Mumbai, Sep 29: In a bid to signal a unified front against the Election Commission of India (ECI), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday addressed a joint press conference to unveil the blueprint for a public protest march scheduled for October 4.

The demonstration is directed against the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the body of functioning as an “extension of the ruling party” at the Centre and deceiving voters through the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Outlining the logistics and roadmap for the October 4 rally, Raj Thackeray announced that the protest is structured as a non-partisan movement representing the collective voice of citizens.

Protesters will assemble at 10:00 a.m. at the Richardson & Cruddas premises in Byculla. The march will move from Byculla toward Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.. The march will terminate near the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters where a stage will be set up to convert the rally into a public meeting.

“We have been consistently raising concerns over EVM manipulation and electoral malpractices for years. Back in 2017–18, I met several political leaders regarding these issues. This march stands against the humiliation of voters and the subversion of our electoral integrity. Whatever we have to say, we will deliver directly from the stage on October 4,” Raj Thackeray stated.

Emphasising that the demonstration transcends individual party politics, the Thackeray cousin brothers laid down strict guidelines for participants.

They said neither the MNS nor Shiv Sena (UBT) will carry party flags or banners. All marchers will carry exclusively the Indian National Flag to underscore the fight for democracy and the Constitution.

Rather than sending formal letters, the leadership will personally place phone calls to all Opposition parties, inviting them to join the movement, said Raj Thackeray adding that leaders from ruling parties who oppose the poll panel’s functioning are also welcome on stage.

Responding to allegations from the BJP which claimed that the Opposition is manufacturing “fabricated stories” regarding CEC Gyanesh Kumar to blame the poll panel for political failures — Raj Thackeray dismissed the ruling party’s defence with a sharp Marathi idiom. “If our protest is directed strictly at the Election Commission, why is the BJP feeling the heat? As the Marathi saying goes, ‘Khai tyala khavkhave (guilty conscience needs no accuser)’,” he said.

Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray said that there is no competition on who organises the protest march against the CEC and the malfunctioning of the poll panel. They were replying to a question on a nationwide protest organised by the Congress party on the issue.

Raj Thackeray added that if residents of a housing society hold such a protest, it is welcome.

The joint call for action follows a high-level meeting with Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam regarding irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Over the weekend, Raj Thackeray took to social media platform X to attack the poll panel, alleging that under CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the ECI has acted like a “branch office” of the ruling establishment to perpetrate massive voter fraud.

The upcoming October 4 demonstration marks a significant reunion of the Thackeray brothers on a shared political stage, setting the stage for a major political confrontation in Mumbai ahead of key electoral battles.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray announced his full support for the agitation by Cockroach Janata Party on October 2 in Mumbai against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

New Delhi, Sep 29: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging the systematic misuse and exploitation of young children, aged between 3 and 12 years, for creating and circulating social media content through an Instagram handle reportedly operated from the Marchra area of Etah district in Uttar Pradesh.

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah; the District Magistrate, Etah; the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); and the Managing Director and Country Head of Meta India, directing them to submit their respective Action Taken Reports (ATR) within two weeks.

The action was initiated on a complaint filed by Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, alleging that minor children, including those from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, were being made to appear in videos containing abusive, derogatory and politically charged expressions.

The complaint alleged that the children were scripted, tutored and prompted to repeat such expressions, following which the videos were uploaded and circulated publicly for digital reach and engagement.

The NHRC observed that the allegations, if established, disclose serious issues concerning the care, protection and dignity of children and their alleged use by adults for the creation, publication and amplification of digital content.

The NHRC directed the Etah SSP to immediately verify the allegations and identify the children appearing in the videos and, wherever warranted, produce them before the competent Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for assessment of their care, protection, safety and well-being.

It also directed that necessary counselling and psychosocial support be provided to the children through the CWC or District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), while strictly protecting their identity and privacy.

The police have been further directed to ascertain the identity of persons operating or controlling the social media handle, recording or creating the videos, scripting or prompting the children, uploading or circulating the content, or otherwise facilitating or benefiting from the activity.

The NHRC said the role, if any, of parents or guardians, tuition or coaching operators and other adults should also be examined.

The apex human rights body directed that the entire digital material be examined and, if commission of any cognisable offence is disclosed, an FIR be registered and investigation undertaken against all persons or entities responsible, including those creating, recording, uploading, circulating or facilitating the content, as well as the concerned social media platform or an intermediary wherever its role or liability is disclosed.

The investigation may involve applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and other applicable laws, the NHRC said.

The SSP was also directed to ensure the immediate preservation and lawful collection of relevant videos, account information, upload records and other digital evidence so that deletion or alteration of online material does not prejudice the investigation.

The District Magistrate has been directed to ensure that the children identified in connection with the alleged content are promptly produced before the CWC, wherever required, and that their safety, care and psychological well-being are assessed.

The DCPU has also been directed to facilitate counselling and psychosocial support and assess the circumstances in which the children were allegedly made to participate in such content.

The NHRC has separately directed Meta India to examine the Instagram handle and material depicting the minor children and submit a report explaining how such content involving repeated use of young children was permitted to be uploaded, repeatedly circulated and remain accessible on the platform.

Meta has also been asked to disclose whether the account or content generated any monetisation, commercial benefit, advertising revenue or other platform-based financial benefit, directly or indirectly.

The social media platform has further been directed to state the action taken to restrict or remove content found violative of applicable law or child-safety policies, while preserving relevant account and content data for lawful investigation.

It has also been asked to preserve and, upon lawful request, furnish relevant account registration particulars, login or access records, IP or device information, upload records and other available digital evidence to the investigating agency.

The NHRC has directed MeitY to examine how children, particularly those stated by the complainant to be from socially and economically vulnerable backgrounds, were reportedly being repeatedly used in such content and how the platform permitted its continued hosting, circulation and amplification.

MeitY has also been asked to examine the platform’s due diligence, child safety and grievance redressal mechanisms and take appropriate action in accordance with law.

The NHRC made it clear that the children appearing in the alleged material are to be treated primarily as children requiring protection and appropriate assessment, and that the investigation should focus on identifying the adults or persons responsible for scripting, creating, uploading, controlling or commercially exploiting such content.

The NHRC also stressed that the identity, dignity and privacy of the children should be protected at every stage of the proceedings.

The SSP, Etah, and the Managing Director and Country Head of Meta India have been directed to submit their respective ATRs, along with supporting documents, within two weeks of receipt of the notice.

Patna, Sep 29: The ongoing dispute between JD(U) MLA Anant Singh and party MLC Neeraj Kumar has reached the party’s top leadership, with JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and Minister Shrawon Kumar meeting former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday.

After the meeting, both leaders said Nitish Kumar had been apprised of the details of the dispute.

They said the party would make a decision on the matter and share further details later, while maintaining that the immediate priority was to focus on the upcoming election.

The dispute has intensified after Anant Singh announced his support for Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh in the Patna Graduates constituency election.

Anant Singh has maintained that his differences with Neeraj Kumar are personal and do not represent any dispute within the JD(U).

He has also said he would campaign extensively for Anuj Kumar Singh and work to defeat Neeraj Kumar.

On Monday, Anant Singh held a press conference with Anuj Kumar Singh at his residence in Patna and reiterated his support for the Jan Suraaj candidate.

“I have never lost an election to date. Anuj Singh will also win. For me, the public is God; they will vote for us. Patna will be packed during Anuj Singh’s nomination filing—we have made massive preparations,” he said.

During the press conference, Anant Singh levelled several allegations against Neeraj Kumar.

He alleged that an AK-47 had been planted at his residence in the past and claimed that this had resulted in his arrest and imprisonment.

He further alleged that Neeraj Kumar had repeatedly worked to ensure his defeat in elections and claimed that former JD(U) leader R.C.P. Singh had helped Neeraj Kumar in the matter.

These allegations were made by Anant Singh and have not been independently established.

Anant Singh also said he was determined to defeat Neeraj Kumar in the upcoming election and claimed he would work to ensure that Neeraj Kumar lost his security deposit.

The exchange has added to the political friction between the two leaders ahead of the Patna Graduates constituency election.

Neeraj Kumar, the sitting MLC from the Patna Graduates constituency, is preparing to contest the election again, while Anant Singh has publicly thrown his support behind Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Kumar Singh.

The JD(U) leadership’s next step will determine how the party addresses the dispute between the two leaders as the election campaign gathers momentum.