The Observer
An IIJNM publication
Vol. 21, Issue 29
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Parties remain bitterly divided over controversial sedition law
Congress says the law is misused; BJP defends it By Team Observer
T
Only few can afford therapy in Bengaluru
dition law. “We need to speak up against the anti-nationals and miscreants, who speak against the prosperity of the country.” The Congress has a contrasting view. M.V. Rajeev Gowda, a spokesperson of the party, said: “Our 2019 manifesto calls for the
abolishment of the sedition law. There we argued that it is a colonial hangover, is widely misused and politicized and has no place in a free democratic country…. If you want to go after terrorists, there are other laws, like UAPA, that can address the issues. So,
basically, there is no need to keep this on the statute.” Gowda, a former Rajya Sabha member, added that scrapping the sedition law will not affect the Centre in any way. It will prevent misuse of the law to target political opponents and prevent free speech and protests, which are fundamental rights. Brijesh Kalappa, a Supreme Court advocate and Congress member, said it is unlikely the Centre would do away with the sedition law altogether. “If the government wants to put down anything scientific or crush dissent, they would need something, so they won’t do away with the law at all,” he said. However, he was unclear on what alterations will be made to the law. ►Continued on page 4
THE BIG BANYAN TREE COLLAPSES DUE TO HEAVY RAIN AND STORM
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News Briefs
Shiv Kumar Sharma, santoor maestro, dead
Santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma, a padma bhushan recepient, passed away at 84 in Mumbai on Tuesday due to cardiac arrest. He had kidney-related issues and was on dialysis for six months. He was one of India’s most well known classical musicians
Forces rescue Mahinda from his residence
Former Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family have been taken to safety by heavily armed soldiers after thousands of protesters breached the main gate. This is the worst episode of violence in the economic-crisis ridden country thus far.
Danish Siddiqui, 3 others win Pulitzer
Late photojournalist Danish Siddiqui of Reuters,along with Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit Dave, won the prestigious Pulitzer prize for feature photography for their coverage of India’s Covid-19 pandemic.
Cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ nears East Coast
A severe cyclonic storm, Asani, is over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is expected to move towards the north Andhra and Odisha coast, recurving thereafter. It is unlikely to make a landfall, and is expected to weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over coastal Odisha from this evening.
By Saumyangi Yadav
S
amiksha Prakash, 26, had been struggling with stress and anxiety issues when she decided to take up therapy sessions in Bengaluru. However, she was unaware about the fact that the cost of therapy would drill a hole in her pocket. “I earn around Rs 30,000 to Rs 32,000 per month,” said Prakash, “and therapy costs R. 2,500 to Rs 3,000 for one session. I cannot afford that every week, so I had to stop the sessions.” Prakash, who works with an IT company in Bengaluru, wishes more therapists were available in the public sector so that more people could afford therapy. “Any good therapist costs at least Rs 2,500 and you cannot even compromise when it comes to therapy… It is important to have a good rapport with the therapist, and that only comes with experienced professionals.” Increasing stress and workload has made therapy a necessity for many young professionals. ►Continued on page 4
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he Centre made an aboutturn on the sedition law on May 9, two days after it defended it in the Supreme Court. It said it will relook at it in keeping with PM Modi’s vision of reviewing colonial-era laws. Legal experts have mixed views and politicians are divided on party lines over Section 124A of the IPC, or the sedition law. M.G. Mahesh, a BJP spokesperson from Karnataka, informed The Observer that the party is in total support of the se-
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BJP leader Bagga’s arrest stayed
BJP leader, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga’s arrest has been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court until July 6, 2022. The investigation will continue during this period. Bagga’s statements will be recorded at his residence.
BharatPe board sacks Employees, files cases
The 400-year-old Big Banyan Tree, also known as Dodda Alada Mara, in Ramohalli village near Bengaluru, crashed due to a thunderstorm on Monday night. The tree was a popular tourist attraction and picnic
spot for Bengalureans. The tree, which covered an area of 3 acres, was one of its largest in the world. In recent years, it lost its popularity as it was overrun by monkeys | Credit: Reema Bansal
Ahead of its IPO, the BharatPe board has recommended several measures post a corporate governance review. This also includes the dismissal of several employees and vendors and filing criminal cases against them for misconduct.