All posts tagged: U.P

Assault on human dignity, says Rahul Gandhi on incident of bonded labour in U.P.

Assault on human dignity, says Rahul Gandhi on incident of bonded labour in U.P.

Published by Parlour News

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi . File. | Photo Credit: PTI Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) reacted sharply over the alleged incident of forced bonded labour in Muzaffarnagar describing the incident as an assault on human dignity adding as jobs disappear due to the collapsed economy most vulnerable sections are falling prey to such exploitation.  “The case of bonded labour of workers in Muzaffarnagar is very shocking. In addition to being forced to work without pay, workers were bitten by dogs, speared, whipped, and fed cattle feed. This is an assault on human dignity – the victims deserve justice and rehabilitation, and the perpetrators deserve the harshest punishment,” wrote Mr. Gandhi, on X.  He added, “It is also important for us to ask what compulsions force workers into such dangerous situations. As jobs disappear, incomes stagnate, and protections for the most vulnerable, such as MGNREGA and labor laws, are weakened, desperation grows. Those with no other options or protections become easy prey for such exploitation. This isn’t a typical criminal incident …

Samajwadi Party thrashes U.P. Minister Rajbhar’s claims on split in party

Samajwadi Party thrashes U.P. Minister Rajbhar’s claims on split in party

Published by Parlour News

A file image of Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav. | Photo Credit: ANI Minister in Uttar Pradesh government Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is headed for a major split, with a large number of leaders willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “There will be a major split in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The entire state of Uttar Pradesh knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and the Gomti River Front scam is. The SP is worried as the noose tightens. Leave aside Maharashtra and Bengal, the entire SP is ready to join BJP,” wrote the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, on X. #WATCH | Lucknow | On UP Minister OP Rajbhar’s statement, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav says, “Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana.” pic.twitter.com/HesS9KT3mn — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 17, 2026 The Samajwadi Party ridiculed the statement and …

U.P. Police Constable Exam: When hope and desperation collide

U.P. Police Constable Exam: When hope and desperation collide

Published by Parlour News

Vishal Maurya boarded the Ganga Sutlej Express at Akbarpur Junction in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) on June 8. The 22-year-old was headed to Lucknow, 194 kilometres away by rail. Across the seven-hour journey, what played in Maurya’s head on loop was a plea. All he wanted was to pass the constable-rank examination to be held on June 10 in Uttar Pradesh’s capital. Maurya is from Ghughurpatti in Ambedkar Nagar district, and passed out of school four years ago. If he gets through the test, he hopes to change the lives of his parents and lift generations of disadvantages off their shoulders. His parents work as agricultural labourers in their village, and don’t own land. “When they find work, they earn ₹300. I aspire to change their fortunes. I studied diligently for the exam, inspired by my online teacher who shares motivational stories of youths from similar backgrounds who have succeeded in becoming constables,” Maurya said. He added that for generations they had “lived a life of inferiority”. This was an opportunity “for people like us to change our lives”. Maurya is a …

Encounter actions in U.P. undermining criminal justice system, making society barbaric, says former U.P. top police officials

Encounter actions in U.P. undermining criminal justice system, making society barbaric, says former U.P. top police officials

Published by Parlour News

Amid the debate over the encounters in Uttar Pradesh, after the State government released figures of such operations, retired Director General of Police rank officials from U.P. on Saturday (June 6, 2026) said through this policy the whole society is “made barbaric”, adversely affecting the growth of the democratic system, adding that these encounter actions fundamentally undermine the criminal justice system and foster a culture of lawlessness.   “Our society has unfortunately given social recognition to such acts of encounters. During the V.P. Singh regime, a Maro Maro [hit hit] campaign was launched in early 1980s. But, for the first time, the State in the last nine years under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule has made encounters an instrument of controlling crime. In a Ghaziabad village, the mother of the victim demanded the accused body must be shown to the family after his encounter. People are accepting encounters as legal, moral acts, which in reality is a barbaric medieval act. Instant justice through encounter, is an extrajudicial killing, a black chapter for the society. Through the …

Uproar in U.P. over 10% fuel surcharge on electricity bills

Uproar in U.P. over 10% fuel surcharge on electricity bills

Published by Parlour News

In a letter dated May 29, Pankaj Saxena, Chief Engineer of the Regulatory Affairs Unit (RAU), informed that the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued new guidelines for electricity distribution under the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) framework. | Photo Credit: Reuters The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) on Saturday (May 30, 2026) announced a 10% surcharge in electricity bills, triggering an uproar in the State. The “fuel and power purchase adjustment surcharge”, linked to the transmission charges, will be effective in the June billing cycle, requiring consumers to pay an additional 10% based on their electricity consumption. In a letter dated May 29, Pankaj Saxena, Chief Engineer of the Regulatory Affairs Unit (RAU), informed that the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued new guidelines for electricity distribution under the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) framework. He indicated that the fuel surcharge would be calculated starting from March 2026, with the additional costs applied in June. “Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPAS) calculated for the month of March, 2026 as per regulation is …

Strict vigil across U.P. on Bakrid, police conduct flag march, foot patrols in sensitive districts

Strict vigil across U.P. on Bakrid, police conduct flag march, foot patrols in sensitive districts

Published by Parlour News

Police personnel conduct a flag march for security arrangements on the eve of Bakrid (Id al-Adha) festival, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday (May 27, 2026). | Photo Credit: PTI Administration in several districts of Uttar Pradesh maintaining strict vigil on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) ahead of Bakrid (Eid-ul-Adha), conducting foot patrols and flag marches in sensitive areas across the State, including Sambhal district, while appealing to the public to maintain peace and communal harmony. Special security arrangements are likely to be put in place in districts such as Sambhal, Meerut, Saharanpur, Rampur, Moradabad, Aligarh, Bareilly, Bahraich, Varanasi and Ayodhya. These include deployment of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF), along with CCTV surveillance. Senior officials reviewed security arrangements and issued necessary directions to police personnel. “Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Range Moradabad held a review meeting with all the SSP/SP, Additional SP, Circle Officers and in-charge local intelligence unit of the region through video conferencing regarding the preparations for Eid-ul-Adha and gave necessary guidelines to the concerned,” read an official statement …

Focus on infrastructure, agricultural productivity, developing clusters for export: U.P. State Transformation Commission CEO

Focus on infrastructure, agricultural productivity, developing clusters for export: U.P. State Transformation Commission CEO

Published by Parlour News

Farmers process harvested wheat using combine harvester in a field in Prayagraj. File | Photo Credit: PTI Uttar Pradesh is focusing on infrastructure development, agricultural productivity, developing dedicated clusters for export, bringing two-three big projects in each low-income district of Eastern U.P. and Bundelkhand along with export of agricultural commodities and strengthening human capital, said Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Transformation Commission, Uttar Pradesh to The Hindu. “With the present Chief Minister, the issue of law and order has been resolved firmly. It generated confidence among investors, we seeing unprecedented investment intends which are also materialising on the ground across the State in the last 8-9 years. Presently we are focusing high on infrastructure development. We recently got inaugurated Ganga expressway and Noida International Airport at Jewar, we are eyeing to develop Jewar airport as a cargo hub for export of agricultural and horticulture items. In coming few weeks, you will see foundation lying ceremony of 4-5 mega infrastructure projects like expressway. Infrastructure and human resource, these are two strengths we …

Supreme Court notice on plea that U.P. Police played ‘agent provocateur’ in Noida workers’ violence

Supreme Court notice on plea that U.P. Police played ‘agent provocateur’ in Noida workers’ violence

Published by Parlour News

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) decided to examine a petition alleging that the State of Uttar Pradesh weaponised its police machinery to infiltrate and crush a legitimate labour agitation in Noida. | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) decided to examine a petition alleging that the State of Uttar Pradesh weaponised its police machinery to infiltrate and crush a legitimate labour agitation in Noida in order to shield corporate entities indulging in “rampant wage theft”. A Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, the State Police, and the Union government for their response on a petition filed by Shakambhari, whose 60-year-old activist husband, Satyam Verma, was arraigned in three different First Information Reports (FIRs), and slapped with the National Security Act (NSA) to frustrate his chances of getting bail. “The State has weaponised its police machinery to arbitrarily crush a legitimate labour agitation in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, shielding corporate entities from liability for rampant wage theft, and maliciously criminalising the …

Insensitivity and lack of concern, alleges Congress on Center’s silence over U.P. storm deaths

Insensitivity and lack of concern, alleges Congress on Center’s silence over U.P. storm deaths

Published by Parlour News

Uttar Pradesh Congress State president Ajay Rai. File. | Photo Credit: ANI Amid the Uttar Pradesh Government’s directive for Ministers in charge of all districts to meet with affected families impacted by heavy rainfall and storms and assess the situation on the ground, the Opposition Congress on Friday (May 15, 2026) demanded intervention on a war footing. They added that the Union Government had failed to react appropriately to the crisis, especially at a time when even Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed condolences to India following the deaths of 111 people and widespread destruction across several districts in Uttar Pradesh. “I failed to find any measures by the Union Government to support the state in the time of crisis. At least 111 deaths are a huge number by any yardstick. No official statement has come from top functionaries at the centre. The magnitude of crisis can be realised through the statement by the Russian president who offered condolences, this shows insensitivity and lack of concern by Union government functionaries towards common people of U.P.,” said …

Encounter actions in U.P. undermining criminal justice system, making society barbaric, says former U.P. top police officials

U.P. Minister: prepaid smart meters tobe discontinued with immediate effect

Published by Parlour News

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to discontinue the smart prepaid electricity meter system across the State and convert the already-installed devices to postpaid with immediate effect, Energy Minister A.K. Sharma said on Friday. The move comes amid growing protests in several districts over alleged excess billing and irregularities linked to smart prepaid meters installed under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). “Consumers will receive bills after electricity consumption. The bill for electricity consumed in May 2026 will be issued in June 2026 under the postpaid system,” said an official statement. Mr. Sharma said, “Prioritising the convenience of electricity consumers, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to discontinue the smart prepaid meter system operating in the State and shift all smart meters to postpaid mode. Formal orders have already been issued. The new arrangement, which will be implemented in Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Dakshinanchal, and Pashchimanchal electricity distribution corporations as well as KESCO Kanpur, is expected to provide major relief to consumers.” He said postpaid bills would be issued by the 10th of every month and consumers will receive billing information through SMS and WhatsApp. “In …