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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state...

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state between 2021-2024.   When asked for his reactions, Fadnavis told media-persons in Nagpur that he had not read the letter, but the issue raised is important and he would reply to it. Fadnavis stated that the NCRB has also provided the reasons why the kids go ‘missing’, how they return and the period, ranging from 3 days to 18 months.   Dwelling on the sufficiency of the NCRB figures, he contended that they reflect only complaints formally registered by the police and thousands of cases may never be reported.   On the ‘rescue, return and reunion’ of such missing children, he pointed to the sheer psychological trauma they may have suffered and sought to know how such child-lifter networks continued to thrive openly and blatantly.   The MNS chief targeted what he claimed was the “state’s lack of proactive measures to identify and dismantle child-begging rackets” as many juveniles can be seen begging at railway stations, bus stands, traffic signals, often accompanied by adults with doubtful authenticity.   “If some woman claims to be the child’s relative or guardian, should the government not order a thorough probe? Is it inappropriate to consider even a DNA test in suspicious cases,” Raj Thackeray demanded.   Slamming the government and the Opposition, he lamented how both sides failed to prioritise such urgent social issues in the legislature where discussions centre around partisan sparring.   The letter also mentions attempts by the Centre to coordinate with states on the ‘missing or trafficked children’, regretting how political upmanships and symbolic debates prevent meaningful action on the ground.   The NCRB said that Maharashtra has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of ‘missing children’, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.   Simultaneously, experts, child rights NGOs and activists have warned about trafficking networks that exploit poverty, migration and weak law enforcement and low convictions, despite official rescue missions or rehab efforts.   In his appeal, Raj Thackeray called upon Fadnavis to take concrete, visible measures rather than discussions and conventions. “Maharashtra expects decisive steps from you, not speeches. Jai Maharashtra,” he signed off.     In October 2023,Sharad Pawar red-flagged ‘missing girls-women’ This is the second major social cause by a political leader, two years after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had red-flagged nearly 20,000 ‘missing women and girls’ from the state between Jan-May 2023.   In the present instance, Raj Thackeray said that “behind the statistics lies a far more disturbing reality involving organised, inter-state gangs that kidnap children, physically abuse them and force them into begging rings”.   “Little kids are assaulted, made to beg and shifted across states. Groups of children disappear suddenly, and the government appears unable, or unwilling, to grasp the seriousness of what is happening,” said Thackeray in a strong tone.

Are Hurried Preterm Delivery Reports Fake?

Updated: Jan 30

Questions are being raised over claims of Indian women desperately getting C-section operations done to meet Trump’s Feb 20 deadline.

C-section

Days after several media reports in India claimed that Indians residing in US are hurriedly planning C-section operated preterm deliveries to meet Trump’s deadline of birthright citizenship cancellation order deadline, sources residing in US anonymously told The Perfect Voice that these reports are fake. Sources believe that the situation has been highly exaggerated by media. Some reports claimed that an increasing number of Indian couples are getting preterm delivery executed through C-section operation in the US, before the birthright citizenship deadline on February 20. Several experts have refuted the claims stating that the US has strict laws in the health sector and that the C-section operations are extremely expensive, and also, it's completely illegal to conduct such operations in the US. Speaking exclusively to The Perfect Voice, Mumbai based Visa consultant Karan Gupta pointed out, “The average cost for a C section in the US is around $35,000 (higher is some states) and most of the Indians working on H1B visas would not prefer to incur this additional cost. With this said, there would still be some people who would opt for C sections so get their child US citizenship. It is most certainly illegal to do so and doctors could lose their license and end up in prison if they perform such operations.”


A New York based practicing Obstetrician anonymously said, “It is very risky, both for the mother and a baby. Why will someone take such a big risk? Besides, why will we risk our medical licenses for their citizenships? The said claim seems to be fake and I am not aware of any such instance in which such operations are being done.”


Another expecting mother anonymously explained, “I would rather come back to India, than get a C-Section done for citizenship for our child. Pre-birth is risky both for the mother and the child. Additionally, we cannot afford the cost of a C-section operation.”


Rumours were also in the air that new parents flocked to the passport offices to get registration of passports done hurriedly before February 20. While isolated such incidents were reported in the US, Karan Gupta has refuted the claimed intensity of the situation. Gupta said, “This claim seems highly exaggerated because when a child is born in the US, they are given a birth certificate from the hospital. There is no need to apply for a passport for the child immediately. The birth certificate is definite proof of US citizenship.”


“The US. recognizes birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. A child born in the U.S. is automatically a U.S. citizen, regardless of their parents' citizenship or immigration status, provided they are not the children of foreign diplomats. The parents must obtain a birth certificate for the child from the hospital where the child was born. This document proves the place of birth and is the primary evidence of citizenship”, further explained Gupta.


To obtain a U.S. passport for the child the parents fill out DS-11 and submit the child’s birth certificate as proof of citizenship. The parents also provide their own identification documents.


Meanwhile experts believe that immigrants in the USA need not panic immediately because on Thursday, January 23, a federal judge blocked Donald Trump's administration from implementing the Republican president's executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional." The execution of the order will have to go through a series of legal hurdles. For now, immigrants don’t have to worry as the court will hear the matter. It could be several months or years before a final decision is reached. This has given hope to thousands of immigrants.

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