neelster

a lawyer, writer, blogger , critic and bartender and ready to have a tryst with entrepreneurship. Believe in 'let justice be done, though Heaven's fall.'

[neelster @neelster]

A big shout-out to 2 young baristas Neeraj and Ahmed at @StarbucksIndia's MIDC Andheri outlet! ☕👏At 10 PM, they were still cheerful, passionate, and took the time to walk me through Starbucks' journey, brewing process, and difference between a Flat White and a Latte 🙌 #Coffee

[Angana Chakrabarti @AnganaCk]

Assam activist @PranabDoley19 — convenor of the Greater Kaziranga Land & Human Rights Committee and vocal opponent of the Hyatt hotel project near Kaziranga — arrested this morning on multiple BNS charges.

[Traveling Salesman @def__init__e]

I was in Mumbai during that time and the Uddhav Thackeray handling of covid was pretty exemplary. All the while Fadnavis and Shelar were plotting to restrict medicines and to bring the govt down. Still BJP managed to demonize the father son duo. This story is a bit like how Tyrion saves King's Landing but becomes a villain in the public narrative.

[Maadhyam @maadhyam_engage]

17 Dec'08: Within a month of #Mumbai Terror Attacks, then UPA govt amended #UAPA. We went through records of debate in #LokSabha in detail & found:

- Kapil Sibal, now representing #UmarKhalid, defended stringent provisions being added to #UAPA, including related to #bail, on grounds that (ahead of 2009 Lok Sabha elections) they didn't want to give BJP a chance to tell people that UPA Govt is soft on terror! (and he believed a fair balance with human rights was being maintained)

- LK Advani, as Leader of Opposition, asked for Bills to be referred to Standing Committee🤯 [but because he believed it wasn't draconian enough!]

- Several MPs, including from BJP, cautioned against its misuse and asked for safeguards

- Many MPs said that 'communalism' is equally dangerous for country & some even demanded ban on RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP etc.

- Only @asadowaisi had the remarkable foresight to predict how intellectuals will be branded as terrorists using vague terms in the definition of 'terrorist act' [exactly how SC interpreted it while denying bail to #UmarKhalid]

A #Thread on what went down in #LokSabha that day & how it is directly linked to misuse of #UAPA today!

[Nitin Sethi @nit_set]

Modi Govt’s Partner to Promote India’s Rice Trade: An Alleged Scamster.

A trader prosecuted for defrauding bank of Rs ~1,000 crores, and other crimes.

By @ayushikar1998, @harshithamanwan, @journomayank and I. For @reporters_co

Click Pic to read

https://t.co/XAr8LEtbEW

[Paranjoy Guha Thakurta @paranjoygt]

7 Bhima Koregaon Prisoners Begin Hunger Strike Against Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner

Dated: October 18, 2024

The Bhima Koregaon prisoners have started a hunger strike at the Taloja Central Jail against the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner. For several months, these detainees have consistently been denied transport to court on scheduled dates, with flimsy excuses related to the unavailability of security personnel. On October 9, 2024, the Bhima Koregaon prisoners were not presented in court on the day of their hearing. During that time, Advocate Surendra Gadling, who is fighting his own case, presented his arguments via video conferencing from jail. After hearing his detailed statements, the special NIA court (No. 25) in Mumbai instructed Taloja Central Jail to ensure all prisoners were brought to court on the next scheduled date, October 18, 2024. However, despite these clear court directives, the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner has completely disregarded them.

In this context, Advocates Surendra Gadling and Sagar Gorkhe were supposed to present this issue before the special NIA court and file the necessary documents for a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court. Yet, even today, on a regular court date, not a single one of the seven prisoners was brought to court. Particularly, even though sufficient police personnel were available to transport the prisoners to court and hospitals, the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner is using these resources for other purposes instead. This continuous and deliberate failure to present these prisoners on their court dates constitutes a violation of their constitutional rights. Therefore, today, in Taloja Central Jail, Advocates Surendra Gadling, Sagar Gorkhe, Sudhir Dhavale, Ramesh Gaichor, Hanny Babu, Rona Wilson, and Mahesh Raut—seven prisoners in the Bhima Koregaon case—have begun a hunger strike against the unconstitutional and arbitrary actions of the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner. Some of these individuals have been incarcerated for six years, while others have been imprisoned for four years, yet the trial has not even begun.

[शिक्षित बेरोज़गार @kaul_vivek]

Hamam main sab nange hain...
Par andar aane ki ijaazat sabko nahi hai.

[Maadhyam @maadhyam_engage]

It is an absolute travesty that the entire Q Hour in #RajyaSabha today was taken up by an unnecessary discussion on an MP criticising the 'tone' of the Chairperson of RS. What is ironical is that the Chair said, "nation is always first" while criticising the Opposition for their behaviour, but then let the entire Q hour get washed out because he got offended by some criticism! First RS got adjourned till 2, then till 2.30, then till 3 and now till 3.30pm. Why?

This has become an almost everyday occurrence: The Chairperson in #RajyaSabha takes offence at the drop of a hat, cannot handle criticism or questioning, is partisan in his conduct & takes up a lot of time of House giving unnecessary sermons! Interrupting MPs in their speeches, answering on behalf of Govt, unwarranted emotional outbursts have become routine.

Every such occurrence becomes an occasion for Govt to grandstand on respecting parliamentary traditions (which Govt is happy to violate when it doesn't suit their agenda) and demonising the Opposition. More than anything, it seems to be all about controlling the narrative!

Yes, MPs are expected to respect the Chair, but he should know that respect for the office he is occupying, does not put him or his conduct above criticism! Every person holding a Constitutional Office is answerable & accountable to people. In fact the Constitution itself, in Article 67, provides for a procedure for removal of Vice President by moving a resolution in RS.

Nobody is above the institution, not even the Chairperson!

[Anirban Chowdhury @AnirbanET]

Here’s my deep dive fom Raisen, Madhya Pradesh where about a hundred children worked for years in deplorable conditions at a liquor plant owned by Som Distilleries Pvt Ltd, before half of them were rescued.
It’s a dire story of exploitation, corruption and complicity at every level.
After less than a 20 day suspension of operations, the distillery continue to run without a hitch.

https://t.co/RkK42oiSxx

[Maadhyam @maadhyam_engage]

Kharge: In 10 years, BJP-RSS captured education system in India, University VCs, Profs, NCERT, CBSE, captured by RSS, no place for people with "achche vichaar" (good thoughts)!

Chairman: Won't go on record. Not crime to be part of RSS.

Kharge: RSS ideology dangerous, manuvadi!

[The Hindu @the_hindu]

At least 58 children, including 20 girls, were rescued from a liquor factory in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district where they were working, with the skin on their hands found to be burnt due to exposure to chemicals. @MehulMalpani reports.
https://t.co/I0biz1SKcK

[Digital Witness Lab @diwilab]

For our first investigation we partnered with @restofworld to look into how India’s BJP used WhatsApp (WA) to spread their message through official and unofficial groups in a small Indian town.
https://t.co/iDwIiAgE2r

[MANJUL @MANJULtoons]

Why @facebook?

[Avishek Goyal @AG_knocks]

Shocking reveal of unfair tactics to confuse voters and rig the elections by bringing up dummy candidates impersonating prime candidates.
And to no one’s surprise, EC was just being a mere spectator.

Here’s the Proof: A Thread👇

[neelster @neelster]

@CNNnews18 @SMehrotra1 @RShivshankar @SMehrotra1 the anchor and the other participants miss behaviour is absolutely uncalled for. The anchor deserves to be thrown to dogs , absolutely biased and an utter waste.

[Sarah Larsen @fearless_rising]

I'm 36.

Stress controlled me for years so I turned to neuroscience.

After 1200+ hours studying elite athletes, CEOs & psychologists, my toolkit is now full of powerful neuro-hacks.

Here are the top 7 that will change your life:

[Adam Buschbacher @AdamBuschbacher]

Accept the fact that some people are never going to be for you. Treat them with respect but know you don't need them to fulfill your destiny.

[Citizen Kau @citizen_kau]

😭😭😭

[Sushant Singh @SushantSin]

The inverted and convoluted logic of the Election Commission. @MANJULtoons

[Teesta Setalvad @TeestaSetalvad]

Crucial Phase of the Polls starts on June 1 says @parakala as there is every chance of the Regime hijacking Voters Will #VotersWillMustPrevail. Share this sharp to the point interview that urges #WeThePeopleofIndia to be #Vigilant @sabrangindia @KapilSibal