UP riots: Minister says people die in palaces too

Lucknow, Jan 12: The latest insensitive remark on deaths in relief camps of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli comes from state sports minister Narad Rai who said on Saturday that death occurs everywhere, even in palaces. "Death of children, adults or elderly is inevitable. It isn't necessary that only those living in camps are dying. People die in palaces too. It isn't that children in our homes don't die. Deaths occur everywhere," Rai said.

“Marna shashwat hai...bachhe, burhe, jawan sabhi marte hain” (death is perpetuity...children, old and young-all die one day), remarked Minister for Sports Narad Rai, when queried about the deaths of children from cold at the relief camps at Muzaffarnagar.

Some days back the Akhilesh Yadav government had accepted that 34 children living in relief camps have died in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. The admission of deaths by the state government was based on a report by a high-level official panel formed by it to probe the fatalities in relief camps.

Officials said that these deaths took place between September 7 and December 20, when winter chill set in. While 12 children died in the camps, the remaining 22 died in hospitals or nursing homes where they were taken for medical care.

Narad Rai justified his statement, saying "my intention was not to hurt the feelings of the victims of riot relief camps. I reiterate that best possible efforts were made by the UP government in terms of shelter, clothing and food for the victims staying in the relief camps."

Minister for geology and mines, Gayatri Prasad Prajapati had said on Friday that the Muzaffarnagar riot issues were not as serious or big as being made out in the media. The minister's comment came during an interaction with the media in Jalaun on Friday.

Opposition parties are already cornering the Akhilesh government over poor handling of riot victims at relief camps in Muzaffarnagar. SP government in UP has been in the eye of a storm for neglecting riot victims and focusing on annual celebrations held at his native village Saifai in Etawah. Allegations are that the government had spent crores of rupees to host the Saifai Mahotsava at the cost of neglecting riot victims.

On December 27, principal secretary (home) AK Gupta invited criticism from various quarters, while forcing CM to intervene on the official's antics. "Nobody dies of the cold; if people did, nobody would survive in Siberia," said AK Gupta, one of the most senior bureaucrats in the state government. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said hours later, "In this age of television and cameras, people from our party and government should choose their words carefully so they don't hurt anyone's feelings."

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A Tragic End—Mortal Remains of Entrepreneur Mumtaz Ali Found In River

News Network

October 7,2024

Mangaluru, Oct 7: In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for Mumtaz Ali, chairman of Misbah Group of Educational Institutions, ended with the discovery of his mortal remains in the Phalguni river near Kulur. The somber discovery came after an exhaustive search, leaving a community in shock and sorrow.

He is the younger brother of former MLA Mohuiddin Bawa and former MLC B M Farookh.

The incident has taken a deeply distressing turn with the filing of an FIR against six individuals, including a woman, who are accused of pushing Ali to a tragic end.

The accused allegedly blackmailed Ali, fabricating a story about his involvement in an illicit relationship with the woman. Reports suggest that they extorted Rs 50 lakh from Ali and were unrelenting, demanding an additional Rs 50 lakh from him, casting a shadow over his final days.

The complaint, lodged by Ali’s grieving brother, accuses these individuals of driving him to despair through relentless blackmail and false accusations, ultimately leading him to take the tragic step.

In the early hours of Sunday, Ali left his home at 3 am, heading towards Suratkal, perhaps seeking some solace. A minor accident occurred when his car collided with a private bus near MCF. Despite the mishap, he offered a heartfelt apology to the bus driver and conductor—a gesture that now echoes with the pain of his unspoken struggles. After the collision, Ali made a U-turn near Panambur circle, driving back towards Kulur bridge, where his journey came to a sorrowful end.

Ali’s last moments hold an even deeper sadness, as he left behind a voice message in Byari, naming an individual who had been tormenting him mentally. Sent to his daughter and a close friend, the message revealed the unbearable burden he was carrying, hinting at his final decision to end his suffering.

This tragic loss has left the community and his loved ones grappling with unanswered questions and a profound sense of grief. As the investigation unfolds, the memory of Mumtaz Ali lingers, a reminder of the silent battles that too often go unseen.

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