Moshe Holtzberg, 26/11 survivor of the Mumbai terror attack recited a chapter from the Book of Psalms during the inaugural ceremony of Israel's 25th Knesset. (Photo Daniel Shem Tov, Knesset)
The gathering included Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu who shares a special bond with the child…writes Ateet Sharma
In a heartwarming gesture, 2008 Mumbai terror attack survivor Moshe Holzberg recited Psalms at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Israeli parliament on Tuesday.
16-year-old ‘Baby Moshe’, as he is known in India, read a chapter of Psalms from the book with which his parents prayed as 120 lawmakers of Israel’s 25th Knesset were sworn in.
The gathering included Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu who shares a special bond with the child.
Moshe was only two when rampaging Pakistani terrorists attacked the Chabad house in Mumbai, killing his parents – emissaries Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg and his wife Rivka.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting Moshe Holtzberg, the now 11-year-old survivor of the 26/11 attacks, in Jerusalem, Israel on July 05, 2017.
The Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu is also seen.
The couple was among the 25 foreign nationals and 166 civilians and security personnel who lost their lives in the dastardly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuels, Moshe now lives in a city in northern Israel along with his grandparents Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg and Yehudit Rosenberg.
In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Moshe, then an 11-year-old, during his historic visit to Israel in July 2017 when he became the first PM from India to visit the country located in the Middle East, at the junction of three continents – Europe, Asia, and Africa.
At the invitation of PM Modi, Moshe then accompanied Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his visit to the Chabad House in January 2018.
Netanyahu and Moshe toured the latter’s former room and the site of the 2008 attack. The Israeli PM also marked his present height on the wall where Moshe’s late mother had indicated his height when he was a toddler.
“My heart beats, my heart is moved, to return to my parents’ home, the Chabad House that has been rebuilt and refurbished. Here I was born, and here I spent two years. I have absorbed my beloved parents’ sense of mission,” an emotional Moshe said then.
Last month, Moshe’s recorded video message was played at a special meeting of the United Nations Counter Terrorism Committee held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai to pay tribute to victims of terror attacks.
“Your gathering here in Mumbai is very important. It is very important that you find new ways to counter terrorism, so that no one will have to go through what I have gone through,” Moshe urged in his statement.
President Wickremesinghe made the instructions during a discussion with officials related to foreign policy, trade, legal and other areas…writes Susitha Fernando
Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday directed to implement the suspended Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) immediately.
President Wickremesinghe made the instructions during a discussion with officials related to foreign policy, trade, legal and other areas.
“The existing problems in this regard were discussed at length and the President highlighted the need to provide quick solutions to all the existing problems,” President’s Media Division said in a statement.
In September, Wickremesinghe who met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on the side-lines of a state funeral for the slain PM Shinzo Abe had assured that 2018 pact signed when he was the Prime Minister would be revived.
Penned in January 2018, the free-trade pact between the two island nation was suspended due to severe objections from Sri Lanka’s opposition parties, trade unions and other professional bodies.
Flag of Sri Lanka
In May 2021, Sri Lanka tried to revive it with a number of amendments but it was not successful.
Signed on January 23 after 18 months of negotiations between the two countries, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SL-SFTA) was considered a ‘giant leap’ in terms of implementation and laying down of a marker that Sri Lanka was moving into a new era of international trade.
The pact was to cover areas such as Goods, Services, Investments, Rules of Origin, Intellectual Property rights, Customs Procedure and Trade Facilitation, Government Procurement, Trade Remedies, Economic and Technical Cooperation, Dispute Settlement, Telecommunications and E-commerce.
Meanwhile the Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore, Chandra Das is to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to Sri Lanka from November 13-18.
Accompanied by a business delegation from Singapore, the High Commissioner met Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Tuesday and he is to meet a number business and trade related officials.
Six policemen were killed in Wednesday’s attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat…reports Asian Lite News
Terrorism continues to be one of Pakistan’s foremost problems, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, as he condemned the attack on a police van in Lakki Marwat.
“Let us make no mistake. Terrorism continues to be one of Pakistan’s foremost problems. Our armed forces & police have valiantly fought the scourge. No words are enough to condemn terrorists’ attack on a police van in Lakki Marwat. My thoughts and prayers are with bereaved families,” Sharif tweeted.
Six policemen were killed in Wednesday’s attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat, Pakistan’s Daily Times reported. The newspaper said that two terrorists on a motorcycle opened fire on the van. According to police, the assailants attacked the police van on Abbasa Road, Wanda Shahab Khel.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also condemned the attack on the police personnel in Lakki Marwat. The federal minister said he sought a report from the Chief Secretary and IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of the incident.
“Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police van in Lakki Marwat and expressed concern over the incident. A report of the incident was sought from the Chief Secretary and IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Expressing deep sorrow and regret over the martyrdom of police personnel,” his office tweeted.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said he has taken notice of the attack on the police van. He directed IGP to present a report to him as soon as possible.
The recent surge in attacks in northwest part of the country has given rise to the fear that militancy and violence are making a comeback after more than a decade.
The resurgence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat has brought back memories of the bloody period of the early 2000s, Global Strat View reported.
“What is more worrying is that the civilian leadership and Pakistan’s powerful security establishment have so far failed to handle the emerging situation in Swat,” the report added. (ANI)
Bilawal reiterated that any decision on these lines would reflect the government’s resolve to stick with the Constitution…reports Asian Lite News
Terming the gossip, debate and speculation over the upcoming appointment of the chief of army staff “unfortunate”, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned that “the national obsession with this particular office would not contribute to the stability of our democracy, nor would it help the nation to grow”, the media reported.
Talking to reporters after attending a ceremony at the Dow University of Health Sciences’ (DUHS) Ojha Campus, Bhutto-Zardari was quite upfront with his views, even criticising leaders from the ruling coalition who were constantly discussing the army chief’s appointment in the public domain and on national media, Dawn reported.
“It’s so unfortunate that for a quite long time, this appointment of COAS is being discussed,” he said to a question about the recent remarks of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “consultation” over the choice of the new chief.
“We are witnessing totally unnecessary politics on this subject. Whether these people are in the ruling parties or in the opposition, we should not do this. We should keep our national interest as our priority. His (Imran Khan) politics actually revolve around this issue (COAS appointment), and let me say that until our politics don’t come out of this subject, our democracy will not get stronger and we won’t grow as a nation.”
He reiterated that any decision on these lines would reflect the government’s resolve to stick with the Constitution, Dawn reported.
Imran takes a step back
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the party has taken a step back on the issue of the army chief’s appointment, media reports said.
The former Premier made the comments while in conversation with senior journalists at his residence in Lahore, the Express Tribune reported.
He also said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wants an army chief of his choice to be appointed, “who will take care of his cases”.
He added that no army chief will ever go against the institution, state or the people, Express Tribune reported.
Regarding the allegations in the Toshakhana case – after a Dubai-based businessperson claimed in an interview to a private TV channel that he had bought some of the state’s gifts from Farah Gogi and Shahzad Akbar, the deposed Prime Minister said that he will file a case against the relevant persons in Dubai, London, and Pakistan.
Imran Khan also said that the gifts sold in the Toshakhana case were sold in Islamabad, adding that receipts and dates were in the government’s treasury and that the case will be over once evidence is presented, Express Tribune reported.
Talking about relations with the US, the PTI Chairman said that he does not want a fight with the US and wants positive and better relations.
He reiterated that his statement on the “foreign conspiracy narrative” was misrepresented.
He also maintained that a country that does not have rule of law will never progress, adding that only implementation of rule of law could make a nation ‘free’.
About talks with the government, the PTI chief said that the party was being approached for negotiations, but “we have asked them to announce the date of elections”.
One person is injured in the incident in Bhojpur District..reports Asian Lite News
One person was injured after two explosions occurred in Nepal ahead of the General election which is slated to take place on Sunday.
With 72 hours left for the polling day, the Dolakha and Bhojpur District of the Himalayan Nation recorded the explosion which the Police claim to be caused by explosives.
One person is injured in the incident in Bhojpur District.
“We are investigating. We got the information that there was an explosion at a garbage site,” Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dolakha, Ganga Paudel confirmed ANI over the phone.
Likewise, a bomb exploded near the election campaign event due to be attended by CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday.
As per the Police, the bomb carried by a person exploded near the election campaign venue at Tiwari Bhanjyang in Bhojpur, a venue where Prachanda was participating to address an election rally.
SP Navinraj Rai of Province 1 Police Office informed that the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained.
No casualty has been reported in the incident.
“We got the report about the incident, a person has been taken into custody in connection with the incident, and further investigation is going on,” SP Rai said.
Prachanda reached Bhojpur on Wednesday while participating in programs held at various places in Province 1.
Nepal on Sunday will be electing new members for its House of Representatives as well as the province assemblies. The silence period for the election is set to start past midnight on Thursday. (ANI)
Movie Joyland, based on love story revolves around a middle class youth and a transgender starlet, was all set to release across Pakistan on 18 November, 2022. But, on 11 November an order was issued from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan which clearly stated that censor board gave a green signal to the film earlier but now they have revised their decision
The government of Pakistan has imposed a ban on the film Joyland backed by Khoosat Films, Pakistan’s submission to the Oscars. The film was all set to release across Pakistan on 18 November 2022. But, on 11 November an order was issued from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Pakistan which clearly stated that the censor board gave a green signal to the film earlier but now they have revised their decision. Supposedly, the censor board has been receiving complaints that the film contains ‘highly objectionable content and repugnant material’; therefore, the board has imposed a ban on the nationwide release of Joyland.
The film is set in Lahore and revolves around the story of the youngest son of a middle-class patriarchal Rana family, who joins theatre and falls in love with a Transgender starlet. His love story elucidates the desires and secrets of the entire Rana family.
According to a notification of the Ministry, “Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable content which do not conform with the social norms, ethical values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979.”
Interestingly, this is not the first time or the first movie to get banned in Pakistan on the pretext of ‘objectionable content or repugnant material.’ As far as Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, of Khoosat Films is considered, his another movie ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ was banned in Pakistan for similar reasons in 2020.
The first movie to be banned in Pakistan was Jago Hua Savera(1950), a drama film directed by A. J. Kardar based on the struggles of a poor fishing village in former East Pakistan. Just days before the premiere, the Government of Pakistan halted the release. It was a joint production of East & West Pakistan.[1] So far 21 such movies have been banned including Among the Believers (2019);The Blood of Hussain (1980); Aurat Raj (1979); Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of A Serial Killer (2019) etc.
It is worthy to note that, in May, 2022, Joyland made history when it became the first Pakistani feature film to enter the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It has also won two awards: Un Certain Regard Jury Prize; Queer Palm (for best LGBT, queer or feminist-themed movie). The national census of Pakistan 2017, estimated the number of transgender citizens in the country to be around 10,000, but Human Rights groups have claimed the figure to be more than 300,000 out of 220 million people of the country.
However, once the film gathered international recognition, it was almost certain that Pakistan’s Oscars Selection Committee would pick it as the formal entry for Oscars 2023, which it did. The next step was its release in Pakistani cinemas. Two months later, on 17th August, the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) issued the necessary censor certificate. From 18th November the film was (supposed) to be screened in Pakistani cinemas.
Unfortunately, on 12th November, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq Ahmed tweeted a letter initiated by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that deemed the previously certified film ‘uncertified.’ Remarkably, this letter shared by Ahmed raises two significant questions: first of all, it cites complaints that were received following the ‘release of the film’ whereas the film is in fact scheduled to release in Pakistan on November 18. Who saw the film apart from the censor boards and raised the complaints has not been clarified. Secondly, after the 18th amendment the CBFC’s jurisdiction has been limited to ICT (Islamabad Capital Territory), cantonment areas across the country and provinces that have not formed their own boards yet, i.e. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
However, there is an online storm in Twitter against the ban. Many Twitter users expressed anger and questioned the government for halting the release of the film. One shared, “Why was the censor board’s approval of Joyland, August 17, 2022, reversed a week before release? Why were complaints by people who have not seen the film accepted? Is violence in films approved by the censor in line with our ‘moral standards?” One user spoke about the relatability of the film and wrote, “Joyland is a film about a family that lives in Gawalmandi, Lahore…Our Lahore. It is a film about human beings that exist around us in Pakistan…Our Pakistanis. It was filmed here – across real locations, with real people.”
In Pakistan, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 promises citizens their right to self-identify as male, female or a blend of both genders, and to have their identity registered on all official documents, together with passports, National Identification Cards, driving licenses and educational certificates. Nevertheless, the Act was passed by the Parliament in May 2018, and new debates on social media resurfaced in the month of September 2022, with critics opposing a specific clause that stipulates that “a transgender person shall have a right to be recognized as per his or her self-perceived gender identity.”
Clerics have condemned this clause, causing Senator Mushtaq from Jamaat-e-Islami, to file a petition in the Federal Shariat Court. This court is separate from civil courts and has the authority to examine whether certain laws comply with Islam.
Homosexuality in Pakistan is indeed an “open secret” in which it is deeply pervasive, yet the entire country deliberately turns a blind eye to its existence. The state and society of Pakistan perpetually remain in denial of recognizing the presence of its LGBTQ+ populace, not only has such denial upheld the criminalization of homosexuality but also continues to police LGBTQ+ identities within an obsolete framework.
Pakistan as a religious country perpetrates state-sponsored violence against various minorities and continues to torture the LGBT+ people at large. According to a range of LGBT+ NGOs and activists, society generally avoids transgender women, ‘eunuchs’, and intersex persons jointly referred to as hijras, who often live together in slum communities and subsist by begging and dancing at carnivals and weddings while others rely on prostitution. Property owners and local authorities often deprived them of the right to buy & rent properties. Violence and discrimination continued against LGBT+ people with impunity as police generally refused to take action.
Moreover, those who join khawajasira culture are more vulnerable because usually they end up being involved in begging, wedding dancing, and sex work.
Undoubtedly, Pakistan as an extremist state is not only putting a substantial curb on the medium of cinema but also denying and strangulating the LGBT+ community within its society. As the country and its people are not open to liberal and secular concepts of the 21st century, aggression and oppression of the queers are adding a new approach to the story of perpetual cruelty as practised in Pakistan.
This G20 became special as India officially received the presidency of the G20 Summit and will assume office from 1st December 2022 for a one-year period…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India’s G20 presidency will be ” inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented.”
While giving his address in the closing ceremony of G20 Summit, PM Modi said, “India’s G20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented. In the next year, it will be our endeavour that G20 works as a global prime mover to give impetus to collective action.”
“The sense of ownership over natural resources is giving rise to conflict today and has become the main cause of the plight of the environment. For the safe future of the planet, the sense of trusteeship is the solution. LiFE i.e. ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ campaign can make a big contribution to this. Its purpose is to make sustainable lifestyles a mass movement,” he added.
This G20 became special as India officially received the presidency of the G20 Summit and will assume office from 1st December 2022 for a one-year period.
Talking further about India’s presidency of the G20 summit, PM Modi said that the country is taking charge of the G-20 at a time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices, and the long-term ill effects of the pandemic. And at that time “world is looking at the G-20 with hope,” he added.
In the closing ceremony, Prime Minister said that the member countries have to extend the benefits of development to all human beings with compassion and solidarity. He also said that without women, global development is not possible.
“We have to maintain priority on women-led development even in our G-20 agenda. Without peace and security, our future generations will not be able to take advantage of economic growth or technological innovation,” PM Modi said.
“The G-20 has to convey a strong message in favour of peace and harmony. All these priorities are fully embodied in the theme of India’s G-20 Chairmanship – “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he added.
PM Modi started his speech with a congratulatory message for the Indonesian President Joko Widodo. While lauding Indonesia’s President, PM Modi said that he has given efficient leadership to the G-20 even in these difficult times.
He also said that India will strive to take forward Indonesia’s commendable initiatives during its G-20 Presidency.
“It is a proud occasion for every Indian to assume the G-20 Presidency. We will organize G-20 meetings in different cities and states of our country. Our guests will get full experience of India’s amazing diversity, inclusive traditions, and cultural richness. We wish that all of you will participate in this unique celebration in India, the Mother of Democracy. Together, we will make the G-20, a catalyst for global change,” Pm Modi said.
At the closing ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially handed over the G20 Presidency to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
The 120 elected lawmakers were sworn-in at a session of the parliament, or Knesset, on Tuesday hosted by President Isaac Herzog…reports Asian Lite News
Israel’s new parliament has sworn in after the right-wing bloc won the elections two weeks ago.
The 120 elected lawmakers were sworn-in at a session of the parliament, or Knesset, on Tuesday hosted by President Isaac Herzog, Xinhua news agency reported.
During the session, Herzog urged unity and understanding among lawmakers, as Israelis “are exhausted from the infighting and the fallout” after going through five elections in nearly four years.
יש רבים-רבים שמברכים על תוצאות הבחירות – אבל יש גם מי שמשמיעים נבואות-זעם ומפחידים את הציבור. זאת לא הפעם הראשונה שדברים כאלה מושמעים. אמרו את זה על בגין, אמרו את זה גם עליי, זה לא היה נכון אז וזה לא נכון גם היום. pic.twitter.com/zxV6lIWVZn
He called on the lawmakers to take “the responsibility of weaning us off this addiction to never-ending conflicts,” and to protect the rights of the minorities, who fear “their needs will not be on the agenda.”
The election victory by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and three ultra-nationalist parties with anti-Arab stand has aroused concerns about widening political rift in the country.
Netanyahu, supported by 64 seats of the 120-seat Knesset, is expected to head the next government. On Sunday, Herzog tasked him with forming a coalition government.
Under Israeli law, Netanyahu is required to present a coalition government before a mid-December deadline or the president would appoint another lawmaker to form a government.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks at a press conference in Tehran. (Iranian Presidential Website/Handout via Xinhua)
The Iranian President also lauded what he called the “resistance” of the Venezuelan people against the pressures of the US…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that resistance is the only way to confront the “greed” of the West.
Raisi made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting high-ranking economic delegation from Venezuela on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Iranian presidential website.
Expressing his satisfaction with the progress of Tehran-Caracas relations in varied areas, he said that Iran’s economic, scientific and energy capacities can benefit bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other nations.
The Iranian President also lauded what he called the “resistance” of the Venezuelan people against the pressures of the US.
“Americans thought they could stop the nations with threats and sanctions, but the steadfastness of the independent nations forced them to retreat and once again proved that resistance and cooperation is the only way to confront the greed of the West,” Raisi said.
For his part, Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Blazquez, head of the Venezuelan economic delegation, presented a report on the holding of the Joint Economic Commission between Iran and Venezuela after an eight-year break.
“In the negotiations, we have reached good agreements to expand cooperation in the fields of transportation, agriculture, energy and technology,” he said.
Stuck in poverty, Musahars see no hope in Nepal polls .(photo:IN)
As elections to federal parliament and provincial assemblies are taking place next week, candidates are reaching out to people from the Musahar community in the province…reports Santosh Ghimire
Subodh Majhi, a resident of Basahiya village of Nepal’s Janakpur, is a daily wage worker. He listens to the news daily keenly following the federal parliament and provincial assembly elections slated for November 20. However, he and his wife are not eager to cast their ballots this time.
“Every day our village is flooded by party leaders and cadres seeking votes almost every day. We get irritated seeing them at our doorsteps. What did we get by taking part in past elections? Nothing! We know nobody cares about us after elections and their electoral pledges make no difference to our day-to-day life,” Majhi, who comes from the local Musahar community, told India Narrative.
Landlessness
Majhi’s main grouse is dispossession of land. He says that his community is forced to live in thatched huts built on land of others and that needs to be addressed by the state as a matter of urgency.
“We don’t have brick houses of our own. How long shall we live in thatched huts built on land of others? When elections come, party leaders come and assure us that they will build houses for us. But, nothing happened over the decades. Regrettably, we are simply used by various political parties as their vote bank,” Majhi grumbled.
As elections to federal parliament and provincial assemblies are taking place next week, candidates are reaching out to people from the Musahar community in the province.
Rallies and campaigns can be seen across Madhes province ahead of the crucial elections. The country is gearing up for federal and provincial elections for a second time after promulgation of the first federal republican constitution in 2015 despite opposition from the Madhesi population. The first such elections happened in 2017 in which Madhes-centric parties fared badly even in this region.
Thousands of people from the deprived Musahar community, who live in and around Janakpur on government land, share similar feelings. However, political parties have been making their plights just an election agenda, leaving them deeply hurt.
“After a gap of five years, leaders are again at our doorsteps assuring us of helping to build houses permanently. How can we trust them?” Tapeshwar Maji, 41, from the same village told India Narrative. He blames both the Kathmandu-centric and regional Madhes-centric parties for their ongoing plights.
“Winter is just 15 days away. Some people in our community don’t even have thatched huts. They will have to pass through a tough time due to the cold wave. Who will listen to us?” he questioned.
Who are the Musahar?
Musahar is one of the marginalized dalit communities in Madhes, which make up 17 per cent of the province’s total population, according to various studies. Musahar community is scattered in various districts of this province including Dhanusha, Mahottari and Siraha. Hence, they can make a huge impact in election outcomes, local observers said.
“Dalits including Musahars have been a decisive factor in the outcomes of every election in Madhes. Regrettably, the issue of their well-being is not on the priority list of both the mainstream and Madhes-centric parties. Every time dalits are being used just as vote bank,” Roshan Janakpuri, an analyst in Janakpur, told India Narrative on Sunday.
Madhes Province borders India and shares close socio-cultural affinities with the neighbouring country. There are eight districts in the province, with 32 federal parliamentary seats under the first-past-the-post category. There are 107 seats in the provincial assembly.
Dalit factor
Dalits, who are basically agricultural daily wage labour, are also under-represented politically in Madhes province. There are very few candidates from the dalit communities in federal parliament and provincial assembly elections under the first-past-the-post category, making a mockery of major political parties’ commitment to inclusion, according to observers.
“The Madhes-centric parties, who once championed the agenda of federalism and inclusiveness, are struggling hard to ensure seats in the federal and provincial assemblies through coming elections. They along with major parties don’t care about political representation of dalit communities at all,” analyst Janakpuri said.
In his opinion, Madhes-centric parties such as Janata Samajbadi Party and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party are going to fare poorly in the polls as they lack trust of Madhesi population including Musahars.
Since the Madhes uprising in 2008, Madhes-centric parties are dominant political force in the province.
But their credibility now is on line. In the past five years, two separate schemes were launched by the Federal and Provincial governments targeting to dalit communities including Musahars. But these two programmes could not be launched in Basahiya village largely due to the apathy of mainstream and regional parties towards Musahars, media reports say.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
