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and spices, differ significantly from Andhra’s focus on paddy cultivation. He also accused Congress leaders of attempting to appease Andhra rulers who historically opposed the formation of Telangana. The BRS demanded an unconditional apology from Goud, asserting that his remarks disregarded the rich agricultural heritage of the Deccan region, which has a history of paddy cultivation dating back over a thousand years.
Health Minister Criticizes 'Ghost Faculty' Practice in Telangana Medical Colleges
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha has criticized the practice of 'ghost faculty' in private medical colleges in Telangana, labeling it as a serious threat to the integrity of medical education. During a meeting with the management, deans, and principals of private medical colleges on Monday, the Minister expressed concerns over the presence of staff who are listed on paper but absent from campus. He highlighted that the government had received credible complaints about this malpractice, which he deemed unacceptable and detrimental to the state's medical education system. The Minister warned that such practices would degrade educational standards and endanger lives, emphasizing that strict action would be taken against colleges violating quality norms. Additionally, he addressed issues related to the non-payment of stipends to students, urging colleges to ensure timely payment to alleviate financial stress and support academic focus.
Economy (1)
Farmers Protest U.S.-India Trade Agreement, Call for Effigy Burning of Modi, Trump, and Vance
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of various farmers' groups, announced on April 21, 2025, a protest against the proposed U.S.-India trade agreement. The SKM called for the burning of effigies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance at all district headquarters. The protest is against alleged U.S. attempts to impose unfair trade terms and flood Indian markets with subsidized agricultural products, which the SKM claims would severely impact Indian farmers' livelihoods. The SKM also criticized the Trump administration's pressure on the Modi government to dismantle the public distribution system and withdraw subsidies on fuel and fertilizers. Additionally, the SKM warned that changes to India's patent laws to favor U.S. companies could harm food security and farmer independence. The organization plans to coordinate with trade unions and agricultural workers for a general strike on May 20 against the Labour Codes. Furthermore, the SKM will launch campaigns, including mahapanchayats, in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections to oppose the National Democratic Alliance.
Schemes (1)
Free HPV Vaccination Camp Organized at Andhra Hospitals to Combat Cervical Cancer
A free vaccination camp aimed at protecting girls and women from cervical cancer was organized at Andhra Hospitals in Vijayawada on April 21. The camp, funded by the Mahesh Babu Foundation and the hospital, administered the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to 70 women aged between 9 and 45. Girls aged 9 to 14 received two doses six months apart, while women aged 15 to 45 received three doses with intervals of two months between the first and second dose and four months between the second and third dose. Each dose of the vaccine costs ₹2,000. Dr. P.V. Rama Rao, Head of Children’s Services, and Dr. Paturi Padma, Chief of Fetal Medicine, emphasized the importance of the vaccination program in combating cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women.
Miscellaneous (1)
Investigation Launched into Disappearance of POCSO Survivor and Child from Kozhikode Shelter Home
The Kozhikode Town police have initiated an investigation into the disappearance of a 17-year-old survivor of a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case and her three-year-old child from Shakti Sadan, a shelter home for women and children in Kozhikode, on April 20, 2025. The girl had previously been admitted to Sakhi, a one-stop centre in Vellimadukunnu, from where she had also left earlier. She had approached the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Kozhikode seeking assistance to regain custody of her child from the biological father, who was allegedly abusive and involved in drug abuse. The girl had been brought back to Kozhikode after being found in Kottayam and was subsequently moved to Shakti Sadan, where she went missing again. CWC Chairman Abdul Nazar criticized the authorities at both Sakhi and Shakti Sadan for failing to ensure the residents' security and welfare, citing the girl’s written complaint about inadequate food for her child. However, Linzi A.K., the Women Protection Officer of Kozhikode, stated that the girl had voluntarily left the shelter as Sakhi is not a confinement facility and residents have the freedom to leave.
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