Government launches PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for sustainable development
MMNN:13 Feb 2024
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that his government has taken bold and big policy decisions resulting in India becoming the fifth largest economy in the world. The Prime Minister was replying in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday on the discussion on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament.
Attacking the Congress, Mr. Modi accused it of creating narratives to divide the country by promoting north vs south debate. He alleged that Congress' thoughts have become out-dated. He took a dig at the opposition party saying Congress does not have guarantee of its leaders and policies but is questioning his government’s guarantees. In an apparent reference to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s comments that the Congress will not cross 40 seats mark in the upcoming general elections, Mr. Modi took potshot saying he prays that Congress is able to secure 40 seats. He said, Congress party muzzled democracy for power and they dismissed democratically elected governments in the past, but they are now preaching about democracy and federalism. He accused the Congress of promoting nepotism. Raising questions over the economic situation of the country during the UPA regime, the Prime Minister said, Indian economy was in the fragile five category during UPA rule and policy paralysis was the character of that government. He alleged that Congress was influenced with the colonial mindset but his government has abolished the signs and symbols of colonial rule. Mr. Modi alleged that Congress deprived the SC-ST and OBC of Jammu and Kashmir of their rights for seven decades.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes over one lakh job letters
MMNN:12 Feb 2024
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his government has made the recruitment process transparent. He said, Government is trying to complete the recruitment procedure within a set timeframe so that everyone gets an equal opportunity to showcase their capabilities. The Prime Minister was speaking after distributing more than one lakh appointment letters to newly inducted recruits under Rozgar Mela through video conferencing today. Mr Modi said, every youth today knows that he can make a place for himself if he works hard. He said, since 2014 Government has been trying to connect the youth with it make them the participants in the development process. Mr Modi said, in 10 years, his govt has given 1.5 times more government jobs than the preceding govt did in its 10 years. He said, the work of giving government jobs to the youth has been going on with great speed. Mr Modi said, it used to take a lot of time from advertisement to actually giving them the job during the rule of previous governments. He said, bribery used to happen seeing the delay in the work.
The Prime Minister said, Indian Railways is today going through a huge transformation. He said, Indian Railways is going to be completely transformed by the end of this decade. Mr Modi said, better connectivity leads to overall advancement in the economy. He said, it helps new businesses and tourism to grow.
Mr Modi said, India now has the third largest startup ecosystem. He said, the country now has nearly 1.25 lakh startups and the startups are generating a lot of employment opportunities for the youth.
The Prime Minister said, in the journey of Viksit Bharat, every government official has an important role to play. He said, the one lakh new recruits who have joined today will provide new energy. Mr Modi said, it does not matter which department they will join but their efforts will be dedicated to nation-building. He said, for their capacity building, government has also launched the Karmyogi Bharat Portal.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Phase I of the Integrated Complex Karmayogi Bhavan at New Delhi. The complex aims to promote collaboration and synergy amongst various pillars of Mission Karmayogi.
Rozgar Mela was held at 47 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Departments and State Governments and Union Territories supporting this initiative. The new recruits will join he Government in various Ministries and Departments.
RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary lauds decision to award Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh
MMNN:10 Feb 2024
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RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary has lauded the decision to award Bharat Ratna to former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. When Rajya Sabha met this morning, Mr. Chaudhary said that only a rooted government could have given Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh. He added that the style of working of this Government reflects the working style of the former Prime Minister. The RLD leader stated that yesterday, people celebrated Diwali after the announcement which shows that the decision was not only limited to his family members but is a decision to strengthen the farmer community.
When Mr. Chaudhary was allowed to speak, interrupting in between, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up and said, he welcomed the decision to confer Bharat Ratna to former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao, and renowned scientist MS Swaminathan. He, however, said that as the Chair has allowed a member to speak over it, it should be included in the business of the House so that other members could express their views.
Reacting to it, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala accused Congress of not being able to digest the praise for farmers. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said, it is a moment of pride that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave respect to Chaudhary Charan Singh by awarding him the Bharat Ratna. He alleged that Congress has not given proper respect and recognition to the former Prime Ministers. He also alleged that Mr Kharge had insulted Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao by raising questions.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also added that Mr. Kharge and other Congress leaders have virtually insulted Chaudhary Charan Singh.
PM Modi replies to Motion of Thanks on President’s address in Rajya Sabha
MMNN:7 Feb 2024
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that his government has taken bold and big policy decisions resulting in India becoming the fifth largest economy in the world. The Prime Minister was replying in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday on the discussion on the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament.
Attacking the Congress, Mr. Modi accused it of creating narratives to divide the country by promoting north vs south debate. He alleged that Congress' thoughts have become out-dated. He took a dig at the opposition party saying Congress does not have guarantee of its leaders and policies but is questioning his government’s guarantees. In an apparent reference to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s comments that the Congress will not cross 40 seats mark in the upcoming general elections, Mr. Modi took potshot saying he prays that Congress is able to secure 40 seats. He said, Congress party muzzled democracy for power and they dismissed democratically elected governments in the past, but they are now preaching about democracy and federalism. He accused the Congress of promoting nepotism. Raising questions over the economic situation of the country during the UPA regime, the Prime Minister said, Indian economy was in the fragile five category during UPA rule and policy paralysis was the character of that government. He alleged that Congress was influenced with the colonial mindset but his government has abolished the signs and symbols of colonial rule. Mr. Modi alleged that Congress deprived the SC-ST and OBC of Jammu and Kashmir of their rights for seven decades.
Union Home Minister says, entire 1643-kilometer-long Indo-Myanmar border will be fenced
MMNN:6 Feb 2024
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643-kilometer-long Indo-Myanmar border. He added that a patrol track along the border will also be paved to facilitate better surveillance.
In a social media post, Mr. Shah said that out of the total border length, a 10-kilometer stretch in Moreh, Manipur, has already been fenced. Furthermore, two pilot projects of fencing through a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) are under execution. The Home Minister highlighted that under the projects, a stretch of one kilometer each will be fenced in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. He said, additionally, fence works covering approximately twenty kilometers in Manipur have also been approved, and the work will start soon. Mr. Shah said, the Modi government is committed to building impenetrable borders.
Veteran BJP leader LK Advani to be conferred country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna
MMNN:3 Feb 2024
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that senior BJP leader LK Advani will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. In a social media post, Mr Modi said that he spoke to Mr. Advani and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. He said the senior BJP leader is one of the most respected statesmen of the times, and his contribution to the development of India is monumental. He said Mr Advani's life is one which started from working at the grassroots to serving the nation as the Deputy Prime Minister. Prime Minister said Mr Advani distinguished himself as Home Minister and Information and Broadcasting Minister and his Parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, and full of rich insights.
Prime Minister Modi added that Mr Advani's decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He said the senior BJP leader has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. He also said that the conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for him.
November 8, 1927 - Born in Karachi, in present day Pakistan, to parents Kishenchand and Gyanidevi Advani.
1936 -1942 - Studied at St.Patricks school, Karachi, standing first in every class until matriculation.
1942 - Joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak.
1942 - Joined Dayaram Gidumal National College, Hyderabad, during the Quit India movement.
1944 - Held a job as a teacher in Model High School, Karachi.
12 September, 1947 - Left from Sindh to Delhi by propeller aircraft during Paritition.
1947-1951 - Organised RSS work in Alwar, Bharatpur, Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar as RSS Secretary in the Karachi branch.
Early 1957 - Shifted to Delhi to assist Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
1958-63 - Held the position of Secretary of the Delhi State Jana Sangh.
1960-1967 - Joined the Organiser, a political journal of the Jana Sangh as assistant editor.
Feb 25, 1965 - Married Smt. Kamla Advani, with whom he has two children, Pratibha and Jayant.
April 1970 - Entered the Rajya Sabha.
Dec 1972 - Was elected President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
26 June 1975 - Was Arrested in Bangalore during Emergency period and taken to Bangalore Central Jail along with other BJS members.
March 1977 to July 1979 - Held the position of Union minister for Information and Broadcasting.
May 1986- Became Party President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
3 March 1988 - Was re-elected party President of the BJP.
1988 - Held the position of Home Minister in the BJP Government.
1990 - Began the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya.
1997 - Began the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence.
Oct 1999 - May 2004 - Union Cabinet Minister, Home Affairs
Jun 2002 - May 2004 - Deputy Prime Minister
PM Narendra Modi flags off five Vande Bharat trains from Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal
MMNN:27 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off five new Vande Bharat trains of the country from Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal. The Prime Minister first virtually launched Ranchi-Patna, Dharwad-KSR Bengaluru and Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai and then also flagged off two Vande Bharat trains of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal-Indore and Bhopal-Jabalpur. Both these trains left simultaneously from Rani Kamalapati Railway Station.
In a tweet today, the Prime Minister said that these trains will improve connectivity in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Bihar and Jharkhand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the students after reaching Rani Kamlapati station. The students presented paintings and sketches to the Prime Minister. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Rani Kamlapati station by road from Bhopal airport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a joint session of the US Congress in Washington; Said India and America together will provide a better future to the world
MMNN:23 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India and America together will provide a better future to the world. Addressing the joint session of the US Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Indo-US partnership is auspicious for the future of democracy. He said that America is the oldest and India is the largest democracy and it is its culture that drives thought and expression forward. He said that democracy runs in our veins and we share a special relationship with America. Modi said that our government runs on the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that today in modern India, women are taking us towards a better future. India's approach is not just development that benefits women. It is about women led development where women lead the journey of progress. Coming out of a simple tribal background, a woman has become our national head. The spirit of democracy, inclusiveness and stability defines us. India is developing while being responsible for its planet. The Prime Minister said that the earth is our mother and we are her children. Indian culture deeply respects the environment and our planet.
Shri Modi said that with the change in the world, our institutions will also have to change. Shri Modi said that over two centuries, the lives of great American and Indian personalities have inspired both the countries. He said that both India and the US have been inspired by the lives of great personalities like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, which has deepened ties between the two countries.
Earlier, he held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House and signed several important agreements. Ways to further deepen the India-US partnership between the two countries were also discussed.
After the address, the Prime Minister reaches the White House for the state banquet. US President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden hosted a state dinner in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thanking both of them for hosting the event, Shri Modi said that the presence of people from both the countries made the evening more special.
US President Joe Biden said that he had a great time with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and today's event is an occasion to celebrate the unbreakable bond of friendship between India and America.
Prime Minister Modi will be on US tour till 23rd June.
India and US identify 25 areas of technology partnership
MMNN:23 Jun 2023
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Technology cooperation figured prominently in the talks between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a special briefing on Mr. Modi's US visit in Washington DC, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that India and the US have identified about 25 areas of technology partnership in the joint statement as a direct outcome of the discussions between the two leaders. He said that technology will continue to have a place in defense cooperation. GE's signing of an MoU with India's HAL coincides with an important announcement. Accordingly, the Ge 414 Space Engine will be produced for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft.
He said that Shri Modi said that even after two decades of 9/11 attacks and a decade after 26/11 attacks, the problem of terrorism remains a major challenge for the global community. Foreign Secretary also noted that the Prime Minister categorically stated that it is necessary for the international community to continue to recognize those sponsoring and supporting terrorism as a serious threat to the safety and security of society and to be dealt with very strongly. Needed
Foreign Secretary also said that both the countries have agreed that the US will start the process of opening two new Consulates in India in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru while India will open one Consulate in the US in Seattle and two other places .
Prime Minister Modi met experts from the world of health, education, technology and economy in America
MMNN:21 Jun 2023
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The Prime Minister also had an extensive conversation with a group of eminent experts in the health sector in America. They discussed various topics related to the health sector, including the use of digital technology for better health care. Shri Modi also interacted with various think tank experts on development and geopolitical issues. He asked these experts to contribute to the change taking place in India during Amritkal.
Countrymen proud of India’s rich & diverse culture tweets PM Modi
MMNN:17 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that many efforts have been done to revitalise and honour the country’s glorious heritage, which has deepened the bond between youth and culture. In a tweet today, June 17, Mr. Modi said, countrymen are proud of India’s rich and diverse culture.
The Government has taken several measures to rejuvenate the country's pilgrimage destinations and places of faith. Swadesh Darshan scheme was approved for the development of 15 thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritised manner including the Buddhist Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Sufi Circuit, and Tribal Circuit. To showcase India’s rich cultural heritage, the Government launched Bharat Gaurav Trains. Prime Minister Modi has made huge efforts to promote and preserve the Buddhist culture and places associated with Lord Buddha. The National Tribal Festival 'Aadi Mahotsav' was also launched to showcase tribal handicrafts, culture, traditions, and food.
NDRF sent one team to Jalore in Rajasthan as cyclone moved inland towards South Rajasthan and region expected to witness rains
MMNN:16 Jun 2023
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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has sent one team to Jalore in Rajasthan as the cyclone has now moved inland towards South Rajasthan and the region is expected to witness rains. It has also deployed four teams in Karnataka, and five teams in Maharashtra. Addressing media in New Delhi this afternoon, NDRF Director General Atul Karwal said, two people killed before the landfall of severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy and there were no casualties after landfall.
He informed that 23 people have sustained injuries and electricity supply has been interrupted in about a thousand villages.
India is committed to deepening relations with African countries in the field of trade and technology: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
MMNN:15 Jun 2023
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India believes in forging development partnership with Africa, said EAM Dr S Jaishankar
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is committed to deepening relations with African countries in the field of trade, knowledge, and technology transfer.
Addressing the 18th edition of the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on 'India-Africa Growth Partnership' in New Delhi today, Mr Goyal said India is the fifth largest investor in Africa with 74 billion dollars of investment. He expressed satisfaction over the bilateral trade saying that it is growing well with a growth of 9 to 10 percent in the last year. Highlighting the goal of taking India-Africa trade to 200 billion US dollars, Mr. Goyal said, Indian companies are looking for more opportunities in the African countries.
Earlier, addressing the Special Plenary of the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave yesterday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar highlighted that India-Africa ties are not transactional but represent the solidarity of a shared struggle. He said, India believes in forging a development partnership with Africa that is based on the needs and priorities of its partners, as enunciated by Mr. Modi in Kampala principles in 2018. He mentioned that India has proved itself to be a trusted partner in Africa during the pandemic. He added that India is committed to enhancing capacity building and skill development among African youth.
Dr. Jaishankar underscored that our engagement today has stepped up with 36 high-level visits from India and more than 100 high-level visits from Africa during Prime Minister Modi's tenure. He further said, our development partnership focuses strongly on Digital, Green, Health, Food, and Water, which we believe, are the pressing priorities of Africa.
PM Modi distributes over 70 thousand appointment letters to newly inducted recruits at Rozgar Mela; Says employment opportunities growing in both private, public sectors in India
MMNN:13 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today distributed about 70 thousand appointment letters to newly inducted recruits under Rozgar Mela through video conferencing.
Addressing the new appointees, Mr Modi said, today India is a more stable, more secure and stronger country than it was a decade ago. He said, India is known for its political stability, resolute government, and progressive reforms.
Prime Minister said, today the entire world is eager to partner with India in its growth journey. He highlighted that India is taking its economy to new heights. Mr Modi explained that foreign investments made in the country give rise to production, expansion and setup of new industries, and boost exports.
Prime Minister said, these Rozgar Melas have become the new identity of the NDA and BJP government. He expressed happiness that the BJP-ruled state governments are also continuously organizing such Rozgar Melas.
He said, today the private and public sectors are witnessing a rise in employment opportunities. Mr Modi said, the confidence of youth has boosted with the support of Startup India and Standup India. He said, this is a crucial period for those stepping into governmental roles.
The era of Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal has recently commenced. Prime Minister expressed confidence that the new recruits will carry the goal of making India into a developed country in the next 25 years.
Prime Minister Modi said, political corruption and misuse of public money had become the identity of the previous governments, but today the NDA Government is being recognized by its decisive decisions. He said, this employment campaign going on in the country is a proof of transparency and good governance.
Mr Modi said that the country has seen that how family-based political parties have promoted nepotism and corruption in the government job process. He also highlighted the land-for-jobs scam where the then railway Minister of the country had acquired the land in exchange for a job.
The Prime Minister warned the youth of such political parties that engage in dynastic politics and loot the youth of the nation in the name of jobs. He said, language should never act as a hindrance to achieving dreams. Prime Minister said, entrance exams conducted in regional languages is giving a new platform for the country's youth to show their capabilities.
Prime Minister reiterated that India has made huge investments in its physical and social infrastructure. Talking about the social infrastructure, Mr Modi gave an example of ensuring the availability of safe drinking water through the Jal Jeevan Mission. He informed that about four lakh crore rupees have been spent on Jal Jeevan Mission.
Prime Minister said, studies have shown that clean water has prevented about four lakh diarrhea-related deaths and financial savings of eight lakh crore rupees of people which were spent in managing water and treatment of diseases.
The Rozgar Mela is being held at 43 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Departments as well as State governments and Union Territories supporting the initiative.
The new recruits, selected from across the country will be joining the Government in various Departments including the Department of Financial Services, Department of Posts, Department of School Education, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Defence, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Railways, Department of Audit and Accounts, Department of Atomic Energy and Ministry of Home Affairs, among others.
The Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation.
The newly inducted appointees are also getting an opportunity to train themselves through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module on the iGOT Karmayogi portal, where more than 400 e-learning courses have been made available anywhere any device learning format.
PM Narendra Modi calls for use of technology to bridge data divide across globe
MMNN:12 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, June 12, said that the Democratisation of technology is an important tool to bridge the data divide in the world. He said, digitalisation has brought about a revolutionary change in India and pointed out that high-quality data is critical for meaningful policy-making, efficient resource allocation, and effective public service delivery. The Prime Minister said technology is being used as a tool to empower people, make data accessible, and ensure inclusivity.
He said, development is a core issue for the Global South countries and they must send a strong message to the world about the action plan required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The PM was addressing the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting going on in Varanasi today via video message. He said that since Global South countries were severely impacted by the disruptions created due to the Covid pandemic while geo-political tensions were responsible for food, fuel, and fertilizer crises, and in such conditions, the decisions these countries make are significant for humanity as a whole.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is chairing the meeting of the Development Ministers group going on in Varanasi which started yesterday and will continue till tomorrow.
Addressing the gathering of more than 200 delegates, the Prime Minister threw light on the traditional Indian thought which promotes a pro-planet lifestyle, and said that in India, we hold great respect for rivers, trees, mountains, and all elements of nature.
Giving a model of development to the G20 Countries, Prime Minister said that India has made efforts to improve people's lives in more than a hundred Aspirational Districts which were pockets of under-development. He underscored that these Aspirational Districts have now emerged as the catalysts of growth in the country as he urged the G20 Development Ministers to study this model of development. Since It may be relevant for their work towards accelerating Agenda 2030.
Underlining the importance of gender equality and women empowerment in achieving the SDGs, the Prime Minister mentioned that India is not limited to women's empowerment but extends to women-led development. Mr. Modi underlined that women are setting the agenda for development and are also the agents of growth and change. He urged everyone to adopt a game-changing Action Plan for Women-led Development.
Highlighting the issue of the growing data divide, the Prime Minister elaborated that in India, digitalization has brought about a revolutionary change where technology is being used as a tool to empower people, make data accessible, and ensure inclusivity. Highlighting the significance of Kashi, the Prime Minister said that it has been the center of knowledge, discussion, debate, culture, and spirituality for centuries while it also has the essence of India's diverse heritage serving as a convergence point for people from all parts of the country. Mr. Modi expressed delight that the G20 Development agenda has reached Kashi as well.
PM Modi inaugurates first-ever National Training Conclave in New Delhi; Says, it is responsibility of govt servants to increase faith of people in system
MMNN:11 Jun 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that it is the responsibility of all government servants to increase faith of people in the government system. Speaking after inaugurating the first-ever National Training Conclave at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre in New Delhi today, Mr. Modi underlined that the government has never lacked talented, dedicated and committed officials. He said, just like the Army's impeccable credibility in the eyes of public, all government servants should try to further increase the faith of people in the government system. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of service orientation of government work, ownership in realising the aspirations of common man, the need to break hierarchy and using experience of every person in organisation, Jan Bhagidari, the zeal to improve and innovate the system, among other things. He added that the training modules should be oriented and developed in a way that these aspects are inculcated in the government officials. Mr. Modi said also emphasised that the old approach where posting in the training institutions was seen as punishment posting is changing.
The Prime Minister also discussed the vertical and horizontal silos and the shackles of hierarchy, exhorting officials to overcome them to seek out those with experience, regardless of hierarchy. He credited the success of Swachh Bharat Mission, Aspirational Districts Programme, Amrit Sarovar and the substantial share of India in digital payments in the world, to Jan Bhagidari. Mr. Modi said, the iGOT Karmayogi platform has brought about a level playing field as it provides opportunities to everyone for training. He said that iGOT Karmayogi registration crossing the 10 Lakh user base mark shows that people in the system are keen to learn. Karmayogi Mission seeks to improve the orientation, mindset and approach of the government personnel so that they feel contented and happy, and the governance system improves organically.
The Prime Minister suggested participants to come up with actionable inputs which will help in improving training infrastructure in the country. He also suggested making an institutional mechanism for organising the Conclave at regular intervals.
The Conclave aimed at strengthening the training infrastructure for Civil Servants across the country was hosted by the Capacity Building Commission. Over one thousand 500 representatives from various training institutes, including Central, State, Regional and Zonal Training Institutes, and Research institutes attended the conclave. Civil Servants from the Central government departments, State governments, and local governments, as well as experts from the private sector took part in the deliberations.
Earlier, in a tweet Mr. Modi said, today's National Training Conclave is a part of Government's efforts to learn and serve better. He also highlighted the importance of capacity building, ending silos and enhancing service and said, the government will keep transforming challenges into opportunities for a New India.
PM Narendra Modi empowered every State of the North East to achieve newer heights: Sarbananda Sonowal
MMNN:10 Jun 2023
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Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi empowered every State of the North East to achieve newer heights. Addressing the DD Conclave - Resurgent North East, in Guwahati, Mr Sonowal said that Prime Minister has put the entire Ministry into action for the development of the region. He alleged that the Congress ruled North East for 60 years but they miserably failed to develop the region.
The Union Minister underscored that the entire North East made tremendous progress in the last nine years. Referring to the MV Ganga Vilas river cruise, he said that connectivity is important for the development of Tourism. Mr. Sonowal noted that the North East has tremendous tourism potential and the Government is committed to exploring it. He also mentioned that this year's participation in the upcoming International Yoga Day will see increased numbers.
While addressing another session, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that earlier North East had insurgency problems because of neglect by the earlier governments in North East but the Modi government had changed this perception. Mr. Rijiju added that most of the insurgent groups laid down arms which helped to bring peace to the region. He said that all Union Ministers are visiting the North East which proved the commitment of the Modi government. CEO Prasar Bharati Gaurav Dwivedi, Director General of DD News Priya Kumar among others attended the conclave.
HM Amit Shah directs authorities to make adequate security arrangements for upcoming Amarnath Yatra
MMNN:10 Jun 2023
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for Amarnath Yatra. The 62 day long Amarnath Yatra will commence on the 1st July and will culminate on the 31st of August this year. During the meeting yesterday, Mr Shah said, it is the priority of the Modi government that the Amarnath pilgrims should have comfortable darshan and do not face any difficulty.
He directed authorities to make adequate security arrangements on the entire route of Amarnath Yatra. The Home Minister stressed on providing smooth arrangements on the route from the airport and railway station to the Yatra base camp. He also called for providing air service from Srinagar and Jammu at night for the convenience of the pilgrims.
During the meeting, it was apprised that all the pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra will be given Radio Frequency Identification cards so that their realtime location can be traced. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka were among those who attended the meeting.
Death toll in Odisha train accident rises to 261; Restoration and relief operations underway
MMNN:3 Jun 2023
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Restoration and relief operations are underway on a war-footing in Balasore's Bahanaga train accident in Odisha. The death toll of the tragic train accident has risen to 261, and around 900 are feared critically injured. Informing this, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said the causality could increase as rescue operations are underway at accident site. He said the body identification has been carried out as per the procedures. The bodies of some persons have been handed over to their families and relatives. Seven NDRFs, five ODRFs, 24 fire service units, and local police and volunteers are currently carrying out the rescue operation. He said another two or three hours would take to complete the rescue operations, as two coaches of the Coromandel Express and SMVT-Howrah Super Fast Express are being removed to see whether anyone is still trapped under the coaches.
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is on the accident site and reviewing the rescue operations said, our prime focus is on rescue and proper treatment of the injured persons, and dissemination of proper information of the passengers to their relatives. He said rescue operation has been completed and restoration is underway.
Mr Vaishnaw also informed that a detailed high-level inquiry will be conducted and the Rail Safety Commissioner will also carry out an independent inquiry into the accident deemed as one of the worst the country has witnessed in the last 15 years. He said that the reason can be ascertained only after completion of the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Several special and express trains are being cancelled today following the derailment of the Coromandel Express on the Kharagpur - Bhadrak section of South Eastern Railway's Kharagpur division.
India and Nepal sign seven agreements in various fields including trade and commerce, cross - border petroleum pipeline, development of Integrated Check Posts and hydroelectric project.
MMNN:1 Jun 2023
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India and Nepal today signed seven agreements in the fields including trade and commerce, cross-border petroleum pipeline, development of Integrated Check Posts, hydroelectric projects and payment mechanisms. The agreements were signed after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in New Delhi. During the deliberations, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the Indo-Nepal relationship in areas of the economy, energy, infrastructure, education and people-to-people contacts.
Both Prime Ministers jointly flagged off the Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha to Nepal Customs yard. They also inaugurated an integrated Check Post between Rupaidiha-Nepalgunj and Sunauli-Bhairahawa. They also laid the foundation stone of the Motihari-Amlekhguj Oil Pipeline - Phase 2 project. The two leaders also initiated the construction work of the Gorakhpur-New Butwal sub- station 400 kv cross-border transmission line.
In his address, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda lauded India's economic and developmental transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, the relationship between India and Nepal is age-old and multifaceted.
The visiting Nepalese Prime Minister called on Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar this evening. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu. This morning, the Nepal Prime Minister visited Rajghat and paid his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
The Prime Minister of Nepal arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a four-day official visit to India. This is his first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in December last year. The visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of India's Neighbourhood First policy. India-Nepal bilateral relations have significantly strengthened in the last few years in all areas of cooperation. The visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister underscores the importance given by both sides to adding further momentum to the bilateral partnership. Mr Prachanda will visit Ujjain and Indore tomorrow.
Inauguration of New Parliament building will be written in golden words in country's history: Prez Droupadi Murmu
MMNN:28 May 2023
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President Droupadi Murmu has welcomed the inauguration of the new parliament building. She said in her message that the inauguration of the New Parliament building will be written in golden words in the country's history. Her message was read out by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
President Murmu said, inauguration of the New Parliament Building is a matter of pride and immense happiness for the entire country. Noting the parliament is a guiding light for the country, the President said the new Parliament building is an important milestone in our democratic journey. She expressed happiness that the Prime Minister has inaugurated the building. President Murmu said, the Prime Minister is the symbol of trust in Parliament.
Prime Minister Modi addresses Assam Rozgar Mela; Says, govt systems must transform themselves according to present times
MMNN:26 May 2023
new dehli:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the government systems must transform itself according to the present time. He was addressing over 40 thousand new recruits to various Assam government departments through a video message at the appointment letters distribution programme in Guwahati yesterday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah distributed appointment letters to the new recruits at the Veterinary College Playground in Guwahati yesterday. The Prime Minister remarked that all of us have taken a pledge to make our country a developed nation in the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal”.
Speaking about the new infrastructure projects, the Prime Minister underlined that lakhs of crores of rupees are being spent on modernizing India’s infrastructure at a very fast pace. Citing the examples of highways, expressways, railway lines and ports, among others, the Prime Minister said that employment and self-employment opportunities are getting a boost in every sector with every new infrastructure project.
Underlining the importance of the appointees’ behaviour, thinking, approach to work, and impact on the public, the Prime Minister emphasised that the new appointees will be the face of the Assam Government for every common citizen. He urged the youth and all the government departments to upgrade and transform themselves in tune with the demand of the time to provide good services to the citizens. He underlined the responsibilities of Government employees in fulfilling the aspirations of the citizens of the country.
The Prime Minister urged the appointees to move forward with the same dedication that brought them here and stressed that they can contribute to improving society and the system by being open to learning new things.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Assam Government for a large number of recruitments in a transparent and time-bound manner through the Assam Direct Recruitment Commission and congratulated all the new appointees. The Prime Minister informed that India is progressing rapidly in the infrastructure sector and every spending on this sector is providing ample employment for the youths.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had emphasised the importance of integrating forensic sciences investigation with the criminal justice system to increase the conviction rate. He was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the National Forensic Sciences University, Guwahati Campus at Changsari virtually from Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.
The Union Minister said that it is an important day for Assam and the entire North Eastern states as students can now study forensic sciences in Guwahati. The NFSU is a specialised University in the entire world and it is a 100 per cent job-oriented course, added the Union Minister.
The Union Home Minister said that unless the investigation is scientifically based on forensic science, the culprit cannot be punished in court.
For this, it is very important that the officers of Forensic Science should visit the crime scene in all the crimes with a punishment of 6 years or more and the NFSU will increase the conviction ratio. Mr. Shah said that the country has been making strides in the field of forensic science and will have the largest number of forensic science experts in a few years. He also said that unless the investigation is recorded scientifically, you cannot punish any criminal and many times you cannot prove it at courts but forensic sciences can provide full proof evidence to punish a criminal.
The Union Home Minister informed that it is the 10th NFSU campus in the country apart from the one in Uganda. This Guwahati campus will be beneficial for the entire South East Asian countries in the forensic sciences system.
Students as well as officials from these countries can get training from this campus. He also started the temporary campus of the University at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Mr. Shah also launched an Assam Police Seva Setu interactive App where citizens can get 26 types of services without visiting police stations including e-FIR.
Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the foundation stone laying of the NFSU is a red letter day for Assam and informed that his government will build this Campus as the centre of excellence in the entire country.
This NFSU campus will boost up our process to make Assam the knowledge hub of the country. Mr. Sarma said that forensic sciences will increase the conviction rates and it will improve the law and order situation in the state as it will give irrefutable evidence.
International cooperation will play key role in achieving net zero emissions target by 2070: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
MMNN:25 May 2023
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Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that international cooperation will play a key role in achieving the country’s net zero emissions target by the year 2070. He stressed that it is the collective responsibility of all to work together for a more secure and sustainable future.
He was speaking during the website and logo launch event of the Joint 8th Mission Innovation Ministerial MI-8 and 14th Clean Energy Ministerial in New Delhi. The website and logo were launched jointly by Dr. Jitendra Singh and Power Minister RK Singh. India will host the MI-8 jointly with CEM-14 in July this year alongside the G20 Energy Transition Ministerial meeting in Goa.
MoS for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar addresses delegates at 2nd meeting of G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group in Mumbai
MMNN:24 May 2023
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The second meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) was formally inaugurated in Mumbai today. Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare addressed the delegates after the inauguration. Dr. Pawar also inaugurated a photo exhibition titled Safer Mumbai, Future Ready Mumbai - A photographic portrayal.
During the technical sessions today, the G20 delegates discussed a roadmap for Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group for the next three years. Technical sessions covered various topics such as Financing Early Warning and Early Action, Financing Resilient Infrastructure, building back better, Ecosystem-Based Approaches and the Role of Community in DRR. A Round Table on Financing Disaster Risk Reduction was organised with representatives from the private sector. A side event on Infrastructure Risk Assessment Tools and Data Platform was also held.
PM Modi calls Indian diaspora main contributor in building mutual trust and respect between India, Australia
MMNN:23 May 2023
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India-Australia relationship is based on mutual trust and respect and the real reason behind it is Indian diaspora. Addressing a community event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, he said despite geographical distance and different lifestyles, Yoga and Cricket are something which have kept people of the two countries connected for ages. He added that now Tennis and Movies are also connecting bridges. He also said millions of Indians were saddened when Australian cricketer Shane Warne passed away. Mr Modi asserted that India has the world's biggest talent factory and the International Monetary Fund considers the country as a bright spot in the global economy. He added that as per the World Bank, if there is any country which is withstanding global headwinds, it is India. The Prime Minister also said that India has made record exports even in the most challenging times.
Listing out achievements of India in various sectors in the last nine years, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that around 500 million bank accounts of people have been opened in the country and the whole eco-system of Public Delivery has been transformed. He said, today India is the fastest growing largest economy and it is also the number one smartphone data consumer in the world. Mr Modi also asserted that India is a vibrant civilisation of thousands of years and is the mother of democracy.
Mr Modi said, today India is being called the Force of global good. He added that wherever there is a disaster, India stands ready to help citing the recent example of Turkiye.
During the event, Prime Minister Modi announced that India will open a new consulate in Brisbane.
In his address, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, when he had visited India in March this year, he felt a deep connection between the people of Australia and India. He described, Mr. Modi as what he called boss.
On the occasion, the two leaders also renamed the Sydney suburb as Little India.
India's exports of agricultural & allied products cross Rs. 4 lakh crore mark: Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
MMNN:13 May 2023
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Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that India's exports of agricultural and allied products have crossed four lakh crore rupees. He said, over the years, India has performed well in the agriculture sector and also contributed to global food security with food grain production. Mr. Tomar said this while chairing the 8th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries through video conferencing yesterday.
Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan also participated in the meeting. Under the chairmanship of India, SCO member countries adopted the Smart Agriculture project. Mr Tomar said, India is the largest employer globally in the agriculture sector, where more than half of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors. He said that the welfare of the farmers and the overall development of the agriculture sector has been the top priority of the government. The Minister said that rich agricultural research has played an important role in solving the issue of food security, improving the income of farmers and agriculture workers and also for the sustenance of the people.
PM Modi says, India's development is a conviction and commitment for his government
MMNN:12 May 2023
new dehli:Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, his government is eliminating inequality, reaching every poor and ensuring 100 percent saturation. Inaugurating and laying foundation stone of various projects in Gandhinagar today, Mr Modi said.
India's development is a conviction and commitment for his Government.
He said, despite having the various Awas Yojnas for decades, 75 percent of the population lacked access to proper toilets. The Prime Minister said, we must understand that a home is more than just a shelter it is a place of faith where dreams are realized and new possibilities are born. He said, his government does not look at religion or caste while delivering benefits and this is real secularism. Mr Modi said his government made the house a strong base for war against poverty, a tool of empowerment and dignity of the poor.
Mr Modi said, after 2014, Government did not limit the house of the poor only to a concrete roof but made the house a solid foundation for fight against poverty and a medium of empowerment of the poor. He said, in the last nine years, around four crore homes have been provided to the poor. The Prime Minister said, nearly 70 percent of these homes are under the names of women, turning the mothers and daughters into Lakhpati Didi. He said, when the poor is less worried about the basic needs of their life then their confidence increases. Mr Modi said, Government is giving equal emphasis on both Ease of Living and Quality of Life in Urban Planning.
During the programme in Gandhinagar, he inaugurated and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth over 2450 crore rupees. These include projects of Urban Development Department, Water Supply Department, Road and Transport Department, and Mines and Minerals Department.
The projects inaugurated include augmentation of multi-village drinking water supply schemes in Banaskantha district, a river overbridge in Ahmedabad, a drainage collection network at Naroda GIDC, sewage treatment plants in Mehsana and Ahmedabad, auditorium in Dahegam, among others. The projects whose foundation stones were laid include bulk pipeline projects in Junagadh district, augmentation of water supply schemes in Gandhinagar district, construction of flyover bridges, new water distribution stations, and various town planning roads, among others.
The Prime Minister, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation, projects worth around 4400 crores rupees. The projects include laying the foundation stone and inaugurating development projects worth over 2450 crores rupees such as Urban Development Department, Water Supply Department, Road and Transport Department, and Mines and Minerals Department. The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of PMAY (rural and urban) projects worth around 1950 crores rupees and participated in Gruh Pravesh of around 19,000 houses built under the scheme by handing over keys to beneficiaries of the scheme during the program.
Union Health Ministry launches a learning management information system named SAKSHAM
MMNN:10 May 2023
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Union Health Ministry has launched a learning management information system SAKSHAM, Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management. SAKSHAM is a platform for providing online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country. SAKSHAM was launched by the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.
According to the Health Ministry, this digital learning platform will ensure inclusive capacity building of health professionals. Presently, the platform is hosting more than two hundred public health and 100 clinical courses through online mode. Health professionals can register for these courses through lmis.nihfw.ac.in and get certification after undergoing requisite training and qualifying the required assessment criteria. The platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.
EAM S Jaishankar holds talks with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in New Delhi
MMNN:9 May 2023
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External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-Israel relationship.
After the meeting, Dr. S Jaishankar said, both the countries noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums. He said, perspectives were exchanged about respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. The Minister said, the main pillars of India-Israel Strategic Partnership are agriculture, water, defence and security which are taking bilateral ties forward.
He said, new agreements in the water and agriculture sector underline the potential to do more. He said, discussions were held to increase cooperation in high technology, digital and innovation, connectivity, mobility tourism, finance and health. He said, both the countries have initiated an agreement in the area of mobility.
Later, both the leaders paid homage at the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. Dr. S Jaishankar said, Teen Murti Haifa Chowk which is a symbol of India-Israel shared history reflects the enduring India-Israel friendship.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cohen has decided to cut short his three-day visit to India in view of security matters in his country. He tweeted that he will return to Israel after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today.
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be organised in more than 200 districts across the country today
MMNN:8 May 2023
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Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will organise the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) in over 200 districts across the country today. The Ministry in a statement said that several local businesses and organizations have been invited to be a part of this apprenticeship mela to provide relevant apprenticeship training opportunities to local youth. The event will witness the participation of many companies representing various sectors.
Through a single platform, participating organizations can connect with potential apprentices, choose from their qualifications on the spot, while strengthening the livelihood opportunities of the youth. Individuals can register for the mela on the website www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and find the nearest location of the mela. The candidates who are Class 5 to Class 12 pass out or have skill training certificates or are ITI certificate holders or Diploma holders or graduates can apply in this apprenticeship mela.
Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Atul Kumar Tiwari said that Apprenticeship Mela is a golden opportunity for India's youth to connect with the industry and to avail the relevant apprenticeship training opportunities. Apprenticeship melas are held throughout the country on the second Monday of every month. In these melas, selected individuals are offered apprenticeship opportunities during which they receive a monthly stipend in accordance with government criteria for gaining new skills. Apprenticeship is considered the most sustainable model of skill development, and it has been getting a big boost under the Skill India Mission.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar condemns Pakistan for promoting terrorism
MMNN:6 May 2023
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The External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) discussed multilateral cooperation among member countries to address regional and global issues of common interest. Addressing a press conference after the SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in Goa last evening, the External Affairs Minister said the members also discussed the preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit in India. He said India has furthered its priority of moving “Towards a SECURE SCO” during India's presidency. The External Affairs Minister said that it has been a meeting's endeavour to create new verticles of cooperation in SCO.
On his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the External Affairs Minister said as a promoter, justifier and spokesperson of the terrorism industry, his position on the menace was called out at the SCO meeting. He said, Pakistan’s credibility in dealing with terrorism is depleting even faster than their forex reserves. Asked whether there could be talks between India and Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister said, victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators to discuss terrorism. The Minister said that the progress on the admission of Iran and Belarus as full Member States was reviewed.
Sharad Pawar withdraws his resignation as NCP Chief on request of party workers
MMNN:5 May 2023
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Almost three days after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar announced his resignation from the top post of the party, the veteran leader withdrew his decision today citing that he cannot disrespect the sentiments of the people. Mr. Pawar said that he respects the demand that was made to him to withdraw his resignation and the resolution that was passed by senior NCP leaders. Party workers from across Maharashtra had gathered in Mumbai and had been strongly requesting their party chief to take back his decision.
Earlier today, the core committee of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) passed a resolution rejecting Sharad Pawar's resignation as party chief and requested him to continue to lead the party. NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule were among those present at the meeting held at the party office in Mumbai. Sharad Pawar had on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party president's post.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says terrorism must be stopped in all its forms, manifestations
MMNN:5 May 2023
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa today, he said the menace of terrorism continues and combating terrorism is one of the original mandates of the SCO.
Describing terrorism as a major threat faced by the region, Dr Jaishankar said, anti-terror measures are need of the hour. He said, taking our eyes off this menace will be detrimental to our security interests and the channels of finances for terrorist activities must be seized and blocked. Dr Jaishankar also sought the support of member states for the long-standing demand of India to make English the 3rd official language of SCO to enable a deeper engagement with English-speaking member states.
He said that as SCO chair, India has initiated an unprecedented engagement with SCO observers and dialogue partners by inviting them to participate in more than 14 social-cultural events. Foreign ministers of the SCO member countries are likely to finalise today a set of 15 decisions or proposals for the consideration of the grouping's summit in July. The proposals are aimed at expanding cooperation among the SCO member countries in the areas of trade, technology, commerce, security and socio-cultural ties.
The two-day meeting of foreign ministers of SCO got underway in Goa yesterday. Foreign Ministers of eight nations are attending the key meeting. India took over the chairmanship of the SCO grouping in September last year. On the sidelines of the SCO meet, Dr Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his Chinese, Russian and Uzbekistan counterparts. Dr Jaishankar also held bilateral meeting with SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming and appreciated his support for India's SCO Presidency. The SCO has Russia, India, China, Pakistan, and four central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as its members.
Core committee of Nationalist Congress Party passes resolution rejecting Sharad Pawar's resignation as party chief
MMNN:5 May 2023
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The core committee of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has passed a resolution rejecting Sharad Pawar's resignation as party chief and has requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded. The party's core committee met this morning to decide on the new national president of the NCP, following Sharad Pawar's decision to step down from the post.
NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule were among those present at the meeting which was held at the party office in Mumbai. The 18-member committee comprises Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil among others. Sharad Pawar had on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party president's post.
His nephew Ajit Pawar supported the former's decision saying that the next party chief will work under Sharad Pawar. The statement was instantly met with emotional protests from party workers and leaders, who urged him to reverse his decision.
Considering appointment of expert committee to examine less painful method of death penalty: Centre tells SC
MMNN:2 May 2023
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The central government today submitted before Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud-led bench of the Supreme Court that it is considering appointment of an expert committee to examine whether a less painful method of execution of convicts sentenced to death, than hanging by neck which is the practice now, could be found.
Following this submission by Attorney General R Venkataramani, Supreme Court bench deferred the hearing on the petition to July.
Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court advocate Rishi Malhotra seeking a painless end for death convicts.
The petition by Malhotra suggests replacing hanging with intravenous lethal injection, shooting, electrocution, or gas chamber.
Supreme Court rules, it can grant divorce to consenting parties if marriage is irretrievably broken
MMNN:2 May 2023
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The Supreme Court today held that it can exercise its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant a decree of divorce to consenting parties, in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
A Constitution Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and others held that the six month period prescribed under the Hindu Marriage Act can be dispensed with.
The verdict came in a batch of petitions concerning the use of the top court's plenary powers to dissolve a marriage between consenting parties without referral to family courts to wait for the mandatory period prescribed under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act. Article 142 empowers the apex court to pass decrees and orders which are necessary for "doing complete justice" in any cause or matter pending before it.
The case was referred to a five-judge Bench nearly five years ago on June 29, 2016 by a Division Bench of Justices Shiva Kirti Singh and R Banumathi (both retired) in a transfer petition.
After hearing arguments, the Constitution Bench had reserved its judgment on September 29, 2022.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calls upon SCO member states to collectively work towards eliminating terrorism & fix accountability on its supporters
MMNN:29 April 2023
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to collectively work towards eliminating terrorism and fix accountability on those who aid or fund such activities.
Addressing the Defence Ministers of SCO member countries in New Delhi yesterday, April 28 Mr. Singh asserted that terrorist acts or support to terrorist activities is a crime against humanity and peace cannot coexist with this menace. He also expressed concern over the radicalisation of youth terming it a major security challenge and obstacle in the path of socio-economic progress of society.
Defence Minister added that India envisions a robust framework of regional cooperation which mutually respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states by taking care of their legitimate interests. He asserted that New Delhi strives to further bolster trust and cooperation among the members of the SCO as it believes in maintaining peace and security based on the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
Mr Singh voiced India’s commitment towards defence capacity building of SCO member states through training and co-manufacturing and co-development of items. He stated that as security challenges are not limited to any one country, India is moving forward with a collaborative approach in the field of defence partnership, keeping in mind the shared interests.
He also reiterated India’s commitment to play the role of a first responder and preferred partner for any Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operation in the region. He said, be it the COVID-19 pandemic or the recent earthquake in Turkiye, India has always moved forward in line with its spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. At the end of the deliberations, all the SCO member countries signed a protocol, expressing their collective will to make the region secure, peaceful and prosperous.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said, all the member nations arrived at a consensus on several areas of cooperation including dealing with terrorism, security of vulnerable populations in various countries as well as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. He stated that all member states were unanimous in their statements that terrorism, in all its forms, must be condemned and eliminated. Defence Ministers of China, Russia, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan attended the meeting.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Summit on Farm Machinery Technology
MMNN:27 April 2023
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Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar today inaugurated the Summit on Farm Machinery Technology, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA) in New Delhi. In his address, Mr. Tomar said, there are about 85 percent of small farmers in the country, who should get the benefit of technology and machinery. He said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government is continuously working in this direction at its level.
The Minister said that an amount of six thousand 120 crore and 85 thousand rupees has been released to the States from 2014-15 to 2022-23 for various activities like training, testing, setting up of CHCs, hi-tech hubs, and Farm Machinery Banks under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. He said, besides 15 lakh 24 thousand lakh of farm machinery and equipment have been distributed at subsidized rates through State governments, including tractors, power tillers, and automated machinery. Various office bearers and members of CII were present in the programme. The Summit was attended by stakeholders including Original Equipment Manufacturers, policy planners, suppliers, and product development and design firms.
Tamil Saurashtra Sangamam is confluence of patriotic resolution of Sardar Patel & Subramania Bharati says PM Modi
MMNN:26 April 2023
Bhopal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to take pride in the cultural heritage of the country and move forward for nation-building. Calling India a land of diversity, Mr. Modi said it is the diversity that strengthens us as a nation.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam held at Somnath through Video Conferencing, Mr. Modi asked people to understand and live the diversity of the country. He said as the country is moving forward toward the Amrit Kal, there will be several challenges in the way which will try to divide the country. He said the need of the hour is to focus on confluence instead of conflicts. Prime Minister said Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam is not just the confluence of two regions, but it is a symbol of the shared heritage of two ancient cultures, and civilizations and the unity of the country.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Governor of Jharkhand C. P. Radhakrishnan, Union Ministers Parsottam Rupala, L Murugan, and Minakshi Lekhi participated in the concluding ceremony at Somnath. The ten-day-long cultural bonanza Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam was organized to celebrate the age-old ties between Tamil Nadu and Gujarat under the theme of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express for Kerala along with several development projects
MMNN:25 April 2023
Bhopal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod at Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. The train will cover 11 Districts of Kerala. The Vande Bharat train between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod will cover a distance of around 588 kilometres in around eight hours. It will have stoppages at Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Shoranur, Kozhikode and Kannur. The Vande Bharat Express will be faster by around one hour as compared to Rajdhani running on the same route.
Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone and dedicated various projects to the nation worth more than three thousand two hundred crore rupees. Mr Modi also dedicated the Kochi water metro to the nation. This project connects ten islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for seamless connectivity with Kochi city. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram. Digital Science Park is envisaged as a key research facility to develop digital products and services by industry and business units in collaboration with academia.
Addressing the gathering at Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi said, the government is encouraging cooperative federalism for India's progress and prosperity. He said, the government looks at states' development as a step towards India's growth. He said, when Kerala will develop then India will also grow at a faster rate. Mr Modi said, in the last nine years, the government has been working at a phenomenal speed for the connectivity infrastructure. He said, the public transport and logistics sector is being completely transformed in the country. He said, the Central government has allocated a budget of more than 10 lakh crore rupees to the development of infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said, the country is progressing at a speed and scale that is unprecedented. He said, during the global crisis, the world looks at India as a vibrant spot of growth. Prime Minister credited the trust shown by the world towards India to a decisive government at the center that takes quick and firm decisions for the welfare of the country.
The Prime Minister said, equipped with modern facilities, the Vande Bharat train will give a great experience of travelling at high speed without harming the environment. He said, Vande Bharat Express is the identity of aspirational India. Prime Minister said, all the Vande Bharat trains are connecting places of cultural, spiritual and tourism importance. He said, Kerala’s first Vande Bharat train will link North Kerala with South Kerala. The train will ease travel to places of pilgrimage like Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kannur. Mr Modi said, Vande Bharat Express is Made in India, and the Metro that is expanding today is also Made in India. Mr Modi said, investment in connectivity connects various cultures and every citizen is able to use these facilities. He said, this signifies the success of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
Prime Minister said, along with physical connectivity, digital connectivity is also important. He said, projects like digital science park will give an expansion to Digital India.
Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates projects worth over Rs 17000 crore on National Panchayati Raj Day
MMNN:24 April 2023
Bhopal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Government is working ceaselessly to bridge the gap between villages and cities. On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations, addressing all the Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj Institutions of the country today from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Panchayats are being made smart in this age of the digital revolution. Technology is being harnessed in the projects being undertaken by the Panchayats, he added.
Highlighting the importance of developing the social system, economy, and Panchayati Raj system in the villages of India to create a developed nation, the Prime Minister pointed out that the present Government is working tirelessly to create a robust system in place and expanding its scope, unlike the previous governments that discriminated with the Panchayats.
Throwing light on the lack of efforts made by the previous governments before 2014, the Prime Minister informed that the Finance Commission granted less than 70,000 crore rupees which was a paltry amount when one considers the scale of the country, but after 2014, this grant was increased to more than two lakh crore rupees.
He also mentioned that merely 6,000 Panchayat Bhawans were constructed before 2014, whereas the present Government constructed more than 30,000 Panchayat Bhawans in the last eight years.
He also informed that less than 70 Gram Panchayats were connected with optical fiber compared to more than two lakh Gram Panchayats that got optical fibre connectivity after the present Government came to power.
In this function, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth more than 17 thousand crores.
Prime Minister Modi virtually attended the housewarming ceremony of four lakh 11 thousand beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana at the function.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the integrated e-Gram Swaraj and GeM portal for public procurement at the panchayat level. The objective of this project is to enable Panchayats to market their goods and services through GeM.
The Prime Minister also launched the campaign means Joint steps towards development". Focused on inclusive development, the campaign is focused on extending the benefits of schemes to the last mile.
The Prime Minister also handed over around 35 lakh Swamitva Property Cards to the beneficiaries. With the handing over of these cards, about one crore 25 lakh property cards have been distributed under this scheme in the country.
Prime Minister Shri Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurate various railway projects worth about two thousand 300 crore rupees. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the redevelopment of Gwalior station and flag off three trains.
In the programme, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of five projects of the Jal Jeevan Mission worth about seven thousand 853 crore rupees. Around 9.5 lakh families of more than four thousand villages will be benefitted from these schemes.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Central Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh, several Union Ministers, and State government Ministers also participated in the programme.
PM Modi to launch nine campaigns under Inclusive Development on April 24 in Madhya Pradesh
MMNN:22 April 2023
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch nine campaigns under Inclusive Development (Samaveshi Vikaas) theme on the 24th of April during the National Panchayati Raj Day in Madhya Pradesh
He will also launch the Website and Mobile App “Samaveshi Vikaas” at the event. The mobile app is designed with the objective to ensure the documentation of public participation and the website is expected to provide real-time progress of various activities under Samaveshi Vikaas campaigns. The website will also enable the government to generate reports and assess and monitor the progress of the campaigns through technical tools.
India is taking new initiatives for global welfare, said PM Modi
MMNN:20 April 2023
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit in the national capital today. The event began at around 10:00 am at Hotel Ashok in Delhi.
PM Modi said on Thursday that the world is passing through challenges such as war, economic instability, terrorism, religious extremism and climate change and asserted that Lord Buddha's ideas offer a solution to these problems.
"The noble teachings of Gautam Buddha have impacted countless people over centuries. Inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha, India is taking new initiatives for global welfare," said PM Modi at Global Buddhist Summit.
"The world is suffering from war and unrest today, centuries ago Buddha had given a solution for this. India has not given ‘Yuddha’ to the world but ‘Buddha.’ The path of Buddha is the path of future and sustainability," PM Modi said today.
2-day Summit:
The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). The keynote speakers at the event will be Professor Robert Thurman, a leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, and His Holiness Thich Tri Quang, the Deputy Patriarch of, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Professor Thurman was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020 for his work on recovering India's ancient Buddhist heritage.
Theme of Global Buddhist Summit:
The theme of the Global Buddhist Summit is 'Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis. '"The Summit is an effort towards engaging the global Buddhist Dhamma leadership and scholars on matters of Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively. The discussion in the Summit will explore how the Buddha Dhamma's fundamental values can provide inspiration and guidance in contemporary settings," the PMO stated in a release.
Who will participate:
The Summit will witness the participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world, who will discuss pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dharma that are based on universal values, the release said.
"The discussions will be held under four themes: Buddha Dhamma and Peace; Buddha Dharma: Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability; Preservation of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition; Buddha Dhamma Pilgrimage, Living Heritage and Buddha Relics: a resilient foundation to India's centuries-old cultural links to countries in South, South-East and East Asia," it added.
BJP has released the list of star campaigners for the Karnataka assembly elections.
MMNN:19 April 2023
New Delhi
BJP has released the list of star campaigners for the Karnataka assembly elections. Along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the names of Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath are also included in the list. See the complete list of 40 star campaigners below. After the end of Atiq Ahmed in Uttar Pradesh, all eyes are on Yogi Adityanath.
BJP's election campaign continues in Karnataka
Meanwhile, the BJP's election campaign continues. On Wednesday, former CM BS Yeddyurappa did a roadshow in Shikaripur. His son BY Vijayendra will file his nomination from the same constituency. Bharat Bommai, son of CM Basavaraj Bommai campaigned in Shiggaon. He said, I am here to support my father. My responsibility is his constituency. CM Bommai will do a roadshow in the assembly constituency today
PM Narendra Modi attended the employment fair, distributed appointment letters to 71000 youth
MMNN:13 April 2023
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the employment fair. He distributed appointment letters of new recruits to 71,000 personnel. PM Modi addressed the personnel through video conference. Said that more than 70 thousand youths have got government jobs in various departments of the Government of India. Congratulations to all of you. The process of giving government jobs is going on at a fast pace in NDA and BJP ruled states. On Wednesday, appointment letters were handed over to more than 22 thousand teachers in Madhya Pradesh.
India fastest growing economy
PM Narendra Modi said that today India is the fastest growing economy in the world. The policy and strategy on which today's new India is working. It has opened doors of new possibilities and opportunities in the country. He said, many sectors have opened up in front of the youth, which were not available to the youth 10 years ago. Startup is the example before us. There is tremendous enthusiasm among the youth regarding this.
PM Modi said on self-reliant India campaign
Prime Minister Modi said that the thinking and approach of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is more than adopting indigenous and vocal for local. This is not a matter of limited scope. He said, 'Self-reliant India is a campaign to create crores of employment opportunities from villages to cities.'
New employment opportunities have been created in the toy industry
PM Modi said that today everything from modern satellites to semi high speed trains are being manufactured in India only. The example of India's toy industry is in front of you. For decades, Indian children used to play with toys abroad. They were neither of good quality nor made keeping Indian kids in mind. He further said, 'We fixed quality parameters for imported toys and encouraged indigenous industry. Within 3-4 years, the toy industry was rejuvenated and new employment opportunities were created.
NHRC said- Police allowed violence to happen in Bengal: The team that went to take stock of the situation had an argument with the police, were not allowed to meet the victims
MMNN:10 April 2023
New Delhi
The NHRC has submitted its report on the violence that took place during the Ram Navami procession in West Bengal. It says that the police allowed the violence to happen, did not try to stop it. In this report of retired Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy of Patna High Court and the 6-member Fact Finding Team of NHRC, it has been said that the riots were pre-planned and instigated.
The team also alleged that the police did not allow them to visit violence-affected areas as well as places where Section 144 was not invoked. According to the team, on their way to Risda on Saturday, the police stopped them at Shrirampur, about 3 km from the clash site. The team says that the police are afraid that if we go there, we will come to know the reality.
Narasimha Reddy's allegation- Retired Chief Justice of Bengal Police behaving like a dictator
said that we were not allowed to meet the victims. Bengal Police is not even answering our calls. We feel that the police did not take any action to stop the violence. In this matter, the Bengal Police is acting like a dictator. They (police) are engaged in promoting the agenda of a party.
Fact-finding team had an argument with the police
On Saturday, the members of the fact-finding team had an argument with the police after they were stopped from being released from Risda. The team members said that their intention was to talk to the local people and come back with information.
The police cited law and order
while the police say that the 6-member team cannot be allowed to go to the disturbed areas where section 144 is still in force. He argued that if the team members reach the spot, many people may gather around them, violating Section 144.
BJP MLA had demanded the deployment of Central Force
BJP MLA Biman Ghosh wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose regarding the violence in Hooghly during Ram Navami, asking them to intervene and deploy central forces in West Bengal posting was sought.
Big jump in new cases of corona, 6,050 cases were reported in 24 hours
MMNN:7 April 2023
New Delhi
New cases of corona virus are coming up in the country. In the last 24 hours, 6,050 new cases have been reported. Earlier on Thursday, 5,335 cases were registered. Last year on September 23, 5,383 cases were reported. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a review meeting with health ministers of all states and union territories today (Friday) afternoon regarding the increasing cases of corona.
Number of active cases 28,303
3038 new cases of corona virus were found on 4th April and 4,435 on 5th April. The XBB.1.16 variant has been observed in the infection in India. At the same time, the number of active cases in the country is 28,303. In the last 23 hours, 3,329 people had recovered. At the same time, 44185858 people have been cured of the infection so far. There have been 13 deaths in the last 24 hours. Apart from this, the recovery rate is 98.75 percent.
606 new cases surfaced in Delhi
On Thursday, 606 new cases of corona virus were reported in Delhi. At the same time, the rate of infection was 16.98%. This is the highest number of cases reported in a day after August last year. On August 26, 620 cases were reported in Rajasthani. There, 509 cases were registered on Wednesday.
26 new patients found in five districts of Madhya Pradesh
More than 25 corona patients have been found in the state for the fifth consecutive day. According to the Health Bulletin released on Thursday by the Health Department, 26 cases were reported in the investigation of 744 samples on Wednesday. In this way the infection rate was 3.4 percent. Among the new cases, 12 are from Bhopal, 4 from Indore, 3 from Narmadapuram, 3 from Jabalpur, 3 from Sagar and 1 from Rajgarh. The number of active patients in the state is 164.
Episode of coal scam in BJP's Congress files: The title of the third video was given - Black hand in coal brokerage
MMNN:4 April 2023
New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party has released the third video of the Congress files for the third consecutive day. In this video released on BJP's Twitter handle, the coal scam in the UPA government has been told. It is written with the video- 'The story of blackened hand in coal brokerage.'
Now read what was told in this video
1.Contracts of coal mines were awarded between 2004 and 2009. When this scam came to the fore, the whole UPA government was blackened.
2. When Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister for the second time. But there was less talk of his tenure and more of the scam.
3. Meanwhile, 100 companies were given contracts for coal mines by going against the rules. Contracts were awarded to private companies at throwaway prices and without auctions.
4. Due to this there was a loss of 1 lakh 86 thousand crores. During this, the coal ministry was with Shibu Soren and Manmohan Singh.
Video 1: This is just a tableau, picture yet to come
The video of the first episode of three minutes begins by explaining the meaning of Congress. In which it is written – Congress means corruption. In this video the Narrator has mentioned the scams of 70 years of Congress rule. It mentions coal scam, 2G spectrum, commonwealth scam. In the last minute, the narrator says – this is just a tableau of Congress scams, the picture is still pending.
Second video: 2 crores earned from painting, spent on Sonia's treatment
In the second video of Congress files, things related to the purchase and sale of MF Hussain's painting have been told. Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor bought this painting from Priyanka Gandhi for 2 crores. It has also been said in this video that this money was used for the treatment of Sonia Gandhi. Rana had paid Priyanka Gandhi through 2 crore cheques. The photo of this check has also been shared in the video.
Congress ran Democracy Disqualified Series
Earlier, the Congress had also attacked the BJP on the Adani issue and released several sets of questions under the campaign 'Hum Adani Ke Hain Koun'. Which has been named Democracy Disqualified. Under this, AM Singhvi, Jitendra Singh, Shakti Singh Gohil, Alka Lamba, Rajeev Shukla were seen raising questions on the Modi government through video.
No corrupt person should be spared: PM Modi at CBI event
MMNN:3 April 2023
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that corruption takes away the rights of the poor and begets many other crimes, and CBI’s key responsibility is to rid the country of it.
Addressing a gathering at the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Modi said, “Corruption is not an ordinary crime, it snatches the rights of the poor, it begets many other crimes, corruption is the biggest obstacle in the path of justice and democracy. Corruption in the government system hampers democracy and the first casualty is the dreams of the youth as in such circumstances a certain type of ecosystem flourishes killing talent. Corruption promotes nepotism and a dynastic system which erodes the nation’s strength, seriously hampering development”.
Recalling the scams and the prevailing sense of impunity just a decade ago, the prime minister said this situation led to the destruction of the system and an atmosphere of policy paralysis brought the country’s development to stand still.
Modi asked all officers to take action without hesitation against the corrupt and told them not to be deterred by the history of the power of the corrupt and the ecosystem created by them to tarnish the investigative agencies. “Today there is no dearth of political will to take action against corruption in the country. These people will keep distracting you, but you have to focus on your work. No corrupt person should be spared. There should be no laxity in our efforts. This is the wish of the country, this is the wish of the countrymen. The country, law and constitution are with you,” he said.
“After 2014, the priority of the government was to instil faith in the system and for this, the government started taking action against black money, Benami property in mission mode and started inflicting damage on the corrupt as well as the reasons behind the corruption. We also bring transparency in the processes of issuing government tenders and there is a difference in 2G and 5G spectrum allocations. GeM (Government eMarketplace) Portal has been established to ensure transparency in making purchases in every department of the Central government,” he said.
He also mentioned the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which has so far enabled the confiscation of properties of fugitive offenders worth Rs 20000 crore.
Pointing at one of the decades-old ways of looting the government’s treasury, Modi said the corrupt would go to the extent of looting the aid sent out to beneficiaries of its schemes. “Be it rations, homes, scholarships, pensions or any other government scheme, the original beneficiary would feel conned every single time. Even a prime minister once said for every rupee sent out to the poor, only 15 paise reaches them,” he said.
He added the government has so far transferred Rs 27 lakh crore to the poor and also pointed out that based on the Re 1-15 paise theory, Rs 16 lakh crore would have already disappeared.
Modi also inaugurated the newly constructed office complexes of CBI at Shillong, Pune, and Nagpur. He also released a postage stamp and commemorative coin marking CBI’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration year and launched the agency’s Twitter handle.
Supreme Court said-Politics with religion is a threat to democracy: Said- When leaders separate both, hate speech will stop
NEW DELHI:MMNN:30 March 2023
New Delhi,Heard the speech case. Justice KM Joseph said- 'Hateful statements are being made everyday on TV and in public forums. Can't such people control themselves?
The day politics and religion will be separated. Leaders will stop using religion in politics. Hate speeches will also stop on the same day. We have also said in our recent decisions that mixing politics with politics is dangerous for democracy.
On the other hand, Justice BV Nagaratna gave examples of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said, 'Remember Vajpayee and Nehru, to listen to whom people used to gather from far and wide. Where are we going?'
The court also commented on the attitude of the states
According to Live Law, Justice KM Joseph made scathing remarks on the state government's stand in the matter. He said, 'The states are impotent. They don't work on time. When the states keep silence on such issues, then what is the point of their existence?
Maharashtra govt failed to curb hate speech: Petitioner
Shaheen Abdullah, while filing a petition in the Supreme Court, had said that the Supreme Court has ordered the states many times to curb hate speech. Despite this, the Maharashtra government has failed to curb the hate speech of Hindu organisations. The petitioner had demanded that contempt action be taken against the Maharashtra government.
According to media reports, in the last hearing, the petitioner's lawyer Nizamuddin Pasha told the court that the Maharashtra Police was directed to take action against a Hindu organization, but despite this no action was taken. The organization has organized more than 50 rallies in the last four months.
Supreme Court cannot take notice of every violation of court order
In the last hearing, Justice Nagaratna had said that the Supreme Court cannot pay attention to every violation of the court's order regarding hate speech. If every small contempt petition were to be heard, the Supreme Court would be inundated with thousands of petitions from across the country. During the hearing, Justice KM Joseph insisted that the contempt petition should be heard. The Supreme Court has made a strong comment regarding hate statements. Justice KM Joseph said – This is the 21st century. Where have we come in the name of religion? We should be a secular and tolerant society, but today there is an atmosphere of hatred. The social fabric is being disintegrated. How small have we reduced God. There are disputes over his name.
Supreme Court reprimanded news channels on hate speech, anchor's responsibility to stop hatred
The Supreme Court has reprimanded TV channels for telecasting talk shows and reports full of hate speech. A bench of Justices KM Joseph and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said in a hearing held a month ago that it is the anchor's responsibility to prevent someone from speaking hate speech. The bench asked why the government remained mute spectator in this matter?
After a long consultation of 5 years, the Central Government has started preparing to enact an anti-hate speech law to stop hate content on social media. The draft of the law is being prepared keeping in mind the directions of the Supreme Court regarding hate speech, laws of other countries and all aspects of freedom of expression.
Rahul's statement on Modi surname in Karnataka, case registered in Surat; Now nationwide discussion
NEW DELHI:MMNN:24 March 2023
New Delhi,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is the third member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to be disqualified from the Lok Sabha. Before him, the membership of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi has also ended. However, Sonia Gandhi resigned before the notification of termination of membership in the case of office of profit.
Rahul, a third-generation member of the Gandhi family, was on Thursday convicted by a Surat trial court in a defamation case. Since then the sword was hanging on his membership. After all, the Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified him from the membership of the Lok Sabha on Friday afternoon.
Indira was sent to jail as soon as the MP went
Rahul's grandmother Indira, who served as the country's Prime Minister for a long time as the Iron Lady, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha in 1978 by the Morarji Desai-led Janata Party government. She reached the Lok Sabha by winning the by-election from Chikmagalur in Karnataka after the Congress suffered a crushing defeat after the Emergency. In the meantime, a proposal for breach of privilege was presented against him for insulting government officials and misuse of office. After a debate on this for seven days, the Committee of Privileges was formed. It was asked to submit the report in a month. The committee recommended his expulsion from the membership, justifying the allegations. On this basis Indira's membership was terminated and she was sent to jail. The Congress capitalized on it politically. The Janata Party government, which lasted two and a half years, fell due to mutual differences and Indira returned to power with a huge majority.
Sonia has already resigned
In 2006, Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership was at stake in the case of office of profit, but she left the Rae Bareli MP before being disqualified. Actually, Sonia was the head of the National Advisory Committee during the UPA government. It was considered a post of profit. Due to this membership came under question, so he resigned before there was a big ruckus. After this, she reached the Lok Sabha by winning again from Rae Bareilly.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called on Prime Minister Modi Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation
MMNN:20 March 2023
New Delhi Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in New Delhi on a 2-day visit to India. Here he reached Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. After this, Kishida met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. Delegation level talks took place between the two leaders. During this, Prime Minister Modi gifted a Buddha statue made of sandalwood to PM Kishida.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said- I invited PM Modi today for the G-7 Summit to be held in Hiroshima and he has accepted it. I will share my vision for an independent Indo-Pacific from the soil of India. At the same time PM Modi said- I welcome PM Kishida to India. I have met him several times in the last one year. During this, I always felt positive about the relationship between the two countries. Today I spoke to him about the priorities of our G-20 Presidency. Our goal is to take everyone along.
This year Japan is presiding over the G7 and India is presiding over the G20. The visit of the Japanese Prime Minister will provide an opportunity to the two countries to bring cooperation between the G20 and the G7. The two leaders are expected to discuss how the G20 and G7 countries can work together on food and health security, energy transition and economic security.
In March 2022, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida came to India to participate in the annual summit between the two countries. During that time, Kishida had talked about investing Rs 3,20,000 crore in India for the next five years. In May 2022, PM Modi reached Tokyo, the capital of Japan, to attend the QUAD meeting. During that time Prime Minister Modi had said – India and Japan are natural partners. We are together for the International Solar Alliance. In September 2022, the Prime Minister went to Tokyo for the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed deep sorrow over Abe's death. Modi had said in a tweet – Abe played an important role in India-Japan relations and global partnership.
Opinion: PM Modi presented an example of Indian generosity to the world
MMNN:13 FEBRUARY 2023
New Delhi After the devastation of the earthquake in Turkey, Prime Minister Modi decided to immediately send Army and NDRF teams without losing time.
Medical facilities helping earthquake-hit Turkey with relief and rescue operations. Financial assistance to Sri Lanka facing crisis. 200 crore development aid package to Taliban-occupied Afghanistan. Last year, 50 thousand tonnes of wheat was sent to Afghanistan to deal with the food crisis. Sending rescue team during 2015 earthquake disaster in Nepal. During the Kovid-19 epidemic, huge consignments of vaccines to different countries of the world are some such examples, Which is the proof of Indian generosity in the world. Makes the generous image of the country more intense. Be it neighboring countries in trouble or any other country in the world, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government stands first for every needy by extending a helping hand.
On 6 February in Turkey, the most devastating earthquake of the last 100 years has caused huge devastation. More than 30 thousand people have been killed so far and this figure of those who died is increasing continuously. Many cities like Turkey's Antakya, Urfa and Aleppo have been completely destroyed. Piles of debris are lying all around and in these piles of debris, the Indian relief team is searching for life, which was the first to reach Turkey after Monday's earthquake.Although at present rescue and medical teams of more than 60 countries are present in different cities of Turkey and are carrying out mission life, but after the devastation of the earthquake, Prime Minister Modi immediately sent the army and NDRF teams without wasting any time. Decided to do and this mission in Turkey was named "Operation Dost". The Indian rescue team is one of the first to reach and also the largest team.Till now, more than 5 teams of India are running rescue operations in different cities of Turkey. On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under “Operation Dost” to help Turkey, relief material, 30-bed mobile hospital, medical material including relief material from C-17 Globemaster aircraft have been delivered to Ground Zero for relief in crisis.
This help of India for Turkey is also more important because the relations between Turkey and India have not been very good. On many occasions, Turkey has shown itself to be standing against India on international forums. Turkey had also opposed the Modi government's decision to remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.But forgetting all the previous things, Prime Minister Modi has not only shown a big heart for Turkey in this difficult time of disaster, but has also opened all the doors of humanity and help. That's why Firat Sunel, Ambassador of Turkey to India, says, "A friend is one who is useful in difficult times."
Not only Turkey, when any country needs help, the government led by Prime Minister Modi has stood as a troubleshooter, even if it is a staunch opponent country like Pakistan. In the month of August last year, Pakistan was facing a severe flood disaster, even then India had helped Pakistan with food grains, food grains and other essential things.Going back a little further, the kind of calamity that has befallen Turkey today, similar to the earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015, the first hand of help was extended there by India under the leadership of the Modi government. Within just 4 hours of the earthquake, the Indian rescue team had reached ground zero in Nepal. In the next 24 hours, 10 more teams got involved in the rescue mission. Indian rescue teams carried out "Operation Maitri" for 40 days, rescuing thousands of people from the rubble.Mobile hospitals, blankets, tents, paramedics, RO, oxygen regenerator, stretchers, medicines, beds, utensils, readymade food, milk, vegetables and other necessities were provided for the injured.
Helped even the big countries of the world during the Kovid period
After Delhi-Mumbai Expressway now plan to connect Yamuna Expressway with Peripheral
MMNN:13 FEBRUARY 2023
New Delhi After the commissioning of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the pressure of vehicles inside Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad will reduce. Along with this, now those people will also get direct benefits, who want to go from Delhi to Jaipur. Drivers will now be able to catch the expressway directly from Sohna via Sohna-Gurugram road via Delhi-Jaipur highway.From Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, you will now reach Jaipur in just 2.5 hours. With this, the distance to many cities of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana will be reduced.
Explain that the Peripheral Expressway has been connected to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway through a loop, so that instead of coming to Delhi, people will be able to come and go directly to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway from outside. Along with this, after the opening of the first part of Delhi-Mumbai, now along with Ghaziabad, the people of Hapur, Baghpat and Meerut will also get its benefit. After boarding the Eastern Peripheral, motorists will be able to board the Mumbai Expressway from the loop on the Western Expressway at Sohna in Gurugram.
Plan to connect Yamuna Expressway and Peripheral Expressway
Along with this, now preparations have started to connect Eastern Peripheral Expressway and Yamuna Expressway. If this work is completed, then people traveling from Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will start getting more benefits. Vehicles coming and going from Agra side can also go on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway now.Regarding this, the National Highway Authority of India and the Ministry of Road Transport have written a letter to the UP government saying that to reduce the pressure of vehicles inside Delhi and adjoining Noida, there is a need to build a loop immediately to connect the two expressways.
what will be its benefits
Significantly, to connect both the expressways, an interchange has to be made in the limits of Greater Noida, which has not yet been completed due to administrative reasons. Several rounds of meetings have been held with the officials of UP Government, Yamuna Development Authority and NHI regarding this. Now once again the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has written a letter to the UP government in this regard.
दिल्ली, नोएडा और ग्रेटर नोएडा को जाम से मिलेगा छुटकारा
Due to non-construction of interchange, vehicles going to Punjab and Haryana still take an extra 20 kilometer round trip between Noida and Delhi. Catch the Eastern Peripheral Expressway from Dadri and Fatehpur-Rampur interchange. This leads to extra time as well as higher fuel consumption. Also, there is extra pressure of vehicles in Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida.
Big relief to the central government from the Supreme Court, upheld the delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir, rejected all the petitions
MMNN:13 FEBRUARY 2023
Srinagar The Supreme Court dismissed all the petitions filed regarding the delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI File Photo) The Supreme Court today upheld the delimitation process while giving its verdict on the petitions challenging the delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats. Also, the Supreme Court dismissed all the petitions challenging the delimitation.
On May 13, 2022, the Supreme Court issued a notice on this matter. Then the court had made it clear that the hearing would be only on delimitation. The issue related to the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir will not be considered. In front of the bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka, the petitioner side argued that the constitution of the commission for the delimitation of assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir is not correct according to the constitutional provisions.
The petitions said, 'The correct procedure has not been followed in the delimitation. The boundary of the assembly constituencies has been changed in the delimitation. New areas have been included in it. The number of seats has been increased from 107 to 114, including 24 seats in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This is not in accordance with section 63 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act. The Central Government, the Jammu and Kashmir Administration and the Election Commission had called this argument wrong.
Explain that after the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the report was prepared by the Delimitation Commission, which was handed over to the government. Seven assembly seats were increased in the report. There were 43 seats in Jammu and 47 seats in Kashmir.
Massive clashes inside Kolkata's Dum Dum Jail after inmates upset over court closure due to Coronavirus outbreak
MMNN:21 March 2020
Kolkata Massive clashes erupted on Saturday inside the Dum Dum Jail in Kolkata, West Bengal, after inmates became upset over court closure due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Since the court won't be working, the judge will not be able to hear the bail pleas which have angered the jail inmates.
In addition to this, all inmates have been asking for masks and sanitisers.
The inmates have allegedly vandalised the jail premises, attacked the jail officers, and tried torching the jail properties. A massive stone-pelting also took place.
Barrackpore CP Manoj Verma and other senior officials went inside the jail to bring the situation under control. Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire.
Massive tear gas was also fired by the police. When last reports came in, the fire was still raging inside the jail premises.
Indian Railways to halt 3,700 trains to support Janata Curfew against coronavirus COVID-19 - first time in its history
MMNN:21 March 2020
New Delhi: In the wake of the highly contagious coronavirus pandemic and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's calls to observe `Janata Curfew` on Sunday (March 22, 2020), the Indian Railways has decided to halt thousands of trains as part of measures to contain the further spread of the deadly virus.
According to the Railway Ministry, around 3,700 trains had been cancelled from midnight of March 22 till 10 PM, in line with the Prime Minister's appeal of a day-long curfew to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The Railway Ministry on Saturday also decided to put brakes on as many as 709 trains. According to information, 584 trains have been cancelled completely and the rest 125 trains partially.
''The Indian Railways has suspended train services of over 3,700 passenger locomotives and long-distance mail and express trains, which were scheduled to start their journeys on Sunday due to call of `Janata Curfew`, '' a release from the Rail Ministry said.
According to the order issued by the Railway Ministry, no passenger or express train will originate from any railway station of the country between Saturday and Sunday midnight to 10 PM on Sunday. This will lead to the cancellation of around 2400 passenger and 1300 express trains.
The Railway Board has issued directions to all zonal heads that passengers already travelling in trains during the shutdown should not face any hassle.
Pitching for "social distancing", PM Narendra Modi had on Thursday called for a 'Janta curfew' from 7 AM to 9 PM on March 22, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of their houses, and asserted that it will be a litmus test to show India's readiness to take on the coronavirus challenge.
This experience will serve the nation well, he has said.
"This Sunday, that is on March 22, all citizens must follow this curfew from 7 AM until 9 PM. During this curfew, we shall neither leave our homes, nor get onto the streets and refrain from roaming about in our societies or areas. Only those associated with emergency and essential services may leave their homes," the Prime Minister said.
Kanika Kapoor's relatives' samples sent for coronavirus COVID-19 testing; FIR against singer updated
MMNN:21 March 2020
Lucknow: Coronavirus-infected Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor's family members in Kanpur have been kept in isolation and their samples have been sent for testing in Lucknow. Reports on Saturday (March 21, 2020) said that samples of 35 people, including Kapoor's maternal uncle, his family members, have been taken and sent to Lucknow for testing after it emerged that the singer was infected with the deadly coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Lucknow district administration. which had come under fire after police mentioned the wrong date in the FIR against Kanika Kapoor following a complaint by Chief Medical Officer (CMO), has been rectified.
''The report from CMO for FIR against Kanika inadvertently mentions the date of her arrival as 14th march. It is actually 11 th March. The police, during the investigation, will correct this factual part, '' Sujeet Pandey, Commissioner of Police, Lucknow, said.
An FIR was lodged against Kapoor at Sarojini Nagar Police Station on Friday for alleged negligence in compliance of necessary directives to safeguard against the spread of deadly coronavirus disease post her return from London earlier this month.
As per the FIR, the CMO claimed that Kapoor had returned to Lucknow from London on March 14. The same day she tested positive for coronavirus at the airport and was asked to go for home quarantine. But despite that she freely attended parties and mingled with a large number of people.
However, people of the city later came down heavily on the administration and counterclaimed that the singer had returned on March 11. The same has now been fixed and the date of Kanika's arirval in Luckow has been corrected to March 11.
Earlier, an FIR was filed against Kanika Kapoor on Friday (March 20, 2020) night under Sections 188, 269, 270 of Epidemic Act 1987. The singer was booked after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting at his official residence and issued an order in this regard.
The FIR was reportedly lodged against Kanika Kapoor for concealing facts and putting the public in danger.
Last week, the central government had invoked the Epidemic Act 1897 to combat novel coronavirus in India. The decision was taken in a meeting convened by the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba with representatives of the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other ministries, said media reports.
Under this Act, all the states and union territories have been advised to invoke the provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897. The section includes special measures to be taken by the Centre to “prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.” The section also includes the detention of people or any vessel that comes from international shores and is seen potent to spread the epidemic in the country.
According to reports, Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor, who tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, had stayed in room no 602 of Hotel Taj, which has also now been closed for two days.
Those who were present in the high-level meeting included Deputy Chief Ministers Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Maurya, several cabinet ministers and party`s Secretary (Organisation) Sunil Bansal to discuss the situation.
Maharashtra govt decides to replace AC local services by non-AC from March 20
MMNN:19 March 2020
MaharashtraAmid the rise in coronavirus cases nationwide, the Maharashtra government on Thursday decided to cancel the AC local services from March 20 till further orders. It will be replaced by non-AC services. Thus, the total number of services will remain the same.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday decided to reduce public transport commuter count by at least 50 per cent as part of measures to avoid crowding and enforce social distancing. After chairing a review meeting in Mumbai, CM Thackeray said that suburban trains, state-run buses and private ones will run only with 50 per cent of their seating capacity.
Maharashtra currently has 49 coronavirus positive cases, the highest for any state.
The number of commuters on the suburban trains of the Western Railway (WR) has reduced by over 8 lakh, the day when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to people to avoid non-essential travel in view of the coronavirus outbreak in the state.
According to WR, on March 17, 32.60 lakh passengers travelled on their suburban trains as against 40.75 lakh on Monday (down 8.15 lakhs)."The number of commuters reduced by around 25 per cent," Ravinder Bhakar, chief spokesperson of WR told news agency PTI.
Coronavirus impact: UGC tells universities to postpone exams, suspend evaluation work
MMNN:19 March 2020
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities and affiliated colleges on Thursday (March 19, 2020) to postpone examinations till March-end due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The evaluation work will be suspended during the period too.
"All universities and affiliated colleges should postpone exams till March 31 and suspend evaluation work. A further schedule should be decided following a review of the situation," the commission said in an order.
School, colleges and educational institutions in several states had been closed till March 31 in the wake of coronavirus scare. The continued widespread of coronavirus has taken a toll on multiple economies.
To combat the deadly coronavirus, states across the country have closed down all educational institutions, gyms, night clubs and spas. The Central Government has issued an order to close down all monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which also includes the Taj Mahal.
This will have a huge impact on the exchequer as there are more than 3000 monuments under ASI. The Health Ministry has also issued a notice that passengers travelling to India will not be allowed from EU Countries, the UK, European Free Trade Association, and Turkey from March 18, 2020.
Centre directs its employees to work in three shifts to tackle coronavirus spread
MMNN:19 March 2020
NEW DELHI: The central government on Thursday (March 19, 2020) altered the working hours of its employees and directed them to work in three shifts as part of measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. ''50 per cent of Group B and C employees are required to attend office every day, and the remaining 50 per cent of staff should be instructed to work from home,'' a statement from the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said.
Working hours of the employees should be altered, the statement suggested.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) also met today to review the situation arising out of coronavirus situation, which has so far claimed three lives in India and affected at least 168 people so far.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the nation on Thursday (March 19) at 8 PM, during which he will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it.
Notably, the Prime Minister also chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19. He discussed the ways to further strengthen India’s preparedness, and this included enhancing testing facilities.
"Prime Minister emphasised on actively engaging with individuals, local communities and organisations in chalking our mechanisms to fight the COVID-19 menace. He also urged officials an technical experts to deliberate on the steps to be taken next," a statement from PMO said.
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to all those at the forefront of combating COVID-19 including the various state governments, medical fraternity, paramedical staff, armed and paramilitary forces, those associated with the aviation sector, municipal staff and others.
Lawyer of convicts writes to International Court of Justice, seeks stay on March 22 hanging
MMNN:16 March 2020
New Delhi: Nirbhaya rape and murder case took a new twist on Monday (March 16) as the counsel for convicts wrote to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking a stay on the March 20 hanging of the 4 convicts. The lawyer also demanded that all the records of the lower court should be brought to the ICJ so that the case can be presented before it.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today rejected the plea of Mukesh Singh, one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, paving the way for convicts' hanging on March 20.
Mukesh has sought restoration of all his legal remedies alleging that his earlier lawyers misled him.
The SC bench of Justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah held Mukesh's plea as not maintainable and said the review petition and the curative petition have both been dismissed in the case.
The convict had sought quashing of all orders passed by courts and the rejection of his mercy petition by the President since the day his curative petition was dismissed by the top court on the ground that the earlier lawyer Vrinda Grover had misled him.
The plea, filed through advocate M L Sharma, sought a CBI probe into alleged "criminal conspiracy" and "fraud" hatched by the Centre, the Delhi government and advocate Vrinda Grover, who is the amicus curiae in the case.
Meanwhile, Asha Devi, he mother of the victim, today appealed for justice saying she has also been suffering for the past seven years.
She told ANI, "I would also want to appeal to the President to help me get justice for my daughter as well. People know me and my children by the name of Nirbhaya. I have also been dying for the last seven years," adding that she had to cope with people`s taunts about how she created a drama in these last seven years.
"I have to listen to all the things and taunts of the people say. People say I am creating a drama. I want to tell the whole country that if there someone who has been a victim to a crime and her/his family is demanding justice, and if this is a drama then I want to say that yes I am creating a drama," she said.
On March 5, a trial court issued fresh warrants with March 20, 5.30 am, as the date for the execution of the convicts -Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Singh (31).
Notably, a 23-year-old paramedic student, referred to as Nirbhaya, was brutally gang-raped and assaulted by six men in a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012 and was thrown out on the road. She succumbed to her injuries at a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.
Bihar govt will bear entire expenses of coronavirus positive patients, says CM Nitish Kumar
MMNN:16 March 2020
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday (March 16, 2020) said that the state government will bear the entire expenses of patients found positive of coronavirus under the Mukhyamantri Chikitsa Sahayata Kosh Yojana. While addressing Bihar assembly session Nitish Kumar further also declared that the state government will also provide ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of people who die due to coronavirus.
Asking the people of the state to take preventive measures, Nitish Kumar said that people should avoid going to any kind of public gatherings and urged them to make use of face mask. He said, ''Mask is not only for the deceased but those who are healthy should also ensure that they are using a mask so that they don't get affected by the virus.''
The Bihar CM also expressed concern over the rising case of corona across the globe and said that corona has infected more than 148 countries and more than 6000 cases have been reported globally which is a very alarming situation. He said that the cases of the corona have also been reported in the Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring country Nepal therefore people of the state need to take extra care during the emergency situation.
He also informed that all kind of government event have been cancelled with immediate effect and 100 isolated ventilators have been placed to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, screening is being done in Patna and Gaya airport to prevent the spread of the virus in the state.
Till now India has reported 116 positive cases and two deaths with Uttarakhand reporting its first case and one fresh case each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.
Kerala woman who joined ISIS reveals how Pakistani woman used to help her in camp
MMNN:16 March 2020
New Delhi Nimisha (now Fatima), a woman from Kerala who joined ISIS, has made a big disclosure saying that a Pakistani woman used to come to the ISIS camp in Afghanistan and used to meet all the terrorists living in the camp.
Indian intelligence agencies suspect that Pakistan is behind the strengthening of the ISIS terrorist group in Afghanistan.
In 2016, 21 people from Kerala reached Nangarhar in Afghanistan via different routes.
But the security forces arrested hundreds of terrorists in a major operation by Afghanistan Security Forces.
Last year, on November 15, 2019, Kerala's Nimisha alias Fatima was also among those who were arrested.
Nimisha, who is in Kabul jail with her 3-year-old daughter, told security agencies that a Pakistani woman used to help her financially in the camp of Nangarhar and also used to meet other terrorists.
Nimisha hails from Trivandrum and converted to Islam three years ago to become an ISIS terrorist with her husband in Afghanistan.
She was 7-month pregnant when she decided to move to Afghanistan.
Nimisha's mother Bindu while talking to Zee News said, "One day in 2016, Nimisha called and told me she was going to Sri Lanka but after a few days there was a news that a total of 21 people are missing from Kerala and all of them have joined ISIS in Afghanistan. Among those 21 people, one of the girls was Nimisha."
Her mother also told Zee News that Nimisha wanted to become a doctor and they had no idea that there was a conspiracy to brainwash her and make her a terrorist.
One day. Nimisha told her mother Bindu that she is married to a man named Baxon aka Isa. Baxon had left Christianity and converted to Islam.
According to Bindu, Nimisha was a victim of love jihad and with the help of a Muslim organization, she was married to Baxon.
She also said, "Nimisha was brainwashed here in Kerala was sent to Afghanistan as an ISIS terrorist."
Like Nimisha, a girl named Marin also left Christianity and converted to Islam and changed her name to Mariam.
Mariam also became an ISIS terrorist along with her husband, a man named Yahiya who was earlier known as Bastin.
According to a report of Indian intelligence agencies, Mariyam is among the ISIS associated terrorists of Kerala who have been arrested in Afghanistan.
Reports also say that Bastin was killed in the operation of the security forces.
Of the 21 people who went missing from Kerala, 6 are women and three are children. In Kerala, the conspiracy to make terrorists through love Jihad is still continuing.
Indian Railways to abolish booking of tickets through agents, venders
MMNN:13 March 2020
New Delhi: In a big decision, the Indian Railways will soon end the system of booking train tickets through agents and venders. The announcement in this regard was made by Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in Lok Sabha. The announcement is part of the Indian Railways’ ongoing crackdown on touts and unauthorised ticket sellers.
Speaking in Lok Sabha, the Railways Minister said that due to penetration of smartphone in the Indian household, train tickets can now be easily booked online through mobile phone using the IRCTC App.
Goyal informed the MPs in Lok Sabha that in the past one year, the Indian Railways has taken several steps to end corruption and the nexus of rail agents and venders in booking train tickets and arrested several persons in this connection.
Goyal said that an assessment of railway stoppages will be done and unnecessary stoppages will be abolished to reduce the time of travel. According to the Railways Minister, the Consultative Committee of Parliament has given its nod for the proposals made by the ministry.
Union Railway Minister also attacked the previous Congress-led governments in Lok Sabha, saying they presented separate railways budget only to mislead people.
Replying to a discussion on demands for grants of the Ministry of Railways, he said separate railways budget was only a "balloon" and only attracted "claps" in the House.
He said the "fake" announcements used to only "mislead people in elections". Citing some examples, the Railways Minister said some projects are pending since 1974.
He said allocations for the sector was enhanced to Rs 1.61 lakh crore this year from Rs 54,000 crore in 2013-14. The increased allocation is being used on 58 super-critical and 68 critical projects, Goyal said, adding the current government fixes big target and make all efforts to achieve that.
"We fixed a target for electrification of 6,000 km of the rail line and reached 5,200 km as against 600-650 km of electrification in 2013-14," he said. Goyal also criticised the previous governments on pension funds for the sector, stating they did not take any steps to strengthen this fund.
"In 2014, this fund was very low. We built that adequately," he said, adding this government took calibrated steps to increase revenues for railways, rather than hiking fares by 60-70 per cent and burdening passengers.
On his ministry’s criticism over the slow pace of work in states, Goyal said if states provide help in terms of land availability and other clearances, the project will be implemented at a fast pace.
For north-eastern states, he said several projects are underway. Earlier about 60 helplines numbers were there for registering complaints, but "we have only one (139) for general complaints" and another (182) for security-related matters.
He said the Rail Ministry has sent a written reply to all members who have participated in the discussion.
TDP MLA meets CM Jagan Mohan Reddy amid indications of switching parties
MMNN:13 March 2020
Amaravati: The Telugu Desam Party suffered yet another blow as its veteran leader and Chirala MLA Karanam Balarama Krishna Murthy on Thursday (March 12, 2020) met Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy here amid indications that he has switched loyalties to the ruling YSR Congress.
Murthy's son Venkatesh formally joined the YSRC but, because of apparent technical reasons, the former did not.
Former MLA Paleti Rama Rao also joined the YSRC on the occasion.
The father and son, besides Rama Rao, met Jagan Mohan Reddy at his residence here on Thursday evening and discussed Chirala constituency development issues.
Murthy is the third MLA of the TDP to switch sides to the YSRC in recent times, though the other two too had not formally joined the ruling outfit.
The TDP had won 23 seats in the elections to the 175-member assembly last year.
While Venkatesh spoke to the media later, his father left soon after meeting the Chief Minister.
We have decades of association with the TDP but, attracted by the welfare programmes of this government, we joined the YSRC. We have our father's support, Venkatesh said.
Murthy, a strong man for the TDP in Prakasam district, had previously served as an MP and an MLC as well.
Meanwhile, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with his party leaders from Prakasam district in the wake of the latest setback and appointed a new in-charge for Chirala constituency, party sources said.
All the three rebel TDP MLAs have not officially become members of the YSRC as they apparently want to avoid attraction of the anti-defection law provisions.
Jagan Mohan Reddy had also set a pre-condition that any legislator wishing to join his party should first resign from their post.
In fact, the first TDP MLA to crossover, Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, used his suspension from the party as a ruse to seek recognition in the assembly as an unattached member.
Shocked by it, the TDP did not suspend Guntur MLA Maddali Giri when he too switched sides.
While three MLCs also jumped over to the YSRC from the TDP, one formally resigned from his post.
In recent days, many former legislators left the TDP and walked over to the YSRC.
The TDP suffered the biggest blow in Kadapa, the Chief Ministers' native district, where former minister Ramasubba Reddy and former MLC Satish Reddy quit the party.
While Ramasubba Reddy joined the YSRC, Satish is expected to follow suit.
In Prakasam district, another former MLA Kadiri Babu Rao too had joined the ruling party.
In Visakhapatnam district, while former MLA S A Rahman already joined the YSRC, another ex-legislator P Ramesh Babu is also expected to follow, having resigned from the TDP.
SAARC leadership could chalk out strong strategy to fight coronavirus: PM Modi
MMNN:13 March 2020
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed a video conference of SAARC leaders to chalk out a joint strategy to fight coronavirus and set an example for the world.
"I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy," he said.
"Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it," Modi said on Twitter.
South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people are healthy, he said.
Together, the prime minister said, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is A regional intergovernmental organization that comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Tahir Hussain denies involvement in Delhi violence, says no role in killing of Intelligence Bureau employee Ankit Sharma
MMNN:27 February 2020
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Haji Tahir Hussain, who is a corporator from Ward 59 of Nehru Vihar, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, has denied his involvement in the death of Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee Ankit Sharma through a video statement.
In the video, Tahir Hussain is heard denying his role in inciting violence claiming that he was a victim of mob violence and was rescued by Police two days ago.
The AAP corporator's statement comes after an IB employee was found dead in a drain in northeast Delhi's Chand Bagh area. Calling himself “a peaceful Indian Muslim”, Tahir said he will always work for the country and Hindu-Muslim relations.
Tahir Hussain told ANI, "I worked to stop violence, I'm innocent. I stopped people from climbing up my building. On February 24, police conducted a search of my building and moved us out from there, and later, we shifted to a safe location. Till 4 pm on February 25, police were present at the building."
Several videos, however, have been shared on social media in which Tahir, dressed in a red sweater and white shirt, is seen moving around his rooftop. He is also in the same dress in the video which he posted in his defence.
The brother of Ankit Sharma on Wednesday told Zee News that Tahir Hussain was behind the killing of his brother. He said that hundreds of rioters took refuge at the AAP corporator's house. They pelted stones from there and also fired bullets along with throwing petrol bombs.
Notably, the death toll in the communal violence in northeast Delhi has reached 34 on Thursday.
Delhi HC judge transfer: Law Minister RS Prasad says, 'well settled process was followed'
MMNN:27 February 2020
Hours after the transfer of Delhi High Court Justice S Muralidhar raised eyebrows, the Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday (February 27) issued a statement saying that "well-settled process was followed" and that the whole thing is being politicised by the Congress party.
In a series of tweet, the BJP minister wrote: "Transfer of Hon’ble Justice Muralidhar was done pursuant to the recommendation dated 12.02.2020 of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India. While transferring the judge consent of the judge is taken. The well-settled process have been followed."
Prasad added, "By politicising a routine transfer, Congress has yet again displayed its scant regard for the judiciary. People of India have rejected Congress Party and hence it is hell-bent on destroying the very institutions India cherishes by constantly attacking them."
The minister said that his party respected the judiciary and that it was the Congress' record of compromising the independence of the judiciary. "We respect the independence of the judiciary. Record of Congress in compromising the independence of the judiciary, superseding judges even of Supreme Court during Emergency is well known. They rejoice only when the judgment is of their liking otherwise raise questions on the institutions itself," he wrote.
On the issue of Judge Loya, Prasad said, "The Loya judgement has been well settled by the Supreme Court. Those raising questions do not respect the judgment of the Apex Court pronounced after elaborate arguments. Does Rahul Gandhi consider himself above even the Supreme Court?"
Further, he slammed the Sonia Gandhi-led party claiming that they had no right to lecture the ruling party about objectionable speeches. "The Party, which is the private property of one family, has no right to lecture about objectionable speeches. The family & its cronies have routinely used the harshest words against the Courts, the Army, the CAG, the PM and the people of India," he said.
Late on Wednesday (February 26) night Justice S Muralidhar, who was hearing cases related to Delhi violence, was issued a transfer notice. He has been sent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court as part of a routine transfer recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium.
Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, wife Tazeen Fatma, son Abdullah Azam shifted to Sitapur jail
MMNN:27 February 2020
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, his legislator-wife Tazeen Fatma, and MLA-son Abdullah Azam have been shifted to Sitapur Jail due to security reasons, according to sources. The senior SP leader along with his wife and son had surrendered before a Rampur court on Wednesday and were sent to judicial custody till March 2.
The noose around the Khans tightened in the wake of Abdullah's allegedly fake birth certificate case, besides several other cases. Jail Superintendent of Sitapur, DC Mishra, said that the Samajwadi MP and his son Abdullah will be provided with special security inside the jail , while Tazeen Fatma Azam will be kept in women's barracks.
Notably, the case relates to two birth certificates for Abdullah Azam, who allegedly also gave a wrong date of birth while filing his nomination papers for the assembly elections in 2017. His election was set aside by the Allahabad High Court last December, and he also approached the Supreme Court, which is still hearing the case.
Earlier on Monday, Rampur's Additional District Judge Dhirendra Kumar had rejected an anticipatory bail plea filed by the family and issued non-bailable warrants and notice for attaching their property.
All three family members on Wednesday surrendered before the court, which sent them to judicial custody. Without questioning the judge's ruling, SP president Akhilesh Yadav reportedly stated that that the BJP government was indulging in the vendetta against the politician.
A Rampur BJP leader Akash Saxena had lodged an FIR at Gang police station on January 3, 2019, alleging fraud related to Abdullah Azam's two birth certificates. In April, police filed the charge sheet in court. It alleged that Azam Khan's son also had two passports and two PAN cards.
In one birth certificate, issued by the Rampur municipality, Abdullah's birth date was mentioned as January 1, 1993. The other certificate said he was born in Lucknow on September 30, 1990, according to the charge against him.
A case was also registered against Azam Khan and his wife as they had submitted an affidavit testifying their son's second birth certificate. Azam Khan represents Rampur in the Lok Sabha and his wife is an MLA from the Rampur assembly seat.
Abdullah won from the Suar assembly segment in 2017. The Allahabad High Court had set aside his election last December on a plea by defeated BSP candidate Kazim Ali Khan, who alleged that the SP candidate was under 25 when he filed his nomination papers in 2017.
Strict action against those cheating in Uttar Pradesh high school and intermediate examinations, over 3 lakh candidates quit examinations
MMNN:21 February 2020
Uttar Pradesh : The effect of an initiative taken by the Yogi Adityanath government to stop cheating in examinations is being reflected in the high school and intermediate examinations under the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Council. Due to the Yogi government's strictness to stop copying in the examinations, 3,58,618 candidates have left the examination within three days of commencement of examination till now. The examinations started on February 18.
Significantly, on the first day of the examinations, of Hindi and General Hindi subjects, 3,16,116 candidates had left the examination and this number kept on increasing for the third consecutive day. As of 7 pm on February 20, the number released by the UP board of those leaving the examination reached 3,58,618. A total of 65 candidates have been caught cheating so far while FIR has been filed against 12 candidates and administrator of the examination centre involved in this.
This time in the UP Board's High School and Intermediate Examination, the country's largest examination system, a total of 56,07,118 candidates have registered and 7,784 examination centres have been set up across the state for this examinations. Those appearing for the high school examination consists of 30,22,607 candidates and 25,84,511 candidates have registered for the intermediate examination.
However, in some districts, question marks are being raised on the board's claim of conducting a test without copying due to the leak of paper on Thursday. The board has also claimed to deal with such people strictly. As of now, it is believed that in the coming days many main subjects examinations are going to be held for both high school and intermediate and so the number of candidates leaving the examination will increase further.
After Amulya Leona, another girl displays 'Dalit Mukti, Kashmir Mukti & Muslim Mukti' placard in Bengaluru
MMNN:21 February 2020
Bengaluru: A day after Amulya Leona incident of raising pro-Pakistan slogans at an anti-CAA rally organised by AIMIM in Karnataka, the state police on Friday (February 21) took another girl in custody for holding a placard reading 'Dalit Mukti, Kashmir Mukti & Muslim Mukti' in Kannada. The girl was sitting among Hindu Jagaran Samiti members who were protesting against Amulya Leona. The Bengaluru Police later disclosed the name of the woman as Arudra.
Confirming the incident, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said that the girl was taken in custody for interrogation. "The girl is a fashion designer ... she is not minor ...She is regretting her action," he said, adding "She does not know anything about CAA /NRC." "Who is instigating these people we need to find out," he added.
Meanwhile, Bhaskar Rao said, "a case has been registered against the girl (Amulya) and others. She has been remanded to judicial custody. We are looking at role of organisers. Role of honourable MP(Asaduddin Owaisi) does not figure anywhere as he was also an invitee."
Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, however, told ANI, "Amulya Leona comes from a place where Naxals have been very active for a long time. She has shared a lot of posts on Facebook. We will investigate these angle as well."
Earlier in the day, Amulya Leona's residence at Gubbi Gadde village Chikmagalur was vandalised by some protesters. Keeping the family's safety in mind, security detail has been provided to the family.
The police filed an FIR against Amulya under Section 124A (Offence of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and she has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Amulya Leona, 24, had raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan during an anti-CAA rally organised by AIMIM in Karnataka on Thursday.
Amulya Leona's father and small-time Janata Dal (Secular) leader Oswald Naronha condemned his daughter's act, and added "the guilty should be punished as per law". He claimed that he had tried advise Amulya many a times but she does not heed his advice.
China denies delay in granting permission to special Indian flight to coronavirus hit-Wuhan
MMNN:21 February 2020
Beijing: China on Friday (February 21) denied any delay in allowing a special Indian flight to the coronavirus-hit Wuhan city to deliver medical supplies and evacuate remaining Indians from there, saying the concerned departments of both the countries were in touch to finalise the schedule.
India on February 17 announced that it will send Indian Air Force's largest plane C-17 Globemaster with medical supplies to Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus, and bring back its nationals as well as citizens from all neighbouring countries who were still stuck there on the return flight.
The special flight to Wuhan is reportedly awaiting clearance from China.
India evacuated 647 Indians and seven Maldivians by operating two Special Air India flights to Wuhan earlier this month.
Asked why there is a delay in granting permission to the third Indian flight, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told an online press briefing on Friday that China has assisted India earlier to evacuate a large number of Indians from Wuhan and Hubei province.
The competent departments on the two sides are still in communication on the arrangement for the remaining 80 people that India plans to fly home. There is no such a thing as China delaying giving flight permissions, he said.
Geng said the Chinese government attaches high importance to the lives and health of all foreign nationals in China.
A Chinese official on Thursday said 29 foreign nationals in China were infected with the novel coronavirus and 18 of them have recovered.
We have offered them all the necessary help they need and will continue to do so. At present, China's prevention efforts have been proven to be effective, he said, referring to Chinese health officials' observation that the cases of the virus have started declining.
We hope that relevant countries will respect the reasonable recommendations given by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and avoid overreacting. China will continue to work with the international community to fight against the epidemic and promote the global cause of public health, he said.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the novel coronavirus in China has risen to 2,236 with 118 more casualties reported, mostly from the hard-hit Hubei province, while the overall confirmed infection cases have climbed to 75,465, Chinese health officials said on Friday.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets Home Minister Amit Shah, says no discussion on Shaheen Bagh issue
MMNN:19 February 2020
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday and both the leaders agreed that the Centre and Delhi government need to work together for the development of Delhi.
After the meeting, CM Kejriwal took to micro-blogging site Twitter asserting that the meeting was very good and fruitful. "Met Hon’ble Home Minister Sh Amit Shah Ji. Had a very good and fruitful meeting. Discussed several issues related to Delhi. Both of us agreed that we will work together for the development of Delhi," tweeted CM Kejriwal.
He also said, "It was a good meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere. We held discussions on various issues. We agreed that the Central govt and Delhi govt need to work together for the development of Delhi. We will work together."
When asked if they had discussed the matter of Shaheen Bagh during their meeting, the CM said, "There was no discussion on that."
The two met for the first time after CM Kejriwal took oath for a third consecutive term on February 16 (Sunday). "It is a courtesy call. He is to seek Centre`s cooperation to run Delhi government smoothly," a senior Delhi government official told news agency IANS.
Kejriwal, who won the state Assembly polls with a thumping majority, has been demanding full statehood for Delhi. He has often been at loggerheads with the Centre on the issue of law and order, which comes under the control of the Union Home Ministry.
Cabinet approves Rs 4,458 crore scheme to boost dairy sector, benefitting 95 lakh farmers
MMNN:19 February 2020
New Delhi The Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 4,458 crore scheme to boost the dairy sector which will benefit 95 lakh farmers, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. Addressing an event in the national capital, Javadekar said that the Cabinet has approved the launch of the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission which will cover the all rural areas as well.
The Cabinet has also approved the elevation of Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG) in Gujarat as Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics. It also gave a nod to the creation of the 22nd Law Commission.
The Cabinet also decided to make the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) voluntary for farmers, said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. He added that the decision was taken in the cabinet meeting following some complaints regarding the scheme launched in April 2016.
PMFBY is compulsory for loanee farmers availing crop loan and Kishan Credit Card (KCC) account for notified crops, while it is voluntary for others. The scheme provides comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to the post-harvest period against non-preventable natural risks at extremely low premium rates of 2 per cent for Kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for rabi crops and 5 per cent for horticulture and commercial crops.
The cabinet also gave its sanction of Rs 6,000 crore for the Farmer Producers` Organisation (FPO) as the government has a target of creating 1,000 FPOs in the next five years.
Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami announces subsidy for ulemas to buy 2-wheelers; Rs 15 crore for Haj house
MMNN:19 February 2020
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday (February 19) announced 50 per cent subsidy for 'ulemas' to buy two-wheelers and also hiked their pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000, during the Budget Session of the state Assembly.
Palaniswami also announced that Rs 15 crore fund would be allotted for Haj house.
The Chief Minister further said that his government will celebrate former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa`s birthday as `State Women Children Protection Day` on February 24. In the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said, "Our state government will celebrate former CM J Jayalalithaa`s birthday on February 24 as State Women Children Protection Day, as she had worked for women and children and had launched many schemes for them."
Jayalalithaa, popularly known as `Amma`, breathed her last on December 5, 2016, at Chennai`s Apollo hospital.
On Tuesday, Palaniswami accused the DMK of deceiving the people over the CAA and dared it to explain "which minority" community has been affected by the law in the state.
Making an intervention in the state assembly when a DMK member batted for a House resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Chief Minister slammed the principal opposition party and said it was deceiving the people on the issue.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly, debating the 2020-21 budget, witnessed exchanges over the controversial law even as protests by Muslims against it continued for the fifth day at Old Washermanpet in Chennai.
Kashi-Mahakal Express inaugural run special: Berth No. 64, Coach B5 reserved for Lord Shiva
MMNN:17 February 2020
New Delhi: Indian Railway's move to reserve seat number 64 in coach B5 for Lord Shiva on the Kashi Mahakal Express, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 16) from the Varanasi junction, has created controversy as the berth was turned into a mini-temple devoted to Lord Shiva.
The seat number 64 of coach B5 in the Kashi-Mahakal Express has been turned into a mini-temple devoted to Lord Shiva, while it was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from Varanasi junction on Sunday.
Pictures dedicated to Lord Shiva were kept on the seat by Railway authorities, who are mulling to keep this seat reserved for the Lord in the days ahead, said an ANI report, adding that offering prayers at the seat on auspicious days and occasions are also being considered.
The IRCTC, however, said on Monday that the seat was reserved for Lord Shiva during its inaugural run as a "one-time affair" to seek "blessings" for the success of the new project.
Issuing a statement, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said the train staff had "temporarily put the photos of Shri Mahakaal" on an upper berth during the inaugural run on Sunday to perform a pooja.
"The inaugural run was also not open to passengers. There is going to be no such reserved or dedicated berth for this purpose in the commercial run of the train which is starting from February 20, 2020 onwards," the statement added.
Notably, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted a photo of the Preamble of the Constitution, tagging the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and questioning the move by railway authorities.
The train, which will connect three Jyotirlingas -- Omkareshwar near Indore, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, is scheduled to begin its first commercial run on February 20.
It will be the third train to be run by the IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations.
Supreme Court judgment on Permanent Commission will uplift women across country not just in Army, say officers
MMNN:17 February 2020
New Delhi: Women Army officers on Monday (February 17) welcomed the Supreme Court order directing the Centre to grant them the Permanent Commission (PC), saying it will help uplift women across the country and not just in the armed forces.
A woman officer, who was accompanied by some other women colleagues from the Army, said whoever qualifies for the job should be given the opportunity to command.
The SC order, which has to be implemented within three months, will uplift women across the country and not just those in the Army, she said.
"Commanding cannot be done right away. It needs training. So give them training and whoever fits the benchmark, should be given the opportunity. As per the Supreme Court ruling, the order will be applied on all serving women officers," the officer said.
Advocate Meenakshi Lekhi, who appeared for women officers, said the apex court judgment has given equal rights to the women officers as their male counterparts.
She said a long-pending right has been given to women officers through this order.
"The sky is virtually the limit," Lekhi said, adding the top court has also made some observations on how the army authorities have been "misleading" the court on the issue.
The top court termed "disturbing", the Centre's argument of physiological limitations and social norms for denying women officers command posts and said there will not be an absolute bar on giving them command postings.
It also said women officers in the past have brought laurels to the country and a change of mindset is required on the part of the government to put an end to gender bias in the armed forces.
The top court said despite there being no stay on a 2010 Delhi High Court verdict allowing the grant of permanent commission to women officers, the Centre has over past one decade shown scant regard in implementing the directive.
It said engagement of women officers in the Army has been an evolutionary process and the Union of India should have acted in accordance with the Delhi High Court judgment when there was no stay on it.
Delhi court issues fresh death warrant for 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case convicts, to be executed on March 3 at 6 am
MMNN:17 February 2020
New Delhi A Delhi court on Monday issued a fresh death warrant for the four convicts of the Nirbhaya gangrape case. The new date issued by the Patiala Court for the hanging of Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, and Mukesh Singh is March 3 at 6 am.
"I expect this to be the final verdict and have high hopes," said Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi. Nirbhaya's father, Badrinath said, "It is a very good thing that people are happy and the whole country is happy. Now the hanging os definite. The guilty will be afraid now. Crime will stop only if punishment is metted out."
Nirbhaya's lawyers Seema Kushwaha said, "Where will the delayed tactics be adopted now when the court said that everything will be done in seven days. The lawyers are trying to mislead."
Earlier in the day, the court heard a plea seeking the issuance of fresh death warrants against all the convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder case. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana pronounced the order on a petition. Tihar Jail`s law officer handed over a status report to the court.
Special Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan apprised the court about the current status of the case and also stated that three out of four convicts have already exhausted their legal remedies. There is no petition pending in any court, Mohan said. He also mentioned that Delhi High Court had given seven-day time to the convicts and that period is over.
On February 14, the Supreme Court had dismissed Sharma`s petition. President Ram Nath Kovind had also rejected the mercy petitions of convicts Akshay Thakur and Mukesh Singh. The Delhi High Court on February 5 granted a week`s time to the four convicts to avail of all legal remedies available to them and said that the convicts cannot be hanged separately since they were convicted for the same crime.
A Delhi Court had issued a death warrant against the four convicts on January 7 and they were scheduled to be executed on January 22 at Tihar Jail. Later, the execution was suspended indefinitely by a Delhi court.
The case pertains to the gang-rape and brutalizing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adults accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case.
Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, the new name of Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in Delhi
MMNN:13 February 2020
New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (February 13) decided to rename Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, Delhi as Sushma Swaraj Bhawan & Foreign Service Institute, Delhi as Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service.
The announcement is being made on the eve of her birth anniversary falling on 14th February in honour of the legacy and decades of public service of the former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to pay tribute to her invaluable contribution.
Remembering Sushma Swaraj, EAM Dr S Jaishankar tweeted, "Glad to announce that the Government has decided to rename Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra as Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and Foreign Service Institute as Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service. A fitting tribute to a great public figure who continues to inspire us."
On Augst 6, 2019 Sushma Swaraj passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. A politician of many firsts, her demise marked an end to a political era in Delhi, where she was the last of surviving former Chief Ministers after the death of Sheila Dikshit.
Sushma Swaraj became the first woman Chief Minister of Delhi in 1998, albeit for a short period. Her successor was Sheila Dikshit, who went on to occupy the post for 15 long years and who passed away last month.
In her political career spanning over five decades, Sushma Swaraj was the first full-time woman External Affairs Minister (2014-19). She was also the first woman Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha -- between 2009 and 2014.
She entered politics when few women did so. She was not only the first woman spokesperson in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also in any national party, and became the youngest Cabinet Minister in Haryana at age 25 in 1977.
Born to a father who was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sushma Swaraj joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Emergency and steadily rose the ranks.
Maternal uncle arrested for allegedly killing family of 5 in Delhi's Bhajanpura
MMNN:13 February 2020
New Delhi: The horrific murders of five members of a family in Northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura was allegedly carried out by the maternal uncle of the head of the family, Shambhu Chaudhary. Police arrested Shambhu's maternal uncle Prabhu Mishra on Thursday for the crime.
Prabhu committed the gruesome crime as he was unable to return Rs 30,000 that he had borrowed from Shambhu who had been putting pressure on him to pay back the amount. Shambhu and Prabhu had quarrelled over the money on several occasions with the former demanding that he (Prabhu) return the money at the earliest.
Police initially arrested Prabhu on the basis of suspicion. During interrogation, Prabhu broke down and allegedly confessed to the five murders.
All the five dead bodies were in a house in Bhajanpura on Wednesday. The five identified as Shambhu Chaudhary (43), his wife Sunita (37), son Shivam (17), son Sachin (14) and daughter Komal (12) had been killed with a sharp-edged weapon and bore injury marks on their neck and other parts of the body.
Police began investigating the case from a personal enmity angle as no traces of loot was found in the house. Shambhu ran a small juice stall and also drove an e-rickshaw in the locality. Hailing from Bihar's Supaul district, he was a tenant in the house where he and his family were killed.
The murders came to light after neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from the house, which was locked from outside, and informed the police. The police broke open the door and found the five decomposed bodies. A forensic team was also called to the spot to collect evidence, said Ved Prakash Surya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast).
Fire breaks out at Rolta Technology Park building in Mumbai's Andheri East
MMNN:13 February 2020
Mumbai: Fire breaks out in an office building at Andheri East, Mumbai on Thursday (February 13). As many as 12 fire tenders reached the spot to douse the massive fire.
The reason behind the fire incident is yet to be ascertained. People near the building were evacuated as soon as the incident took place.
A level-III fire has been reported at Rolta company in Andheri East. The fire is said to be confined to the server room on the second floor of the Rolta company.
Meanwhile, the search operation is underway to search and rescue any trapped persons.
Because of aluminum cladding and glass facade and no ventilation situation is still grave.
Meanwhile, firemen are battling from inside as well as outside the building using special appliances, donning breathing apparatus sets, to douse the fire
A total of 27 vehicles have reached the spot, including 11 fire engines and 9 jet tankers, control the fire.
Second group of 25 foreign envoys in Jammu and Kashmir for two-day visit
MMNN:12 February 2020
JAMMU AND KASHMIR A second group of foreign envoys reached Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit, February 12-13, to take stock of the ground situation after the abrogation of Article 370. The delegation has 25 diplomats, including 10 from the European Union (EU), from different countries.
The group will visit Baramulla, Srinagar and Jammu where they would meet representatives of the civil society, including youth from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic communities, local business and political leaders, civil administration and representatives of mainstream media.
They will also receive a briefing about the development programmes being implemented, get an assessment of the security situation, and witness for themselves the progressive normalisation of the situation.
The group comprises of envoys from Afghanistan, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, European Union, France, Germany, Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Rwanda, Slovak Republic, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
The team reached Srinagar at 11 am and after reaching their hotel took a Shikara ride in Dal Lake. After this, the members went to the hotel back there they are meeting various delegations. They will get information about the situation arising after August 5. They will stay the night in Srinagar and on Thursday go to Jammu where they will meet LG and maybe with some political leaders.
India had taken the first batch of 15 envoys on January 9-10. These envoys included from countries of Latin America, Africa, ASEAN and envoy of the US. The demand for statehood, restoration of internet, development dominated the discourse during the envoy's meet with civil society in Srinagar.
US had called the visit an important step but raised concern over the detention of political leaders. US state dept's Alice Wells in a tweet had said, "Closely following @USAmbIndia & other foreign diplomats’ recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step. We remain concerned by the detention of political leaders and residents, and internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy."
In October 2019, a group of European parliamentarians were taken on a visit but that was in their private capacity.
Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi breaks down, says 'losing faith in court and legal procedures'
MMNN:12 February 2020
Delhi Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Wednesday broke down outside a trial court premises in the national capital while protesting over the delay in the hanging of the four convicts in the gangrape and murder case of her daughter. This happened after the Patiala House Court offered Pawan Gupta, one of the convicts, legal aide saying that a condemned convict is entitled to it till his last breath.
The parents of Nirbhaya and the Delhi government had moved the court on February 11 seeking fresh death warrants for the four convicts after the Supreme Court granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts.
A weeping Asha Devi stated that she has been patiently fighting for the last eight years but she is losing faith in court and its legal procedures. "I am losing faith and hope now. The court must understand the delay tactics of the convicts. Now if a new lawyer is provided to convict Pawan he/she will take his/her own time to go through case files," stated Nirbhaya's mother.
She also said, "The judge does not want to fix a date for hanging the convicts and is supporting them. I appeal to the Supreme Court to issue the death warrant as the Patiala House Court is in no mood to issue a fresh death warrant."
Wiping her tears, she further said, "I am wandering here and there to get justice for my daughter. These convicts are using delaying tactics. I don't know why the Court is not able to understand this."
Earlier, crying inside the court premises, she said, "What about my rights? I am standing with folded hands. Please issue the death warrant. I am also a human being. It’s been more than seven years." Replying to her the judge said, "You have rights that's why we are listening to you."
The advocate for Nirbhaya's parents said, "All delay tactics are being used. Pawan Gupta has not filed curative and mercy petitions. The Delhi High Court's order had directed them to exhaust remedies if available in seven days but that time has lapsed. Now they can't say that they want remedies."
Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana expressed displeasure over delay from Pawan's side who said he has removed his earlier lawyer and will need time to engage a new one. District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) provided Pawan's father with a list of its empanelled advocates to chose from.
The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The trial court later, on January 31 stayed, "till further orders" the execution of the four convicts in the case, who are lodged in Tihar Jail.
The Tihar jail authorities had filed a status report on Tuesday before the trial court stating that no legal option was preferred by any convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in last seven-day period, granted by the Delhi High Court.
Now, non-subsidised LPG cylinder to cost you more! Price hiked by Rs 144
MMNN:12 February 2020
New Delhi: State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Wednesday (February 12, 2020) hiked the price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders across metro cities by over Rs 100. The new rates would be applicable from today. The LPG cylinder prices had not increased after January 1, 2020.
According to Indian Oil, "In Delhi price of Indane gas rose to Rs 858.50 (increased by Rs 144.50), in Kolkata Rs 896.00 (increased by Rs 149), in Mumbai Rs 829.50 (increased by Rs 145) and in Chennai Rs 881.00 (increased by Rs 147)."
Indian Oil is the country`s largest fuel retailer which supplies LPG under brand Indane.
Currently, LPG consumers in the country have to purchase the fuel at market prices.
The government subsidises 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each per household in a year by providing the subsidy amount directly in the bank accounts of users.
This subsidy amount depends on changes in the average international benchmark LPG rate and foreign exchange rate.
Budget Will "Energise Financial System And Credit Flow" Says PM Modi
MMNN:1 February 2020
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the Union budget which comes amid a major slowdown in economy, saying it will "increase income and investment, demand and consumption, energise the financial system and credit flow". The budget has further strengthened the government's commitment of minimum government, maximum governance, the Prime Minister said, adding that it has also eased the taxation process.
Besides putting more money into the hands of the salaried class through optional tax cuts, the budget, PM Modi said, opened up options for employment generation.
"Smart cities, data centre parks, biotechnology - we have taken several policy initiatives," the Prime Minister said, adding that India is going to become a "big part of the global value chain".
The budget comes amid a downward spiral of the GDP over the last five quarters. It slowed to 4.5 per cent in the July-September quarter - the weakest pace since 2013. This is the biggest slowdown since the 2008-09 global financial crisis.
The Finance Minister has said the fiscal deficit is estimated at 3.8 per cent (revised estimate for 2019-20) of the gross domestic product in the current financial year, and the government aims to lower it to 3.5 per cent in the financial year ending March 2021.
The fiscal plan, she said, is based on three main themes: an "aspirational India, economic development for all and a caring society".
Rs 100 Crore For India Hosting G20 Presidency: Finance Minister
MMNN:1 February 2020
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Budget presentation in Lok Sabha on Saturday said India will host the G20 Presidency in 2022 and the government has allocated Rs 100 crore for making preparations for this historic occasion, where it will drive global economic agenda.
The Group of 20 nations (G20) is an international grouping consisting of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US.
It was conceived as a bloc to create a common platform to bring together the industrialised and developing economies, to have a discussion on international economic and financial stability. With India hosting the G20 Presidency, it is expected to play a crucial role in driving the global economic agenda.
The meeting of world leaders is usually preceded by ministerial meeting of finance and trade ministers, and central bank governors. This meeting designs the economic agenda for the world leaders to discuss. In 2022, India would look to leverage this opportunity to increase its footprints in the global economic agenda.
The G20 is often credited with containing the shift to protectionism in the backdrop of the global financial meltdown in 2008. To counter this economic meltdown, the G20 decided to a three-fold increase in the International Monetary Fund's budget and gave development banks more remit.
Budget Highlights 2020: Know Key Takeaways Of Union Budget
MMNN:1 February 2020
New Delhi: Union Budget 2020 was today presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanin a bid to revive the economic growth and boost people's income. The Budget is based on three themes - aspirational India, economic development for all, and caring society. The Finance Minister began her speech by saying that the Budget 2020-21 is for boosting income and improving the purchasing power of people. The Finance Minister said the fiscal deficit is estimated at 3.8 per cent (revised estimate for 2019-20) of the gross domestic product in the current financial year, and the government aims to lower it to 3.5 per cent (budget estimate for 2020-21) in the financial year ending March 2021. She proposed to allocate Rs 69,000 crore to the healthcare sector and Rs 12,300 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship cleanliness programme Swachh Bharat Mission. The Finance Minister also earmarked another Rs 3.6 lakh crore towards the supply of piped water to households. Here are some of the highlights of budget 2020.
Highlights Of Union Budget 2020:
Budget Highlight: INCOME TAX:
The income tax rates have been revised.
5% tax for income between Rs 2.5-5 lakh
10% tax for income between Rs 5-7.5 lakh as against 20%
15% tax for income between Rs 7.5-10 lakh as against 20%
20% tax for income between Rs 10-12.5 lakh as against 30%
25% tax for income between Rs 12.5-15 lakh as against 30%
30% tax for income above Rs 15 lakh
Income tax rates will be significantly reduced for those who forego reliefs, exemptions, said Finance Minister
Budget Highlight:HEALTHCARE
Rs 690 billion will be spent toward healthcare spending
Budget Highlight: TRANSPORT
100 more airports are planned by 2024
Over 6,000 km of highways in 12 lots will be monetized by 2024
One major airport will be privatized
High-speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be actively pursued, Nirmala Sitharaman says while presenting Union Budget 2020.
Budget Highlight: 16-POINT ACTION PLAN FOR FARMERS
The government is committed to doubling farmers' income by 2022, the Finance Minister said, as she proposed to allocate Rs 2.83 lakh crore for agriculture and rural sectors such as irrigation.
Budget Highlight: MANUFACTURING
Schemes that encourage manufacturing of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semiconductor packaging will be introduced
Private sector to build Data Centre Parks throughout the country will be encouraged
80 billion rupees over five years to be provided for quantum technologies and applications
Milk processing capacity to be doubled by 2025
Budget Highlight: BANKING/INSURANCE
Insurance cover for bank depositors to be raised to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 1 lakh
Budget Highlight: INFRASTRUCTURE
5 new smart cities in public-private partnership mode
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to be completed by 2023
100 more airports to be developed by 2024
Estimated nominal GDP growth rate for 2020-21 is 10 per cent, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Wealth creators will be respected in this country, tax harassment will not be tolerated, she added.
ISRO unveils female humanoid for Gaganyaan mission: Meet Vyommitra
MMNN:22 January 2020
ISRO The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday unveiled the female humanoid to be placed in the first unmanned mission under the Gaganyaan mission. Gaganyaan is India's first human space mission.
Named Vyommitra, the robot is a prototype of humanoid and will go as a trial before the Gaganyaan goes up with the astronauts. 'Vyommitra' will simulate most of the human body functions and report back to ISRO.
ISRO scientist Sam Dayal said, "It will try to simulate a human and report back to us. We are doing this as an experiment."
Earlier, ISRO had announced that four astronauts have been identified for the Gaganyaan mission. Sources told Zee Media that all the four astronauts selected for the mission are men but their identity cannot be revealed.
The training of the astronauts will start in Russia in January. The shortlisted astronauts will receive training for 11 months. After receiving training in Russia, the astronauts will receive module-specific training in India. In this training, the astronauts will be trained in crew and service module designed by ISRO, learn to operate it, work around it and do simulations. On January 1, 2020, ISRO chief had said that the Gaganyaan project is currently the top priority of the scientists at Bengaluru-based ISRO.
As per the ISRO sources, India's heaviest launch vehicle “Bahubali” GSLV Mark-III will the carry astronauts to space. Notably, the Union Cabinet has already sanctioned Rs10,000 crore for the Gaganyaan project. This followed the announcement made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day last year, stating that the Gaganyaan launch in 2022 will coincide with the 75th year of India’s Independence.
Though the first Indian to go into space was Rakesh Sharma in 1984 but the spacecraft in which he went was not Indian. Therefore, Gaganyaan will be the first-ever human space mission conceived and developed in India, as a distinct illustration of the Prime Minister’s 'Make in India' vision.
On September 21, 2019, ISRO chief Dr K Sivan had said that the Gaganyaan mission is extremely important for India because it will boost the science and technology capability of the country.
Interpol issues Blue Corner notice against fugitive godman Nithyananda
MMNN:22 January 2020
New Delhi: The Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against fugitive self-styled godman Nithyananda, wanted in India for alleged rape and abduction, officials said on Wednesday.
Officials told IANS that the notice was issued much before on the request of Gujarat Police to locate the controversial godman. A Blue Corner notice makes it mandatory for member countries to share whereabouts of a person involved in a crime.
Nithyananda had allegedly fled India without a passport to save himself from a rape case registered against him in Karnataka.
The Ministry of External Affairs had last year cancelled Nithyananda`s passport, and also "sensitised" all its foreign missions and posts to keep track of his movements.
The MEA said Nithyananda had a passport issued in 2008 with a 10-year validity but it was cancelled before 2018. Nithyananda had applied for a fresh passport but was denied police clearance.
Recently, Ecuador denied Nithyananda`s presence and said it had rejected his request for asylum.
Nithyananda`s real name is Rajashekharan and he is a native of Tamil Nadu. He opened an ashram near Bengaluru in the early 2000s. His teachings were said to be based on those of Osho Rajneesh.
In 2010 a video of him in a compromising position with an actress emerged online and he was later arrested on charges of rape. He was also arrested and charge-sheeted in a separate case of rape later.
According to reports, Nithyananda is now being investigated by French authorities for alleged fraud involving $4,00,000.
Last month, an FIR was registered against Nithyananda after two girls went missing from his ashram in Ahmedabad -- Yogini Sarvagyapeetham. He was charged with kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram
Those who have problems with CAA can come to us: Rajnath Singh
MMNN:22 January 2020
Meerut: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday strongly defended the Citizenship Amendment Act and said that the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre does not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims and those who have problems with the law can come to us.
Addressing a mega rally in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Meerut’s Shatabdi Nagar, the Defence Minister said, ''We promised that we will bring CAA. We have fulfilled our promise. We did nothing wrong. We didn't do any injustice to anyone. The law was brought in the best interest of the country. Despite our sincere efforts, the law is being seen from the point of view of Hindus and Muslims. I want to say that those who have problems with the law, they can come to us.''
The veteran BJP leader also slammed the opposition parties for deliberately opposing the citizenship law and instilling fears in the minds of the minorities.
''Some political parties are conspiring against the government and spreading rumours to create fear in the minds of minority community members. I urge you not to fall in their trap. The Narendra Modi government is continuously working for your welfare,'' Singh said.
While stressing that the amended Citizenship Act is not anti-Muslim, Singh said that the Modi government remains committed to the welfare of all sections of the society as it works with the motto of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.'
Earlier today, Singh called the youths and children of Jammu and Kashmir as ''nationalists'', who are sometimes being misguided by people with a vested interest.
The comments from the Defence Minister came days after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said that the girls and boys, as young as 10 and 12, were being radicalised in Kashmir, adding that it was a matter of concern.
"The kids of Jammu Kashmir are nationalists. They shouldn't be seen in any other way," Singh, who visited the NCC Republic Day Camp in Delhi, said when asked about his opinion on kids in the state who are being motivated to join the National Cadet Corps.
The BJP veteran leader had come to Meerut to address a mega rally in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act as part of the government's effort to reach out to Muslims to address their concerns regarding the CAA.
Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma and BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh were also present at the rally which was attended by nearly 30,000 people.
This is the first big rally in favour of CAA in the Meerut district and local leaders have been working overnight to ensure overwhelming strength at the rally.
On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a mega rally in Lucknow during which he clarified that there is no provision in the amended law for taking anyone's citizenship away and the law will not be withdrawn despite protests.
“A canard is being spread against the CAA by the Congress, SP, BSP, and Trinamool Congress,” he said. The CAA is a law to grant citizenship, he added. “I want to say that irrespective of the protests, it will not be withdrawn,” Shah added.
According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
Indian Navy signs MoU for seabed data with GSI
MMNN:21 January 2020
New Delhi: The Indian Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) for the sharing of seabed sediments data, products and expertise for naval application in meteorology and oceanography.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday between Commodore AA Abhyankar, who heads the Indian Navy`s Oceanology and Meteorology Directorate and N Maran, Deputy Director-General of GSI.
GSI`s marine and coastal survey division based at Mangaluru has mapped most of India`s 2.1 million square kilometres `Exclusive Economic Zone` and has a vast repository of offshore data, according to an official statement.
"This data collected using GSI`s state-of-the-art oceanic research vessels Samudra Manthan, Samudra Kaustubh, Samudra Shaudhikama and Samudra Ratnakar, will now be used by Indian Navy`s rapidly growing blue water fleet for reliable and accurate oceanographic modelling to support their expansive maritime operations in the Indian Ocean region," it read.
Will bring anti-Citizenship Amendment Act resolution soon, says Mamata Banerjee, appeals other states to boycott law
MMNN:20 January 2020
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (January 20) announced that a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be passed in the state Assembly soon. The Trinamool supremo, who has strongly opposed the amended citizenship law, said that she would urge other states to pass such a resolution.
The CPI(M) government in Kerala and the Congress government in Punjab have already passed a resolution demanding to scrap the contentious CAA.
Meanwhile, the Congress government in Rajasthan has reportedly decided to move a resolution in the state Assembly against CAA in the Budget session beginning from January 24.
Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray is also planning to bring out such a resolution in the state assembly, news agency ANI has reported.
Besides, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also also considering to bring in resolution in the legislative assemblies against the enforcement of the CAA, senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel had said earlier.
On January 22, Mamata is scheduled to take out a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens.
Hizbul Mujahideen on verge of being completely wiped out in south Kashmir: J&K DGP Dilbag Singh
MMNN:20 January 2020
Kashmir. The proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen is on the verge of being completely wiped out in south Kashmir asserted Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh on Monday. Singh also said that the year 2020 started with several successful operations.
The DGP also said that a total of three terrorists, including HM commander Wasim Ahmed Wani, were neutralised in Shopian district. Active since 2017, Wani had 19 FIRs against him and was also involved in the killing of four civilians and cops each. The second terrorist was Adil Sheikh and the third was identified as Jahangir.
The three terrorists were gunned down by security forces after an encounter in Wachi village of Shopian district. A cordon and search operation was launched by a joint team of Indian Army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Group of Jammu and Kashmir police in the morning after credible inputs were received about the presence of terrorists in Wachi village. During the operation by security forces, the three terrorists, who were hiding in a residential house, opened fire on security personnel which led to the encounter.
Sheikh belonged to Zainapora village in Shopian. He was responsible for looting eight weapons from the residence of former PDP MLA Ajaj Mir in Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar on September 29, 2018. The second terrorist was identified as Waseem Wani, a resident of Urpora village in Shopian district, while, the identity of the third militant is still unknown.
Speaking on former Jammu and Kashmir DSP Devinder Singh, he said that the case has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), adding that it will not be right for him to make a comment on it. "Some findings have come out, they are before the NIA. His custody is being given to the investigating agency. It is being investigated in the right direction," he said.
On reports that Devinder Singh's visit to Bangladesh, the DGP said, "It has come to our knowledge that his daughters studied in Bangladesh. It is being investigated if his visits were only restricted to that angle."
Shaheen Bagh protestors look to Jan 22 Supreme Court hearing
MMNN:20 January 2020
New Delhi: The Shaheen Bagh protest entered 37th day here on Monday as protestors are not willing to quit without a concrete result on the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Except appeals by some low-rung police officers, no serious effort has been made to persuade the activists to leave the spot. The number of protestors is swelling as people talk of the January 22 apex court hearing and are gearing up to withstand the odds till then.
"We will not go back an inch. We are getting an unprecedented support and look towards the apex court with hope," said Mohd Ehtesham, a protestor.
The Delhi High Court had refused to intervene on the issue of removal of protestors and the onus was on the administration, said Mehmood Pracha, a lawyer. "The fight is not only about the CAA, but to save the Constitution. The government design is mischievous and it`s also targeting Dalits," Pracha said.
On the important role of the judiciary, former Union Minister and a noted lawyer Salman Khurshid said on social media, "One hopes the Supreme Court will be able to find a solution that balances the competing aspirations within the federal structure and constitutional morality, keeping in mind the conventions that need to be respected. Of course, the Supreme Court judgment will be the last word till a future Parliament chooses to reverse it."
"January 22 could be a big day for the people who are against the draconian and divisive CAA," said Zulqarnain, who has been participating in the protest site from day one.
Prepaid mobile phone services to be restored in Jammu and Kashmir
MMNN:18 January 2020
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government will restore the voice calling and SMS services on prepaid SIM cards in Kashmir, government spokesman Rohit Kansal said at a press conference in Jammu on Saturday.
He said that restricted 2G Internet service will be restored on the postpaid SIM cards in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of Kashmir and 10 other districts of Jammu.
Internet was suspended all across Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. The broadband services were, however, restored later in Jammu region.
Also, mobile and broadband services were restored in the Ladakh region but in Kashmir, all forms of Internet continued to remain suspended.
The government had earlier restored Internet services in hospitals and government offices in the valley.
NIA begins probe against DSP Devinder Singh arrested with Hizbul terrorists in J&K
MMNN:18 January 2020
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the arrest of Jammu and Kashmir DSP Devinder Singh for ferrying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, is expected to bring the suspended cop to Delhi for interrogation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 16 asked the agency to start the investigation into Singh's arrest and take a close look at his alleged involvement with terror groups, according to news agency ANI.
According to reports, the NIA will also take the arms and ammunition, that was recovered from Singh's residence during a raid, into its possession. A day after Singh's arrest, the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted raids at the police officer's properties and recovered AK-47, hand grenades and a pistol.
Devinder Singh was arrested on Saturday along with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Naveed Babu, his accomplice Rafi Ahmad and a lawyer named Irfan from a car on the highway near Kulgam. He was allegedly helping Babu travel to Pakistan in connivance with Irfan.
Baba is an ex-cop who disappeared in 2017 and joined militancy. He was the second top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in south Kashmir area after Riyaz Naikoo. According to the police, Baba was involved in the killing of many policemen and burning of orchards in Shopian. There are 17 cases said to be registered against Baba.
Following his arrest, he was interrogated by a joint team of the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir and was booked under the Unlawful Activity Act. During his interrogation, Singh maintained that he had no any link to Hizbul militants and that he was taking the terrorists to surrender; but interrogators have dismissed his claims.
According to IANS sources, a sum of Rs 12 lakh may have been given to Singh to move out the two Hizbul militants to Jammu on their way to Chandigarh and onward to Delhi to carry out attacks on or before the Republic Day.
Davinder Singh was posted with the anti-hijacking unit at Srinagar Airport and was one of the officials that received the 16-member delegation of foreign ambassadors which visited Kashmir on Thursday. On January 13, he was suspended from his services and is likely to be stripped of all his awards, including a gallantry medal for anti-militancy operations on August 15 last year.
Intelligence sources told IANS that Singh disclosed that he had put up the terrorists at his Indira Nagar house in Srinagar, right next to the Army's 15 Corps Headquarters, and thereafter accompanied them to Jammu in a car driven by the Hizbul overground worker.
Since the arrest of Singh and the two Hizb militants, security agencies carried out multiple raids across the Union Territory, especially Srinagar and south Kashmir, and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition stashed by the officer and the terrorists.
Nirbhaya case: Fresh death warrant issued for convicts hanging on February 1
MMNN:17 January 2020
New Delhi: A fresh death warrant has been issued on Friday (January 17) for the hanging of Nirbhaya rape and murder convicts on February 1 at 6 am.
The hanging of all the four convicts will take place at the same time in Delhi's Tihar jail.
Reacting to the latest development, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Friday said that political parties were playing politics over the sensitive issue. "The government can`t see our pain. I lost my daughter seven years ago I want justice," Asha Devi told Zee News.
Earlier, she had alleged foul play in the case and that the execution of four convicts was deliberately being delayed.
BJP releases first list of 57 candidates for Delhi assembly election; Kapil Mishra to contest from Model Town
MMNN:17 January 2020
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released its first list of 57 candidates for the upcoming assembly election in Delhi.
Take a look at the party candidates of BJP for Delhi assembly election:
Narela: Nildaman
Timarpur: Surendra Singh Bittu
Adarsh Nagar: Rajkumar Bhatia
Badli: Vijay Bhagat
Rithala: Manish Chaudhary
Bawana (SC): Ravindra Kumar
Munrika: Master Azad Singh
Kirari: Anil Jha
Sultanpur Majra (SC): Ramchandra Chabariya
Mangolpuri (SC): Karam Singh Karma
Rohini: Vijendra Gupta
Shalimar Bagh: Rekha Gupta
Shakurbasti: SP Vats
Trinagar: Tilakram Gupta
Wazirpur: Dr. Mahendra Nagpal
Model Town: Kapil Mishra
Sadar Bazaar:
Chandni Chowk: Suman Kumar Gupta
Sadar Bazaar: Jay Prakash
Badli: Vijay Bhagat
Matia Mahal - Shree Ravinder Gupta (Minister)
Ballimaran: Smt. Lata Shori
Karol Bagh (SC): Yogendra Chandalia
Patel Nagar (SC): Parvesh Ratan
Moti Nagar: Subhash Sachedeva
Madipur (SC): Shri Kailash
Tilak Nagar: Rajiv Babbar
Vikaspuri: Shri Sanjay Singh
Uttam Nagar: Krishna Gehlot
Dwarka: Pardyun Rajput
Matialia: Rajesh Gehlot
Nazafgarh: Ajit KHarkhde
Bijwasan: Satprakash Rana
Palam: Vijay Pandit
Rajinder Nagar: RP Singh
Jangpura: Sardar Kulpreet Singh Bhakshi
Malvia Nagar: Salendra Singh Monty
RK Puram: Anil Sharma
Chhatarpur: Brahm Singh Tawar
Deoli (SC): Arvind Kumar
Ambedkar Nagar (SC): Khusi Ram
Greater Kailash: Shikha Rai
Tughlkabad extension: Vikram Badhuri
Badarpur: Ramvir Singh Bidhuri
1993 Mumbai blast convict 'Dr Bomb' Jalees Ansari, who jumped parole, arrested
MMNN:17 January 2020
New Delhi: Jalees Ansari, a doctor by profession and convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, who was out on parole, and had gone missing from his home in Mumbai, was on Friday (January 17) arrested from Kanpur. A joint search was launched by Mumbai Crime Branch, Mumbai ATS and other intelligence agencies after Ansari was reported to have gone missing during his parole.
Ansari, also known as 'Dr Bomb' for his alleged expertise in bomb-making, was reportedly staying at his Mumbai residence after being released on 21-day parole. However, he mysteriously disappeared on Thursday morning following which his family members lodged a 'missing' complaint at the Agripada Police Station. In their complaint, one of Ansari's four sons Zaid told the police that his father was missing since the morning of January 16.
The Mumbai Police then launched a manhunt to trace Jalees Ansari, wanted in over 50 bomb blast cases all over the country. The Mumbai Police also deputed several teams to locate him.
Ansari has been serving a life term and was recently released from the Ajmer Central Prison in Rajasthan.
During the parole period, Ansari was directed to visit the Agripada Police Station to mark his attendance every day. Over 250 people died while 713 others were injured after a series of bomb blasts rocked Mumbai City on March 12, 1993.
BJP slams AAP for inducting Sharia law defender Shoaib Iqbal in party
MMNN:10 January 2020
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday by releasing a purported video where newly-inducted AAP leader Shoaib Iqbal`s son Mohammad Iqbal is seen vehemently defending 'sharia' law.
"Councillor Mohammad Iqbal who is the son of Shoaib Iqbal said in his speech during the CAA protest that `Narendra Modi, you may be a Mota Bhai (elder brother) of whosoever it may be... listen to me, from this square of this Jama Masjid we tell you that we are ready to be killed but will not tolerate infringement on sharia," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. Patra added, "What kind of language is this, will this country run according to Sharia now?"
Interestingly, Shoaib Iqbal joined the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday which makes his son`s alleged comment a politically significant weapon for the BJP which it wishes to use against the ruling party of Delhi ahead of the Assembly polls.
Accusing the Aam Aadmi Party of indulging in "politics of appeasement", Patra sought to highlight communalism in the violent anti-CAA protests. The BJP spokesperson claimed, "An atmosphere of violence is being created about CAA, across the country. So it can be said that a 20-20 match of appeasement is going on."
Using the 'sharia' comment of Iqbal, Patra further alleged that "Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, TMC, Asaduddin Owaisi`s party together want to create an atmosphere of violence and arson by inciting Muslims."
He also read out a long list of cases pertaining to criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt, robbery, dacoity, among others which are slapped against former Congressman Shoaib Iqbal who joined AAP ahead of Delhi polls.
"This is an unending list, and these are just a few examples of the credibility and credentials of Shoaib Iqbal, who has joined the Aam Aadmi Party yesterday," said Patra.
Iqbal is known to wield influence in Ballimaran, Matia Mahal and Chandni Chowk Assembly constituencies which have a considerable Muslim population.
Delhi will go to polls on February 8.
Suspected ISIS terrorists instructed to attack police and Army recruitment camps, target RSS leaders: Delhi Police
MMNN:10 January 2020
New Delhi:The three suspected ISIS terrorists, who were arrested on December 9, confessed on Friday that they were instructed to launch attacks on police and Army recruitment camps. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police arrested the trio from Wazirabad in the national capital after a brief encounter. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.
During the investigation on Friday, the suspected terrorists said that they were also ordered to target Hindu as well as RSS leaders across the country including the Delhi-NCR region. Further, they were also asked to target Hindu leaders based on posters displayed across several places in the national capital.
The terrorists spoke in code words and the Special Cell is trying to decode them. The team is still questioning the suspects.
On Thursday (December 9), in a press conference, the Delhi Police said that the three terrorists were radicalised and they were a part of an ISIS-inspired module. They were arrested by a team of the Special Cell after 14 rounds of firing.
As per a tip-off, six murder accused in the murder of K P Suresh, leader of Hindu Munnani for Thiruvallur East district, absconded from Tamil Nadu. They went to Nepal and from there they entered India. They had a foreign-based handler who was helping them. They were planning attacks in NCR and Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, sources with the intelligence agencies had warned that at least five ISIS-trained terrorists had entered India through Nepal and were believed to be in Uttar Pradesh. Following which districts close to the Nepal border like Basti, Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar and Maharajganj were put on high alert.
Basti IG range Ashutosh Kumar had confirmed the report saying that they had received information about two terrorists entering the country and that they were currently in Uttar Pradesh.
Indefinite suspension of internet not permissible: SC on J&K restrictions — Key points
MMNN:10 January 2020
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (January 10) said that the indefinite shutdown of internet and restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir was unwarranted, thus rebuking the government for the communication lockdown in the region since August last year. The court said that the indefinite suspension of internet violated India's telecom rules and ordered the J&K administration to review all curbs in a week's time.
Below are some of the key highlights from Justice NV Ramana's ruling as he delivered the verdict on J&K restrictions today:
The court will not delve into the political intent behind the orders. Liberty and security are always at loggerheads. It is the court's job to ensure that the citizens are provided all rights and security.
Kashmir has seen a lot of violence and that it will try to maintain a balance between human rights and freedoms with the issue of security.
It is no doubt that freedom of speech is an essential tool in a democratic setup. The freedom of internet access is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Suspension of free movement, Internet and basic freedoms cannot be an arbitrary exercise of power. Mere expression of dissent or disagreement against a government decision cannot be the reason for internet suspension. Suspending internet should be reviewed forthwith. Such suspension can only be for a limited time period and is subject to judicial review.
Freedom of speech and expression includes the right to internet within Article 19. The administration must consider restoring government websites and e-facilities where internet abuse is minimal. A complete ban on the internet must be considered by the state only as an extraordinary measure
The test of proportionality needs to be satisfied in such restrictions. This freedom can only be restricted after relevant factors are considered and only if there are no other options.
All restrictive orders in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five months following the scrapping of Article 370 are to be made public so they can be challenged legally in Jammu and Kashmir High Court and Supreme Court.
Disagreement does not justify destabilization. The power under Section 144 of CrPC cannot be used as a curb on the legitimate expression of democratic rights. The freedom of the press is a part of right under 19(1)(a) and is required in every modern democracy.
Magistrates, while passing prohibitory orders, should apply mind and follow doctrine of proportionality.
It (Section 144) can't be used as a tool to oppress difference of opinion.
Centre begins One Nation One Ration Card facility in 12 states
MMNN:1 January 2020
New Delhi: The Central government has commenced One Nation One Ration Card facility in as many as 12 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Tripura from Wednesday (January 1, 2020).
The beneficiaries of the public distribution system of these 12 states will now be able to get their share of ration from their current ration card while residing in any of these states. By June 2020, all the states of the country will be connected with the One Nation One Ration Card facility.
Under this provision, a standard format of the new Ration Card is being provided asking the states to emulate the new format, which will be launched from June 1, 2020. The ration cards issued by different states and union territories will have a similar standard format.
On the basis of the old card, beneficiaries of the public distribution system will be able to get a new ration card.
The facility would be made available after biometric/Aadhaar authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan had told the Lok Sabha on December 3, 2019.
Paswan had also informed the House that the facility of inter-state portability under the 'One Nation One Ration Card' would be available only through the FPSs having fully online ePoS devices.
UP Minority Minister Mohsin Raza accuses PFI of radicalising Muslim youth
MMNN:1 January 2020
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh's Minority Minister Mohsin Raza accused Popular Front of India (PFI) of misleading the Muslim youths and spreading Islamic extremism in the country. He also called PFI a front for the banned group SIMI and claimed that the organisation received its funding from Pakistan's intelligence wing ISI.
He further alleged that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which supports organisations like PFI, too get their funding from ISI.
"When Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised in Lucknow, member of the "tukde-tukde" gang Umar Khalid was also there," Raza said.
While earlier today, the UP government wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking a ban on PFI, alleging that the organisation played a key role in triggering violence during the recent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.
The MHA, on the other hand, is considering a legal option before imposing a ban. It is also likely to talk to security agencies before reviewing the past activities of the Delhi-based organisation.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh, who has also suggested banning the PFI, in a report had blamed the PFI volunteers of spreading violence in the state during anti-CAA protests and that nearly 22 of its members have been arrested by the police.
''A number of SIMI activists are now in the PFI and have been instigating violence in the state. Nearly 22 of their members have been arrested during recent protests. The PFI is active in seven states including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Asam, West Bengal, Keala, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh,'' the DGP said in his report.
So far as many as 19 people have died in clashes in UP during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
BJP blames Congress, AAP for CAA violence in Delhi, says they must apologise for misleading people
MMNN:1 January 2020
NEW DELHI Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday slammed the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for inciting violence in Delhi by spreading misinformation over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The senior BJP leader said both the parties should apologise to the people of the nation for instigating violence in the national capital.
Addressing a press conference, Javadekar remarked that the Congress and AAP misled the people of Delhi and instigated them to damage the public property during anti-CAA protests on December 15.
“In a peaceful city like Delhi, the atmosphere that was created by spreading misinformation on #CitizenshipAmendmentAct, and the damage that was done to property, Congress and AAP are responsible for it. They must apologise to the people,” Javadekar said.
Javadekar also lashed out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for making false claims and failing to work for the development of the Delhi during his tenure as the chief minister. It is to be noted that Assembly election in Delhi is scheduled to be held sometime in February.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar:
The Union Minister also hit out at AA for not allowing the municipal corporations to do development work and stopping the release of Rs 900 crores required to complete various development projects in the national capital. He added that people of Delhi are surprised to see that CM Kejriwal slept for around 4.5 years and is now doling out schemes only to win the election.
"AAP strangulated the neck of municipal corporations' attempt of development work, Rs 900 crores were not given. Today, ppl of Delhi are surprised that AAP slept through 4.5 years and in the remaining six months they have doled out schemes," Javadekar noted.
Hearing on bail plea of 15 accused in Daryaganj violence postponed till Jan 7
MMNN:28 December 2019
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday (December 28) adjourned the hearing on the bail petition filed by fifteen accused who were arrested after a protest against the newly amended citizenship law in Daryaganj area turned violent last week. The court will be hearing the matter next on January 7.
The counsel for the arrested claimed that the police had detained many people but decided to arrest only 15 who have no prior antecedents. The court will also hear on the same day the arguments on the bail plea of other six persons arrested in the case. The court has asked the police to verify the address and other details of one of the arrested accused in the case. One of those arrested had claimed he was a juvenile. However, the police said he told them he was 23.
Last Friday, Delhi Police had arrested 15 people who it claimed were part of the violent protests in Daryaganj area which saw arson and stone-pelting.
On December 20, Delhi Police had detained around 40 persons for taking part in violence in Daryaganj area and said strict legal action would be taken against those found involved in the violence and vandalism. Later, the police released more than 16 persons, including several minors, against whom no violence case was registered.
Several policemen and protesters suffered injuries in violent clashes during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Daryaganj area on December 20.
Protests have erupted in various cities against the newly-enacted citizenship law, which grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP over CAA, NRC again, says party spreads hate wherever it goes
MMNN:28 December 2019
GUWAHATI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday made a blistering attack on the ruling BJP over the Citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens and accused the saffron brigade of spreading hatred wherever it sets its foot across the country. ''Wherever the BJP goes, it spreads hate. In Assam, youth is protesting, in other states, protests are happening as well. Why do you have to shoot and kill them? BJP doesn't want to listen to the voice of people,'' Rahul Gandhi said.
The Gandhi scion made these remarks while addressing a rally in Assam's Guwahati.
While expressing fear that Assam might return to the path of violence due to policies of the BJP governments at the Centre and the state, Rahul said that the spirit of Assam Accord which brought peace to the state, should not be ruined. "I fear Assam is returning to the path of violence because of the BJP's policies," he said, referring to the amended Citizenship Act.
The Congress MP said that the BJP and the RSS will not be allowed to attack the culture, language and identity of Assam and the Northeast.
"Assam can never progress with hatred and violence. Everyone has to come together and tell the BJP leaders that they can't attack the culture, language, identity and history of the state," Gandhi added.
Earlier on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi attacked the ruling party for accusing him of lying about the existence of detention centres for refugees in the country.
The Wayanad Congress MP said that he has posted a video on his Twitter handle with two contradictory claims - one where PM Modi denies the existence of detention centres in the country and second where visuals are available of a detention centre in Assam.
While speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said, "I have tweeted a video where Narendra Modi is saying that there are no detention centres in India, and in the same video there are visuals of a detention centre, so you decide who is lying."
The BJP leadership has been attacking Rahul Gandhi ever since he accused the Prime Minister of lying about the existence of detention centres in the country.
Last week, PM Modi had denied the existence of any detention centre in the country and accused the Congress party of spreading lies and fear among minority communities. His comments came during a massive rally organised at Delhi's Ramleela Maidan.
The passing of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act in Parliament has triggered massive protests across the country with protesters demanding revocation of the Act. The protesters allege that the citizenship law is communal in nature as it grants citizenship to refugees on the basis of religion.
Pakistan troops violates ceasefire, fire mortar shells in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua
MMNN:28 December 2019
Jammu: The Pakistan Army on Saturday violated the ceasefire in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to information, the Pakistani Army resorted to shelling across the border in Hiranagar sector of the district. The ceasefire violation took place on late Friday.
On Friday, the Pakistani Army violated the ceasefire in the Sunderbani sector in Rajouri. The ceasefire violation from across the Line of Control by Pakistan started at around 1:15 pm today by firing small arms and shelling with mortar. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly to the violation.
On December 25, one civilian woman and a soldier of the Indian Army were killed in ceasefire violation in the Uri sector on Wednesday as the Pakistan Army is targeting civilian population on LoC from its artillery guns deployed in villages in PoK.
On Friday, Defence Ministry sources said that ceasefire violations across LoC in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan Army nearly doubled in 2019 with around 3,200 instances reported so far compared to last year. "Pakistani Army is continuously firing in Keran Valley, Poonch, Uri, Krishna Ghati and Akhnoor sectors," a source in the ministry said.
In 2019, a total 3,200 incidents of ceasefire violations from across the LoC has have been reported compared to 1,629 incidents in 2018, or almost double.
In December this year so far, 329 incidents have been reported which are also nearly double the 175 cases reported in the same month last year. A senior Indian Army officer said that during winter, ceasefire violations on the LoC are very low but this year, it is at an all-time high.Further details are awaited.
Anti-Citizenship Act protests: Islamic outfits, Kashmiri stone pelters behind violence, mayhem, say sources
MMNN:26 December 2019
New DelhiIslamic organisations Popular Front of India`s (PFI), Islamic Youth Federation, and Kashmiri stone pelters are being used to create ruckus amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the country, according to sources on Thursday. The sources added that Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is funding them.
According to security agencies, the nefarious conspiracy to spread violence in the country in the name of opposition to the Act is being done by these organisations. People from PFI organization from Kanyakumari and Kerala were sent to different parts of the country while people from Islamic Youth Federation, Maharashtra are also included. The location of the people of these groups was found in places of violence in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, has also said that the stone pelters of Kashmir were called to protest against the Act in Uttar Pradesh. Citing a news report, Rai said that there was an attempt to spoil the atmosphere across the country, including Uttar Pradesh. He said that there was no involvement of common people in this disturbance, adding that people doing vote bank politics are behind this violence.
He has appealed to the workers to go to the common people about the rumour being spread by the opposition parties about this law and give the right information about this law. Later talking to the media, Rai while attacking the Congress and those opposing this law, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have clearly told the people that this law is not going to cause any harm to the citizens of the country.
Rai added that the Congress, their allies and other parties are still opposing this law, adding that those opposing the law are doing dirty politics. On the question of the steps being taken by the Central government regarding the instability in the country with this law, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are constantly appealing to the people to maintain a state of harmony in the country. Along with this, the MHA is taking the necessary steps.
Mamata Banerjee warns BJP over CAA, NRC, says this fight belongs to all, not just Muslims
MMNN:26 December 2019
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday warned the BJP government at the Centre against implementing the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 and the National Register of Citizens across the country. The firebrand Bengal politician alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to muzzle the protests against the amended citizenship law through brutal force.
Criticising the BJP government, the Trinamool Congress chief said, ''In the BJP-ruled states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, brute force is being used to curb the movement. But I would like to tell the BJP, don`t try to muzzle the movement through force. If anybody tries to terrorise people and use brute force, then the people of the country, of Bengal, will not support that."
The West Bengal CM also appealed to the students to continue their movement on the issue ''without bowing to threats and repression.''
The TMC supremo said that ''I’ve been part of students agitation. In Assam, after NRC, 18 lakh people’s names were omitted. I had sent a three-member delegation to Lucknow so that we don’t violate the section 144 CrPC. They were prevented from coming out of the airport. You’re coming every day here, eating sweets, creating a disturbance, they took out a rally in Central Kolkata, Siliguri our organisation cancelled their rally in Asansol for their rally.''
Speaking on the CAA issue, Mamata said, ''I don’t know when my mother was born. I know my mother’s and father’s date of death but don’t know when they were born. If I cannot tell, how can you? First, they pressed for Aadhar card, now saying not important. They spent crores.''
''BJP is lying. This is not just a fight for Muslims. It is also a fight for Hindus. If they snatch our rights then how will we survive?'' she asked.
She warned that the agitation for protecting one`s rights will continue, even if "one has to give one`s life for that." "The movement will continue till the law is scrapped," Banerjee said at Rajabazar in north Kolkata before leading yet another march against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.
Attacking the BJP government in Karnataka, Mamata said that the state's CM had announced compensation for deceased, but later took it back. ''He said that they were criminals,'' Mamata said.
Amid a massive gathering in the Muslim-dominated pocket, Banerjee extended full support to the students fighting against CAA and a proposed National Register of Citizens.
"The students are being threatened that their careers will be finished. They should not bow to these threats and continue their protests," she said amid blowing of conch shells and incessant slogans of "No CAB, No NRC".
Despite the CAB or the Citizenship amendment Bill becoming an Act, Trinamool is still using 'CAB' in most of its posters and slogans.
The march went past Narkeldanga, Sealdah station, Acharajya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road, Nonapukur before culminating at Mullickbazar, as innumerable people lined both sides of the streets to welcome Banerjee. This is Banerjee`s fifth march in Kolkata on the issue.
The CAA seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014.
As per the Act, such communities will not be treated as illegal immigrants now and will be given Indian citizenship. The legislation has led to intense protests in most parts of the country, and over 20 people have died during the agitation so far. In Bengal, trains, buses and railways stations have been torched and vandalised, and roads and train tracks blockaded by the protesters.
Congress, Tukde Tukde gang instigated anti-CAA violence in Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah
MMNN:26 December 2019
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday slammed the Congress for instigating violence in Delhi in the name of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, urging the people to teach a lesson to the Congress in the upcoming Assembly election in Delhi.
“When debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill took place in Parliament, no one was ready to say anything and instead, they kept on beating around the bush. No sooner did they (Congress) come out, than they started spreading lies on the CAA, thus triggering unrest in Delhi. Led by Congress, the tukde-tukde gang, is responsible for unrest in Delhi. Time has come to punish them. People of Delhi should punish them,” said Shah.
The BJP leader also took potshot at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that Aam Aadmi Party had not achieved anything in their five-year term and was confident that the BJP would defeat them in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls.
He accused Kejriwal of fooling the public with false advertisements while not having fulfilled his poll promises. "Kejriwal government has not performed in the last 57 months, but in the last three months of the term, they have been advertising their achievements and claiming credit for everything. Kejriwal can only go on dharna but the people of Delhi made him the Chief Minister now he cannot do that," he said.
He also expressed confidence that the saffron party will be victorious in the Delhi assembly polls and wipe out the AAP.
He accused Kejriwal of fooling the public with false advertisements while not having fulfilled his poll promises. "Kejriwal government has not performed in the last 57 months, but in the last three months of the term, they have been advertising their achievements and claiming credit for everything. Kejriwal can only go on dharna but the people of Delhi made him the Chief Minister now he cannot do that," he said.
He also expressed confidence that the saffron party will be victorious in the Delhi assembly polls and wipe out the AAP.
India successfully test-fires upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system
MMNN:19 December 2019
Odisha. In a boost to the artillery power of Indian Army, an upgraded version of indigenously developed Pinaka guided rocket system was successfully test-fired from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the Odisha coast on Thursday (December 19).
Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pinaka is an Artillery Missile System capable of striking into enemy territory up to a range of 75 kms with high precision.
On March 12, India had successfully conducted the third trial of the Pinaka guided missile in Rajasthan's Pokharan.
Pinka is equipped with a high-end guiding kit which includes an advanced navigation and control system, according to an official press release. The missile can hit targets with a high level of accuracy to achieve results desired. In Monday's trials, the missiles managed to successfully hit targets 90 kilometres away.
Mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility, Pinaka missile system can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. Each Pinaka battery consists of: six launcher vehicles, each with 12 rockets; six loader-replenishment vehicles; three replenishment vehicles; two Command Post vehicle (one stand by) with a Fire Control computer, and the DIGICORA MET radar. A battery of six launchers is capable of neutralising an area of 1,000 m × 800 m.
Agitators torch vehicles, vandalise police post as anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests turn violent in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow
MMNN:19 December 2019
Lucknow. Protests against the amended Citizenship Act turned violent in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Thursday (December 19) with the protesters resorting to stone pelting at policemen. The rampaging protests also set some vehicles on fire and vandalised a police outpost in Lucknow.
The violent protests forced the policemen to fire tear gas shells at the protesters and resort to lathicharge to maintain law and order. The mob started violence old city area of Lucknow. It is to be noted that the area is a sensitive zone because it has a sizebale Muslim population.
Talking to ANI, SSP Lucknow, in Husainabad, said that situation in Lucknow is now under control. He added that mob turned violent during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest but the policemen kep their cool and handled the situation with patience.
"Situation is under control now. Mob had turned violent but force didn't lose their patience. Mob has been dispersed forcefully so that there is no loss of life or property. The force is now being moved to other location. 40-50 arrested across the district," said the SSP.
Meanwhile, the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests continue in several parts of the country, including Delhi on Thursday. The protesters also took to the streets in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Patna and several other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, sources told Zee Media that Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is funding illegal Muslim immigrants and Rohingyas to incite nationwide riots and violence across India. According to sources, ISI is conspiring for stone-pelting in sensitive cities across the country and disrupt the peace and normalcy in the country by financial funding. The ISI angle is also being looked into the violence that erupted during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Jamia Nagar, Seelampur and Jafrabad areas of Delhi.
Delhi HC rejects Nirbhaya convict's juvenile plea, slaps Rs 25,000 fine on advocate
MMNN:19 December 2019
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Thursday (December 19) has disposed of the Nirbhaya convict Pawan Kumar's plea that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence on December 16, 2012. His advocate had sought time to file fresh documents in the matter. The court has also asked the Delhi bar association to take action against Pawan Kumar's lawyer AP Singh as the latter failed to appear before the court.
The High Court has also slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the advocate.
Earlier in the day, the court recalled its adjournment order in the case and decided to hear the matter today itself as lawyers of Nirbhaya's parents objected to the development. The court master called up the lawyer of Pawan Kumar to inform him that the matter would be heard today itself, but after receiving the call the advocate became incommunicado.
Earlier, the High Court adjourned the plea of Nirbhaya case convict Pawan Kumar Gupta's lawyer AP Singh submitting that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence on December 16, 2012. The advocate sought time to file fresh documents in the matter.
The High Court said that in view of the Supreme Court verdict, this court has no jurisdiction in terms of Section 7 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Further, the court observed that on the basis of pieces of evidence the convict was not a juvenile at the time of the offence.
The court also deprecated the lawyer's move of delaying tactics just to avoid the death sentence.
On Wednesday, Pawan Kumar Gupta moved the court claiming that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence in 2012 and should be treated under the Juvenile Justice Act. The convict said that his ossification test was not done by the Investigation Officer, therefore, he should be given benefit of doubt under the Act.
Notably, the apex court had also rejected the review petition filed by Akshay Singh Thakur, one of the death-row convicts in the case. The newly-constituted three-member bench, comprising Justice Bhanumathi, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice AS Bopanna heard Akshay's plea on Wednesday.
Notably, Delhi's Patiala House Court deferred the hearing on the hanging of Nirbhaya rape and murder convicts till January 7, 2020. It, however, directed the Tihar Jail authorities to issue a notice to the convicts giving them one week to clarify the status of their mercy petitions. The case will next be heard on January 7.
Heavy rain, hailstorm damages crops in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas
MMNN:13 December 2019
Dewas: Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm on Thursday caused significant damage to the wheat and pulse crops in the Dewas region in Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking to ANI, Neelam Singh Chauhan, Agriculture Officer, Dewas, said: "The extent of the damage caused to the crops is not yet known. We have instructed officials to go to the villages and assess the damage."
Chauhan further stated that the villages between Kannod and Khategaon were the most affected areas following the severe hailstorm.Heavy rains and hailstorms lashed the villages of Sundrel, Borani, Manjipura, and many more, which caused the area to be covered in a thick layer of ice.
Following heavy rainfall, water has filled up in the lower parts of many cities. Roofs of several houses have collapsed in villages leaving people distraught. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that thunderstorm accompanied with lightning was likely to take place at isolated places in East Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Thursday.
J&K HC judges tell Supreme Court no minors detained in jails after Article 370 scrapped, terms allegations wrong
MMNN:13 December 2019
New Delhi: No minor was detained or lodged in jails in Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre scrapped Article 370 and Article 35A ending the former state's special status with India. The above information was filed in a report by four judges of Jammu and Kashmir High Court who visited all the all jails in the newly-formed Union Territory. The report mentions that allegations of minors and juveniles being detained by state authorities in the valley have been found to be wrong.
Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had in September 2019 heard a petition in which it was alleged that several minors had been detained in jails across Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in August, in a habeas corpus petition, activist Enakshi Ganguly said that several children were detained and released by security personnel after the government announced the repeal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. "We have received the juvenile justice report. Will take a call after we read it," Justice NV Ramana said. During a brief hearing, Ganguly submitted before the court that the children detained in the region were as young as nine years old. "They would need psychological help now," she said.
The apex court had then said that it will study the latest judicial report on the alleged detention of kids and fixed the matter for further hearing on December 13. Justice Ramana asked senior advocate Raju Ramachandran and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to be ready for Friday's (Dec 13) Constitution bench hearing in the main matter pertaining to abrogation of article 370.
Japan PM's India visit deferred amid anti-Citizenship Act protests in Assam
MMNN:13 December 2019
New Delhi: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's India visit has been deferred due to violent protests in Assam against the Citizenship Act. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to meet his Japanese counterpart in Assam, which is currently an epicentre of the anti-CAB protests. The Indo-Japanese has hence been deferred but the venue will remain the same as India plans to host the future summit in Assam.
"With reference to the proposed visit of Japanese PM Abe to India, both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually convenient date in the near future," Ministry of External Affair (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Earlier on Friday, the Japan government had said that Prime Minister Abe plans to visit India, but they need to look at the situation here. A Japanese delegation which was to arrive in India today had also cancelled their tickets.
Assam, particularly, is witnessing massive protests over Citizenship Act. Ahead of the Indo-Japenese summit, walls across the city were painted in yellow. However, agitators protesting against the Act, destroyed the walls and sprayed 'No CAB' and 'AJSU' slogans over them.
To control the deteriorating law and order situation over the Citizenship Act, eight columns of the Indian Army was on Thursday deployed to Assam, as CRPF-BSF personnel Tripura as per the requests made by the governments of the two states.
Citizenship Amendment Bill allows six immigrant communities, barring Muslim, from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh for Indian citizenship. It was passed in the Parliament earlier this week and became an Act after President Ram Nath Kovind's nod on Thursday.
Protesters have expressed concerns that refugees allowed by the Bill could endanger the identity and livelihood of indigenous people.
Amid the protests, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also cancelled his visit to India. However, the Ministry of External Affairs said that linking the cancellation of the visit to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is "unwarranted".
Anti-CAB protests: Assam government shifts top cops, extends Internet suspension for another 48 hours
MMNN:12 December 2019
New Delhi: In the wake of widespread protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Guwahati, the Assam government has appointed Munna Prasad Gupta as the new Police Commissioner of Guwahati. The administration has also made other changes in the police department besides extending the time limit of Internet suspension in the state for another 48 hours, beginning 12 noon today.
The current NIA IG, GP Singh, who is Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS of 1991 batch, has been asked to take over as Assam ADG Law and Order, while the present ADG Law and Order Mukesh Agarwal has been shifted as ADG CID, as per the state government orders.
The state government also made several other changes. Munna Prasad Gupta has been appointed as the new Guwahati CP, while eight DCP rank officers were transferred in the state.
Notably, a protestor was killed in Guwahati, and three others received bullet injuries after police fired at protestors, who were pelting stones at the convoy of a foreign delegation. The police took this step to provide cover to the foreign delegation.
In the ongoing protests, renowned Assamese actor and BJP leader Jatin Bora quit the party to lodge his protest against the passage of the CAB.
The states of Assam and Tripura are witnessing violent protests in the wake of the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019. Five columns of the Indian Army have been deployed in Assam, while three columns of Assam Rifles have been deployed to Tripura to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland government has issued an advisory warning state people to avoid traveling to Assam in view of the present situation. It has also issued contact numbers for any assistance or any information.
The CAB will give Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019, was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (December 11) with 125 votes in favour and 99 against it. Earlier the Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with a thumping majority on December 9.
Delhi's Patiala House court issues notices to all convicts in Nirbhaya case
MMNN:12 December 2019
New Delhi: Delhi's Patiala House court on Thursday (December 12) issued notices to all four convicts and their counsels on petition filed by Nirbhaya's parents seeking to expedite the execution process of the convicts of Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case
Tihar jail authorities have already filed a status report in Patiala House court on the status of the legal remedies availed by the four convicts. As per the status report of Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar, the mercy petition of Vinay was filed on November 4. The Tihar authorities have also submitted the copy of reply of another accused Pawan on notice issued to him by jail authorities.
Amicus in the case told the court that Akshay has not filed the review petition and Mukesh has to file a curative petition. It was argued in the court that no execution warrant can be issued unless all legal remedies are availed by the convicts. Judge Satish Arora however observed, "curative petition can not be an endless exercise"
Earlier, the Court had asked Tihar jail authorities to come up with the status report and the legal remedies being sought by the convicts in Nirbhaya gang rape case. The Public Prosecuter Rajiv Mohan had informed the court that Execution warrant not not been issued yet.
Delhi's Patiala House Court had earlier allowed the plea of Nirbhaya's parents that has sought transfer of the case to another court. The case will now be heard by Additional Sessions Judge Satish Arora on November 28.
Counsel for Nirbhaya's parents, advocate Seema Smriddhi Kushwaha said, “We had approached the court when legal remedies of the convicts got exhausted. We had sought court’s direction to expedite the execution of the rape convicts.”
Nirbhaya was brutally gangraped on December 16 in 2012, inside a running bus by six people in Delhi. Out of the six convicts one committed suicide in prison and another, a juvenile, served maximum punishment of three years in a reform home. The four rapists were awarded death sentence by the trial court , which was later upheld by the High court and the Supreme Court.
Complete trial in rape and POCSO cases within 6 months: Centre to high courts
MMNN:12 December 2019
NEW DELHI: In the wake of Unnao and Hyderabad rape and murder cases that shook the entire nation, the Centre has taken a pathbreaking decision. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has written to the Chief Justices of all High Courts in the country directing them to complete the trial in all the cases of rape and those registered under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act within six months.
The Law Minister has further directed the chief ministers of all the states to finish the probe into such cases within two months.
Prasad further informed that as many as 1,023 fast-track courts will be set up across the country to conduct the trials in a speedy and efficient manner. Currently, there are 700 fast-track courts set up in India. The total number of fast-track courts will reach 1,723 with the addition.
The decision comes in the aftermath of the brutal rape and murder of Unnao and Hyderabad victim which sent shockwaves throughout the country, leading to angry protests and increasing demand for quick justice.
A 23-year-old gang-rape victim was set ablaze by five men, including two of her rapists, on December 5 while she was going to Raebareli for a hearing of the rape case which she had filed against the perpetrators of the crime. The woman died late on December 6 at Safdarjung Hospital after suffering from 90 per cent burns.
Before the victim was cremated, her sister had said that the family of the victim will not cremate the 23-year-old woman's mortal remains until Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits them. The sister of the victim said that CM Yogi must visit them and give an immediate decision.
In another horrific case, a woman, in her mid-20s, was allegedly raped by four men on November 27. They later set her on fire and dumped her body in the outskirts of the city. Her badly burnt body was recovered a day later by the police, after which the investigation began, leading to the arrest of the four accused. The gangrape and murder case of the doctor had outraged the nation leading to massive protests in several cities demanding justice to the victim and stringent punishment to the accused.
On Friday, December 6, the four men were killed in a police encounter at the same spot where the crime was committed. The Cyberabad Police, confirming the encounter, said the accused snatched weapon and fired on police and hence, in self-defence, the police fired back, in which the accused were killed.
Centre has approved eight medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: Ministry of Home Affairs
MMNN:10 December 2019
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy in a written reply to a question informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday (December 10) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has approved establishment of eight medical colleges in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. Reddy informed that these medical colleges are currently under various stages of implementation and they will be constructed in the districts of Doda, Kathua, Baramulla, Anantnag, Rajouri, Udhampur, Handwara in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the district of Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The Union Minister stressed that the Centre was fully committed to the overall development of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the newly created Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Reddy also informed the Lower House of Parliament that certain 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) allowances like Children Education Allowance, Hostel Allowance, Transport Allowance, LTC, Fixed Medical Allowance that were not being given to nearly 4.5 Lakh state government employees in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir have been approved for an estimated cost of Rs 4800 Crores, for all such employees, who are now working in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, since the day these new Union Territories came into existence.
According to the Union Minister, after the creation of the two Union Territories, a total of Rs14,559.25 crores has been allocated that were being given to the states. Out of this, Rs 2,977.31 crores has already been released to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Rs.1,275.99 crores has already been released to the UT of Ladakh till date.
Reddy also informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that 84 infiltration attempts have been made by Pakistan-based terrorists since August 2019 and 59 terrorists have entered inside Indian border. He also said that 22,557 terrorists have been killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990 and 1,011 terrorists have been eliminated, 42 terrorists have been apprehended and 2253 have been pushed back/returned due to efficient vigil of security forces from 2005 till October 31, 2019.
"As per MHA report Infiltration attempts are part of proxy war agenda of an adversary to replenish the depleted terrorist strength in the valley to achieve its intention to ratchet up violence in Jammu and Kashmir and internationalize the issue. Relentless domination operations, ambushes and patrols are being conducted to thwart infiltration attempts. In addition, a robust counter-infiltration grid is in place to foil infiltration attempts," said the minister in his written reply.
84 infiltration attempts made since August 2019, 2253 terrorists pushed back: Ministry of Home Affairs
MMNN:10 December 2019
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (December 10) said in Lok Sabha that 84 infiltration attempts have been made by Pakistan-based terrorists since August 2019 and 59 terrorists have entered inside Indian border. Minister of State in MHA G Kishan Reddy said this in a written reply to questions asked by YSR Congress Party MP Sridhar Kotagiri. The MHA also said that 22,557 terrorists have been killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990 and 1,011 terrorists have been eliminated, 42 terrorists have been apprehended and 2253 have been pushed back/returned due to efficient vigil of security forces from 2005 till October 31, 2019.
"As per MHA report Infiltration attempts are part of proxy war agenda of an adversary to replenish the depleted terrorist strength in the valley to achieve its intention to ratchet up violence in Jammu and Kashmir and internationalize the issue. Relentless domination operations, ambushes and patrols are being conducted to thwart infiltration attempts. In addition, a robust counter-infiltration grid is in place to foil infiltration attempts," said the minister in his written reply.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha that situation in Kashmir valley is completely normal after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. He said that it is not possible for him to make Congress's condition normal, because the party had predicted bloodshed in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Shah noted that violence did not erupt in Kashmir and not one bullet was fired.
"Situation in Kashmir valley is completely normal. I can't make Congress's condition normal, because they had predicted bloodshed after abrogation of Article 370. Nothing of that sort happened, not one bullet was fired. 99.5% students sat for exams there, but for Adhir Ranjan this is not normalcy, 7 lakh people availed OPD services in Srinagar, curfew, section 144 removed from everywhere. But for Adhir only parameter for normalcy is political activity. What about local body polls which were held?" said the Union Home Minister.
Responding to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's question over the detention of political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said that the Congress thinks that the release of Kashmiri leaders can be the only parameter to weigh normalcy in the region. "What according to you is normal? Political activity in the country is normal, children giving exams is normal. What according to the Congress is normal?" asked the Union Home Minister.
Everything you need to know about Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019
MMNN:10 December 2019
Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, passed the Lok Sabha test on Monday (December 9) after intense debate and arguments from the government and the opposition on the Bill for over six hours. The Bill was passed after midnight with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 against. Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a detailed explanation after the bill was tabled for discussion and said that it is a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance manifesto.
At present, the Citizenship Act, 1955 regulates who may acquire Indian citizenship and on what grounds. A person may become an Indian citizen if they are born in India or have Indian parentage or have resided in the country for a period of time, etc. But illegal migrants are not eligible to become Indian citizens. An illegal migrant is a foreigner who: (i) enters the country without valid travel documents, like a passport and visa, or (ii) enters with valid documents, but stays beyond the permitted time period, reported PRS India.
Illegal migrants may be imprisoned or deported under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920. Under the 1946 and the 1920 Acts, the Centre has the power to regulate the entry, exit and residence of foreigners within India. In 2015 and 2016, two notifications were issued by central government exempting certain groups of illegal migrants from provisions of the 1946 and the 1920 Acts. These groups are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. According to PRS India, the notifications meant that illegal migrants belonging to these communities will not be deported or imprisoned for being in India without valid documents.
In 2016, the BJP-led government at the Centre had introduced a Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Bill aimed at making illegal migrants belonging to these six religions and three countries eligible for citizenship and made some changes in the provisions on registration of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders. The Bill was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which submitted its report on January 7, 2019 and was passed by Lok Sabha on January 8, 2019. The central government, however, did not table the Bill in Rajya Sabha and it lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed in Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 seeks to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship. The Bill, however, exempts certain areas in the North-East from this provision. The Bill also makes amendments to provisions related to OCI cardholders. According to PRS India, a foreigner may register as an OCI under the 1955 Act if they are of Indian origin (e.g., former citizen of India or their descendants) or the spouse of a person of Indian origin. The foreigner will then be allowed to enjoy benefits such as the right to travel to India, and to work and study in the country. The Bill amends the Act to allow cancellation of OCI registration if the person has violated any law notified by the central government.
Eligibility for citizenship for certain illegal migrants: The Act prohibits illegal migrants from acquiring Indian citizenship. Illegal migrants are foreigners who enter India without a valid passport or travel document, or stay beyond the permitted time.
The Bill amended the Act to provide that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will not be treated as illegal migrants. In order to get this benefit, they must have also been exempted from the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 by the central government. The 1920 Act mandates foreigners to carry passport, while the1946 Act regulates the entry and departure of foreigners in India.
Consequences of acquiring citizenship: The Bill says that on acquiring citizenship: (i) such persons shall be deemed to be citizens of India from the date of their entry into India, and (ii) all legal proceedings against them in respect of their illegal migration or citizenship will be closed.
Exception: Further, the Bill adds that the provisions on citizenship for illegal migrants will not apply to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, or Tripura, as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. These tribal areas include Karbi Anglong (in Assam), Garo Hills (in Meghalaya), Chakma District (in Mizoram), and Tripura Tribal Areas District. It will also not apply to the areas under the Inner Line” under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The Inner Line Permit regulates visit of Indians to Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
The Bill further reduces the period of naturalisation for such group of persons from six years to five years.
Grounds for cancelling OCI registration: The Act provides that the central government may cancel registration of OCIs on five grounds including registration through fraud, showing disaffection to the Constitution, engaging with the enemy during war, necessity in the interest of sovereignty of India, security of state or public interest, or if within five years of registration the OCI has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. The Bill added one more ground for cancelling registration, that is, if the OCI has violated any law that is in force in the country.
Issues to consider
Whether differentiating on grounds of religion is a violation of Article 14 of Indian Constitution
The Citizenship Amendment Bill provides that illegal migrants who fulfil four conditions will not be treated as illegal migrants under the Act.
The conditions are (a) they are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians; (b) they are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan; (c) they entered India on or before December 31, 2014; (d) they are not in certain tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, or Tripura included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, or areas under the “Inner Line” permit, i.e., Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
Notably, Article 14 of Constitution guarantees equality to all persons, including citizens and foreigners. It only permits laws to differentiate between groups of people if the rationale for doing so serves a reasonable purpose.
The question is whether this provision in Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution as it provides differential treatment to illegal migrants on the basis of (a) their country of origin, (b) religion, (c) date of entry into India, and (d) place of residence in India.
The Bill differentiates migrants based on their country of origin to include only Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Statement of Objects and Reasons in the Bill (SoR) states that people from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have migrated to India for a very long time, and these countries have a state religion, which has resulted in religious persecution of minority groups. While the SoR of the Bill says that millions of citizens of undivided India were living in Pakistan and Bangladesh, it has not explained the reason behind including migrants from Afghanistan.
It is also unclear why migrants from other neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka (Buddhist state religion) and Myanmar (primacy to Buddhism) are not included in the list. It is to be noted that Tamils has had a history of facing persecution in Sri Lanka. In Myanmar, there is a history of persecution of a religious minority, the Rohingya Muslims.
Several Tamils from Sri Lanka and Rohingya Muslims have escaped from persecution in their respective countries in order to seek refuge in India. Since the Bill aims at providing citizenship to migrants escaping religious persecution in their own countries, it is not clear why illegal migrants belonging to religious minorities from these countries have been excluded from the Bill.
Second, the Bills only includes certain minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, but it is a known fact that there are other religious minorities in these countries, who face religious persecution and seek refuge in India.
For example, Ahmadiyya Muslims have been facing constant persecution in Pakistan and atheists are also facing serious troubles in Bangladesh. It is unclear why these people were not included in the Bill.
The Bill also fails to explain why there is a differential treatment of migrants based on their date of entry into India, i.e., whether they entered India before or after December 31, 2014.
The Bill also excludes illegal migrants living in areas covered by the Sixth Schedule, that is, notified tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The Bill also excludes the Inner Line Permit areas. Inner Line regulates the entry of persons, including Indian citizens, into Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. Notably, when an illegal migrant residing in these areas becomes Indian citizen, he/she would be subject to the same restrictions in these areas, as are applicable to other Indian citizens.
Self-styled godman Nithyananda sets up Kailaasa, own 'Hindu sovereign nation'
MMNN:4 December 2019
New Delhi: Fugitive self-styled godman Nithyananda, accused in rape and kidnapping cases in Ahmedabad, has reportedly established a country of his own, several thousand kilometres away from India. A website named Kailaasa.org reveals that Nithyananda has formed his own country, reportedly near Ecuador, and calls it the 'greatest Hindu sovereign nation'. Moreover, his country named Kailaasa has its own flag known as 'Rishabha Dhvaja', which features Swami Nithyananda himself, along with Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. It also has a constitution, emblem and its own passport.
"Kailaasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus from around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries," reads the introduction on the website. Kailaasa has its own government, functioning departments including education, treasury, commerce and others. One can also apply for the citizenship of Kailaasa.
"Though the Kailaasa movement is founded in the United States, and spearheaded by members of the Hindu Adi Shaivite minority community, it is created for, and offers a safe haven to all the world’s practising, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, caste, or creed, where they can peacefully live and express their spirituality, arts, and culture free from denigration, interference and violence," is what Nithyananda's Kailaasa is more about.
The 'Hindu' nation also calls for donations for the country and through it, a person can get an opportunity to gain citizenship of Kailaasa. It claims to eventually have a 'Dharmic Economy' and a Hindu Investment and Reserve Bank, where cryptocurrency will be accepted.
"The citizens will be given a Kailaasa passport which, by the grace of Paramashiva, the holder of this passport is allowed free entry in all eleven dimensions and 14 lokas, including Kailaasa," the website stated.
News agency IANS, quoting cyber experts, said that the website was created on October 21, 2018, and it was last updated on October 10, 2019. The website has been registered in Panama with its IP located in Dallas in the US.
Elaborating the causes Kailaasa stands for, the website states, "In a world ravaged by war, ecological destruction, hatred and division, Kailaasa stands as a bold vision of human potential, co-existence, organic living and alignment with nature. As a stateless nation, it does not seek new territory but rather diplomatic recognition as the legitimate representative of the ideology of enlightened humanity."
"Based on its principles Kailaasa supports causes such as gender equality, fight against global warming, universal access to holistic education and healthcare, vegetarianism etc. Kailaasa is bringing spiritual, religious, social, cultural, historic, economic and political legitimacy to Sanatana Hindu Dharma so that it may benefit all of humanity," it further read.
Kailaasa also sends its followers regular newsletters, allows a person to contribute. Meanwhile, the country also has a Gurukul system of education, which is free for all and free healthcare facilities.
Of its founder, Nithyananda, the website writes, "Nithyananda Paramashivam is the founder of the Kailaasa nation and reviver of the enlightened civilization. He is revered, regarded & worshipped as the Living Avatar (incarnation) of super-consciousness by millions. His Divine Holiness is the 293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of the oldest Shaiva Aadheenam (temple monastery complex) – Madurai Aadheenam; He is the founder of the largest Shaiva Aadheenam – Bengaluru Aadheenam; He is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (spiritual head) of Atal Akhada & Mahanirvani Peetha. His Divine Holiness is the founder and spiritual head of Nithyananda Hindu University – world's largest Hindu University."
Nithyananda reportedly escaped to Ecuador through Nepal. He is accused of allegedly raping his former disciple under the garb of spirituality.
In November, the Gujarat Police arrested two of his associates, and also booked him under charges of abduction, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code as well as charges under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.
Shiv Sena to oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Parliament
MMNN:4 December 2019
New Delhi: BJP's former NDA alliance partner Shiv Sena will oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Parliament, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. Making its stand clear on the issue, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said that its MPs will strongly oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 when it is tabled in Parliament by Home Minister Amit Shah during the ongoing winter session.
According to Shiv Sena, the bill poses a threat to national security. Shiv Sena MP Rajendra Gavit today expressed his strong reservation over the bill during a discussion in Parliament.
It may be noted that the Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The Bill, which amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants in select categories eligible for citizenship, has been attacked by the opposition, minority outfits and others for leaving out Muslims and also on the ground that it is at odds with the Constitution, which does not differentiate between citizens on the basis of their faith.
The Bill has been opposed vehemently by opposition parties like Congress, Trinamool, DMK, Samajwadi Party, RJD and the Left and even regional parties like BJD have expressed reservations.
The Bill has sparked resentment in the northeast, and there are indications that the government is working out a compromise intended to reassure states in the region over the implications of granting citizenship to a large number of Hindus who have come from Bangladesh over the decades.
However, the Centre has srongly rejected the Opposition allegation, saying that the BJP government has always worked to unite the country and its people.
The Bill holds significance since the BJP leadership equates it with the Centre's move to nullify Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state of J&K.
Prime suspect Rakesh Verma arrested from Mohan Nagar
MMNN:4 December 2019
New Delhi: In a major development in the Ghaziabad family suicide case, the city police on Wednesday arrested the prime suspect Rakesh Verma from Mohan Nagar. His family had provided the police with important information about him after they were taken into custody for enquiry following the incident.
Verma's name was mentioned in the suicide note. He is a relative of the family. After the initial investigation, the police had suspected his involvement in the gruesome incident. On Tuesday, his location was traced in Kolkata.
On Tuesday morning, five members of a family - a couple, their two children and another woman - were found dead in Vaibhav Khand area of Ghaziabad's Indirapuram. They committed suicide by jumping from the eighth floor of their apartment. Before the trio jumped to death, the couple strangled their children - a daughter and a son - and stabbed them while they were sleeping inside the house, the police said. A pet rabbit was also strangled.
While the wife died at the spot, the other woman was seriously injured and admitted to a hospital. However, she later succumbed to her injuries.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls Finance Minister ‘Nirbala’ Sitharaman, BJP protests
MMNN:2 December 2019
DelhiIn a controversial remark, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday (December 2) said in Lok Sabha that even though he respects Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he thinks that she should be called 'Nirbala' (weak) because she is unable to assert herself much on policies of the government.
"Even though I respect you, but at times I think you should be called "Nirbala" than Nirmala as you may not be able to assert yourself much on policies of the government despite being a Minister," said Chowdhury, who is also the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha.
The Behrampore MP made the controversial comment during a discussion on the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lower House. The BJP MPs protested against Chowdhury's remark and demanded that he must apologize for attacking the Finance Minister in this manner.
Chowdhury also said that Sitharaman has not long-term vission, mission and perspective for Indian economy and this is the main reason why she had always resorted to knee-jerk measures in order to boost the ailing economy.
On Sunday (December 1), Chowdhury had sparked a political row by claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are ‘infiltrators’ as both belong to Gujarat and are now living in Delhi.
Ready to make strictest law: Rajnath Singh condemns rape, murder of Hyderabad veterinarian
MMNN:2 December 2019
NEW DELHI: Condemning the brutal gangrape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad that has sent shockwaves across the nation, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said in Lok Sabha that there "cannot be a bigger inhuman act" than the heinous crime and the government was ready to bring the strictest law over brutality against women if there is consensus in the House.
The Defence Minister, who is also the Deputy Leader of the House, said, "Entire country is hurt. All lawmakers cutting across party lines have condemned the incident and demanded to give harsher punishment to the accused involved in the incident."
After the Nirbhaya incident, a strict law was made and people thought that the number of such incidents would go down," Singh said while maintaining that "Such gruesome acts have been happening continuously."
The Union Minister said the government has no objection if the House takes up a detailed discussion on the issue."Whatever agreement is reached on a tough law, we are ready to make it," he said while adding that he had no words to condemn the incident.
The issue of gang rape and murder of 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad was debated hotly in both Houses of Parliament on Monday with leaders across party lines condemning the gruesome act and calling for stricter laws against perpetrators.
Leading a nationwide chorus of anger and uproar over the heinous crime, Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan said in the Rajya Sabha, "I think it's time, whether it's Nirbhaya or Kathua, or whatever happened in Hyderabad...the people now want the government to answer how much these people have received justice" while adding that "the accused in the rape cases should be named and shamed publically. These kind of people should be brought out in public and lynched."
Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, over the calls for a new law, said to tackle crimes against women a change of mindset is required and not a new bill.
“What is required is not a new bill. What is required is political will, administrative skill, change of mindset and then go for kill of the social evil,” he said.
The 26-year-old veterinarian was gang-raped and killed allegedly by two truck drivers and two cleaners near a toll plaza on Outer Ring Road (ORR) at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the night of Wednesday.
They later shifted the body to a place near Shadnagar town and set it afire. The charred body of the victim was found on Thursday.
Rapists should be lynched, says Jaya Bachchan in Rajya Sabha amid rage over Hyderabad rape case
MMNN:2 December 2019
NEW DELHI: The issue of gang rape and murder of 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad was debated hotly in both Houses of Parliament on Monday with Samjadwadi Party (SP) leader and veteran Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan saying that rapists should be "brought out in public and lynched".
Leading a nationwide chorus of anger and uproar over the heinous crime, the SP leader said in the Rajya Sabha, "I think it's time, whether it's Nirbhaya or Kathua, or whatever happened in Hyderabad...the people now want the government to answer how much these people have received justice" while adding that "the accused in the rape cases should be named and shamed publically. These kind of people should be brought out in public and lynched."
The 26-year-old veterinarian was gang-raped and killed allegedly by two truck drivers and two cleaners near a toll plaza on Outer Ring Road (ORR) at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the night of Wednesday.
They later shifted the body to a place near Shadnagar town and set it afire. The charred body of the victim was found on Thursday.
The Hyderbad case stirred up an uproar in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha with lawmakers across party lines condemned the gruesome act and called for stricter laws against perpetrators.
Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, over the calls for a new law, said to tackle crimes against women a change of mindset is required and not a new bill.
“What is required is not a new bill. What is required is political will, administrative skill, change of mindset and then go for kill of the social evil,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that no government or leader would want that such an incident to occur in their state. "This problem can't be solved by just making laws. To eradicate such acts, there's a need of standing together against such crimes," he added.
Sonia Gandhi not to attend Uddhav Thackeray's oath ceremony, says country facing 'unprecedented threats' from BJP
MMNN:28 November 2019
NEW DELHI: UPA chairperson and interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the country was facing ''unprecedented threats from BJP'' in a letter to Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.
In her letter, Sonia regretted that she would not be able to attend Uddhav's oath-taking ceremony, which is scheduled to take place shortly.
In her letter, the Congress president said that the Sena, NCP and her party have come together under quite extraordinary circumstances, at a time when the country faces unprecedented threats from BJP.
Sonia Gandhi also wrote a separate letter to Maharashtra Congress leader Balasahab Thorat in which she hoped that the new government will work in the best interest of people of Maharashtra.
''I have confidence that Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena will work together in a spirit of cooperation to give people of Maharashtra a stable and responsive govt that will uphold constitution & value of democracy,'' the letter from Sonia Gandhi read.
Now, with the support of the Shiv Sena in both the houses of Parliament, the Congress has increased its alliance numbers in the lower house and Sonia Gandhi has adopted an aggressive stance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Congress has been alleging that they tried to sabotage the formation of the alliance government in Maharashtra.
Congress interim president has been attacking the government but it is the first time that she has shown her MPs that Congress will adopt an aggressive stance against the government both inside and outside Parliament.
The youth and the student wings of the party have also been hitting the streets often now, said a party leader.
During the recent Constitution Day agitation led by the Congress, Sena MP Arvind Sawant and others were by her side, a new political formation in Parliament.
In the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, Sonia Gandhi came down heavily on the top leadership of the government.
She said, "The Governor behaved in an unprecedented and most reprehensible manner. There is no doubt that he acted under the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The BJP`s pre-poll alliance did not hold because of its own arrogance and over-confidence. Every effort was made to blatantly sabotage the three-party alliance government formation, but we appealed to the Supreme Court and the Modi-Shah government was totally exposed".
Sonia Gandhi also lashed out at the government`s inefficiency in tackling the economic problems and soaring prices.
Indian Navy successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in Arabian Sea
MMNN:28 November 2019
NEW DELHI: Indian Navy successfully test-fires indigenously developed BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Arabian Sea, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying on Thursday.
According to reports, it has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
NCP leader Ajit Pawar not taking oath today, says 'I'm not angry'
MMNN:28 November 2019
Mumbai. Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray’s swearing-in, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said that he is not taking oath today and added that he will do whatever the party supremo Sharad Pawar will ask me to do. Talking to Zee News, he said, "I am not angry, I am very much in the NCP, and now going with my sister (Supriya Sule) to participate in the oath ceremony."
He further said that six leaders will be taking oath from each party (Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress), and the decision on Deputy Chief Minister is yet to be taken by the party.
When asked if he will be chief minister for two-and-half years, he said "I am not authorised to decide on it, the party will determine then I will tell you. So far, no such decision has been taken."
He added, "If I laugh, people say I am laughing. If I remain silent, they say I'm silent. What should I do? I will go ahead according to the party's president's decision."
Since morning, there were speculations that Ajit Pawar is not happy. He also went to meet Sharad Pawar, and then made a statement that he is not taking oath today.
Notably, the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine will release their Common Minimum Programme for Maharashtra, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
The Sena-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Congress combine, also known as the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi on Wednesday, stated that the NCP will have its deputy chief minister, while Congress party will get the Speaker's post.
Sachin Tendulkar warns of fake Twitter account in son Arjun's name, seeks action from Twitter India
MMNN:27 November 2019
Mumbai: Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar took to microblogging site Twitter, on Wednesday, to speak about his children Arjun Tendulkar and Sara Tendulkar's Twitter account. Tendulkar informed that his children have no official twitter handle and any account made in their name is fake and not to be trusted.
The master blaster further tagged an account with the user name @jr_tendulkar and informed that it is wrongfully trying to impersonate Arjun Tendulkar and posting controversial tweets. He asked Twitter India to take the matter into concern and block the account.
His tweet says, ''I wish to clarify that my son Arjun & daughter Sara are not on Twitter. The account @jr_tendulkar is wrongfully impersonating Arjun and posting malicious tweets against personalities & institutions. Requesting @TwitterIndia to act on this as soon as possible.''
The fake account created in the name of Arjun Tendulkar has around 1800 followers on twitter and that of Sara Tendulkar has 7,493 followers. There are several other fake accounts made in their names including fan clubs which generally target at creating memes.
In 2018, a software engineer was arrested in Mumbai for creating a fake account of Sara Tendulkar on the microblogging site Twitter for posting objectionable comments against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Celebrities and Sports personality kids have always been targeted by malicious users to spread rumors and create controversies over social media. The tweet by Sachin Tendulkar confirming fake accounts in name of his son and daughter will prevent any kind of controversy which could have popped in the future.
Chidambaram’s judicial custody extended till December 11
MMNN:27 November 2019
New Delhi: A special CBI court at Delhi`s Rouse Avenue Complex on Wednesday (November 27) extended the judicial custody of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram till December 11 in INX Media money laundering case. Chidambaram was presented before the court at the end of his judicial custody today.
The former union minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 16 and subsequently sent to judicial custody by the court in Tihar jail till November 27.
Arguing for P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal pointed out in the court how findings of Delhi High Court are exactly like those stated in ED’s counter-affidavit. He also said that the ED has argued that a “wrong message will be sent to the country,” if he’s granted bail.
Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing on behalf of P Chidambaram, submitted that only grounds on which Delhi High Court denied bail as ‘gravity’. The legislature defines gravity with the quantum of punishment it has, and basic demarcation is 7 years or above 7 years.
Singhvi concluded by saying that in bail matters, the court should refrain from “going into merit.”
Earlier in the day, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive at Tihar Jail to meet former Union Minister P Chidambaram.
On November 15, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Chidambaram's bail plea and observed that prima facie allegations against him were serious in nature and he played an "active and key role" in the offence. Thereafter, he approached the Supreme Court challenging the order.
The case pertains to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during the tenure of P Chidambaram as the finance minister.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a corruption case in this regard in May 2017. Later that year, the ED also lodged a money laundering case.
The Congress leader was first arrested by the CBI on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case but was granted bail by the Supreme Court two months later.
326 incidents of incursion by Chinese soldiers into Indian border areas in 2018: Govt
MMNN:27 November 2019
New Delhi: Chinese soldiers transgressed into the Indian border areas at least 326 times in 2018, according to the data revealed by the central government on Wednesday in Parliament. Replying to a question on rising incidents of incursion by the Chinese troops, Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Shripad Naik informed the Lok Sabha that during the last three years at least 326 incidents of incursion by Chinese soldiers took place into the Indian territory.
''As per the report, 273 incidents of incursion were reported in 2016, 426 held in 2017,'' the MoS said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The data for 2019 is being collected and there have been no casualties so far, Naik added.
The minister, while outlining the reasons for these incidents of incursion, said that there is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China. He added that there are areas along the LAC where both sides have differing perception of the same.
''Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their respective perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. The government is taking measures to ensure that the defence forces are in a state of readiness to meet operational and security challenges,'' Naik said.
The MoS Defence, replying to a question if the matter of such incursions/transgressions was discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent visit to India, stated that views were exchanged on all outstanding issues, including the boundary dispute.
Issues that were discussed also included efforts to arrive at a mutually-agreed framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement based on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles agreed by two sides in 2005, the Minister stated in his reply.
''There were talks on continued efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas and additional Confidence Building Measures'' he added.
The MoS Defence, replying to a question if the matter of such incursions/transgressions was discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent visit to India, stated that views were exchanged on all outstanding issues, including the boundary dispute.
Issues that were discussed also included efforts to arrive at a mutually-agreed framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement based on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles agreed by two sides in 2005, the Minister stated in his reply.
''There were talks on continued efforts to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas and additional Confidence Building Measures'' he added.
Mamata Banerjee government to provide land to refugees
MMNN:25 November 2019
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced at the state secretariat that all the refugees living in the state for over 40 years will be given a shelter.
Bengal CM said, "Around 11 lakh refugees living in the state on the central government's land will be given ownership of Centre's land." She added that that refugee colonies living on central government's land will be regularised.
The displaced people will also be given land rights by the Trinamool Congress government, Banerjee said.
"We have decided to regularise the entire land. This is solely because it has been a long time now. They are living on the Centre’s land, still the central government is not regularising them," Banerjee said.
Suggesting that refugees also have rights, Banerjee added, "Since 1971, its been almost 48 years now, but still they (refugees) are left hanging without a home or land."
Bengal CM's announcement comes even as the central government is planning to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) all over the country after it was introduced in Assam.
Alleging that the TMC is protecting illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as they are the party's votebank, senior BJP leaders have said that NRC should be implemented in West Bengal.
Earlier in January, West Bengal authorities gave land titles to about 30,000 refugees who have lived in settlement colonies for years, and promised that thousands more will also get property rights.
Terror strike averted in Delhi, Assam; police arrests 3 terrorists with IED
MMNN:25 November 2019
New Delhi: In a major development, Delhi Police averted a terror strike by arresting three terrorists with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) from Assam on Monday. The police also recovered banned literature and other explosive materials from their possession.
According to police, the arrested terrorists, who are said to be inspired by the ISIS, were planning to launch a major terror attack at Assam's Ram Mela. They were also planning an attack in Delhi later.
DCP Pramod Kushwaha, Delhi Police Special Cell confirmed the report and told news agency ANI, "A terror strike has been averted as three persons have been apprehended with Improvised explosive devices (IED)."
The police claim that the terrorists were planning attacks in other parts of the country too apart from the capital city.
The terrorists have been identified as Ranjit Ali, Islam, Jamaal and are said to be residents of Goalpara in Assam.
The police further said that they were in touch with some people in Delhi as well who were inspired by their module. The police have launched an investigation into their links in Delhi.
Along with IED, around 1 kg explosives, bomb-making material, some knives, and swords were also recovered from the arrested terrorists' possession.
India won’t let ISI-backed SFJ disturb its stability: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh
MMNN:25 November 2019
Birmingham: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asserted that India will not allow Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed forces such as the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) to disturb its harmony and stability but strongly advocated peace and friendship with Pakistan to enable both countries to move forward towards development and progress.
The Chief Minister was in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday night to address the Indian diaspora on the sacred occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji.
Birmingham: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asserted that India will not allow Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed forces such as the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) to disturb its harmony and stability but strongly advocated peace and friendship with Pakistan to enable both countries to move forward towards development and progress.
The Chief Minister was in Birmingham, UK, on Sunday night to address the Indian diaspora on the sacred occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji.
In an informal chat with mediapersons, the CM said SFJ was a hardcore terrorist group, with no ideological basis for its campaign, and had to be treated as such. Describing SFJ’s so-called legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannu as a fraud, operating under the directions of Pakistan’s ISI, the Chief Minister said Pannu’s sole motive was to divide the Sikhs, and India, to promote the ISI agenda. Referring to the terror modules busted in Punjab in the past couple of years, along with large-scale arrests and seizure of weapons, he said these had exposed SFJ’s intentions, but both the Punjab government and the Indian government were dealing with it with an iron hand.
Earlier, addressing the diaspora, the Chief Minister called for cordial and friendly relations with neighbours to promote peace, in line with Guru Nanak Dev ji’s philosophy, for the collective resolution of global problems. Both India and Pakistan had been through a lot, and it was time now for them to let go of the past and move forward in the spirit of friendship to ensure their respective progress, he stressed.
Citing the Kartarpur Corridor as a beginning towards better relations between India and Pakistan, Captain Amarinder hoped it would set the stage for opening of other important religious shrines in Pakistan to Indians seeking `khulle darshan deedar.’ The Chief Minister recalled his family’s association with Kartarpur Sahib, which his grandfather had rebuilt after it was devastated by floods back in 1927, as well as other gurdwaras now in Pakistan.
Thanking both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan for this historic initiative, he shared with the audience that he had an interesting chat on cricket with Imran on their bus journey from Zero Point to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, in the context of the fact that the latter’s uncle had played for Patiala in the pre-independence era.
In his informal chat with mediapersons later, the Chief Minister reiterated his demand for waiver of passport condition and the $20 fee for travel through the Kartarpur Corridor, pointing out that India had never imposed any such tax on those visiting Ajmer Sharif and Nizamuddin Dargah etc from across the border.
At the commemorative event, the Chief Minister honoured several prominent NRIs based in the UK.
Pointing to Guru Nanak’s philosophy of oneness of God, the CM underlined the need to rise above religion and caste to protect the future and facilitate the development of Punjab and its people. What the founder Guru of Sikhism had indicated 550 years ago was happening now, he said, pointing to global problems like pollution and water scarcity. He stressed the need for friendship and togetherness to tackle these problems and look ahead, towards the creation of a better future for the next generation.
His government, said Captain Amarinder, would continue with the 550th Prakash Purb celebrations for another year to disseminate the message of the Guru, who had taught the importance of protecting the nature through his ideology of `Pawan Guru, Paani Pita, Maata Dharat’. The decision to set up the Guru Nanak chair in 11 universities, including one in Iran, was aimed at researching the Guru’s travels and philosophy so that the same could be disseminated effectively for the good of humanity, he added.
The Chief Minister sought the Indian diaspora’s help and support in enabling the industrial growth of Punjab, which he stressed needed to be weaned away from the water-guzzling paddy crop. Indians, especially the Sikh community, had worked hard to contribute to the society of whichever country they had chosen to settled in, and it was time now for them to look back at their roots, said Captain Amarinder, urging them to invest in Punjab’s economic growth. Punjab had been divided thrice, and in the process had lost precious resources and industry, which the Punjabis had rebuilt from the scratch with their hard work, he observed, adding, however, that much more was still required if the state had to be saved for the future generations. “You must remember where you originated, and must contributed in any way you can for the progress of Punjab,” he appealed to the diaspora.
The Chief Minister invited Indians in UK to the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, being held on December 5-6, to help the state make its much-needed shift from agriculture to industry for its economic progress and for the generation of employment for the youth. Pointing out that Punjab was suffering the problem of plenty, with surplus paddy and wheat crops with insufficient storage, he said the state needed investment to break away from its agricultural cycle to become an industrial state. Indians in other countries should contribute to these efforts in order to secure the state and its future generation, he said, adding that his government would appoint an officer in the CMO, in the rank of deputy PSCM, to handle queries of all NRIs and facilitate them in making investments in Punjab.
Earlier, Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India to UK, said the message of Guru Nanak Dev ji was more relevant than ever before, in view of the challenges of terror and divisiveness being faced by the world. She lauded the celebrations organised by the Punjab government to mark the 550th Prakash Purb, which she said was being commemorated in the UK also in a big way. She also presented the Chief Minister with a hand painted photograph of Kartapur Sahib Gurdwara.
On the occasion, a representative of the Lord Bishop of Birmingham presented to the Chief Minister a special plaque created to mark the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of the Founder Guru.
Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM for 2nd time, tells BJP workers ‘Modi hai toh mumkin hai’
MMNN:23 November 2019
New Delhi BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, who became the Maharashtra CM for second time in a row after a surprise early Saturday morning oath ceremony, while greeting workers outside party office in Mumbai said “Modi hai toh mumkin hai,” as reported by new agency ANI.
“We will provide a stable government. Modi hai toh mumkin hai,” said the second time chief minister.
Minutes after Devendra Fadnavis took oath as chief minister, PM Modi tweeted his congratulations to him and his deputy and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar.
“I am confident they will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra,” PM Modi tweeted.
In a stunning turn of events from last night when NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced that Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray will be the CM face of Sena-NCP-Congress combine in Maharashtra, the state woke up to the news of BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis taking oath alongside NCP’s Ajit Pawar.
The state of Maharashtra was placed under President’s rule on November 12 after no party could claim the numbers required to form a government.
The Sena, which was BJP’s pre-poll alliance partner, broke ranks over the issue of rotational chief ministership. Uddhav Thackeray then made the lone Sena minister, Arvind Sawant, in the union cabinet to resign. Thereafter, the Sena got in talks with the NCP and the Congress. Thackeray’s rare call to party chief Sonia Gandhi set the ball rolling in the Congress camp and subsequently the talks over the government formation in the financial capital of the country among the ideologically divergent parties gathered pace.
Sharad Pawar parades NCP MLAs who were with nephew Ajit during oath taking
MMNN:23 November 2019
Mumbai. Hours after Ajit Pawar revolted with a few MLAs and took oath as deputy chief minister, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said most of the MLAs were unaware of what was going on and have now started coming back.
During a joint press conference with Shiv Sena, Pawar presented three MLAs-- Rajendra Shinge, Sandeep Kshirsagar and Sunil Bhusara-- who said they were present with Ajit Pawar at the time of the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan this morning.
“Ajit Pawar’s decision is against the party line and is indiscipline. No NCP leader or worker is in favour of an NCP-BJP government,” he said.
The NCP chief also said that the Devendra-Fadnavis-led government won’t be able to pass the floor test in the state assembly.
“Even if Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has given them a deadline of November 30, this government will not be able to pass the floor test,” he said.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray termed the development as a “mockery of democracy”. In his brief statement in the joint briefing of Sena-NCP, Thackeray took a veiled jibe at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. “I think from now on elections should not be announced and instead of saying ‘I will return’ some people should use Fevicol and sit in the chair,” Thackeray said.
Pawar has also called an urgent meeting of NCP legislators in which a decision on removing Ajit Pawar as NCP’s leader of legislature party is likely to be taken. The party will also elect its new legislature party leader. “I cannot take such a decision on my own. The decision on disciplinary action will have to be taken in the legislators’ meeting today,” Pawar said replying to a question on disciplinary action against Ajit Pawar.
He also said that those who unknowingly went with Ajit Pawar will not face any action. “But those who made a choice and knowingly went to Raj Bhavan to participate in the oath-taking ceremony will have to face action,” the NCP chief said.
Pawar said those who chose to defect will have to face anti-defection law and people will also not support them in the bypolls. “Moreover, all the three parties Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP will ensure that they do not get re-elected,” he said.
Thackeray, who was flanked by Aaditya Thackeray and Sena leader Sanjay Raut, said, “This is a surgical strike that has been done in the dead of the night on Maharashtra and the people of the state will avenge it.”
On being asked if there is any fear of Sena MLAs going with the BJP, Uddhav Thackeray dared the opposition and said “They can try and see. Maharashtra is not going to leave them”. Thackeray added that he is with Pawar in this fight.
The BJP and Sena, which fought the assembly elections in Maharashtra together, fell out over the chief minister’s position and equal distribution of portfolios, ending a three-decade-old alliance. The national party said the Sena had betrayed them.
Governor BS Koshyari invited the BJP, Sena and NCP, respectively, but no party could prove a majority within the prescribed deadline.
President’s Rule was imposed in Maharashtra on November 12 after the governor told the Centre that no party was in a position to form the government in the state.
And on Saturday, the BJP formed a government with the help of the NCP’s Ajit Pawar.
The BJP had staked claim to form the next government in Maharashtra late on Friday on the strength of its own 105 legislators along with the NCP’s 54 and 11 Independent legislators, a senior BJP leader said on Saturday.
The national party now claims it has the support of 170 legislators, 25 more than the 145 lawmakers needed for the majority mark in the 288-member house. The party has been given a week until November 30 to prove their majority on the floor of the assembly.
Five of family from Noida burnt alive in car crash at Etah
MMNN:23 November 2019
Agra Five members of a businessman’s family were burnt alive after their car crashed into a trailer truck and caught fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district early Saturday, police said.
A girl in the car who was saved by workers at a nearby brick kiln was taken to a hospital in Agra after sustaining head injury.
‘The accident occurred near a brick kiln of Himmatpur in Etah district when a car rammed into truck carrying cement from behind at about 4.30 am on Saturday. Those in car were from same family from and were heading towards their village Naya Gaon in Etah district,” said Dharmendra Singh, the incharge of Baghwala police station in Etah district.
“The man driving the car might have fallen asleep while driving and car rammed into truck from behind. The car caught fire because of gas kit fitted in it. Barring a girl who was dragged out by those who rushed from the nearby brick kiln, all others were burnt alive. The girl had head injury while being dragged out of burning car and has been referred to SN Medical College in Agra. Among the five burnt alive was Sunil Kumar Katheria alias Santosh (36) who was probably driving the car,” he said.
Others killed include Vimla Devi (30) wife of Sunil Kumar and sister Poonam (22), Luv Kush (son of Sunil) aged 10 years, Bablu (40) who was Sunil’s uncle and was from Kurawali in Mainpuri. The bodies have been sent for post mortem in Etah, Singh said.
The officer said Sunil Kumar was running a business in Nodia.
Sharad Pawar meets Sonia Gandhi to hold talks over Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena goverment in Maharashtra
MMNN:18 November 2019
New Delhi NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday evening reached Congress president Sonia Gandhi's residence to hold talks over the formation of a coalition government in Maharashtra together with Shiv Sena.
On Sunday, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik had said after a meeting of the party's core committee that Pawar will decide the future course of action over government formation after meeting Sonia Gandhi. Malik also informed the media that the NCP core committee was of the view that President's rule in Maharashtra must end and an "alternative government" should be formed as soon as possible.
It is to be noted that the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena leaders are in touch with each other over forming a coalition government in Maharashtra after the snapping of ties of between BJP and Shiv Sena over the chief minister's post.
"We had had a discussion over the current political situation in the state, and we have come to the conclusion that the President's rule should end and an alternative government should be formed," said Malik.
"Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi will meet on Monday and discuss the possibility of formation of an alternative government in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, (other) leaders from the NCP and Congress will meet and discuss future course of action," he added.
In a related development, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan had said on Sunday that his party was trying to find if the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP can come together and form the new government in the state.
Notably, BJP and Shiv Sena contested the October 21 Assembly polls together with the BJP finishing as the single largest party after winning 105 seats. The Shiv Sena ended at second place after winning 56 seats in 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. However, the BJP-Shiv Sena failed to form the government as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded rotational chief ministerial post, a demand rejected by the BJP.
Meanwhile, Pawar added a new twist to the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra by saying that since BJP and Shiv Sena fought the election together and they have to choose their paths on forming the next government in the state. President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra on November 12 after no party or alliance failed to form the government.
Nominate your representatives to test water samples: Ram Vilas Paswan challenges Arvind Kejriwal
MMNN:18 November 2019
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the latter's accusations of calling a BIS report on drinking water in national capital as "false and politically motivated", and challenged him to nominate his representatives to test the water samples again.
In an escalated war of words, Paswan, during Parliament session on Monday said, "You cannot drink tap water directly. At many places water comes in all sorts of colours, yellow, blue... name your officials for a team which will also have top BIS officials. Let them go to any area, pick samples and get them tested from any lab."
Denying Delhi CM's claim who said that the report which stated that Delhi along with Kolkata and Chennai has failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters of drinking water was false and politically motivated, Paswan said "He is doing politics now."
Later, taking to microblogging site Twitter, the LJP chief said, "Today, on the first day of the winter session, I announced on the floor of the Lok Sabha that the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal must nominate your representative to test the water samples again. We nominate Mr. Pramod Tiwari, DG (BIS) and Mr. J. Roychowdhury DDG (Labs) BIS on behalf of BIS."
Paswan further said that this joint team will collect water samples from every area of Delhi and get it tested in any government certified lab. "We do not mind. My aim is to provide clean drinking water to people not only in Delhi but across the country," he added.
He further challenged AAP chief and said Kejriwal should ask his MLAs to call a press conference and say that pure drinking water is being supplied in Delhi. "People of Delhi will decide if they are right or wrong," he added.
On Saturday, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan released the second phase of the Bureau of Indian Standardisation (BIS) study which stated that all 11 Delhi samples did not comply with the quality norms. It said piped water was also unsafe for drinking water.
Later, posters were seen in parts of Delhi slamming the AAP government for making people to drink "poisonous" water.
Posting one such poster, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan tweeted, "Arvind Kejriwal is giving poison to the people of Delhi in the name of free water supply. Delhi water was found to be the most poisonous in a survey of 20 cities. The AAP government is making tall claims of development but has failed to even provide safe drinking water to the people."
Replying to Vardhan's post, Kejriwal said, "Sir, you are a doctor. You know this report is false and politically motivated. A person like you should not become a part of such dirty politics," said Kejriwal, who is the chairman of the national capital's water utility, Delhi Jal Board.
"A city's water quality cannot be judged on the basis of just 11 samples. Moreover, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan is not disclosing where the samples were taken from. I will take five samples from each ward of Delhi, get it checked and then put the data in public," he had declared.
"I want to say with challenge that no CM can claim that we have done politics on such a matter," said Paswan in the Parliament session.
"We are not doing politics over water, we want to seek the support of Parliament on the issue. There should be no politics over the safe quality of drinking water...," he said.
The testing of water samples was conducted to check organoleptic and physical parameters and know the chemical and toxic substances and bacteriological quality besides virological and biological parameters.
The sky is clear now, no need for odd-even again, says Arvind Kejriwal
MMNN:18 November 2019
NEW DELHI Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (November 18) said that the odd-even scheme will not be extended in the capital city, adding “The sky is clear now, so there is no need of it.”
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister also appreciated the AAP government's effort in improving potable water, and said "Any city's water quality cannot be judged on basis of 11 samples. Moreover, Ram Vilas Paswan ji isn't disclosing where were samples taken from. I'll take 5 samples from each ward of Delhi, get it checked and put data in public."
On Sunday, the Delhi Chief Minister had said that the air pollution in the national capital is due to stubble burning and added that as the farm fires are coming to an end, the air quality is improving.
"A very strong correlation can be seen between stubble burning and the spike in air pollution in north India. As soon as stubble burning began in the first week of October, the AQI started rising. Now that burning is coming to an end, air quality is also improving..," Kejriwal tweeted.
Notably, the air quality in Delhi improved marginally today, but remained in the "poor" category for the second consecutive day. At 9 am on Monday, the air quality index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 207 against an AQI of 254 at the same time on Sunday.
In the morning the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked at 211, according to the Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
The AQI was recorded the highest in Chandni Chowk at 307, Airport at 298, IIT Delhi at 283, Lodhi Road at 228, Mathura Road at 219, Delhi University at 199, Dhirpur at 198, Pusa at 167, and Ayanagar at 131. The AQI in Noida stood at 187 and Gurugram at 268.
Meanwhile, schools in Delhi-NCR reopened on Monday afer remaining closed from November 14-15 due to the rise in pollution levels.
Meeting of Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena delegation with Governor postponed till further notice
MMNN:16 November 2019
New Delhi: There seems to be no end to the deadlock in Maharashtra, which is currently reeling under political crisis after the election results were announced. Minutes before heading to the Raj Bhavan, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena's meeting with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was postponed till further notice.
A delegation from the three parties was supposed to have a meeting with the Governor at 4:30 pm.
Though the scheduled meeting triggered speculations about Congress-NCP-Sena jointly staking claim to form the government in Maharashtra, the parties maintained that they were to meet Governor Koshyari only to discuss farmers' issue and the agrarian crisis in the state and not the political scenario.
"I am aware that our joint delegation is to meet the Governor. This is clear that we are meeting for the farmers' issue and nothing about government formation will be on our agenda in that meeting," said Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.
While NCP leader Nawab Malik stated, "Governor has allowed our request to meet him and during this meeting, we will discuss farmers issues only, there should not be much speculation about it. Members of NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress will be part of the delegation meeting the Governor".
An alliance with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena hasn't been finalised by Congress and NCP yet. According to sources, the Congress will first sort-out modalities with its alliance partner NCP after which it will initiate talks with Shiv Sena for the government formation in Maharashtra.
The three parties are having talks for the formation of a secular and non-BJP government in the state where the President's Rule was imposed earlier this week.
Maharashtra was placed under President's Rule on November 12 after none of the major parties were able to form government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Shiv Sena were not able to sort out their differences over power-sharing.
The BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the state with 105 seats in 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.
Amidst the deadlock, interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar would meet on Sunday to discuss their next course of action.
Delhi court admits parents' plea seeking transfer of case to another judge
MMNN:16 November 2019
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday admitted a petition filed by parents of Nirbhaya who was gang-raped in 2012, seeking transfer of the case to another judge after the two judges who were hearing the case got transferred. In December last year, Nirbhaya's parents had approached the court seeking the case to be fast-tracked. Due to the transfer of the judges, the matter kept on getting adjourned. Taking cognisance of the matter, District Judge of Patiala House Court today slated the plea for transfer of judge to November 25.
Speaking to ANI, advocate Seema Samriddhi Kushwaha, who is representing Nirbhaya`s parents in the case, said, "We approached the court when legal remedies of the convicts got exhausted. We are seeking the court`s direction to the Tihar Jail authorities to expedite the execution of the rape convicts."
On December 16 in 2012, a 23-year-old paramedic student was gang-raped inside a running bus by six persons in the national capital. The victim, who was severely assaulted and thrown out on the road along with her male friend, succumbed to injuries a few days later.
Out of the six perpetrators, one committed suicide by hanging himself in prison, while another, a juvenile, served maximum punishment of three years in a reform home and was set free in 2015. The remaining four rapists were convicted and handed death sentence by a trial court in 2013, which was confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014. The Supreme Court upheld the Delhi High Court`s verdict in 2017.
On October 31, earlier this year, the Tihar Jail administration had issued a notice to the convicts asking them to file a mercy plea before the president. As per law, the convicts can plead for mercy from the President and seek commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment. If the President allows the mercy petition, then the convicts may escape the gallows.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directs officials to ensure no stubble burning takes place in UP
MMNN:16 November 2019
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday issued strict instructions on stubble burning and has directed officials to ensure that burning of crops does not take place in the state. According to the Chief Minister`s office, Yogi Adityanath has issued strict instructions on stubble burning and Principal Secretary SP Goel has talked to all commissioners in the state asking them to ensure no stubble burning takes place.
Chief Minister has last month also appealed to farmers to avoid burning the stubble that is left in the fields after harvesting of crops."Due to stubble burning, the animals do not get their rightful share of fodder and the practice also kills the friendly bacteria and fungi present in abundance in the soil. Thus the practice permanently damages the environment and fertility of the soil," the statement read.
Yogi said the concerned departments must spread awareness among the farmers regarding the issue. An attempt should be made to promote such technique among the farmers that instead of burning, they should convert the stubble into organic fertilizer.
The Haryana government on November 13 had penalized 189 farmers for stubble burning in the state. Meanwhile, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has so far disbursed over Rs 19.09 crore to 29,343 non-basmati paddy cultivating small and marginal farmers from across the state, who have not burnt the paddy residue.
Amit Shah, speaking on Maharashtra impasse, says party with numbers can approach guv
MMNN:13 November 2019
New DelhiHome Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday ended his silence on the Maharashtra impasse and his party’s breakup with the Shiv Sena that eventually contributed to the state being placed under President’s rule on Tuesday. Shah insisted that the demand for a rotational chief minister was a new one which was not acceptable to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Shiv Sena this week pulled out its lone minister Arvind Sawant from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, signalling the end of partnership between the two parties in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena has since then been opened negotiations with the rival alliance comprising Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress headed by Sonia Gandhi.
In Telangana, another RTC worker commits suicide, fifth in a month
MMNN:13 November 2019
Hyderabad Another employee of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) killed himself by consuming pesticide in Mahabubabad district on Wednesday, the 40th day of an indefinite strike by RTC employees across the state.
It’s the fifth suicide by an RTC worker in the past month. Employees of the state-owned transporter have been on strike demanding a revision of salaries pending since April 2017 and recruitment to vacant posts.
Mahabubabad police said Avula Naresh, 45, a driver at the local RTC depot, ended his life by consuming pesticide because of financial troubles. “He was rushed to the local area hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment,” district superintendent of police Nandyala Koti Reddy told Hindustan Times.
Naresh left a suicide note in which he wrote that he was committing suicide because of financial problems caused by non-payment of his salary. Holding Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao responsible for his death, he appealed to Rao to ensure justice to the families of RTC employees.
“My death should be the last one among the RTC employees. No other employee should face the kind of difficulties I have been facing. Our family could not celebrate Diwali and we had no food and no new clothes for the festival. I sincerely wish at least after seeing my death, the chief minister will solve our demands,” Naresh wrote in the suicide note, according to the police.
Naresh, who belonged to Yellampet village in Maripeda block, had been working as a driver in the RTC since 2007. He had been actively participating in the ongoing strike. He is survived by his wife Poolamma and two school-going sons – Srikanth and Sai Kiran.
“Poolamma has been suffering from an illness for the last five years and Naresh was spending Rs 5,000 on her medicines every month. Added to this, the expenses on his children’s education caused a huge burden on him. Since he had not been getting a salary for the last two months, Naresh was under tremendous stress,” one of his colleagues in Mahabubabad depot told reporters.
On coming to know about Naresh’s death, a large number of RTC workers and activists of political parties gathered at the hospital and raised slogans against the government for its perceived indifference to the plight of the the striking RTC employees.
They tried to take out a rally with the body of Naresh from the hospital to the bus depot, but the police blocked their attempt. “At present, the RTC workers have blocked the road and are staging a dharna along with the body of the deceased,” the SP said.
This is the fifth suicide by RTC workers in the last one month. On October 28, K Neeraja, 31, working as a conductor in the Sattupalli RTC depot, hanged herself at her residence in Kaviraja Nagar colony in Khammam town. Two before this incident, a 53-year old driver of Narketpally depot in Nalgonda district committed suicide by consuming pesticide.
On October 12, a 52-year old driver, D Srinivasa Reddy of Khammam depot, died by setting himself ablaze. A conductor, B Srinivasa Goud, 46, of Ranigunz depot of Secunderabad, committed suicide at his residence on the outskirts of Hyderabad on October 13.
But, KCR declared that more than 48,000 employees who had been on strike since October 25, stood dismissed. An attempt to hold talks with the striking unions following a direction from the high court also failed.
JNU blinks, halves proposed hostel fee hike, scraps curfew rule
MMNN:13 November 2019
New Delhi
Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University on Wednesday announced that it was rolling back a proposed hike in hostel fees and curfew hours after simmering unrest among students escalated into a major protest on Monday.
“JNU Executive Committee announces major roll-back in the hostel fee and other stipulations. Also proposes a scheme for economic assistance to the EWS [economically weaker section] students. Time to get back to classes,” education secretary R Subrahmanyam tweeted.
The students’ protest on Monday outside the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) building in Vasant Kunj, where the convocation ceremony of the university was organized had left Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, the guest of honour at the convocation, M Jagadesh Kumar, the university’s vice-chancellor trapped at the venue.
Here are 10 points of the controversial decision of the University to raise charges:
The students’ protest on Monday outside the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) building in Vasant Kunj, where the convocation ceremony of the university was organized had left Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, the guest of honour at the convocation, M Jagadesh Kumar, the university’s vice-chancellor trapped at the venue.
Here are 10 points of the controversial decision of the University to raise charges:
1.The hostel committee had introduced a service charge of ₹1,700 a month. The rent for a single-seater room was raised from ₹20 a month to ₹600 a month. For a double-sharing room, it was increased from ₹10 a month to ₹300 a month.
2.The one-time refundable mess security fee was more than doubled to ₹12,000 from ₹5,500.
3.On Wednesday, the JNU Executive Committee announced that the single-seater hostel room will now be RS 300 against the proposed hike of ₹600. The double-sharing room rent will be ₹150 instead of ₹300.
4.The proposal to raise refundable mess security to ₹12,000 has been scrapped and will continue to be at the earlier rate of ₹5,500.
5.The JNU executive committee also rolled back the curfew hour regulation that required students to be back at their hostels by 11 pm or face eviction. ”
6.It also scrapped the rule that all residents and guests should come to the dining hall appropriately dressed.
7.The university’s hostel committee had approved a new manual during a meeting on October 28, without consulting representatives of the students’ union.
8.The decision of the Inter Hostel Administration (IHA) - a body which manages 18 JNU hostels - sparked major objections with the JNU students’ union (JNUSU) organising several protests on the campus demanding its roll back.
9.The JNUSU had argued that the administration needed to consult the student community regarding the fee hike and questioned the logic of raising the fee for a double-sharing room from 10 a month to ₹300 a month.
10.The JNU administration appealed to all the students to return to their classes, lab works, and research activities “as major concessions have been given to students belonging to BPL category and removed the clauses related to dress and hostel timings from the hostel manual as per the feedback from the students. Resuming academic work will protect the careers of thousands of students from any further harm.”
Maharashtra comes under President's Rule as parties fail to form government
MMNN:12 November 2019
New Delhi: Maharashtra on Tuesday came under President's Rule after President Ram Nath Kovind approved Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's report recommending it. Earlier in the day, Governor Koshyari had sent a report to President Kovind stating that none of the four major parties - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - could stake claim to form a government in the state and thus, President's Rule should be imposed in Maharashtra.
"It's been 15 days and I see no party in condition to form a government," the Governor said in his report to the President.
He further said that he "made all efforts to make a government but as per the current situation, a stable government is not possible."
The Maharashtra Assembly remains suspended now. The President's Rule has been implemented for six months but can be withdrawn anytime before it.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Union Cabinet too had recommended President's Rule in Maharashtra amid the political uncertainty in the state.
PM Modi leaves for Brazil to attend 11th BRICS summit
MMNN:12 November 2019
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-day visit to Brazil on Tuesday to participate in the 11th BRICS summit.
BRICS brings together five major world economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which comprise 42 per cent of the world population, contribute to 23 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product and around 17 per cent of the share in world trade.
The theme of this year's summit is economic growth for an innovative future.
PM Modi will arrive in Brasilia on the morning of November 13. The first day of the visit will witness the Prime Minister holding multiple bilaterals, as well as attending the closing ceremony of BRICS business forum, External Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, TS Tirumurti, told reporters here.
A large business delegation from India is also expected to be present during the visit, especially to attend the BRICS business forum where the business community of all five countries will be represented.
Through a network of high level and working group meetings, the BRICS agenda has expanded considerably to include issues of mutual concern. In the run-up to the summit, several ministerial meetings in different sectors have already taken place.
In the area of counter-terrorism, India has taken the lead over the years to galvanise BRICS. It has worked closely within BRICS to not only take a strong stand against terrorism but also to bring about focused consultations on specific aspects related to terrorism.
Report of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari recommending President's Rule not true, says NCP leader Nawab Malik
MMNN:12 November 2019
New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Mumbai President Nawab Malik on Tuesday dismissed reports of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari recommending President's Rule in Maharashtra saying that it's not true as NCP has time till evening to give a reply.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Malik said that the Governor had called NCP on Monday evening to stake a claim, giving them time till 8.30 pm on Tuesday. He added that senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal will meet Sharad Pawar at 5 pm in Mumbai and a decision will be taken after their discussion.
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh Lieutenant Governors to take oath on Thursday
MMNN:30 October 2019
Srinagar: The swearing-in of the newly-appointed Lt Governors of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will take place on Thursday amidst tight security.
J&K High Court`s Chief Justice Gita Mittal will first administer the oath to Radha Krishna Mathur as Lt Governor of Ladakh in Leh and then fly to Srinagar for administering oath to Girish Chandra Murmu as the Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources say despite the government offices having moved from Srinagar to Jammu, the oath-taking ceremony is being held in Srinagar to highlight Kashmir`s integration with the rest of the country.
Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah would be present in the oath-taking ceremonies.
On October 31, Modi would be in Gujrat at the Statue of Unity to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, while Shah would be in Delhi for flagging off a `Run for Unity` event.
According to sources, no other political leaders will be a part of the oath-taking ceremony.
Murmu, 59, a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, is seen as a close aide of Prime Minister Modi, having been his Principal Secretary when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.
Mathur, a 1977 batch IAS officer of the Tripura cadre, had retired as the Chief Information Commissioner in November 2018 after serving as Defence Secretary from 2013 to 2015. He was also the Chief Secretary of Tripura.
Satya Pal Mailk, 73, the outgoing Governor of J&K has been moved as the Governor of Goa.
As the transformation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories take place, the IAS, IPS and other central service officers of J&K cadre will continue to serve in the two new Union Territories.
According to the J&K Reorganisation Act, the Lt Governors will decide about the provisional strength, composition and allocation of officers after the Union Territories are notified.
The Act says the state government employees will be able to seek option to serve in either of the two Union Territories and this transfer will be determined by the Lt Governor.
Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United ready to be part of Narendra Modi government, hints KC Tyagi
MMNN:30 October 2019
NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party Janata Dal-United (JDU) may soon be a part of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the centre.
Bihar's ruling party may be included in the next Union Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The indication in this regard came from senior JDU leader KC Tyagi during the meeting of the party's National Council, which was held at Mavalankar Hall in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Speaking to the reporters, Tyagi said that if his party is given a ''respectable representation'' in the Union Cabinet then it is ready to be part of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the centre.
The indication from Tyagi came on a day when Nitish Kumar was re-elected as the Janata Dal-United national president for a period of three years till 2022.
This was the second time that Kumar was re-elected as the JDU national president.
Nitish Kumar had been elected as the national president of the JDU for the first time in 2016 after Sharad Yadav stepped down from its helm, handing over the reins of the party to Kumar. This time, he will remain president till 2022 before his re-election.
It may be recalled that the Janata Dal-United had decided not to be part of the Narendra Modi 2.0 government over ‘symbolic’ representation in the Union Cabinet.
Minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had announced that his party Janata Dal (United) will not be part of the National Democratic Alliance’s Cabinet of Ministers at the Centre.
Kumar said that the decision was made after only one ministerial berth was allotted to the ruling party in Bihar, which would have been “just symbolic participation”.
“They wanted only one person from JDUin the Cabinet, so it would have been just symbolic participation,” Kumar said.
“We informed them that it is okay we do not need it. It is not a big issue, we are fully in NDA and not upset at all. We are working together, no confusion,” he added.
The regional party was reportedly unhappy with the portfolio that had been offered, sources said.
“We are not joining the government,” JDU secretary Pavan Varma had said adding, ''This our decision.”
The JDU was not part of the previous government as well even though it had rejoined the alliance in 2017.
In the Lok Sabha election 2019, the regional party had won 16 seats and the BJP secured 17 constituencies. The other NDA ally, the Lok Jan Shakti Party, won six seats while the only other seat in the state went to the Opposition Congress in Bihar.
Congress leader P Chidambaram sent to judicial custody till November 13 in INX media money laundering case
MMNN:30 October 2019
India.In a major blow to Congress leader P Chidambaram, a Delhi court on Wednesday sent him to judicial custody till November 13 in INX Media money laundering case. The court, however, rejected Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking Chidambaram's remand for one more day.
On October 24, the court had sent Chidambaram to ED custody till October 30 (Wednesday) and during the hearing, the ED sought custody for one more day claiming that the interrogation of the former finance minister was incomplete because he was admitted to hospital twice during custody.
It is to be noted that on October 23, Chidambaram had approached the Delhi High Court seeking bail in the case being probed by the ED. On October 22, the senior Congress leader was granted bail by Supreme Court in the INX Media corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but the former union finance minister remained inside Tihar jail because he was in ED custody till October 24.
Chidambaram is facing CBI and ED investigation for his alleged involvement in irregularities in granting of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to INX Media when he was finance minister during UPA regime at the Centre.
Chidambaram was arrested by ED on October 16, while he was in judicial custody inside Tihar Jail. On October 17, he was produced before a Delhi Court, which remanded him to ED custody till October 24 and then his remand was extended till October 30.
It may be recalled that Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 21 and he has been chargesheeted by CBI in the INX Media corruption case.
MMNN:25 October 2019
New Delhi The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has challenged the release on bail, of two Congress leaders--former finance and home minister P Chidambaram and former Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar—in the Supreme Court on Friday.
Chidambaram was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 23, in the INX Media corruption case, being probed by the CBI, while the Delhi High Court had given bail to DK Sivakumar on the same day in a case of alleged money laundering being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
Despite the bail, Chidambaram will remain in ED custody till October 30. The ED is probing the money laundering angle in the original case of alleged irregular FIPB approval granted to INX Media --for foreign funding of Rs 305 crore in lieu of favours to his son—being probed by the CBI.
INX media corruption case was registered on May 15, 2017, almost 10-years after Chidambaram had granted the clearances in question as then finance minister.
Granting bail in the CBI case, the Supreme Court rejected the CBI’s claims that Chidambaram could influence witnesses and flee the country like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi. Chidambaram is now citing the SC order to seek bail in the money laundering case being probed by the ED as well, claiming that both the cases arise out of the same financial transaction and therefore, do not merit separate remands.
The senior politician also claimed that he fell sick twice during the two months in custody and his health could worsen if not released. Former Union minister was first arrested by the CBI on 21 August this year by the CBI.
The veteran Congress leader maintains that his arrest was malafide and only designed to harm his reputation as the agencies had no evidence of wrongdoing.
The CBI maintains that Chidambaram’s custodial interrogation was necessary as the case was complex and the former minister had been evasive in his replies. The agency had also claimed that Chidambaram had attempted to influence witnesses in the past and couldn’t be released.
Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar was granted bail in a money laundering case by the Delhi High Court, which held he cannot tamper with the evidence or influence witnesses. He was arrested by the ED on September 3 this year.
Shivakumar met the interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday after his release and said Congress workers need to ‘show strength’.
The alleged money laundering case was registered against him by the ED in Sept last year, based on a complaint filed the Income Tax Department, alleging tax evasion and hawala transactions amounting to crores.
‘Form Haryana govt but…’: Uma Bharti messages against Gopal Kanda support
MMNN:25 October 2019
New Delhi Uma Bharti, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader who exited electoral politics last year, on Friday spoke out against her party courting Haryana leader Gopal Kanda’s support to ensure that Manohar Lal Khattar, who is six seats short of the majority mark of 46 seats in the assembly, is able to form the next government.
In a string of eight tweets, Uma Bharti credited PM Modi and his efforts for the party’s performance in the Haryana elections. Then, she came to the point.
Uma Bharti said it did not matter if Kanda, who faces abetment to suicide charges for the death of an air hostess and her mother, had cleared the electoral test.
“I urge the BJP that we must not forget our moral position. We have a personality such as Narendra Modi and not just the country, the entire world is with Modi,” she said, asking the party to steer clear of Kanda
Gopal Kanda was a minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda cabinet back in 2012 when he was accused of abetting suicide of an air hostess who worked in MDLR airlines that he had launched. The airline had stopped operations three years earlier. Later the woman’s mother also committed suicide.
Kanda had to resign from the Cabinet after an outpouring of outrage over the allegation and a high decibel campaign launched by the BJP. Kanda later floated the Haryana Lokhit Party that fielded candidates across Haryana in this round of assembly elections. He was the only one to win.
But when it became clear that the Manohar Khattar’s BJP won’t get a majority on his own, Kanda stepped in to help the BJP with the numbers. Before the day was out, the influential politician and businessman also became the public face of the effort to get the seven Independent candidates - 5 BJP rebels and two others - to support Manohar Khattar.
Uma Bharti reminded her party that Gopal Kanda hadn’t received a clean chit and the cases against him were still before the court. “Whether Gopal Kanda is innocent or guilty, this is something that the law will decide on the basis of the evidence. But his winning an election surely does not acquit him of the charges. There are many factors that lead to a win in an election,” she said in her tweet.
Uma Bharti is the first senior BJP leader to have spoken out against Kanda. But on social media, the lawmaker and the BJP have been the target of many barbs, some of them backed by photographs of the BJP’s protests in 2012 when the air hostess committed suicide and left a note him for exploiting her.
Businessman Kanda had first started out with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in 2009 but when the party did not field him, Kanda contested as an Independent and won. He was inducted in Bhupinder Singh Hooda government which was also falling short of a majority and became the state’s junior home minister.
Kanda denies the accusations of involvement in the suicide and insists that he is a victim of political moves engineered by the Congress and INLD who were jealous of his successes.
Centre approves 18 roads on Indo-China border
MMNN:25 October 2019
Greater Noida Union minister of state for home affairs Kishan Reddy on Thursday, said that the central government has approved 18 roads stretching over 1,600 kilometers in Arunachal Pradesh to make the otherwise porous Sino-Indian border foolproof from infiltration from other side and to make patrolling easier.
Speaking at the 58th Raising Day of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at the 39 Battalion at Greater Noida’s Lakhnawali, Reddy said it is a matter of pride for the whole country that the ITBP has raised and deployed mechanised columns of power vehicles and machines for speedy mobilizsation of troops along the Indo-China border. “We have already sanctioned Rs 1,175 crore for construction of 18 local tracks stretching 1,607km in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
He added that taking cognisance of “evil designs” of enemies, the ITBP should be ready for larger roles in the future. “Our government has decided to give more strength and delegate more responsibilities to the ITBP. The force is to get two helicopters to operate successfully in remote and inaccessible areas, the purchasing process for which is in the final stage,” Reddy said.
Claiming that his government’s commitment to make security forces well-equipped to handle all kinds of critical situations, Reddy said any requirement raised by the forces will be fulfilled. “We cannot think of being safe in our homes without making security forced fully-equipped. In the last four-odd years, we have spent over Rs 50 crore on providing them a series of all-terrain vehicles, sports utility vehicles and snow scooters so that our soldiers can work even in the most adverse weather conditions,” he said.
The minister further said that besides giving a free hand to the ITBP in modernisation, his ministry has always been committed to the welfare of its brave soldiers. “New weapons are being procured in place of old and outdated ones. We cannot take chances with the lives of our soldiers,” he added.
Govt hikes MSP for wheat and pulses, says move to ‘increase farmers’ income’
MMNN:23 October 2019
The government on Wednesday hiked the minimum support price for wheat by Rs 85 to Rs 1,925 a quintal and for pulses by up to Rs 325 per quintal.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MSP is the rate at which the government buys grains from farmers.
“In a move to increase farmers’ income, the Cabinet has increased the MSP of rabi (winter-sown) crops for the current year,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters after the meeting.
The CCEA has approved Rs 85 per quintal hike in wheat MSP to Rs 1,925 per quintal for the 2019-20 rabi crop, up from Rs 1,840 per quintal last year.
Barley MSP has also been increased by Rs 85 to Rs 1,525 per quintal from Rs 1,440 per quintal last year.
To encourage cultivation of pulses, the support price of masoor has been increased by Rs 325 to Rs 4,800 per quintal from Rs 4,475 per quintal last year.
Similarly, the MSP for gram has been hiked by Rs 255 to Rs 4,875 per quintal for this year from Rs 4,620 per quintal last year.
Among oilseeds, rapeseed/mustard MSP has been increased by Rs 225 to Rs 4,425 per quintal for 2019-20 rabi crop from Rs 4,200 per quintal during 2018-19.
The minimum support price for safflower has been hiked by Rs 270 to Rs 5,215 per quintal from Rs 4,945 per quintal last year.
The MSP for rabi crops announced for this year is in line with the recommendation of the government’s farm price advisory body CACP.
Wheat is the main rabi crop, sowing of which will begin next month. The crop will be marketed from next April onwards.
In revival plan for MTNL and BSNL, cabinet announces merger of the two
MMNN:23 October 2019
New DelhiThe Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to merge state-owned telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made the announcement and assured that neither MTNL or BSNL are being closed or being disinvested.
“BSNL and MTNL will be merged and the government will put in Rs 29,937 crore for revival of the companies,” he said.
The central government’s revival package for the two firms includes raising of Rs 15,000 crore sovereign bonds and monetising Rs 38,000 crore of assets in next four years. During the process of the merger, MTNL will act as a subsidiary of BSNL.
Prasad said voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) will be offered to employees to cut cost. The minister said 125% payout of salary, gratuity and pension over the remaining years of service would be given to employees if they opt for VRS at the age of 53 and a half years. He said around a half of the employees so fall in that age bracket.
The telecom minister said the merger is aimed at making the telecom firms “more competitive and bring in professionalism”. According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the market share of BSNL and MTNL is less than 10%.
Both BSNL and MTNL are loss-making companies.BSNL has a staff 1.76 lakh on its rolls and the company has posted a net loss of ₹13,804 crore in fiscal 2018-19. The company has been making losses continuously since 2009-10 and has been declared ‘incipient sick’. MTNL, which has around 22,000 employees, has also been witnessing continuous losses over the last few years.
While MTNL is largely present in Delhi and Mumbai, BSNL has a wider network. TRAI data says BSNL had 116 million subscribers in August.
The state-run firms are struggling to target new customers with private players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea offering lucrative deals.
Jailed Cong leader DK Shivakumar granted bail in money laundering case
MMNN:23 October 2019
New Delhi Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who is in Tihar jail in a money laundering case file by the Enforcement Directorate, was on Wednesday granted bail by the Delhi high court saying he cannot tamper with the evidence or influence witnesses.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court granted bail to another Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was also in Tihar, in the INX Media case being probed by the CBI. The senior leader, however, still remains in ED custody as it is probing the money laundering angle in the same case.
Justice Suresh Kait said the Karnataka Congress leader was “entitled” for grant of bail as no material has been shown to indicate that he was a flight risk.
The judge also said that Shivakumar, 57, cannot tamper with the evidence as the documents are with the investigating agencies.
The court further said that he no longer was in power and there was no evidence to show that he or his family members or close associates attempted to influence witnesses.
It however directed that he be released on bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 25 lakh and two sureties of like amount.
The other conditions laid down by the high court while granting him the relief include not leaving the country with the concerned trial court’s permission, making himself available for interrogation when required and not to influence the witnesses.
Earlier in the day, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi met Shivakumar at Tihar Jail. She was accompanied by party leader Ambika Soni.
DK Suresh, Congress MP and brother of Shivakumar, told ANI that Gandhi told DK Shivakumar that the entire party is with him. “This is a political case and other such leaders are also being targeted. We have to overcome this,” he said.
Shivakumar was arrested by the ED on September 3 in the money laundering case. He is lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody and had challenged the trial court’s order denying him bail in the case.
Shivakumar, a seven-time MLA in Karnataka, was booked along with Haumanthaiah -- an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi-- and others for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case was based on a charge sheet filed by the Income Tax Department against them last year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and ‘hawala’ transactions worth crores of rupees.
The I-T department has accused Shivakumar and his alleged associate S K Sharma of indulging in transactions involving huge amounts of unaccounted money on a regular basis through ‘hawala’ channels with the help of three other accused.
Sunni Waqf Board lawyer confirms compromise proposal in Ayodhya case
MMNN:17 October 2019
The lawyer for the Sunni Waqf Board, one of the Muslim parties in Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, on Thursday (October 17) confirmed that a compromise proposal was made to the Hindu parties through the SC-appointed mediation panel on Wednesday (October 16). Talking to Zee News, Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Shahid Rizvi said that the proposal was given to the three-member mediation panel by Sunni Waqf Board chairman Zafar Farooqi.
Rizvi added that the Sunni Waqf Board has put some conditions in the proposal and it is willing to give up its claim over the disputed property if the conditions are accepted. Rizvi also said that the mediation panel has submitted the Sunni Waqf Board's proposal to the mediation panel. Rizvi added that he was present during the meeting between the mediation panel and Zafar Farooqi.
A five-judge Constitution Bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday concluded the hearings of arguments in Ayodhya case and reserved its judgment in the case. The SC bench concluded the hearing after hearing the arguments from both sides for 40 days.
It is to be noted that the land dispute case is a civil and not a criminal matter and a settlement can be reached before the announcement of verdict by the apex court. The judgment, in this case, is set to be delivered before November 17, when CJI Gogoi is scheduled to retire.
Meanwhile, 153 companies of central forces will be deployed in Ayodhya district including central police force, state Armed Police Forces, CRPF's Rapid Action Force, and Uttar Pradesh Police ahead of the verdict in this case to maintain law and order.
Government obsessed with blaming opposition: Former PM Manmohan Singh hits back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
MMNN:17 October 2019
New Delhi: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday hit back at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her comment in which she had blamed Singh him for the ongoing bank crisis in the country, saying the government is obsessed with trying to blame the opposition for its failures.
The former prime minister slammed the Centre for failing to adopt people-oriented policies and stressed that the apathy of the BJP-led government at the Centre is exposed in the statements given by Sitharaman. "I have just seen the statements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. I won't like to comment on that statement, but before one can fix the economy, one needs a correct diagnosis of its ailments and their causes. The government is obsessed with trying to fix blame on its opponent, thus it is unable to find a solution that will ensure revival of the economy," Singh said at a press conference in Mumbai. On Tuesday, Sitharaman had said that former PM Manmohan Singh and former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan were responsible for subjecting public sector banks (PSBs) to their "worst phase".
Singh said that the Centre and the RBI must find a solution for the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank crisis because it is affecting the lives of several PMC Bank depositors. "I expect the government of India, RBI and the government of Maharashtra to put their head together and provide a credible, pragmatic and effective solution to this case where 16 lakh depositors are trying for justice" he said.
On the repeated attacks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over Article 370, the former prime minister said that the BJP should stop issuing certificate of patriotism and Congress party does not need such certificate from the BJP.
"The Congress party voted in favor of the bill to abrogate Article 370, not against it. We believe Article 370 is a temporary measure, but if a change has to be brought, it should be with goodwill of the people of J&K. Manner in which it was implemented is what we opposed," he said.
Singh also said that the much-advertised double engine model of governance of the BJP has failed Maharashtra. He added that the state has faced some of the worst effects of economic slowdown due to the wrong policies of the government.
"Ex-PM Manmohan Singh: Much advertised double engine model of governance on which BJP seeks votes has utterly failed. Maharashtra has faced some of the worst effects of economic slowdown. Manufacturing growth rate of Maharashtra has been declining for 4th consecutive years," said Singh.
Rs 4,000 fine for violating odd-even scheme in Delhi; PM, Union Ministers, CMs of other states exempted
MMNN:17 October 2019
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that the fine for violating the odd-even scheme to be implemented in Delhi and NCR from November 4 to November 15 has been set at Rs 4,000.
Addressing a press conference, CM Kejriwal said that the vehicles of the Prime Minister, President, Vice President, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of other states, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha leaders, Chief Justice of India, High Court justices, Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General will be exempted for the scheme that will be implemented for a period of 12 days.
However, the AAP chief said that the vehicles of the Delhi's Chief Ministers and other state cabinet ministers are not exempted from the scheme and will come under the radar of the hefty fine.
To make the scheme successful, Delhi Traffic Department had asked for around 2,000 extra CNG buses to ply across Delhi between these 12 days, and the Union Cabinet approved their request.
During the implementation period, the vehicles with an odd number will ply on odd-numbered dates and the vehicles will even number will ply on even-numbered dates. The scheme will be implemented for all four-wheelers, including vehicles running on CNG while all two-wheelers are exempted from the scheme.
In the scheme, on November 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, cars with even number plates will be allowed to ply on Delhi roads while the ones with odd number plates will operate on alternate days.
Further, women, physically-handicapped, school buses and vans, vehicles wherein children are wearing school vehicles are exempted from the odd-even scheme.
The odd-even scheme has been introduced to combat the menace of pollution which assumes alarming proportions during winter, CM Kejriwal said. Saying that pollution is generating both from within Delhi and outside Delhi, Kejriwal said it was imperative to tackle the pollution effectively.
A total of 12 hotspots in Delhi where pollution is maximum have been identified and special emphasis will be laid on ensuring that the problem is tackled. Sweeping of roads will also be carried out using mechanised means to lessen dust particles in the air.
Earlier, Kejriwal had also appealed to Delhi residents to not burst crackers on Diwali, which is on October 27, as the resultant chemicals and smoke released leads to breathing problems in several people. A day before Diwali, which is celebrated as 'Chhoti Diwali', there will be laser show and entry for the same will be free.
This is the third time that the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has implemented the Odd-Even scheme in the national capital. In 2016, the scheme was enforced twice.
India to build coastal surveillance system in Dhaka to provide LPG to northeastern states
MMNN:5 October 2019
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina met on Saturday for more than one hour during which delegation-level talks took place. India will be building Coastal Surveillance System in Bangladesh which will be the second surveillance system to be built by New Delhi in the neighbourhood after the Maldives.
As many as 20 units are expected to be placed by New Delhi and the aim is to increase Bangladesh's maritime domain and keep an eye on the shared Indo-Bangla coast. PM Modi said, "India Bangladeshi ties are an example of good neighbourly ties" with PM Hasina saying "cooperation will be strengthened in future."
Both PM Modi and Bangladeshi PM inaugurated three projects in energy, skill and social areas through remote control. On the energy front, Dhaka will be providing India, LPG to the northeastern states by using Bangladeshi trucks. This PM Modi said the project will be a "win-win" for both sides. This will be the second "energy bridge" after the "maitree pipeline" which is 130 km pipeline will connect Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
Leaders also inaugurated e plaque for Bangladesh-India professional skill development institute at the institute of diploma engineers Bangladesh, Khulna and Vivekananda Bhavan at Ram Krishna mission Dhaka.
At least 12 projects have been inaugurated by both sides in last year including three on Friday and nine through video conference in the last few months. Seven agreements were exchanged including Mou on withdrawal of 1.82 cusecs of water from Feni river by India for drinking water supply for the Sabroom town in Tripura.
Contentious issues including Teesta were discussed by both the leaders. PM Sheikh Hasina highlighted that the "people of Bangladesh are awaiting early signing and implementation" of Teesta waters sharing agreement, to which PM Modi informed that "his government is working with all stakeholders in India for the conclusion of the agreement soonest possible."
Both sides are looking to ink the agreement for water sharing for seven rivers--Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Feni River. Prime Minister Modi appreciated "Bangladesh’s generosity in sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance" to Rohingya Refugees displaced from Myanmar.
New Delhi will soon supply the fifth tranche of humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. India has been providing assistance since September 2017 under operation 'Insaniyat' for which PM Hasina conveyed the gratitude of the Bangladeshi government.
The NRC or citizen's role in Assam was raised by the Bangladeshi side to which, according to sources, an Indian government official said, "Matter did come. We pointed out that it was the ongoing process and we have to wait for the outcome. Its court-mandated and court directed."
There was a passing reference of developments in Kashmir and revocation of special status during Hasina-Modi talks and Bangladesh's "clear position which is appreciated by New Delhi and their statement is on record", the government source further said.
SAARC was not discussed in Modi Hasina meet, although BIMSTEC was discussed with both sides agreeing "to streamline the activities of BIMSTEC"
Connectivity, the big focus
To boost people to people ties and connectivity, Bangladesh has decided to remove restrictions on products being traded through Akhaura-Agartala port. Frequency of Maitree Express has been increased from four to five times per week and that of Bandhan Express from one to two times per week. Both sides have agreed on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for movement of goods from India's northeast to rest to India over Bangladeshi territory.
PM Modi likely to visit Bangladesh in March 2020, on the occasion of 100th birth anniversary of the father of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will take place and this could be the occasion of PM Modi's visit.
A government source said, "we keen to participate in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Birth Centenary in 2020" and "an invitation has been extended and accepted." Bangladeshi PM last week participated at the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in United Nations in New York.
The issue of high onion prices was not raised during PMs level meeting but India's trade minister Piyush Goyal has assured that all contracted supplies to Bangladesh in the pipeline should go through as soon as possible. On Friday, Bangladeshi PM publically highlighted the high cost of onions in her own country after India banned the export of the staple.
Terrorists hurl grenade at deputy commissioner's office in J&K's Anantnag, 14 injured
MMNN:5 October 2019
New Delhi: Terrorists on Saturday hurled grenade at deputy commissioner's office in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag injuring 14 people. Of the 14 injured, one person is a traffic cop and the other a journalist. One of them is said to be critical.
Minor injuries have been reported so far. The area is under cordon and search operation is going on.
Terrorists hurled the grenade at the entrance of the office complex at around 11 am.
After the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir police tweeted to say that a traffic policeman and a journalist were also injured. The tweet also said that only minor injuries have been reported so far and a follow-up action has been initiated.
This is the second grenade attack in J&K in a week.
On September 28, terrorists hurled a grenade at CRPF's 38 battalion personnel deployed in Nawa Kadal area of downtown Srinagar but there was no casualty.
The security personnel had cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to nab the terrorists.
Buses go off in Telangana as TSRTC strike begins
MMNN:5 October 2019
Hyderabad: Buses of state-owned Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) went off the roads across the state as employees began an indefinite strike from Friday midnight to press for their demands.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at bus stations across the state and people travelling to their destinations for Dasara and Bathukamma festivals faced severe inconvenience as over 10,000 buses remained confined to the bus depots.
Authorities were running skeletal services by using 2,100 hired buses and deploying temporary drivers and other workers. Buses of some schools were also pressed into service.
The Joint Action Committee of TSRTC employee unions claimed that all 50,000 employees are participating in the strike. JAC leaders said they were not afraid of the government threats to dismiss striking employees from service.
The government has declared the strike illegal and warned that those not returning to duties by 6 p.m. on Saturday will be dismissed from service.
Officials said Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) will be invoked to deal with the strike. They claim that TSRTC management had the power to dismiss the striking employees from service.
Taking a tough stand, the government late Friday night warned that only those reporting to duty by 6 p.m. on Saturday will be treated as TSRTC employees. The government said that the rest will never be taken back into the organisation.
Those who don`t report by 6 p.m. Saturday will be deemed to have given up jobs on their own, said an official statement after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao held a review meeting with Transport Minister and top officials.
Rao, who held the meeting soon after his return from New Delhi, took serious note of the decision of the JAC to go on strike.
The government also dissolved the three-member committee of IAS officials constituted to look into the demands of the employees and declared that there will be no more talks with the union leaders.
After talks with the panel failed, JAC leaders decided to go on strike to press for their demands, the chief being merger of TSRTC with the government.
The government took strong exception to the JAC calling for strike at a time when it hoped that the income during Dasara and Bathukamma festivals will be of some help to the TSRTC, which is neck-deep in losses.
Civil society groups across northeast protest against Citizenship Bill
MMNN:3 October 2019
Guwahati After a break of nearly eight months, protests have resumed in northeast against Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and the Centre’s plan to enact the contentious legislation soon.
On Thursday, several civil society groups across the region held marches and sit-down protests to show opposition to the legislation which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Jains, Hindus and Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered the country before December 31, 2014.
The legislation, which was passed by Lok Sabha in January this year, lapsed as the NDA government at Centre could not table it in Rajya Sabha. A bill tabled, which is a property of Lok Sabha, lapses after term of the lower house ends, while that is not the case with Rajya Sabha. Term of 16th Lok Sabha ended in May this year with notification of the 17th Lok Sabha.
There are fears across most states of northeast that once enacted, the bill would lead to influx of religious minorities from neighbouring Bangladesh and might pose a threat to indigenous communities.
“The BJP-led government at Centre’s decision to go ahead with the bill will trample on rights of indigenous people. We have been opposed the legislation earlier and will continue to do so,” said Robertjune Khar Jahrin, general secretary of North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP).
In Shillong, hundreds of representatives from various organizations conglomerated near the monument of Kiang Nongbah held a sit-in protest carrying placards against Citizenship Bill.
In Manipur’s capital Imphal, many students and women came together under the banner of Manipur People Against CAB (MANPAC) and lined up along the town’s main roads holding posters opposing the legislation.
Similarly hundreds carried out a protest march in Nagaland capital Kohima. Protests against the legislation had rocked northeast in January this year as well.
Implementing the Citizenship Bill has been a poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of this year Lok Sabha polls. In September during his first visit to the Assam after assuming charge, home minister Amit Shah had stated the government’s intent on enacting the legislation.
PMC Bank loan default case: HDIL’s Wadhawans arrested, 44 masked bank accounts found
MMNN:3 October 2019
MumbaiHousing Development Infrastructure Limited’s (HDIL) directors Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan have been arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Mumbai in the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank Case, said the sources in the agency. The EOW has also provisionally attached properties worth Rs 3500 crore which includes land parcels and commercial premises of HDIL.
The Wadhawans were unable to give satisfactory replies following which they were placed under arrest, stated sources. According to the agency, a total of 44 accounts linked with HDIL were masked by tampering bank software, which left them virtually hidden from the core banking system. Only a chosen few employees of PMC were in know of these bank accounts, revealed EOW sources.
The Mumbai Police had filed a case against the bank officials and HDIL promoters in the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank case on Monday.
PMC bank’s former Managing Director Joy Thomas had revealed that the bank’s exposer to real estate developer company HDIL stood 10.2 billion rupees ($144 million) by 2011 and this was hidden from the RBI..
Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank Ltd. was able to dupe regulators about its growing exposure to a single property developer for at least a decade before the firm filed for insolvency, according to Thomas.
The bank used “dummy accounts” and other methods to hide its oversized loans said Bloomberg News.
HDIL, a slum redevelopment company which has now gone bankrupt has been delaying loan payments for the past few years.
Chidambaram to stay in Tihar till Oct 17, to get home food once a day
MMNN:3 October 2019
New Delhi Former finance minister P Chidambaram, who has been ordered to stay in Tihar jail till October 17, on Thursday convinced a Delhi Court to order prison authorities to let him get home-cooked food once a day. The 74-year-old Congress leader had moved a formal request soon after Special CBI judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation plea to remand him in judicial custody for two weeks.
The Congress leader, who has also petitioned the Supreme Court for bail, had submitted that he had already lost 4 kgs as he is not accustomed to the food provided inside the jail.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the Central Bureau of Investigation that arrested Chidambaram in the INX Media case, told the court that the CBI did not have any objection to Chidambaram getting home-cooked food. Tihar jail authorities did oppose the request, arguing that making an exception for Chidambaram would be discriminatory to other inmates.
The judge ruled that the food would have to be delivered to the jail superintendent’s office so that the exercise to pass on home-cooked food did not translate into daily meetings with his family.
Chidambaram had complained about the jail food in his bail petition pending before the Supreme Court too.
“Chidambaram has been incarcerated for 42 days including the maximum permissible period of 15 days of CBI custody remand, and therefore, his continuing incarceration is in the form of punishment as his custody can neither be taken nor is required for the purpose of investigation,” Chidambaram said in his bail request, according to news agency IANS.
The Delhi High Court had this week rejected Chidambaram’s bail application, prompting the former minister to head to the Supreme Court for relief. Chidambaram’s counsel and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal asked a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana to grant an early hearing since the top court was going to be closed for Dussehra all of next week.
The judge has redirected Chidambaram to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who Justice Ramana said, would take a call if the Congress leader should get an urgent hearing.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Chidambaram on August 21 in the INX Media case. He has been in prison since September 5 after his custodial interrogation by the CBI ended.
Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram were named in the INX Media case by INX Media group co-founders Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who are currently in a jail in Mumbai in connection with the murder of Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora.
Working on plans for future moon mission, says ISRO chief K Sivan
MMNN:26 September 2019
Banglore
ISRO Chairman K Sivan on Thursday said a plan is being worked out for moon mission in future, after Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2 had a hard landing.
He said the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 is doing “very well” and all the payload operations have commenced.
Asked if the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has a similar plan after Chandrayaan-2 lander’s hard landing, Sivan said, “We are working out a detailed future plan.” “A national level committee has been formed to find out what went wrong with (Vikram) lander. Once the committee submits its report, we will work on what to do in future,” he told reporters at the city airport.
Also, necessary approvals and all procedures have to be finished before making the announcement, he said.
Asked for an update on Chandrayaan-2, he said, “The orbiter is doing very well and all the payload operations have commenced. We have not received any signal from the lander.” He said the country’s space agency has a series of missions lined up in coming months and years.
“The most important mission for us is ‘Gaganyaan’, the manned mission to the space. ISRO is working very hard on it,” he said.
Gaganyaan, scheduled to be launched in 2022, aims to send three astronauts to space and bring them back safely.
“As per the prime minister’s announcement, we have to achieve this success by 2022,” Sivan said.
Chandrayaan-2 lander Vikram lost contact with the ISRO base during its landing on the lunar surface on September 7.
Later, Sivan said it had hard landing.
Chandrayaan-2 comprised an orbiter, lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan).
Sivan was here to participate in a national conference on ‘System for Transforming India’.
GSK pharma recalls acidity tablet Zinetac over safety concerns
MMNN:26 September 2019
MumbaiGlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Wednesday announced recall of ranitidine hydrochloride tablets produced in India using API sourced from Saraca Laboratories Ltd following detection of genotoxic nitrosamine NDMA by authorities.
The company has also decided to suspend release, distribution and supply of all dose forms of ranitidine hydrochloride products to all markets, including India, as a precautionary action pending the outcome of ongoing tests and investigations, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said in a regulatory.
GSK Pharma said it has been contacted by regulatory authorities regarding detection of genotoxic nitrosamine NDMA in ranitidine products.
Subsequently, Saraca Laboratories Ltd were notified by the European Directorate for V Quality of Medicines that its certificate of suitability for ranitidine hydrochloride has been suspended, it added.
GSK Pharma said it manufactures Ranitidine Hydrochloride IP Tablets in 150 mg and 300 mg (Zinetac) using API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) from Saraca Laboratories Ltd and another supplier, SMS Lifesciences India Ltd, for supply to Indian market.
As a precautionary action, it has decided “to initiate a voluntary recall (pharmacy/retail level recall) of Zinetac Tablets 150 mg and 300 mg products manufactured in India using API sourced from Saraca Laboratories Ltd”, the company said.
However, it said, the product manufactured using API from SMS Lifesciences India Limited will not be recalled at this point of time.
“However, all such products will remain on hold and they will not be released to the market while the company will await the test results,” it added.
The company further said it is continuing with investigations into the potential source of the NDMA.
“These investigations include continued engagement with our API suppliers,” the company said adding that Patient safety remains its utmost priority and the company is taking this issue very seriously.
Ranitidine hydrochloride is commonly used for treatment of ulcers of stomach and intestine.
RBI raises withdrawal limit for PMC bank customers to Rs 10,000 from current Rs 1,000
MMNN:26 September 2019
MumbaiThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday increased the withdrawal limit for Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Ltd (PMC) depositors to Rs 10,000 from current Rs 1,000. This move would allow 60% of the depositors to withdraw their entire balance, it said.
This followed protests by bank depositors over RBI curbs on Tuesday that came just ahead of the festival and wedding season. The regulation limited cash withdrawal to Rs 1000 in six months, an order that many customers termed as ‘ridiculous’.
RBI said that the curbs were necessitated on account of major financial irregularities, failure of internal control and systems of the bank and wrong or under-reporting of its exposures under various off-site surveillance reports. It added that the relaxation has been given to reduce the hardships of the customers.
Apart from limiting the amount that could be withdrawn, the RBI in its earlier order had also debarred the PMC bank for six months from granting, renewing any loans and advances, make any investments, incur any liability, including borrowal of funds or accept fresh deposits, etc, without the prior written approval from RBI.
The RBI has also restricted it from disbursing, agreeing to disburse any payment, whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangements and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets except as notified in the RBI notification of Monday.
This was followed by panic situation at bank’s Mumbai branches with depositors rushing to seek clarification and to withdraw money. On Thursday morning, some depositors also filed a complaint at Mumbai’s Sion police station against the bank directors accusing them of malpractices.
PM Modi to declare nation open defection free on Oct 2
MMNN:25 September 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on October 2 will declare the nation open-defection free.
The announcement will be made to the crowd of over 20,000 Sarpanchs at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.
``Nearly half of the Sarpanchs will be from Gujarat and rest half from various other states,’’ said Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel adding, ``The first step of open defecation free country toward swachhta that PM had made has been achieved. This will be announced by the PM on October 2 at Ahmedabad during national Sarpanch convention’’.
The Deputy chief minister added that by taking Gandhi’s dream of cleanliness as social mission, the PM led the country in creating awareness in this direction.
He said that Sarpanchs from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattishgrah, Punjab, Haryana, Union Territories and other states will attend the convention.
In four groups, the Sarpanchs from other states will also tour some of the places related to life and time of Gandhiji in Gujarat. They will also be introduced to Gujarat’s culture of celebrating Navratra through performance of garba.
Also part of this celebration of Swachhta divas will be Gandhians,scholars, ministers and representatives of NGOs.
The NDA in its first term, which began in 2014, had taken up clean India missing and construction of toilets, especially in slums and rural areas.
Chinmayanand, arrested after rape allegation, no longer with BJP, says party
MMNN:25 September 2019
Chinmayanand, who was arrested last week over rape allegations, is no longer a BJP member, the Uttar Pradesh unit of the part said Wednesday.
“Chinmayanand isn’t a BJP member anymore,” UP BJP spokesperson Harish Srivastava confirmed to HT hours after his accuser, a 23-year-old law student from Shahjahanpur was arrested on charges of extortion by the special team probing the case.
But the party did not say when Chinmayanand exited the party.
Another BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpayee said, “Chinmayanand possibly did not renew his membership of the BJP”.
The comments are the first from the BJP since the scandal blew up in August.
A former Union minister, Chinmayanad was arrested on September 20, almost a month after the woman uploaded a video on social media alleging sexual assault and harassment. She had not named the BJP leader but her father went on to name Chinmayanad in a police complaint.
A day after his arrest, the former minister accepted that he took massages from the complainant and that he was ashamed of his conduct. He still has not admitted to raping her and he has not been charged for that offence.
Earlier in August, the BJP had expelled four-time MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, more than a year after he was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl. The case was transferred to the CBI on July 30, two days after a truck rammed a car in which the survivor was travelling, critically injuring her and her lawyer and killing two of her aunts.
Amitabh Bachchan on Dadasaheb Phalke honour: ‘Most humbled, deeply grateful’
MMNN:25 September 2019
Actor Amitabh Bachchan is full of gratitude after he was named as this year’s winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema. Sharing his thoughts on the announcement, Amitabh tweeted a picture of himself and wrote a note of gratitude.
“There is a paucity of words searching a response.. for the generosity of words that pour in ..I am but deeply grateful and most humbled .. my sincerest gratitude,” the actor wrote alongside a picture in which he is seen with folded hands.
“What really resides in the mind shall never be known…and may it never….gratitude and express of immense humbleness..bear supreme today…and love,” he wrote.
Congratulating their father, son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter Shweta Nanda also took to social media and posted heartfelt messages. Shweta posted a picture from Amitabh’s younger days and wrote on Instagram, “Whose your Dada (Saheb Phalke) ? Uncontainable excitement, pride, tears, and general hysteria!!! Congratulations Papa.” “Overjoyed and so, so proud! #ProudSon,” tweeted Abhishek.
In his 50-year-long career, Amitabh has won four National Film Awards for Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku. He is also the recipient of the Padma Shri (1984), the Padma Bhushan (2001) and the Padma Vibhushan (2015). The Government of France honoured him with its highest civilian honour, Knight of the Legion of Honour, in 2007.
The veteran star began his journey in showbiz in 1969 with Saat Hindustani. Last seen in Taapsee Pannu—starrer Badla, Amitabh is currently hosting the 11th season of his popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. He is also likes to sing and writes blogs regularly.
Amitabh recently completed the Lucknow shoot schedule of Shoojit Sircar’s Gulabo Sitabo, which also stars Ayushmann Khurrana. He will also been in Rumi Jaffery’s Chehre alongside Emraan Hashmi, and in Ayan Mukerji’s adventure fantasy drama Brahmastra. It also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna.
BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand, accused of sexually harassing UP law student, arrested
MMNN:20 September 2019
Shahjahanpur: Bharatiya Janata Party leader Swami Chinmayanand, alleged accused in the rape case of Uttar Pradesh-based law student, was arrested by a special investigation team on Friday morning (September 20).
The 73-year-old politician was on his way to the hospital for a medical checkup when he was arrested and taken to the police line. Following chest pain complaints, he was undergoing medical treatment by a team of doctors at his ashram where he has been under house arrest since September 13.
The BJP leader has been accused of sexually harassing a woman student of Swami Shukdevanand Law College in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur. Chinmayanand is the director of the institute.
The victim went missing on August 24, 2019, after posting a video on social media, appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for justice. She was later found in Rajasthan's Jaipur and produced before the court the same day. She refused to go back to her parents in Shahjahanpur following which the apex court directed Delhi Police to ensure her stay at All India Women's Conference (AIWC) hostel or YMCA for four days and provide her security.
Upset over delayed action against the BJP leader, the victim threatened to commit suicide if Chinmayanand was not arrested.
Chinmayanand was the minister of state for internal affairs in the Vajpayee ministry.
INX Media case: CBI opposes Chidambaram's bail plea, next hearing on September 23
MMNN:20 September 2019
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday opposed the bail plea of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media alleged corruption case. Opposing his bail plea in the Delhi High Court, the CBI counsel said that if he is given bail, it will set a wrong precedent and this might influence the outcome of the investigation against him.
CBI, in its reply to the court, said, ''Probe held so far reveals that accused, while working as Finance Minister, demanded illegal gratification against which payments were made in India & overseas to accused and his son Karti by Indrani Mukherjee & Pratim Mukherjee.''
On Thursday, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi had extended the judicial custody of P Chidambaram in the INX media case till October 3. Hearing on his bail plea is scheduled to be held on September 23.
Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar allowed the counsels representing Chidambaram to get a few documents signed by their clients, including a parliament pass for his driver and a letter to the PNB bank manager for his bank account statement.
Chidambaram was produced before the court at the end of his 14-day custody in connection with the case.
He was arrested by the CBI on August 21 and was in its custody till September 5. The agency, through its counsel Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, moved an application in the court seeking an extension of Chidambaram`s judicial custody.
Kapil Sibal, representing the accused, strongly opposed the application. One of the counsels appearing for Chidambaram also moved an application seeking regular check-up and adequate supplement diet for his client in jail, asserting that he is facing various ailments and has lost some weight during his jail-term.
Sibal requested the court to allow Chidambaram to be medically examined in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Chidambaram is facing probe in cases registered by both the CBI and the ED pertaining to alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when he was the Union finance minister.
Chandrayaan 2: Deadline to re-establish contact with Vikram Lander nears
MMNN:20 September 2019
New Delhi: After the hard-landing of Vikram Lander on the lunar surface, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had expressed hopes that they have at least 14 days to establish contact with it. In these 14 days, ISRO achieved the status of Vikram Lander with the help of thermal optical photographs.
According to ISRO, during its final descent on the moon at 2.1 kms above the lunar surface, Vikram Lander lost its communication with ISRO ground station. The incident occurred in the wee hours of September 7. However, the ISRO scientists kept their hopes and continued to send signals from its Deep Space Communication Center. And while the Orbiter responded to every signal sent from the ISRO, there was no response from the Lander.
The US space agency NASA also tried establishing contact with lander Vikram by activating its deep space network - an array of worldwide space antennas. However, despite all its efforts, it failed to establish connection with the Lander. Unfortunately, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter also failed to spot Vikram lander.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera instrument sent pictures of the intended Moon touchdown site for the Vikram lander but shadows in the area could not capture the Lander's exact position.
Chandrayaan-2 had originally planned two process of experimentation:
The Orbiter had to observe the position from a distance of 100 meter from the surface of the moon while the Lander and the Rover had to land on the moon, scrape the soil there and burn it to collect information about the chemical elements present on it. However, in the event of loss of contact with Vikram Lander with ISRO, this experiment can no longer be performed.
The 14-day timeline given by ISRO for establishing contact with the Lander has a deadline of September 21 because after that the moon region will enter into a lunar light. On the afternoon of September 19, based on the photographs received by scientists, there was a long shadow appearing on the lunar surface.
As per ISRO, the Orbiter of India's second unmanned lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 continues to perform scheduled scientific experiments to complete satisfaction. ''All Payloads of orbiter are powered. Initial trials for orbiter Payloads are completed successfully. Performance of all orbiter Payloads is satisfactory,'' the agency said on Thursday.
Chidambaram’s judicial custody in INX Media case extended till Oct 3
MMNN:19 September 2019
A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case till October 3
The 74-year-old leader’s lawyer Kapil Sibal also sought regular medical examination of his client to which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said: “Whatever rights are given to other prisoner, same can be asked by him also through application.”
The Congress leader also made a request for bank statement of an account in a bank at Delhi’s Jor Bagh branch, which the court has allowed.
Opposing the CBI plea to extend his judicial custody, Sibal said. “The extension of custody cannot be mechanical process. The reason needs to be stated for the extension of the custody.”
Chidambaram has been lodged in Tihar jail since September 5 on charges of corruption in the INX Media case. On Wednesday, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel met him at Tihar Jail. They were accompanied by Chidambaram’s son and Congress MP, Karti.
The CBI is probing alleged irregularities in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving foreign investment to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007, when Chidambaram was finance minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. CBI registered an FIR in the case on May 15, 2017.
INX Media co-founders Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani Mukerjea have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy with Karti Chidambaram, P Chidambaram’s son, to secure clearance from FIPB for the foreign investment received by the company and evade punitive measures for not having the requisite approvals.
Indrani Mukerjea told CBI in March last year that a deal of $1 million had been struck between Karti Chidambaram and the Mukerjeas to secure approval from the FIPB in favour of INX Media.
We meet criteria for preferential trade status, India tells US ahead of PM Modi’s visit
MMNN:19 September 2019
India on Thursday said that it meets the criteria for the Generalised System of Preferences and the US should take a call on reinstating the trade concessions. New Delhi’s comments came a day after 44 influential US lawmakers called upon the Donald Trump administration to reinstate India as a beneficiary of the scheme of duty-free import for developing nations.
“Generalized System of Preferences is a unilateral decision, given by countries to other countries based on certain criteria. We are a developing country, we meet those criteria,” said foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in a press briefing before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit.
In June this year, the US has removed India from the removed India from the list of beneficiaries under the GSP which allowed duty-free entry of Indian goods to US. India sold an estimated $6.3 billion worth of goods to the US under this programme in 2018. Washington had cited lack of reciprocal market access by New Delhi as the reason for doing so.
In a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a group of US House members said ending the preferential status for India is costing their constituents every day. The support for India was bipartisan with 26 Democrats and 18 Republicans signing the letter. The group of lawmakers was led by Congressmen Jim Himes and Ron Estes.
The policies, the lawmakers observed, negatively affect US companies which were trying to access the Indian market. “Several US industries filed petitions under GSP’s market access criterion, which were accepted for review in April 2018. Ultimately, failure to make sufficient progress on the issues led to termination of India’s GSP eligibility on June 5, 2019,” the US lawmakers said in the letter.
Latest data by the Coalition for GSP shows that India losing the trade preferential status meant that American companies lost about $30 million in July.
New Delhi has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Generalised System of Preferences scheme that allowed zero tariff entry to some imports from 120 countries.
The GSP is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and meant to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for products from the beneficiary countries.
From September 21-27, PM Modi will visit the US. He will address the UN general assembly in New York and meet US president Donald Trump. The Prime Minister will address a rally of Indian Americans—‘Howdy Modi!’— at Houston on Sunday.
Govt bans e-cigarettes and e-hookas, announces jail term and fine for violations
MMNN:18 September 2019
New Delhi: In a major decision, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to ban the production, export, import and distribution of e-cigarettes.
Announcing the decision, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, ''The Union Cabinet has given the approval to ban e-cigarettes. It means the production, manufacturing, import/export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising related to e-cigarettes are banned.''
The announcement to ban production and import of electronic cigarettes is likely to shatter the expansion plans of companies such as Juul Labs and Philip Morris International.
The Finance Minister told a media briefing that an executive order will be passed to ban the products, which the government believes will advance tobacco control efforts in the country.
Sitharaman said e-cigarettes were becoming an increasing health risk as they were being used as a "style statement", and not as ''a tobacco cessation product.''
Mamata Banerjee meets PM Narendra Modi, urges him to write off West Bengal's debt
MMNN:18 September 2019
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital during which she took up the issues of pending projects in her state.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the PM, Mamata said, ''We have been demanding Centre's support on changing Bengal's name. I have reminded the PM about it. My MPs had met him.''
''I have invited the PM for the inauguration of 'Deocha Panchami' after Durga Puja,'' she added.
The Trinamool Congress chief said that she has given papers on what her government has done in recent years in Bengal.
''We have asked him to write off Bengal's debt. I will try to meet the Home Minister too,'' Mamata said.
She categorically said that it was a meeting between two governments and not much should be read into it politically.
The firebrand TMC leader also refused to answer questions related to CBI's ongoing probe into the Saradha chit fund scam.
Interestingly, Banerjee had got Kolkata-made sweets delivered to PM Modi's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, a day before their meeting.
Banerjee flew to Delhi on Tuesday, which was also PM Modi`s birthday.
Her meeting with the PM comes at a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is trying to locate her close aide and former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for
questioning in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam case.
Mamata's meeting with the PM has triggered intense speculations in the political circles and the Bengal unit chief of the Congress party, Somen Mitra, has accused the West Bengal CM of making a desperate bid to ensure an "escape route" for Kumar, who is currently untraceable.
"Do we understand that honourable CM of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee is going to Delhi on the day PM Modi celebrates his birthday, and as a return gift for the birthday wishes, request an escape route for the ex-Commissioner of Kolkata Police in the Saradha chit fund scam?", Mitra asked.
The state BJP in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya also dubbed it as the "last-ditch bid" of the fiery Bengal leader to save the police officer regarded as being close to her.
While the CBI is looking to question Kumar, Banerjee herself sat on a 'dharna' to protest of the CBI team visiting Kumar`s residence.
"Why is she seeking a meeting with PM Modi all of a sudden is anybody`s guess", Vijayvargiya said, recalling Banerjee`s sharp criticism of Modi during the 2019 general election campaign.
The last time the two leaders met was at the convocation ceremony at Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan on May 25, 2018.
The Rs 2,500-crore Saradha chit fund scam involved a ponzi scheme that defrauded small investors and poor people with promises of astronomical returns. When the fraud came to light, several victims ended up committing suicide.
Many top Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders` names have been dragged into the scam investigation, including sitting MP Shatabdi Roy and former MP Kunal Ghosh. TMC leader Derek O`Brien has been quizzed in the matter by the investigation agency.
With the CBI now looking for Kumar, there is visible discomfort within the ranks of the TMC. RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh saying he was "mentally ill" and compared him with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Digvijaya Singh booked for 'BJP, Bajrang Dal getting money from ISI' remark
MMNN:18 September 2019
BHOPAL: A criminal defamation complaint has been filed against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for his controversial statement in which he had said that the BJP and Bajrang Dal are taking money from Pakistan's spy agency ISI.
RSS-affiliated right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal had earlier said that it will file a criminal defamation case against the senior Congress leader for alleging that its members were working for Pakistan's spy agency ISI and were receiving money from it.
The court has kept the matter for consideration on October 9, news agency ANI said.
Bajrang Dal national convenor Sohan Solanki had said, ''We strongly condemn Digvijay Singh's statement. We will take legal action and file a defamation case against him.''
Calling Digvijay Singh as 'anti-Hindu', Solanki said that the Congress leader has lost his political relevance and, by making such statements, he wants to further alienate his Congress party.''
The reaction from the Bajrang Dal convenor came shortly after Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP and the right-wing outfit of receiving money from Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
"Bajrang Dal and BJP are taking money from the ISI. Attention should be paid to this," Singh had said on Friday.
The former MP chief minister had triggered yet another controversy on Tuesday by saying that "people are wearing saffron clothes and raping."
"People are wearing saffron clothes and raping, rapes are happening inside temples, is this our religion? Those who have defamed our 'Sanatan Dharma', not even god will forgive them," Singh said during an event.
The event was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
Attacking the BJP, CM Kamal Nath said, "Some people are understandably unhappy at my participation here as they think they have the contract on religious matters."
Namdas Tyagi, also known as ''Computer Baba,'' said, "From every district of the state, saints will meet here in this Sant Samagam programme."
Pakistan army raises white flag, takes back dead soldiers from LoC: Report
MMNN:14 September 2019
The Pakistan Army has retrieved the bodies of two of its Punjabi soldiers killed recently by the Indian Army at the LoC after raising the white flag, Army sources said on Saturday.
The bodies were retrieved by Pakistan on September 13 following two days of unsuccessful attempts. An Army official said all attempts by Pakistan to take the bodies by force had been foiled.
However, the bodies of five Border Action Team (BAT) Special Services Group commandos killed during an infiltration attempt in the last week of July in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir, still lie unclaimed by Pakistan.
“We allowed Pakistani soldiers to claim the two dead bodies after they raised the white flag which is a gesture of peace. The first soldier had been killed around 10 September. The other soldier was killed during an attempt to retrieve the dead body,” a senior Army official told IANS.
As per Army sources, Sepoy Ghulam Rasool was killed in the Hajipir sector of PoK on September 10 during retaliation by India to a cease-fire violation. Rasool belonged to Bahawalpur in the Pakistani province of Punjab.
Another Punjabi soldier, Havaldar Nasir Hussain was shot dead during attempts to retrieve Rasool’s body. Hussain belonged to Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
The Indian Army has been undertaking the burial of several Pakistani soldiers whose bodies are left unclaimed. In the past, during the Kargil war, Pakistan did not claim the bodies of several of its soldiers who had been later buried by the Indian Army with full honours.
‘Medi-city’ to come up in Jammu and Srinagar soon, says governor Satya Pal Malik
MMNN:14 September 2019
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday said that scores of hospitals across the country were willing to invest in the “medi-city” for which the Central government has finalised land in both Jammu and Srinagar.
“We have decided to have a ‘medi-city’ in both Jammu and Srinagar. We have finalised the land. A lot of best hospitals across the country are willing to invest in them. We will bring them here and operate the medi-city,” said Malik at a public meeting here.
The governor said that Jammu and Kashmir is now directly connected to the national capital. “This is a golden opportunity. The situation is such that you can ask whatever from the central government. They have kept their hands open,” he said.
Malik was speaking at the inaugural function of a government hospital in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district.
The Governor also said that he had done more work than any ruling government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the eyes of the country, Governor is a person who plays golf and does nothing for public, he or she just rests during their governorship. But the amount of work that we’ve done in last one year, I don’t think even an elected government does that much work.”
On August 5, the Centre nullified provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir making it a Union Territory with legislature.
Odd-even scheme required to counter stubble burning in Delhi, says AAP leader Atishi
MMNN:14 September 2019
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena on Saturday said that it is imperative to implement the odd-even scheme in Delhi to counter stubble burning during the winter season.
“Due to stubble burning, the pollution level increases in the month of November and December in Delhi. To counter it, the odd-even scheme is required. This is a type of emergency measures which we take in order to control pollution,” she said while speaking to ANI in New Delhi.
The statement from the AAP leader came just a day after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the odd-even scheme is not required in Delhi as the new ring road constructed by the Centre is already reducing air pollution.
“Now there is no such need (odd-even scheme) because the new ring road we have built is helping reduce pollution in Delhi to a certain extent. Besides, my ministry is pursuing road works of about Rs 50,000 crore. Cleaning of the Yamuna and other works to curb pollution are also underway,” Gadkari had stated.
On Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the car rationing or odd-even scheme will be implemented in Delhi from November 4 to 15. The Delhi Chief Minister said that studies have shown that the scheme helps to reduce air pollution.
During the 12-day scheme, vehicles will ply alternately on odd and even dates as per their registration numbers.
NASA helping ISRO establish communication with Vikram lander
MMNN:13 September 2019
Chennai: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is continuing its attempt to reach out to India's moon lander sending communication signals with its Deep Space Network (DSN), said officials.
It is also reported the American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is sending radio signals to Vikram.
"Attempts are being made to reestablish communication links with the moon lander Vikram. The attempts will be made till September 20-21 when the sunlight will be there in the area where the Vikram has landed," an ISRO official preferring anonymity told IANS.
The ISRO is trying to establish link with Vikram with its Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) at Byalalu near Bengaluru.
Scott Tilley, an amateur astronomer who found American weather satellite IMAGE in 2018 that was considered to be lost, on September 10, tweeted: "#DSN 24 beams 12KW of RF at the #Moon in hopes of stimulating #Chandrayaan2's lander #VikramLander into communicating with home.
"Here's a eerie recording of the searcher's signal reflected off the Moon and back to Earth via EME (Earth Moon Earth) on 2103.7MHz."
"Meanwhile the DSN24 continues emitting its beacon in hopes #VikramLander will respond...A Good Night all!" he said in a recent tweet.
The IMAGE satellite was launched by NASA in 2000 and lost contact after five years.
CBI court rejects Chidambaram's surrender application in INX Media case
MMNN:13 September 2019
NEW DELHI: A special CBI court on Friday dismissed senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's surrender application a day after after the conclusion of arguments in the INX Media alleged corruption case.
Chidambaram had moved an application to surrender before the Enforcement Directorate in INX media case. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody in connection with the INX Media case being probed by the CBI.
Earlier during the arguments in the case on Thursday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had told Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Thursday that Chidambaram was involved in corrupt practices during his term as union finance minister and received bribes worth crores.
"Chidambaram was involved in corrupt practices and received money in crores," Mehta told the single-judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait hearing Chidambaram`s plea seeking bail and challenging judicial custody order given by a trial court in the INX Media case.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, on the other hand, asked the court for an urgent hearing on the bail plea. He also requested the court to allow providing Chidambaram home-made food and extra time for family visits in Tihar prison.
However, the bench said that "this case will take some time" and also declined the request for home-made food and extra time for family visits.
The court asked Sibal why he approached the Delhi High Court challenging the judicial custody so late.
"Judicial custody was granted on September 5. You had approached the Supreme Court earlier. Why did you not come to the High Court challenging the order earlier," Justice Kait said.
The court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking its response on the Chidambaram`s plea and asked them to file a status report in the bail plea within 7 days.
Next hearing on the matter is slated for September 23. Chidambaram`s lawyers have also withdrawn their second plea challenging his judicial custody.
The Congress leader was arrested by CBI in the INX Media case on Aug 21 and sent to CBI custody for interrogation.
Last week, a CBI court sent Chidambaram to judicial custody in Tihar Jail till September 19. Chidambaram is facing probe in cases registered by the CBI and the ED pertaining to alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when he was the Union Finance Minister.
Odd-Even scheme will be implemented from November 4 to 15 in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal
MMNN:13 September 2019
New Delhi: Delhi will once again witness the Odd-Even number scheme in a bid to control pollution for a period of 12 days from November 4 to 15, announced Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday. Appealing to the residents of Delhi to help in combating the menace of pollution which assumes alarming proportions during winter, Kejriwal said that Delhi government will also procure and distribute masks to the people.
A total of 12 hotspots in Delhi where pollution is maximum have been identified and special emphasis will be laid on ensuring that the problem is tackled. Sweeping of roads will also be carried out using mechanised means to lessen dust particles in the air.
There will be a seven-point agenda to deal with pollution by the burning of stubble. He also said a war room will be set up to deal with pollution in Delhi.
Kejriwal also appealed to Delhi residents to not burst crackers on Diwali, which is on October 27, as the resultant chemicals and smoke released leads to breathing problems in several people. A day before Diwali, which is celebrated as 'Chhoti Diwali', there will be laser show and entry for the same will be free.
In the scheme, on November 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, cars with even number plates will be allowed to ply on Delhi roads while the ones with odd number plates will operate on alternate days.
Kejriwal's 7-point Winter Action Plan is as follows:
- Pollution Free Diwali
- Odd-Even Policy
- Pollution Masks
- Preventing open burning/violation of construction dust rules
- Hotspot Action Plan
- Dust Pollution Control
- Delhi Tree Challenge
This is the third time that the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has implemented the Odd-Even scheme in the national capital. In 2016, the scheme was enforced twice.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari slammed Kejriwal's decision of implementing the scheme and said that it wasn't required as of now and added that pollution on Ring Road has been significantly reduced due to central government's planned schemes.
"No, I don't think it is needed. The Ring Road we have built has significantly reduced pollution in the city and our planned schemes will free Delhi of pollution in the next two years," he told news agency ANI.
CBI likely to question Indrani Mukerjea in Byculla jail today
MMNN:10 September 2019
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: A special court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to question Indrani Mukerjea, currently in jail for the alleged murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, in connection to the INX Media case. Mukerjea had turned approver in the case in July and recently recorded her confessional statement against P Chidambaram.
Indrani Mukerjea and her husband Peter Mukerjea, co-accused in the murder case of her daughter, are former promoters of the INX Media Group.
CBI had filed an application before a special court in Mumbai to interrogate Mukerjea. The probe agency is likely to visit Mumbai's Byculla jail on Tuesday to question her, sources told Zee News.
Mukerjea, the former head of the INX Media, had last year after giving confessional statement against Chidambaram and his son Karti, filed a petition seeking to become an approver in the case in a Delhi court.
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was on Thursday sent to Delhi's Tihar Jail after the court remanded him to 14-day judicial custody in the INX Media case.
He was arrested by the CBI amid highdrama from his home in Delhi's Jor Bagh on August 21, 2019.
Coal mafia behind assault on SAIL chief in Delhi, arrested along with 5 others
MMNN:10 September 2019
New Delhi: Delhi Police's Crime Branch on Monday arrested six people, including the prime accused Ashok Kumar Singh, a coal contractor and coal mafia, for attempting to murder the (Steel Authority of India Limited) SAIL Chairman Anil Kumar Chaudhary in August.
Singh owns a trading business. In 2017, he had signed a contract with SAIL, under which, his company had to import coal from the US and he had paid Rs 80-85 crore for the same. However, the material was rejected by SAIL on inspection over its poor quality and his order was rejected. As a result, his money could not be recovered.
Singh tried to pressurise the SAIL Chairman to reconsider his decision of rejecting the consignment, but when Chaudhary refused, he hatched a plot to seek revenge.
To execute the plan, Singh contacted his acquaintance Sunil Barala, who also roped in his brother-in-law Chutku, to arrange four men to attack Chaudhary.
He was attacked on August 7 in South Extension area as he was returning home from office. A road rage attack was planned by the assailants. They followed Chaudhary's car and mid-way, attacked him with iron rods, sharp weapons and small knives.
"When my driver stepped down from the car to check the damage, the attackers also stepped down and one of them caught the driver by the neck. When I intervened, the three others overpowered me. They brutally kicked and punched me and one of the attackers pulled out an iron rod and sharp-edged weapons from their car with the intention to kill me," Chaudhary told news agency IANS.
The SAIL boss was saved when a police patrol team on a motorbike was on the route and they intervened. Two of the assailants who nabbed by the team on spot, which helped the crime branch crack the case.
Sources said that during interrogation, Singh refused to accept that he intended to eliminate Chaudhary. On the other hand, the SAIL chief had stated that the attack was aimed to kill him.
Tabrez Ansari wasn't lynched, died of cardiac arrest, say police; murder charges against 11 accused dropped
MMNN:10 September 2019
The investigation by Jharkhand Police into the death of 22-year-old Tabrez Ansari, who was earlier believed to be a victim of mob lynching, has found that he died due to cardiac arrest. Following the probe, the police dropped murder case against 11 suspects involved in the incident.
The incident had occurred on June 19, 2019, when Tabrez was beaten up by an angry mob over suspicion of theft in Dhatkidh village of Seraikela district in Jharkhand. It was suspected that the victim was involved in a bike theft.
Following the incident, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das had ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team into the matter. The Chief Minister had also ordered suspension of the Saraikela police officer in-charge with immediate effect.
Tabrez's family had dismissed charges of theft, alleging that the accusations made against him were baseless.
His family members had said that Tabrez used to work in Pune and had come home for vacations on Eid when the incident took place. He was reportedly caught along with two others when they were on a bike when some people suspected him of being a thief.
While two others who were with him ran away, Tabrez was caught by the attackers. He was reportedly tied to an electricity pole and was beaten up all night. He was also allegedly forced to chant slogans of 'jai shri ram' and 'jai bajrang bali' after they asked him about his religion.
The incident came to light after a video went viral in which Pappu Mandal, the main accused, was seen beating Ansari, who was tied to a pole.
After the thrashing, the mob handed him over to the police, which took him to a police post. However, he had to be admitted to a hospital after his condition worsened and later succumbed to his injuries.
Ansari's wife Shaista Parveen lodged an FIR at the Seraikela police station and also claimed that she was not allowed to meet him. The family alleged that they could hear him asking for help while the main accused was hurling abuses at him in the presence of police officials.
Govt floats draft guidelines for implementing IPR policy in academic institutions
MMNN:9 September 2019
A patent right will rest with the academic institution if a student, researcher or faculty member has used its resources and funds for developing a product, according to draft guidelines floated by the government on the implementation of IPR policy for academic institutions.
However, if an institution determines that an invention was made by an individual on his or her own time and unrelated to his or her responsibilities towards the institution and was conceived without use of its resources, then the invention shall vest with the individual or inventor.
These guidelines are floated with an objective to foster innovation and creativity in the areas of technology, sciences, and humanities by nurturing new ideas and research, in an ethical environment.
It would also help in protecting intellectual property rights (IPRs) generated by faculty or personnel, students, and staff of the academic institution, by translating their creative and innovative work into IP rights.
“The ownership rights on IP may vary according to the context in which the concerned IP was generated. In this regard, a two-tier classification is suggested for adoption,” it said.
In case of copyright, the draft has suggested that the ownership rights in scholarly and academic works generated utilising resources of academic institution, including books, dissertations and lecture notes, shall ordinarily be vested with the author.
On the other hand, the ownership rights in lecture videos or massive open online courses, films, plays, and musical works, shall ordinarily be vested with the academic institution.
Similarly, ownership rights over integrated circuits and plant varieties; and industrial designs will rest with the academic institution if a student, researcher or faculty member have used its resources and funds for developing the product.
The guidelines also said the academic institution is free to enter into revenue sharing agreement with the researcher, in cases of commercialisation of innovation, and creation as per the advice of IP Cell.
It added that the academic institution may appoint a committee of experts to address the concerns of the aggrieved person and all disputes shall be dealt with by this committee.
It has also suggested creation of IP Cells in academic institutions to ensure the effective applicability of these guidelines.
The Cell will be responsible for conducting awareness programmes for students, faculty, researchers, and officials. Besides, it would conduct advanced-level awareness programmes.
“IP Cell shall provide an environment for academic and R&D (research and development) excellence and conduct dedicated programmes on IPR for the undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as organise regular IPR counselling programme for research scholars,” it said.
The other objectives of these guidelines include laying down an efficient, fair, and transparent administrative process for ownership control and assignment of IP rights and sharing of revenues generated by IP, created and owned by the academic institution.
“These guidelines shall apply to all IP created at the academic institution, as well as, all IP rights associated with them, from the date of implementation of these norms,” it added.
The 23-page model guidelines on implementation of IPR policy in Academic Institution have been prepared by the Cell for IPR Promotion & Management (CIPAM), under the commerce and industry ministry.
The IPRs are statutory rights. Owners of these exclusive rights get protection for a specified period of time like 20 years in case of patents. These rights include copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, and industrial designs.
UP law student alleges rape by BJP’s Chinmayanand, files complaint in Delhi
MMNN:9 September 2019
The postgraduate student who had levelled harassment charges against Swami Chinmayanand, on Monday alleged she was raped by the BJP leader who also physically exploited her for one year.
Addressing media persons here, she claimed that the Shahjahanpur police was not registering the rape case.
“Swami Chinmayanand raped me and even exploited me physically for one year,” she alleged before media persons, her face covered with a black scarf.
“The Delhi Police has registered this complaint at Lodhi Road police station and has forwarded it to Shahjahanpur police, which is not registering the rape case,” she said.
“On Sunday, the SIT quizzed me for about 11 hours. I have told them about the rape. Even after telling them everything, they have not arrested Chinmayanand yet,” she said.
Bengal forest guard poses with rescued king cobra round his neck, faces enquiry
MMNN:9 September 2019
A departmental enquiry has been initiated against a forest guard in West Bengal after photos of him posing with a rescued king cobra around his neck got circulated.
“An enquiry has been initiated against the forest guard,” Kumar Vimal, divisional forest officer, Jaldapara National Park said. The incident happened in Alipurduar district near the border with Bhutan.
“The forest staff are experienced and skilled in catching poisonous snakes and dangerous animals. However, posing with a venomous snake for the camera is never a good idea and could be extremely dangerous,” added the DFO.
Wildlife activists pointed out that such acts by forest department employees also defeat the campaign of the department that the common people should not harass or irritate animals in the wild or in a zoo.
“This is not only dangerous but also unethical. It is unfortunate if forest department employees do such things just for getting applause on social media. These acts send negative messages to the people,” Animesh Bose, programme coordinator, Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, an NGO based in Siliguri said.
On Thursday night, the forest staff at Lankapara range under Jaldapara National Park (JNP) in Alipurduar district, about 690 km away from Kolkata received a message that a king cobra was spotted at a village near the Indo-Bhutan border.
A team of six to seven forest employees, including forest guards, reached the area near Lankapara Tea Estate, about 43 km from the district headquarters of Alipurduar.
Though it was late at night, a large crowd gathered at the spot and the foresters managed to rescue the snake that was about 10 feet long.
However, before releasing it into the deep forest, one of the guards took the snake and garlanded himself with it and posed for the cameras. The photos and the video went viral drawing the attention of the department officials.
One of the most venomous snakes, the king cobra is found in different parts of Alipurduar district.
In a similar incident in June 2018, Sanjay Dutta, forest ranger of Belacoba range in Jalpaiguri district was caught posing with an 18-foot python in a village of Jalpaiguri district in north Bengal.
P Chidambaram sent to Tihar jail till Sept 19 by Delhi court in INX Media case
MMNN:5 September 2019
Former finance minister P Chidambaram was sent to Tihar jail till September 19 in the INX Media case after a Delhi Court declined to accept his request to free him on bail. In a last-ditch effort to convince the judge to keep Chidambaram out of Tihar jail, his legal team had minutes earlier even offered his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate which could take him into custody to question him.
It was an offer high on symbolism, particularly since the Supreme Court had already rejected his request for pre-arrest bail in the INX Media case being investigated by the ED.
With the top court’s order in its favour, the Enforcement Directorate can arrest him any time. But the ED has decided against making its move today. That left Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar with only two options: Either release Chidambaram on bail or remand him in judicial custody.
Judge Kuhar ruled in favour of sending him to Tihar.
“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature of offences, stage of investigation, the accused is remanded to judicial custody,” the judge ordered.
The judge had heard both sides argue on Chidambaram’s next stop for a little over 30 minutes before he reserved his order. As the two sides waited for him to come back to court with his verdict, Chidambaram who has spent 15 days in custody of the CBI looked a little tired. Like always, he had been standing in the accused box as he waited for the judge to return.
A court staffer brought him to chair. It wasn’t the first time that Chidambaram had been offered a chair but he had always, pointedly and firmly, declined. Today, he decided to sit down.
His team had been prepared for the verdict, and quickly moved requests.
Sibal started with a request to carry his spectacles and prescribed medicines to Tihar jail, India’s largest and most populous. Chidambaram, who has been the country’s former home minister, also requested a separate cell with a bathroom in light of concerns over his security. The judge accepted these two sets of application. On the third - a formal request to surrender to the Enforcement Directorate - the judge issued notice to the ED to seek its stand.
‘India with Russia in development of its Far East’: PM Modi in Vladivostok
MMNN:5September 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Plenary Session of the 5th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. He said that brainstorming at forum will strengthen human welfare for entire humankind. ‘Putin’s vision for its Far East similar to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, said PM Modi in Valdivostok. PM Modi said India will walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Russia in its development of Far East region. “The relation of India and Far East is not new but ages old. India is the 1st country which opened its consulate in Vladivostok. Even during Soviet Russia when there was restrictions on other foreigners, Vladivostok was open for Indians, Modi added. India will walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Russia in its development of Far East region
2 dead as 100 years old building collapses in Ahmedabad
MMNN:5September 2019
Two women died after a two-storey building collapsed in Amraiwadi area in Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon. Rescue operations are underway.
BJP’s Amraiwadi councillor Baldev Desai said the structure was 100 years old.
There have been no reports of any casualties so far.
More details awaited.
India, Russia want to diversify, strengthen bilateral relations: PM Modi
MMNN:3 September 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he looks forward to discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum.
He also said his visit underlines the desire of the two countries to diversity and further strengthen bilateral relations.
Modi’s visit to the Russian Far East Region is the first by an Indian prime minister. “I look forward to discussing with my friend President Putin the entire gamut of our bilateral partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement ahead of his two-day visit beginning Wednesday.
In Vladivostok, Modi will participate as the chief guest at the 5th Eastern Economic Forum at the invitation of President Putin.
He will also hold the 20th India-Russia Annual Summit with Putin. “I also look forward to meeting other global leaders attending the Eastern Economic Forum, and interacting with Indian Industry and business representatives participating in it,” Modi said.
The forum focuses on development of business and investment opportunities in the Russian Far East Region, and presents enormous potential for developing close and mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Russia in the region, he pointed out.
“Our two countries enjoy excellent relations, based on the strong foundation of our special and privileged strategic partnership. Both countries cooperate extensively in the strategic fields of defence, civil nuclear energy and peaceful uses of space. We have robust and growing trade and investment relations.
“Our strong partnership is complemented by a desire to promote a multi-polar world and the two countries closely cooperate towards this end in regional and multilateral fora,” Modi said.
Bengal governor summons DGP to discuss law and order situation
MMNN:3 September 2019
A day after he said that he was pained by incidents of violence, Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar summoned the director general of police (DGP) to his residence to discuss the law and order situation in the state.
The meeting at Raj Bhavan lasted a little over 30 minutes. This is the first instance that the governor, who took oath in July, summoned an officer of the state to discuss law and order.
Though none in the state administration would formally comment on it, officers said Sunday’s violence in Bhatpara area in Barrackpore in which local MP Arjun Singh of the BJP sustained head injuries and had to be hospitalized, was the catalyst for the governor’s decision to call the DGP for a meeting.
The governor enquired from DGP Virendra (he goes by only one name) why the violence has continued in this area for the past few months, said an officer.
The governor’s office did not release any statement about the meeting.
On the other hand, Arjun Singh, who was released from the hospital on Tuesday, accused Bengal’s ruling party Trinamool Congress of conspiring to murder him.
“I shall talk to the concerned persons for the state of West Bengal (so that it) gets peaceful atmosphere. The state of West Bengal does not need violence. Bengal must be on (the) path of progress,” Dhankhar said on Monday morning after meeting Singh at a hospital.
TMC leaders also did not comment but a minister said that if the party has anything to say at all, it will do so later. On Monday, however, Saugata Roy, TMC Lok Sabha MP had remarked that the governor should not speak politics.
A former advocate and Lok Sabha MP (1989-1991) from Janata Dal, Dhankhar (68) was sworn in as the 28th governor of the state in July.
On Monday, Dhankhar said he was troubled by violence, irrespective of who was the target.
“Holding this Constitutional position, my objective is that we must believe in the rule of law and we must believe in peace. We must avoid violence and I am in pain looking at the violence. I am in pain that something happens to teachers, lawyers, doctors and journalists. We must have a system where everyone acts in a disciplined manner and without violence,” the governor said.
Arjun Singh said that he has told the Union home minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Barrackpore Police commissioner Manoj Verma can get him killed any moment.
“I have told the Union home minister and LS speaker that Manoj Verma has conspired to kill me. He can get me killed by goons any moment, or he can even do the act himself,” said Singh.
“I have taken part in many agitations in the state since the days of the Left rule. But I have never seen that without even speaking to anyone, police starts beating up people including the MLA, councillors and women,” said Singh referring to the clash on Sunday.
Car-borne assailants shoot at police constable in Delhi, bullet hits passer-by
MMNN:3 September 2019
A 50-year-old man was killed when unidentified car-borne assailants opened fire on a police constable in northeast Delhi’s Nand Nagri area, police said on Tuesday.
The incident happened on Monday and the deceased has been identified as Raju, a resident of Harsh vihar, they said.
“Our constable Ajay, posted in Nand Nagri police station, was passing through Tanga stand, Nand Nagri, at 11:39 pm on Monday when he saw some suspicious persons sitting in a Swift Desire car,” said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy commissioner of police (North East) On being inquired by the constable, the suspected persons started running away.
“During the chase, a man from the car opened fired at the constable but the bullet hit one passer-by and they managed to flee away. The victim was rushed to GTB Hospital where he was declared bought dead,” said Thakur.
Police have registered a case under section 302 (punishment for murder) of IPC and teams have been formed to nab the accused, he added.
Take up Issue of Sikh Girl's 'Forced' Conversion to Islam with Pakistan, Amarinder Tells Centre
MMNN:30 August 2019
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday to take up the issue of a Sikh girl being reportedly kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam in Pakistan.
"Shocking incident of a Sikh girl being kidnapped & forced to convert to Islam in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan," Singh tweeted, tagging a video.
In the video message, the family of the girl has claimed that she was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. The family has sought Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's help. The chief minister urged Khan to take a firm and immediate action.
"Call upon @ImranKhanPTI to take firm and immediate action against the perpetrators. Request @DrS Jaishankar to strongly take up the issue with his counterpart at the earliest," he said.
Mobile Services Partially Restored North Kashmir's Kupwara District
MMNN:30 August 2019
Srinagar: Incoming mobile services have been restored for post-paid subscribers in Kashmir Valley's Kupwara district, officials said on Friday.
All post-paid subscribers of state-run BSNL, Jio and Vodafone in the north Kashmir border district will benefit from the decision, they said.
According to the officials, there was a technical issue in allowing outgoing mobile services and it would take some time to overcome the problem.
Services for pre-paid subscribers, who don't get monthly bills, have not been opened yet, they said.
Landline, mobile and internet services were suspended on August 5 when the centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370.
The state administration is opening up the communication system gradually and has restored landline services in 46 of 96 telephone exchanges in the Valley, officials said.
CBI Conducts Joint Surprise Checks at 150 Places across Country Against Corruption
MMNN:30 August 2019
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday carried out joint surprise checks at 150 places across the country against corruption, officials said.
The special drive was conducted primarily at such points of corruption where common citizens or small businessmen feel maximum pinch of corruption in the government machinery, they said.
The drive will sensitise all stakeholders about possible avenues of corruption and the difficulties common citizens face while seeking services from such departments, the officials said.
The checks were conducted in Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Guwahati, Srinagar, Shillong, Chandigarh, Shimla, chennai, Madurai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Gandhinagar, Goa, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Patna, Ranchi, Ghaziabad, Dehradun and Lucknow.
The departments where surprise checks were conducted included railways, coal mines and coal fields , medical and health care organisations, customs department, Food Corporation of India, and other departments like power, municipal corporations, transport, Directorate of States, fire services, sub-registrar offices, GST department, national highways, Airport Authorities of India, public sector oil companies, Directorate General of Foreign Trades, financial institutions, BSNL, Shipping Corporation, and others.
Amid High Alert in Tamil Nadu, NIA Conducts Raids at 5 Places in Coimbatore
MMNN:29 August 2019
Chennai: Amid high alert in Tamil Nadu following an input on entry of terrorists, the National Investigation Agency is conducting searches at five locations in Coimbatore district.
Sources said that places of five men, Umar Farooq, Sanabar Ali, Sameena Mubin, Muhammad Yasir and Sadam Hussain, who were on NIA's radar for alleged ISIS link, were searched by the agency.
In June, NIA arrested Mohammed Azarudeen, who is the alleged mastermind of ISIS Tamil Nadu module. Sources said that the raids that are underway today are in connection with this case and the alleged ISIS links.
Tamil Nadu has been on high alert since Thursday midnight following intelligence inputs that a six-member group of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had infiltrated the state.
The reports suggested six members of the terror outfit entered the state by sea from Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu Police have launched a combing operation and raided several locations. One Pakistani and five Sri Lankan Tamil Muslims are among the six to have made their way into the state.
Money Laundering Offence Against Nation, Need Chidambaram's Custody to Unearth Conspiracy: ED to SC
MMNN:29 August 2019
New Delhi: Money laundering is an offence against "society and nation", the ED told the Supreme Court Thursday and said it needed custodial interrogation of former finance minister P Chidambaram to unearth the larger conspiracy in the INX Media money case under PMLA.
The Enforcement Directorate told a bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna that it cannot show the material collected during the probe to Chidambaram at this stage as the evidence related to money trail of layers of money might be erased.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said there is no requirement of "exposing the materials, sources and evidence to the accused at the stage of pre-arrest bail" and investigation is the exclusive domain of the probe agency.
"Money laundering is an offence against the society and the nation and probe agency has a right and duty to unearth the entire conspiracy," he told the bench, adding that the apex court has consistently held that economic offences are "gravest of grave" irrespective of the sentence prescribed for it.
"I have materials to show that laundering of money continued after 2009 and even today (in the INX Media case)," he said, adding that the ED wants to interrogate Chidambaram in custody and without the "protective umbrella" of anticipatory bail.
The apex court is hearing a plea filed by Chidambaram who has challenged the August 20 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him anticipatory bail in the INX Media corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and ED. The arguments in the case would continue during the day.
Fire Breaks Out in Telangana Express in Haryana, Passengers Safe
MMNN:29 August 2019
New Delhi: A fire broke out in two coaches of the Hyderabad-New Delhi Telangana Express at Asaoti station in Haryana on Thursday, Northern Railway officials said. All passengers are safe.
Fire broke out in two coaches of the train at 7:43 am and both have been isolated, said Northern Railway Spokesperson Deepak Kumar. It has now been controlled.
"Train number 12723 Hyderabad NDLS Telangana Express was stopped between Asaoti and Ballabgarh at 7:43am due to heavy smoke and flames from wheels of the ninth coach from the rear end. The up and down movement has now been stopped in the affected section," Kumar added.
Having No Means of Communication is 'Biggest Punishment' for People of J&K, Says BJP Minister Javadekar
MMNN:28 August 2019
New Delhi: Emphasising the importance of communication tools, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said the "biggest punishment" for people is when they have no means of communication. The Information and Broadcasting Minister, speaking at the National Awards for community radio event here, also hailed the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir as "historic decision."
"We did a lot of work. In Kashmir, people did not get the right of development like the rest of the country. So that they get this right of development, Article 370 happened. It is a historic decision. The development that Jammu and Kashmir did not have, it will get it now."
He also said, "the people didn't get reservation, they will get it now, they didn't have right to education, they will get it now, they were being left out of government schemes that are doing well, they will get its benefits now. All the laws will now be applicable there. So, now they will grow at a higher rate than the rest of the country."
Javadekar said at present, the situation in India is such that everyone has a mobile phone through which one can talk to each other across cities. He said that India has emerged as the largest user of the mobile phone in the country.
"This is the power and need of communication...when people store everything in their hearts and are unable to tell anyone about it, is the biggest punishment. When you cannot talk to anyone, you cannot contact anyone and you have no tool to communicate, that is the biggest punishment," he said, adding that one of the biggest medium of communication is community radio.
"Incidentally, the minister's comments come in the backdrop of restrictions imposed on communication services in the Kashmir Valley after the abrogation of the Article 370 by the Union government on August 5.
The minister gave away awards in five categories for the years 2018 and 2019. While in 2018 for the Radio Namaskar, Odisha received the first prize, the second prize was bagged by Radio Sharda, Jammu and Kashmir in the Thematic Category, in 2019 the first prize was won by Friends Radio, Tripura followed by Salaam Namaste in Uttar Pradesh.
Javadekar also said that the government led by Narendra Modi was taking decisions at high speed and unlike earlier governments which gave annual reports of its work, this government gave 50 days and 75 day reports. He also released a booklet of 75 days of the Modi government highlighting its achievements called "Jan Connect."
K'taka Minister Urges Visitors to Contribute to Flood Relief, Sets Up 2 Donation Boxes in Office
MMNN:28 August 2019
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister for Mining and Geology CC Patil, who took charge on Wednesday, put up two boxes in his office where visitors can contribute for flood relief. “I have kept donation boxes in my office. Those who visit my office to wish me, please don’t bring anything. Instead, please contribute towards flood relief,” Patil told News18, adding that he would give all the money, thus, collected to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
In the box, it is written: Instead of greeting me with bouquets, please contribute money for flood victims’ relief fund. The newly appointed minister hails from north Karnataka that has been badly hit by the deluge. A leader from the Opposition said Patil, instead of resorting to publicity stunts, should put pressure on the Centre for funds.
This year, Karnataka has faced the biggest floods in years. As many as 82 lives were lost and lakhs of people were rendered homeless. According to government records, 2097 cattle were killed, 7.82 hectares of crops were lost, landslides damaged 5,000 hectares of area and 35,000km roads were affected. About 2.37 lakh houses have suffered severe damage, 6.96 lakh people were displaced and 8.67 lakh people were shifted to relief camps. Overall, the state is said to have suffered losses worth over Rs 32,000 crore. The Centre is yet to release any funds to the state.
However, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said his government had received all sorts of help from the Centre. After attending a flood review meeting, Ashoka said, “The Centre had sent 42 companies of personnel to handle the Karnataka floods. Losses worth about Rs 32,000 crore loss have been assessed and the Union government is helping us in all possible way. We will try to get funds from the Centre.”
So far, Karnataka CM’s Relief Fund has received contribution worth Rs 110.1 crore. The Congress has been hitting out at the BJP government for not being able to get funds from the Centre.
Jaishankar Holds talks with Russian Counterpart Lavrov; Reviews Preparation for PM Modi's Visit
MMNN:28 August 2019
Moscow: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday reviewed the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country next week and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Talking to reporters at a joint press conference here, Lavrov said that the preparations for the talks between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India on creation of a free trade zone have been finished, with all required procedures fulfilled.
"Today, we focused on preparations for Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin and participation in the 5th Fifth Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok as chief guest," Lavrov said.
The two sides "thoroughly discussed" the visit's agenda and came to the conclusion that they are on the right track, he was quoted as saying by the state-run Tass news agency. The 5th Eastern Economic Forum will take place in Vladivostok on September 4-6.
"EAEU focuses on the deepening of trade and economic cooperation with New Delhi. As of today, all procedures required for the launch of official talks on concluding a free trade zone agreement between EAEU and India have been completed. The speedy launch of a respective negotiations process will be a milestone of cooperation between India and EAEU," Lavrov said.
The EAEU is a five-nation international organisation comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Russia established in 2015 to create conditions for the stable development of the economies of the member states. The EAEU region with a population size of over 180 million holds huge potential to increase trade.
Lavrov also said that his talks with Jaishankar also focused on "a number of specific issues, including the necessity to intensify work on creation of an international transport corridor North-South in the Russia-India-Iran format."
The Russian minister said that respective departments would continue meaningful consultations on the subject. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Tuesday on a two-day visit to Russia to finalise the preparations for Prime Minister Modi's visit to the country.
This is his first visit to Moscow since assuming office in May.
"40 years to the day I first came to Moscow. The world has changed but India-Russia relations remain steady," Jaishankar tweeted on Tuesday.
Jaishankar will also meet Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov. Days ahead of Jaishankar's visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled to Moscow and held talks with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev during which both sides underlined support for principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference of third parties.
Delivering a speech at the discussion platform of the Valdai Discussion Club on the issue 'The prospects of India's policy in the Indo-Pacific region' on Tuesday, Jaishankar said that the changing world had thrown up new concepts and approaches and the Indo-Pacific was one of them. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region.
China has been trying to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the sea.
Relief for P Chidambaram After Supreme Court Grants Him Protection from Enforcement Directorate Arrest
MMNN:27 August 2019
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday extended till tomorrow protection from arrest granted to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case.
A bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna said it would hear the arguments of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Chidambaram's two petitions, including the challenge to remand orders, on Wednesday.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, filed an application seeking direction to the ED to produce the transcripts of the questioning conducted on December 19 last year and January 1 and January 21 this year in the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said he would like to reply to the fresh application during the course of his arguments.
The transcripts will show whether Chidambaram was evasive during his questioning, as alleged by the ED, Sibal said.
He also told the bench that the ED cannot place documents in the court randomly and "behind the back" for seeking Chidambaram's custody.
"They are just producing documents at random and saying this is part of the case diary," Sibal said, adding, "They cannot place the documents behind the back and seek custody of accused."
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for Chidambaram, referred to the constitutional and legal provisions and said that fundamental right of citizens under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) cannot be suspended.
Singhvi argued that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was amended in 2009 whereas the allegations in the case are of 2007-2008.
"You try and paint a person as a kingpin when these alleged offences did not exist at that time," he told the court during the arguments which will continue in the post lunch session.
The apex court had on Monday extended till Tuesday the protection from arrest given to Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the ED.
Chidambaram was the Union minister for finance as also home during the UPA-I and UPA-II government from 2004 to 2014.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.
Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case against him in 2017.
'He Ruined Lives of Many Girls': Law Student Missing After Harassment Charge at ex-Union Minister
MMNN:27 August 2019
Lucknow: Days after she accused former union minister and BJP leader, Swami Chinmayanand, of harassment and “destroying the lives of several girls”, a law student from SS Law College in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur has gone missing from her college hostel.
In a video posted on Friday, the girl alleged that Chinmayanand, director of her college, is threatening to kill her and her family as she has evidences that could land him in trouble. She asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for help.
In the clip that has now gone viral, the girl can be seen requesting PM Modi for help. “I’m (name withheld) from Shahjahanpur and am pursuing LLM from SS College. A big leader of the saint society, who has destroyed the lives of several girls, has been threatening me with life. I have all the evidences against him. I request Modi ji and Yogi ji to please help me. He has even threatened to kill my family. Only I know what I have been going through. Modi ji please help me, he is a sanyasi and is threatening that the police, DM and everyone else is on his side and no one can harm him. I request you all for justice.”
She is untraceable since Saturday, a day after posting the video on Facebook live. No report or case has been lodged by the police so far.
Her father has given a written complaint against Chinmayanand, former MoS Home.
“The last time she came home was on Raksh Bandhan. I asked her why her phone remained switched off so frequently. She said, ‘if my phone goes off for a longer duration then understand that I am in trouble. My phone will go off only when it is not in my hands’. My girl was going through a lot of pain and trouble but didn’t divulge much. She told me she was being sent to Nainital by her college administration,” her mother said.
The father of the girl has alleged that he has been trying to contact her for many days but she is untraceable. “My daughter never told me anything personally. She looked worried when she was home on Raksha Bandhan. She has been missing since four days. I have given a written complaint against college director Swami Chinmayanand but no action has been taken yet,” he said.
No case has been registered against Swami Chinmayanand by the police so far. When asked, S Chinappa SSP Shahjahanpur, said he doesn’t know anything about the viral video.
Last year, Yogi Adityanath government had decided to withdraw the rape and abduction case lodged against Swami Chinamayanand. The FIR against him was lodged in November 2011, on the complaint of a girl who had spent several years at his ashram.
In Meeting With Amit Shah, Jagan Reddy Explains Plans to Have 4 Capitals For Andhra
MMNN:27 August 2019
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekhawat during his visit to Delhi and explained his plans to assign four new capitals for the state.
Reddy, who was in the national capital for the inter-state council meeting on the development initiatives being undertaken in Maoist-hit areas, is said to be mulling over the idea to establish capitals in Vizianagaram, Kakinada, Guntur and Kadapa in a bid to decentralise development.
According to YSRCP Sources, during his meeting with Amit Shah, Reddy is said to have highlighted his proposal to make Amaravati only the administrative capital while pushing for development in the other four cities as well. For this, the state government plans to establish Regional Development Boards.
Following the recent flooding of the Krishna River, which led to road links being cut off between Amaravati and Vijayawada several political leaders, local farmers and members of the business fraternity raised concerns over the city being chosen as the capital.
The Minister for Municipal Affairs Botsa Satyanarayan himself struck controversy when he said that Amaravati is not the safest capital at all after 8 lakh cusecs of water, which was let through the Prakasam Barrage, drowned the river-front areas.
The cost of construction is also said to be significantly higher in Amaravati as compared to the other areas in the state. Several political parties including the opposition Telugu Desam Party and Janasena, however, hit out at the government’s plans to shift the capital city from Amaravati.
Responding to their criticism, Satyanarayana said that the discussions are going on over the issue. He also blamed the previous Chandrababu Naidu government citing likely corruption in land deals.
“The previous TDP government and leaders purchased huge amounts of land before announcing the capital. The government will explore the names and details of those who are indulging in this. We can only give more clarity over this after further discussions.”
Among other issues that were taken up during the discussion between the Andhra Pradesh CM and Amit Shah was the matter of financial aid to the state and reverse tendering in respect of the Polavaram headworks and hydel power project.
Setback for Chidambaram as SC Refuses to Hear 'Infructuous' Plea Against Dismissal of Anticipatory Bail
MMNN:26 August 2019
New Delhi: In a setback for Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain his petition challenging the dismissal of anticipatory bail in a corruption case lodged by the CBI in the INX Media scam.
At the outset, a bench comprising justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna said since Chidambaram has already been arrested and is in the custody of the CBI, his appeal in the case has become infructuous.
However, the bench said Chidambaram is at a liberty to seek remedy in accordance with the law.
Chidambaram, whose CBI custody is ending on Monday, will be produced before a trial court where the agency can further seek his custody.
However, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and AM Singhvi said in their arguments that the CBI ensured that Chidambaram's plea become infructuous by arresting him when he was seeking protection from arrest.
They said that immediately after the high court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in both CBI and ED cases on August 20, the senior Congress leader had moved the apex court in the post lunch session and his matter was listed for hearing on August 21.
While attempts were being made to get his petition listed for hearing on Wednesday, an order was passed that the matter will be heard on August 23. Chidambaram was arrested on late evening of August 21.
Sibal narrated the sequence of events from August 20 to August 21, and said "the whole purpose of the CBI was to defeat the fundamental rights of my client, (Chidambaram) and his liberty guaranteed under the Constitution. He should have been heard but the matter was listed for hearing on Friday and not even Thursday".
However, the bench said on that ground Chidambaram's plea against the high court decision cannot be entertained.
"So far as the CBI case is concerned, we are not inclined to hear it. We dismiss the special leave petition (of Chidambaram) in CBI case," the bench said.
It said the senior Congress leader can challenge the dismissal of his anticipatory bail in the CBI case on different grounds.
At present the apex court bench is hearing issues relating to the money laundering case lodged by the ED in connection with the INX media scam in which Chidambaram was granted protection from arrest till today.
Embankment in Punjab Collapses as Pakistan Releases Water; Flood Threat Looms in Atleast 17 Villages
MMNN:26 August 2019
Chandigarh: A crucial embankment in Punjab's Ferozepur district collapsed early Monday due to heavy discharge of water from Pakistan, posing a threat of flooding in at least 17 villages.
For the past three days, local authorities have been working on a war footing to strengthen the 50-foot embankment in Tendiwala village along the swollen Satluj river with the assistance of the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and locals.
Over 17 villages located on the right bank of the Satluj and along the Indo-Pakistan border are facing flood threat owing to the strong current of water coming from Kasur in Pakistan, an official told IANS. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday asked the Water Resources Department to work out a joint action plan to strengthen the embankment to avert the flooding of nearby villages.
Presiding over a high-level meeting here to review the flood situation in the state, the Chief Minister directed the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, to ensure strengthening of the Tendiwala embankment.
The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur to keep NDRF teams on standby to meet any exigency arising out of the floods. Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind said that 500 persons have been evacuated and 630 given necessary medical aid in 15 flood-affected villages in Makhu and Hussaniwala areas.
Locals rue that Pakistan has released toxic water from its tanneries into the Satluj that has created havoc in their villages. The Satluj water enters Pakistan via a creek and because of the river's natural course, one its tributaries flows back near Tendiwala village.
This season it brought huge flows of highly toxic waste of leather tanneries in Kasur district of Pakistan into India. The pollutants have caused skin-related diseases in the villages along the border. Even livestock have been affected.
Gatti Rajoke, the last village in India before the international border, is one of the worst affected villages due to the water released by Pakistan.
22 Senior Tax Officers Facing Corruption Charges Made to Retire as Part of Govt’s ‘Clean-up’ Drive
MMNN:26 August 2019
New Delhi: The government has forced 22 more tax officials into retirement for their alleged roles in corruption cases and links with other charges, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to purge the I-T department of the "black sheep”.
This comes just two months after the government had compulsorily retired 27 high-ranking officers of the Indian Revenue Service officers, including 12 from the Central Board of Direct Taxes. The action was taken after the officers were named in alleged corruption cases.
“The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has compulsorily retired yet another 22 senior officers of the rank of Superintendent/Administrative Officer under Fundamental Rule 56 (J)... due to corruption and other charges and CBI traps,” the CBIC said.
In June, 12 senior government officers, including a chief commissioner, principal commissioners and commissioner of the Income Tax Department, were directed by the Finance Ministry to retire under Rule 56 of the General Financial Rules (GFRs).
Sources had told News 18 that some of these officers were found guilty of corruption, having illegal and disproportionate assets and sexual harassment.
News18 had earlier reported that the Cabinet Secretariat and the Central Vigilance Commission had given verbal instructions to the vigilance heads in many departments to expedite the process of identifying officers for compulsory retirement under Fundamental Rule 56(j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972.
Though 56(j) that provides for compulsory retirement of government staff in public interest has existed for several decades, it has sparingly been invoked.
Under the section, the performance of an officer who has turned 50 or 55 or has completed 30 years of service (whichever is earlier,) is being reviewed to ascertain if he/she is liable for compulsory retirement.
This rule to punish non-performers was revisited immediately after the first Modi government came to power in May 2014.
Among high-profile 56 (j) retirements in recent past were MN Vijaykumar (IAS), K Narasimha (IAS), Mayank Sheel Chohan (IPS) and Raj Kumar Dewangan (IPS).
Arun Jaitley, Senior BJP Leader And Former Union Minister, Dies At 66
MMNN:24 August 2019
NEW DELHI: Arun Jaitley, former Finance Minister and the chief troubleshooter of the BJP, has died at Delhi's AIIMS hospital, two weeks after he was admitted following complaints of breathlessness. He was 66. Leaders across party lines visited Arun Jaitley's home to pay tributes to the leader. He will cremated tomorrow.
In a brief statement, AIIMS said Arun Jaitley died at 12.07 pm. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Shri Arun Jaitley... Shri Arun Jaitley was admitted in AIIMS, New Delhi on 09/08/2019 and was treated by a multidisciplinary team of senior doctors," said AIIMS in a statement.
The veteran BJP leader, who was brought in to the hospital on August 9, had been put on life support and was being monitored by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.
Senior leaders including Smriti Irani and Hardeep Singh Puri have reached AIIMS. Mr Jaitley's body will be taken to his home soon and the funeral will be held tomorrow. Before the funeral at Nigambodh Ghat, Mr Jaitley's body will be kept at the BJP office till 2 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UAE, said Mr Jaitley was a "political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary."
"Arun Jaitley Ji was a political giant, towering intellectual and legal luminary. He was an articulate leader who made a lasting contribution to India. His passing away is very saddening. Spoke to his wife Sangeeta Ji as well as son Rohan, and expressed condolences. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.
Home Minister Amit Shah said Arun Jaitley had guided him for years. "Deeply saddened by Arun Jaitley's death. His death is a personal loss for me. I have not just lost a senior party colleague but also a member of my family, who guided me for several years," Mr Shah tweeted.
Mr Jaitley's long-time colleague and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said he will always be remembered for "pulling the economy out of the gloom and putting it back on the right track."
Nirmala Sitharaman, who succeeded Mr Jaitley as the Finance Minister, said Mr Jaitley's "intelligence, sagacity, astuteness have no match."
Mr Jaitley's urbane and articulate manner had helped him win friends across party lines and industry.
President Kovind, PM Modi, Amit Shah along with political leaders like Mayawati, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Nitish Kumar and Yogi Adityanath had visited Mr Jaitley in hospital.
Mr Jaitley, a lawyer by profession, had been an important part in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in the BJP government's first term. He held the finance and defence portfolios, and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government. During his tenure as finance minister, Arun Jaitley led the enactment of a bankruptcy code and the Goods and Services Tax or GST.
Mr Jaitley did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election presumably because of his ill-health. Arun Jaitley also had to skip the presentation of the interim budget in February when he was in hospital in the United States for treatment. The lawyer-turned-politician also had triple heart bypass surgery when he was 52.
He had undergone a kidney transplant on May 14 last year at AIIMS with Railways Minister Piyush Goyal filling in for him in the finance ministry at that time.
Mr Jaitley, who had stopped attending office since early April last year, was back in the finance ministry on August 23, 2018.
Arun Jaitley's Last Rites At Delhi's Nigam Bodh Ghat Tomorrow: JP Nadda
MMNN:24 August 2019
NEW DELHI: Former finance minister Arun Jaitley's body will cremated at Delhi's Nigam Bodh Ghat tomorrow, said BJP Working President JP Nadda on Saturday.
"From AIIMS, Arun Jaitley's body will be taken to his home in Kailash colony. His body will be kept there till 10 am tomorrow and from there it will be taken to the BJP headquarters for party workers and the public to pay their last respects. His funeral procession will begin from the BJP headquarters to the Nigam Bodh Ghat, where last rites will be performed," Mr Nadda said.
He, however, added the timing for the cremation of Mr Jaitley's body is yet to be decided.
Praising the veteran BJP leader for his contribution to the nation and the party, Mr Nadda said, "All the people of India are deeply saddened by the death of Arun Jaitley Ji. Pleasant by personality, a team player by attitude and a savior for the government in times of need, he served the party and nation with full commitment."
Mr Nadda added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to Mr Jaitley's family members and that the whole cadre of BJP was with them in this hour of grief.
The former finance minister died at the age of 66, at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was admitted to the AIIMS earlier this month after he complained of restlessness. He was placed under observation at the hospital's cardio-neuro-centre.
UAE Is India's "Valuable Partner" To Help Reach $5 Trillion Economy: PM
MMNN:24 August 2019
ABU DHABI: India's relations with the UAE are "at their best ever" as bilateral ties have been elevated from a mere "buyer-seller" to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership in the last four years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said as he highlighted the excellent rapport between the leadership of the two countries.
PM Modi in an interview with the UAE's official news agency, WAM, said that India has found a "valuable partner" in the UAE to achieve its ambitious dream of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.
"India has embarked on the ambitious, yet achievable, path to be a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25. We are targeting about USD 1.7 trillion dollar worth of investments in the coming five years. To achieve this vision, the government is working to promote inflows from domestic as well as foreign sources," PM Modi said, who is in the UAE on the second leg of his three-nation tour.
The Prime Minister believes that his third visit to the UAE, in the last four years, reflects the desire and will of the two countries to sustain the momentum achieved in the bilateral relationship.
"We consider the UAE as a valuable partner in realising the objective to reach USD 5 trillion economy through a mutually beneficial partnership," said PM Modi who started on Friday night a two-day state visit to the UAE.
"There has been an increasing interest in investments in India in sectors ranging from renewable energy, food, ports, airports, defence manufacturing and other sectors," the Prime Minister added.
"UAE investments in (sectors such as) infrastructure and housing are being enhanced. The UAE is our third largest trade partner with about USD 60 billion bilateral trade in 2018-19. Many of our companies are investing here in the UAE. Both countries are working closely and vigorously to implement the commitment of USD 75 billion investment by the UAE in India," he said.
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE stood at about USD 60 billion. The UAE is also a key source of energy for India, being the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in New Delhi ahead of his visit to the kingdom.
On his relations with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, PM Modi, said that "the Crown Prince and I regard each other as brothers. We have developed enormous goodwill and mutual respect. I believe that the excellent rapport between the two of us is an important driving force in realising the true potential of our relationship."
Money Trail, Old Questions and Intelligent People: Courtroom Drama as CBI Goes After Chidambaram
MMNN:22 August 2019
New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday produced Congress leader and former union minister P Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media case, before a Delhi court and sought his custody for five days, saying there is a need to unearth a “larger conspiracy”.
He was produced before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar and the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the CBI, said Chidambaram was not cooperating with the probe agency and was evasive in his answers.
Chidambaram's advocates opposed the CBI plea on the ground that all the other accused, including his son Karti, have already been granted bail in the case.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, argued that the first arrest in the case was of Bhaskar Raman, chartered accountant of Karti, who is presently out on bail. Besides that, Peter and Indrani Mukherjea, also accused in the case, are out on default bail as they are in jail in connection with another matter, Sibal said.
He also questioned why bureaucrats in the FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) were not arrested if they had given wrong approval for foreign investment in INX Media. He contended that grant of bail was a rule and the issue before the court was of personal liberty.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, told the court that the agency was not extorting confession but it has the right to reach the root of the case. "It is a serious case involving intelligent people and we will fail in our duty if we don't get to the root of the case," he said.
Besides Sibal, senior advocate Abhishek M Singhvi also appeared for Chidambaram and opposed CBI's plea by saying that the former Union Minister was not a flight risk.
Singhvi said that the entire CBI case was based on the statement of Indrani Mukherjea, who has turned approver in the case. He said Chidambaram cannot answer what CBI wants to hear and added that the agency cannot seek remand on the ground of evasive replies.
Singhvi further contended that police remand can only be granted in special circumstances and this was a case where there was no new development. He pointed out that the arrest was made only 11-12 months after Indrani’s statement.
He said the agency was asking Chidambaram only old questions since his arrest on Wednesday night.
Mehta countered the arguments made on behalf of Chidambaram, saying that everybody was equal before the court. He said certain facts about the case cannot be narrated in an open court and also opposed the plea that Chidambaram be allowed to argue for himself, saying he has able lawyers representing him.
Mehta said that Chidambaram entered into a criminal conspiracy with others in the scam.
Chidambaram was arrested last night after issuance of non-bailable warrant against him.
Mehta said it is a serious and monumental case of money laundering. He also said Chidambaram's custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the "quid pro quo and larger conspiracy" and he is required to be confronted with documents.
Opposing CBI's arguments, Sibal contended that what the agency has said should not be taken as "gospel truth". He said that Chidambaram was asked 12 questions and he had already answered six of them previously.
Investigators don't know what to ask and they don't have questions ready with them, Sibal told the court, adding that after his arrest on Wednesday night, Chidambaram was interrogated only on Thursday morning at 11 am.
During the arguments, Chidambaram said he has not slept for last 24 hours.
Sibal further argued that CBI could have written a letter to Chidambaram for producing the documents alleged to be in his possession and the agency cannot say he was evasive during the investigation. He also contended that what has been stated in the CBI case diary was not the truth and cannot be considered as evidence.
Mehta, during his arguments, placed the Delhi High Court's judgement dismissing Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea and also referred to the observations made in it. He said charge sheet has not been filed in the case yet and the case is at pre-charge sheet stage, therefore, "we need material which Chidambaram is holding".
"Effective investigation is possible only in custodial interrogation," he argued. Mehta contended that serious, active and informed role of the accused is made out and money trail is made out and has to be probed.
Soon after entering the courtroom, 73-year-old Chidambaram was seen having discussion with his party leaders and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vivek Tankha. Chidambaram's family members, including his wife Nalini and son Karti, are also in the courtroom along with other senior advocates including Dayan Krishnan. Heavy security arrangement has been done outside the courtroom.
He was arrested late Wednesday night from his Jor Bagh residence. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018.
PM Modi Begins Three-nation Trip, Says Engagements Will Strengthen Ties With Time-tested Friends
MMNN:22 August 2019
New Delhi: Ahead of his visit to France, the UAE and Bahrain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the engagements will strengthen India's relations with time-tested friends and help explore new areas of cooperation.
Modi will visit the three countries from August 22 to 26. He will reach France on Thursday.
In his departure statement, the prime minister said his visit to France reflects the strong strategic partnership which the two countries deeply value and share.
From August 22-23, he will have bilateral meetings in France, including a summit interaction with President Emmanuel Macron and a meeting with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
Modi will also interact with the Indian community and dedicate a memorial to the Indian victims of the two Air India crashes in France in the 1950s and 1960s.
Later, from August 25-26, he will participate in the G7 Summit meetings as Biarritz Partner at the invitation of President Macron in the sessions on Environment, Climate, Oceans and on Digital Transformation.
"India and France have excellent bilateral ties, which are reinforced by a shared vision to cooperate for further enhancing peace and prosperity for our two countries and the world at large," the prime minister said.
He said the strong strategic and economic partnership is complemented by a shared perspective on major global concerns such as terrorism and climate change.
"I am confident that this visit will further promote our long-standing and valued friendship with France for mutual prosperity, peace and progress," Modi said.
During the visit to the United Arab Emirates from August 23-24, the prime minister said he looks forward to discussing with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Modi said he also looks forward to jointly release the stamp to commemorate the 150thbirth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi along with the Crown Prince.
"It will be an honour to receive the 'Order of Zayed', the highest civilian decoration conferred by the UAE government, during this visit. I will also formally launch RuPay card to expand the network of cashless transactions abroad," the prime minister said in the statement.
Frequent high-level interactions between India and the UAE testify to our vibrant relations, he said.
The UAE is the third-largest trade partner and fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India, he said.
"The qualitative enhancement of these ties is among one of our foremost foreign policy achievements. The visit would further strengthen our multifaceted bilateral ties with the UAE," Modi said.
The prime minister will be in Bahrain from August 24-25. This will be the first-ever prime ministerial visit from India to the Kingdom.
"I look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the ways to further boost our bilateral relations and share views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," Modi said.
The prime minister would also be meeting King of Bahrain Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and other leaders.
"I would also take the opportunity to interact with the Indian diaspora. I will be blessed to be present at the formal beginning of the re-development of the temple of Shreenathji - the oldest in the Gulf region in the wake of the auspicious festival of Janmashtami. I am confident that this visit would further deepen our relationship across the sectors," Modi said.
Ordinary Leave Period of Rajiv Gandhi Case Convict Nalini Extended by Three Weeks
MMNN:22 August 2019
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday extended by another three weeks, the ongoing ordinary leave of Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The leave period expires on August 25.
A division bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and M Nirmal Kumar said the same conditions ordered by it earlier would apply during this period.
The court had on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its reply to Nalini'a plea, seeking an extension of her ongoing ordinary leave by 30 days from August 25.
Nalini had submitted that she has moved the court as the state DIG Prisons in his August 13 letter had rejected her representation for extension of the leave for another 30 days.
Earlier last month, allowing a petition by Nalini, the court had granted her 30 days ordinary leave for making arrangements for her daughter's marriage.
After being released from the Central Prison in Vellore on July 25, Nalini has been residing at Sathuvachari there.
Lodged in prison for over 27 years, she had originally sought a six-month leave to make arrangements for her daughter's marriage.
During the hearing of Nalini's leave plea, the Public Prosecutor had submitted that the 'Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules 1982' provides for a maximum 30 day period as ordinary leave (parole) for a convict at a point of time and hence the court can consider granting leave within this limit.
The court in its order had noted that Rule 22 speaks about the extension of 30 days' leave, but it can be exercised only after the initial grant.
Nalini, in her petition, said that despite her sincere efforts, she was not able to complete the arrangements for the marriage of her daughter within the leave period.
Nalini and six other people are serving life imprisonment in the case related to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi by a suicide bomber at an election rally in
Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991.
Former MP Chief Minster Babulal Gaur Cremated with Full State Honours
MMNN:21 August 2019
Bhopal: The mortal remains of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur were consigned to flames here on Wednesday.
Governor Lalji Tandon, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Thawarchand Gehlot and Nityanand Rai, BJP vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state BJP chief Rakesh Singh were among those present along with hundreds of party workers.
Gaur was cremated at Subhash Nagar crematorium with full state honours. The last rites were performed by his grandson Akash.
The veteran BJP leader died due to cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning at a private hospital here.
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh declared a three-day mourning in the state. The government also declared a half-day holiday at all government offices on Wednesday.
Chief minister Kamal Nath and many state ministers visited Gaur's house here in the morning to pay homage.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Approves Reform of Army Headquarters
MMNN:21 August 2019
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the first batch of reforms in the Army including relocation of 206 officers from the Army headquarters, setting up of a separate vigilance cell and forming an umbrella organisation to focus on human rights issues.
Last year, the Army, based on 12 independent studies, finalised a reform roadmap to make the 1.3 million-strong force leaner and meaner as well as to enhance its combat capabilities.
"The defence minister has approved certain decisions regarding re-organisation of Army headquarters," the defence ministry said.
It said 206 Army officers are being relocated from the Army headquarters and they will be be made available to various field formations and units.
The officers to be relocated include three major generals, eight brigadiers, nine colonel and 186 Lt Colonel/Major.
Another key approval given by Singh is to set up a separate vigilance cell under the Army Chief with tri-services representation.
Presently, the vigilance department operates through multiple agencies and there is no single point interface.
"An independent vigilance cell will be made functional under Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Accordingly, Additional Director General (vigilance) will be placed directly under the COAS for it," the ministry said.
The vigilance cell will have three Colonel-level officers, one each from Army, Indian Air Force and Navy.
According to officials, the umbrella organisation for human rights issues will operate under the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS).
Officials said it is being set up to accord high priority to human rights convention and values.
"It has been decided to set up a special human rights section headed by ADG (Major General rank officer) directly under the VCOAS," the ministry said.
The organisation will be nodal point to examine any reports of violation of human rights.
"To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a Police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation," said the ministry.
The reform initiatives were finalised by top commanders of the Army in October last year to usher in transformative reforms in the force.
The reforms will also include restructuring the Army's officer cadre, bringing down age of key commands, arresting rising revenue expenditure and "right-sizing" the force.
Chandrayaan-2 One Step Closer to Moon After Successfully Entering Second Lunar Orbit
MMNN:21 August 2019
Chennai: The second Lunar orbit manoeuvre for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was successfully completed on Wednesday, said India Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
According to ISRO, the orbit manoeuvre began at 12.50 p.m. and took 1,228 seconds to complete. The orbit achieved is 118 km X 4,412 km. All spacecraft parameters are normal.
The next Lunar bound orbit manoeuvre is scheduled on August 28, 2019 between 5.30 a.m. - 6.30 a.m. On Tuesday, the Chandrayaan-2 was put into its first Lunar orbit.
On July 22, the Chandrayaan-2 was injected into an elliptical orbit of 170X45,475 km by India's heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in a textbook style. The spacecraft comprises three segments - the Orbiter (weighing 2,379 kg, eight payloads), the lander 'Vikram' (1,471 kg, four payloads) and rover 'Pragyan' (27 kg, two payloads).
The Indian space agency said the major activities include Earth-bound manoeuvres, the trans-lunar insertion, lunar-bound manoeuvres, Vikram's separation from Chandrayaan-2 and touch down on the Moon's South Pole.
'Our Heart Was Almost Stopping', Says ISRO Chief K Sivan on Chandrayaan-2 Entering Moon's Orbit
MMNN:20 August 2019
Bengaluru: "Our heart was almost stopping", was how ISRO Chairman K Sivan described the tense moments when team Chadrayaan-2 attempted to inject the spacecraft into the lunar orbit on Tuesday.
As ISRO scientists started firing Chandrayaan-2's onboard liquid engine to put the spacecraft in an orbit around the Moon, Sivan said, "our heartbeat increased". "For 30 minutes, our heart was almost stopping," he said after the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) maneuver was completed successfully at 0902 hours as planned, using the onboard propulsion system.
But Sivan said the proposed soft-landing on the moon on September 7 is going to be a "terrifying" moment as it is something ISRO has not done before, whereas LOI maneuver had been carried out successfully during the Chandrayaan-1 mission also.
"Now the tension has only increased, not reduced," he said while addressing a press conference.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar Meets His Bangladeshi Counterpart, Discusses Bilateral Ties
MMNN:20 August 2019
Dhaka: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen and discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral ties. The meeting took place at the State Guest House here, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
Momen will also host a lunch in honour of his Indian counterpart. Earlier, Jaishankar paid tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi.
Jaishankar is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence.
India is a leading development partner of Bangladesh as it has extended concessional lines of credit to the tune of around USD 8 billion. Jaishankar will leave for Kathmandu on Wednesday morning to attend the fifth meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.
No Link With His Business, Says Kamal Nath After Nephew Ratul Puri's Arrest in Bank Fraud Case
MMNN:20 August 2019
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, whose nephew Ratul Puri has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged Rs 354 crore bank fraud case, said he had no connection with Puri’s business.
“I have no connection with the business they are doing. But it appears to be purely a mala fide action. I believe and have full faith that the court will take a corrective stand in this case,” Nath said on Tuesday.
Puri, former executive director of digital data storage company Moser Baer, is being investigated by three main central probe agencies — the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the CBI and the Income Tax department.
The ED officials said Puri was placed under arrest under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) late Monday night.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Moser Baer called Puri’s arrest unfortunate. “The arrest by Enforcement Directorate is unfortunate. Moser Baer had operated in accordance with all legal compliances and this case now, when Moser Baer is in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), is motivated,” it said.
Besides Ratul and the company, his father and Managing Director Deepak Puri, Directors Nita Puri (Ratul's mother and Kamal Nath's sister), Sanjay Jain and Vineet Sharma were also been booked by the agency for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption.
Ratul had resigned from the post of executive director in 2012, while his parents continue to be on the board, the bank said in a statement.
The company is involved in the manufacture of optical storage media like compact discs, DVDs, solid state storage devices. It was taking loans from various banks since 2009 and went for debt restructuring a number of times, the bank has alleged in the complaint which is now part of the CBI FIR.
When it was unable to pay the debt, a forensic audit was done and the account was declared as "fraud" by the Central Bank of India on April 20, 2019, it has alleged.
"...The MBIL has committed fraud and cheated the complainant bank thereby making a wrongful gain to themselves and a wrongful loss to the lender bank which is a custodian of public money," the complaint to the CBI said.
Primary security of the bank consisting of stock of finished goods. semi-finished goods and raw material have also been dishonestly and fraudulently removed by the company and its directors in order to prevent the distribution amongst the creditor banks to satisfy the debt, the bank has alleged.
"The funds granted by the banks have been misused and misappropriated by MBIL and its directors for their own personal use, MBIL and its Directors and promoters have also committed fraud in respect of reporting book debts, which were also one of the primary securities of the bank," it said.
The bank claimed that the company and its directors forged and fabricated documents to induce Central Bank of India to release funds, it said.
"MBIL has cause unlawful loss to our bank to the tune of Rs 354.51 crore as on November 29, 2014 and interest thereon by getting unlawful gains," the complaint said.
CBI Gets 2 More Weeks from SC to Finish Probe in Unnao Rape Survivor's Road Accident Case
MMNN:19 August 2019
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks' time to the CBI to complete the ongoing investigation in a road accident case in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer have sustained critical injuries.
A bench comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose extended the time for completing the probe after the CBI moved an application seeking four more weeks on the ground that the statements of the rape survivor and her lawyer have not been recorded so far.
The bench also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs five lakh to the lawyer, who is in a critical condition.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the investigation agency to complete the probe within a stipulated time period of 45 days, and also ordered that the Uttar Pradesh government provide Rs 25 lakh to the survivor as interim compensation.
The bench had also told the CBI that an extension of not more than seven days would be given for investigation of the road accident, only in exceptional circumstances.
Not Afraid of Arrest, Will Surrender in 3-4 Days, Says Bihar MLA Booked for Possessing AK-47
MMNN:19 August 2019
Patna: Bihar Independent MLA and strongman Anant Singh - allegedly evading arrest in connection with a case lodged under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has said he will surrender in court in the next three-four days.
In a video message, the Mokama MLA also asserted that he will interact with the journalists on his return.
"I am not afraid of getting arrested. I have come to see my ailing friend and will surrender in the court in next three-four days.
"But first of all, I will go to my flat and interact with journalists," the legislator said in the video clip sent to media houses on Sunday.
Singh was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after a police team raided his ancestral house at Ladma village in Madhepura district and seized an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, live cartridges and two hand grenades on Friday.
The Parliament has recently passed an amendment to the anti-terror law UAPA to give powers to the Centre to designate an individual as terrorist and seize his properties.
The accused legislator claimed that he had sought time with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but failed to get an appointment.
Contending that he did not visit his ancestral house in the past 14 years, Singh said, "Why would I keep weapons like AK-47 in a house which is shared by my enemy?" He, however, did not disclose who he was referring to as his enemy.
Singh also questioned the police for allegedly not informing his family or journalists before conducting raids.
A second raid was carried out at the official residence (1, Mall Road) of Anant Singh on Saturday for his arrest but the MLA was found to be absconding, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Patna, Kantesh Kumar Mishra said.
His accomplice Chhotan Singh was, however, apprehended from the residence during the raid, he said.
A sword and a mobile phone were also seized from the legislator's official residence.
Dismissing the MLAs allegations, the SP said the raid was carried out in the presence of a magistrate, as well as the caretaker of the house, in accordance with the law.
The entire exercise has been recorded on video, the officer claimed.
Mishra also said that a separate FIR was being lodged with Sachivalaya police station in Patna against the Independent MLA for giving shelter and protection to Chhotan Singh, an accused in connection with a criminal case lodged with Barh police station.
Singh nicknamed "Chhote Sarkaar"- has a lengthy criminal record and was recently summoned to the police headquarters in Patna for giving his voice sample in connection with an attack on a Mokama-based contractor.
He was formerly known to have shared a close relationship with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but the two apparently fell out ahead of the 2015 assembly elections. Singh then left the JD(U) and contested and retained his seat as an Independent.
Come September, IndiGo & SpiceJet Will Shift Their Operations to Delhi Airport's Terminal 3
MMNN:19 August 2019
New Delhi: SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines on Monday announced shifting of its operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport. The move, taken in consultation with Delhi International Airport, will take place with effect from 00:01 hours on September 5, 2019, a statement released by GMR group said.
While operations for SpiceJet will completely shift from T2 to T3, IndiGo will only partially shift its operations. IndiGo flights of 5000 series will operate from T3, while rest will continue to operate from T2. The shift is to pave way for infrastructural enhancement of T2, increasing its capacity from 15 to 18 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA), the statement said.
GMR group, which currently operates the Delhi Airport, also said in the statement that this move will enhance the experience of passengers at T2. After the shift, GoAir and IndiGo will be the only two major airlines operating from T2. The move will reduce the passenger load at T2 by 27 percent.
Following this move, flight operations of Indigo and SpiceJet at Terminal 1 will remain unaffected. Delhi Airport authority and airlines are currently working together to ensure smooth movement of operations from T2 to T3, with minimal disruption to passenger experience.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO-Delhi International Airport said, “With Delhi Airport witnessing a surge in passenger traffic, DIAL is enhancing the capacity of T2. The move will ease the pressure of fast growing traffic, so that the capacity enhancement works at Terminal 2 can be carried out effectively and efficiently”.
Rajnath Singh’s remark on ‘no first use’ policy irresponsible and unfortunate: Pakistan
MMNN:17 August 2019
Pakistan on Saturday said the “substance and timing” of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on the possible change in India’s ‘no first use’ policy of nuclear weapons is “highly unfortunate” and “reflective of India’s irresponsible and belligerent behaviour.”
“The substance and timing of the Indian Defence Minister’s statement is highly unfortunate and reflective of India’s irresponsible and belligerent behaviour. It further exposes the pretence of their ‘No First Use policy’ to which we have never accorded any credence,” a statement by Pakistan Foreign Ministry read.
The statement further said that Pakistan has always “proposed measures relating to nuclear restraint in South Asia” and has “eschewed measures that are offensive in nature.” It added that the country will “continue to maintain a credible minimum deterrence posture.”
Singh on Friday had told ANI that the future “circumstances” would determine what would happen to India’s “no first use” policy of nuclear weapons.
The statement appears to have rattled Pakistan, which has never had adopted the same policy itself, despite most of the countries in the world including China abiding by it.
ED files first charge sheet in IL&FS case, attaches Rs 570 crore assets
MMNN:17 August 2019
The Enforcement Directorate has filed its first charge sheet in the IL&FS alleged illegal payment default crisis case even as it has attached assets worth about Rs 570 crore, officials said on Saturday.They said a prosecution complaint or charge sheet has been filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court in Mumbai on Friday.
The charge sheet details the roles of the directors and others in allegedly perpetrating the funds crisis and alleges corrupt practices were adopted by them that led to financial bunglings.
The central agency also issued a provisional order for attachment of assets, under the PMLA, and attached bank accounts and immovable properties located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Brussels, Belgium. These assets, commercial and residential, are held by the committee of directors of IL&FS Financial Services Ltd (IFIN) Ravi Parthasarathy, Ramesh Bawa, Hari Sankaram, Arun Saha and Ramchand Karunakaran, the ED attachment order said.
Saha and Karunakaran were arrested by the agency in June. The bank accounts and immovable properties held “indirectly” by Aircel founder C Sivasankaran, in the name of his family members and group companies, have also been attached, they said.
The total value of the provisionally attached properties is worth about Rs 570 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a money laundering case in this incident in February this year on the basis of an FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. The agency, in its probe and in the charge sheet, said the senior management of IL&FS indulged in acts of commissions and omissions leading to illegal personal gains to them at the expense of the company.
“In criminal conspiracy with each other and promoters of various private entities, they have in flagrant violation to the prudent and established norms, sanctioned and disbursed huge loans to the companies which were already under financial stress and defaulted on repayment of loans earlier taken from IFIN, an IL&FS subsidiary,” the ED alleged.
The ED said in order to maintain the credentials of IFIN so that they could continue to receive high remuneration, the directors allegedly falsified the accounts and indulged in”circuitous transactions” to artificially boost the balance sheet of IL&FS group, whereas actually these illegal activities were leading to further losses to the group.
“By adopting the same modus operandi, in criminal conspiracy with Sivashankaran, they fraudulently financed various companies of Siva Group out of which Rs 494 crore remained outstanding,” the ED said. It said between 2015-16 to 2017-18 financial years, the financials of IFIN were showing a negative trend, in spite of that the performance related pay, deputation cost and commission that these members of senior management received increased substantially.
“It was also seen that the shares of ILFS Limited were transferred to employee welfare trust (EWT) at a very concessional rate which sold these shares of IL&FS held by it, to various entities outside the group at a huge premium and later distributed the cash so generated to the employees of which larger chunk was received by these persons,” the ED said.This was despite the fact that the trust was running in operational losses, it said.
The agency is expected to file more charge sheets as the probe progresses.
Plea filed against Fadnavis for ‘misuse of power’ in transfer of bank accounts
MMNN:17 August 2019
A petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court against the Maharashtra government’s alleged move to transfer accounts of police staff and beneficiaries of various schemes from nationalised banks to Axis Bank, in which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife holds a senior position.
Petitioner Mohanish Jabalpure, in his plea filed last week, said the state government, through a circular on May 11, 2017, effected transfer of the bank accounts of police officials and beneficiaries of Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana to the private bank.
The petition alleged the chief minister misused his power and promoted Axis Bank, causing losses to nationalised banks.
The petition is likely to come up for hearing in the Nagpur bench of the high court by the end of this month.
Jabalpur has prayed for the high court’s direction for revocation of the government circular and all approvals, agreements, permissions and actions taken in pursuance of it.
He has also sought a high-level probe into the transactions done following the issuance of the circular, as well as into the agreement between Axis Bank and the government.
Priyanka Gandhi’s aide booked for assaulting, threatening journalist
MMNN:14 August 2019
A journalist has filed a police complaint here against an aide of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alleging he assaulted and threatened him during the Congress general secretary’s visit to Sonbhadra district in Uttar Pradesh.
Nitish Kumar Pandey, a resident of Varanasi, said in his written complaint that Gandhi’s personal secretary, Sandeep Singh, also touched his camera when he was covering her visit to Umbha village on Tuesday for a regional TV channel.
Ghorawal police station in-charge CP Pandey confirmed an FIR has been filed based on the journalist’s complaint.
A video of Gandhi’s aide misbehaving with a journalist during her visit had gone viral on social media. It showed a reporter asking a question to Gandhi on scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution when he was pushed back and an argument started.
The aide is heard accusing the reporter of being pro-BJP and asking questions at the behest of the saffron party in return for money.
Tagging the video, the media advisor to the UP chief minister asked the Congress leader to stop doing “theatrics”.
In a tweet, Mirtunjay Kumar said, “Priyanka Gandhiji please stop the theatrics of wiping the tears of the poor”.
He wondered where were those who claimed to side with press freedom when Gandhi’s secretary misbehaved with a journalist and she did not say anything to him.
“The UP government is committed to ensuring security of journalist,” Kumar said.
Gandhi was visiting Umbha to meet the families of 10 tribals shot dead in a land dispute last month.
After Samjhauta Express, Delhi-Lahore bus service cancelled
MMNN:14 August 2019
The five Mirage-2000 fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force who dropped bombs on the terror facility of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan are being named for the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry to be announced on the eve of Independence Day, official sources said.
The fighter planes had destroyed the JeM camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s province after entering Pakistani airspace for the first time in 48 years following a suicide bombing claimed by the terror group.
Forty troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed in the car bombing in Pulwama on February 14 that led to escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan.
The five Mirage pilots being named for the military honours are Wing Commander Amit Ranjan and Squadron Leaders Rahul Basoya, Pankaj Bhujade, Shashank Singh and BKN Reddy.
This is the first time that the Indian Air Force is identifying the pilots who struck targets in Balakot with Israeli-origin Spice 2000 bombs.
The February 26 operation by IAF involved Mirage 2000s and 2000is that carried out the attack, Sukhoi 30s MKi that acted as decoys and were also meant to provide cover in case the Mirages were intercepted, Phalcon AWACS and Embraer AEWS mid-air refuellers, and Heron drones for photographing the targets after the attack.
One of the five pilots later spoke about how the airstrike was over in all of 90 seconds.
But the preparations for the airstrikes had gone on for days. In the days ahead of the strikes, the Indian Air Force had increased the number of air patrols flown along the Line of Control to throw off Pakistan air defences.
Another jolt for Mamata, former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP
MMNN:14 August 2019
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress received another blow on Wednesday with former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, which stunned critics with a stellar show in this year’s parliamentary election. Chatterjee’s close confidant Baisakhi Banerjee also joined the BJP with him.
Mamata Banerjee had asked Chatterjee to step down as Kolkata mayor in November last year, after matters relating to his personal life made headlines, creating discomfort for his party. Chatterjee was also a minister in the West Bengal government and is currently a member of the legislative assembly.
He is among several of those who have deserted Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP after the latter won 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats – 4 short of Trinamool’s tally of 22.
“Sovan had a big contribution in making Mamata Banerjee the chief minister of Bengal,” said BJP leader Mukul Roy, also a former confidant of the Trinamool Congress leader. “Sovan joining the BJP is a big development in Bengal politics.”
Roy claimed with the Wednesday development the BJP will surely win Kolkata Corporation, and Mamata’s party will get opposition’s status in state assembly.
BJP general secretary Arun Singh claimed people and Trinamool Congress leaders are disappointed with the working of Mamata Banerjee. “Several people are joining BJP because they are impressed with the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah,” Singh said.
The former Kolkata mayor said he had raised within the Trinamool Congress the issue of stopping opposition parties from contesting the panchayat elections, but nobody listened to him. “Modi government is taking bold steps to strengthen the country,” Chatterjee said. “There should be no negative politics at this point of time.”
Jammu celebrates first Eid after Article 370’s removal
MMNN:12 August 2019
Muslims in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, celebrated Eid al-Adha or Bakrid on Monday amid security restrictions for the first time after the revocation of Article 370.
Jammu’s divisional commissioner Sanjeev Verma said Eid prayers were offered peacefully in all the 10 districts of Jammu region—Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda.
Officials said 5,000 people came to Eidgah, the main venue, and offered prayers amid strict security arrangements.
“At Eidgah here, civil society participated in the celebrations and I hope that this Eid is a harbinger of peace, prosperity and development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Verma said.
“Eid is being celebrated with happiness and vigour. The prayers have been offered peacefully amid security arrangements. It is a very pious occasion and it must be celebrated with peace and happiness,” Jammu deputy commissioner Sushma Chauhan, who was also present, said.
Authorities also eased restrictions across the Kashmir Valley and in other parts to allow people to pray and celebrate the festival of Eid.
“We received reports of the successful conclusion of Eid prayers from the Kashmir Valley in Baramulla, Ramban, Anantnag, Shopian, Awantipora, Srinagar and other places,” Rohit Kansal, the state’s principal secretary (Planning Commission) and chief spokesperson, said.
People from all walks of life came to the Eidgah and greeted each other after performing the Eid prayers.
After prayers, the head Mufti extended congratulations to the people of the state and the nation.
“On the pious festival of Eid al-Adha, I congratulate the entire humanity and I also request all Muslim brethren across the world to follow the path shown by Almighty Allah,” he said.
“I also appeal to all the Muslim brethren as we celebrate Eid today that we should also follow the tenets of Islam in true spirit because doing so would keep this world going. I also appeal to people from all the religions that they should join the celebrations and greet their brethren with sweets and embrace each other with love and harmony,” he said.
Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar, marking the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God’s command.
They mark the holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats and the meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.
Hope for peace
Like several others, Sajjad Ahmed, who belongs to Kashmir, said he prayed for peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I extend Eid Mubarak to all from the bottom of my heart. I prayed for peace in the state and also prayed for an early end to the sufferings of Muslims in the sub-continent. Going by the circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir, I hope that peace and stability returns at the earliest,” the 35-year-old said.
Sajjad hoped people of the state would once again uphold the tradition of humanity.
Farman Ahmed also said he prayed that the prevailing circumstances are over as early as possible and “we live in total harmony in this paradise called - J&K”.
Manzoor Ahmed, 51, said he celebrated Eid with happiness and gaiety like others.
“The situation is normal. Schools have been reopened. People are resuming their normal routine but international media tried to mislead the outside world about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. There is nothing to worry about and Jammu and Kashmir and its people are totally safe,” said Ahmed.
‘Restrictions will be lifted soon’
Jammu’s divisional commissioner Verma, who is head of the 10 districts, also congratulated people of the region for exhibiting wisdom and responsible behaviour.
“Barring a couple of stray incidents, media also reported with utmost responsibility. Those who indulged in wrong reporting were taken care of well in time,” he said.
When asked about the gag on the communication network, he said the mobile internet services will be resumed soon.
“The administration doesn’t want to disturb the 1.50 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir but certainly some trouble-makers, including rumour mongers, needed to be dealt with,” he said.
After Samjhauta Express, Delhi-Lahore bus service cancelled
MMNN:12 August 2019
Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on Monday cancelled the Delhi-Lahore bus service as Pakistan has decided to discontinue it in the wake of India revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, said a senior official of the public transporter.
On Saturday, a senior Pakistani minister has announced to suspended the friendship bus service from Monday. A Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus was scheduled to leave for Lahore on Monday 6 AM. However, it did not leave due to the Pakistan’s decision to suspend the bus service, the official said.
“Consequent to Pakistan’s decision to suspend the Delhi-Lahore bus service, DTC is not able to send bus (from Delhi to Lahore) from August 12,” said a statement from DTC.
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) had on Saturday also telephonically informed the DTC about suspension of the service from Monday.
The last bus for Lahore left Delhi on Saturday morning carrying two passengers while the return bus from the other side reached the national capital carrying 19 passengers in the evening of the same day.
The bus service did not operate on Sunday.
The bus service was first started in February 1999 but suspended after the 2001 Parliament attack. It was restarted in July 2003.
It had, however, continued with a depleted number of passengers even when bilateral relations between the two countries had worsened following the Pulwama terrorist attack and Balakot surgical strikes in February this year.
The Lahore-Delhi bus service is operated from Ambedkar Stadium terminal near Delhi Gate. DTC buses ply every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and PTDC buses every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, from Delhi to Lahore.
For the return trip, DTC buses leave Lahore every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday whereas the PTDC buses are available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Wrestler Babita Phogat, father join BJP ahead of Haryana polls
MMNN:12 August 2019
International wrestler Babita Phogat and her father Mahavir Phogat, whose family inspired the Aamir Khan-starrer Bollywood film ‘Dangal’, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday, ahead of the assembly election in their home state of Haryana.
They joined the BJP in the presence of Union sports and youth affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, party’s general secretary in-charge of Haryana Anil Jain and its state chief Subhash Badala.
Lauding the father-daughter duo, Rijiju said Babita has brought laurels to the country by bagging medals at several international events. The BJP believes that the induction of the Phogats into the party will help it politically in the poll-bound Haryana. Assembly elections are due in the state later this year.
Mahavir Phogat had joined Jannayak Janata Party founded by Ajay Chautala, the jailed elder son of former chief minister OP Chautala, ahead of the national elections this year. He was made chief of the party’s sports cell. But the party ticket that the family had expected didn’t come.
An Arjuna awardee, Babita won a silver medal at Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010 and a gold medal in the same event at Glasgow. She won a bronze medal at 2012 world championship.
The 29-year-old Babita’s family came to be known nationwide following the success of Dangal, which is loosely based on the lives of Phogat sisters, all of them wrestlers, and their father who coached them against all odds.
Mahavir Phogat is a Dronacharya awardee and Aamir Khan played his role in the movie Dangal. A book titled Akhara also has been published on him.
Babita had sued the Haryana government for not upgrading her as the deputy superintendent of police despite the many medals that she had won. She was a sub-inspector. But she lost the case in June this year and later, according to her family, has resigned from service.
The Phogat family is from Balali village of Dadri and there is speculation that the family expects Babita to be fielded from either Badhra or Dadri assembly segments of Dadri district.
Babita, who is recovering from an injury, also aims to qualify for the Olympics and eventually bring home a gold medal.
‘Ek Desh, Ek Nishan’: J-K village heads told to hoist tricolour on 15th August
MMNN:9 August 2019
Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy said on Friday that village heads of all Gram Panchayats of Jammu & Kashmir have been advised to hoist the national flag on the Independence Day, August 15.
The separate flag of Jammu and Kashmir became defunct after Parliament annulled Article 370 that allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have a separate constitution and a flag.
Earlier on Friday, few students in Government Degree College in Kathua were reported by news agency ANI to have hoisted the national flag at the gates of the institution.
Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is likely to unfurl the tricolour on Independence Day in Leh in the newly-created union territory of Ladakh. Dhoni, an honorary lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army, is at present stationed in Khrew in the Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir, along with members of his Territorial Army battalion.
The abrogation or Article 370 means that all laws applicable to people of India including fundamental rights shall be applicable to people of J&K. In short, J&K is now constitutionally recognized as an integral part of India.
Earlier on Wednesday, former J&K deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh had removed the J&K flag from his vehicle.
CEC Sunil Arora rules out returning to bygone ‘era of ballot papers’
MMNN:9 August 2019
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on Friday categorically dismissed the demand for doing away with EVMs and bringing back ballot papers, citing orders passed by the Supreme Court in the past.
He also said assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held only after receiving a formal communation from the union ministries of home, and law and justice to that effect.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a host of other opposition leaders, including TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, have repeatedly claimed that Electronic Voting Machines could be tampered with and demanded a return to ballot papers.
“We are not going back to the era of ballot papers. The Supreme Court has more than once said that ballot papers are our past,” Arora told reporters at the Kolkata airport.
Banerjee has often said that EVMs were earlier used in developed countries like the US, UK, France and Germany but they all reverted to ballot papers.
Arora is in the city to attend events organised by the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences and IIM (Calcutta) on Friday and Saturday.
When asked about the possibility of holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, where the House was dissolved in November last year, Arora said it could happen only after a formal communication was received from the union home ministry and the ministry of law and justice.
“We are waiting for the formal communication from the home and law ministries,” he said.
The Centre had on Monday abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two Union Territories.
The UT comprising Jammu and Kashmir division will have a legislative assembly like Delhi, while Ladakh will not have one like Chandigarh.
When asked whether the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a hugely contentious issue in Assam, will be implemented in West Bengal, Arora said the matter was being looked at by the Supreme Court.
“Let the Supreme Court come out with a verdict. At the moment it is for Assam. The Supreme court has not given the verdict. I cannot give a verdict and cannot forecast,” he said.
Addressing rallies during the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had made a strong pitch for NRC in West Bengal.
The purpose of the NRC, which is being updated in Assam under the apex court’s supervision, is to identify bonafide Indian citizens living in the state and weed out illegal migrants.
Article 370 fall-out: Section-144 removed, Jammu schools and colleges to reopen tomorrow
MMNN:9 August 2019
Prohibitory orders banning congregation of more than 4 people under Section-144 has been removed from Jammu paving the way for reopening of schools and colleges in the region from tomorrow as per the order released by the Deputy Magistrate of Jammu district on Friday.
Relaxation for Jammu follows an assessment that situation in the region was normal.
Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Muneer Khan, while talking to reporters in Kathua described the situation in Kashmir to be “under control,”
“In Jammu, situation is normal. In Kashmir, situation is under control. All steps necessary to maintain law and order will be taken,” Khan said.
Earlier in the day, restrictions were lifted in the valley allowing people to offer Friday prayers in their local mosques.
People, who have mostly been indoors because of heavy security deployment in the wake of removal of special status for Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation, were allowed to go to mosques in their localities.
A PTI report quoted an official to suggest there were no untoward incident and the situation, as of late afternoon was fine in the Srinagar city and south Kashmir. The official, the report added, had said that reports from all areas were yet to arrive.
PTI said it had spoken to officials who reported minor incidents of stone-pelting in Sopore town of north Kashmir, 50 km from Srinagar that was contained immediately and the crowd dispersed.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had directed authorities to ensure that no Kashmiris is harassed and the Prime Minister in an address to nation on Thursday had assured to slowly return Jammu and Kashmir to normalcy.
Doval, who has been camping in Kashmir since Tuesday, spoke to locals and security personnel during a quick tour of the sensitive downtown area here on Friday, an official told PTI
It further reported that the NSA, accompanied by his aides and senior police officers, visited the Eidgah locality and stopped at various places to interact with locals. He later spoke to police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and thanked them for their wonderful work in maintaining law and order.
Security forces have been put on high alert across the Kashmir Valley preempting possible protests against the scraping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and dividing it into two union territories.
The clampdown in Kashmir was imposed on Monday, hours before the government gave its nod to the proposal.
During easing of restrictions in some parts of the city, especially in the civil line areas on Thursday, the movement of the people remained thin, while a few shops mostly selling vegetables and medicines opened.
Sushma Swaraj cremated with state honours. PM Modi, other leaders in attendance
MMNN:7 August 2019
Former external affairs minister Sushma Swarajwas cremated at Delhi’s Lodhi Road electric crematorium on Wednesday with full state honours.
The last rites of the 67-year-old BJP stalwart were performed by her daughter Bansuri Swaraj, as her husband Swaraj Kaushal stood beside her.
Hundreds of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and veteran party leader L K Advani, vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu and defence minister Rajnath Singh were at crematorium to bid her farewell.
The BJP’s working president JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Congress leader Anand Sharma were among others who attended the cremation.
Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay was also present. The body of the long-time BJP leader, who died here on Tuesday at the age of 67, was brought to the crematorium from the party office.
Draped in the tricolour, her body was kept at the BJP headquarters for public homage before it was brought to the crematorium.
Sushma Swaraj died Tuesday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after a cardiac arrest.
Swaraj who was the foreign minister in the first term of the Modi government in 2014, added a human touch to diplomacy. She opted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections over health issues.
Tears flow as nation pays tributes to people’s leader Sushma Swaraj
MMNN:7 August 2019
An emotional Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to former union minister Sushma Swaraj, who had won millions of hearts in the country and abroad by putting people at the core of Indian diplomacy.
Sushma Swaraj was brought home from hospital last midnight when doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences could not resuscitate her. Swaraj, who had tweeted a ‘thank you’ note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi hours earlier, had suffered a massive cardiac arrest and had been rushed to the hospital around 9.30 pm. She was 67.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Amit Shah, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh, Sonia Gandhi and envoys are among the dignitaries who have paid tributes to the veteran leader at her residence. Sushma Swaraj has been taken to the BJP headquarters to let party workers and others pay their last respects. She will leave for her last journey to the Lodhi Road crematorium through the streets of national capital Delhi for her last rites.
A visibly emotional PM Modi, who was among the early visitors to her house, was seen consoling her husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri, after paying his tributes. As Swaraj Kaushal spoke, tears welled up in the prime minister’s eyes.
Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and daughter Pratibha broke down as they entered the room where Sushma Swaraj was. Advani had mentored her for decades. Minutes before driving down to her house, Advani had penned an emotional note to recall “the promising young activist” he had inducted in her team, who turned out to be one of the most popular and prominent leaders of the party.
The tributes also flowed freely on social media where Sushma Swaraj had millions of ardent admirers and followers. Sushma Swaraj had deftly turned Twitter into a platform to empower to reach out to her with distress messages. She mostly responded swiftly, and effectively. She would often order officials to take steps to address grievances.
Vikas Swarup, a diplomat who worked closely with her before his elevation as the country’s envoy to Canada, tweeted: “Her legacy of making MEA a “people-centric” Ministry will live on forever.” India leg-spinner Poonam Yadav called her a people’s leader taken away too soon. “She was a people’s leader. A rare politician taken away too soon. Rest in peace!” Poonam wrote.
Hours before her death, Swaraj had hailed PM Modi after Home Minister Amit Shah got a move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir cleared by Parliament.
“I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,’ Sushma Swaraj had tweeted. A few hours later, she invited top lawyer Harish Salve over for tea on Wednesday.
As foreign minister in the first edition of the Modi government, Swaraj had engaged Harish Salve to represent India at the International Court of Justice to stop Kulbhushan Jadhav’s the death sentence ordered by a Pakistani military court. Salve had only agreed to take Re 1 as a fee from Sushma Swaraj. Salve told news channel Times Now that she told him to come over to take the Re 1 fee.
She died a little over an hour later.
Swaraj had been the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana, was elected seven times as a member of parliament, and also had a short stint as chief minister of Delhi. The party had parachuted her to the national capital because the Delhi BJP’s two veterans were too busy fighting. She could not turn the tide and lost the election. Sheila Dikshit won, and continued to rule the city for the next 15 years.
Admitting slowdown, RBI lowers growth forecast to 6.9 percent
MMNN:7 August 2019
With the headwinds to growth rising from all around, Reserve Bank governor Shaktikanta Das Wednesday admitted the economy is in a slowdown mode, but termed it as cyclical and not structural one, and exuded confidence growth will pick up the momentum fast.
The admission of the rising headwinds to growth led the monetary authority to slash the lending rates by an unprecedented 35 bps to 5.40 percent in the fourth successive rate reductions since he assumed power in December.
None of the macro-indicators have been promising since the past many months-plunging auto sales which hit a 20-year low in July, plummeting IIP growth which hit a 57-month low in June, falling exports and the continuing bloodbath in the markets, coupled with trade wars and increasing challenges to global economy all point to the gathering clouds.
The statement also comes amid many key personalities, including engineering giant Larsen & Toubro chairman AM Naik expressing concerns on the growth front.
“Our understanding is that at this point, it is perhaps a cyclical slowdown, not really a deep structural one.
Nonetheless, we have to recognise that there is room for certain structural reforms to be undertaken,” Das told reporters at the customary post-policy presser.
He, however, exuded confidence that growth numbers will move up faster going ahead driven by the measures being taken by the government and the central bank, and partly due to the base effect.
Based on his interactions, Das said the government is planning more measures to revive growth, and also pointed out to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statements on sector-specific booster doses on the anvil.
Attributing the slowdown to both demand as well as investment slowdown, Das said, “both demand and investment put together are having a dampening effect on growth.” The RBI itself has reduced its growth estimate downwards to 6.9 percent for FY20 from 7 percent it had projected in the June policy.
At present, Das said both urban and rural demand has been hit which is evident in the slowdown in sales of two- wheelers and tractors in rural areas and passenger cars in cities. However, he said RBI is hopeful of a revival and pointed out to the estimate of the growth number hitting 7.5 percent in the last quarter of the fiscal.
Moves like the RBI’s rate cuts of 1.10 percent in 2019, and also the commitment to ensure systemic liquidity in the surplus mode will also help, he added.
“I think credit flow will now revive and measures taken today will augment credit flow into the system. This should help boost growth numbers as well,” he said.
Speaking to reporters here last week, L&T chairman Naik had said we should consider ourselves “lucky” if growth touches 6.5 percent in FY20. It can be noted that the March quarter GDP printed at a five-year low of 5.8 percent while the FY19 GDP printed in at a four-year low of 6.8 percent and everyone is the same page that June quarter would be even lower than the preceding three months to March.
Others who have expressed concern on the growth include Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj and mortgage major HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh.
Amidst all these, government has surprisingly set a target of doubling GDP to USD 5 trillion by 2025, which requires an annual growth rate of over 8 percent.
Govt revokes Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcates state into two Union Territories
MMNN:5 August 2019
NEW DELHI: The government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, provoking outrage from the NC and PDP and triumph from leaders of India's ruling BJP.
Meeting a long-held promise of the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha that Article 370, which allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own Constitution, will no longer be applicable.
"The president on the recommendation of Parliament is pleased to declare as from 5th of August 2019, all clauses of the said Article 370 shall cease to be operative... ," stated the resolution moved by the Home minister.
Shah also moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh.
Shah, who introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill, said the union territory in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh. The other union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.
As soon as Shah made the announcement, members of the Congress, TMC and DMK squat on the floor of the House, one of the PDP members tore his clothes and then along with another PDP member tore copies of the Constitution, prompting Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to order that they be physically removed.
When the House met, Naidu said he had used his discretionary powers to waive the requirement of the government to give advance notice and circulate a bill as the issue was of urgent national importance.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the entire Kashmir Valley is under curfew and three former chief ministers of the state and political leaders have been placed under house arrest.
He wanted the situation to be discussed first but Naidu allowed Shah to move the resolution.
Shah moved the resolution to abolish Article 370 as well as the state reorganisation bill along with listed bills to extend reservation for economically weaker sections in educational institutions and government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.
The reorganisation bill provides for formation of union territory of Ladakh without legislature and a separate one for Jammu and Kashmir with legislature.
While Naidu said only the bill for providing reservation is being moved now and the other would be done after it is circulated to members, the House in a voice vote approved the introduction.
Later Naidu allowed Shah to re-introduce the resolution and the reorganisation bill, saying copies have now been circulated to members.
But it was not put to vote and it was not immediately clear if the voice vote taken earlier was for all bills and resolution or only for the bill for reservation.
Shah had moved the resolution and the bills together.
But the introduction was opposed by Congress, TMC and DMK members who along with leaders in the House rushed into the well,
They first shouted slogans and then squatted in the well of the House. Those who squat on the floor included Azad, Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma and TMC leader Derek O'Brien.
Samajwadi Party (SP) members, however, did not join them in the well.
Amid the ruckus, PDP members Nazir Ahmad Laway and Mir Mohammad Fayaz shouted slogans and tore posters. Laway even tore the 'kurta' he was wearing. Later as the protests heated up, the duo tore copies of the Constitution, prompting Naidu to order their eviction.
"The Indian Constitution is supreme. Nobody can do it," Naidu said as he named two members and ordered marshals to physically remove them from the House.
Before the marshals could do that, BJP leader Vijay Goel tried to intervene but was pushed back.
Naidu said the Indian Constitution is supreme and nobody has the right to tear copies of it.
"Tearing the Constitution in the House, shouting against India, will not be allowed. I will not just name (members) but also take action," he said.
Azad said the opposition was not against the reservation bill but wanted the Kashmir situation to be discussed first.
While the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the government was "rectifying" the historical blunder of imposing Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there were enough empirical evidence and precedence where the governments have in past circulated and got approved bills on the same day.
Shah said the reservation bill will help provide economically weaker sections 10 per cent reservation in educational institutions and government jobs. This reservation will be besides existing reservation for SC, ST and OBC.
Noting that in past 38 times bills have been circulated and passed on the same day, he said this will be "null and void" after the resolution for abolition of Article 370 is approved.
Vaiko said the government was killing democracy.
"Emergency days have come back," he said.
"There is no emergency, only urgency," Naidu remarked.
Azad said Article 370 was integral to Jammu and Kashmir joining India and added that lakhs of security personnel and civilians have lost their lives in the state during 70 years.
"I strongly condemn the act of two or three members of Parliament (to tear copies of Constitution), none were from our party. We stand by the Constitution of India," he said.
He, however, said the BJP has murdered democracy.
Shah retorted that people of Jammu and Kashmir were living in poverty and corruption because of Article 370.
Three families have looted the state for years, he said adding Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India on October 27, 1947 but Article 370 came in 1949.
"It is not true that Jammu and Kashmir joined India because of Article 370," he said.
Article 370 was always temporary and past governments did not remove it because of lack of political will and vote bank politics, he said.
Shah in his resolution said, "...the President, on the recommendation of Parliament, is pleased to declare that, as from 5th of August, 2019, all clauses of the said article 370 shall cease to be operative except clause (1) thereof."
"All provisions of this Constitution, as amended from time to time, without any modifications or exceptions, shall apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir," it read.
Article 370 of the Constitution granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir whereby provisions of the Constitution which are applicable to other states are not applicable to J&K.
As per this article, except for defence, foreign affairs, finance and communications, Parliament needs the state government's concurrence for applying all other laws.
It was introduced in the Constitution on October 17, 1949.
The announcement, capping days of uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir, led to an uproar, in the House and outside it too.
India had failed Kashmir in keeping its promises, PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufi said.
She said the government's unilateral decision "to scrap Article 370" is illegal and unconstitutional.
It will make India an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said on Twitter.
"It will have catastrophic consequences for the subcontinent. GOIs intentions are clear. They want the territory of J&K by terrorising its people. India has failed Kashmir in keeping its promises," Mehbooba, who is under house arrest in Srinagar, said on Twitter.
"Not sure how long I'll be able to communicate. Is this the India we acceded to?" she asked.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah echoed her outrage, also labelling the government's move "unilateral".
"Government of India (GOI)'s unilateral and shocking decisions today are a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu & Kashmir had reposed in India when the state acceded to it in 1947. The decisions will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against people of the State as had been warned by an all-parties meeting in Srinagar yesterday," he said.
The government, he said in a statement, had resorted to "deceit and stealth" to lay the ground for these disastrous decisions.
"Those of us who gave democratic voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground... A long and tough battle lies ahead. We are ready for that," he said.
The mood was triumphant in the BJP quarters.
The government's move on Article 370, said senior party leader Arun Jaitley, is a monumental decision towards national integration.
His party colleague Ram Madhav also hailed the decision.
"What a glorious day. Finally the martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukherjee for complete integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and the seven decade old demand of the entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our lifetime. Ever imagined?" he tweeted moments after Shah's announcement.
Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the move had opened the path of growth and development for Jammu and Kashmir.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the government's decisions on Jammu and Kashmir are "brave" and "very necessary" for the interest of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.
In a joint statement posted on the Twitter handle of the RSS, Bhagwat and his deputy Suresh Joshi said everyone should rise above their interests and political differences, and welcome and support the decision.
Celebrations broke out the Shiv Sena headquarters in Mumbai's Dadar area. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray dubbing it as a "moment of pride" and a "historic day" for the country.
Govt's decision on Article 370 as a 'betrayal of trust': Omar Abdullah
MMNN:5 August 2019
NEW DELHI: Terming the government's move on Article 370 "unilateral and shocking", former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said it was a total "betrayal of trust" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved a resolution in both the Houses of Parliament that Article 370 will not be applicable to the state.
"Government of India (GOI)'s unilateral and shocking decisions today are a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu & Kashmir had reposed in India when the state acceded to it in 1947. The decisions will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against people of the State as had been warned by an all-parties meeting in Srinagar yesterday.
"GOI has resorted to deceit and stealth in recent weeks to lay the ground for these disastrous decisions. Our darkest apprehensions have unfortunately come true after the GOI and its representatives in J&K lied to us that nothing major was planned," he said.
He said that the announcement was made after the entire state, particularly the Valley, was turned into a garrison.
"Those of us who gave democratic voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground.
"The scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A raise fundamental questions on the state's accession because that was done on the very terms enunciated in these articles. The decisions are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional and will be challenged as such by the National Conference . A long and tough battle lies ahead. We are ready for that," he said.
Black day in constitutional history of India: Chidambaram on Article 370 move
MMNN:5 August 2019
NEW DELHI: Terming the revoking of Article 370 a "catastrophic step", the Congress accused the BJP of taking the decision "for votes" and said it marks a "black day" in the constitutional history of India.
The government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Reacting to the development, senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram said, "We anticipated a misadventure, but did not think in our wildest dreams that they will take such a catastrophic step."
"Today is a black day in the constitutional history of India," he said outside Parliament.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the BJP of taking the decision "for votes". He also alleged that the party is playing with unity and integrity of the state
Govt advises Amarnath yatris to leave Kashmir
MMNN:3 August 2019
The Amarnath yatra ended 14 days ahead of its scheduled close on August 15 and the counter-insurgency grid in Jammu & Kashmir was strengthened with the additional deployment of security forces following the recovery of a large cache of ammunition, a Pakistan-made anti-personnel mine, and a US-made sniper rifle along the route of the yatra, and intelligence reports that highlighted the increased possibility of suicide bombing attacks in the Kashmir valley.
The cancellation of the yatra to one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines, and an alert issued to pilgrims and tourists to return home resulted in panic and a scramble for air tickets -- the road from Srinagar to Jammu is closed on account of landslides -- even as it unsettled residents of the valley and intensified speculation of a big move in the offing, perhaps the scrapping of Article 35A which restricts some benefits (such as government jobs and property ownership) to permanent residents of the state. Last weekend, the deployment of 100 companies of security forces (around 10,000 men) set off such speculation; HT learns that at least 150 more companies have now been deployed since.
The Union home ministry on Friday issued a guarded statement, saying, “Deployment of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir is based on the security situation there and requirements of rotation, and such things are not discussed in the public domain.”
In a press conference in Srinagar, the corps commander of the strategic 15 Corps, lieutenant general Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon; J&K director general of police Dilbag Singh; special DG, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Zulfiqar Hasan; and inspector general of police, Kashmir, SP Pani presented the reasons for the scrapping of the yatra, although they sought to play down the increase in deployment.
General Dhillon said searches have underway for the past three to four days after specific inputs of attempts to disrupt the Amarnath yatra by “terrorists, the Pakistan army and Pakistan”. He said that joint teams of the army, police and CRPF carried out extensive searches on both the routes of the yatra and the adjoining areas on the highway as well as the foot track leading up to the holy cave.
“We have major successes in these searches, some improvised explosive devices and caches of weapons and explosives have been recovered on these routes. A Pakistan army mine has been recovered,” he said. The general also showed an M-24 American sniper rifle that was also recovered.
“The searches are still going on,” he said.
The mine, whose pictures were shown to media, General Dhillon said, has “Pakistan ordnance factory markings”.
The decision to curtail the yatra was taken after Indian intelligence picked up heightened activities of Pakistan-based terror groups including the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). “With major threat coming from Pakistan-based groups, particularly JeM, and recovery of M-24 sniper rifle and an anti-personnel mine along the Amarnath pilgrimage route, the government decided not to take any chance. With personnel freed from yatra duties, the security forces can now concentrate on counter-insurgency grid,” said a senior J&K police offer who asked not to be named.
According to inputs conveyed to the national security establishment, Ibrahim Azhar, elder brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar, was sighted in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last month. He is believed to have been headed to Kashmir. Intelligence reports indicate that Ibrahim Azhar, the main orchestrator of the Indian Airlines IC-814 flight hijacking in 1999, wanted to infiltrate into the Valley and lead attacks against the Indian establishment as revenge for the death of his son Usman Haider at the hands of security forces. Haider infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir in October 2018 and was gunned down by the Indian security forces in Tral, Awantipora, Pulwama on October 30, 2018. Another relative Talha Rasheed, son of Abdul Rasheed, brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, was killed on November 6, 2017, at Kandi Aglar, Pulwama, by security forces.
Intelligence intercepts indicated that Ibrahim Azhar fired up the Jaish cadre by saying that he wanted to die fighting Indian security forces in Kashmir, the same way his son died.
They also indicated that Azhar may have moved to forward Pakistan army post across the Line of Control (LoC) as a precursor to entering the state.
The intelligence reports also spoke of JeM targeting the Indian security forces using IEDs in the Sopore area of north Kashmir; trained JeM cadre being readied in Peshawar to infiltrate into Kashmir and engage the Indian security forces; and other terror groups, including the Hizbul Mujahideen, being
‘Democracy or dictatorship?’: Siddaramaiah on Karnataka Cabinet expansion delay
MMNN:3 August 2019
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for the “delay” in cabinet expansion and alleged that the administrative machinery has come to a standstill.
The Congress Legislature Party leader sought to know whether the Governor, who sent “letter after letter” to the previous government to prove majority, was not aware of the “plight of the people” under a one-man cabinet in the state where different regions were reeling from drought and floods.
“Administrative machinery has come to a standstill. Is this a democracy or dictatorship?” Siddaramaiah said on Twitter.
“Why Yediyurappa who showed hurry in taking oath as the chief minister was not showing similar hurry in expanding the cabinet? People of the state are in distress due to drought and floods in different parts,” he said.
BJP leader Yediyurappa assumed charge as the chief minister on July 26 and proved majority on the floor of the Assembly on July 29, after the ouster of the Congress-JD(S) government.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that there are no ministers for revenue, agriculture and rural development departments, which have to deal with drought and floods.
“Is the Governor who sent letter after letter (to previous Kumaraswamy-led government) to prove majority, not aware of the plight of the people of the state under one man cabinet with no ministers?” he asked.
As the H D Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) coalition government “delayed” the trust vote after moving a motion seeking vote of confidence in the Assembly, Governor Vajubhai Vala had written two letters to the then chief minister and one to the then Speaker fixing deadline to prove majority, which, however, was not adhered to.
Subsequently, the Kumaraswamy government collapsed with the defeat in the trust vote on July 23.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao too questioned the delay in Cabinet expansion and said the administration in the state has not taken off.
“It has been eight days since taking oath as Chief Minister, still council of Ministers has not been formed, and such possibilities are also not visible. It looks like Yediyurappa is in mood to continue the regime under his monopoly for some more time,” Rao tweeted.
Amid criticism from the opposition and pressure within on cabinet formation, Yediyurappa had on Friday said he would discuss it with the central leadership during his visit to Delhi next week.
According to top sources in the state BJP, the Cabinet expansion may take five to six days, as it can happen only after the chief minister gets approval from central leaders.
Only 10 to 12 members are likely to be inducted into the ministry in the first round, they said.
It is likely to be a tight rope walk for Yediyurappa who will have to satisfy the aspirations of many in the party and outside. With the then Speaker Ramesh Kumar disqualifying 14 Congress and 3 JD(S) legislators until the expiry of the term of the House, they cannot contest by-polls and become Ministers immediately, unless they get respite from the Supreme Court, where they have moved an appeal.
The resignation by the rebels MLas and their abstaining from Kumaraswamy’s trust vote had made way for the BJP to come to power.
Meanwhile, disqualified Congress legislator K Sudhakar met Yediyurappa here on Saturday.
Later, Sudhakar said he had come to congratulate Yediyurappa on becoming the chief minister and discussed developmental works to be undertaken in his Chikkaballapura constituency.
He said he was upset with the functioning of the previous coalition government. “I will discuss with my people on the next course of action. I will go by their order,” he said.
He criticised the Congress and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar for disqualifying the MLAs and termed it “immoral”, “inhuman” and “unlawful”.
“We have approached the Supreme Court challenging the disqualification, and have complete trust in it,” he added.
Congress and JD(S) have both expelled disqualified legislators from their respective parties and have begun preparations for by-polls in 17 constituencies.
First Amarnath, now Machail Mata yatra suspended over security reasons in J-K
MMNN:3 August 2019
The 43-day-long ‘Machail Mata Yatra’ in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir was suspended on Saturday due to security reasons, officials said.
Authorities have asked people not to start the yatra and those on the way should leave and get back.
“The yatra has been suspended with immediate effect due to security reasons,” Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.
The yatra commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5.
Thousands of devotees from across the country visit the scenic Paddar valley, also famous for its sapphire mines, during the yatra and pay obeisance at the holy shrine of goddess Durga in Machail village of Kishtwar after trekking a 30-km arduous route.
Kishtwar, which was declared terrorism-free over a decade ago, was rattled by the killing of state secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar on November 1 last year, followed by assassination of senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and his security guard inside a health centre on April 9.
The annual Amarnath Yatra has already been suspended due to security reasons.
Supreme Court orders Unnao cases to be transferred to Delhi
MMNN:1 August 2019
Supreme Court on Thursday transferred all five case related to the Unnao gang rape from Lucknow CBI Court to CBI Court in Delhi.
The CBI court must complete the trial within 45 days and hold hearings on a day-to-day basis. On the Rae Bareli 'accident', the apex court ordered the CBI to complete the probe within seven days. "As an exception, CBI can take another week," the Chief Justice said.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹25 lakh to the survivor as interim compensation. It also directed the government to provide CRPF protection to her and her family.
An enquiry will be conducted by Secretary General, under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by the CJI, on whether any lapse or negligence by registry officials caused the Unnao victim's letter to reach the CJI late.
The Bench also gave liberty to the accused to move the Supreme Court directly in case they want to challenge the order, since it was given ex parte due to the facts/circumstances of the case.
The Supreme Court on August 1 insisted on getting a complete picture of what is transpiring in both the Unnao rape case and the CBI investigation into suspicions of foul play behind a road ‘accident’ in Rae Bareli on Sunday when a speeding truck rammed into a car carrying the 19-year-old rape survivor, injuring her grievously and killing two of her aunts.
As soon as the court session began, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to inform the CBI Director immediately that it wanted full details on both cases.
The CBI, which had been investigating the shocking Unnao rape case, was given responsibility to probe the accident case recently. Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh’s Bangermau, is an accused in the rape case and was arrested last year in April. The Uttar Pradesh BJP has already claimed that Sengar was suspended from the party in 2018.
On August 1, the CJI showed the urgency and importance with which it considered the Unnao rape survivor should get justice.
The Chief Justice told Mr. Mehta that he should ensure that a responsible CBI officer was present with the case details at noon.
But a few minutes later, Mr. Mehta was back before the Bench with an update that the probe officers were not in town as they were in the midst of the case investigation. Mr. Mehta said the case records could be brought to court at the earliest only by evening. He even suggested that the court re-schedule the meeting for Friday (August 2).
“Tomorrow is another day, Mr. Solicitor. We will see separately what can be done tomorrow. We want this to happen today,” Chief Justice Gogoi responded.
The court suggested that the CBI Director could be briefed by his probe officers telephonically. The CJI refused to postpone the meeting, which he said could even be held in chambers as the details of the rape case investigation may be sensitive in nature and not to be outed at this point.
At one point the CJI said lightly, “The CBI must be having its own special flight, you bring them here in that... The Solicitor must be having his own flight”.
“My Lord, I have no such thing. In fact, I find it difficult to get tickets even on ordinary flights,” Mr. Mehta replied while assuring to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting.
Mr. Mehta said that it may not however be possible to bring the case records to the court by noon.
The court also agreed to transfer both the Unnao cases — rape and road accident – for trial in a court outside Uttar Pradesh. A petition filed by the victim’s family for transfer of the Unnao rape case to a place outside Uttar Pradesh has been pending in the Supreme Court for some time.
Family’s letter
In fact, what has now spurred the Supreme Court to urgent action is the belated knowledge of the existence of a letter dated July 12 from the victim’s family to the CJI. The letter had come days before the Sunday ‘accident’ and was lying in the Supreme Court. It expressed the family’s fears, saying they were threatened by the accused persons. It had sought the court’s protection.
On July 31, the CJI said, in open court, that he did not know about the letter until the previous evening. It is recorded to have reached the Supreme Court registry by July 17.
On Wednesday, he had sought a report from the Supreme Court registry on why the letter did not reach him for all these days. The CJI had also decided to take suo motu cognisance of the letter, assuring that no effort would be spared to bring justice to the victim.
The letter narrated the incidents of July 7-8 when some people allegedly associated with Sengar, the sitting BJP legislator, threatened the victim’s family with dire consequences. It had sought a direction for registration of FIR against the persons who had intimidated them.
The letter signed by the girl, her mother and aunt stated that on July 7, Naveen Singh, son of an accused in the rape case, Shashi Singh, Manoj Singh, brother of another accused Kuldeep Singh, and one Kunnu Mishra visited their house and threatened them. The next day, another person came to their house. The victim and the family said that along with the letter they were also annexing the video of the car in which these persons came to their house.
An FIR, which was lodged a day after the car crash, names the BJP legislator, his brother Manoj Singh Sengar, Vinod Mishra, Haripal Singh, Naveen Singh, Komal Singh, Arun Singh, Gyandendra Singh, Rinku Singh and Awadhesh Singh as accused.
Abdullahs meet Modi to press for early polls in J&K
MMNN:1 August 2019
A delegation of the National Conference (NC), led by Srinagar MP and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and comprised his son and also former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to press for Assembly elections by the year-end and amid growing speculation that the Centre may be mulling some precipitate action on abrogation of Article 35A.
Mr. Omar Abdullah told media after the meeting that they sought time with the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation in the State. “We had sought time from Prime Minister Modi to tell him about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. There had been tension in the Valley in the last few days, and we wanted to tell him about that. We requested him that no step which affects the environment there should be taken,” he said.
The State is under President’s rule after the BJP pulled out of the coalition with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr. Abdullah said it had been “one and a half years since a popularly elected government ruled the State and the NC wanted elections held before the year ended. “People should be given a chance to make a decision. We [NC] will accept the mandate, whatever it may be,” he added.
The NC’s demand for early polls is significant in that the BJP recently held a meeting of its core group on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi. At the meeting, BJP working president J.P. Nadda asked the State unit to be prepared for polls. National vice president of the party Avinash Rai Khanna has been appointed in charge of the State polls.
India evaluating Pakistan’s proposal of facilitating consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav: MEA
MMNN:1 August 2019
India is evaluating Pakistan’s proposal of facilitating consular access to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in the light of the recent verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the External Affairs Ministry said on August 1. Pakistan has sent a proposal to India for facilitating consular access to Mr. Jadhav.
“We will reply to Pakistan through diplomatic channels,” the Ministry’s spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Last month, the ICJ, in its ruling in the case, directed Pakistan to provide full consular access to Mr. Jadhav.
Modi govt will take necessary steps for benefit of J&K: Ram Madhav on Article 35A
MMNN:31 July 2019
SRINAGAR: Evading a direct response to a question on whether the Centre had any plans to revoke the constitutional provisions giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said on Wednesday the Narendra Modi government would take necessary steps for the benefit of the state at an appropriate time.
"The BJP's stand on it (repeal of Article 35A of the Constitution) is very clear but it is not the party which is going to decide (on the matter). The decision will be taken by the prime minister and his government, but I can assure you that whatever decision they will take, will be in the interest of the state," Madhav told reporters here.
He said the state's political parties were creating an atmosphere of fear in Kashmir by linking the movement of central armed paramilitary forces with other issues to save their political turf.
"Leaders of local regional parties are creating fear psychosis for their political interests. Moving forces in and out of Kashmir as per the requirement of the security grid is an ongoing process. Extra forces are brought in for Amarnath Yatra or elections, like there is going to be block level elections for panchayat. But linking the movement of forces with other issues is being done for personal interests," he said.
Article 35A of the Constitution gives powers to the state to define the state's permanent residents.
Congress committed to justice for Unnao victim and her family: Priyanka Gandhi
MMNN:31 July 2019
SRINAGAR: NEW DELHI: Declaring that the Congress is committed to justice for the Unnao rape survivor, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the harassment of the young woman's entire family was not possible without protection from those in power.
Amid the uproar over the accident case of the Unnao rape survivor, Priyanka Gandhi also said the "strands are now coming apart" and the names of BJP leaders and the police cover-up are coming to the fore.
The Unnao rape case and the harassment of the entire family of the rape victim was not possible without protection from those in power, she said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The Congress is committed to justice. We will fight this strongly," she said.
The CBI has booked suspended BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and 10 others on murder charges in the accident case of the Unnao rape survivor.
Amarnath yatra suspended till August 4
MMNN:31 July 2019
SRINAGAR: SRINAGAR: The Amarnath yatra will remain suspended till August 4 as the IMD has forecast heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said on Wednesday.
"In view of inclement weather conditions, shooting of stones and landslides particularly in Jammu region, the yatra will remain suspended till August 4, 2019," an SASB spokesperson said.
He said the India Meteorology Department has predicted heavy rainfall for next few days all over Jammu and Kashmir, which may cause landslides and shooting of stones on the Jammu and Srinagar national highway, particularly in the stretch between Ramban and Banihal.
The spokesperson said the track from Baltal and Pahalgam has become slippery due to recent heavy rainfall and the situation is likely to aggravate in the next couple of days.
The yatra was suspended on Wednesday as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.
Yediyurappa asks departmental heads to put on hold orders issued in July
MMNN:26 July 2019
BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister-designate B S Yediyurappa has instructed heads of all departments to put on hold orders relating to new projects that were issued in the current month by the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government until further review.
He has also put on hold all transfers that were cleared, but have not been executed.
In a letter to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and secretaries of various departments, Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar said the CM-designate has directed that orders issued in July 2019 clearing new projects should be put on hold with immediate effect until further review.
He said the CM-designate has also instructed that proposals of transfers that were cleared in July, but have not been executed should be put on hold until further orders.
During the debate on the trust vote in the assembly, the BJP had accused the Congress-JD(S) coalition and the outgoing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of clearing projects and transfer of officials, despite having lost majority.
"Power greedy @hd_kumaraswamy again proving that he's above anything & everything. Despite having no majority, -Keeps himself busy in clearing PWD & irrigation bills.
-Transfering 2000+ officials.
Now working overnight, just to save his source of commission!!?" BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje had tweeted.
Another senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar in the assembly had said instead of being in the House, Kumaraswamy was said to be in his chamber clearing the files at the last minute.
The 14-month-old Congress-JDS coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy collapsed on Tuesday after losing the vote of confidence in the assembly in a climax to the three-week long intense power struggle.
20 years of Kargil War: Nation commemorates India's victory
MMNN:26 July 2019
NEW DELHI: India on Friday commemorated 20 years of its victory over arch-rival Pakistan in the Kargil War, saluting the supreme sacrifices and valour of the fallen heroes in recapturing several mountain heights seized by Pakistani intruders in Kashmir.
It was on July 26, 1999, Indian Army had declared successful culmination of 'Operation Vijay', declaring a victory after nearly three-month-long battles on the icy heights of Kargil. India had lost around 500 soldiers in the war.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in paying tributes to the Kargil heroes, extolling the courage, bravery and dedication of the soldiers who were part of the operation.
Singh said the "unwavering courage and supreme sacrifice" of the Kargil martyrs ensured the safety and sanctity of India's borders.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh paid tributes to the war heroes at the Kargil War Memorial at Dras in Jammu and Kashmir.
"July 26 is immortalised as ' Kargil Vijay Diwas' and represents a saga of glorious victory of the nation in the Kargil conflict fought from May-July in 1999. Indian Army soldiers fought legendary battles in Dras, Kaksar, Batalik and Turtok Sectors. We salute the courage, valour and sacrifices of our martyrs and heroes," the Army said in a statement.
President Kovind was scheduled to participate in the function in Dras but bad weather prevented him from reaching the venue. He paid respects to the fallen soldiers at the Army's 15 Corps headquarters in Kashmir's Badami Bagh cantonment.
The Indian Army responded to the intrusion with 'Operation Vijay', fighting battles on rugged terrains and difficult peaks.
The Indian Air Force had joined the operation with their 'Operation Safed Sagar' under which, the IAF for the first time used high-precision bombs to target the enemy.
The Mirage-2000 aircraft played a crucial role in the battles fought during the war and also hit enemy targets bunkered in at the Tiger Hill, besides tasting success at Muntho Dhalo in June 1999.
"Mirage-2000 was the game changer in the Kargil War. It skewed the asymmetry of the military assets in our favour," senior IAF officer, Gp Capt Anupam Banerjee told PTI.
Banerjee, who flew several sorties during the war, said, Mirage-2000 made a big difference for India.
A number of events were organised by the Army in the run-up to Kargil Vijay Diwas, including one at the Gwalior Air Base on June 24, when the base was virtually turned into a theatre of conflict with a dramatic reenactment of some milestones of the 1999 operation.
On June 24, 1999, Mirages had bombed Tiger Hill using laser-guided precision bombs, and eventually recaptured the strategic position.
Air Marshal B S Dhanoa, who was the commanding officer of the 17 Squadron at the time of the war, said deploying Mirage-2000 jets and air support to ground forces had turned the tide of the 1999 war in favour of India.
"Tiger Hill was also a message at that particular time that no matter how small your are, no mater how precariously you are positioned, we will be be able to get you and hit you," Dhanoa said.
The Parliament also paid tributes to the Kargil heroes.
In brief remarks in Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Singh said Pakistan can fight neither a full-fledged war nor a limited one with India and is waging a proxy war.
The IAF on Friday paid their homage with a special video showing glimpses of its operations during the 1999 conflict.
With taglines like 'Valour Unhindered', 'Determination Unmoved' and 'Courage Unparalleled', the Air Force prides itself as the 'Keeper of the Blue Skies' and always 'ready for whatever it takes'.
Various cities across the country hosted commemorative events to mark Kargil Vijay Diwas.
Lok Sabha members demand exemplary action against Azam Khan
MMNN:26 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Cutting across party lines, members in Lok Sabha on Friday condemned Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan's sexist remarks to BJP member Rama Devi and demanded exemplary action against him.
Azam's remarks to Devi when she was in the Chair during a discussion on the triple talaq bill on Thursday were slammed as double-meaning, malicious, utterly condemnable and a blot on all legislators by the ministers and MPs who spoke after BJP's Sanghmitra Maurya raised the issue during the Zero Hour.
A number of members from various parties, including BJP, Congress, NCP, Trinamool Congress, DMK and BJD, said a strong message should be sent by the House against such conduct.
However, there were also some heated exchanges between the Congress and BJP MPs during the proceedings.
"This is a blot on all legislators including men," textiles minister Smriti Irani said and also attacked SP leader Akhilesh Yadav for supporting Khan in the House on Thursday after the row erupted.
It was repugnant that a leader stood in solidarity with a "lech", she said.
Azam Khan and Akhilesh Yadav were not present in the House.
If Khan had made these comments outside Parliament, then police would have come to the woman's rescue, Irani said as she urged political parties to rise above political differences and appealed to Speaker Om Birla to take action.
A member cannot abuse the privilege Parliament gives him to make such comments and get away, she said.
After hearing the members for nearly an hour, Speaker Om Birla said he will hold a meeting with leaders of all political parties and take a decision.
Stating his party is against any kind of misbehaviour against women, leader of the Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referred to his party leader Sonia Gandhi being called "Italian puppet and daugher of Italy" in the past, remarks which drew strong protest from the members of treasury benches who said the issue should not be politicised.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman wondered why there was "dilemma" and "hesitation" in taking a stand on the issue, in an apparent dig at the opposition party which objected to her remarks.
Sitharaman said Azam Khan's comments were utterly condemnable and said the House was looking to the Speaker to take exemplary action.
Chowdhury said the person at the centre of the issue should also be heard, referring to Azam Khan.
He suggested that the matter be sent to privilege or ethics committee. He later agreed with the prevailing view that the Speaker should take a call.
Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said either Khan should tender an apology or he should be suspended from the House.
Several other women MPs expressed unhappiness over Azam Khan's remarks and demanded that Speaker take strict action against him.
Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee said a person who does not show respect to women does not know Indian culture.
NCP's Supriya Sule said she hangs her head in shame at Khan's offensive language and called for strict punishment.
His behaviour was not tolerable and members should speak in one voice, she said.
JD(U)'s Lalan Singh said the Speaker should take strongest action so that such behaviour is not repeated.
DMK's Kanimozhi wondered how women would be treated outside Parliament when they are "insulted" in such a way inside. Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel said the entire nation is ashamed.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said the House should leave the matter to the Speaker.
BJD's B Mahtab said Azam Khan's remarks were "unpardonable" and deserved exemplary action. "It was one of the darkest days," he added.
Union Minister Arjun Meghwal said Azam Khan's comments were double-meaning and he has a history of making such remarks outside the House as well.
Actor and Trinamool Congress member Mimi Chakraborty, who is a first time MP, said whatever happened on Thursday was shameful and cannot be part of her learning exercise.
AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi said he respected the sentiments of the House but took a dig at the government asking about the fate of a group of ministers, which was constituted following a wave of allegations of sexual harassment against women in the "Me Too" movement, including against the then Union minister and BJP leader M J Akbar.
Participating in the debate on the triple talaq bill, Khan had Thursday referred to the intervention of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and read out a couplet "... tu idhar-udhar ki baat na kar ..." (do not divert from the topic).
At this, Rama Devi, who was presiding over the proceedings, asked Khan not to "look here and there" and address the Chair.
To this, the SP member made sexist remarks at the Chair, triggering acrimonious scenes.
The remarks were expunged from the records.
‘Must for gender equality, justice’: Govt on triple talaq bill in Lok Sabha
MMNN:25 July 2019
Lok Sabha on Thursday took up for consideration the contentious bill to make the practice of instant triple talaq illegal with up to three years in jail for the husband.
Moving the bill for consideration, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the legislation was a must for gender equality and justice as despite an August 2017 Supreme Court verdict striking down the practice of instant triple talaq , women were being divorced by ‘talaq-e-biddat’.
He said, since January 2017, 574 such cases had been reported by the media.
The ban on ‘triple talaq’ has been enforced through three ordinances issued by Narendra Modi government as the related bill couldn’t be passed by the previous Lok Sabha.
A fresh bill was introduced by the new government in June during the ongoing Parliament session.
Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, divorcing through instant triple talaq will be illegal, void and would attract a jail term of three years for the erring husband.
Prasad said to allay fears that the proposed law could be misused, the government had included certain safeguards such as provision of bail for the accused before trial.
While the bill makes triple talaq a “non-bailable” offence, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail. A provision has been added to allow the magistrate to grant bail “after hearing the wife”, the minister said.
The Opposition termed the penal provision for the Muslim husband ‘discriminatory’ and also objected to the 3-year jail term for the practitioner of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ as disproportionate and counter-productive. Those opposing the Bill said it was ‘discriminatory’ as it sought to target only Muslim women even when the problem of abandoning-wives was not unique to the community.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the majority enjoyed by the NDA government doesn’t mean that Parliamentary committees--where such contentions Bills should be debated--are bypassed. He demanded a comprehensive Bill to empower women from all religions and sections.
Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay drove the above point home by expressing his party’s opposition to the practice of ‘triple talaq’ yet requesting the Centre to drop the 3-year jail term which he called “arbitrary and excessive.” “We support Muslim women who have a problem with ‘triple talaq’. But the Bill is excessive, arbitrary as a jailed husband can’t support his family or give maintenance to his separated wife,” the TMC MP said while demanding that the Bill be referred to a joint select committee.
Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the argument against 3-year jail term was specious and mischievous as it sought to side with the guilty. “Those who do not refrain from ‘triple talaq’ deserve to be jailed,” he said. “All the major Islamic countries had banned “triple talaq” and therefore it couldn’t be argued that there was even a religious ground for opposing it,” he added.
NDA ally JD(U)’s MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh declared that his party will abstain from voting on the “triple talaq” Bill as it was fundamentally opposed to any interference on this matter and added that the Bill was likely to create mistrust within the Muslim community. “The government should instead try to awaken the community to women’s rights,” he said, adding that despite being a part of the NDA, his party had a long standing policy of divergence on controversial issues including common civil code and article 370.
Opposing the BIll, AIMIM chief Osaduddin Owaisi said its real purpose was to drive a wedge between the Muslim community and its religion. “The BJP should fly all its women MPs in a special plane to the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala if it really wanted to empower women,” he said before closing his speech.
Infosys founder’s son-in-law among 3 Indian-origin ministers in team Boris
MMNN:25 July 2019
After appointing Priti Patel to the high-profile role of Home secretary, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday promoted junior minister Alok Sharma to the rank of a cabinet minister with the portfolio of international development.
Johnson, who began the process of forming his team soon after being appointed prime minister by Queen Elizabeth, also promoted Rishi Sunak, son-in-law of Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy to the role of chief secretary to the Treasury under new chancellor Sajid Javid.
As the international development secretary, Sharma, 51, will be responsible for a overseas British aid in a department committed to spending 0.7% of the UK’s national income as international aid each year. Britain has long stopped traditional aid to India, but funds some programmes in selected states.
Hampshire-born Sunak, 39, has been MP for Richmond, Yorkshire, since 2015. He was a junior minister in the department of local government, and as the chief secretary to the Treasury, he will attend cabinet meetings.
Agra-born Sharma, who is MP for Reading West since 2010, was the employment minister in the Theresa May government. He was one of the foremost supporters of Johnson in the recent Conservative leadership election.
When Johnson was the foreign secretary in the May government, Sharma had the junior role of parliamentary under secretary of state in the Foreign Office with responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region. He often responded on the government’s behalf in parliament on Indian issues.
The appointments of Patel, Sharma and Sunak mean it will be the first time the UK prime minister’s cabinet table will have three ministers from the 1.5 million-strong Indian community.
A fervent Brexiteer who campaigned with Johnson during the 2016 EU referendum campaign, Patel’s role as home secretary puts her in charge of immigration, among other sensitive issues such as security.
Patel will have to take a call on the large number of Indian students caught up in the language test cheating row that has increasingly come on the centre stage during the home secretaryship of her predecessor, Sajid Javid.
She will also be under pressure to implement her promise made during the referendum campaign to relax visa norms to allow the recruitment of chefs from the Indian sub-continent in the UK’s struggling Indian restaurant industry.
Patel was nominated as the ‘Indian Diaspora Champion’ by Cameron and played a frontline role in interactions between the government and the 1.5 million-strong Indian community in the UK, visiting Gujarat and India several times in recent years.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Patel international development secretary in July 2016 but sacked her in November 2017 after it emerged that she held unauthorised meetings with the Israeli government during a holiday.
The appointments of Patel, Sharma and Sunak are part of Johnson’s new-look government that excluded several leading lights in May’s team. It remains a Conservative government, but Johnson brought in new faces to prepare for United Kingdom leaving the European Union in 99 days time on October 31.
Kumaraswamy out, Karnataka to head for short spell of President’s rule
MMNN:25 July 2019
Having forced the exit of HD Kumaraswamy from the chief minister’s office, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership is in two minds about forming the next Karnataka government and is looking at the possibility of bringing the state under a short spell of central rule till there is more clarity about the numbers.
It is on account of this reluctance to form the government that the BJP’s presumptive chief minister BS Yeddyurappa wasn’t getting the green signal from the party’s top leadership that he had hoped for.
“I’m awaiting instructions from Delhi. I can call legislature party meeting any time and go to Raj Bhavan,” the 76-year-old told reporters yesterday after meeting leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological fount of the BJP.
This contrasts sharply with Yeddyurappa’s impatience in pushing outgoing chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to face the trust vote over the last week.
The BJP is conscious that it is not seen to be hankering for power. It also wants to play safe and not end up in a position where a hurriedly-formed government is not able to survive the change in the numbers that might follow over the next few weeks.
There is a strong view, a BJP leader said, that the party should wait for the outcome of the case before the Supreme Court and their resignation letters before Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.
One of the possibilities that the BJP wants to avoid is a situation where the Congress and the Janata Dal Secular are able to convince some of the 15 rebel lawmakers to withdraw their resignation.
For the record, Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah have both declared that they would never let the rebels rejoin their respective parties. “But what if they change their stance… The Yeddyurappa government would again be in a minority,” a BJP leader said.
The 14-month-old Kumaraswamy government resigned on Tuesday after failing to prove its majority in the floor test following three weeks of power tussle that saw 15 legislators withdrawing their support to the coalition. The Congress-JDS alliance had secured 99 votes in its favour and 105 against on a trust vote motion moved in the 225-member assembly by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy last Thursday.
Anti-terror bill passed in Lok Sabha; Amit Shah defends amendments
MMNN:24 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday defended amendments to an anti-terror law, saying they are was essential to keep law enforcement agencies one step ahead of terrorists.
Responding to a debate in Lok Sabha on a bill seeking to amend the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, he asserted anti-terror laws would not be misused and used only to root out terrorism.
He said that provision in UAPA (amendment) bill, which was later passed in the Lower House by a voice vote, to designate a person suspected to have terror links as terrorist is necessary to root out terror.
Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the amendment, he said if the UPA was correct in amending anti-terror laws in their tenure, then so is the NDA.
He said, in the name of ideology, some people promote urban Maoism and the government has no sympathy towards them.
The government fights terrorism and it should not matter which party is in power, Shah said, referring to amendments made in anti-terror laws by successive governments.
During a division of votes, demanded by AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi for consideration of the bill, as many as 287 MPs supported it and only eight opposed it.
Amendments brought in by some opposition members were also defeated by huge numbers during division of votes.
When the AIMIM member insisted on division of votes over amendments, Speaker Om Birla quoted rule to say that he can ask the members supporting or opposing them to stand up for counting, if he feels it appropriate.
In his speech, Shah lashed out at people behind urban Maoism, a term used by the BJP and its ideological allies for those it blames for supporting Maoists, and said the government had no sympathy for them.
"In the name of ideology, some people promote urban maoism. We have no sympathy for them," he said.
Left-wing violence was initially considered an ideological and gullible people were misguided to kill others, he said.
"The only purpose of this law is to root out terrorism. We will ensure that this law will not be misused," he said.
The Congress under the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had brought in UAPA, he said, targeting the opposition party, whose members earlier questioned the rationale behind the law.
Radical preachers are propagating ideology of hate and terrorism, Shah said, claiming that terrorism is born out of a person's mindset and is not about institutions.
"It is the priority of the government to root out terrorism," he said.
"Some (opposition) members said that we have destroyed the federal structure by bringing this amendment. If the federal structure has been destroyed then it was destroyed during the UPA time as the law was enacted then," he said.
If somebody indulges in terrorist activities then definitely the NIA will seize his computers and other devices, he added.
Two BJP MLAs support Congress-led govt in Madhya Pradesh during voting on bill
MMNN:24 July 2019
BHOPAL: In a major blow to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, two of its MLAs Narayan Tripathi and Sharad Kol on Wednesday voted in favour of the Congress government during voting on a bill in the assembly.
Tripathi and Kol, both former Congressmen, said they supported the seven-month-old Kamal Nath-led government, which enjoys a slender majority in the house, as they wanted to develop their respective assembly constituency.
During the division of votes on the Criminal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2019, a total of 122 MLAs voted in favour of the Congress government, which assumed office in December last year.
In the 230-member house, the ruling Congress has the support of 121 MLAs, including Speaker N P Prajapati, who did not take part in the voting.
Besides the 120 MLAs of the Congress and its allies, two BJP MLAs also supported the bill.
Later, talking to reporters, Tripathi (elected from Maihar) and Kol (Beohari) said they extended support to the Nath government because they want to develop their constituencies.
The BJP MLAs said this was their "ghar wapsi" (homecoming).
Reacting to the voting, chief minister Kamal Nath said, "The BJP says daily that we are a minority government and one which could fall any day."
"However, during voting in the assembly on criminal law amendment bill, two BJP MLAs voted in favour of our government," Nath said.
The development in Madhya Pradesh comes a day after the Congress-JD(S) government fell in Karnataka, where the BJP is looking to form its government.
The BJP had narrowly lost power in Madhya Pradesh during the November 2018 assembly polls.
Vistara to stop giving 200ml plastic water bottles to flyers
MMNN:24 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Vistara will stop giving plastic water bottles on board its flights, in a bid to reduce plastic usage. The airline, which had earlier banned chewing of gutka on its flights, on Wednesday said it “plans to remove all individual-sized 200ml water bottles from its flights, This initiative was implemented on Delhi-Mumbai flights on July 16, and will be extended to all flights across the airline’s network in phases over the coming weeks. Economy class customers, who were hitherto given water in small plastic bottles, will now be served mineral water in environment-friendly paper cups.”
The airline said it has “reduced single-use plastic usage and has a further 50% reduction target this year. The airline continues to undertake several other eco-friendly initiatives to support its award-winning inflight service with minimal use of plastics, by switching to packaging from renewable and bio-degradable sources.
Vistara is the first and only carrier in India to serve oxo-biodegradable cutlery and pouch to economy class customers. It has also replaced plastic casseroles with aluminium dishes in economy and China casseroles in Premium Economy, plastic straws and stirrers with paper or wooden ones, and disposable bowls in economy class with reusable ones,” the airline added.
Last June, Vistara had banned consumption of 'gutka' (tobacco) on board its aircraft.
Opposition walks out of Lok Sabha, says only PM Modi can tell if Trump’s lying on Kashmir mediation claim
MMNN:23 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders on Tuesday staged a walk out in the Lok Sabha after they failed to get the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to the statement of US President Donald Trump claiming that the Indian Prime Minister Modi had asked him to mediate in the Kashmir issue, reported news agency ANI. Earlier, Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice till 3 pm following an uproar by the Parliamentarians demanding a response from the Prime Minister on the issue.
According to ANI, Congress MP Manish Tiwari said the Prime Minister must address the Lower House and clarify if the US President was lying when he attributed the conversation to him. He also said that Trump’s statement on Kashmir issue was like a “blow to the unity of India.”
The Ministry of External Affairs earlier on Tuesday had rejected Trump’s remarks, made during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, that Modi had asked him to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
The Congress said it was happy to hear government’s reiteration ofIndia’s ‘no third party involvement’ in Kashmir stand but was unhappy withPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue. It insisted that the Prime Minister made a statement instead of the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
“Why is PM ‘mum’ on what transpired between the two heads of states, more so when it affects our sovereignty?” , Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked in a tweet.
In another tweet, he tagged the remarks of Trump put out by the White House.
“Now, ‘Whitehouse’ puts up @POTUS assertion in ‘black & white’ that PM Modi asked him to ‘mediate on Kashmir’!” He said. “When will our PM ‘wake up’ & call the bluff if President Trump is lying? Or Did PM Modi ask @POTUS to mediate?” Surjewala wondered.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also, demanded a clarification from none other than Prime Minister Modi .
“President Trump says PM Modi asked him to mediate between India & Pakistan on Kashmir! If true, PM Modi has betrayed India’s interests & 1972 Shimla Agreement. A weak Foreign Ministry denial won’t do. PM must tell the nation what transpired in the meeting between him & @POTUS,” Rahul’s tweet said.
Earlier, Congress leader Milind Deora said that for the sake of India’s national interest, all parties must rise above politics and welcome MEA’s statement refuting the Prime Minister’s alleged remarks.
“We must also ask whether BJP would have extended the same courtesy to Dr. Manmohan Singh had a US President made such a claim,” he said.
The Congress along with other opposition parties on Monday night demanded a clarification from Modi on whether there has been a shift in India’s position of no third party involvement in the Kashmir issue after Trump offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the matter.
Surjewala had said India has never accepted third party mediation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“To ask a foreign power to mediate in J&K by PM Modi is a sacrilegious betrayal of country’s interests. Let PM answer to the Nation!” he had tweeted.
In another tweet, Surjewala said “deeply disturbing and distressing” is the claim by Trump that PM Modi made a “request to him for mediation on Kashmir”.
“No Indian PM has ever dared to breach the cardinal principle of ‘no third party mediation’ in terms of 1972 Simla Agreement.Why is PM mum?” he said.
Trump, who is known to make inaccurate statements, claimed Prime Minister Modi asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue.
“I honestly don’t think Trump has the slightest idea of what he’s talking about. He has either not been briefed or not understood what (Prime Minister) Modi was saying or what India’s position is on 3rd-party mediation. That said, MEA should clarify that Delhi has never sought his intercession,” senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted earlier.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday wondered whether the Indian government will call the US President a liar or whether there has been a shift in India’s position on third party involvement in dispute.
“Personally I think @realDonaldTrump is talking out of his hat when he says @PMOIndia asked for US involvement in solving the Kashmir issue but I’d like to see @MEAIndia call Trump out on his claim,” Abdullah tweeted. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury asked whether “our twitter-friendly PM” has the courage to rebut the US president who has made a public statement.
“What does this say about our long-held position of sovereignty over the Indian state of J&K, as defined in the Simla Agreement?” he said.
“India has always maintained its a bilateral issue, with no scope for third-party interference. What is this government up to?” Yechury asked.
India maintains that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral one and no third party has any role.
Lashkar, Islamic State in plans with Pak army to target Indian assets in Afghanistan
MMNN:23 July 2019
The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is working closely with Islamic State in Afghanistan and has drawn up plans with the Pakistan Army to target Indian and US assets and interests in the war-torn country, people familiar with developments said on Monday.
During a recent meeting between LeT operatives and a team of Pakistan Army and the country’s spy agency Inter- Services Intelligence in Jaba area of Dangam district in Kunar province, the terror group was directed to attack Indian and US assets, the people, including intelligence officials and diplomats in New Delhi and Washington, said on condition of anonymity. LeT commanders were tasked to carry out different types of attacks, including with suicide bombers sent from Pakistan, they added. The move comes at a time when Pakistan is under intense pressure from the US and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to crack down on LeT and other groups such as Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). LeT founder Hafiz Saeed was recently arrested on terror financing charges.
This also coincides with reports by the Pentagon and a UN panel about the presence of hundreds of LeT cadres in Afghanistan. The Pentagon report put the number of LeT operatives at 300, while the UN report said 500 fighters are active in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces alone.
“LeT’s presence in Afghanistan has been observed to be steadily on the rise. According to recent inputs, Hafiz Saeed’s son Talha Saeed is taking more interest in operational affairs in Afghanistan,” said an official who didn’t want to be named. The information on LeT activities has been shared with the US and Afghanistan.
The reasons for LeT focusing on Afghanistan are strategic rather than ideological, including the creation of safe havens for its fighters and a belief the Taliban are in a commanding position, the people said. With its fighters easily crossing the porous border, LeT wants to take credit for an “Islamic victory” in Afghanistan and has been increasing its presence in Kunar, Nangarhar and Nuristan, they said.
The presence of LeT fighters has also been reported in Badakhshan, Laghman, Kabul, Ghazni, Wardak, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kandahar and Helmand provinces and it maintains good relations with IS, the people said. The IS has provided tacit support for LeT to increase its presence, they added. While the LeT has so far avoided carrying out direct attacks in Afghanistan, it coordinates with al-Qaeda and Taliban in attacks on foreign and Afghan forces. The UN panel had also reported the LeT was a key provider of fighters, weapons and finance for the Taliban and Haqqani Network.
Several madrassas in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar are supporting the LeT in Afghanistan, including Ganj Madrassa, which helps recruit cadres, Jamia Ashrafia, Hazrat Bilal Madrassa, Markaz Khyber, which is headed by local JuD leader Qari Nouman, Markaz Al-Madina.
The JeM, which has traditionally had strong ties with the Afghan Taliban, has also stepped up its operations in Afghanistan and its cadres are fighting under the leadership of the Taliban, the people said. These cadres include a significant number of battle-hardened JeM militants and suicide bombers from Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, they said.
The JeM leadership also conducts its own operations in Afghanistan that are directed from a base in Peshawar, the people said.
JeM has also set up another front in Quetta that is used for attacks in Afghanistan’s Ghazni provinces. JeM currently has its cadres in Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Khost, Ghazni, Geelan, Helmand and Nangarhar areas.
‘Backstabbed by rebels…will happen to you too’: Cong’s Shivakumar warns BJP
MMNN:23 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Karnataka Minister and Congress’ chief trouble shooter, D K Shivakumar, on Tuesday said that the party’s rebel MLAs have backstabbed them and warned the BJP that these lawmakers could do the same to them.
“We are angry because of the backstabbing by the rebels. It will happen to you as well... You are misguiding them,” Shivakumar told the BJP said while participating in the discussion on the confidence motion in the assembly moved by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy whose government is battling an existential crisis following the resignation of 16 MLAs earlier this month.
Thirteen of the MLAs belong to the Congress and three to the Janata Dal (Secular). Two independent MLAs, who were made ministers recently to provide stability to the government, have also quit the cabinet and withdrawn their support to the government.
Ahead of the trust vote, Shivakumar lashed out at the rebels for petitioning the Mumbai police Commissioner to protect them when he visited the city earlier this month.
“When I went to Mumbai I knew that prohibitory orders had been issued. I wasn’t allowed inside the hotel because MLAs gave a complaint to Mumbai police Commissioner that we will storm into the hotel and asked that we shouldn’t let in. I worked with them for 40 years, am I a dacoit? Couldn’t I have locked them in my house when I tore their resignations?”
Shivakumar was particularly anguished with Congress MLA MTB Nagaraj who had indicated on July 13 that he would take back his resignation and would also try to convince another lawmaker - K Sudhakar - to withdraw his resignation as well. But Nagaraj returned to Mumbai the next day and hasn’t taken back his resignation yet.
“Yes I was the reason MTB Nagaraj got a ticket. We spoke to him and he gave a statement as well. Couldn’t we have locked them up? No because we have trust in them. Bring them here, let them vote against this government…… I told MTB Nagaraj I’ll see him in the battlefield politically,” Shivakumar said.
The coalition government has accused the opposition BJP of orchestrating the resignations to seize power. The BJP denies the charge.
The Karnataka Assembly floor test will be held Tuesday evening according to the latest deadline of 6 pm set by the Speaker KR Ramesh. The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the petition filed by the two independent MLAs who asked the apex court to direct the Speaker to hold the trust vote on Tuesday.
Speaker Ramesh also summoned the rebel MLAs, 13 of whom have asked for four weeks time.
India successfully launches world's first mission to South Pole
MMNN:22 July 2019
NEW DELHI: India successfully launched its second Moon mission-Chandrayaan--2. It is world's first mission to Moon's South Pole. If successful, the mission, will make India the fourth nation to soft land on the Moon after the US, Russia and China. Here's a look at the various soft landings that have taken place on the Moon and why south pole holds significance.
Every Indian immensely proud today: PM Modi after Chandrayaan-2 launch
MMNN:22 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of India's indigenous moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, and said that every Indian is immensely proud today.
In a series of tweets, Prime Minister Modi stated that this mission will further encourage youngsters towards pursuing science, research and
"Special moments that will be etched in the annals of our glorious history! The launch of #Chandrayaan2 illustrates the prowess of our scientists and the determination of 130 crore Indians to scale new frontiers of science. Every Indian is immensely proud today," Prime Modi tweeted.
"Indian at heart, Indian in spirit! What would make every Indian overjoyed is the fact that #Chandrayaan2 is a fully indigenous mission. It will have an Orbiter for remote sensing the Moon and also a Lander-Rover module for analysis of lunar surface," he added.
He further shared two photographs of himself watching the launch of Chandrayaan-2.
"#Chandrayaan2 is unique because it will explore and perform studies on the south pole region of lunar terrain which is not explored and sampled by any past mission. This mission will offer new knowledge about the Moon," the Prime Minister said.
"Efforts such as #Chandrayaan2 will further encourage our bright youngsters towards science, top quality research and innovation. Thanks to Chandrayaan, India's Lunar Programme will get a substantial boost. Our existing knowledge of the Moon will be significantly enhanced," he added.
Chandrayaan-2 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
The spacecraft took off at 2.43pm, exactly a week after the mission was aborted after a technical snag was detected less than an hour before the launch.
In the run-up to the launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on its Twitter, gave regular updates about preparations.
ISRO had successfully completed the launch rehearsal of the Chandrayaan-2 mission on Saturday.
Chandrayaan-2 will explore a region of Moon where no mission has ever set foot. The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover together referred to as "composite body". The probe's total mass is 3.8 ton and is expected to land on the Moon's south polar region on September 6 or 7 this year.
It will be the first Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface. This mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to carry out a soft landing on Moon.
I'm daughter of this soil, hope to get permanent or longer resident permit: Taslima
MMNN:22 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Relieved after getting a one- year extension on her residence permit, Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has expressed hope that the government will consider giving her either a longer permit or a permanent one as she is the "daughter of this soil" and even her cat is Indian.
"India is my home. It would have been better if I did not need to worry every year. There is also the option of issuing residence permit for five or 10 years. I requested former home minister Rajnath Singh ji for this in 2014 as I want to live in India for rest of my life," she told PTI in an interview.
Nasreen's residence permit was extended for one year by the home ministry on Sunday. She is a citizen of Sweden and has been getting residence permit on a continuous basis since 2004.
The 56-year-old writer was last week given a three-month residence permit following which she took to Twitter to request home minister Amit Shah to extend it for one year.
"I am called a foreigner but I feel like the daughter of this soil. I hope the government will reconsider giving me a permanent or a longer resident permit. I have passed 25 years in exile, still I have to worry every year about the ground beneath my feet. It affects my writing also," she said.
"I feel Delhi is the only place in the subcontinent where I can live peacefully. I would have been very happy if I could live in East or West Bengal but now it is not possible. Now, I want to live the rest of my life in Delhi. If you don't consider me Indian, my cat is Indian, who is like my daughter and has been with me for 16 years," she added.
Nasreen said that despite several countries offering her permanent residence, she chose India as she felt a cultural connect here.
"My home, my books, my clothes, and my documents everything is here. I don't have any home somewhere else. I am settled here. Why I should leave India," she said when asked about the reason for staying in the country.
"I am a European citizen but I left Europe and the US to live here. I chose India over all other countries which offered me citizenship or permanent resident permit," said Nasreen.
She feels that India is much more liberal than any other country in the world as far as freedom of speech is concerned.
"The Constitution gives you human rights and freedom of speech. There has been a lot of criticism of the government which gets published, so how can I say there is no freedom of speech. I have seen many nations where there is no such freedom," she said when asked about the notion in a section of society that there was curtailment of freedom of speech.
The author said there were such issues in the US as well during the Iraq war, but they happen several times and go away as well.
"It's not like nobody is allowed to criticize or oppose the government. Sometimes on social media we get attacked when we write something that people don't like. It happens but it is not that dangerous that I will be sent to jail. I don't think that it is an alarming situation in India," said the writer.
"As far as mob violence is concerned it is not staged by government. Some anti-social elements do it and they should be punished strictly," she said.
She said the English sequel of her popular novel 'Lajja' is getting released next year.
"I am writing so many things. In the beginning of next year Harper Collins will release the sequel of Lajja called 'Besharam (shameless)," Nasreen said.
Sheila Dikshit, former Delhi CM and Congress leader, passes away
MMNN:20 July 2019
NEW DELHI: Former chief minister of Delhi and senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit passed away in Delhi on Saturday at the age of 81 years.
On Saturday morning, she was admitted in a critical condition to Escorts hospital in the capital following cardiac arrest.
A multi-disciplinary team of doctors carried out the advanced resuscitative measures. Her condition stabilised temporarily. However, she had another cardiac arrest and despite all the resuscitative efforts, passed away at 3:55pm, hospital said.
Her cremation is scheduled to take place at Delhi's Nigam Bodh ghat at 2 pm on Sunday.
Dikshit served as the chief minister of Delhi for three terms from 1998 to 2013. She was the longest serving chief minister of Delhi.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, under her leadership, the Congress party managed to push AAP candidates on the third place in five of the seven seats in Delhi, besides registering growth in its vote share.
In January this year, the three-time former Delhi chief minister was appointed president of the city unit after the incumbent Ajay Maken stepped down citing health issues.
Despite being an octagenarian, Dikshit led the party in Lok Sabha polls and herself contested against Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari from the North East Delhi seat. She lost by over 3.66 lakh votes.
Dikshit became an MP for the first time from Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh in 1984. She was also a close associate of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and a minister in his cabinet.
President Ram Nath Kovind extended his condolences to the family of the Congress leader and said that her term was a period of momentous transformation for the capital.
Kashmir issue will be resolved soon: Rajnath Singh
MMNN:20 July 2019
JAMMU: Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday the Kashmir issue would be resolved soon and no power on earth could stop the final resolution.
Addressing a meeting after inaugurating a bridge on the river Ujh in the Kathua district, Singh said, "I am saying this with all responsibility that the Kashmir issue will be resolved soon. I am sure of your (people) support."
The minister said he had invited for talks several times the people who claim to be fighting for the resolution of Kashmir problem. "They didn't come forward. They have sent their children outside for education, and are forcing 12-14 years children to pelt stones".
"What kind of Azadi do they have in mind? Do they want the type of Azadi Pakistan has. Let me tell you (separatists) whether you talk or not, Kashmir issue will be resolved soon", Singh said.
He urged people to stay united and work for personal and the country's betterment. "You have many opportunities. You can join the defence forces. You can excel in sports. There is no limit to opportunities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir", he said.
At 1,000 metres, the bridge on the river Ujh is the longest in the state constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The minister also paid tribute at the Kargil war memorial in Drass on the 20th anniversary of Kargil victory. He also interacted with soldiers. Union Minister of State (PMO) Jitendra Singh and chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat accompanied Singh during his visit.
The defence minister is on a day-long visit to the state.
India in touch with Iran to secure release of Indians aboard British-flagged ship
MMNN:20 July 2019
NEW DELHI/LONDON: India on Saturday said it was in touch with Iran to secure release of the Indians on board a British-flagged oil tanker seized by the Gulf country in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We are ascertaining further details on the incident. Our Mission is in touch with the Government of Iran to secure the early release and repatriation of Indian nationals," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question on the detention of Indian crew members along with the oil tanker Stena Impero by Iranian authorities.
According to a media report, 18 Indian nationals are among the 23 crew members of the British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran amid fresh escalation of tensions in the Gulf region.
The Stena Impero was seized on Friday by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker was allegedly due to a collision with an Iranian fishing boat, Iran's official news agency IRNA said.
"There are 18 Indian and five crew members from Russia, Philipines, Latvia and other countries on board of Stena Impero. The captain is Indian, but the tanker is UK-flagged," the news agency quoted Allahmorad Afifipour, director general of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Hormuzgan province, as saying.
Stena Bulk, a Swedish company which owns the vessel, said they have been unable to contact the ship, which was seized in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the region.
"Soon after the vessel was approached by unidentified small naval craft and a helicopter during her transit of the Strait of Hormuz in international waters...the vessel suddenly deviated from her passage to Jubail and headed north towards Iran," the company said in statement.
The vessel was in full compliance with all navigation and international regulations, it said.
Erik Hanell, President and Chief Executive, Stena Bulk, said: "There are 23 seafarers onboard of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality. There have been no reported injuries and the safety and welfare of our crew remains our primary focus."
"We are in close contact with both the UK and Swedish government authorities to resolve this situation and we are liaising closely with our seafarers' families," Hanell said.
In early July, British marines and Gibraltar police seized an Iranian tanker off the Southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
Gibraltar claimed that the ship was transporting crude oil to Syria "in violation" of the EU sanctions placed on Damascus, escalating tensions in the Gulf.
5.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, other Northeast states
MMNN:19 July 2019
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other northeastern states on Friday afternoon.
The epicenter of the quake was located at a depth of 10 km at East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, the Met Office website stated.
According to reports, tremors were felt in Guwahati, parts of Assam, Dimapur in Nagaland, among other areas at around 2:52 pm.
No casualties have been reported so far, officials said, adding that more details are awaited.
In photos, rhinos, tiger flee to higher ground in flood-hit Kaziranga
MMNN:19 July 2019
A tiger escaped from a wildlife park in India’s flood-ravaged Assam and stretched out on a shophouse bed Thursday, startling residents and shining a spotlight on the plight of animals caught up in the deluge.
The adult tiger -- weighing more than 200 pounds (90 kilogrammes) -- was like many other beasts in the World Heritage-listed Kaziranga National Park, trying to reach dry land as the reserve became submerged by heavy rains.
Wild buffalos running in floodwaters, exhausted rhinos resting on patches of land and elephants crossing a road were some of the unusual sights as rangers raced to reach animals struggling in the waters.
More than 50 wild animals have died so far, including some in traffic accidents, as they tried to cross a busy highway outside the park and reach the nearby Karbi hills, local media reported.
The tiger was about to cross the highway when it appeared to change its mind and jumped into a scrap dealer’s tin-roofed compound, sending onlookers into a tizzy.
“The owner was about to open the shop at 8:30 in the morning when he saw the tiger jump inside,” Bhaskar Choudhury, head veterinarian for the non-profit Wildlife Trust of India, told AFP.
“One of the doors was open and it was dark inside. The tiger decided to go in and sit on the bed.”
Choudhury said instead of tranquilising the big cat, his organisation was waiting for sunset to allow the creature to emerge from the compound and take off on its own.
Meanwhile, forest rangers are using boats to traverse the parklands -- now a large expanse of water -- as they search for stranded or injured animals.
“It had been a long time since this type of flood has affected Kaziranga National Park,” forest ranger Pradut Goswami told AFP.
The UNESCO-recognised Kaziranga is home to two-thirds of the world’s remaining one-horned rhinos and several have been spotted basking in the sun on a patches of high ground surrounded by water.
With Assam usually one of the worst-hit Indian states during the annual rains, the park has been building ridges for the animals to swim to, although not all of them utilise the elevated areas.
The floods, which are in their second week, have so far killed at least 27 people in Assam, sweeping away houses and boats.
Across South Asia, including Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the death toll has risen above 300 with millions of residents affected and hundreds of thousands displaced.
‘Know you are in hurry’: Speaker taunts Yeddyurappa who wants floor test voting to start
MMNN:19 July 2019
Karnataka’s HD Kumaraswamy government on Friday headed into a confrontation with Governor Vajubhai Vala who has ordered him to prove his majority in the assembly by 1.30 pm, telling the assembly that the Governor could not dictate the proceedings of the legislature.
“The (trust vote) motion is the property of the House... The governor cannot dictate the proceedings of the house,” Karnataka minister Krishna Byregowda told the state assembly shortly after Chief Minister Kumaraswamy red-flagged the governor’s directive.
Follow LIVE updates on Karnataka political developments here.
In his letter to Kumaraswamy last evening, Governor Vala had pointed to the 15 ruling coalition lawmakers who resigned from the assembly and the two independents who withdrew their support to conclude that the Congress-JDS coalition appeared to “have lost majority/confidence of the House”.
Kumaraswamy pointed to this message from the governor last evening and asked Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar to take a call. For effect, Kumaraswamy recalled that the Supreme Court’s interim ruling on the rebel MLAs did underline that the speaker would function unfettered.
“You, Speaker sir, must decide if the governor has such powers to direct us on a matter that is already in the House... Matters (trust vote) need to be discussed,” Kumaraswamy said shortly before the 1.30 pm was due to expire.
As the clock struck 1.30 pm, BS Yeddyurappa, the BJP chief in the state and the BJP’s presumptive chief minister demanded that the assembly vote on the trust motion in line with the Governor’s direction. Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, however, promptly rejected this demand. “According to our rules, there is no opportunity to go for division without discussion. I know you are in a hurry but that is not possible,” the Speaker said.
As for the governor’s letter, Ramesh Kumar said that communication was addressed to the chief minister and it was for him to respond to the letter the Governor wrote. The assembly was adjourned for an hour when the BJP protests continued.
Byregowda, the senior minister who intervened during the chief minister’s speech to amplify the points that his boss made, stressed that the governor’s directive had not come before the assembly started discussing the trust vote but after the House took it up. By then, the trust vote had already become a property of the House and wasn’t subject to the Governor’s directions.
The senior minister stressed that they could not be mute spectators when wrongs are committed because they would otherwise, be complicit in such improprieties. The attacks on the governor soon got shriller, and louder.
“In May 2018, the Governor gave the BJP 15 days to prove majority but we’re given 15 hours. If this doesn’t smack of conspiracy, what does?” he asked, underscoring that if one institution goes against the rules, it would lead to problems.
Our MLAs are being kidnapped, Cong alleges in assembly
MMNN:18 July 2019
BENGALURU: The Congress Thursday alleged in the Karnataka assembly its MLA Shreemant Patil, who suddenly disappeared after being with them at a resort and went incommunicado, had been 'kidnapped' as part of efforts to 'topple' the coalition government.
As the assembly debated the confidence motion moved by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, senior minister D K Shivakumar alleged Patil was kidnapped and admitted to a hospital in Mumbai.
Raising the issue, Shivakumar said "With folded hands I am requesting the Speaker of the house, my party MLAs have been kidnapped.I have got a call from the family members. I want you to bring them back sir. We want police protection."
The Congress MLAs said in unison that the lawmakers were living in fear and Patil was kidnapped, kept in a room, taken by a special flight and then admitted to a hospital.
Shivakumar said they would produce documents to show that Patil was forcibly admitted to the hospital to skip assembly.
"I have documentary evidence. He is being held in a hospital... Patil traveled with Lakshman Savadi (former BJP MLA) in the flight," he alleged.
Congress state president Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged Patil was with him till Wednesday, attended a meeting and was in good health. However, suddenly he disappeared from the resort, where his party MLAs were staying.
Rao said, "When we tried to check where he had gone, we could not find him. He was in good health but see the drama of the BJP."
The remark led to pandamonium with BJP shouting him down amid acrimonious exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition.
Intervening, Kumaraswamy said "In the case of Patil, you must explain, who sent his photos on WhatsApp, who travelled with him in the flight. The speaker has the responsibility to safeguard the MLAs since numbers matter in the vote."
C T Ravi of the BJP told the Congress members Patil was in their 'custody' only and they were making the allegation against his party as they lacked numbers.
"They don't have the numbers. They are playing this game."
The Speaker then asked "Should I blindfold myself and say I have no relation with it? Where are we heading?"
He told the House that he got a letter, not written on the letterhead, purportedly by Patil saying he had developed chest pain and had been hospitalised.
"Evidence before me is that it is not natural.... I am disturbed," the speaker said and directed Home Minister M B Patil to get in touch with the MLA's family and enquire about his condition and report back to him.
Flood fury forces Kaziranga tiger to take shelter in shop
MMNN:18 July 2019
GUWAHATI: Images of a fully grown tiger "relaxing" on a bed inside a shop in Assam's flooded Kaziranga National Park has created a buzz on social media and thrown spotlight on the plight of animals as the state battles the deluge.
The pictures of the Royal Bengal Tiger on the bed at a shop at Harmoti near Bagori range of the World Heritage Site along National Highway 37 on Thursday were widely shared on social media after the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) posted it on Twitter.
"Our vet @samshulwildvet is on a mission to tranquilise this #tiger to get him out of bed!", the organisation which is cooperating with the state's forest department in the massive efforts to save wildlife during the flood, said in a series of tweets.
Locals told reporters the tiger entered the shop of Rafikul Islam at around 7 am and was noticed relaxing on his bed. Over 95 per cent of the Park is submerged, rendering animals shelterless and forcing them to look for refuge in human habitations.
KNP Bagori Range Officer Pankaj Bora, however, said the tiger was not being disturbed and only its movement was being monitored. Forest officials are waiting for the animal to leave on its own. If it doesn't, only then attempts will be made to shift it to a forest.
Several famed one-horned rhinoceros and other animals have reportedly died in the floods that have engulfed vast swathes in Assam's 29 out of 33 districts.
Large parts of Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary are also submerged, forcing wild animals, including including rhinos, elephants, deer and wild boars, to take refuge in artificial highlands constructed within the parks or migrate to the southern highlands of Karbi Anglong hills.
India warns Pakistan against 'farcical attempts' to implement ICJ's order on Kulbhushan Jadhav
MMNN:18 July 2019
LONDON/THE HAGUE: India has warned Pakistan that its conduct will be under watch and any "farcical attempts" claiming to implement the ICJ's order in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case would mean going back to the world court or the UN Security Council for remedies.
Jadhav, 49, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" in April 2017 based on an "extracted confession". India had moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, to seek a stay on his death sentence and further remedies.
A 16-member bench headed by President of the Court, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, by 15-1 votes ordered Pakistan on Wednesday to undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav.
"It is a good moment for us to help Jadhav get justice and ensure he gets a fair trial," India's lead counsel in the case, Harish Salve, told reporters in London on Wednesday in the the wake of the judgment.
Salve indicated that the next steps would involve access to the Indian national by India's consular officials in Pakistan, who will then be able to ensure he gets full legal representation.
Asked about the means at India's disposal if Pakistan did not fully comply with the ICJ verdict, he noted: "If there is a violation of the order, we can go back to the ICJ to seek further instructions. If a country brazenly violates such an order, there are other provisions, including sanctions in the [UN] Security Council and other remedies.
"I am sure Pakistan would not go that way, or at least I hope so ... Their conduct is under watch and any farcical attempts will not go unnoticed ... if a country decides to behave rogue and not comply, there are measures available."
"There is an obligation of result, of fair adjudication after allowing Mr Jadhav consular access and Pakistan must take all steps necessary, including legislative measures," the senior Indian lawyer asserted.
Reacting for the first time to the verdict, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday tweeted: "Appreciate ICJ's decision not to acquit, release and return Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law."
In its 42-page ruling, the ICJ ruled that Pakistan had "breached" the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which gives countries the right to consular access when their nationals are arrested abroad.
The world court found that by not informing Jadhav without delay of his rights under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Pakistan breached the obligations incumbent upon it under that provision.
"The judgment has restored our faith in the rule of law, in the ICJ and in the systems which we as mankind put together to protect the citizens of the world," said Salve.
"We had challenged the conduct of Pakistan in its brazen refusal to adhere to the Vienna Convention and allow consular access to Mr Jadhav... The court found Pakistan guilty of internationally wrongful acts and that it must cease those acts," he said.
The ICJ has declared that Pakistan is under an obligation to inform Jadhav without further delay of his rights and to provide Indian consular officers access to him in accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Salve admitted that while India's ambitious call for an annulment of Jadhav's death sentence was not met, the court had been categorical in its verdict that Pakistan must do everything to make the Vienna Convention a living reality.
India moved the ICJ on May 8, 2017, for the "egregious violation" of the provisions of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan by repeatedly denying New Delhi consular access to Jadhav.
Salve said he had a "degree of personal satisfaction" that he did not resort to the kind of adjectives used by Pakistan in trying to accuse India of state-sponsored terrorism during the course of the hearings, except to describe them as "unfortunate".
"I had told the court that my upbringing and India's traditions do not allow me to reply in that language," he said, adding that the vindication came in the form of the ICJ rejecting Pakistan's allegations against India of abuse of process.
While Pakistan has claimed that Jadhav was taken into custody after he illegally entered Balochistan from Iran in March 2016, India says that he was abducted from Iran where he had business interests in Chabahar and maintains his innocence.
The verdict in the high-profile case comes nearly five months after the bench had reserved its decision on February 21 after hearing oral submissions by India and Pakistan. The proceedings of the case took two years and two months to complete.
9 killed, 18 injured in shootout in land dispute in Sonbhad of UP
MMNN:17 July 2019
Sonabhadra Land dispute in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh took the form of massacre and this quarrel killed 9 people. After this whole incident there is panic in the whole area. It is being told that those killed were of 6 men and three women and all were from the same party.
According to the information, in Gob Panchayat Murthia village in Ghorwal Kotwali area of Sonbhadra, on Wednesday, 9 people were killed in the fight between two parties, while 18 were injured in the land dispute. After the dispute, both the sides sticks with the bullet as well, the garbage also goes fiercely.
After the information, all the officials including the Superintendent of Police reached the spot. In the injured, 18 have been admitted to the community health center Ghorwal while severely injured half a dozen people have been sent to the district hospital. Land dispute has been reported between the Guzul and the Gond caste.
Hema Das came forward to help Assam flood victims, gave his half salary to the relief fund
MMNN:17 July 2019
new Delhi. India's Star Women's Athlete (Spinner) Hima Das has taken an admirable step to help Assam flood victims. Hima Das has expressed the desire to help the flood victims on Tuesday. He announced to give half of his salary to the relief fund from the Indian Oil Foundation. Let Him know that Hema Das is from Assam State and these days he has been in the headlines by winning 3 gold medals in the Kladno Memorial Athletics last 11 days.
Hima also sought help from big figures
Hima Das has tweeted the request to help Assam flood victims with large companies and big personalities. Hima has said in his tweet, "In our state Assam, the situation is very bad due to the flood, 30 out of 33 districts are affected by this, so I want to appeal to the big corporate houses and people that this is the problem of our state Help in the situation. ' Hima also tweeted four photos of Assam with her tweet, in which the seriousness of the flood could be seen clearly.
15 deaths due to flood in Assam
Let us know that due to the flood in Assam, the situation has become much more severe. 15 people have died due to flood and land slide (landslides) in the state, while 46 lakh people are affected by it. According to an Assam State Disaster Management Officer, 46.28 lakh people of 4,175 villages are affected by the flood. NDRF teams have gathered to help the flood victims.
Pakistan opened airspace for aircraft flying from India after 139 days
MMNN:16 July 2019
new Delhi. Pakistan has opened its Airspace Monday night at 12.41 for 139 days after the Indian and other aircraft. The Indian Airlines Department reviewed the matter and now the movement of aircraft between the two countries started. Indian Air Force had an Air Strike on Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan on February 26 after the Pulwama attack. The next day, Pak aircrafts tried to infiltrate into Kashmir. Since then Pak had stopped air space.
While flying off the air space, all the flights towards Europe and the Gulf countries were crossing the Arabian Sea over Gujarat. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to go to Kyrgyzstan to participate in the SCO Summit. Then Pak had opened his airspace for Modi for 48 hours, but Modi did not use Pak Airspace.
Air India suffered a loss of Rs 491 crore
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has removed the restrictions on air space with immediate effect for all civilian aircraft. Air India was losing about Rs 491 crore due to the closure of Pak Airspace. According to the data of the International Civil Aviation Organization, about 70 thousand passenger passengers of 233 planes were getting annoyed every day. It was taking one and a half to two hours to reach the destination. According to Air India, the opening of the airspace will cost Rs 20 for flights going to the US. Per li Will decrease
Indian Air Force had air strike on 26th February
A fidayeen attack on the convoy of CRPF jawans was held on February 14 in Pulwama, Kashmir. The terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the attack. There were 40 soldiers in this martyr In response to this, on February 26, the Indian Air Force had made air strikes at the bases of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, Pakistan. According to media reports, more than 250 militants were claimed to be killed. Pak feared that India did not attack the second, so he banned the airspace.
40 years after retirement, the Air Force personnel donated Rs. 1 crore to the Ministry of Defense.
MMNN:16 July 2019
new Delhi. 74-year-old CBR Prasad, who retired 40 years ago from the Air Force, donated Rs 1.08 crore to the Defense Ministry. They handed over checks to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. Prasad said, "I have fulfilled my full responsibilities. I thought there should be something to protect the country, so I took this decision. I gave my daughter 2% and my wife 1% to the full earnings of my life. After this, 97% of the remaining is imposed in the country and social service. "
I also do social service with business
- Prasad said, "I had retired from Air Force after nine years of service. After this I got a job offer from the railway, which I did not take. Then I opened a poultry form. For the last 30 years, I have been doing social service with business. A sports university has also been opened. "
- Rajnath Singh asked Prasad why did he decide to donate? On this, Prasad said that when I was working in the Air Force, then the Great Engineer, GD Naidu, came to Coimbatore as Chief Guest. He said that India is a great country. Our thinking is different from people from other countries. We should serve the country and society after fulfilling our family responsibility. Since then, I took this decision. "
- Prasad said, "My dream was that I would illuminate the name of the country by winning medal in the Olympics, but it could not be possible. That's why I opened a 100-acre sports university, where children are given training. Now my dream boys and girls have to open 2 separate sports universities. "
43 lakh people affected by floods in Assam, 90 percent of Kaziranga National Park submerged
MMNN:16 July 2019
Guwahati With heavy rains, people's life in Assam has been derailed. In Assam floods, 30 districts out of 33 districts are in gruesome condition, due to which about 43 lakh people have been affected. On Monday, the Assam government declared a red alert in view of the state's bad situation. Due to water, a large part of the state has been separated from the country. With the death of four people on Monday, the number of people who died due to floods has increased to 15.
In the villages like Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darang, Udalguri, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar, the rain continued and the 4,157 villages of the state have been submerged. The rising water level of the Brahmaputra river is becoming dangerous for the submerged parts of the state. Due to rain, 10 other rivers flowing above the state are also flowing above the danger mark.
For one horned rhinoceros, 90 percent of the famous Kaziranga National Park has sunk in the world. Animals are not unaffected by the flood. In the last two days, 17 wild animals have died. It is difficult to save life for one thousand elephants and hundreds of deer in Kaziranga National Park. Continuous rescue operation is in progress to bring the animals trapped in the floods safely. Contact with road through Upper Assam has broken. People have come out on the streets for help.
83,000 people were evacuated from flood affected areas in 183 relief camps throughout the state. Ferry services were closed due to the sharp streams of water. To avoid the drowning of animals, it can be seen moving out of the park. Agricultural work has also been affected in the state, which has brought about 90,000 hectares of agricultural land flooding. There are many farms where the standing crops are now wasted due to water.
According to the state government, teams of 15 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of 380 personnel, have been deployed to save people from flood affected areas. The State Health Department has also been instructed to look after the medical system.
55 children were injured due to the highten line wire on a primary school building
MMNN:15 July 2019
Lucknow. In Uttar Pradesh, the lives of people are being affected due to rain, there has been a big accident in the state's Balrampur. 55 children are reported to be impaired due to the collapse of the highten line wire on a primary school building here.
After the incident, all children have been admitted to the hospital, out of which 6 are being treated as delicate. Half of the children have been admitted to government hospital after dense, while others have been admitted to private hospital.
The lineman has been suspended while taking action immediately after the accident. While delivering the statement on the incident, DM Balrampur said that all children are out of danger and their treatment is going on.
Home Minister Amit Shah's Owaisi, in the Lok Sabha, says, 'Add a habit of listening too'
MMNN:15 July 2019
new Delhi. Home Minister Amit Shah and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi were seen face-to-face in the Lok Sabha today. This incident took place when BJP MP Satyapal Singh was speaking about the NIA amendment bill. During this interaction between Owaisi, Amit Shah gave him permission.
Actually, when the discussion started in the Lok Sabha on the revised bill, Satyapal Singh said that terrorism is flourishing because we see it with political spectacles while we should fight together with them.
During the speech, suddenly Audie stood up and began to oppose them. On this, Amit Shah tipped him out saying that 'Ovasi sahib, do not make a habit of listening too, will not do this way'
Later, Home Minister Amit Shah said that while both the members are speaking, nobody should speak in the meantime. He said that. Both Raja and Satyapal Singh are different points.
speaker stays deferred till July 19, speech of chief minister
MMNN:15 July 2019
Bengaluru / Mumbai The crisis of the Congress-JDS government of Karnataka, which is in trouble, remains the same. However, he has got the chance to avoid the demand of presenting the majority of the BJP today. Today the Speaker has adjourned the House till Thursday till hearing the power and opposition.
During the proceedings in the House today, the Chief Minister demanded that the majority test be deferred till Thursday and the Speaker adjourned the house till Thursday after hearing both the parties. At the same time, the state's present government has got a little more time to convince its rebel legislators.
Meanwhile, state BJP President BS Yeddyurappa came to the conclusion that Kumaraswamy will no longer be the chief minister and the BJP is going to form the government in the state. He said that Mr. Kumaraswamy now has no majority in the House and he resigns from the post.
Earlier, efforts were made to convince the rebels of Congress to be shocked on Sunday when rebel legislator MTB Nagraj returned to Mumbai on Saturday to discuss the discussions with senior Congress leaders and live with other rebels. There he said that there is no question of withdrawing the resignation. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear further hearing in the case of not accepting the resignation of 10 rebels.
Nagraj tried to convince
Congress leader Nagraj had earlier admitted it but later turned back to Mumbai while retelling. Several Congress leaders including Congress leader and former CM Siddaramaiah, Shivkumar met Nagraj in Bangalore on Saturday and tried to persuade them. Nagraj also indicated that he could reconsider the resignation.
However, their tunes remained unchanged when they reached Mumbai. Simultaneously, efforts to rescue the 13-month-old Kumaraswamy government seem to have failed. In a discussion with journalists in Mumbai, Nagraj said that we are firm on the verdict. There is no question of withdrawing the resignation. However, he also said that he was the resident of resigning with him Sudhakar can take this step upon withdrawing resignation.
Kumaraswamy resigns: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP again demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on Sunday. State President BS Yeddyurappa said that if the Swami is honest and believes in the democratic system then he should resign immediately or give confidence vote on Monday. He told reporters that 16 MLAs of Congress-JDS had resigned and have declared support to the BJP. Kumaraswamy does not have a majority. Therefore, they should quit immediately or earn trust vote.
Modi will go to America in September to participate in the United Nations meeting, meet with Indian community
MMNN:13 July 2019
Washington. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to America in September. News Agency gave information about this. They will attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting here. Along with that, he will also address the Indian-American community in Houston.
According to the news agency, due to the population of Indian immigrants, only one in Houston and Chicago will be chosen for the Prime Minister's program. However, those who know the matter say that Modi will address the Indian community on September 22 in Houston itself. After this, on 23 September he will deliver a speech at a special meeting on climate change in the UN.
Modi has done programs in New York and Silicon Valley
Houston is also called the world's energy capital. Energy security is also a priority for Modi. This will be the third opportunity after becoming Prime Minister in 2014, when Modi will give a speech to the Indian-American community in America. Earlier in 2014, Modi's programs were also held in the New York Madison Square Garden and in Silicon Valley in 2016. There was a huge crowd of Indians on both occasions. According to an estimate, more than 20 thousand people from across the US used to listen to these programs in these programs.
The 70,000 capacity NRG stadium may not be
ready for the proposed program to be held in Houston. However, those who make the event say that they can organize the event at the NRG stadium. Its viewer capacity is 70 thousand. One of the reasons for choosing Houston for the event is that there is a large number of Indian communities living there. Last year, the Governor of Texas and the Mayor of Houston also visited India. Apart from this, former Texas Governor Rick Perry (now Energy Minister) has a very close relationship with Indian-Americans.
Ram Madhav said: BJP will rehabilitate displaced Hindus in Muslim-dominated areas of Kashmir
MMNN:13 July 2019
new Delhi. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has said that the party is preparing for the rehabilitation of displaced Hindus in the Kashmir Valley. Hindus will be rehabilitated in Muslim-dominated areas of the Kashmir Valley. This proposal has got almost the approval of the high command.
Ram Madhav said in interview to News Agency Reuters, Kashmiri Hindus are also called Pandits. In 1989, the armed rebellion started against the Hindus in the Kashmir Valley. Because of this, about 2 to 3 lakh Pandit left the valley. Returning to their home of Hindus is their fundamental right and they will be respected. After re-establishing them in the state, full security will also be provided.
There are 70 lakh people living in
Kashmir valley, while 70 lakh people are living in Kashmir valley, 97% are Muslims. Due to terrorist incidents and tension in the valley, there are other security forces including the army. In the last 3 decades, 50 thousand people have been killed in Kashmir.
According to Madhav, in the past, the BJP-PDP coalition government had proposed to make a township separately or for existing Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir, but no work was done on this. There was no support from local political parties, Muslim leadership and groups representing Hindus in the creation of separate enclaves. The Home Ministry refused to make any comment when the buildings were built to restore the Hindus in Kashmir.
After meeting with DK Shivkumar, Congress rebel legislator Nagraj indicated signs of withdrawing resignation
MMNN:13 July 2019
Bengaluru Congress rebel MLA MTV Nagraj gave a signal to withdraw the resignation on Saturday after meeting party leader DK Shivkumar. On the other hand, five more MLAs of the alliance have reached the Supreme Court in the case of accepting resignation by Ramesh Kumar. Before this, 10 more rebel legislators filed petition in this case. The Supreme Court has ordered the Speaker to maintain the status quo till July 16. This will be the next hearing on Tuesday.
Since the resignation of 10 rebel MLAs of Congress and JDS, Mumbai has remained. All these MLAs arrived at Shirdi with special aircraft on Saturday. Here the MLAs visited the temple of Sai.
I spent many decades in Congress- Nagraj
Nagraj after meeting Shivkumar said that the situation at that time was such that we resigned. But now Sivakumar and other leaders have asked me to withdraw my resignation. I will talk to Sudhakar Rao in this matter. After this I will see what to do. I spent many decades in Congress
Nagraj and Sudhakar resigned on July 10. Apart from these two MLAs, 14 more legislators have submitted their resignations. However, the resignation of any legislator was not accepted. Nagraj did not make any announcement directly to withdraw his resignation. Shivkumar said that we should stay together, should die together. We worked together for 40 years in the party. Every family lives in high and low. We will overtake them all. Glad that Nagraj has assured that they will be with us.
Welcoming the decision to prove Kumaraswamy's trust vote, BJP
former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa said that the BJP welcomes the decision to ask for time to prove CM's faith. Yeddyurappa said that the people of Karnataka were disgusted with the corruption of the present coalition government. This is the reason why the legislators of both parties are resigning. Many more dissident MLAs are ready to leave the party. That is why Kumaraswamy has asked for time to prove the faith and we have no objection. This government will fall in the next few days.
13 Congress MLAs and 13 JDS MLAs resigned,
Umesh Kamatalli, BC Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Shivaram Habbar, H. Viswanath, Gopalaiya, B Biswaraj, Narayan Gowda, Muniritana, ST Somasekhara, Pratap Gowda Patil, Muniratna and Anand Singh resigned. Are. At the same time, suspended Congress MLA Roshan Baig also resigned on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Sudhakar, MTB Nagraj resigned.
'Jai Shri Ram' again in Kolkata, 'Political', poster engaged in the statement of Amartya Sen
MMNN:12 July 2019
Kolkata. In West Bengal, once again, there is a political hotness in the name of 'Jai Shri Ram'. This time the controversial statement given by Amartya Sen, honored with Nobel Prize, is causing it to be seen. The posters of the statement given by Amartya Sen on the streets of Kolkata have taken place last days. Although any political party has refused to put up these posters, in spite of this, politics can again be warmed up in this case.
In fact, on July 5, Amartya Sen had said that 'I have not heard Jai Shri Ram before. It is now being used to beat people. I think that there is no association with Bengal culture. Nowadays, Ramnavmi is celebrated much in Kolkata. Never heard this before.
In the posters on the streets, it has been written that Amartya Sen is asking her four-year-old granddaughter about her favorite god, she is telling the name of Durga.
So far none of the posters have been found. The distance from these posters has also been made from the TMC, but it is being speculated that the blue and white colors in which the poster is made are the favorite color of Trinamool Chief Mamta Banerjee.
RTGS with IMPS, NEFT will not charge on transactions
MMNN:12 July 2019
new Delhi. The country's leading bank State Bank of India often keeps making big announcements for its customers. In the direction of promoting digital payments, the bank has already offered several offers and now the news is that the State Bank will completely eliminate the charge imposed on IMPS in the coming days. The bank has terminated the charge imposed on IMPS in addition to the NEFT and RTGS used for online transactions, instead of RBI's decision.
Now news that Bank of immediate payment of RTGS and eliminate the charge on July 1 tax on NEFT On August 1 is charging tax on services (IMPS) is scheduled to end. Explain that with the help of IMPS, the user can transfer a large amount immediately.
At present, there is no charge for the transaction done through IMPS till 1000 rupees. The transaction between 1 thousand and 10 thousand rupees plus 2 GST is to be given.
This service was publicly started on 22nd November 2010. Through this service, the money can be sent from one bank account to another bank account at any time. This service can be used 24x7 full year even during bank holidays.
the parliament lasted till midnight and the debate took place, the speaker arranged for meals.
MMNN:12 July 2019
new Delhi. In the last few years, you have hardly heard that there is no ruckus in the Parliament and its proceedings have not stopped till the appointed time. But on Thursday, something happened that really is worth knowing about. Actually, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, MPs worked till midnight and discussed a special issue.
This discussion was about the grant of railways demands and in addition to the power, the MPs of opposition parties were also present in the House during this period. Meanwhile, opposition parties accused Modi government of selling the assets of the railways. They had said that the BJP-led NDA is selling dreams to people instead of doing much on the ground. At the same time, BJP has claimed that bypassing the charges of the opposition, the shortfall in rail accidents is 73% in the last five years.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla knew that this debate could last long. Given this, he asked for food for all and arrangements for the MPs to leave the house.
Officials said that Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had already told his secretaries to arrange adequate food and water for the convenience of members, employees and security personnel as well as transportation facilities.
On the discussion till late night in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Railways, S. Angadi said that the railway is like a family that keeps everyone together. All the MPs gave good salaries. Since the arrival of PM Modi, the Railways have been changed. The streets which Vajpayee did about Modi are taking trains.
Inaugurating the demands of the Ministry of Railways, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that civil aviation minister wants to sell Air India while the Railway Minister wants to sell the assets of the railways. The BJP-led NDA government has failed to achieve its goals continuously after coming to power in 2014. Hitting the government, Chaudhary said that the budget has been said to spend Rs 50 lakh crore on the railways, while Suresh Prabhu, the predecessor of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, had claimed to spend Rs 8.5 lakh crore, what happened to him.
Participating in the discussion, BJP member Sunil Kumar Singh said that the number of train accidents has decreased by 73% between 2014-2019. He pointed out the previous Congress governments and said that the interests of the party and their leaders were top priority during his tenure while the country's interest was top of the NDA government. He said that the position and performance of the railways has now been much better than before. BJP's Gopal Chinya Shetty insisted on promoting PPP model and said that this would encourage the progress of the country.
No bullet train for India
Sudip Bandopadhyay of Trinamool Congress said that the concept of bullet train in India is not possible. He accused the government of cheating and making false promises, saying that the proposed bullet train is in fact a fast speed train, not a bullet train. He also demanded from the Government to pay attention to the bridges of the railways that have been over 100 years old.
Toilets are free at the station
Participating in the discussion, Shiv Sena member Rahul Ramesh Shewale demanded from the Central Government to provide free toilet facility to the railway stations. He said that free Wi-Fi facility is being provided free of charge at railway stations but money is being taken for the toilet.
Cleansing of handmade sloppy
DMK's Kanimori said that the arrangement for clearing the mud by rail in the railways is a matter of shame for the country. They alleged that Rave is doing this work through contractors to hide it. Until the news was written, the discussion on the demands of the Ministry of Railways was in discussion at the Lok Sabha.
promoter Rakesh Gangwal said: Pan shop also runs better than this
MMNN:10 July 2019
new Delhi. The controversy over the promoters of the Indigo airline came out open on Tuesday. Promoter Rakesh Gangwal (66) has charged Ghollar (governance lapses) on co-founder Rahul Bhatia (58). Gangwal has said that the company has deviated from its principles and operational values. A paan shop can solve cases better than this.
Indigo is the largest airline in the country. In 2004, Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia established it. Flight started on August 4, 2006.
Need to take immediate action: Gangwal
- Gangwal has complained to market regulator SEBI. SEBI has asked the airline's Board of Directors to reply by July 19. Indiglio's parent company Interglobe Aviation released this information in regulatory filing on Tuesday. The news agency has quoted sources saying that SEBI investigation is continuing since the news of differences between IndiGo's promoters in May.
- Gangwal has questioned some related party transactions (RPT), saying that Bhatia has got the right to have unusual control over Indigo by the shareholders' agreement. The rules and laws related to operating are not being followed. Immediately effective steps will not be taken, the results will be unfortunate.
- Gangwal had written a letter to IndiGo's board demanding EGM on June 12 but, Bhatia had opposed the proposal. Bhatia had told the company's board that Gangwal was doing such things because of being ego-hearted. Their unrealistic demands should not be ignored.
- In a letter written on June 12, Bhatia alleged that Gangwal was working with the Hidden Agenda. They offered a package. They are not ready to talk differently on the issue of relatable party transactions. Tell Rakesh Gangwal of IndiGo 37% and Rahul Bhatia 38% stake.
Police arrested Karnataka's 'politics', minister DK Shivakumar for incitement in Mumbai
MMNN:10 July 2019
Mumbai. The future of the coalition government of Karnataka is in crisis. After the rebels of Congress and JDS legislators, they have begun to celebrate the era of celebration. On one side, where CM Kumar Swamy has talked about the formation of a new Cabinet. On the other hand, politics has been heated after reaching Mumbai to meet rebel legislators of DK Shivakumar today. The rebel legislators have refused to meet minister Shiv Kumar. Sivakumar was stopped by the police from going to the hotel, after which he sat outside the hotel. Shivkumar has been arrested after Section 144 was imposed by the Mumbai Police.
After the delay in accepting the resignation by the rebel legislators before it, the rebel legislators turned to the Supreme Court. Now the petition in this case will be heard on Thursday in the Supreme Court.
Sivakumar, who came out of the hotel where the rebel legislators were staying before, said that I have booked rooms in this hotel. My friend has stayed here. There is a small problem between us which will be solved by negotiation. There is no such thing as scare. We love and respect each other.
However, the police stopped Shivkumar from entering the hotel. After reaching out of the hotel gate, the police did not allow them to enter.
10 rebel MLAs of Congress and JDS of Karnataka are staying at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai. At the same time, after knowing about the arrival of Minister Shivkumar to Mumbai, strict security arrangements have been made by the Mumbai Police outside the hotel.
Mumbai Police say that the Minister Shivakumar will not be allowed to enter the hotel where rebel legislators are staying. Although they will not be prevented from going to the hotel gate.
On the other hand, Minister Sivakumar, about the security arrangements of the police, says that 'Mumbai police or other security forces should be deployed. Let them play their duty. We are going to meet our friends We were born together in politics and would die together. They are the people of our party. We have come to meet him. '
Al Qaeda chief threatens Kashmir, says - Army, attack on government continuously
MMNN:10 July 2019
new Delhi. Al Qaeda has now been disturbed by the continuous crackdown on terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir. Al Qaeda Chief has issued a video threatening India about Kashmir. Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has said in the video that continuous strikes should continue on the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir government without ceasing. Video message has been released from 'Do not Forget Kashmir' title. In the video, Al Qaeda chief has also talked about the role of inciting terrorism across the border in Kashmir.
Zawahiri has said the terrorists in Kashmir addressing 'Mujahideen in Kashmir'. In this situation, the Indian Army and the Government should be constantly attacked by focus. This will ruin the economy of India and it will take the loss of people and equipment.
While speaking in the video, there was a rifle in the right hand of Jawahariri and the Quran in the left hand. However, Zawahiri did not mention Zakir Musa of terrorists killed in this entire video in May, but speaking Kashmir was repeatedly showing his picture. Explain that Zakir was the founder of the Indian cell of Al Qaeda.
Zawahiri said that the fight in Kashmir is not a different matter, but it is the jehad of Muslims all over the world. Not only that, Zawahiri militants in the video are issuing instructions for mosques, markets and Kashmir where Muslims are not attacked.
Since the Pulwama attack, the Indian Army has launched a special campaign to break the terrorist bases and tatter modules in Kashmir. This has started to break the back of the terrorists.
RSS role in ‘nation-building’ now a part of Maharashtra varsity’s syllabus
MMNN:9 July 2019
The history of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its role in ‘nation-building’ have been included in the syllabus of a university based in Nagpur, where the Sangh has headquarters.
The Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University has included RSS history in the second year BA (History) course.
While the third section of the syllabus has details about the role of RSS in nation-building, the first section speaks about the establishment of the Congress party and the rise of Jawaharlal Nehru and the second section dwells on issues like the civil disobedience movement.
A source close to the development said the move is part of efforts to make students aware about ‘new trends’ in history.
Satish Chafle, a member of the Board of Studies of the university, told PTI Tuesday that a chapter on the Sangh’s role in nation-building has been introduced in the History of India (1885-1947) unit, which is part of the fourth semester for the second year of Bachelor of Arts (History) course.
The university syllabus had a chapter on “introduction to RSS” for the MA (History) course in 2003-2004.
“This year, we have introduced the contribution of the RSS in the nation building for the students of history so that they can know about new trends that take place in history. New trends like Marxism, new Marxism or new modernism have become a part of history as new trends,” he said.
Amarnath Yatri was inside a vehicle when hit by a shooting stone on highway
MMNN:9 July 2019
TA pilgrim on the way to Amarnath shrine was injured Tuesday after he was hit by a shooting stone on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district.
47-year-old Mahadev Malekar, a resident of Noapara in 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, was traveling in a cavalcade of vehicles carrying pilgrims to twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal, when hit by a shooting stone at Digdol, 130 kms from Srinagar, said a police official.
“He was hit on his face. After first aid and other requisite treatment at the Ramban district hospital, he was referred to Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu,” he added.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, also called NH44, was blocked at three points --Digdol, Gangru and Mom Passi-- due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by rains since 9.30 am on Tuesday.
Several pilgrims taking the Baltal route were stranded between Magerkot and Panthial while those on Pahalgam route were stranded between Nashri and Ramban between 9.30 am to 12 noon.
Traffic had finally begun to move towards Srinagar after the debris were cleared by noon.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police have been protecting pilgrims from shooting stones in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baltal by forming shield against stones while pilgrims cross mountainous paths.
Over one lakh pilgrims have performed the Amarnath Yatra during the last eight days and another 5,964 yatris left Jammu for the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, said officials. To date, 1,11,699 pilgrims have performed the ongoing Yatra, officials said.
This year’s 45-day long Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine started on June 30 and will end on August 15, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
To Naresh Goyal’s foreign trip request, high court’s Rs 18,000 crore googly
MMNN:9 July 2019
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought to know the central government’s stand on a plea by former Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal seeking quashing of a lookout circular against him.
Justice Suresh Kait refused to grant any interim relief to Goyal while posting the matter for August 23 for further hearing.
According to the plea, on May 25, Goyal was going abroad for some meetings with foreign investors who had reportedly infused some interest in the defunct jet Airways. However, he and his wife were stopped and off-loaded from the aircraft.
The plea said that despite repeated requests Goyal was not given a copy of the lookout circular and alleged that his name was not mentioned in any FIR and hence he is “not an accused”.
The lawyer for the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) told court that it was a serious fraud of Rs 18,000 crore and the investigations are underway. He sought four weeks time from the court to file documents.
Goyal’s lawyer said that his client had to travel abroad by July 10 to preserve his NRI status and not allowing him to do so is a violation of fundamental rights.
The lawyer said the Jet Airways founder needs to meet foreign investors. The court then asked if the investors can be spoken to over the phone or by using any other digital platform.
“Can’t investors be spoken to over the phone, digitally. Money can be transferred through RTGS and other methods,” the court said.
In a lighter vein, the judge said that if he wants to go abroad he can do so by depositing Rs 18,000 crore.
The court remarked that right to go abroad is limited. Justice Kait said that at several instances, the person runs abroad and then the government has to spent crores of rupees to get them back.
According to the corporate affairs ministry, lookout circular against Naresh Goyal was issued after an inspection by the ministry found large-scale irregularities at Jet Airways.
Jet Airways shut its operations in April due to acute cash crunch. Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal had resigned from the board of Jet Airways in March following a debt restructuring plan.
Jet Airways is undergoing insolvency proceedings.
1.50 lakh additional interest free loan, no tax on interest up to 3.50 lakh on loan for buying house till budget / 45 lakh
MMNN:5 July 2019
new Delhi. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first budget of the second term of the Modi government on Friday. Inaugurating the budget speech, he said that our objective is strong citizens for a strong country. On buying house for 45 lakh, additional interest of 1.50 lakhs on home loan has been tax free, i.e. tax of Rs 3.50 lakh will be tax deduction.
'Add a trillion dollar economy in 5 years'
- Finance Minister Sitharaman said, "The mega projects we started in the last five years, it is time to move forward. Chanakya policy says that if the determination is achieved then the objective is fulfilled. There is a lion in Urdu- "If there is any way out, then there is a way out, the lamps burn with air."
- "Our economy has reached $ 2.7 trillion in five years. Our aim is: Minimum Government, Maximum Governance. We have some objectives for achieving 5 trillion economy. In this fiscal year we have set a target of $ 3 trillion. We are the world's 6th largest economy. We have made many structural improvements and there are many more improvements now. "
- "We have added a trillion dollar economy in five years. We have set 10 goals. The first goal is to develop physical structure. Second- to deliver digital India to every sector of the economy. Third- green homeland and pollution free India Fourth - Emphasis on MSME, Startup, Defense, Auto and Health Sector Fifth- Water management and clean rivers Sixth- Blue Economy Seventh- Gaganajay and Chandrayaan Mission. Eighth- Foods. Ninth - Healthy society, Ayushman India and well-nurtured women - children 10th- People's participation, minimum government and maximum rule. "
Investment
- According to Sitharaman, "India needs to invest Rs 20 lakh crore every year. FDI should come in aviation, media animation and insurance. 100% FDI will be allowed in the area of insurance intermediates. "
- "Between 2018 and 2030, there is a need of 50 lakh crore investment in Railway Infrastructure. The PPP model will be used in the development of quick development and services related to passenger hire. "
- "In March 2019, the National Common Mobility Card was launched for transport in the country. This is the country's first indigenous payment system. Through this, people can pay a variety of transport charges. "
- "For all GST registered MSMEs on fresh or incremental loans, 2% of the grant is Rs. 350 crore. Has been provided. The retailers with turnover of 1.5 crores will be given pension under the Prime Minister's Karmayogi Monsoon Scheme. Under this, 30 million additional shopkeepers will get the benefit of pension. "
- "I propose to create a social stock exchange so that the enterprises and organizations working in the social welfare sector can collect capital. This stock exchange will work under SEBI. "
Village-poor
- The Finance Minister said, "Gandhiji had said that the soul of India lives in the villages. The origin of all our efforts is the spirit of Antodaya. We have kept the village-poor-farmers in the center of our plans. Except those who are not inclined, they will get electricity from each rural household. "
- "By 2022 we have set a target for everyone. 1.95 crore houses will be constructed from 2019-20 to 2022. They will have toilet, electricity and LPG connections. "
- "The goal of building per house has been 114 days instead of 314. 97% of the people will get roads in every season.
- "Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, 1.25 lakh km roads will be constructed in the next 5 years. 80250 crores will be spent on this. "
- "Electricity and domestic gas will reach every house by 2022."
- "Zero budget farming will be emphasized. Its purpose is to return to the basic methods of farming. This will accomplish the goal of doubling the income of the farmers. "
- '35 million LED bulbs were distributed under Ujala scheme. This amounted to around Rs 18,341 crore Has saved. These savings are annually. "
"The Ministry of Water Supply will work with the government on a water-live mission. Under this, water will be delivered to every rural household by 2024. "
Startups - Women-Travelers
- According to Sitharaman, the government will launch Study In India Scheme. Under this, foreign students will be given higher education in India. Five years ago, there was no Indian university in the top 200 universities of the world and now this list includes 3 universities of India.
- "Exclusive TV channel will be started for startups. Energy and Aspire plans will expand. "
- "Woman Tukaram Narayanani will be launched, Vivekananda said that the world can not be happy till then, the situation of women does not improve, a bird can not fly with a wing. The participation is a golden saga. I propose a committee, which should keep its suggestions on enhancing this partnership. "
- "Overseas Indians who hold Indian passports will be able to get their support in coming to India. They will not have to wait 180 days. "
- "In order to promote India's growing influence and leadership, the Indian Embassy and High Commission will be opened in some other countries. Four new embassies will be opened in 2019-20.
Banking
- Sitharaman said, "The women holding the Jan Dhan bank account will get Rs 5000. The facility of overdraft will be available. Records of Rs 4 lakh crore were recovered from IBC and other efforts. "
- "NPAs in commercial banks have dropped by more than one lakh crore rupees. During the last 4 years, recovery of 4 lakh crores has been done. Domestic credit growth has increased by 13.8%. 70 thousand crores will be given to increase the capital of the public sector banks.
- "Public sector banks will be given an additional 70 thousand crore rupees".
- "One woman working in the Self Help Group will get a loan of Rs 1 lakh under the money scheme."
- "NPAs in commercial banks have dropped by more than one lakh crore rupees. Domestic credit growth has increased by 13.8%. 70 thousand crores will be given to increase the capacities of public sector banks.
- "100 billion crores will be invested in infrastructure for the next 5 years."
- "New coins of two, five, ten, and twenty rupees were issued. Very soon it will be available to the people. "
- "Thank you for becoming a responsible citizen of the country. Foreign debt is below 5% against GDP, it is the lowest in the world. "
taxation
The Finance Minister said, "Direct tax collection has increased from 6.38 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 11.37 lakh crore in 2018-19. The increase has been 78%. "
- "Corporate tax is 25% for companies with turnover of Rs. 250 crore annually. Now companies with turnover of 400 crores will also be covered under 25% corporate tax. That is, 99.3% of companies will be within the scope of 25% corporate tax. Only 0.7% of companies will be out of this slab. "
- "If the loan has been taken to buy an electric vehicle, then on payment of interest it will get an additional rebate of Rs 1.5 lakh in income tax."
- "Income tax shall not be investigated in case of startup and fund mobilized by them."
On buying a home of up to 45 lakhs, additional interest of 1.50 lakhs on home loan has been tax free, i.e. tax of Rs 3.50 lakh will be tax deduction for tax. The first exemption limit was Rs. 2 lakhs. "This discount is for the house to be purchased by March 31, 2020.
- "More than 120 million people have Aadhar card. Those who do not have PAN, can fill income tax returns with Aadhar card.
- "To prevent the tendency of making business payments in cash, TDS will be 2% for withdrawing more than 10 million from a bank account in a year."
- "Surcharge will be increased to 7% for those earning between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, which will increase the surcharges for 3% and annual income of more than 5 crore rupees."
- "Companies with turnover of more than 50 million can offer low-cost mode of digital payment, so they or their customers will not have to pay any additional fee (MDR)."
- "Excise duty and road-infrastructure cess @ petrol-diesel will be charged at Rs 1-1 per liter. Custom duty on gold and precious gems will be increased from 10% to 12.5%. "
student
- "National Education Policy will be created to change the education system. World-class institutions will be set up from 400 crores.
- "Proposals for the formation of the National Research Foundation, through which the disputes of the departments will be settled. Research of national interest will be given priority. It will also be decided that the research could not be duplicated. "
Break the tradition and take a budget in the folder
- Sitharaman met President Ramnath Kovind before presenting the budget. Earlier, breaking the tradition, Sitharaman came out with a budget in place of a briefcase instead of a briefcase. So far, the finance minister used to reach Parliament in a briefcase only with a budget. Chief economic advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian said on the budget the budget said that it is an Indian tradition. It is a symbol of Western mentality coming out of slavery. You can call it a budget rather than a book.
- This is the first budget of Nirmala Sitharaman. After 49 years, a women's finance minister presented the budget. Prior to Nirmala Indira Gandhi presented the budget in 1970.
- From budget to budget, the
budget word is derived from the French word Bougget. It means - leather bag. The trend of budget briefcases started in the UK. In Britain, one minister handles the same budget briefcase to the other. While the Finance Ministers used different briefcases in India.
- In 1860, Britain's budget chief William Gladstone used red briefcases to keep the budget. The Queen's Monogram was installed on it. It was named Gladstone Box India's first budget was presented to the British Parliament on 18 February 1869 by James Wilson. Wilson was a finance member in India Council Traditionally, Wilson also took the budget documents into a leather bag (boget).
home, electricity-gas connection to every poor by 2022; Clean water to all by 2024
MMNN:5 July 2019
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first budget of the NDA-2 government on Friday. During this time, he said that there are villages, poor and farmers in the center point of government. Given this, the government prepares the plan. He said that the government's goal is that by 2022 all rural households will have their own house. Apart from this, by 2024 all have been targeted for clean water.
Sitharaman said, 1.95 crore houses will be built in the next five years. All the poor will have their own home till 2022. There will be gas-power connections and restrooms. He said that the initiative of the government is to bring about change in the life of the rural family. He said that under the Pradhanmantri Awas Yojana, average average time of 314 days was in construction of house, now the government has brought it to 114 days.
30 thousand km of road will be constructed under green technology: Sitharaman
He said, schemes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala and Flying are reducing the gap between rural and urban areas and improving transport services. Under Green Technology, 30 thousand km of road will be constructed. Apart from this, 1.25 lakh km roads will be constructed under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna at a cost of 80 thousand crore. For this, the government has imposed Road & Infrastructure Cess on petrol diesel.
'Every household will work with water' Mantra - Finance Minister
Sitharaman has said that under the Ministry of Water Resources constituted to deal with the water crisis, each house will be provided clean and adequate water by 2024. He said that for this purpose the government has created the Ministry of Water Power by adding all the water related ministries. This Ministry will work with the State Governments to work with the mission to provide water to every household.
"The goal of doubling the income of the farmers will be fulfilled
," said Sitharaman, "10 thousand new farmers' producing organizations will be built in the next 5 years. '' Zero budget farming will be emphasized. '' Its aim is to return to basic farming. The goal of doubling the income of farmers will be fulfilled, special emphasis has been placed on the self sufficiency and exports of foodgrains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables.
Government will spend Rs 100 lakh crore on infrastructure in 5 years, the difference between village-city will be less
MMNN:5 July 2019
new Delhi. The Modi government has stressed on improving the infrastructure in this budget. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the budget speech Friday that the central government will spend Rs 100 lakh crore on upgradation of infrastructure in the next five years. Infrastructure Projects work to reduce the gap between village and city in the country. Several provisions have been made for the development of roads, waterways, metro and railways in the budget.
Sitharaman said that we need to create employment from infrastructure, digital economy and small industries. Projects such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala and Flying improved considerably in Transport Infrastructure and the gap between the village-city decreased. In the second phase of the Bharatmala project, the State Governments will help in building roads. Foreign investment will be made in many development projects.
Infrastructure will accelerate in these areas
- Housing: The Finance Minister said that the Government has targeted the housing for all by 2022. 1.95 crore houses will be constructed from 2019-20 to 2022. These will provide toilet, electricity and LPG connections. The goal of preparing the house has been reduced from 314 to 114 days. "
- Street: build 1.25 million km of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana in the next five years to improve road connectivity to every village. 80 thousand 250 crores will be spent on this. 97% of the people will find the road in every season.
- Railways: This year the modernization of the stations will start. Between 2018 and 2030, there will be an investment of Rs 50 lakh crore in Railway Infrastructure. To increase connectivity, PPP models will develop development and services related to passenger hire. In 2018-19 300 km of metro line was approved. Now the metro lines will be laid in PPP models in smaller cities. The government will start the National Transport Card. It is easy to book tickets for railway and other transport resources.
- Waterway: The government will increase the traffic of cargo ship in the Ganges river in the next four years. The emphasis is on increasing the number of waterways in the country.
Former Governor Urjit Patel said - The Reserve Bank did not take action on the loan at the right time.
MMNN:4 July 2019
New Delhi
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered to deploy 100 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of Pulwama terror attack and prevailing threat perceptions in the state.
In a urgent communication to the J&K Chief Secretary and Director General of Police on Friday, the Ministry has informed the State Administration about the deployment.
Of the100 companies, 45 will be from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 35 from the Border Security Force whereas just 10 companies are from the Sashstra Seema Bal and Indo-Tibetan Boder Police (ITBP) each.
“MHA has taken the threat perception in the state seriously as the the Intelligence agencies have sent alerts indicating fresh attacks in the Valley”, a source in the Ministry said on condition of anonymity.
The security reviews of the state by the Home Ministry also prompted the Government to reinforce additional deployment, the source added.
The extra deployment has also been done in view of upcoming Lok Sabha Election in April and May.
After a series of security review meetings in MHA with all stakeholders in the security setup, need for deployments in sensitive areas was felt, another senior Government functionary told UNI
Opposition Rallies Against Modi Government At N Chandrababu Naidu's Fast
MMNN:11 February 2019
NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast demanding special status for his state on Monday became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who visited the protest venue to back him and attack the central government.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress's Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were among those who met the TDP chief to express their support.
The TDP president is demanding that the centre fulfil promises made during Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 and alleges that PM Modi was not following ''raj dharma'' by denying the state special status.
"The prime minister has stolen from the people from Andhra Pradesh and he has given that money to Anil Ambani. That is the fact of the matter," Mr Gandhi alleged at the protest venue Andhra Bhavan in an apparent reference to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.
The government and Anil Ambani have rejected Mr Gandhi's allegations of corruption in the deal.
Derek O'Brien recalled PM Modi's speech in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday and said he didn't talk about development or special category status but "started a personal attack".
"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others," he said.
The PM said in his rally that Mr Naidu was indeed a senior, but only in losing elections, switching alliances and ditching his father-in-law NT Rama Rao.
Lashing out at the prime minister, Omar Abdullah said, "Modi has stooped so low, he's making personal attacks against Naidu, who is doing a great service to the country."
"The Jammu-Srinagar highway is closed for six days. They cannot clear the 30km road, but they want to rule the country," he added.
Adding his voice to the chorus of criticism, Mr Memon alleged that the central government was meting out step motherly treatment to the state and the BJP was attacking Mr Naidu because he has taken the lead in uniting rival parties against it.
"We will show the BJP its place in the elections. I assure you on behalf of Sharad Pawar ji," Mr Memon stated.
Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was not well but had come to show endorse Mr Naidu's stand.
"Naidu is fighting the battle for the poor, the farmers and all those who are oppressed," he added.
Stating that Mr Naidu was fighting for a just cause, DMK leader Siva said the Modi government would be ousted in three months.
"The powers of the state are being encroached upon...the rights of the minorities are being violated."
The TDP had walked out the BJP-led NDA last year protesting the "injustice" done to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation.
Mr Naidu's ''Dharma Porata Deeksha'' (a day-long protest for justice), which began at 8 am, is likely to end at around 8 pm. He will also submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind on February 12.
Mr Naidu paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and also to the Ambedkar Statue at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan before sitting on the hunger strike.
Money laundering case: Vadra appears before ED for 3rd time
MMNN:9 February 2019
New Delhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra on Saturday appeared before Enforcement Directorate for the third time in connection with a probe into allegations of money laundering in purchase of foreign assets.Mr Vadra reached probe agency’s office at Jamnagar House around 10:50 hrs.
The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property located at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million GBP (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him.He was questioned by the probe agency on February 6 and 7 for several hours.
During his last round of questioning on February 7, the investigating team has shown him some property documents and exchange of electronic mail which indicated that he owns the property in London, a reliable source in the agency said on condition of anonymity.
However, he denied having any link with the property in question, the source further said.His statement would be recorded under section 50 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as it was done on last two occasions.
Vadra is also expected to depose before the ED on February 12 in Jaipur in an another money-laundering case related to a land scam in Bikaner. The Rajasthan High Court has directed him to cooperate with the agency in the case.
He was granted interim bail till February 16 by a Delhi Court.
Rafale row: Oppn slam Govt, Nirmala Sitharaman dismisses charge
MMNN:8 February 2019
New Delhi, A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended good wishes to all Opposition parties for ‘healthy competition’ during fast approaching Parliamentary elections, the BJP-led NDA regime and the opposition parties clashed in the Lok Sabha fiercely on Friday over the Rafale aircraft deal.
While Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the slogan shouting Congress members and others that they were only “flogging a dead horse”, Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the ruling side of being ‘desh drohi’ (harming national interests).
The issue figured prominently during Question Hour and later during Zero Hour with Congress members led by Gaurav Gogoi among others trooping into the well and demanding that a JPC should be formed at the earliest.
Members from opposition parties Congress, Trinamool Congress and TDP tried to show a unity of purpose and repeatedly raised anti-government slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially.
Opposition members Gogoi, Sushmita Dev, Rajiv Satav (all Congress), Prasun Banerjee, Arpita Ghosh, Kalyan Banerjee and Saugata Roy (all Trinamool) and Ashok Gajapathi Raju (TDP) carried placards displaying reports in a section of media that claimed that a senior Defence ministry official had objected to ‘interference’ from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mr Kharge and Trinamool member Roy said media reports have suggested that the PMO and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had especially interfered into the working of the Defence Ministry and even a senior bureaucrat had objected to the same.
Citing internal noting in the government, Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress said PMO officials and Mr Doval was “having parallel parleys with officials of French government” on Rafale. He said the senior official had objected that PMO’s interference had “weakened the negotiating position of the Ministry of Defence”.
Mr Kharge said what has been reported in a leading daily was ‘not a small matter’ and it related to national security.
“Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, we in the Congress are trying to weaken Air Force and that we are working against national interests, instead it is you who are being ‘desh drohi (working against national interests),” Mr Kharge told the agitated BJP members.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said when everything has been discussed and Supreme Court has also given a ruling, what was the justification in raising the same issue time and again and disturb the proceedings of the House.
Amid anti-government slogans from the opposition members, responding to the members, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the opposition leaders and also a section of media were only “flogging a dead horse”.
The Minister said during the debate on Rafale on January 4 during Winter Session, she had already answered to all queries and controversies on the Rafale deal with France.
Moreover, she said the media report smacks of motivation as it did not include in the report the noting from the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who had said categorically that there was “nothing wrong and everything was on right track”.
She said the newspaper should have published Mr Parrikar’s response to the noting where he had asked the officer concerned to remain ‘calm’.
“The routine queries on any matter from the Prime Minister’s Office should not be taken as interference….,” she said adding if that was the case, what was Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) doing during the UPA dispensation.
“The NAC was virtually running the PMO,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar also said that it was not in the fitness of things that opposition parties should raise an issue in Parliament based on media reports.
“On Rafale, we have detailed debate in the House and still the opposition members are raising the issue and disturbing the proceedings of the House when we are to take up the Budget…This is not proper,” he said.
BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma demands actions against AAP regime
MMNN:6 February 2019
New Delhi, BJP member from West Delhi Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma has raised the issue of alleged panic being created among the electorate by the Arvind Kejriwal government in the capital that their names have been ‘deleted’ from the voters’ list and said such a regime should be dismissed for spreading falsehood.
“Telephone calls are being made by the Delhi government and voters are being told that their names have been deleted….They have tried to spread that around 30 lakh names were missing on voters’ list, but if we go to the Election Commission’s website we don’t find anything like that,” Mr Verma said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
“Jo Arvind Kejriwalji kah rahen haen, ki Delhi key 30 lakh vote ke naam cut diye gayen, woh aisa kaisa kah sakten haen (How can the Chief Minister Kejriwal say that names of 30 lakh Delhi voters have been deleten),” the West Delhi representative said.
Mr Verma alleged that the Delhi Education Department has collected telephone numbers of parents of school students and are “misusing” the numbers for political purpose and spreading falsehood.
“The hubs from where the calls are made to parents should be raided. There has to be an FIR, and such a government should be dismissed forthwith,” he demanded.
In Mamata Banerjee vs CBI, BJP Brings Up A Red Diary, Pen Drive
MMNN:4 February 2019
NEW DELHI: What is Mamata Banerjee scared of, the ruling BJP questioned today as it clashed with the Bengal Chief Minister, who has launched a sit-in protest over an investigation into two chit fund scams allegedly involving members of her Trinamool Congress party. The confrontation between the BJP and Bengal's ruling party flared up on Sunday after a CBI team that wanted to question Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar was taken to a police station and detained for hours before they were released.
"Is Mamata Banerjee trying to protect herself? Why is she running way from the inquiry," asked Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
A furious Mamata Banerjee had last evening accused the centre of sending CBI officers after "one of the best officers in the world, someone who's integrity, bravery and honesty are unquestioned."
Rajeev Kumar had headed a special probe into the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams in which thousands of small investors were cheated of their money.
The CBI says that he had ignored multiple summons over the past two years and that the agency wanted to ask him about missing evidence.
"Is it to hide evidence, the chit fund scamster in his testimony said there is one red diary. There is a diary and a pendrive," Prakash Javadekar said.
The senior BJP leader also pointed out that it was not his party but Rahul Gandhi's Congress that had filed a petition in the Supreme Court asking for an investigation into the chit fund scams.
The constitutional mechanism, he said, had clearly failed.
The BJP also took potshots at Rahul Gandhi for his tweet expressing support for Mamata Banerjee last evening. "Diagnosed: Multiple Personality Disorder is characterized by at least two distinct and enduring personality states - there is trouble remembering certain events, beyond ordinary forgetfulness. These states alternately show in person's behavior. Get well soon, Rahul ji," the BJP tweeted
Interim Budget 2019-20: Goyal highlights Modi govt’s initiatives & progs
MMNN:2 February 2019
New Delhi, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday presented his maiden interim budget in the Lok Sabha highlighting initiatives and schemes of the BJP government for the common man of the country.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment against tax defaulters, Mr Goyal said almost Rs 3 lakh crore has already been recovered in favour of banks and creditors.
On Inflation, Mr Goyal said, “It is a hidden and unfair tax; from 10.1 per cent during 2009-14, we have broken the back of back-breaking inflation.”
“Current account deficit is expected to be 2.5 per cent this year,” said Mr Goyal.
“While inflation in December 2018 was 2.1 per cent. Fiscal deficit has been brought down to 3.4 per cent in the revised estimate of 2018-19,” he said. He also added that the government has initiated efforts to bring full representation for economically weak backward classes, by giving them reservation in jobs and education.
The Minister lauded government’s decision to increase MSP by 1.5 times the production cost for all 22 crops for the welfare of farmers and for doubling their income.
Also, to provide assured income support for small and marginal farmers, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has been approved.He said, “Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, 6,000 rupees per year for each farmer, in three instalments, to be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts, for farmers with less than 2 hectares landholding.”
This initiative will benefit 12 crore small and marginal farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs 75,000 crore.”Instead of rescheduling of crop loans, the farmers severely affected by natural calamities will get 2 per cent interest subvention and additional 3 per cent interest subvention upon timely repayment,” he added further.
Budget 2019: 12 Crore Farmers to Get Rs 500 Per Month Directly in Bank Accounts
MMNN:1 February 2019
New Delhi: Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in his budget speech today announced the plan of the government to provide an assisted income support to small and marginal farmers under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN).
Under the scheme a direct transfer of Rs 6,000 per year will be made to the bank accounts of farmers owning less than two hectares of land, Goyal told the parliament today.
"Farmers earlier did not get full cost for their produce. Farmers income has reduced over the years. Income support to farmers small and marginal farmers Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) has been approved. Famers having 2 hectares and less will be provided with Rs 6000 per annum directly into their accounts," Goyal said.
The amount will be directly transferred to the accounts of farmers in three equal installments.
According to the Agriculture Survey, the small and marginal holdings taken together (0.00-2.00 hectare) constituted 86.21 per cent in 2015-16 against 84.97 per cent in 2010-11 while their share in the operated area stood 47.34 per cent in the current census as against 44.31 per cent in 2010-11.
The programme, the FM said, will be funded 100 per cent by the Central government and the government estimates 12 crore farmer families to be directly impacted by the scheme. The estimated expenditure under the scheme will come around Rs 75,000 crores every year completely borne by the Centre. Rs 20,000 crore will be spent in this financial year, Goyal claimed.
Earlier this week on Monday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi promised to implement a nationwide minimum income for the poor if the Congress is voted to power in May this year.
"Assured supplemental income would also meet their (farmers') essential needs before the sowing season and would enable them to live a respectable life," FM Goyal said in his speech.
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar assumes charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff
MMNN:30 January 2019
New Delhi, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar has assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy said on Wednesday. An alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravathi Nagar and National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, Pune, he was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on July 1, 1982, it added.
The Admiral has held various challenging Staff and Command assignments during his distinguished naval career spanning more than three decades.
After having completed his specialisation in Navigation and Direction at Kochi in 1989, he served as the Navigating Officer of Indian Naval Ships Beas, Nilgiri, Ranvir and Vikrant.
His other sea tenures include Commanding Officer of INS Kulish and Ranvir, and Executive Officer onboard INS Brahmaputra.
Among his shore tenures, the important ones include Staff officer (Ops/ND) at Indian Naval Work-up team, Head of Training Team (Navy) at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India in Singapore and the Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command.
On promotion to Flag rank, he has held the important assignments of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Chief of Staff (COS) of Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat (FOMAG). In the rank of Vice Admiral he has been the Commandant of the National Defence Academy and the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
He graduated from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has attended the Army Higher Command Course at Mhow as well as the Expeditionary Operations Course at Quantico, Virginia, USA.
Former Defence Minister George Fernandes dies at 88
MMNN:29 January 2019
New Delhi, Former Defence Minister and veteran socialist leader George Fernandes passed away here on Tuesday.He was 88. He had been suffering from swine flu for the last few days.
A veteran Parliamentarian who was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1967, Mr Fernandes served several times as a Union Cabinet Minister, holding portfolios such as communications, industry, and railways, besides defence.He had represented Muzaffarpur and Nalanda from Bihar in Lok Sabha.
In a Tweet, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy expressed grief and said, “Very sad to hear about George Fernandes’ demise. He was a very good friend in his later years. Earlier we had ideological. differences due to his being socialist and I for market based economy but we were united in opposing TDK and residual Nehru family.”
He was the icon during the emergency, imposed by Indira Gandhi.
Param Dharam Sansad will announce date of Ram temple construction: Swarupanand
MMNN:24 January 2019
Prayagraj, Dwarka Sharda Peth Shankaracharya Swami Swarupanand Saraswati has announced that the Param Dharam Sansad would be organised in the Kumbh from January 28 to30, where the date for the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya would be announced.
The Param Dharam Sansad convened by Swami Swarupanand Saraswati would be a separate one that had been announced by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), also to be held in Kumbh on January 31 and February 1.
“I had already said about the possible date to commence the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and in the Param Dharam Sansad it would be ratified by the sadhus and saints,” he told mediapersons here on Thursday.
The monk who is opposed to the saffron brigade also questioned about the construction of a statue of Lord Ram at Ayodhya.
“Eminent persons are remembered by construction of huge statues but how can statues be made of the God?” he asked.
PM inaugurates Subhas Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort
MMNN:23 January 2019
New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Subhas Chandra Bose museum at the Red Fort.The PM unveiled the plaque to inaugurate the Museum on the Netaji and Indian National Army (INA).
The museum provides a detailed account of the freedom fighter and the history of Indian National Army. It also showcases various artefacts related to the revolutionary leader and the INA. The artefacts include wooden chair and sword used by the Netaji, besides medals and badges, uniforms and other artefacts related to INA.
Mr Modi also visited the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum, (museum on Jallianwala Bagh and World War I). He also visited the Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence and Drishyakala- Museum on Indian Art at Red Fort, New Delhi.
The PM had laid the foundation stone for the museum on October 21, 2018. It marked the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Azad Hind Government, formed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Holding aloft the values of freedom, Mr Modi hoisted the National Flag at Red Fort, to commemorate the occasion.
An award in the name of the Netaji was announced by the PM to honour those involved in disaster response operations. The occasion was the dedication of National Police Memorial to the nation, on October 21, 2018.
The values and ideals of the freedom fighter and INA were once again brought to the fore by PM in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, on December 30, 2018. He released a commemorative postal stamp, coin, and First Day Cover, to mark the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of Tricolour on Indian soil by the revolutionary leader. He recalled how on Netaji’s call, many youths from the Andaman had dedicated themselves to the freedom of India.
The flag on the 150 feet high mast is an attempt to preserve the memory of the day in 1943, when Netaji unfurled the tricolour. As a mark of respect to Netaji , Ross Island had been named as ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep’.
Earlier, in October 2015, family members of the Netaji Subhas had met PM and requested for declassification of the files relating to Netaji, available with the Union Government. Digital copies of 100 Netaji Files were released by the PM in January 2018 in public domain at National Archives of India.
The Yaad-e-Jallian Museum provides an authentic account of Jallianwala Bagh massacre that happened on April 13, 1919. The museum will also showcase the heroism, valour and sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during World War-1.
The Museum on 1857- India’s first war of Independence portrays the historical narrative of the 1857 war of Independence, showcasing the valour and sacrifices made by Indians during the period. The Drishyakala- Exhibition on Indian Art showcases Indian art works from 16th century till India’s Independence.
Ahead of the Republic Day, Mr Modi’s visit to these museums is a tribute to the memory of brave freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the nation.
PM Modi to address Brigade rally after poll schedule announcement
MMNN:22 January 2019
New Delhi/Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the BJP rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata after the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule.The BJP high command has informed the Bengal party unit about the revision of the PM’s rally at the Brigade.
Earlier Mr Modi was supposed to address the rally on February 8. According to BJP Bengal President Dilip Ghosh, the Prime Minister will address a rally at Asansol on the same date.
Mr Ghosh, further informed that PM Modi will also address two rallies -one on January 28 in Siliguri and the other in Thakurnagar either on January 31 or on February 2.
“The party high command has directed us to arrange rallies in the districts to be addressed by Mr Modi and party president Amit Shah before the proposed Brigade rally. It is also not possible to arrange the mega rally at the Brigade within such a short time,” Mr Ghosh maintained.
Mr Amit Shah will flag off a party rally on Tuesday from Malda and another from Jhargram on Wednesday. He will also address three other rallies from Suri, Jainagar and Krishnanagar during his ongoing visit to Bengal.
Informatively, on January 19, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had organised a ‘Grand Alliance rally’ of the opposition leader at the Brigade Parade Ground to give a clarion call to oust the Narendra Modi government at the Centre
Union Ministers flay Congress leader Hariprasad’s remarks on Amit Shah
MMNN:18 January 2019
New Delhi, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Rajyavardhan Rathore on Thursday castigated Congress leader B K Hariprasad for his ‘cheap statements’ on BJP president Amit Shah falling ill ‘which show the frustration of Congress leadership’.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Goyal said the cheap and disgusting comment of B K Hariprasad on Mr Shah’s health shows the level of the Congress. ‘There is cure for flu but there is no cure for mental disease from which the Congress leaders are suffering from,’ he said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Rathore in his missive said, ‘Sad but not surprised to see Congress leaders completely abandon decency and dignity.
‘Such cheap statements show the frustration of Congress leadership.’
Health Minister J P Nadda also condemned the comment, saying these reflect the Congress mentality.
Prez reaches Prayagraj to worship at Sangam in Kumbh Mela
MMNN:17 January 2019
Prayagraj, President Ram Nath Kovind, reached the Sangam city on Thursday morning to worship at the Kumbh Mela here. UP governor Ram Naik, chief minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the President at the airport and they left for the Kumbh Mela immediately.
During his brief visit to Prayagraj, the President will inaugurate the Gandhian Resurgence Summit in the Kumbh Mela area and unveil the statue of Bharadwaj Muni , officials here said.
The Gandhian Resurgence Summit is being organised by the Parmarath Niketan, the Harijan Sevak Sangh and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance.
During his over three hours stay, the President will worship at the Sangam and meet the prominent sadhus and saints.He is expected to return to New Delhi in the afternoon.
Make Details Of Meeting On Ex-CBI Chief Public: Mallikarjun Kharge to PM
MMNN:15 January 2019
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to bring in the public domain key documents related to sacked CBI chief Alok Verma, including the Central Vigilance Commission report and the details of the Selection Committee meeting on January 10 that led to the controversial ouster.
"The actions of the government... indicate that it is scared of having the CBI headed by an independent director," said the Congress parliamentarian, saying the government should "come clean" by releasing these reports so the "public can draw its own conclusion".
Mallikarjun Kharge represented the opposition in the three-member Selection Committee, in which the votes of PM Modi and Justice AK Sikri decided Alok Verma's removal as Director of the CBI or Central Bureau of Investigation.
Mr Kharge had put up a dissenting note in which he cited the Vigilance report, which said there was no evidence of the main corruption allegations against Alok Verma. That is the report he wants to be made public, along with one by Justice AK Patnaik, who monitored the vigilance probe.
"Despite my best efforts to convince the members of the committee that we should be following the due process of law and the principles of natural justice, the members chose to take a decision based on the report that now stands disowned by Justice Patnaik," Mr Kharge has said in his letter to PM Modi.
The Congress leader said the media had widely reported that Justice Patnaik had said "there was no evidence of corruption against Verma" and "what the CVC says cannot be the final work" and termed the action of the committee "very, very hasty".
"Such huge embarrassment could have been avoided if the committee had decided to independently examine the report of the CVC, the report of Justice Patnaik, the submissions of Alok Verma in his defence and draw its own conclusions before reaching a decision," said Mr Kharge.
He said it was unfortunate that the "manipulative actions of the government" were directly responsible for causing "deep embarrassment to the judiciary", adding that a member of the judiciary had been forced to defend the decision.
The government, alleged the Congress leader, seemed to be worried about something and in a tearing hurry to dispose a man from his office. "An irrational decision was taken to transfer Alok Verma as Director General Fire Services even after his superannuation."
Mr Kharge said both Mr Verma's removal and the appointment of an interim CBI chief were illegal.
He said the government must call an immediate meeting of the Selection Committee to appoint a director without delay.
PM to get first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award
MMNN:14 January 2019
New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award, at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, here. The award, offered annually to the leader of a nation, focusses on the triple bottom-line of people, profit and planet.
The Award Citation says, “Shri Narendra Modi is selected for his outstanding leadership for the nation. His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country.”
‘Under his leadership, India is now identified as the Centre for Innovation and Value Added Manufacturing (Make in India), as well as a global hub for professional services such as Information Technology, Accounting and Finance,’ the Citation added.
‘Mr Modi’s visionary leadership has also resulted in the Digital Revolution (Digital India), including the Unique Identification Number, Aadhaar, for social benefits and financial inclusion. It is enabling entrepreneurship, ease of doing business, and creating a 21st century infrastructure for India,’ the citation mentioned.
The Citation mentioned initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat, “which have positioned India as one of the most lucrative manufacturing and business destinations in the world.”
Prof Philip Kotler is a world renowned Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Owing to his ill-health, he deputed Dr Jagdish Sheth of Emory University, Georgia, USA, will confer the award, according to a release here on Monday.
India would have achieved many milestones had Vajpayee returned to power in 2004: PM Modi
MMNN:12 January 2019
New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress-led UPA had wasted 10 years between 2004 and 2014 and asserted that the NDA regime has proved that a government can be run which will not be afflicted with the charge of corruption.
“Congress-led regime had wasted 10 years between 2004 and 2014. I have said the country’s history would have been different if Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had become Prime Minister. Similarly, India would have achieved many milestones had Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned to power in 2004,” Prime Minister said addressing the concluding session of BJP’s two-day National Convention here.
He said the NDA regime in last four and half years has proved that the country’s ‘self confidence’ lost during Congress regime has been regained.
“There is a neo confidence. Every man and woman now wants to contribute in nation building. They have faith that tax they are paying are now being used effectively and sincerely,” Mr Modi said.
The NDA rule has also established that a government can be be run which has not been afflicted with the charge of corruption, Prime Minister said.
“No corruption charge has stuck on us,” he said making an obvious reference to Congress party’s attempts to bring in corruption charge against the Prime Minister on Rafale aircraft deal row.
In his first public speech after the Parliament nod to 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections, Prime Minister said this latest initiative is a gift to youth of India and also ensures justice to everyone.
“This new affirmative action will not deprive any community of their existing privileges. I know there will be attempts in certain quarters to mislead people on this,” he said adding the party workers should be also alert about such machinations.
The government has been working hard to help improve the conditions of the farmers, Prime Minister.”Those who were responsible for working for farmers, had made Anna-data — just vote bank (Mat-data),” he said castigating Congress party’s “shortcut” policies.
“But we are working hard on a long term method to bring a lasting and long term solution to problems of the farmers,” Prime Minister said.
Our fight is against financial mismanagement, malnutrition, declining job opportunities and diminishing investments
MMNN:11 January 2019
Bhopal, Madam Governor has highlighted that ‘How the government of all of us will shape the future of the state’. I believe that there are many challenges before us in the economic context, but Madhya Pradesh is the name of transforming challenges into opportunities. We will walk on this harsh path with careful steps.
We know that if we do not take lessons from the past 15 years of history, then future will never forgive us. We believe that the works done are themselves a source of publicity, so we should avoid making blank announcements and focus only on our work.
The citizens of Madhya Pradesh have chosen the new government for change. These changes are for good governance. In the last 24 days, the footsteps of change are becoming audible. We want to remove ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ from the government to establish the sense of ‘Our government’. Now every citizen can proudly say, ‘I am also the government’. We want to delegate the command of power to the citizens of the state in true sense.
Believe it but whenever power is ‘person-oriented, democracy gets damaged. It should have a sense of collectivity. Democracy has set the responsibilities of all, the ruling party, opposition and public. We believe that the government should work properly and for this, the opposition must be strong and responsible.
I want to make it clear that our fight is not against the opposition. Together we will fight our battle against economic downturn, malnutrition, crime, decreasing employment opportunities and lessening industrial investment in Madhya Pradesh and we will succeed. Health, education and infrastructure are also our priority.
Our farmer brethren have to overcome their difficulties. Loan waiver is not a permanent solution. They do not have very big expectations. We have to ensure that they get the value of their crops which they want.
Daughters are a form of Devi in the Bharatiya Sanatan Sanskriti. We take inspiration from them. Should we allow them to be tormented today? Not at all. We are taking steps for their empowerment. We are fulfilling the duty of a father by giving them Rs 51 thousand when they leave for their home. When daughters are happy, progress too smiles.
The bright future of the state lies in the youth. If opportunities are provided to them, then we will climb the steps to progress. This is possible only when there is investment in Madhya Pradesh and this cannot be attracted through big events only. We need to take big steps, we will have to remove red tapism and spread a red carpet instead.
Be it a Gaushala for the holy cow, be it the Vangaman Path of Lord Rama or the incessant flow of classical rivers like Narmada we will work with complete commitment towards the manifesto.
We can proudly say that Madhya Pradesh is the state which houses maximum number of tribal brethren and they give full support in the development of the state. Now it is our turn to support them, to return their happiness. We will join hands with Scheduled Caste, General y and every category to move ahead. We all will talk collectively for the change only and change only for good governance.’
Won't Allow Gay Sex In The Army, Says Chief General Rawat
MMNN:10 January 2019
Gay sex will not be allowed in the Indian Army, its chief General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday when asked to comment on the Supreme Court decriminalizing homosexuality.
"We will not allow this to happen in the Army," said General Rawat, addressing his annual press conference. He said the Indian army has its own laws on homosexuality.
"We are not above the country's law but when you join the Indian Army, some of the rights and privileges you enjoy are not what we have. Some things are different for us," he said.
A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court last September unanimously decriminalised a part of a colonial-era law under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which banned "consensual unnatural sex", saying it violated the rights to equality.
When asked about the Supreme Court ruling on adultery, he said the Army is "very conservative".
"We can't allow it to perpetrate into the Army," he said.
The court had struck down the anti-adultery law, saying it was unconstitutional and dented the individuality of women and treated them as "chattel of husbands".
SC reinstates Alok Verma as CBI director but with rider
MMNN:8 January 2019
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the Central Government’s order divesting Alok Verma’s powers as CBI Director and sending him on leave.
The Top Court said a select committee, comprising the Prime Minister, the CJI and the Leader of Opposition will decide on the action, if any, against Mr Verma.The Court said the meeting of the select committee would be convened within a week.
A division bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, ordered Verma not to take any major policy decision with regard to the functioning of CBI on his resuming as the agency’s Director.
Justice Kaul passed the order, as CJI Ranjan Gogoi is on leave today.
BJP fires ‘Eurofighter missile’ at Congress, Rahul: Says Michel was pushing Rafale’s ‘rival’ firm
MMNN:7 January 2019
New Delhi,After months of one-upmanship between the Congress and the government on Rafale deal, the BJP on Monday virtually fired ‘Eurofighter missile’ at the Congress President Rahul Gandhi and accused that all talks about Rafale is nothing but aimed at serving the ‘commercial interests’ of Rafale’s rival company.
“The entire bogey of falsehood campaign against Rafale is now clear ….it is accentuated by extraneous considerations,” BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here in reference to media reports alleging that the AgustaWestland scam middleman Christian Michel was also lobbying for the Eurofighter to win the same deal for 126 jets.
The reports claimed that Michel and an associate had prepared a ‘strategy paper’ to reach out to an influential ‘political navigator’ and Indian Air Force officials to tilt the contract in favour of Eurofighter.
The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium, according to company website, brings together the brightest minds in European aerospace in order to create a world class weapon system.
It is built on the strength of four European nations: UK; Germany; Italy and Spain, and their leading aerospace and defence companies, the website says.
The Law Minister Mr Prasad said: “The available documents in public domain raise serious suspicious circumstances of the intention of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party”.
“It is too well known that the Congress party has never been happy unless there is a deal in a defence deal,” he said eloquently and cited instances of various defence scams including Bofors, submarine and AgustaWestland chopper.
However, he said now in the case of Rafale row – and persistent allegation of corruption against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP -, he said, “…..it is evident that there was a close proximity of the middleman who were pushing the case of Eurofighter in contrast to Rafale”.
“In this light the entire bogey of falsehood, entire campaign of canard unleashed by Rahul Gandhi in particular and the Congress party is completely false and based upon pure commercial competition interest,” Mr Prasad alleged.
On the same issue, earlier in the day Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also had tweeted saying: “BIG: Agusta middleman Christian Michel was lobbying for Eurofighter against Rafale! Is this why Congress has been spreading misinformation on the Rafale issue?”.
Akhilesh Yadav Meets Mayawati, No Congress In UP Grand Alliance: Sources
MMNN:5 January 2019
Once bitter rivals and now allies in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party boss Mayawati met in Delhi on Friday to discuss a mahagathbandhan or grand alliance to take on the BJP in the heartland state. The two leaders, both upset with the Congress, do not want it as part of their alliance, sources said.
The alliance, say sources, will have room for smaller parties. The final decision on seat-sharing will be taken after January 15, sources said, adding Chaudhary Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD is likely to get three seats in the grand alliance.
Even though the Congress will be kept out of the coalition, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati do not intend to field any candidate in Amethi and Raebareli - the stronghold of the Gandhis, sources added.
Akhilesh Yadav had last week indicated at payback when his party's only lawmaker in Madhya Pradesh did not make it to new Chief Minister Kamal Nath's list of ministers. The Congress, he said, had gone back on its promise to do so, despite his party's role in helping the Congress reach the majority mark.
"Thanks to the Congress, they did not make our vidhayak (legislator) a minister," Akhilesh Yadav had told reporters last week. By doing so, the Congress had "cleared the path for Uttar Pradesh," he had said.
Mayawati, after ruling out a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, had reluctantly extended support to the party after the recent round of assembly elections to keep the BJP out of power in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress fell a whisker short of majority.
Earlier this week, she said she would "reconsider" her support if the cases filed in the two states against the "innocent" during April's all-India strike by Scheduled Castes are not withdrawn. The Congress, she said, should not work like the BJP, which did not keep its promises.
Amid the hints dropped by the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, the Congress had last week said it was open to an alliance in UP with any party that wants to "free" the people from BJP rule.
The BJP and its allies had won 73 of the 80 seats in the last general elections in Uttar Pradesh, but lost Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls to Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav last year.
Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are expected to meet again next week, sources said.
19 AIADMK, TDP members suspended for 4 days for creating disruption in LS
MMNN:3 January 2019
New Delhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday named and suspended 19 AIADMK and TDP members from attending the proceedings of the House for four days for creating uproar over Cauvery issue and Special Category status demand for Andhra Pradesh.
As soon as the House reassembled at 1200 hrs after the first adjournment, the AIADMK and TDP members rushed into the well of the House and continued with their protest.
The Speaker repeatedly warned the AIADMK and TDP members not to create uproar in the House, but the agitated members of both the parties continued to create ruckus in the House. The agitated AIADMK members also flung papers in the air in the House.
Taking the name of the AIADMK and TDP members who were creating ruckus in the House, the Speaker said they are repeatedly violating the rules and are deliberately creating disruptions in the proceedings of the House.
The Speaker said, ‘ I am constrained to name you under the rule 374 A.’
She said after taking name in such manner, under the rule 374 A, the members themselves are suspended from the proceedings of the House for four days.
The 19 AIADMK and TDP members who were named by the Speaker includes –Maganti Murali Mohan Jayadev Galla, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao and C Gopalakrishnan.
The Speaker then adjourned the House till 14:00 hours.
Earlier, the continued bedlam in the Lok Sabha over issues including Special Category Status demand for Andhra Pradesh and plight of the people in Cauvery Delta forced the Chair to adjourn the House till 12 noon.
As soon as the proceedings of the Question Hour commenced, AIADMK members and TDP members, including Jayadev Galla, and Ashok Gajapathi Raju, entered the Well, carrying placards and started slogan shouting.
AIADMK members raised the issue of construction of dam across river Cauvery while the TDP was demanding special railway zone among other issues.
Ms Mahajan on Wednesday named and suspended 25 AIADMK members from attending the proceedings of the House for five days for creating uproar over Cauvery issue.
Rahul brings ‘Rafale audio tape’, initiates discussions on aircraft deal
MMNN:2 January 2019
New Delhi, Lok Sabha had to be adjourned abruptly for about 10 minutes after Congress president Rahul Gandhi wanted to play ‘audio tape’ on Rafale on Wednesday.
Initiating a discussion on Rafale in the Lok Sabha under Rule 193, and as expected, Mr Gandhi directed his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government over the deal with France.
Amid din and chaos due to uproad by sloganeering AIADMK members, Mr Gandhi said essentially the Rafale controversy rests on three pillars of pricing, process and patronage.
He changed the pricing of the aircraft was changed by the Modi government and it shot up indiscriminately from what was finalised by the erstwhile Rs 526 crore.
Mr Gandhi also said the AIADMK protests was only to shield the Prime Minister.He alleged a private company was favoured denying opportunities for the state-run HAL.
Hardly within 20-24 minutes of proceedings after 1400 hours, the House had to be adjourned as Mr Gandhi wanted to play an ‘audio tape’ on Rafale.
Mr Gandhi sought Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s permission to play it and as he was asked by the treasury bench including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said he will not authenticate it.”Because, he knows this is not true, he is not authenticating it,” Finance Minister said amid din.
“This man is telling falsehood repeatedly,” said Mr Jaitley and maintained the French government had to issue a denial of his statement last time.
Mr Gandhi, however, said, the ruling side was ‘terrified’ by the content in the tape.
Speaker adjourned the House for about 10 minutes.
Rahul hoists party flag on Congress foundation day
MMNN:29 December 2018
New Delhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday hoisted the party flag on the occasion of its 134th foundation day.
Rahul hoisted the flag at the AICC headquarters in presence of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, senior Congress leaders Motilal Vora, Ghulam Nabi Azad, A K Antony and other’s including party’s workers.
The hoisting of flag was followed by playing Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.On the occasion, Mr Gandhi also cut a cake to celebrate the day.
LS adopts resolution to impose Prez’s rule in J&K
MMNN:28 December 2018
New Delhi, Lok Sabha on Friday adopted a statutory resolution, approving the proclamation issued by the President on December 19 imposing President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh moved the resolution stating, ‘That this House approves the Proclamation issued by the President on 19th December, 2018 under article 356 on the Constitution of India in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.’
The resolution was passed in the House by voice vote.Later, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed members to express their views on it, observing that the issue was important. ‘ As a special case, I will alow members to speak on the issue,’ she said. She said the Home Minister will give his reply after the members speak on the issue.
The proclamation of December 19 said the President “is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India, as applicable to the state.” It said the powers of the state legislature shall be under the “authority of Parliament”.
PAC shocked by failure of Health Ministry to complete 6 AIIMS projects Jayant Sinha
MMNN:27 December 2018
New Delhi, The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has noted with dismay that the approval for establishment of the six new All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh was granted by the government in March 2006 for completion by March, 2009 but none of the works, except those relating to residential complexes, had commenced within the period.
It was aghast to note that the Health and Family Welfare Ministry had miserably failed to ensure completion of projects within 18 months from the commencement of work.
The Committee was perturbed to note that state Project Monitoring Committees, formed to monitor the progress of the new AIIMS, had not been constituted for the two new AIIMS at Raipur and Rishikesh. The stipulated meetings were not held in the rest of the four AIIMS.
Tabled in Parliament recently, the report said that it was surprised to note that the target dates were not achieved in any of the new AIIMS with delays ranging from four to five years even after the completion of second deadline.
It noted with displeasure that 1,381 items of equipment with estimated cost of Rs 454 crore out of the total procurement orders for 5,834 equipment amounting to Rs 791 crore remain undelivered as on March 31, 2017 with delays up to 25 months.
The 22-member Committee is chaired by Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and has 15 members from the Lower House and seven from the Upper House.
It also noted that the delays were due to non-readiness of site, non-acceptance of equipment by the institutes, reluctance on the part of vendors to make supplies due to delay in issue of delivery receipts certificate and submission of invoices and individual AIIMS have different status of progress of those civil works and recruitment and the vendors were requested to deliver the equipment at a later date so as to synchronise with site readiness and manpower availability in the six new AIIMS.
The PAC was dismayed to observe non-installation of equipment resulted in delays in operationalisation of the critical healthcare facilities and deprived patients of diagnostic benefits. It desired the Ministry to urgently take steps for prompt and timely administrative action and effective monitoring in the procurement process of the state-of-the-art equipment for early delivery and apprise them of the action initiated in this regard.
It recommended Health and Family Welfare Ministry to do a survey of all existing Employee State Insurance Corporation medical colleges and hospitals and desire that those having infrastructure of the level of AIIMS may be taken over by the Centre in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and Employment for upgradation to new AIIMS.
It noted that out of the total fund of Rs 3,285.03 crore made available during 2011-17 to the six AIIMS that is Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh, Rs 2017.62 crore was utilised leaving an unspent balance of Rs 1,267.41 crore as of March, 2017.
The Committee said the Ministry has sanctioned 305 faculty and 3,776 non-faculty post for each of the six AIIMS. However, the shortage against various faculty and non-faculty post in different AIIMS ranged from 55
per cent to 83 per cent and 77 per cent respectively restricting the functioning of various Departments and ultimately resulting in failure to provide treatment of required quality to the patients.
It was astounded to note that the Ministry failed to provide adequate number of beds for patients which is a basic requirement for proper service delivery and quality patient care.
The PAC has recommended the Ministry to steadfastly formulate and implement the common recruitment process urgently for all the AIIMS so that the required quality of treatment is dispensed to the patients.
PM pays homage Vajpayee, Pt Madan Mohan Malviya on their Birth anniversaries
MMNN:25 December 2018
New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid homage to Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said the country ought to reiterate its commitment towards creating the India, the poet-politician dreamt of. “Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. We reiterate our commitment towards creating the India he dreamt of,” Mr Modi tweeted.
In an audio visual capsule attached to the tweet, Mr Modi hailed former Prime Minister’s achievements in multiple fronts and also recalled that among other things, it was Vajpayee who had given the right leadership in making the country Nuclear power.
“Vajpayee’s words were not only the words of a BJP leader. When he spoke, it reflected the national mood….Atalji bol rahen haen, matlab Desh bol raha hae,” Prime Minister says in the audio-visual piece.
“Vajpayee’s words created a faith amongst people. These also show Vajpayee’s decades of struggle in nation building,” Mr Modi says.
Born on December 25, 1924, Vajpayee breathed his last on August 16 this year.
In another missive in the micro blogging site, Prime Minister paid tributes to freedom fighter and three time president of Indian National Congress.
He was respectfully addressed as Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and also addressed as ‘Mahamana’.
“Remembering Mahamana on his Jayanti. He made everlasting contributions to our freedom movement and in education,” Prime Minister wrote in the micro blogging site.
Born on December 25, 1861, Madan Mohan Malviya died on November 12, 1946.Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya was posthumously conferred with Bharat Ratna, country’s highest civilian award, on December 24, 2014
President’s Greetings on the eve of Birthday of Guru Nanak
MMNN:23 November 2018
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind has sent his greetings to fellow citizens on the eve of birthday of Guru Nanak Dev.
In a message, the President has said, “Remembering the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, I offer my greetings and good wishes on this sacred occasion to all my fellow citizens, including members of the Sikh community.
The life of Guru Nanak Dev teaches us love and harmony. He gave us the mantra of ‘Ek Omkar Satnam’, which means that there is only One God.
While emphasising values of love, peace and compassion, Guru Nanak Dev equated service to humanity with service to God. His preachings such as “Vand Chako – sharing with others, Kirat Karo – making an honest living and, Naam Japo- Remembering God at all times” capture the essence of his message.
Let us resolve to follow the path shown by Guru Nanak Dev and work for the welfare of the society”.
Now, BJP reminds Congress of Kamal Nath ‘row’ vis-a-vis 1984 anti-Sikh riots
MMNN:22 November 2018
New Delhi, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday took a dig at Kamal Nath, the Congress heavyweight in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, and reminded the Congress leadership on how quickly it had to make retreat in its decision for making Nath the party in charge for Punjab.
“Mr Kamal Nath is in news these days due to Madhya Pradesh polls. For his role in 1980s, the Congress party had to change its decision and removed him as party in-charge for Punjab within a week,” Mr Prasad told reporters here.
“Baat niklegi toh bahut duur taq jaegi (If we start talking about issues, we can really expose Congress),” the Union Minister said in reference to alleged role of various Congress leaders in the infamous 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted Naresh Sehrawat and Yashpal Singh of killing Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh and injuring three others in south Delhi’s Mahipalpur area during the 1984 mayhem.
This is the first death sentence pronounced in the anti-Sikh massacre case in the aftermath of assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In June 2016, Kamal Nath was compelled to resign as party in-charge for Punjab after his appointment to the key post provoked controversy.In his resignation letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, Kamal Nath, now pradesh Congress chief in Madhya Pradesh, had urged the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi to relieve him from the post.
“I request, I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that attention isn’t diverted from the real issues facing Punjab,” said Kamal Nath in his letter to Ms Gandhi.
He also had said, “Till 2005 not single public statement or FIR was made against me and 1st time my name was mentioned in any forum was 21 years after 1984.”
“I’ve been hurt by developments of past few days wherein unnecessary controversy has been created around the 1984 riots in Delhi”.
Mr Kamal Nath, nine time MP from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, is now considered to be in the race for Chief Minister’s post if the grand old party can dethrone BJP in the central Indian state.
In Process Of Presenting Report On Maratha Quota, Government Says
MMNN:21 November 2018
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that it was in the process of tabling the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations on the Maratha quota issue before the state legislature.
State's counsel, Additional Government Pleader Abhinandan Vagyani, informed the court that the state Cabinet had received the recommendations from the commission and was considering further action.
"The state Cabinet is in the process of placing the report (the commission's recommendations) before the House and taking other appropriate steps," Mr Vagyani said.
Following the state's submission, a bench of Justices BP Dharamadhikari and Sarang Kotwal disposed of all pending litigations in the high court on the issue of reservation for the Maratha community.
The bench noted that the commission and the state had complied with the court's previous orders on submission of such recommendations and therefore, there did not remain any need for further hearing on the pending petitions.
The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions filed between 2014 and 2015 after the then Congress-NCP government granted 16 per cent quota in government jobs and education to the Maratha community.
While some of the petitions opposed the government's decision, two petitions had sought immediate implementation of the quota.
In November 2014, in an interim order, a division bench of the Bombay High Court had stayed the then government's decision to provide the 16 per cent quota, on the grounds that it was in breach of the Supreme Court's order that prescribed an upper limit of 50 per cent for caste and community-based quota.
On August 7 this year, while hearing the same petitions, another division bench of the HC had directed the commission to complete its research on the issue and submit its recommendations to the state in a time-bound manner.
COMMENT
The bench, led by Justice Dharamadhikari, noted on Wednesday that since the above order had been complied with, the pleas could be disposed of.
PM dedicates 3 major projects to people, describes Haryana as Himmat, Honsala, Hosh & Humsafar
MMNN:20 November 2018
Gurugram, While dedicating three major projects to the people of Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the while the Kundli- Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and Mujesar-Ballabhgarh metro link would bring revolution in the field of connectivity, Shri Vishwakarma Skill University would give renewed strength to the youth.The Prime Minister was addressing a Jan Vikas Rally at Sultanpur village in this district.
Earlier, he inaugurated 83.320 kms long Kundli-Manesar section of Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway also known as western peripheral expressway and Mujesar-Ballabhgarh metro link through remote. He also laid the foundation stone of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, village Dudhola, Palwal. On this occasion, Mr Modi and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also flagged off first train on this route from Raja Nahar Singh Station Ballabhgarh.
Paying rich tributes to the fallen heroes of the Indian Army during the Rezang La battle of Ladhak which completed its 56 years yesterday only, Mr Modi said that soldiers led by Paramvir Chakra recipient Major Shaitan Singh showed indomitable courage while fighting with the enemy, most of them hailing from Haryana. He described Haryana as ‘Himmat, Honsala, Hosh and Humsafar’.
He said that this day assumes a special significance for Haryana as the entire over 135 kms long KMP Expressway has been completed with the inauguration of 83.320 kms long Kundli-Manesar section of the Expressway today. The first phase of the Expressway had been completed and made operation two years back, he added.
Taking a dig at the previous government, Mr Modi said that the occasion today also gives as the opportunity to draw comparison between the working culture of present BJP government and previous Congress government. He said the work on this Expressway could have been completed 8-9 years ago but this is the result of the delaying tactics adopted by the previous government that it took 12 years to complete this expressway.
He reminded that this Expressway was to be used in the Common Wealth Games but ironically the Expressway suffered the same fate as the games. He said that owing to the progress of the project reviewed by him at the central level and urgency shown by the State Government, the people of the State got this long awaited project today.
PM inaugurates Ballabhgarh metro link
MMNN:19 November 2018
New Delhi/Sultanpur (Gurugram), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated Ballabhgarh Metro Link which would facilitate travel for people of Delhi and Faridabad.
Passenger services on the 3.2 km long Escorts Mujesar – Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh) section of the Kashmere Gate – Escorts Mujesar corridor (Violet Line) of Delhi Metro will commence at 1700 hrs.
This section is the extension of the Kashmere Gate – Escorts Mujesar Violet Line (Line-6).This extension of Delhi Metro’s Violet Line was formally flagged off via remote by the Prime Minister during a public meeting from village Sultanpur (Gurugram).
This 3.2 kilometre elevated section comprises two elevated stations – Sant Surdas (Sihi) and Raja Nahar Singh.The corridor now becomes 46.6 kilometres long.
After the opening of this section, the Delhi Metro network becomes 317 (317.06) kilometres long.
Latest revelations show no guarantee by French govt backing Rafale deal: Rahul
MMNN:16 November 2018
New Delhi, Continuing his attack on the Narendra Modi Government on Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that latest revelations show that the Prime Minister got the deal cleared despite the fact that there were no guarantees by the French Government backing the deal.
Taking to twitter, Rahul said,’’the latest skeleton to tumble out of the RAFALE cupboard: NO Guarantee by the French Govt. backing the deal. BUT, our PM says there’s a letter from the French promising to be faithful! That’s enough to call this a “Govt to Govt” deal?’’
Earlier on Thursday, the Congress charged the PM of compromising national interests by waiving the ‘Bank Guarantee/French Government’s Sovereign Guarantee’ in violation of Defence Procurement Procedure.
My Government Tolerant To All Religions": Mamata Banerjee On World Philosophy Day
MMNN:15 November 2018
KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee today tweeted that her government respects all religions and schools of thought.
The chief minister, on the occasion of World Philosophy Day, wrote in a Twitter post that tolerance is instrumental in the progress of civilisation.
"Today is World Philosophy Day. We respect all schools of thought. We respect all religions. Tolerance is the key to the progress of civilisation. My best wishes to all," Ms Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.
In order to renew the national, sub-regional, regional and international commitment to philosophy, the UNESCO introduced the World Philosophy Day in 2002.
BJP Hits Back At Opposition, Says Congress Can't Look Beyond A Family
MMNN:14 November 2018
NEW DELHI: The BJP today said the Congress could not look beyond one family or recall the contribution of others to the country, hitting back at the opposition party after Shashi Tharoor credited institutional structures created by Jawaharlal Nehru for a "chaiwala" like Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister.
"If democracy is thriving in India, it is because of the Constitution. It was the constituent assembly headed by Baba Sahab Ambedkar and having many other eminent people which laid the foundation of democracy," Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
The Congress could not think beyond one family and this was underlined again, he said, without taking any name.
Speaking at the re-launch of his book on Jawaharlal Nehru, Mr Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, had yesterday said if the country had a "chaiwala" as its prime minister, it was because the first prime minister of independent India had made it possible to create the institutional structures through which any Indian could aspire to rise to the highest office in the land.
Mr Javadekar said the Congress talked only about one family and never mentioned the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The opposition party wanted to restrict historical references to one family, he added.
PM Modi was such a "magnanimous" prime minister that he had mentioned umpteen number of times that all prime ministers had contributed to the country while the Congress never mentioned the name of PV Narasimha Rao, Mr Javadekar said.
The BJP leader also rejected former Congress president Sonia Gandhi's charge that the government was undermining Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy.
"It is not. We are making memorials of all prime ministers in the complex where Nehru lived. This is to pay tribute to everybody. It is not undermining. All prime ministers have contributed to this country. But that goes beyond one family and that is why the Congress is upset," he said.
At the same event yesterday, Ms Gandhi had said the Nehruvian legacy was being "undermined" by those in power and that they had "contempt" for the country's first prime minister for all that he did to build an India, which they wanted to change for the "worse"
Over 70 percent voter turnout recorded in the first phase of assy polls in Chhattisgarh
MMNN:13 November 2018
New Delhi, Over 70 per cent voter turnout was registered in the first phase of Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh on Monday.Peaceful polling was held in 18 Assembly seats of remote Maoist-violence affected areas under the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh.
‘The assembly constituencies which saw polling today are spread over 8 districts in Chhattisgarh,’ Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said at press conference here.
‘In many core naxal areas in the state, people participated with enthusiasm,’ he said
Rahul, Naidu jointly calls for united Oppn to ‘Save Country’, AP CM meets Pawar, Farooq
MMNN:2 November 2018
New Delhi, Considered as a breakthrough political move that may eventually lead to a grand alliance against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence.
The meeting took place hours after Mr Naidu met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah in the national capital.
Sensing a favourable political atmosphere, the Congress president has urged all opposition parties to unite. “We had a very good meeting. The gist of the meeting was we have to defend democracy and our institutions and future of the country. So we are coming together to work, all opposition forces must unite,” Mr Gandhi said after the meeting with Mr Naidu.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister concurred, saying all opposition parties have to unite. “We are coming together, to save the nation. We have to forget the past, now it is a democratic compulsion to unite.”
The meeting between Mr Naidu and Mr Gandhi is significant considering that the former had criticised the Congress party and praised Mr Modi before joining NDA in 2014.
Mr Naidu quit NDA earlier this year citing the Union government’s refusal to grand Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, a promise given to the state during bifurcation.Mr Naidu and Mr Gandhi had also met in Bengaluru at the swearing-in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister.
After his exit from the NDA, Mr Naidu has been a consistent critic of the Modi government, and is now working towards forming a common platform for opposition parties. Mr Naidu met BSP supremo Mayawati last week and also spoke to Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav.On his second visit to the national capital within a week, Mr Naidu met the Congress president.
Earlier in the day the Andhra Chief Minister stressed the importance of unity among the opposition parties. During Mr Naidu’s meeting with Mr Pawar and Mr Farooq, it was decided that he will talk to the non-BJP parties in their effort to form the Mahagathbandhan.
“Mr Naidu will talk to the regional leaders about meeting, and we will convene the meeting here,’ Mr Pawar and Mr Abdullah had said.
Mr Naidu’s attempt to move closer to the Congress is viewed as forming an alliance in his state, where former chief minister and late Congress leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s son YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress has become the main opposition party.
The Congress was defeated in the last Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh when the voters rejected the party holding it responsible for the state’s bifurcation.
The Congress president had appointed former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, as sources said, to cement the alliance with other parties and to re-build the party in the state.
PM hails contribution of Haryanvis in enhancing pride of country
MMNN:10 October 2018
Rohtak, While paying rich tributes to great leader Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the contribution of farmers, soldiers and sports persons of Haryana in enhancing the pride of country and said the state not only contributes maximum in the armed forces of the country, but also contributes 17 per cent in the national food basket, which is a major contribution.
The Prime Minister unveiled the 64 feet tall statue of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, tallest in Haryana and laid the foundation stone of rail coach factory, to be set up at Barhi village in Sonipat district.
Mr Modi said the statue of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, which he dedicated to the people, would give a distinct identity to Sampla and Rohtak. He also extended his greetings to the people of the state in advance, of Haryana Day on November 1.
Addressing the Deenbandhu Samriti rally at Sampla in this district, Mr Modi said today, there is no village in the state, which does not have the representation in armed forces of the country. He said the credit goes to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, as he motivated the farmers to join the Army during the British rule.
Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram could not live in independent India, but he had a deep understanding of the challenges and aspirations of people in the country.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the state government, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, for achieving the status of Open Defecation Free, specially to the Maharashi Dayanand University, which has achieved first position in the Swachhta Survey.
He said the state has made a remarkable progress under the ambitious Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme. The daughters of Haryana are continuously increasing the pride of country.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the state for having the first beneficiary under the Ayushman Bharat Yojna. He said that within just two weeks after the launch of the scheme, about 50,000 poor people have either got treated or their treatment is in progress.
Underlining the role of Haryana in the development of country, Mr Modi called upon the people to work unitedly for building a new nation as this would be a real tribute to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram. He said that it is matter of pride that today that is on October 9 he has unveiled the statue of great leader Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, the tallest in Haryana and on October 31, he would unveil the statue of Iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel which would be the tallest in the world. Both the leaders had worked for the welfare of farmers, he maintained.
He said that Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram was the same leader who envisioned the Bakhra Dam and this is the result of his farsighted approach that farmers and people of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan are getting water.
The Prime Minister said that the Rail Coach Factory which would come in village Barhi at a cost of Rs 500 crore would give impetus to the industrial development of Haryana and also provide employment opportunities to the youth.
He said that with the setting up of Rail Coach Factory, 250 coaches of passenger train would be repaired and modernized every year. There would be no need to send such train coaches to far off factories for their upkeep. This would help increasing the availability of passenger coaches and the passengers would be able to get the facility of modern coaches.
He said that the material including sheets, fans, fitting required for this Rail Coach Factory would be made available at the local level which would benefit the industries of Haryana. He said that this would also assist local engineers and technicians in enhancing their expertise in the field of rail coach factory. These experts would also be able to render their specialized services in the other parts of the country in the times to come, he added.
Mr Modi said that during the last four years, the present BJP government has not only honoured several great leaders and personalities but also tried to follow the path shown by them. Apart from this, various welfare measures have been taken for the welfare of farmers and small traders who were feeling helpless earlier.
He said that bank accounts of as many as 66.50 lakh beneficiaries have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojna. Apart from this, the process of obtaining loan from banks has been simplified. The India Post Payments Bank has been started to provide bank like services at the doorstep of people through postmen.
Referring to various steps taken by the present government in the interest of farming community, he said that an arrangement has been made right from seed to market. Persistent steps are being taken for ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers, providing hybrid seeds and adequate water for irrigation.
He said that in Haryana, 50 lakh Soil Health Cards (SHC) has been issued to the farmers to ensure that farmers get the benefit of seasonal crops. Apart from this, claim amount of Rs 350 crore has been distributed among the farmers on account of crop damage due to natural calamities. Water has reached to even those tail ends in the State which were deprived of water for last about 30 years.
He said that recently a historic pact has been inked between six states for the construction of Lakhwar Dam which would benefit Haryana immensely. He said that on the pattern of Mandi Act got enacted by Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram nine-ten decades back for ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers, the present government has launched a new scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA).
He said that present state government is also realizing its promise of giving atleast 50 per cent profit to the farmers over and above the cost of production. MSP of 21 crops including wheat and sugarcane has been increased. The MSP of paddy has been increased by Rs 200 per quintal.
Now the paddy farmers would get MSP of Rs 1750 per quintal instead of Rs 1550 per quintal. Similarly the MSP of Maize, Sunflower and Bajra has been increased by Rs 275, Rs 1300 and Rs 525 per quintal respectively. Efforts were being made to double the income of farmers by 2022, he asserted.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar requested the Prime Minister to inaugurate the remaining section of Kundli Manesar Palwal (KMP) Expressway, the work on which is likely to be completed within one month. He said that Manesar Palwal section of the expressway has already been completed and made functional.
Blaming the previous government in the state for delaying the project, he said that the present state government has fastracked the work on the project which was stalled for last several years. He said that the state government has also decided to develop Panch Gram Yojana along the expressway.
Mr Khattar said that during his last visit Mr Modi had also announced to rename Garhi Sampla village as Chhotu Ram Nagar. Recalling the contribution made by Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, he said that the great farmer leader had undertaken various welfare works for the upliftment of villagers, labourers and farmers. He said that Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram had got implemented the rule of 8-hour work for labourers and one-day holiday for traders.
The Chief Minister said that following the vision of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, the present government had launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana for the welfare of farmers. As a result of the welfare policies and schemes of the government, the state has been moving ahead at both national and international level.
He said that a provision is being made for the registry of property lying within ‘laal dora’ in villages. Apart from this, the State Government has also abolished ‘Remand Pratha’ in the interest of farmers so that they would not have to make frequent rounds of the Revenue Courts to get their land-related issues settled.
He said that the state also ensured transparency in government jobs and now youth were getting jobs on merit basis. He said that 8.25 lakh youth have so far been provided employment under Skill Development Programme.
On this occasion, Union Steel Minister Birender Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making the farmers financially strong. He said that Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram had resolved to work for the welfare of poor, farmers, people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.
It was Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram who raised voice for Minimum Support Prices for crops. He said that Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram envisioned the Bhakra Dam in 1923 and today the farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are getting sufficient water.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat also recalled the contribution made by Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram for the upliftment of farmers, poor and people belonging to weaker sections of the society.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik said that the Swaminathan Report would immensely benefit the farmers.
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister O P Dhankar said that Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram had worked for the welfare of farmers and poor. He got the lands of farmers freed from clutches of landlords, got their loans waived off and ensured better prices of their produce. People used to call him as ‘Chota Ram’. The state government has been working to implement the ideals of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram in letter and spirit.
State BJP President Subhash Barala said that since independence, if anyone has ever tried to realize the vision of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram then it was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Non-NDA states should reduce VAT on fuel to help consumers: BJP
MMNN:8 October 2018
New Delhi, BJP on Monday said all non-NDA states should come forward and help the consumers by reducing fuel price in their respective states.
Under persistent attack by opposition parties for continuous price hike, BJP spokesperson and New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi said, ‘ There are things which are within control and there are things which you cannot control.’
She said it is high time, fundamental issues concerning fuel import and the prices are understood properly and ‘right questions are raised’.
‘Unlike what is being given out the Central role is essentially very limited when it comes to pricing of fuel, ‘ the BJP leader said.
‘The Centre has taken a decision and the PSUs will shoulder the burden. So, are the BJP states, I will say all non-BJP states including Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi should show sensitivity and try to help the common people,’ Ms Lekhi said in a press conference here.
Answering questions, she said the Arvind Kejriwal led government was only indulging in false propaganda. ‘It is time the state governments also reveal how much they have earned due to VAT,’ she said, adding that several opposition ruled states are pointing at the Central government and not doing their part to mitigate the problems of the people.
Ms Lekhi said notwithstanding the high prices of fuel, it is also a fact that the Central govt duty (tax) is ‘fixed’ and it is only the states which are charging in ‘percentage term’.
‘It is not the Central government which is increasing the taxes but the burden on the Central government to repay that oil bond prices has been there which no state is facing,’ she said.
The BJP spokesperson said the narratives given out by opposition leaders were not correct.
PM Modi, Russian President begin bilateral talks
MMNN:5 October 2018
New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin began the crucial bilateral talks here on Friday.Both the leaders met at the Capital’s Hyderabad House.
Before sitting for the parleys – where important issues like defence tie up is expected to figure prominently – both the leaders shook hands and posed for photographs.
At one point both the leaders also embraced each other and took themselves into arms.The leaders are taking part in the delegation-level talks. “Welcome to India, President Putin. Looking forward to our deliberations, which will further enhance India-Russia friendship,” Mr Modi tweeted on Thursday evening after the two leaders held an informal meeting at Prime Minister’s official residence here.
The two sides are expected to review bilateral ties, including defence cooperation during the 19th India-Russia Bilateral Summit.Mr Modi and President Putin may also deliberate on a range of regional and global issues.The two countries are expected to sign a number of agreements.
All eyes are on the possible signing of a 5 billion dollar deal to procure most advanced air defence system, the S-400 Triumf.There will be exchange of Agreements and Press Statements, official sources said.
Mr Putin will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The visiting dignitary will also interact with a group of talented children and will address India-Russia Business Summit.
In the recent past, India has given much emphasis on its ties with Russia.Mr Modi flew to Sochi for an informal summit with Putin in May this year.The two countries have improved ties lately under bilateral arrangements as also in fora such as BRICS.
Uddhav Thackeray Will Visit Ayodhya After Dussehra, Says Sanjay Raut
MMNN:4 October 2018
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh after Dussehra, senior party leader Sanjay Raut said today, before criticising senior ally BJP over the Ram temple issue.
Mr Thackeray will announce the date of his visit during the party's annual Dussehra rally to be held in Mumbai on October 19, the Rajya Sabha lawmaker told news agency PTI.
"The Sena has always championed the cause of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The BJP, despite being in power for four years, has not yet fulfilled its commitment of building a grand Ram temple there," he said.
Mr Thackeray met Ram Janmabhoomi trust chief Janmejay Sharanji Maharaj at the party's headquarters Sena Bhawan in Mumbai yesterday evening, party sources said.
Sharanji Maharaj invited Mr Thackeray to visit Ayodhya and told him that the trust needed the Shiv Sena's assistance in the construction of Ram temple, they said, according to news agency PTI.
Senior Sena leader Arvind Sawant pointed out that before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had given three assurances to people -- to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and to solve the Kashmir issue.
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution accords special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are not doing something which we haven't spoken of earlier. When nobody took responsibility of the Babri Masjid demolition, (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb did so. Now four-and-a-half years have passed (since NDA came to power) but the construction of Ram temple has still not begun and the issue is pending in court," Mr Sawant said.
"The Sena will stand for the issue," said the Lok Sabha lawmaker from Mumbai South constituency.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
The Sena, which has resolved to go solo in the future elections, has often targeted the BJP for "delaying" the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya despite having a majority.
Mr Thackeray had recently said the BJP would once again rake up the emotive issue in the run-up to the 2019 polls.
"Bhima-Koregaon case: SC refuses to interfere with arrest of 5 activists
MMNN:28 September 2018
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Friday refused to interfere in the arrest of five noted human rights activists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, said, “We don’t want to interfere in the arresting of five human rights activists, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.” It also declined to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for probe into the activists’ arrest.
The court extended the house arrest of five accused for four weeks.It said the accused can approach the sessions court for relief.
Five activists, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha, are under arrest at their respective homes since August 29.
"The More Mud You Sling, The More Lotus Will Bloom": PM Attacks Congress
MMNN:25 September 2018
The Congress is indulging in mud-slinging against the government because it finds it easier than debating on issues like development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to allegations on the Rafale fighter deal.
Addressing a rally, the Prime Minister mocked Congress, saying the 125-year-old party had been reduced to such a condition that it was "begging" with small parties for alliances.
He said even if the Congress gets allies, the coalition will not be successful.
PM Modi said his government believes in social justice for all and that its 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' (cooperation of all, development of all) campaign is not just a slogan.
He expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh as well as in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
"They (Congress) are indulging in mud-slinging because they find it easier... They have indulged in mud-slinging earlier too. But I want to tell them, the more you throw mud at us, the more the lotus (BJP's symbol) will bloom," PM Modi said.
He was apparently referring to the charges of corruption being levelled by the Congress in the Rafale fighter deal. PM Modi said the opposition party, instead of indulging in mud-slinging, should engage in a debate on issues like development which "they do not dare to".
Addressing the rally where BJP chief Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present, the prime minister said the opposition parties had formed the "Maha-gathbandhan" (grand alliance) out of fear of losing the polls.
"Congress has become a burden on the country today. It is the responsibility of BJP workers in democracy to save the country from it," he said.
"Naxal Supporters Will Soon Be Neutralised": Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
MMNN:24 September 2018
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Monday said his government is making efforts through development projects to "soon neutralise" the ideological and financial support Maoists receive from sympathisers from Raipur to Delhi.
In an interview to PTI, the longest-serving BJP chief minister outlined several development-related activities, including those being undertaken in the state's Maoist-affected Bastar region.
Mr Singh also exuded confidence of a consecutive fourth victory for the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Polls for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly are due this year-end.
The chief minister said his government has been working on a plan to completely eliminate maoism from the state since 2003 and that the strategy is showing results.
"We have brought development in most (of the naxal-affected) areas and more than that we have been able to win the people's trust. Naxals are getting discouraged and Naxals activities are going down," he said.
Referring to Maoists sympathisers, Mr Singh said maoists have got a very strong support system from Raipur to Delhi.
"I feel the kind of support that is given Naxals and their ideology is very strong. They make big lawyers who take up their cases. So, they are economically strong too.
"There are people of their (naxals) ideology who support them, from high courts to the Supreme Court (referring to some providing legal aid to them)," the chief minister said.
He, however, expressed confidence that these sympathisers will soon be "neutralised".
"Like the naxals are getting weaker, they (sympathisers) will also become weak. This fight (to check naxalites and their supporters) is of Chhattisgarh and other states.
"We are getting successful (in checking naxal activities) and this support system will soon be neutralised," Mr Singh said.
He also lamented that some human rights supporters are opposing action against maoists.
"They make noise of human rights violation. They had come to me also. I asked them whether the human rights are of naxalites alone or of the common people also. They (naxals) abduct their children, girls and destroy schools.
"They are the biggest violators of human rights as they keep the whole area (of their influence) captive. Why you (sympathisers and human rights defenders) don't speak then? You only think of them (naxals) only?" Mr Singh said.
His assertion assumes significance as some human rights defenders were arrested last month from different parts of the country, including one Chhattisgarh-based activist, by state police forces. The Supreme Court is hearing a case on a plea made by a historian challenging the arrests.
Talking about the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, Mr Singh said the BJP is confident of its victory and all set to form government after the elections.
"The experience of the last three elections tells us that we will be in a better position in this poll. BJP chief (Amit Shah) has decided a target of 65 plus seats in the state.
"We all are set to achieve that. Our workers up to the booth level are doing their jobs. We are sure that we will get a big victory this time," the chief minister said.
Mr Singh, who has been the chief minister of the state since December 2003, rejected suggestions that there was anti-incumbency against his administration.
"Sensing, somewhat, a little mood of anti-incumbency in some areas, we started a mass contact programme. We visited different parts of the state and heard the people's grievances, if any, and provided on the spot solution to them.
"So, whatever little concern or problem they had from the administration, we have already provided solutions to them. Hence, no such (anti-incumbency) feeling exist," he said.
The chief minister said the BJP is approaching the people with a promise and vision to make a 'New Chhattisgarh' by 2025.
"When Chhattisgarh turns 25 (in 2025), our GDP will be doubled, farmers' income will be doubled. We will ensure 100 per cent literacy in the state.
COMMENT
"We are creating an educational hub in the worst naxal-affected Bastar region to Sarguja, and providing all possible support to the farmers of the state," Mr Singh said, outlining plans to approach voters ahead of the Assembly polls.
Talk Of Grenade Launcher, Ending "Modi-Raj" In Letters: Cops On Activists
MMNN:31 August 2018
Facing criticism on the raids and arrests targeting rights activists, the Maharashtra police today claimed solid evidence including "thousands of documents and letters" that established the activists' links to Maoists and their role in facilitating weapons and funding.
"We have thousands of letters which show how these people were involved in the underground movement, how students from Jawaharlal Nehru University were being mobilised to overthrow the elected government. All these letters just make the Maoists links clearer," said Param Bir Singh, Additional Director General, Maharashtra Police, in a press conference this evening.
He read out a letter exchanged between an activist arrested not this week but earlier in June, which spoke of planning "another Rajiv Gandhi-like incident to end Modi-raj". Some of the letters, he said, spoke of planning "some big action" which would attract attention.
The senior police officer said they even found a rocket launcher pamphlet in one of the seized disks.
"A letter written from Delhi-based activist Rona Wilson to Maoist leader Prakash on July 30, 2017, spoke of requirement of Rs. 8 crore for grenade launchers with four lakh rounds", he said.
Rona Wilson was one of the five activists arrested in June in connection with violence between Dalits and upper caste Marathas at a mass event held on December 31-January 1 at Bhima Koregaon near Pune. The letter said to be written by her has not been submitted in court.
The activists who were arrested on Tuesday - Maoist ideologue Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, activists Arun Fereira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves - are under house arrest on the Supreme Court's orders.
The Maharashtra police said there was enough evidence to prove that these activists were working to destabilize the government.
The arrests are based on evidence gathered after the June arrests.
The activists, police sources have claimed, were monitored closely for almost one week and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was briefed about "fresh evidence" before the raids.
Police said the accused had been in touch with around 35 major universities and colleges 'to recruit young students to take their movement ahead
Ashutosh says AAP used his surname to garner votes in LS polls despite his protest
MMNN:29 August 2018
New Delhi, Amid the on-going fuss over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena dropping her surname, former party leader Ashutosh on Wednesday revealed that during 2014 Lok Sabha polls he was introduced to party workers with his surname despite his opposition.He had unsuccessfully contested from the Chandni Chowk LS seat as a AAP candidate.
Taking to Micro blogging site, Twitter, Mr Ashutosh said, “In 23 years of my journalism, no one asked my caste, surname. Was known by my name. But as I was introduced to party workers as Lok Sabha candidate in 2014 my surname was promptly mentioned despite my protest.
Without naming any party leader, the former AAP leader claimed that on this matter he was later told that how could he win the elections without using the surname.
At the same time, he clarified that he was not a part of the anti-AAP brigade.
“I am no longer with AAP, not constrained by party discipline and free to express my views. It will be wrong to attribute my words as attack on AAP. It will be gross manipulation of media freedom. Spare me. I not member of anti-AAP brigade,” he asserted.
On August 15, Ashutosh had resigned from the party citing personal reasons.
Ex-Raipur Collector Joins BJP Days After Resigning From Civil Services
MMNN:28 August 2018
NEW DELHI: Former Raipur collector O P Choudhary today joined the BJP, days after resigning from the Indian Administrative Service, ending speculation.
"I have assumed the membership of the BJP," said Mr Choudhary, who tweeted a photo of him with BJP president Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh after joining the party.
Talking to PTI, the former bureaucrat said he served the people of Chhattisgarh for 13 long years and did all to help them.
"I am very satisfied with my tenure in the IAS. But bureaucracy has its own limitations. I want to work more for my people and my soil that is why I decided to leave the service," Mr Choudhary, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said.
An IAS officer of the 2005 batch, he resigned from the service last week. He was allotted his home state as his cadre.
His resignation has been accepted by the Union Personnel Ministry, the nodal authority for the service.
Mr Choudhary, who is credited for bringing transformation in education in Chhattisgarh' naxal-affected Dantewada district, is likely to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from the Kharsiya seat, a Congress bastion in Raigarh district, sources said.
Umesh Patel, son of former state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, who was killed in the Jhiram valley naxal attack in Bastar's Darbha region ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls, is the incumbent Congress MLA from Kharsiya.
Mr Choudhary belongs to Patel's Aghariya community, a dominant OBC community in Raigarh, and he may dent the traditional Congress vote bank if the BJP decides to field him from the seat, the sources said.
The former IAS officer was given the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration for the year 2011-12 for his contribution in development of naxal-affected areas through education.
Elections for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly is due this year-end
"Not Inferior": Karnataka's Response After Nirmala Sitharaman's Rebuke
MMNN:25 August 2018
A day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman openly blasted Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh at a press conference in Kodagu, the deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka G Parameshwara tweeted his disapproval saying, "It was disappointing to see you lash out at my colleague." Mr Mahesh on Friday had asked the union defence minister to wind up the press conference at the district commissioner's office, citing lack of time.
"Our ministers have stayed back in Kodagu for weeks to oversee relief operations along with the district administration. You should extend to them the same respect that they extend for the help from your end," the deputy chief minister tweeted
In an oblique indication that Ms Sitharaman was not the boss because she comes from the centre, Mr Parameshwara said "state governments derive their powers from our Constitution not from the centre... We are not inferior to the centre. We are partners."
Lashing out at Mr Mahesh, Ms Sitharaman yesterday said, "I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also important.... Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable."
When told the conversation was getting recorded on cameras, Ms Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, shot back "Let it get recorded."
The government, in a statement today, sought to clarify the sequence of events. "The Defence Minister was interacting with ex-servicemen who had been adversely affected by the floods, when the District incharge minister objected and insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first. The Defence Miniser clarified that welfare of ex-servicemen was an essential part of the Ministry of Defence and the same was scheduled in the program. However, the district minister insisted that the central minister immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials," the clarification said.
Ms Sitharaman on Friday visited many relief camps in Kodagu including one of the Seva Bharti camps run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS. She has donated Rs. 1 crore from her MLPAD (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds for rehabilitation in Kodagu.
Mr Parameshwara has also accused the centre of "step-motherly" treatment, saying the government has not released any funds for the devastating floods in Kodagu.
Karnataka on Friday sought Rs. 2,000 crore interim relief from the centre for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in Kodagu. "I appeal to you to release an interim relief of Rs. 2,000 crore to enable the state government rehabilitate flood-hit victims," said Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
In Vijay Mallya Case, India's MTV Cribs-Style Video Of Mumbai Jail For UK
MMNN:24 August 2018
A television set, personal toilet and bedding, a washing area and a courtyard to take a stroll in the sunlight are just some of the highlights of Barrack Number 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, the prospective residence of fugitive tycoon Vijay Malaya. The Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, which is trying to get the liquor magnate extradited from the UK, has filed a 6-8 minute-long video documentary highlighting these facilities before a London court.
The video was prepared after Vijay Mallya complained about "no natural light" or fresh air in Indian jails, prompting the UK judge to ask India for a video of the prison cell where it plans to keep the fraud-accused businessman.
"The court wanted us to show if Indian jails are hygienic. We have given them proof of the hygiene level and medical facilities available in jail. In fact, the barrack in which Mr Mallya would be lodged is east-facing so it has lot of sunlight too," a senior level official told NDTV.
"The cell has cross ventilation with a window and bars on opposite sides. The cell also opens to a courtyard," the senior official who was associated with the filming of the clip said.
According to him, Vijay Mallya would also be given access to a library to keep himself occupied.
"As far is security is concerned, the jail security matches international standards - we already informed court in last few hearings," the source said. The Home Ministry had recently carried out a security audit of the jail and its findings were also submitted in the court, he said.
The cells are constantly watched through CCTV cameras and have additional guards posted both inside and outside the barrack to keep a round-the-clock vigil on the inmates.
"Food is served four times during the day inside an earmarked area of the barrack, where the inmates are told to gather," the official added.
Barrack 12 at the Arthur Road Jail houses high-profile inmates, including prisoners who face a security risk elsewhere, ones who could pose a threat to others, or ones who can trigger law-and-order challenges.
Vijay Mallya has been based in the UK since he left India in March 2016 as banks stepped up efforts to recover Rs. 9,000 crore in unpaid loans. The extradition trial opened in London on December 4 last year.
The court will take up the high-profile extradition case next on September 12
Rahul Gandhi's ISIS Reference In Germany Is "Unbelievable" To BJP
MMNN:23 August 2018
Rahul Gandhi's reference in Germany to terror group ISIS while warning about the impact of excluding people from development has provoked a sharp reaction back home from the ruling BJP.
"It is very dangerous in the 21st century to exclude people," the Congress president said at the Bucerius Summer School in Hamburg, accusing the ruling BJP of excluding tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development narrative.
"If you don't give people a vision in the 21st century, somebody else will. And that's the real risk of excluding a large number of people from the development process," he said.
He linked incidents of lynching in India to anger because of joblessness and small businesses crashing after the cash ban and GST (Goods and Services Tax). "They (the BJP government) feel tribal communities, poor farmers, lower caste people, minorities shouldn't get the same benefits as the elite," he said.
There is "something much more dangerous" that has happened, he added. The prime minister had "demonetized the Indian economy and destroyed cash flows to small and medium businesses, rendering millions jobless," the Congress chief commented.
After the US attacked Iraq in 2003, Rahul Gandhi said, they brought a law that stopped a particular tribe in Iraq from getting jobs in the government and in the army. "It seemed like a very innocuous decision at that time. But it resulted in a large number of people joining insurgency that fought the US and caused massive casualties," he said.
"It didn't end there. That insurgence slowly entered empty spaces. It entered the empty space in Iraq and in Syria and then it connected with...a horrific idea called ISIS," Mr Gandhi said.
The BJP interpreted the comments as a "threat" and said Rahul Gandhi should apologise for the "veiled justification of terrorism".
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: "I do not understand the logic behind Rahul Gandhi's threat. This is a country that has rejected the idea of ISIS and earlier the idea of al-Qaeda as well... I do not understand the meaning of this threat - if you do not do this, that will happen. In fact, he or the Congress party should not say anything that will encourage such forces."
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also condemned the remarks.
"Horrified to hear Congress President Rahul Gandhi justifying the formation of ISIS in Syria and giving out a veiled threat that if Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) doesn't give vision to India then soon someone else(read ISIS) would give the vision," Mr Patra said.
"Unbelievable. He's a PM aspirant," he remarked, demanding the Congress president's apology.
No One Questions PM Modi": Navjot Sidhu Defends Controversial Pak Visit
MMNN:21 August 2018
Cricketer-turned-minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, attacked by critics for his visit to Pakistan for Imran Khan's oath ceremony and a controversial hug shared with the Pakistani army chief, hit back today with a detailed rebuttal. He also responded to criticism over being seated in the front row, next to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir "president" Masood Khan, during the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday.
"My seat was changed at the last minute. I was told just 5 minutes before ceremony that I was to be seated on front row. I sat wherever they made me sit," Mr Sidhu said.
Asserting that his visit was "not about politics" but a warm invite from an old friend, the Punjab minister pointed out that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had travelled on the bus to Lahore and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled trip to Lahore in 2015, on his way back from an official visit to Afghanistan.
During that surprise stopver, he said, PM Modi had hugged then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
"No one is questioning PM Modi," he said.
On criticism from his own boss, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, he said: "I was criticised by the Captain, by top Congress leaders. It is not necessary that if the Captain has spoken against me, I should too."
You can't, he added pointedly, try to please everybody. "He who tried to, pleases nobody."
Navjot Singh Sidhu also defended the embrace he shared with Pakistani army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying it was an "emotional" response.
"The Pak Army chief said they were making efforts to open a corridor from India's Dera Baba Nanak to the historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. What followed was an emotional moment," said the loquacious cricketer-turned-politician.
Amarinder Singh, who has not shared the best of ties with his minister, had earlier ticked off Mr Sidhu publicly, saying "I think it was wrong for him (Navjot Singh) to have shown the affection he did for the Pakistan Army chief, I am not in its favour... The fact is that the man (Mr Sidhu) should understand that our soldiers are being killed everyday. My own regiment lost one major and two jawans a few months ago," the Chief Minister had said.
Mr Sidhu was the only Indian to attend the oath-taking ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad, on the invitation of Imran Khan, his contemporary and friend from their cricket days.
His defence has not silenced criticism from the ruling BJP, which targeted him and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
"He tried to implicate India in some way. He tried to say India is not the one who talks peace and prosperity. Who gives him the license to say all that but Rahul Gandhi," railed BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
"What are you doing, Rahul Gandhi? Have you opened a Pakistan desk in India," said Sambit Patra.
100 Doctors Leave From Maharashtra To Help Kerala Flood Victims
MMNN:20 August 2018
MUMBAI: A team of around 100 doctors and paramedical staff from Maharashtra left for Kerala today to help the flood-affected people.
The doctors flew to Thiruvananthapuram in two aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Maharashtra medical education minister Girish Mahajan was on board one of the aircraft to personally monitor relief efforts in the southern state.
"A team of around 100 doctors and paramedical staff has gone to Kerala. Mahajan will discuss with the Kerala government about their requirement and our doctors and paramedics will be deployed accordingly," an official said.
The medical team comprises 55 doctors, including Mumbai-based JJ Hospital's dean Dr Mukund Tayde, 26 doctors from the Sassoon hospital in Pune, 14 paramedics and some members of the minister's staff, the official said.
The Maharashtra government had earlier pledged to give Rs. 20 crore to Kerala, which is reeling under severe floods, the worst in 100 years.
The western state had sent 30 tonne aid consisting of ready-to-eat food packets, milk powder, blankets, bed sheets, clothes, soaps and sanitary napkins to Kerala.
The items were selected on the basis of a list issued by the Kerala government, an official release had said.
The deadly monsoon rains have claimed 210 lives in Kerala since August 8 and displaced over 7.14 lakh people from their homes.
38 Helicopters, Hundreds Of Boats Being Used For Rescue Ops In Kerala
MMNN:18 August 2018
KOCHI/THIRVANANTHAPURAM: With 324 dead and more than three lakh people shifted to relief camps, in what is the worst floods in Kerala in a century, an unprecedented rescue and relief operation is being led by the three services along with teams of the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF.
38 helicopters are involved in air-lifting the stranded and dropping relief material; 20 aircraft are being used to ferry resources. With some areas engulfed by overflowing rivers, people can be seen wading through chest-high waters past partially submerged houses. Those stranded on rooftops can be seen waving desperately to choppers for help.
"In some areas, airlifting is the only option... thousands are still marooned," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, adding he was hoping the forces could step up their support for rescuers.
"I spoke to the defence minister this morning and asked for more helicopters," Mr Vijayan said in Thiruvananthapuram, adding that he planned to send 11 more helicopters to the worst-hit areas.
About 7,000 people have been saved so far, but some 6,000 are still awaiting rescue, say officials.
10 columns of the Army and 10 teams of Engineering Task Force, comprising 790 personnel, have been deployed in the state. 82 teams of the Navy, 42 of the Coast Guard have also been deployed along with five Companies of paramilitary troops for rescue and relief operations.
During the current monsoon, Kerala has been hit with over a third more rain than average, according to the weather department.
Heavy rainfall has been forecast for most parts of the state today, and authorities said they planned to implement controlled releases of water from dams to manage flows and minimise damage. Nearly 100 dams, reservoirs and rivers have overflowed in the state this monsoon.
Rains are expected to subside to "light to moderate" levels tomorrow, the weather department said.
End Of An Era": Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India's Tallest Politician, Dies
MMNN:16 August 2018
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, three-time Prime Minister of India and one of the country's most respected politicians, has died. The announcement was made by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS, where the 93-year-old was being treated by a team of doctors for nine weeks.
Mr Vajpayee, the BJP's tallest leader, was admitted to hospital on June 11 with a urinary tract infection and chest congestion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital twice in 24 hours and top politicians from across parties arrived as the former prime minister's health worsened on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems. Despite the best of efforts, we have lost him today," the statement by AIIMS said.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee died at 5.05 pm.
"He lived for the nation and served it assiduously for decades," PM Modi tweeted soon after, describing his death the end of an era.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet has been convened to mourn the former prime minister.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said India had lost a "great son" "loved and respected by millions".
The BJP patriarch had announced his retirement from electoral politics at a public meeting in Mumbai back in 2005. It wasn't a surprise to many. He had not been keeping well.
Since 2009, the veteran politician had largely been confined to his home on Krishna Menon Marg in the heart of Delhi, away from public life due to his failing health.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was considered the gold standard of leadership in the BJP and had admirers even among rival parties. His birthday -- December 25 -- is celebrated as Good Governance Day.
Since morning, BJP chief Amit Shah and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda and Venkaiah Naidu and several other leaders had been visiting the hospital.
At the BJP headquarters in Delhi, decorations put up for Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday were taken down as a somber note took over.
LK Advani, one of Mr Vajpayee's closest colleagues and his deputy in the NDA government from 1998 to 2004, was among the visitors.
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"To me, Atalji was more than a senior colleague- in fact he was my closest friend for over 65 year," Mr Advani later said in a cabine
Atal Bihari Vajpayee On Life Support, PM Modi Visits Him Again
MMNN:16 August 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have rushed back to the bedside of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is on life support system at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. The Prime Minister had visited the BJP patriarch last evening, Mr Shah earlier this morning. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi too visited Mr Vajpayee in the afternoon. The hospital, in a statement, said Mr Vajpayee's condition "continues to remain the same. He is critical and on life support systems".
Mr Vajpayee, a three-time Prime Minister, was admitted to the premier hospital with kidney tract infection and chest congestion on June 11.
The 93-year-old -- who retired from public life after his health turned frail -- has been under the supervision of Dr Randeep Guleria, the Director of AIIMS. For over three decades, Dr Guleria, a pulmonologist, has served as personal physician to Mr Vajpayee.
Doctors from various departments, including nephrology, gastroenterology and cardiology are also on the team taking care of the former Prime Minister, sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mr Vajpayee last evening - his fourth visit since the veteran BJP leader was admitted at AIIMS. Others on the visitors' list included Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi and Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani.
Since morning today, BJP chief Amit Shah and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda and Venkaiah Naidu and several other leaders have visited Mr Vajpayee. Mr Shah also made a second visit this afternoon.
"Doctors are treating him. He is critical. And doctors are doing their best to restore his health," Nadda told reporters.
LK Advani, one of Mr Vajpayee's closest colleagues and his home minister in the NDA government from 1998 to 2004, was among the visitors.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was a minister in Mr Vajpayee's government, is expected to fly to Delhi later today to visit him. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia paid a visit to Mr Vajpayee this afternoon.
Personally, I have been fortunate to receive much affection and advice from Atal-ji and an opportunity to understand public life... He was like a guardian to me. I wish him speedy recovery," tweeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had headed governments thrice -- for 13 days in 1996, 13 months in 1998 and served a five-year term from 1999. His was the first non-Congress government to last for a full term in office.
An outstanding parliamentarian, master orator, poet and liberal, Mr Vajpayee is hugely respected across party lines.
Simultaneous Polls Not Possible Now, Says Election Panel Amid BJP Push
MMNN:14 August 2018
Simultaneous elections are not possible without a legal framework as any extension or curtailment of the term of assemblies will require a constitutional amendment, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said today, a day after the BJP made a fresh push to hold Lok Sabha and assembly elections together.
Pointing at the need for a legal framework, Mr Rawat ruled out holding simultaneous elections any time soon.
"If the term of some state assemblies needs to be curtailed or extended, then a constitutional amendment will be required... Logistics arrangements with regard to 100 per cent availability of VVPATs (voter-verifiable paper trail machines) will be a constraint," the Chief Election Commissioner told reporters.
"On the issue of 'one nation one poll', the Election Commission had given inputs and suggestions in 2015 itself... Additional police force, polling personnel would also be needed," Mr Rawat said.
BJP President Amit Shah wrote to the Law Commission on Monday, supporting holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously. In his eight-page letter, the BJP chief said the opposition to simultaneous elections seems to be politically motivated.
Opposition parties have raised concern over the proposal, saying simultaneous elections would dilute India's federal structure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal supporter of simultaneous polls.
The EC is in the process of procuring new electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPATs ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The EVMs -- 13.95 lakh ballot units and 9.3 lakh control units -- will be delivered by September 30; 16.15 lakh VVPATs will be delivered before November-end, Mr Rawat had earlier said.
More VVPATs are being procured as backup in case these machines malfunction and need to be replaced during elections.
If simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are held in 2019, the EC will need some 24 lakh EVMs, double the number needed to hold only the parliamentary elections.
During their discussion with the Law Commission on May 16, EC officials said they would need Rs. 4,500 crore to buy 12 lakh more EVMs and an equal number VVPAT machines. That estimate was based on current prices
Super Emergency," Says Trinamool As Team Is Stopped At Airport In Assam
MMNN:13 August 2018
Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid said he was shot at this afternoon at the Constitution Club near parliament, an area that has turned into a high-security fortress ahead of the Independence Day. The attacker managed to escape, said Mr Khalid, who is unhurt.
Mr Khalid told NDTV that a man came from behind, punched him and pushed him to the ground. "I was coming back from a tea-stall and was at the gate of the Constitution Club when I was attacked. He had a pistol. I kept holding his hand to stop him from firing. He ran to the other side and fired. My friends overpowered him but he escaped," he said.
In June, Umar Khalid had filed a complaint with the police, saying he had received death threats from gangster Ravi Pujari.
This afternoon, the student leader had gone to the Constitution Club to speak on mob lynchings at an event -- "Khauff Se Azaadi", held by an organisation named 'United Against Hate' -- when he was attacked.
It was ironic, he said, that he was attacked in the national capital when he was supposed to talk on lynchings. "I don't know who they were. The message is clear that you should live in fear, that you can be killed anytime if you speak against the government. Gauri Lankesh, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare were killed. Dr Kafil Khan's brother was attacked. We are raising our voice, what's wrong with that," he told NDTV and said he will file a complaint.
The police are trying to verfiy the sequence of events. "It is being verified. He says he was attacked. Somebody pounced on Umar Khalid and pushed, thereafter he tried to fire at Khalid. But the person immediately couldn't fire. People started chasing him thereafter according to Khalid the attacker fired in the air," said senior police officer Madhur Verma.
After the attack, fellow JNU student and activist Shehla Rashid said she was shocked and worried. "Shocking and highly condemnable. I spoke to Umar. He's okay, but we should be very very worried about his safety," she tweeted.
The Congress has also condemned the attack and said "there is no place for violence in a democratic society".
Dalit leader and Independent lawmaker from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani, who also alleged in June that he received death threats from Pujari, tweeted:
Mr Khalid, who was one of the students accused of sedition along with Kanhaiya Kumar, had received another death threat two years ago. It happened around the time the police was looking for him in connection with the sedition case for allegedly organising an event against the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Intruder Rams Farooq Abdullah's Home With Car, Runs Inside; Shot Dead
MMNN:4 August 2018
A man was shot dead today after he forcibly drove into the Jammu home of former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and son Omar, walked in and vandalised the house.
The two National Conference leaders, who have the highest Z-plus category security, were not at home when the incident took place.
One security official was injured in the scuffle with the man, said to be in his mid-twenties. The Jammu police found an Aadhaar card on his person that identified him as Murad Ali Shah of the border district of Poonch.
He was not carrying any weapon. It was only a case of forced entry into a VIP area and he smashed the lobby area and attacked the CRPF also," SD Jamwal, Jammu's top police officer said.
Mr Jamwal did not elaborate on the circumstances that led the CRPF personnel to kill the man.
Jammu police officer Vivek Gupta said the man had a scuffle with the duty officer before he entered the house, injuring the security officer.
The man's father later lashed out at security forces for his son's death.
"I want to know why was he killed. Where were the security guards when he breached the gate? Why didn't they arrest him?" the father of the intruder said. Murad Ali Shah's father runs a gun shop at Bantalab in Jammu
Photographs of the house show a broken teapoy, parts of a broken wooden door and flowers strewn on the floor of the home in Bhatindi in the outskirts of Jammu.
CRPF personnel shot him dead near the stairs that lead to the bedroom, Press Trust India quoted police as saying.
Omar Abdullah said initial reports suggest the intruder was able to gain entry through the front door and in to the upper lobby of the house.
SP Vaid, the state's top police officer said a case has been registered and an enquiry is being conducted into the breach of security.
"He was warned but he didn't listen to the warning of CRPF security guard posted in the gate," the Central Reserve Police Force said in a statement.
Farooq Abdullah, a sitting Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, is in New Delhi for the ongoing parliament session.
"Shameful": Nitish Kumar Breaks Silence On Bihar Shelter Home Rapes
MMNN:3 August 2018
Under opposition attack on a government-run shelter home in Bihar where over 30 girls were raped and tortured, Nitish Kumar today broke his silence and described the case as "shameful", promising strict, uncompromising action.
"What has happened has shamed us. It is a sin. Such cases should not happen again and there should be an institutional mechanism. Those responsible for this should be taught a lesson," the Bihar Chief Minister said at the launch of a government welfare scheme for girls.
"We have always said the guilty will not be spared, and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has said on the floor of the assembly that we would like the CBI probe to be monitored by the High Court," he said.
Nitish Kumar has been repeatedly targeted by the opposition, mainly RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has accused him of trying to shield the accused because of their links with the ruling Janata Dal United.
At the home in Muzaffarpur, girls -- one as as young as seven -- were drugged, raped, forced to sleep naked and scalded with boiling water by its politically connected owner and its staff, a police charge-sheet has revealed. Ten people, including owner Brajesh Thakur, have been charged in the document that detailed a network of police, politicians, administration and criminals exploiting and torturing the girls.
Brajesh Thakur, seen grinning to the cameras while being arrested, runs several non-profits.
There are also allegations that Bihar's Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma's husband visited the shelter home. The wife of an official arrested in the case has claimed that the minister's husband was a frequent visitor.
Tejashwi Yadav seized the allegations to hit out at the Chief Minister. "Against heinous institutional mass rape in Muzaffarpur... sponsored and protected by Nitish Kumar government, we will stage a dharna on Saturday," tweeted Yadav Junior, who has taken over his party's RJD leadership in the absence of jailed father Lalu Yadav.
A team of Bihar's top body to protect child rights had sent a scathing report about conditions in the home last year but the district administration and social welfare department allegedly sat on the report.
"Super Emergency," Says Trinamool As Team Is Stopped At Airport In Assam
MMNN:2 August 2018
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress lawmakers have been stopped at the airport in Assam's Silchar, where they were planning to campaign against a draft citizens' list that has left out four million people from the state.
The eight-member team of legislators and parliamentarians has not budged from the arrival lounge of the Silchar airport for hours.
A large police presence at the airport greeted the delegation as it landed around 1 pm. When the lawmakers tried to exit the airport, they were stopped by a district official who said they "cannot go any further" and handed them a piece of paper explaining that large gatherings were banned in the district from last night.
"Nothing in this paper tells me why I can't go into town," said Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, who was leading the delegation. The argument soon escalated and Mr Roy was physically pushed.
"Our members were roughed up. Sukhendu Shekhar Roy has a pacemaker, he was also roughed up," said outraged Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien in Delhi.
Women MPs were also hurt, he said, adding: "This is a super-emergency. What is going on?"
Officials at the Silchar airport said restrictions had been imposed in the district and large gatherings had been banned.
The Trinamool team was to address locals and speak to residents in Silchar.
A large number of Trinamool supporters gathered outside the airport and shouted slogans. Nobody was allowed to enter or leave the airport.
Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders have aggressively campaigned against the citizens' list or National Register of Citizens for Assam, which was meant to be an exercise in identifying illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The West Bengal Chief Minister says lakhs of people have been left out of the list over electoral politics and has warned of "civil war and bloodbath".
The BJP, which rules Assam, has accused Ms Banerjee of fanning flames which are dormant, and trying to incite unrest.
"Arrest Me": Amit Shah's Dare To Mamata Banerjee Over Kolkata Rally
MMNN:1 August 2018
BJP chief Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata this month has come under a cloud again, with the Delhi unit of the party accusing the Bengal police of refusing permission. The BJP chief, who has handed his party a target of 50 per cent Lok Sabha seats in Bengal, plans to visit Kolkata on August 11.
While the party is making plans to hold a protest outside the city police headquarters, Amit Shah said, "I am going. Let them arrest me if they want".
Sources in the party's state unit, however, said the police have not refused permission, they are yet to respond.
Four years ago, Kolkata's civic body had refused permission for a rally of Amit Shah. The rally was finally held after t he BJP got a go ahead from the Calcutta High Court.
The face -off had fuelled the animosity between the BJP and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Bengal is one of the few non-BJP, non-Congress states and ranks high on the target list of Mr Shah along with Kerala.
As of now, the BJP has minimal presence in the assembly with just three seats. In 2014, the party won just two Lok Sabha seats from the state. But over the last two years, the BJP has managed to dislodge the Left and become the main opposition party in the state.
Priest Who Allegedly Offered Deal To Scrap Rape Case Asked To Step Down
MMNN:30 July 2018
After the family of a Kerala-based nun alleged that a priest made a phone call offering "land, building and safety" if she withdrew her rape complaint against a Bishop, the priest has been asked to step down. The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) Congregation termed it as an unfortunate incident and clarified that they have nothing to do with the priest's alleged offer of land to nuns.
"Father James has been asked to step down. An enquiry has been initiated," it said.
The audio of the alleged phone call to a nun who has stood by the rape survivor is being investigated by the police.
A 46-year-old nun has alleged that Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullackal sexually abused her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. She went to the police only after the Bishop filed a complaint against her and five others, accusing them of threatening and blackmailing him.
The Bishop, who has been booked for rape by Kerala police, has claimed innocence and said he is a victim of vendetta for taking disciplinary action against the nun.
In the leaked phone call, one priest after introducing himself to the 30-year-old nun says: "We can buy some land, build a convent and shift you all there safely. This won't happen tomorrow but everything has a time. We can think about it."
He also speaks about threats if the woman doesn't withdraw her complaint.
"If you all are adamant on your stand, this won't happen. If you withdraw your complaint and go to one of your convents in Odisha, Andhra, threats may arise. But if you move independently and go under some other Bishop, there won't be any threats. It will be good if you think about this and if you decide to do this positively, I will help you in any way possible. I can't do everything, but will help in whatever I can do. In the sense that we can buy some land, build a house, shift them. They will support. I suggested this because they have said they will support," he says.
The nun asks who will "support" the family, the Jalandhar Diocese? He answers with a "yes".
"If we have to buy 10 acres of land and build a decent building for everyone, it's not easy. So they will help, but their condition is that this case must be withdrawn," he explains.
The nun refuses the offer and tells him they won't withdraw any case. "We must get justice. We don't desire to lose any life, or sell our dignity," she says.
The priest, who allegedly acted as a mediator, tries to persuade her and says, "I've understood the situation. I respect your feeling. I was just giving my suggestion. So they are actually thinking about buying some land for this in Erumely and Ranni area. So in that case, you can stay in that compound itself."
NDTV has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the leaked audio.
"We have got the audio. We have taken the statement of the nun. We will file a case today after verifying the authenticity of the audio and establishing the identity of the priest," top police sources told NDTV.
Speaking to NDTV, the family of the nun said, "We have been waiting for justice from the church. When the church failed to offer any help, we were forced to go to the police. We are not worried about the lives of our children. When someone becomes a nun or priest, they are willing to lay down everything for Christ. But there are many Judas' in the church, ready to betray Christ and people."
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma, who recently met the nun, had told NDTV, "The nun claims that the church has not been taking any action despite her complaints because the Bishop is quite influential in Punjab and Kerala.
Make Pankaja Munde CM For An Hour": Shiv Sena Pokes BJP On Quota Stir
MMNN:28 July 2018
Taking a dig at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena today said that his cabinet colleague Pankaja Munde should be made the chief minister for at least an hour to clear the Maratha reservation file.
Ms Munde, who is the rural development minister, in a veiled swipe at Mr Fadnavis over the Maratha reservation issue, had recently said that she would not have delayed the decision if she was in-charge.
"Had the file of Maratha reservation been on my table, I would not have delayed it even for a moment. This issue is being delayed as it is pending in the high court," Ms Munde had said while speaking to Maratha protesters at Parli in Beed district.
In an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Shiv Sena said Ms Munde's statement, in other words, means the government was only dilly-dallying on the issue.
"If Pankaja Munde can clear the file without any problems, she should be made the chief minister with the consent of everybody for at least for an hour, so that a decision is taken on the Maratha reservation file," it said.
"Pankaja Munde's stand needs to be understood. There is no reason to believe that she intends to play politics over the issue. If she can request the prime minister to intervene, why can't Fadnavis go to Delhi and do that as well?" it asked.
The party taunted PM Narendra Modi saying he is usually not in Delhi and has no interest left in the country's affairs.
Even if the chief minister goes to Delhi to seek the Centre's help in resolving the Maratha issue, it is difficult to find the PM as he is mostly abroad, it said.
The Sena said that crushing the protests is the policy of the government.
"The Patel quota agitation in Gujarat was crushed. Hardik Patel was its face and hence it was easy for the government to stamp out the protest. Serious charges like sedition were slapped against Hardik and he was sent to jail," it said.
"The government might have used the same method to crush the Maratha agitation in Maharashtra. However, it faces a difficult situation here as the entire Maratha community is leading the protest," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
The Sena, said Mr Fadnavis alone could not be blamed for the deteriorating law and order situation on the issue as tall promises made before the polls later create problems.
"Promises (of reservation) made to the Dhangar and Maratha communities should be fulfilled now or else the file should be sent to Pankaja Munde for clearance so that the issue gets resolved," it said.
Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil says Mr Fadnavis keeps working till 3 am, the Sena said in the editorial.
"This must be true. The CM must have been spending sleepless nights due to the Maratha agitation and if he shuts his eyes, Pankaja might clear the file. Therefore, the CM should now find that file and fulfil the demand of the Maratha community," the Sena said.
Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, have been demanding 16 per cent reservation.
The community had earlier taken out silent marches across the state to highlight their demands, prominent among them being that of reservation.
The stir, however, turned violent earlier this week with the protesters pelting stones, torching vehicles, blocking roads and stopping train services in several parts of the state. The violence began after a 27-year-old protester from Aurangabad jumped to his death in Godavari river on July 23.
West Bengal To "Bangla": State Approves Name Change, Over To Centre Now
MMNN:26 July 2018
KOLKATA: West Bengal is a step closer to becoming "Bangla", with all parties in the state approving the name-change in the assembly today. The new name needs the centre's clearance.
It will be "Bangla" in all languages, according to a leader of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress. On this at least, the ruling party concurs with its rival Left, which had suggested the name in 1999.
Two years ago, a similar move had been stalled after the Mamata Banerjee government cleared a new name with three versions -- Bangla in Bengali, Bangaal in Hindi and Bengal in English. The centre suggested one uniform name.
Mamata Banerjee has been angling for a new name for her state for some time now. One of her reasons is that West Bengal comes last in state lists, which means the Chief Minister gets to speak last in meetings, or often not at all
It may mean a bump up for the chief minister but the name "Bangla" also has a downside.
Many Bengalis find it difficult to overlook the other meaning of the word; Bangla is a term used for local unbranded liquor.
The state is currently called "Paschim Banga" or "Paschim Bangla" in Bengali.
In 2011, the previous Left government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had cleared the renaming of the state to "Paschimbanga". It was never cleared.
Independence and partition in 1947 led to the division of the province of Bengal into West Bengal, which stayed in India, and East Bengal, which is now part of Bangladesh
Mumbai Bandh Called Off By Maratha Groups After Protests
MMNN:25 July 2018
MUMBAI: After day-long violence in pockets of Maharashtra, a Maratha group enforcing a bandh to press its demand for reservation in jobs and education, called off the strike in Mumbai city. Protests and strikes, however, are in progress in areas surrounding the financial capital. Through the day, protesters blocked arterial roads, including the Mumbai-Pune highway and the Eastern Expressway, and forced shops to shut. Local train routes were blocked in Jogeshwari and near Thane. Violence was witnessed in parts of the state on Tuesday after a protester committed suicide by jumping into a river in Aurangabad.
Here are the top 10 updates on the Maratha protests:
The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation, had called for the shutdown in Mumbai, the financial heart of the country. Another group, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, had called for a bandh today in Navi Mumbai and Panvel.
The protests in Navi Mumbai, roughly 20km off Mumbai, are on. In Kalamboli, one of the key areas of Navi Mumbai, the police had to use batons and teargas to control protesters, who were squatting on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Stones were thrown at two buses in Navi Mumbai. The protesters also forced shops to close in many areas. In Raigadh district's Kamothe, protesters took to the streets, shutting down shops and holding a bike rally.
This morning, protesters blocked Mumbai-bound traffic on Eastern Expressway, one of the busiest and most important roads that is the north-south artery of the city.The Sion Panvel highway was also completely blocked.
Jagannath Sonavne, a third protester who attempted suicide by consuming poison yesterday in Aurangabad's Deogaon Rangari, died in a hospital today.
Posters of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were torn in parts of Thane, near Mumbai. Besides the reservation issue, the Maratha Kranti Morcha is upset with the Chief Minister over his allegation that some members of the community were planning violence during his visit to a temple at Pandharpur town in Solapur district.
The peaceful protests by the Marathas suddenly turned violent on Tuesday after the death of a 28-year-old man, Kakasaheb Dattatreya Shinde, who committed suicide by jumping into the Godavari River on Monday. A second protester made a suicide attempt by jumping off a bridge in Aurangabad and was seriously injured.
One constable died and nine other policemen were injured in stone-throwing as protesters clashed with the police and torched vehicles on Tuesday.
Shiv Sena lawmaker Chandrakant Khaire was manhandled by protesters in Aurangabad when he went to attend the last rites of the farmer.
Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, has been a hugely contentious issue.
Mehul Choksi Moves To Antigua, Gets Local Passport, Say Officials
MMNN:24 July 2018
NEW DELHI: Diamond trader Mehul Choksi, wanted for a Rs. 11,000 crore bank fraud along with his nephew Nirav Modi, has moved to Antigua and got a local passport, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting sources. The two men and their families skipped the country earlier this year.
Last month, Centre's probe agency Enforcement Directorate told a Mumbai court that both should be declared as "fugitive economic offenders" and their assets worth Rs. 3,500 crores confiscated.
Mehul Choksi has refused to return to India, saying he would be killed by mobs if he was brought back.
His appeal for a cancellation of the non-bailable warrants against him, read: "There have been various cases of mob lynching in India... Even the applicant faces a similar threat as there are several persons who have grievances and anger against him (Mehul Choksi)."
The application said Mehul Choksi is concerned that his former employees and debtors may harm him, and he would not be safe in jail from other inmates either
We Are MLA's Men," Claimed Alwar Mob Attackers: Victim's Friend To Cops
MMNN:23 July 2018
ALWAR: It took over three hours for the police in Rajasthan to take a mob attack victim to a hospital just 20 minutes away. Rakbar Khan, 28, bled to death as policemen, before taking him to hospital, arranged a shelter for his cows and paused for tea and snacks. They even gave the wounded man a wash, claiming he was "too muddy".
Rakbar Khan and his friend Aslam were attacked at a village in Alwar by cow vigilantes who saw them walking with cows and suspected they were smuggling the animals. The Home Ministry today sought a report from the Rajasthan government over his death.
The police reached the spot around 1 am, late on Friday night. It was around 4 am on Saturday when they reached hospital with Rakbar, who was declared dead.
The Rajasthan police has asked a top-level panel to investigate the outrageous delay in taking Rakbar to hospital. "Rakbar had severe injuries due to the beating. He died of internal bleeding," a doctor said.
A key witness who will be examined in the case, Rakbar's friend Aslam, gave different versions of the story on Saturday and on Sunday.
Speaking to NDTV on Saturday, Aslam said: "I could not tell who the attackers were." He said he ran away when he heard the sound of firing.
Exactly 48 hours later on Sunday evening, he said in a written statement to the police - known as a parcha bayaan - that he had heard people in the mob saying "you can't do anything to us, we are the MLA's men".
The mob killing by cow vigilantes, the latest in a series of such attacks, has spurred a political row in the state where elections will be held later this year.
The Congress targeted the state's ruling BJP. Congress president Rahul Gandhi commented that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "brutal new India".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh refused to comment on the mob attack. His ministry has ordered a report on what happened.
You May Call Me Pappu, I Don't Hate You": Rahul Gandhi Hug Startles PM
MMNN:20 July 2018
You may call me Pappu, but I don't hate you," Rahul Gandhi said, looking directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then walking across to embrace him. It may not have been an "earthquake" but the Congress president's jaw-dropping gesture during the no-confidence motion debate in parliament came close to it, felt many lawmakers.
The Congress president had been ridiculed for saying in a past session that if he was allowed to speak in the house, there would be an "earthquake".
Earlier, in his sharpest attack on the Prime Minister on subjects ranging from the Rafale deal to GST (Goods and Services Tax), demonetisation and foreign policy, Rahul Gandhi had said repeatedly: "You can't look me in the eye." The PM, sitting directly across, smiled. Then came the twist.
"You can abuse me, you can call me Pappu, but I don't have a speck of hatred against you. I will take out this hatred out of you and turn it into love. I am the Congress," said Mr Gandhi. He quickly left his seat and walked over to the prime minister, who was seen making a questioning gesture with his hand.
The PM looked stumped as Mr Gandhi leaned in and enveloped the prime minister in a bear hug. As the Congress chief started walking away, the PM recovered and grabbed his sleeve. He was seen saying something into Mr Gandhi's ear and patting him on his back.
Back in his seat, the 47-year-old was seen winking at fellow Congress MPs. "Score" -- many Congress lawmakers appeared to say without words.
Sonia Gandhi told NDTV she was "very happy" with son Rahul's performance and "I am happy the media is changing too."
Lawmakers across the house cheered and thumped their desks wildly. Opposition members gave Mr Gandhi a standing ovation.
Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor used the hashtag #BhukampAaGaya.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who was seen grinning throughout the Rahul Gandhi-PM Modi Instagram moment, said "such conduct is against the rules of the house."
Along with some Congress MPs, even ruling party members were seen on their feet. One exception was minister Harsimrat Kaur of the Akali Dal, who said: "This is a house, not for Munnabhai's pappi jhappi."
The ruling BJP was a tad more sporting as it tweeted: "We cannot thank you enough for the entertainment!
Amit Shah Dials Uddhav Thackeray, Sena To Vote With Government Tomorrow
MMNN:19 July 2018
NEW DELHI: The BJP's crotchety ally Shiv Sena decided to back the government in tomorrow's no-confidence motion after party chief Amit Shah dialed Uddhav Thackeray this morning. The conversation was part of the hectic consultations that have been on since morning on both sides of the political divide. The NDA's numbers ensure a comfortable outcome for the government. The big question is the decision of fence-sitters in view of next year's general elections. Sources in Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik's BJD indicated that the parties will abstain from voting, which will help the government by lowering the halfway mark. Telangana Rashtra Samithi is also expected to abstain.
Here are the top 10 updates in this big story:
The NDA has 312 members (without the Speaker) in the 533-member house. The majority mark, however, stands at 266 as 10 seats are vacant. The Congress and the other parties that support the no-trust motion have 172 seats. The AIADMK, Naveen Patnaik's BJD and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi together command 68 seats.
Indicating that his party will not support the no-trust vote, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami said: "The TDP has moved this motion to highlight issues in Andhra Pradesh. No state supported Tamil Nadu when we stalled proceedings in parliament over Cauvery".
Sources said this morning, BJP chief Amit Shah spoke to the party's cantankerous ally Shiv Sena, after its leader Sanjay Raut said Uddhav Thackeray will decide which way their 18 lawmakers will vote.
Uddhav Thackeray is expected to convey his decision to his partymen in the evening. During the budget session, when Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party brought the no-trust motion against the government, Sena announced that it would abstain from voting.
The opposition has made it clear the discussion and not the voting is their objective in this no trust motion. Asked about the matter, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, however, told NDTV, "Who says we don't have the numbers".
The debate in Loka Sabha will be held from 11 am on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be present in house, will respond to it.
Yesterday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the opposition may have no confidence on PM Modi's government, "but I want to make it absolutely clear that the people of the country have full confidence".
The No Confidence motion -- an extension of Andhra Pradesh's demand for special status that would involve extensive financial benefits for the state - was moved yesterday.
By evening, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the matter will be taken up on Friday, stunning many opposition leaders who didn't expect it to come up before next week.
The BJP, which was accused of stalling the no-trust move last time, is seen as changing its approach. Sources said it was because the party felt that once the no-trust vote is debated and defeated, the opposition would not have any excuse to disrupt proceedings in parliament.
Everyone Can Go": Top Court On Entry Of Women In Sabarimala Temple
MMNN:18 July 2018
NEW DELHI: The right of a woman to pray is a constitutional right and does not depend on laws, the Supreme Court said today while hearing a bunch of petitions that challenge the traditional ban on the entry of women between 10 and 50 years of age in the famous Sabarimala temple.
"Every woman is also the creation of God and why should there be discrimination against them in employment or worship," said Justice DY Chandrachud, who was part of the five-judge constitutional bench that was hearing the case.
In October last year, the top court referred the issue to a Constitution bench, framing five "significant" questions. The chief is these is whether the traditional ban amounts to discrimination against women and violates their fundamental rights under the Constitution.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, also has Justices RF Nariman, AM Khanwilkar, and Indu Malhotra.
Today, state minister K Surendran said women should be allowed to offer prayers at the Sabarimala Temple, voicing the longstanding stance of the state's ruling CPM.
Activist Swami Agnivesh Attacked Allegedly By BJP Workers In Jharkhand
MMNN:17 July 2018
JHARKHAND: Social Activist Swami Agnivesh was punched, kicked and pushed to the ground allegedly by BJP Yuva Morcha workers in Jharkhand today. The alleged BJP workers had shown black flags and raised slogans against him. The activist had offered a dialogue, but got abuses in return.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das has asked the police to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Swami Agnivesh, was attending an event in Pakur, about 365 km from state capital Ranchi. He was flanked by tribals who were holding bows and arrows. He was attacked by a mob as soon as he came out of his hotel. The alleged BJP workers were chanting "Jai Sri Ram" as they thrashed the 80-year-old activist.
"I am against any sort of violence. I am known as a peace-loving person. I don't know why I was attacked," Swami Agnivesh told NDTV.
The BJP has condemned the attack, but in the same line added that we shouldn't see the attack in isolation and we have to consider Swami Agnivesh's "track record".
"There is no place for violence in democracy. But Swami Agnivesh should have organised for his security," P Shahdeo, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson, said.
Swami Agnivesh said he had informed the administration about his arrival. But there were no policemen around even after the protesters had gathered outside his hotel. Local reporters said BJP youth wing's workers were protesting his visit, but he was completely taken aback when he was attacked, he said.
"I had offered to hold a dialogue with them. But nobody came to speak to me. I was going to a sammelan (seminar) with my tribal friends when they launched an attack. They were carrying black flags and without any warning pounced on me. They punched, kicked and dragged me on the ground. They also used cuss words," Swami Agnivesh told
The activist likened the attack to mob lynchings that have been reported in several states in the past one year. In all the cases, the blood-hungry mobs had consumed rumours on social media, especially WhatsApp, about cow smuggling and presence of child kidnappers in their area.
"I pleaded with them with folded hands... But they didn't think it was necessary to tell me why they were raining blows on me. They just went on and on," Swami Agnivesh said.
Swami Agnivesh was rushed to hospital where doctors are running tests on him. He says that the stone that missed his head landed on his ribs and he is in immense pain.
The attack appears to be pre-meditated, police said. They have detained 20 men and are sifting though the CCTV footage before making further arrests.
BJP Legislator's Wife Accuses Husband Of Having Affair With College Teen
MMNN:13 July 2018
JAMMU: A BJP legislator's wife today publicly accused her husband of having an extra-marital affair with a college student and marrying her, in a fresh twist to a case that has seen the MLA appear before the disciplinary committee of the party.
Gagan Bhagat, BJP legislator from R S Pura constituency in Jammu district, has been accused by his wife Monika Sharma that he is living with the student after marrying her.
The student's father, an ex-servicemen, has also accused Gagan Bhagat of abducting his daughter from a college in Punjab.
The student and the legislator have denied the charges, calling them an attempt to defame him.
Today, Ms Sharma negated Gagan Bhagat's claim he was paying her Rs. 1 lakh a month and said "not a single penny was given by him despite signing a maintenance form before a judge in April".
She made an appeal to the BJP central leadership and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying a "daughter of your own family is seeking justice, not only for myself and my children but also for that girl who had just turned 19".
Ms Sharma said she and the BJP MLA are married for 13 years.
Her accusations come a day after Bhagat appeared before the disciplinary committee of the BJP in Jammu to clarify his position. Gagan Bhagat and Monika Sharma appeared before the committee separately amid protests led by the student's grandfather.
The legislator refuted the allegations and claimed he and his wife were in the process of getting divorced.
His wife, however, countered Gagan Bhagat's stand and told reporters that though they were living separately for nearly 10 months, no suit has been filed before any court for divorce.
She was accompanied by their 12-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.
Monika Sharma, also the state secretary of BJP's women wing, said she remained quiet for nearly one year in the interest of her family and keeping in mind the future of their children.
"I did not have evidence to prove it (then), but now I have the proof and I have presented it before the committee yesterday," she said.
"I have evidence they are married," Ms Sharma said, showing an incomplete marriage agreement reportedly signed by Gagan Bhagat and the student. She also showed a purported Aadhaar card of the student, which showed her as Gagan Bhagat's wife and her address on the document as Gandhi Nagar in Jammu.
She said she managed to get the marriage certificate before the notary signed it and has cross-checked the Aadhaar card for forgery.
"My mother-in-law visited the residence of the girl to inform her family about her affair with the MLA. On one occasion, she escaped on seeing me, leaving behind her phone. The selfies taken from the phone leave no doubt that they had an extra-marital affair and that they were married."
During a visit to Ludhiana in November, she said her son, who was accompanying his father, lived with the student who had joined them there.
"If they want to live together, let them admit it openly," she said. "My appeal to my party is that if a person holding such a position indulges in these things what will happen to the society."
She said Gagan Bhagat visited her a few days ago and asked her not to appear before the BJP disciplinary committee.
"Every time I have asked him to leave the girl he told me she might file a case against him if he dumps her," she said.
COMMENT
Asked whether she faces any threat, she said a "threat perception is there. My family is saying that they heard you will be killed, or meet an accident or roughed up."
In Outreach To Farmers In Punjab, PM Modi Talks Of Support Price Hike
MMNN:11 July 2018
MUKTSAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to farmers with an address to a "thanksgiving" rally in Punjab, once known for its "Green Revolution". At the rally attended by thousands, he said he salutes the "hard working farmers from all over the country".
"The farmer should have been the first to be uplifted. But for decades, you were ignored by the party that ruled India since Independence," he said, taking a dig at the Congress, which wrenched the state from its ruling Akali-BJP combine in last year's assembly elections.
The "thanksgiving rally" in Muktsar -- 280 km from state capital Chandigarh -- was organised by the BJP and ally Akali Dal to mark the recent hike in minimum support price for 14 summer crops. The hike was the biggest during the four years of NDA rule, which will cost the government nearly Rs. 15,000 crore in public funds.
"Our farmer brothers can now breathe easy... they can earn better... they can sleep peacefully... because of the MSP increase," the Prime Minister said.
But this, he said, will give sleepless nights to the Congress. "They never thought we could make this happen. No one in the Congress is daring to come out and speak, because they know that did nothing for 60 years".
The hike in support prices -- one of the pre-election promises of the BJP -- comes on the heels of massive farmer protests across the country. They also had the support of the opposition, which highlights farmers' suicides to accuse the government of being insensitive to their needs.
Ridiculing what the government has called "a historic decision" Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has compared the MSP hike to applying band-aid to a "massive haemorrhage"
Rajinikanth's Wife Latha To Face Trial For Fraud, Says Supreme Court
MMNN:10 July 2018
CHENNAI: Actor-politician Rajinikanth's wife Latha Rajinikanth will have to face trial in a fraud case after she failed to pay dues to the tune of Rs. 6.20 crore to advertising firm Ad Bureau. The Supreme Court today said investigations will be made into the case against her and she will be put on trial after a chargesheet has been filed.
The dispute started in 2014 over the movie "Kochadaiiyaan", starring Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone, which was the directorial debut of Rajinikanth's younger daughter Soundarya.
A loan of Rs. 10 crore was taken from the firm for the post-production work for the Rs. 125-crore film. The firm later went to court, alleging that Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd, in which Latha Rajinikanth was a director, had defaulted on payment and Rs. 6.2 crore remained pending.
Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd was to refund Rs. 10 crore along with Rs. 1.2 crore promised as "guaranteed profit". The firm also said they had got involved with the project on Latha Rajinikanth's personal guarantee.
The Karnataka High Court, however, cancelled legal proceedings against Latha Rajnikanth, saying the case was not of fraud but breach of agreement. The Supreme Court set aside that order, saying the High Court should not have cancelled the complaint at the initial stage.
In February, the top court ordered that the balance payment be made within three months. Latha Rajanikanth assured the court that the dues will be cleared.
The superstar's wife was pulled up by the Supreme Court last week for failing to ensure repayment. Asking why the payment wasn't made, the court said, "If you don't pay, then be ready to face trial."
PM Modi's 'Bail-Gaadi' Dig At Congress On Shashi Thaoor's Day In Court
MMNN:7 July 2018
JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tore into the Congress, calling the party a "bail-gaadi" and said several of its senior leaders were out on bail. The dig, a play on the Hindi word for a bullock cart, appeared to be aimed at Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor who received protection from arrest in a case into his wife's death today.
"Several leaders who are called stalwarts of the Congress and former ministers are out on bail these days," PM Modi said at a public rally in Jaipur where he pitched for the BJP's re-election in Rajasthan state polls due by the end of the year. He presented the Congress in stark contrast to the BJP, saying "We have no tolerance towards corruption. All our efforts are aimed at building a new India."
Besides Mr Tharoor, who's anticipatory bail was converted to a regular bail by a court in Delhi today in the Sunanda Pushkar case, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi too are out on bail in the National Herald case of cheating and misappropriation.
PM Modi said people were well aware of the "intentions" of the Congress party and criticised it for "questioning the capabilities of the army" - an apparent reference to the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2016.
"It is unfortunate that political opponents also committed a sin by raising questions on the capabilities of the army. This has never happened before and the people will not forgive those who are doing this kind of politics," he said.
Saying that BJP had the singular agenda of development, he said, "Never forget what the previous government left in Rajasthan." The Prime Minister inaugurated several infrastructure projects said to be worth over Rs. 2,100 crore in the state today. PM Modi's visit is said to be a precursor to the BJP's official campaign for the Rajasthan assembly election slated to take place later this year.
On Jammu And Kashmir, Rajnath Singh Says Peace Through "Honest" Governance
MMNN:5 July 2018
SRINAGAR: On his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the imposition of Governor's rule, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that peace and stability could be brought to the state through an honest, effective and efficient administration.
Mr Singh also reviewed the security situation in the state at a high-level meeting attended by Governor NN Vohra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top civil and police officials in Srinagar.
"The dream of a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir will be realised when there is peace and normalcy in the state. It is our firm resolve to bring peace, stability and prosperity through an honest, effective and efficient administration for the problems facing the state," a statement quoted him as saying.
Discussing the way forward for the state, Mr Singh said development and good governance had remained elusive for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the central government was committed to taking all possible measures to bring accountability and transparency in the system.
"With a renewed focus on good governance and development, the Centre is looking forward to kindle new aspirations and hopes amongst the people of the state," he said.
The home minister said the solution to problems lies in empowerment of the people and strengthening the institutions of local self-government.
COMMENT
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under governor's rule on June 20 after the BJP withdrew support to alliance partner PDP, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as chief minister.
AAP Ki Dilli, Says Top Court, Emphasis On Elected Government: 10 Facts
MMNN:4 July 2018
NEW DELHI: The Lieutenant Governor does not have independent decision-making powers in Delhi and the real power must lie with the elected government, the Supreme Court ruled today in a spectacular legal victory for Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the long-running fight over who's the boss in the national capital. "The states should enjoy freedom without unsolicited interference from the centre...popular will cannot be allowed to lose its purpose," the court said, asserting that the Lt Governor must not be obstructionist. "A big victory for people of Delhi", said Mr Kejriwal, whose three-year rule in Delhi has been marked by protests and dharnas, most recently on sofas at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's home last month. "There is no room for absolutism and there is no room for anarchism also," the court said.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
"The cabinet must convey all decisions to the Lieutenant Governor but his concurrence is not required in all matters," the court said, making it clear that the Lt Governor is not the boss.
The top court emphasised that except for anything related to land, police and public order, the Lt Governor has no independent decision-making powers under the constitution.
"The Lt Governor is an administrator in a limited sense and is not the Governor. He is bound by the advice of cabinet advice in matters other than those exempted," the court said.
Reading out the verdict, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said the Lt Governor needs to work harmoniously with the Delhi government.
In 2016, AAP went to the Supreme Court against the High Court's order that the Lt Governor is the administrative boss of Delhi. The top court, disagreeing with the high court today, said the Lt Governor "should not act in a mechanical manner and stall decisions of the Delhi cabinet".
Supreme Court's landmark ruling comes after Mr Kejriwal spent nine days protesting in a visitors' room at the Lt Governor Anil Baijal's house to get his attention.
AAP wanted Mr Baijal to step in and end an officers' boycott that started after Delhi's top bureaucrat, Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, alleged in February that he had been attacked by AAP lawmakers at a late night meeting at Mr Kejriwal's home.
After the officers agreed to talks, Mr Kejriwal ended the protest but started a signature campaign for full statehood for Delhi, a demand that was pushed by the BJP until it took power at the centre.
The tussle started months after the AAP swept to power in Delhi in 2015, winning 67 of 70 seats and reducing the BJP to only three. AAP alleges that the BJP-led central government has since been exacting revenge and using the Lt Governor to block every decision taken by the Kejriwal government.
Days after AAP came to power, the centre dropped a rule that required the Lt Governor to consult the elected government on every decision relating to police, public order and bureaucratic appointments.
In Delhi Family Deaths, Diary Notes Reveal One Man's Delusions
MMNN:3 July 2018
Investigations into the mysterious death of 11 of a family in Delhi are now focused on notes found in the house, which point at one man's hallucinations and delusions of an impending apocalypse.
On Sunday, 77-year-old Narayan Devi, her children and grandchildren were found dead. She was on her bed while 10 others, including two 15-year-old boys, were hanging from a wire grid in the hallway of their home in Burari, north Delhi.
None of the family members, including Narayan Devi, showed any signs of struggle and all died from hanging, confirms the autopsy.
The police say Narayan Devi's youngest son Lalit Chundawa, 45, drove the "mass suicide" and jotted down the notes that included "instructions". He began writing these notes in 2015.
He had reportedly taken a vow of silence a few years ago but had recently started talking again, about "visits" from his dead father.
One of his notes appeared to predict doomsday and advised the family that they would be saved.
The entry read: "Antim samay mein, aakhri ichha ki purti ke waqt, aasman hilegi dharti kaanpegi, us waqt tum ghabrana mat, mantra ka jaap badha dena, mein aakar utar loonga aur ko bhi utarne mein madad karunga (in your last hours, while your last wish is fulfilled, the skies will open up and the earth will shake, don't panic but start chanting the mantra louder. I will come to save you, I will bring you down and help with the others too)."
The police say this was what Lalit believed advice from his father who had died 10 years ago.
Lalit Chundawa allegedly told the family that he received this message from his father and everyone should follow it.
The family was very superstitious and apparently believed that the end of the world was coming.
According to relatives and friends, Lalit Chundawa communicated mostly by scribbling notes, even with customers who came to his grocery shop.
Lalit Chundawa's sister Sujata, who lives in Panipat, wept over the unspeakable tragedy and said: "I can't believe that they committed suicide. Everyone was so happy. Someone has killed my family and the police have to find them."
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11 Bodies, 11 Pipes: Cops Probe Chilling Details Of Delhi "Death House"
MMNN:2 July 2018
As the police investigate the events leading to the death of 11 of a family in Delhi, strange and chilling details are being examined closely. One of them is 11 pipes protruding from one wall of the house, all set close together.
What has baffled investigators is that there was no water outlet on that side of the house in north Delhi's Burari in which the Bhatias lived until they were found hanging on Sunday morning.
Only one, 77-year-old Narayan Devi, was found on the floor, with signs of strangling.
The 10 others, including Narayan Devi's daughter Pratibha, 57, sons Bhavnesh, 50, and Lalit Bhatia, 45, and their families, were found hanging from a net attached to the ceiling.
Bhavnesh's wife Savita, 48, and their three children Meenu, 23, Neetu, 25, and 15-year-old Dhruv, and Lalit Bhatia's wife Tina, 42, and their 15-year-old son Shivam were also hanging.
Also found hanging was Pratibha's daughter Priyanka, 33, who was engaged last month and was, from all accounts, excited about her wedding later this year.
Most of the bodies were four blindfolded, the mouths taped and hands tied behind the back.
Handwritten notes and a diary found at the site indicate that the deaths were planned and that the family followed so-called instructions for "mass salvation", say the police.
As for the mysterious pipes, they face an empty plot and are apparently not outlets for water. Four of the pipes point straight while four are bent. One pipe is a little away from the others.
The police are investigating the significance of the pipes, but there are already murmurs of a spiritual link.
Narayan Devi had one more son and daughter who lived away and are said to be in shock.
The Bhatias had a grocery store and lived in an apartment on the first floor. They were in no financial trouble, as far as friends and relatives knew. One account suggest they became deeply religious after an accident that left Lalit Bhatia mute.
"Andhra Student Raped, Assault Filmed; Man With Video Demands 10 Lakhs
MMNN:30 Jun 2018
A 22-year-old engineering student from Andhra Pradesh has accused her seniors of raping her, filming the act and using it to blackmail her. In her complaint to the police, she said that two of her seniors took her to a birthday party in February last year, where they spiked her drink and raped her. As they had filmed the act, they blackmailed her and continued to assault her, police said.
Both the software engineers passed out of the college this year. The police have charged them with gang-rape, and also under the IT Act for filming the act and using it to blackmail her.
All the three accused have been arrested, the police said, adding they will be sent to judicial custody.
The woman told the police that she had approached the management of her college in Agiripalli in Krishna district, but the officials did not inform the police. Instead they asked the men to delete the video and apologise to the girl, she alleged.
The college management said they took prompt action. They didn't report the matter to the police to protect the identity of the girl and the future of the students, an official explained.
However, after the purported mutual understanding negotiated by the college, the accused, Vamshi and Siva Reddy, in their early 20s, shared the video with their classmates and contacts, which translated into more trouble for the woman.
Two months ago, the girl was threatened by a third student, Praveen, who had a copy of the video. He allegedly demanded Rs. 10 lakh and sexual favours from her. The girl then approached the police and filed a complaint. Praveen was arrested, the other students will soon be arrested, police said
"Siddaramaiah Says No Doubt About Stability Of Congress-JDS Government
MMNN:29 Jun 2018
BENGALURU: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has said he was not unhappy about the ruling Congress-JDS coalition in Karnataka as was being projected, and there was no doubt about the stability of the government.
Breaking his silence on the controversy over video leaks that purportedly showed his remarks on the fresh budget and longevity of the government, Mr Siddaramaiah termed video-graphing of a casual talk and making it public as "unethical".
"What I have said, in what context I have said you do not know. Whoever it is, recording my casual talk with someone and making it public without knowing the context... Is it not unethical," he questioned when asked about the videos.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Congress representatives in the drafting committee of the common minimum programme and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, he said: "You too don't know in what context I have spoken, nobody knows. So I don't have anything to do with it."
"We have formed a coalition government to keep away the communal BJP out of power. The coalition government will be stable; there is no doubt in that. It will be stable," Mr Siddaramaiah, who heads the co-ordination committee of the two parties, added.
A video showing Mr Siddaramaiah purportedly expressing doubts about the longevity of the JDS-Congress government surfaced on Tuesday, adding to the strains of the coalition.
Another video surfaced on Sunday, purportedly showing him expressing his displeasure to Congress legislators over presentation of a fresh budget.
"Who told you that I'm unhappy," he said in response to a question about speculation he was unhappy with the coalition government.
Mr Siddaramaiah returned to Bengaluru last night after undergoing treatment for 12 days at a nature cure hospital in Dharmasthala.
The videos were said to be recorded there without his knowledge.
Divergent views have been aired in public by some Congress and JDS leaders on several issues, including presentation of the budget.
Mr Siddaramaiah, who had held the finance portfolio in the previous government, recently said there was no need for a fresh budget and insisted that a supplementary budget would do.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who holds the finance portfolio now, is scheduled to present the budget on July 5.
"For Rajya Sabha Deputy Post, Congress Accepts Mamata Banerjee's Lead
MMNN:27 Jun 2018
With the government seemed inclined towards forcing an election for the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson, the Congress has decided to establish 2019 squad goals by supporting Mamata Banerjee's candidate, despite enough numbers to pitch its own.
Opposition parties have been sounded out about Sukhendu Shekhar Roy of Trinamool Congress as a likely candidate for the post always held by the Congress, barring eight years between 1969 and 1977.
With the election seen as one more test of the opposition's ability to unite against the BJP for state and national polls, the Congress, say sources, has decided to back Mr Roy as candidate.
On record, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien denies that his party has put up any name. "There is no decision on any opposition candidate. We have not put up any name. The united opposition will come up with a name," he said.
The Congress' PJ Kurien was Deputy Chairperson since 2012.
The Congress, with 51 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, would have been the natural claimant. The party, however, realises that to ensure a non-BJP victory, it needs the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Telegana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on board; the Biju Janata Dal of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Telangana's ruling party, both favour Mamata Banerjee's party man for the role.
These are the parties that have shown more interest in corralling non-Congress and non-BJP parties into a third front for mission 2019.
The last time an election took place for the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson's post was in 1992. The fight was between Congress candidate Najma Heptullah, who is now with the BJP, and Renuka Chowdhary, who was the opposition candidate. Najma Heptulla won with 128 votes against Renuka Chowdhary's 95.
Twenty-six years on, a contest seems likely again with the BJP not ready to concede to a united opposition candidate even though the numbers are stacked against the ruling alliance.
The nomination and election process will take place during the monsoon session of parliament, which starts on July 18.
"Nothing Above 'Family' For Congress," Says PM Modi On Emergency
MMNN:26 Jun 2018
MUMBAI: A BJP function to observe "Black Day" - the imposition of 1975 Emergency - was marked by a full-scale attack on the Congress, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ripped into the party, saying for them, "nothing, no one and no constitution comes above the Family". Speaking at a party function in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said remembering Emergency is meant "not just to criticise Congress for the sin of attacking the constitution, but to create awareness about its dangers".
The Congress government led by Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975, during which fundamental rights were severely restricted, curbs were imposed on the media and several opposition leaders were jailed. The BJP has been observing the day as "Black Day".
The announcement of the Emergency was made on June 25, days after the Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and disbarred her as a parliamentarian for six years.
The Congress, the Prime Minister hinted, is walking the same line. "When a notice was served to the 'family', such was the arrogance, such was the ego, that even the Chief Justice of India was not spared... an impeachment motion was taken against him in Parliament," PM Modi said, pointing to the Congress effort to bring an impeachment motion against Dipak Misra.
Throughout history, whenever the Congress, especially the family feels their power is about to go, they start spreading all sorts of lies, the Prime Minister said. Under the party, even institutions like the judiciary and Election Commission are not safe, he said.
"After god, people of this country have faith in the judiciary. But the Congress plays on this, creates insecurity and doubt in the minds of people," he said, adding when the Congress "faced the reality of going from 400 to 40" seats in elections, they cast doubt on the Election Commission,
He accused the party of "spreading lies" about fear and intolerance in the country.
"They keep saying that Jan Sangh and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh would kill the Muslims... nowadays they keep saying the RSS will kill Dalits... all for creating a fear psychosis among the citizens... We are a big nation with a massive population, and such fear psychosis does have an impact on the people," he said. "They say only they (Congress) can fix the problem... It is all a big lie."
PM Modi said it was important for the young people to be aware of what happened. "The youth of today enjoy freedom, they do not understand what it is to live without freedom. Hence they probably do not feel the pain and the anger of Emergency... Only a man who is thirsty understands the value of water," he said
Four Dead In 24 Hours As Heavy Rain Pounds Mumbai; Traffic, Trains Hit
MMNN:25 Jun 2018
Heavy rain in Mumbai since last night slowed down traffic and delayed trains, hitting thousands of school and office-goers on a Monday morning. Four people have died in Mumbai and adjoining areas since yesterday. Civic officials have placed pumps on stand-by as many low-lying areas in the city reported water-logging.
A huge part of a compound wall of a residential complex in Antop Hill in south Mumbai's Wadala collapsed, taking along 15 parked cars. Dramatic pictures showed five other cars covered in debris. The civic body and the fire department have vacated an entire wing of the Lloyds Estate which houses many bankers. No casualties have been reported.
Among the three people who died in Mumbai was a 15-year-old who died after falling into an open pit in the suburb of Malad. A 13-year-old was killed in Thane in a wall collapse. Two people died yesterday after a tree was uprooted near Azad Maidan in south Mumbai's Dhobi Talao.
The heavy downpour led to water-logging in subways in Andheri, Khar and Malad suburbs, affecting traffic, Mumbai Police said. A container broke down on a bridge on the Eastern Express Highway, leading to traffic to slow down during morning rush hour
Mumbai received 231.4 mm rain in the last 24 hours, a Met department official said. "So much rainfall is categorised as extremely heavy showers," IMD Mumbai Director Ajay Kumar told news agency PTI. "Expect showers to be as intense today as well," private weather forecaster Skymet said.
Many Twitter users shared pictures of water-logging and traffic, with #MumbaiRains remaining the top trend on Twitter this morning.
Mumbai Police tweeted with a dash of humour, "The showers are heavy but so is our 'bandobast' on the streets to 'be there' for Mumbaikars. We are #AlwaysUpForDuty to help you reach your destination with a little care & caution from you during your journey #RoadSafety #MumbaiRains."
5 Activists Gang-Raped In Jharkhand, Assault Filmed
MMNN:22 Jun 2018
Five women between the age of 20 and 35 who were performing a street play in Jharkhand were abducted and then gang-raped in a forest on Tuesday, the police said, adding that the assault was also allegedly filmed on cell-phones.
"We are not ruling out the possibility of the involvement of trafficking gangs and are investigating all aspects," police officer Ashwini Kumar Sinha said.
The women said in their complaint they were performing a play to raise awareness about human trafficking in the largely tribal Khunti district of Jharkhand when they were abducted.
The women work for Asha Kiran, an NGO which is supported by a local Christian missionary group, said police officer Rajesh Prasad to news agency AFP.
Police have also rounded up some supporters of Pathalgadi, an anti-establishment self-rule movement popular in several tribal villages.
Unidentified men picked up nine activists during the street play being performed in the Kochang village and drove them into a dense forest, where the men were beaten up and the women raped, police officer Sinha said to news agency Reuters.
Asha Kiran runs a shelter home for the rehabilitation of rescued girls in Khunti district of Jharkhand, which has been identified as a trafficking hotspot.
There are around 200 rescued girls in Asha Kiran's shelter.
"We are still processing what has happened," said Rajiv Ranjan Sinha of the Jharkhand Anti-Trafficking Network - a coalition of 14 grassroots organisations working in the state. "This is the first time field workers have been targetted and it is both surprising and shocking. It is now going to become more difficult to work on this issue."
India has seen an increase in reports of human trafficking in recent years. Almost 20,000 women and children were victims of trafficking in 2016, a rise of 25 percent from the previous year, according to government data.
Activists say the figures are under-reported, especially due to a lack of awareness in rural areas, emphasising the importance of programmes run by various charities to combat trafficking.
"The incident underlines the dangers on the ground and the fact that human trafficking is an organised and ruthless crime," said Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini, an anti-trafficking charity that also works in Jharkhand.
At Trinamool Meet, Mamata Banerjee's Revealing Comment On Congress
MMNN:21 Jun 2018
The cautious stance of Bengal's Trinamool Congress about Congress slipped today when Mamata Banerjee took the stage at a party meeting. Talking of the political situation in the state, Ms Banerjee lumped the Congress with the BJP, the Left and the Maoists as the "darkest underbelly of society".
"The CPM is falling at the feet of the BJP and clutching at their straws to stay afloat...Congress is opposing BJP in Delhi and holding hands here. Where are the rules, the principles of the Congress? CPM, Congress, Maoists and BJP... they are the darkest underbelly of society," the Trinamool chief said.
Suggesting a nexus between the parties, she added, "Four heads have come together. They are looting money, stealing it, and lighting fires".
Mamata Banerjee, who once belonged to the Congress and broke away to form her own party, shares a warm rapport with Sonia Gandhi, even though her stance about Congress participation in the united opposition against the BJP in 2019 is fuzzy.
She has regularly sent representatives for the get-togethers called by the Congress - the last being Dinesh Trivedi at Rahul Gandhi's Iftaar party last Thursday. But she has also kept up with leaders like Karnataka Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Naidu, who are trying to patch together a non-Congress, non-BJP Federal Front.
At the state level, the two parties are at loggerheads - an antagonism that has become sharper since the last assembly elections when the Congress entered an unofficial alliance with the Left Front.
At the party's strategy session ahead of next year's general elections, Ms Banerjee also admitted to corruption and infighting in the party ranks, and asked her leaders to focus on the organisation.
BJP's Dilip Ghosh Comes Up With 'Encounter' Threat For Trinamool Leaders
MMNN:20 Jun 2018
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KOLKATA: Dilip Ghosh, the BJP's Bengal chief, has waded into another controversy. This time, Mr Ghosh, who has been prepping for party boss Amit Shah's visit to West Bengal next week, declared that those leaders ruling the roost today would soon either be in jail or killed in encounters.
"Every bullet will be made to count," Mr Ghosh said in north Bengal's Jalpaiguri 600 km from state capital Kolkata on Tuesday, according to a video of his speech. The BJP leader was leading a protest against the district administration who the party alleges was acting on directions of ruling Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Turning to the Trinamool Congress leaders, he said leaders who indulged in hooliganism to do as they please in Bengal "will soon either be in jail or straight away there will be an encounter"
"Remember Gabbar Singh's dialogue... How many bullets are in this gun," he said, a reference to the arch-villain of Bollywood blockbuster "Sholay" before he kills his three associates who let him down.
"The bullets will be counted and given.... And corpses will be counted too," Mr Ghosh went on.
Mr Ghosh left no room for imagination who were on his list. He even named the Trinamool's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, referring to him by his nickname that Mamata Banerjee frequently uses: Keshto.
A fortnight ago, Trinamool lawmaker Abhishek Banerjee was severely panned for threatening to make Purulia district opposition free. A day after he said it, a youth was found hanging in Purulia with anti BJP messages scrawled on his shirt.
Mr Ghosh's speech was a message to his political rivals that BJP workers, who are allegedly targeted by Trinamool Congress, would retaliate to violence with violence.
"There is a limit to our tolerance," he said, pledging retributive action against alleged strong-arm tactics of Trinamool leaders.
The local police has filed a case against Mr Ghosh and three others for the speech and the Trinamool Congress has condemned what it calls is a hate speech.
This isn't the first time that Mr Ghosh has landed himself in a row for shooting off his mouth. In the past, he has also threatened beheading for those shouting anti-national or pro-Pakistan slogans. Ahead of this year's panchayat elections, he had claimed that the fight for the local body elections would not end at polling stations but would reach crematoriums.
He had once also said the BJP could drag Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by her hair and throw her out for opposing the 2016 notes ban but later apologised.
Mehbooba Mufti Resigns As BJP Exits Jammu and Kashmir Alliance: 10 Facts
MMNN:19 Jun 2018
NEW DELHI: The signs were there for months, but Jammu and Kashmir's ruling coalition crashed today as the BJP yanked support from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP), leaving the state facing Governor's Rule. "It had become untenable to continue with the PDP government in Kashmir," said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, referring to reasons like deteriorating security and "discrimination" in parts of the state like Jammu and Ladakh. Mehbooba Mufti resigned not long after.
Here are the top 10 updates on the BJP-PDP alliance crash:
-1The PDP-BJP coalition, which was wobbly from the start, flat-lined just days after the central government decided not to extend the Ramzan ceasefire on anti-terror operations. The peace initiative was Mehbooba Mufti's idea.
-2The rift between the parties widened after the rape of an eight-year-old in Kathua. State BJP leaders were seen to support the men accused of kidnapping, gang-raping and killing the child from a Muslim tribal community. Two BJP lawmakers even participated in a rally to demand justice for the arrested men, all Hindus.
-3"Taking feedback from all institutions, the centre and the party was of the view that it is time the BJP withdrew from state government," Ram Madhav said.
-4Defending the decision to pull out support two years before time, the BJP leader said: "Fundamental rights of citizens including right to life and free speech are in danger."
-5A day before Eid, senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead along with two security guards in Srinagar. The same day, a soldier was kidnapped on his way home for Eid and killed.
-6"After the killing of Shujaat, there was no question of not continuing anti-terror operations," said Ram Madhav. In a series of tweets on Sunday, Union home minister Rajnath Singh announced that security forces had been directed to resume operations, indicating that the Ramzan ceasefire would not be extended.
-7The BJP has 25 lawmakers and the PDP has 28 in the 89-member state assembly, both far short of the majority mark of 45.
-8The Congress, which has 12 members, said there is no question of an alliance with the PDP.
-9The other major party in the state is the National Conference, with 15 seats. Its chief and former chief minister Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter: "And so it has come to pass..."
-10Since the two parties came to power in 2015, there had been a series of disputes - over PDP's promises of talks with separatists, the proposal to remove AFSPA or the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act that gives sweeping powers to the army in insurgency-hit areas, and the rollout of the government's flagship Goods and Services Tax.
Manish Sisodia, On Hunger Strike At Lt Governor's, Hospitalised: 10 Facts
MMNN:18 Jun 2018
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's sit-in protest at the house of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has been strongly censured by the Delhi High Court, which pointed out that a "strike" cannot be held at anyone's house and questioned who authorized it. AAP said it would respond. "This protest was the last possible option. We tried every democratic method before this," said senior party leader Sanjay Singh. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was on a hunger strike, has been hospitalized, Mr Kejriwal tweeted. Health Minister Satyendar Jain was also shifted to hospital last evening. Mr Kejriwal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "give a green signal to IAS officers to end their strike".
Here are the top 10 facts in this big story:
-1"This can't be called a strike. You can't go inside someone's office or house and hold a strike there," the Delhi High Court said today in response to a petition.
-2Two other petitions have been filed - one filed by BJP Leader of Opposition in assembly Vijender Gupta and another against what Mr Kejriwal's government calls a "strike" by IAS officers. The court said the IAS association will be party to the cases, all of which will be heard on Friday.
-3Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was taken to hospital after his ketone levels shot up. "Manish Sisodia's ketone level reaches 7.4. Yesterday it was 6.4. ideally it should be zero. 2+ level is considered to be danger zone. Team of doctors reaching LG house to see him," read a retweet from Mr Kejriwal.
-4Yesterday, a group of Indian Administrative Service officers held a rare press briefing to deny that they were on strike, cited concerns about their security and said they have been "targeted and victimised" for political gains. Soon after, Mr Kejriwal reached out with a message, promising them security and seeking full cooperation.
-5Thousands of Aam Aadmi Party supporters attempted to hold a march to the Prime Minister's Office yesterday, but they were stopped midway by the police, who said they did not seek permission for a protest. AAP claimed 45,000 people had turned up for the protest march.
-6Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury has lent support to Mr Kejriwal, saying federalism is being undermined. In a series of tweets, he said the BJP, using offices of Governors and LGs, sought to "destabilise non-BJP democratically elected state govts". A number of CPM cadres took part in yesterday's protest.
-7Mr Kejriwal -- who started his protest on Monday evening -- says till Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal asks bureaucrats to change their approach, he will not leave the waiting room of the Lieutenant Governor's house-cum-office in Delhi. Three of his ministers - Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Satyendar Jain - who accompanied him, also went into protest mode.
-8After Satyendar Jain's hospitalisation, Mr Kejriwal tweeted: "Last nite, Satinder Jain's ketone levels increased n he complained of headache, bodyache, difficulty in breathing n difficulty in passing urine. So, he had to be shifted to hospital. Now, he is doing well. It is 6th day of Mansh's fast. He is doing well," Arvind Kejriwal tweeted this morning.
-9Mr Kejriwal's protest has been supported by most opposition parties - the key exception is the Congress, which is at loggerheads with AAP in Delhi. BJP ally Shiv Sena also sent messages of support.
-10Pawan Verma, spokesperson of BJP ally Janata Dal United, tweeted, "@ArvindKejriwal Those urging officers to non-cooperate against the elected government of the day, may reap immediate political benefit, but will destroy the very foundations of our Republic in the long run. What can happen against one elected govt can happen against another too!"
Cops Release Photo Of 4th Suspect In Journalist Shujaat Bukhari's Killing
MMNN:15 Jun 2018
A day after senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his two security officers were killed in the heart of Srinagar by three terrorists, the police have released the photo of a fourth suspect.
The suspect, a bearded man in a white shirt, can be seen in the photo checking on the bodies in the car, not long after Mr Bukhari was shot dead.
As someone pulls out one of the bodies from the car, the suspect is seen picking up a pistol and leaving, reports news agency PTI.
The fourth man is suspected to be a local.
The Editor-in-Chief of "Rising Kashmir" was killed when he had just left his office in Press Enclave and was heading to an Iftar party. The police suspect the killers were working for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar e Taiba.
This was a planned attack," said Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta. "The attack would not be possible without local support," he told NDTV.
Last night, the police released security footage of the terrorists on a bike. The faces of the rider and the third man are hidden by a helmet and a mask. The man in the middle is seen holding what seems to be a sack of weapons. His face is shielded from the cameras by the
Mr Bukhari, 52, was given police protection after an attempt on his life 18 years ago. The father of two, who was often part of "track-2" diplomacy between India and Pakistan, was also said to be on a terrorist hit list.
In 2006, Mr Bukhari was kidnapped by unknown gunmen who then attempted to shoot him at close range. Miraculously, the gunman's pistol got locked and the journalist ran for his life.
In recent weeks, he had strongly backed the internal ceasefire announced by New Delhi for Ramzan.
Just days ago, he tweeted on the killings of two policemen in Pulwama in south Kashmir.
"It is heart wrenching to see these policemen getting killed during Shab e Qadr. May the families have courage to bear the loss. At the end two more Kashmiris lose lives. Violence must stop to create a space for dialogue," he posted.
0
COMMENTSThe police have put out a public appeal for help to identify the killers from the CCTV images. The informant's identity would be confidential, they assured.
Hundreds of mourners in Kashmir today joined the funeral procession of Mr Bukhari at his ancestral village Kreeri in Baramulla. Despite heavy rain, crowds of villagers, friends and colleagues followed the procession through the streets of the village
On Opposition's PM Face, Tejashwi Yadav's Nuanced Response
MMNN:14 Jun 2018
NEW DELHI: Tejashwi Yadav, the son of Bihar leader Lalu Yadav, today said he was working with Rahul Gandhi to "save democracy and the constitution". The 28-year-old, seen as the political heir of Bihar Veteran Lalu Yadav, is known to share a rapport with the Congress chief. Today, on the question of the Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate of the united opposition, Tejashwi Yadav gave a cautious response that took nothing for granted.
Tejashwi Yadav, who is seen as rooting for a united opposition, said he was happy that the opposition parties have realised that they have to remain united. "You can see the results after that," the young leader told NDTV in an exclusive interview, referring to string of opposition victories in the recent by-elections - starting with prestigious Gorakhpur and Phulpur and then onto Kairana and Noorpur.
He has even said his party's victory in the recent by-election in Bihar's Jokihat was a spin-off of the alliance between Akhilesh Yadav and Dalit powerhouse Mayawati.
Asked if Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will accept Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister, Tejashwi Yadav said, "Rahul Gandhi has said that if the Congress becomes the single largest party, Congress will stake claim".
But there was a rider. "I think whichever political party becomes the single largest, it will stake claim to the PM post. If you look at the opposition, a lot of people are capable of becoming PM," he said, adding, as of now, no one has officially staked claim.
Calling the matter a "secondary question", he said right now, it was "more important to save the constitution".
Last week, Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi had a 40-minute meeting in Delhi. Sources said they discussed the political situation in the country and in Bihar.
After the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav tweeted a photo of them together, quoting a couple of lines from British poet William's Wordsworth. The poem is titled "The French Revolution as It Appeared to Enthusiasts at Its Commencement".
Bhaiyyu Maharaj Suicide: Spiritual Guru Shoots Himself In Head
MMNN:12 Jun 2018
Bhaiyyu Maharaj, a popular spiritual leader, has allegedly shot himself. He is in hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. Reports suggest Bhaiyyu Maharaj shot himself over "domestic issues". He was taken to Bombay hospital in Indore.
Bhaiyyu Maharaj reportedly acted as a mediator during the 2011 anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, he had refused to accept the minister of state status conferred on him by the Madhya Pradesh government.
Another top police officer, "He shot himself on his right temple in a room bolted from inside. His body was brought out by breaking the door of the room and taken to hospital, where he was declared brought dead, according to news agency PTI.
Visuals from Bhayyu Maharaj's residence in Indore. DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra says, ''We have seized the suicide note. In the suicide note, he has mentioned mental tension but the reason for the tension is not known as yet. We are investigating the case.''
Inspector General of Police Makrand Deoskar says, "The suicide note and pistol have been seized by police. All aspects of the case are being investigated. Family members are also to be questioned.
Bhaiyyu Maharaj was known for his opulent lifestyle and for his links with influential politicans and businessmen. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar were reportedly counted among his followers.
Bhaiyyu Maharaj Commits Suicide In Indore, Shoots Himself In Head
Bhaiyyu Maharaj, a popular spiritual leader, has allegedly shot himself and is in hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. Reports suggest Bhaiyyu Maharaj shot himself over "domestic issues". He was taken to Bombay hospital in Indore.
Jayant Rathore, Indore Police, said that, "he has been admitted to the hospital, can't say anything else right now. He had shot himself in the head."
BJP, Used To Controlling Political Arena, Has Bihar Allies Acting Out
MMNN:11 Jun 2018
It may not be a multi-car pile-up (yet), but the hazard lights are on now for the BJP's coalition in Bihar where three of three partners of the national party are convinced that they're getting a raw deal.
Exhibit A: Upendra Kushwaha, union minister, who heads the RSLP regional party and refused to attend a "unity dinner" hosted by the BJP in Patna last week, though he did find the time to fly into the Bihar capital just hours later, brutally making the point that his absence at the dinner was deliberate. "Amit Shah was not there either," he said defiantly, referring to the fact that the BJP chief, currently meeting other hurt allies, did not add Bihar to his make-good spree.
Mr Kushwaha formed his own regional party five years years ago after splitting from the outfit headed by one-time mentor Nitish Kumar, who last year upended all political calculations by fleeing from a league of opposition leaders to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national coalition. As part of the switchover, he now runs Bihar with the BJP and not earlier partners Congress and Lalu Yadav, with whom he jointly contested the state election in 2015.
Mr Kushwaha feels he is constantly sidelined by the BJP chief for Mr Kumar. So last week, a top leader from his party said it should be him, and not the Chief Minister, who is made the face of the alliance's campaign in Bihar in next year's national election. The Kushwaha caste, the leader reasoned, forms 10 per cent of Bihar's population; Mr Kumar's Kurmi caste, on the other hand, adds up to just 4 per cent
Mr Kumar's party has also offered its take on the campaign, suggesting that it should be the Chief Minister and not the Prime Minister in whose name the election is contested. This is a tough sell: in the last national election, Mr Kumar's party, the JDU, won just two of Bihar's 40 parliamentary seats. The BJP and its then allies won 31, gamely riding the Modi wave.
If Mr Kushwaha believes that it is Mr Kumar who gets all the attention in Bihar from the BJP, he may be misguided. Aides close to the Chief Minister point out that at last week's dinner, meant to portray a united front, Mr Shah was not present; instead, Mr Kumar had to make do with state-level BJP leaders as his hosts. The dinner ended without Mr Kumar offering a comment to the media waiting outside as he drove away. Not exactly good vibes.
As Exhibit B of Sulking Allies, the Chief Minister has to contend with the fact that since he signed up with the BJP, he has got precious little to show for it. He has lost two crucial elections -- recently, he appeared to suggest that's because Muslims are turning on him -- and his main demand, that of special financial assistance from Bihar, has gone unheeded. Mr Kumar sough Rs. 7,600 crore from the centre for Bihar; despite being on the PM's team now, he was sanctioned Rs. 1,200; privately, even BJP leaders admit they thought that Mr Kumar would get more after his crossover.
"Kite-flying," is how the Chief Minister dismissed the political natter about his angst with the BJP. Elaborating at a press conference today, he said, "There's no problem with seat-sharing, everyone's working smoothly." The attempt to take the edge off comes as top advisers like KC Tyagi have been activated into publicly expounding on the need for Mr Kumar to get top billing over Mr Modi in the 2019 campaign. Pawan Varma, another aide routinely critical of the BJP, who was alienated from the Chief Minister months ago, is now back in the inner circle. Signs, all these, of the usual on record "all-is-well" versus off-camera hostility.
Next up is Ram Vilas Paswan. Exhibit C joined the PM's coalition ahead of the general election in 2014 and won six of Bihar's 40 seats. Sources say he's now concerned that the BJP will ask his party to contest fewer than that next year in order to allocate a larger share to the Chief Minister.
Mr Paswan, a union minister and veteran Dalit leader, is also worried that so far, the centre has not chosen to circumvent the Supreme Court order that changed a special law which punishes discrimination against Dalits. In March, the top court banned the immediate arrest of those accused of persecuting Dalits and said prior approval of officials is required along with some inquiry before arrests are made. The centre has asked the court to reconsider its verdict, but has not issued an executive order that would restore the original law.
Violent protests by Dalits led to at least seven people being killed. Mr Paswan and other leaders of backward castes have said the Supreme Court has weakened a law meant to protect the weakest sections of society.
Mr Kushwaha and Mr Paswan have said recently that their collaboration with the BJP is not placed vertiginously.
Earlier this year, a retinue of meetings -- five in a matter of two months -- between Mr Paswan and the Chief Minister incited talk of them exploring how to effectively gang up against the BJP in an attempt to hold their own.
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COMMENTSBoth are worried about BJP leaders in Bihar being linked to communal riots in March since they draw heavily from Muslim support.
It's unlikely that the acting up by any the BJP's allies will amount to much more than a play for what each ally sees as his deserved share of parliamentary seats. But for the BJP, which has become unaccustomed to electoral defeats, recent setbacks in by-elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar mean allowing allies to blow off steam -and perhaps even giving them something in return.
PM Modi Assassination Plot Revealed In Maoist Letter: Pune Cops To Court
MMNN:7 Jun 2018
Plans to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a "Rajiv Gandhi-like incident" have been revealed in a letter seized from a suspected Maoist, the Pune police told a court on Thursday.
Five people were arrested on Wednesday for links with the banned CPI-Maoist - Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, lawyer Surendra Gadling, activists Mahesh Raut and Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson. Described by the police as the "top brass of the urban Maoists", they were arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon caste violence in January. The letter was found from the home of Delhi-based activist Rona Wilson, the police claimed in the sessions court, according to news agency PTI.
The letter talked about the need for Rs. 8 crore to procure M-4 rifle and four lakh rounds, and also about "another Rajiv Gandhi incident", public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told the court. "We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident. It sounds suicidal and there is a chance that we might fail but party must deliberate on our proposal...," the prosecutor quoted the letter as saying.
"It is a very serious matter. It is known that Naxals are under pressure. It is sinister and dangerous. Many of these elements tend to link up with mainstream parties," said the BJP's Nalin Kohli.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said: "Security agencies will do their work. The court is hearing. Let the court decide."
A copy of the letter, released by ANI news agency, says: "...inspite of big defeats like Bihar and West Bengal, Modi has successfully established BJP governments in more than 15 states. If this pace continues then it would mean immense trouble for the party on all fronts...Col Kisan and a few other senior comrades have proposed concrete steps to end the Modi-era."
Lawyers presenting the accused said the documents cited by the prosecution were fabricated and an attempt to frame them.
Violence erupted in Bhima-Koregaon after Hindu activists protested a march by Dalits to mark the 1818 battle of Bhima Koregaon where British forces, mostly consisting of Mahar soldiers (who were Dalits), defeated the forces of Peshwa, ending the Maratha rule.
Pranab Mukherjee In Nagpur Live: Former President To Address RSS Event
MMNN:7 Jun 2018
NAGPUR: Former President Pranab Mukherjee is in Nagpur where he will be the chief guest at a function of the RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh today. The event has generated a lot of interest and controversy over the past few days, ever since Mr Mukherjee agreed to address RSS trainees at the Sangh's headquarters in Nagpur. Mr Mukherjee will deliver the main address at the function organised for RSS cadre training to become full-time volunteers or pracharaks. The RSS is the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP and several ministers visit its headquarters in Nagpur. Congress president Rahul Gandhi accuses the organisation of trying to divide the country on religious lines.
After Rahul Gandhi's Peace-Keeping, Karnataka Finally Gets 25 Ministers
MMNN:6 Jun 2018
BENGALURU: Two weeks after HD Kumaraswamy took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister, 25 ministers were sworn in today after ally Congress settled on its choice of ministers. The man behind the turmoil was DK Shivakumar - the Congress's biggest crisis manager at a time when the party was trying to prevent defections following a hung verdict in state polls.
Mr Shivakumar, 56, wanted to be Deputy Chief Minister but sources say after a one-on-one meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he agreed to the job of minister with two portfolios. He is likely to take charge of the irrigation ministry, with medical education as the second portfolio.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and his party Janata Dal Secular were dead against a second Deputy Chief Minister after G Parameshwara of the Congress. Mr Shivakumar, a seven-time lawmaker, belongs to the powerful Vokkaliga caste like Mr Kumaraswamy.
Mr Shivakumar was told that it would be difficult to accommodate two Vokkaligas at the top without making other sections unhappy. But he reportedly didn't give up hope until last evening, after Rahul Gandhi persuaded him to drop his demand.
It may not end the bickering. Sources say some in the party are upset that he has been offered not one but two ministries.
For now, the Congress has picked 15 cabinet ministers. Eventually, it will have 22 ministers in the 33-member cabinet.
The meaty portfolios of finance, excise and transport will go to the JD(S). Even Mr Shivakumar's power portfolio in the previous Congress government has gone to the JD(S). The Congress gets home, industries and revenue among other portfolios.
Both parties fought for the important finance ministry, but before any escalation, Rahul Gandhi reportedly advised Congress leaders to give in.
As part of the understanding between the partners - who have learnt bitter lessons from their past partnership that ended with Mr Kumaraswamy joining hands with the BJP - a coordination committee will be set up with former chief minister Siddaramaiah as its chief.
For the Congress, which failed to win the Karnataka election, it has been a tough balancing act driven by the bigger considerations - the 2019 national election and a strong, stable alliance to beat the BJP in Karnataka.
The two parties have announced that they will contest the 2019 polls together in Karnataka.
How the JDS-Congress came to rule Karnataka has been a huge confidence booster for opposition parties who turned Mr Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony into a show of unity against the BJP.
Bengaluru Ola Driver Allegedly Molests Passenger, Forces Her To Strip For Photos
MMNN:5 Jun 2018
A 26-year-old woman in Bengaluru was held captive in an Ola cab and allegedly molested by the driver who also forced her to strip for photos.
The woman, an architect, was on her way to the airport in the early hours of Friday June 1 when the cab driver allegedly took a detour claiming it was a faster route.
She was alone in the cab, and wanted to catch an early flight to Mumbai.
The woman has told the police that the driver stopped the car at a deserted spot and assaulted her. He allegedly threatened to call more men and have her gang-raped.
The driver allegedly forced the woman to strip, after trying to choke her. He took photos and allegedly shared them on WhatsApp.
"Based on a mail from the woman, we have registered an FIR. We appreciate the lady for immediately informing the police, bravely," said senior Bengaluru police officer Seemant Kumar Singh.
The driver, Arun V, was arrested within three hours.
"We have also issued a notice to Ola Cabs as to why the police verification of this driver was not done," Mr Singh added.
"We have zero tolerance for such incidents and the driver has been blacklisted from the platform as an immediate action upon receiving the complaint. Safety of customers is our top priority and we are extending our full support to the police authorities in their investigation," Ola said in a statement.
Army Called After More Violence In Shillong, Curfew Imposed In Many Areas
MMNN:4 Jun 2018
The Army has been called in to conduct flag march in parts of Shillong which have been witnessing violence for the last four days. The home ministry has sent in 11 companies of para-military forces to help the police maintain law and order in the Meghalaya capital.
Fresh violence broke out in the city last night, prompting the police to use tear gas shells to control a mob. The unrest, which started on Thursday as two groups clashed in the city's Punjabi Line area, has now snowballed into a tribal versus non-tribal issue.
Sita Was Test-Tube Baby, Declares Yogi Adityanath's Deputy
MMNN:1 Jun 2018
LUCKNOW: A minister in Uttar Pradesh has shared his radical views on ancient India's gifts to modern science, adding to the stream of such comments derided by many as outrageous. Lord Ram's wife Sita is an example of a test-tube baby, UP's Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma has suggested.
"When Sita was born there must have been something like a test-tube baby. (Her father King) Janak ploughed the land and a baby came out of an earthen pot, she became Sita. This means technology similar to a test-tube baby must have existed," Dinesh Sharma says in a video that became a rage on social media on Friday.
He was apparently speaking at an event on Wednesday to mark "Hindi journalism day". At the same function, the minister shared another gem and said journalism "started during the Mahabharata".
Dinesh Sharma said the character Sanjaya, who described the epic war of Kurukshetra to king Dhritarashtra was providing a sort of "live telecast".
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COMMENTSHe also believed that "our google" started in ancient India, with the mythological character "Narad Muni" who was known to be an informer. "He could reach anywhere and transfer a message from one place to another by saying 'Narayana' three times," said the minister'.
In April, Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb had embarrassed the BJP when he declared that internet originated from ancient India. He had also used the example of Sanjay, the narrator, saying he was able to describe the events on the battlefield because of internet and technology.
Kairana Shows 2019 May Not Be A Modi-Wave Election
MMNN:31 May 2018
The victory of the opposition in the Kairana by-polls has sent out an unambiguous message after the Gorakhpur and Phulpur wins of the Samajwadi Party alliance - a united opposition will trounce the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the country's swing state with 80 parliamentary seats.
The BJP had won the Kairana parliamentary seat by a margin of 2.4 lakh in 2014. Kairana was the epicentre of the infamous "Hindu exodus" theory floated by the BJP that, many believed, was aimed at tried and tested polarisation of voters.
The BJP had pulled out all the stops, desperate to ensure that the opposition did not have the impetus to unite - the win in Kairana will provide that.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the fig leaf of an expressway launch to campaign next door to Kairana, taking out a road-show and defying convention that prime ministers never campaign for by-polls.
Nothing worked for the BJP. Not Yogi Adityanath's invocation of "Jinnah", which was countered successfully by Jayant Chowdhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), who said, "Ganna (sugarcane) mattered in the sugar belt of Western UP, not Jinnah."
The BJP had a bad day at the office across the country with only Palghar in Maharashtra saving it the blushes. The signal sent by Palghar was that it was the index of opposition unity which defeats the BJP. Even Palghar, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis campaigned like a man possessed, the BJP's margin of victory came down to 20,000 from 2,30,000.
After UP, Maharashtra sends the second largest contingent of MPs to the Lok Sabha - 48 - so the signal again to the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP is to unite.
Interestingly, the Shiv Sena, which has broken off its 20-year-old "alliance" with the BJP, is also in play to ally with the BJP's opposition in Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, considered the wily old fox of Indian politics, has checked the temperature and stopped his tacit alliance with the BJP, hopes to work out a similar "quiet understanding" with Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray. They have had three quiet meetings already, over Chinese food - a common passion. Mr Pawar is keeping senior Congress leader and trusted aide Ahmed Patel in the loop on his ventures with the Sena.
So who are the real winners and losers in election season?
Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar as the Jokihat victory has added to his stature.
Jayant Chowdhary and Ajit Singh, his father, re-embraced by the Jats of Kairana at a time the party had no legislator anywhere.
The RLD will now be a junior partner in the planned mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) between Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party. BJP leaders had ridiculed the regional heavyweights as "an alliance of snake and mongoose". But, the UP voters clearly like the story that "Bua (Mayawati) and Bhatija (Akhilesh)" are telling.
The Congress will now have no choice but to hitch its wagon to the mahagathbandhan as a junior partner, with neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh exactly desperate to have the grand old party on board.
The Congress and BSP will now ally for certain for the Madhya Pradesh polls. The BJP is not expecting great results from the elections later this year in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where it is in power. Sources say that the Congress has already roped in a small regional party and the deal with Mayawati is done and dusted.
The by-poll results across 10 states underline that regional parties and opposition math pose a huge challenge to the BJP.
The Congress must internalise this reality, with barely 12 months to go for the general elections as its chalks out its alliances with regional players. Congress president Rahul Gandhi must now act as a catalyst and lynchpin for the united opposition, and for the time being, forget any prime ministerial dreams.
The BJP is hoping to capitalise on Modi-versus-the-rest as one man takes on the disparate group of parties - what the BJP calls a "corrupt khichri" - but as the incumbent, PM Modi can't really seem to convince the voters, as recent results reveal.
A key takeaway from UP is that the incessant demonisation of Muslims - which started with the 2013 riots in Muzzaffarnagar in western UP - is clearly producing diminishing returns.
The lower caste consolidation in UP is also a reaction to the unapologetic "Thakur raj" run by Yogi Adityanath and the scary "freedom of encounters" apparently given to the UP Police.
Kairana was a huge psychological mood-changer for both the opposition and the BJP.
The opposition will now look to script unity across the country. The fence-sitters on the opposition may now want to consolidate against the threat from the BJP, which under Amit Shah has treated allies roughly, eaten into their space and given no quarter. Says a senior leader from the Congress - "imagine how radioactive the BJP is that even its oldest ally Sena balks at working with it".
Amit Shah, with his gargantuan electoral appetite and arrogance in dealing with NDA allies, seems to have lost his strategic objective of keeping the opposition divided as he wants to win everywhere.
The BJP will now have to eat humble pie if it wants to keep its remaining flock together. But it seems in no mood to, as Nitish Kumar - the Bihar Chief Minister who switched loyalties - is finding out the hard way after being marginalised and publicly snubbed by the BJP.
Clearly, 2019 will not be a Modi-wave election as most of the promises made by candidate Narendra Modi remain unfulfilled. As predicted by union minister Nitin Gadkari, "achhe din (good times)" has become a millstone around the BJP's neck as to the voter, they seem elusive.
The slogan has been virtually banned by the BJP and PM Modi has stopped using it since the BJP's Bihar defeat in 2015.
Without a wave, real issues of agrarian distress, the unravelling effects of demonetisation, the huge job crisis, rising fuel prices and other bread-and-butter issues of "bijli pani sadak" (electricity, water, roads) will matter to the voters again.
The BJP has already started using a pliable CBI against the opposition, registering cases and hoping to get leaders such as Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav to play ball. But in an existential crisis, these threats no longer have the same urgency. A senior leader says, "Enough is enough. I prefer to go to the voters and get results from them rather than this daily arm-twisting by the agencies."
The opposition will have to hold onto the same spirit for a while and work out the tricky issues of sharing space and staying united while chalking out a story to tell the voters.
Negative narratives don't really work. A senior BJP leader quips, "All the future PMs will trip over themselves. Their only agenda is survival." He is right, but survival is a need that cannot be underestimated. The opposition will have to prove it and work out a formula of unity.
The BJP is now the real pole of politics, yet it finds itself floundering. With the party still claiming the biggest war-chest, the agencies and the charisma of PM Modi, don't underestimate Amit Shah just yet.
But the BJP now has a real fight on its hands for 2019. It will not be a walkover. The beneficiary will be Indian voters, who like to keep politicians fighting and don't want to be taken for granted.
It will be a rejuvenated united opposition against a BJP fighting its biggest fight
Election Commission Has Become The Mistress": Sena Attacks BJP Again
MMNN:30 May 2018
MUMBAI: In an attack on the Election Commission or EC over complaints of malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines in bypolls, the Shiv Sena today dubbed the poll panel, democracy and elections as "mistress" of those in power.
The Sena alleged that its ally, the BJP which it said has an "autocratic mindset", has corrupted the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to serve its own purpose. It warned that people's loss of faith in the election process was "dangerous" for democracy. "Our country can no longer be called the largest democracy in the world. EVMs have spoilt the democracy. Those in power at present have made democracy their mistress with their autocratic mindset," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.
"The BJP has corrupted EVMs, and made them into a machinery that can be used for its own purpose. Elections and the Election Commission have become the mistress," it alleged. Referring to complaints of technical snags in EVMs and VVPAT machines in Maharashtra's Bhandara-Gondia and Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls, it said while each vote counts and can be a deciding factor, thousands of people got "bored" waiting in queues and returned without voting after the machines malfunctioned.
"The present Election Commission and its machinery have become like slaves of the government. Hence, they are not ready to take complaints of distribution of alcohol and money, the autocracy of government and threatening statements," it charged.
The publication also mocked EC for blaming the hot weather for malfunctioning of EVMs. "The temperature keeps fluctuating. However, we never heard of the prime minister's flight engines having stopped working due to hot weather or computers of the BJP's social media cell malfunctioning due to hostile weather," it quipped and asked "why did EVMs stop functioning then?"
Since the last several years, EVMs were procured from (PSU) BHEL or from the Election Commission of India. This time, the machines were procured from a private company in Surat, the Sena pointed out, adding that this raises doubts. "People not trusting the election process is dangerous for democracy," it opined. There is a discontent among people against the BJP, yet the party is winning elections and instances of EVMs malfunctioning only gives an impetus to the belief that there is a "setting" of EVMs that ensures the party wins, the Marathi daily alleged.
"There was a time when the BJP opposed these machines. Now, the whole country is opposing it, the BJP is supporting it. The whole world has rejected EVMs, then why is the government supporting it?" it sought to know.
The EC yesterday announced re-poll in 73 polling stations in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana, 49 polling stations in Maharashtra's Bhandara-Gondia and one polling station in Nagaland, after the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines developed snags during the bypolls held on Monday. No re-polling was ordered in the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency.
"Find Me A Place," Says Akhilesh Yadav, On Order To Exit Lucknow Bungalow
MMNN:29 May 2018
LUCKNOW: Akhilesh Yadav, who has pleaded "homelessness" in the Supreme Court to try and hold on to a government allotted bungalow for two more years, challenged the media to "find him a place".
The Samajwadi Party chief and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav have both moved the Supreme Court against an order that asks former chief ministers to vacate their official bungalows, and asked for two-year's time.
As he addressed reporters on the bypolls yesterday in Uttar Pradesh, which were clouded by allegations of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Akhilesh Yadav had a ready retort for reporters questioning him about his reluctance to move out.
"We are ready to vacate but we need more time, both netaji (Mulayam Singh) and I don't have any place to live in Lucknow. If you can find a place for us let us know," the former chief minister snapped.
In his petition before the Supreme Court, Mulayam Singh asks for time citing his age and ill-health. Akhilesh Yadav lists security and his children's education as reasons why he should be allowed to hang on to the bungalow he was entitled to as chief minister.
Another former chief minister, Mayawati, has "turned" her vast five-acre, 10-bedroom bungalow in Lucknow into a "memorial" for her mentor Kanshi Ram, the founder of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). A few days ago, a new board was put up outside her bungalow that reads: "Shri Kanshi Ramji Yaadgaar Vishram Sthal".
The UP government served notice to Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav and four other former chief ministers about 10 days ago, asking them to vacate their official homes in 15 days as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The top court has cancelled changes to the law that enabled former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to live in official homes for life, saying that these were "based on irrelevant and legally unacceptable considerations, unsupported by any constitutional sanctity."
Sunanda Pushkar's Social Media Texts Treated As Dying Declaration: Police
MMNN:28 May 2018
Sunanda Pushkar emailed her husband, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, that she had "lost her will to live", the Delhi police said in court, after submitting a 3000-page chargesheet that accuses Mr Tharoor of abetting her suicide. Her mail and messages on social media have been taken as a "dying declaration", the police told the court.
"I have no desire to live...all I pray for is death," Sunanda Pushkar wrote in the email to her husband on January 8, nine days before she was found dead in her suite at a luxury hotel in Delhi.
The police told the court that 27 tablets of Alprax were found in her room and it is not clear how many she had. Her death, the court was told, was due to poisoning.
The charge-sheet quotes a special investigation team as stating that Shashi Tharoor " as a husband ignored Sunanda when she was sliding or slipping into depression and she had Alprax." They had frequent fights, it says.
The entire chargesheet is, however, yet to be made public. The case till now was being heard in a court that's meant to hear cases against parliamentarians and legislators, but now will be heard in a special court on Saturday. If the court admits the police charge of social media messages being avoided as part of dying declaration, it may be the first time such an instance is seen in a criminal investigation.
The 51-year-old was found dead in her hotel bed on January 17, days after a public spat with her husband who she suspected was having an affair with a Pakistani journalist.
"He ignored her calls," the special team found, and that he used to disconnect her calls in the days before her death.
Sunanda Pushkar used social media to reach him, but those messages were also ignored, says the charge-sheet.
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COMMENTS"Though injury marks were not serious but they are consistent with claims that the couple fought,"the charge-sheet says.
They had a public row at the Kochi airport and on the plane to Delhi, the police said. She confided in her friends, who reportedly told the Special Investigation Team. The public prosecutor said all the statements have been video recorded.
PM Modi vs "Anarchist" Front: Arun Jaitley's Prediction For 2019 Polls
MMNN:26 May 2018
From Karnataka to Uttar Pradesh, opposition parties have been on a high all of this week over renewed hopes of putting up a united front against the national coalition fronted by the BJP. On Saturday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to dismiss that optimism in opposition ranks, describing the proposed front as an "anarchist" formation of "disparate political parties". The front is a "fictional alternative" which would be rejected by an aspirational India, he said.
The political agenda for the debate this year appropriately will be Prime Minister "Modi versus an anarchist combination", Mr Jaitley said in a Facebook post on four years of Modi government.
"Some of their (opposition) leaders are temperamental, the others occasionally change ideological positions. With many of them, such as TMC, DMK, TDP, BSP and the JD(S), the BJP has had an opportunity to share power. They frequently change political positions" Mr Jaitley said, adding that "stable politics is far from their political track record."
Dismissing the idea of a "federal front", Mr Jaitley said "to rule a large country like India through coalitions is possible but the nucleus of a coalition has to be stable. It must have a large size, an ideologically defined position and a vested interest in honest governance."
Mr Jaitley made the stinging attack on the Congress that formed a last-minute alliance with the JDS in Karnataka to keep the BJP out of power, which despite being the single largest party lacked the majority number.
The Congress "is in desperation without the perks of office. Its best hope lies in becoming a supporter of regional political parties," Mr Jaitley said.
"From the dominant party of Indian politics, it is moving towards the 'fringe', its political positions are not of a mainstream party but one usually adopted by 'fringe' organisations. Fringe organisations can never hope to come in power," the minister's Facebook post noted.
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COMMENTSThe result in Karnataka has boosted enthusiasm among PM Modi's opponents to unite and try to defeat the BJP in the 2019 national elections. Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony was high on symbolism. The swearing-in ceremony was the first joint public appearance by Uttar Pradesh's bitter rivals-turned-allies, Akhilesh Yadav and Dalit powerhouse Mayawati. The Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav team in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress-JDS alliance in Karnataka stands for the kind of new friendships that the the opposition would like to form in the rest of the country.
The many photo-ops and the bonhomie among the parties on stage, however, is no indicator that other rival non-BJP parties too will come together. West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and CPM's Sitaram Yechury were there and at one awkward moment, even came face to face. They politely greeted each other, shook hands and walked away.
HD Kumaraswamy Wins Trust Vote After BJP Walks Out Of Karnataka Assembly
MMNN:25 May 2018
The Janata Dal Secular (JDS)-Congress combine won a trust vote in the Karnataka assembly moments after the opposition BJP staged a dramatic walkout, throwing a dare at chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. "You have numbers...Let's see how long you last," taunted BS Yeddyurappa, leading the walkout; last Saturday, he had left just before his own floor test, accepting that he failed to make the numbers. The JDS-Congress had the support of 117 MLAs.
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
1-BS Yeddyurappa, in an emotional speech, reminded Mr Kumaraswamy of his alliance with the BJP in the past and his "betrayal" - in 2006, he had refused to step down when it was time to hand over the chief minister's post to the BJP.
2-Mr Yeddyurappa also amused the house as he confessed that his attempt to get the support of Congress and JDS lawmakers had failed as the Congress's DK Shivkumar had played "khalnayak (villain)".
3-Before his walkout, Mr Yeddyurappa, who was chief minister for 55 hours, warned the new government of "unrest" if farmer loans not waived off by Monday.
4-"I am not here for the power and position," Mr Kumaraswamy said ahead of the trust vote, while responding to BS Yeddyurappa's barbs. The 58-year-old JDS leader, who was sworn in on Wednesday, won the confidence motion with a voice vote. He has the support of 117 MLAs from the JD(S)-Congress-BSP coalition in the House.
5-Just before the floor test, Congress' Ramesh Kumar was unanimously elected as the speaker after the BJP withdrew its candidate's nomination.
6-On withdrawing its speaker candidate Suresh Kumar, Mr Yeddyurappa said, "we wanted the election to be unanimous in order to maintain dignity of the Speaker's post."
7-Earlier in the day, there was a wobble over Congress leader and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara's comment on power-sharing formula with the JDS. He said the coalition was "yet to discuss modalities" about Mr Kumaraswamy continuing as Chief Minister for a full five year term.
8-Mr Kumaraswamy, however, had said on weekend that there was "no rotational arrangement for chief ministership" between the two parties.
9-Mr Yeddyurappa has predicted that the Congress-JDS alliance won't last more than three months and there are suggestions that the BJP is hoping that lawmakers left out when the Chief Minister forms his cabinet could be open to switching sides.
10-Congress and JDS leaders, who had made Mr Kumaraswamy's swearing-in a prestige issue by inviting non-BJP leaders from across the country, dismissed the claims. "Our MLAs are intact," said Mr Parameshwara.
Centre Can Reduce Petrol Price Up To Rs. 25 But Won't Do It: P Chidambaram
MMNN:23 May 2018
NEW DELHI: Amid rising criticism over steep hike in fuel prices, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today claimed it was possible to cut up to Rs. 25 per litre in petrol prices but the government will not do so.
In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said the bonanza to central government is Rs. 25 on every litre of petrol and this money rightfully belongs to the average consumer.
"Central government saves Rs. 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts additional tax of Rs. 10 on every litre of petrol."
"It is possible to cut up to Rs. 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs. 1 or 2 per litre of petrol," he said on Twitter.
More than a week after state-owned oil firms ended a 19-day pre-Karnataka poll hiatus on revising fuel prices, petrol and diesel rates have touched record highs.
Petrol costs Rs. 76.87 per litre in Delhi and diesel costs Rs. 68.08 a litre. In the last nine days, petrol price has risen by Rs. 2.24 a litre and diesel by Rs. 2.15.
Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. The prices in Delhi are the cheapest among all metros and most state capitals.
The central government levies Rs. 19.48 a litre of excise duty on petrol and Rs. 15.33 per litre on diesel.
State sales tax or VAT varies from state to state. Unlike excise duty, VAT is ad valorem and results in higher revenues for the state when rates move up.
In Delhi, VAT on petrol was Rs. 15.84 a litre, and Rs. 9.68 on diesel in April. Now, it is Rs. 16.34 on petrol and Rs. 10.02 a litre on diesel.
Every rupee cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel will result in a revenue loss of Rs. 13,000 crore.
The government had raised excise duty nine times between November 2014 and January 2016 to shore up finances as global oil prices fell, but then cut the tax just once in October last year by Rs. 2 a litre.
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COMMENTSSubsequent to that excise duty reduction, the Centre had asked states to also lower VAT. Just four of them -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh -- reduced rates while others including BJP-ruled ones ignored the call.
In all, duty on petrol rate was hiked by Rs. 11.77 per litre and that on diesel by 13.47 a litre in those 15 months that helped governments excise mop up more than double to Rs. 2,42,000 crore in 2016-17 from Rs. 99,000 crore in 2014-15.
Palghar By-Election: Shiv Sena Accuses BJP Of "Betraying" Chintaman Wanga
MMNN:22 May 2018
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena today accused the BJP of "betraying" its late Palghar MP Chintaman Wanga by turning its back on his family and fielding Congress deserter for the Lok Sabha seat by-election.
Shiv Sena claimed that the BJP did not to bother to take care of Mr Wanga's family and that none of its central leaders turned up to pay last respects to the parliamentarian after his death in New Delhi in January this year.
The remarks came after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Shiv Sena of betraying the BJP by fielding Mr Wanga's son for the Palghar bypoll. He had claimed that the Sena knew that the BJP was already planning to nominate someone from Mr Wanga's family for the by-election, scheduled on May 28.
Taking a dig at the senior alliance partner for fielding Rajendra Gavit, who recently left the Congress to join the the BJP, the Sena said, "It seems the BJP has democratically won the right to buy and flee with legislators, as was evident in Karnataka."
Similarly, the BJP seems to have the right to make comments (on the Sena), as it is doing so in the Palghar by-election, said an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
Shiv Sena also claimed that after Mr Wanga's death, nobody from the BJP visited his family, and even the chief minister and the BJP leaders turned their back on him.
The BJP's office was at a distance of just five minutes from Mr Wanga's residence where he died in Delhi, it claimed, adding that "the party's president, Amit Shah, lives three minutes away."
"Even other BJP leaders live nearby. But, nobody went to pay their last respects," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
The price of Mr Wanga's loyalty ended with his death and his family members were left to fend for themselves and insulted by the BJP, it charged.
"Nobody from the BJP came ahead to take care of the family. This is like betraying him," the Marathi daily claimed.
Mr Wanga's earnings were "only his Hindutva thoughts". However, insulting him after his death and openly saying that a party-changer like Rajendra Gavit was the heir to his legacy, was like "betraying" the late leader, it further stated.
Mr Fadnavis had earlier said that hard work is needed to carry on the legacy of the late leader and hence the BJP gave ticket to Mr Gavit.
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COMMENTSTaunting the BJP, the Shiv Sena said even for the gram panchayat elections, the party brings its central ministers and chief ministers of states ruled by it (for campaigning).
"The BJP is behaving as if all of Maharashtra's questions have been solved and that the only one remaining is the Palghar election," it said.
Kumaraswamy's Meet With Gandhis Amid Tussle Over Number 2 Post: 10 Facts
MMNN:21 May 2018
BENGALURU: HD Kumaraswamy, the chief of Janata Dal Secular, is meeting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi this evening amid a disagreement over the proposed post of two deputy chief ministers. While Congress local leaders say a second post will balance out the power between the two allies, sources in the JD(S) say the party is opposed to a second Number 2 to Mr Kumaraswamy, who will take oath as the Chief Minister on Wednesday. The ceremony will provide an occasion for a show of opposition strength, which several chief ministers and other leaders expected to attend.
Here are the top 10 facts in the big political story:
1-Sources said Congress' DK Shivakumar and MB Patil are among those in the race for the proposed post of the second deputy chief minister. Asked whether he would be rewarded for his role, Mr Sivakumar said it was up to the high command.
2-Under the last-minute deal between the Congress and the JD(S) on the day of counting of votes, the JD(S) will have the post of the Chief Minister and the Congress of the Deputy Chief Minister. State Congress chief G Parameswara is among those named as likely candidates for the post.
3-The Congress, which won 78 seats in comparison to Mr Kumaraswamy's party's 38, is expected to get the lion's share of the ministries. The state leaders are eyeing 20 of the 33 cabinet berths.
4-"We have to believe on the give and take policy here if you want to keep BJP away from power," said Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy. "We can't satisfy everybody, there is limitation now, some people have to sacrifice," he added.
5-Mr Kumaraswamy left for Delhi following the morning's temple run to Holenarasipura in Haasan district. He will have separate meetings with the two Gandhis, starting with Rahul Gandhi. Later, he would meet ally Mayawati, the Dalit powerhouse from Uttar Pradesh.
6-Mr Kumaraswamy is likely to take oath alone. The floor test is expected to follow within 24 hours. The rest of his cabinet is likely to be sworn in after the trust vote, Congress leader DK Shivakumar has said.
7-Till the trust vote, the Congress and the JD(S) lawmakers will be confined to their hotels. The Congress legislators are at Bengaluru's Hilton and Embassy Golf Links under the care of senior party leader DK Shivakumar. The lawmakers of the JD(S) are at the Prestige Resorts in Devanahalli in the outskirts of Bengaluru.
8-The two parties had taken the precaution of keeping their legislators on the move to prevent poaching since the election results came in and the BJP was invited to form the government as the single largest party even though they were seven seats short of majority in the 224-seat assembly.
9-While the decision of Governor Vajubhai Vala was challenged by the Congress in the Supreme Court, the trust vote did not take place. Mr Yeddyurappa stepped down at the last moment, amid Congress allegations of coercion, abduction and bribery of lawmakers.
10-Leaders of 11 opposition parties and Chief Ministers of four states -- Andhra Pradesh's N Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana's K Chandrashekar Rao, Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal -- are expected to attend Mr Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony. The gathering is likely to give direction of the opposition gameplan to take on the BJP in the next year's general elections.
BS Yeddyurappa Will Win Karnataka Trust Vote: Yashwant Sinha's Jab At BJP
MMNN:19 May 2018
BENGALURU: Yashwant Sinha, a former union minister, has been critical of the central government and his former party's leadership for its attempt to form the government in Karnataka when the BJP did not have the numbers or an alliance to reach the majority mark.
Mr Sinha had headed to a spot near parliament this week to protest Governor Vajubhai Vala's controversial invite to the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa that he said, had triggered an Indian Political League, quite like the Indian Premier League, or IPL in cricket,
"Now, MLAs and MPs will be auctioned. They will support those who will give them maximum money," Mr Sinha said on Thursday, a reference to the governor giving Mr Yeddyurappa 15 days to prove his majority.
Soon after the Supreme Court gave Chief Minister Yeddyurappa just 24 hour notice to face the trust vote at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Mr Sinha tweeted another sharp attack on the ruling BJP.
"I can predict that tomorrow's vote of confidence in Karnataka will be won by BJP by foul means. Just wait and watch," Yashwant Sinha, who formally quit the BJP on the birthday of his son Jayant Sinha, a minister in PM Modi's government, said.
The jibe came less than 24 hours before Mr Yeddyurappa, sworn in as Chief Minister on the strength of his claim that the people of Karnataka had delivered the mandate to the BJP. The BJP has 104 seats in the state assembly that has an effective strength of 221 members. The Congress and Janata Dal Secular alliance won 78 and 37 seats respectively.
Mr Sinha's tweet was a follow-up to his forecast a day earlier that the political developments in Karnataka was, in his words, "a rehearsal" of what would happen in the national capital after the 2019 general elections if the BJP-led coalition didn't get a clear majority.
Yashwant Sinha held the Finance and External Affairs portfolios in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet between 1998 and 2004.
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COMMENTSMr Sinha was one of the veteran leaders of the BJP to be marginalised along with senior leaders including Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani after PM Narendra Modi's stunning victory in 2014. It was seen as a punishment for opposing Mr Modi being named their party's presumptive prime minister.
Unlike Mr Advani and Mr Joshi who have kept a low profile, Mr Sinha has been ruthless in his takedown of the central government. Last year, he had skewered his government's economic performance and has since then kept the barbs coming
15 Days Cut To 24 Hours: Yeddyurappa Has To Prove Majority Tomorrow At 4
MMNN:18 May 2018
The BJP's BS Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in yesterday as Chief Minister of a minority government in Karnataka, has to take a trust vote at 4 pm tomorrow, the Supreme Court said today, drastically slashing to 24 hours the time he has to win over more lawmakers.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had controversially given Mr Yeddyurappa 15 days for a test of strength. Mr Yeddyurappa's lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, the former top lawyer for the central government, asked for a week but the court rejected it.
"Better that the floor test is on Saturday (tomorrow) so that nobody gets any time," said one of the three judges hearing the case. Mr Yeddyurappa's request for a secret ballot was also denied.
The BJP is eight members short of the 112-majority mark in Karnataka.
On Wednesday night, a day after Karnataka produced a hung verdict, the Governor decided to invite the BJP instead of the Congress-Janata Dal Secular combine, which claimed 117 lawmakers. The Congress challenged his decision in the Supreme Court the same night. After an all-night hearing, the court didn't stop Mr Yeddyurappa's oath ceremony, but said it would continue hearing the case and raised concerns about an "open invitation to horse-trading"
When the court asked Mr Rohatgi how the BJP would get numbers, he said: "Support will come from Congress and JDS MLAs, more cannot be said at this point."
In Bengaluru, Mr Yeddyurappa said in response to the ruling: "We will get a good majority. We will prove the majority."
His party, the BJP tweeted: "Bring it on!"
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the court order vindicated his party's stand. "The BJP's bluff that it will form the Govt., even without the numbers, has been called out by the court. Stopped legally, they will now try money and muscle, to steal the mandate," he tweeted.
After today's interim order, the court will later decide on the bigger question - whether in case of a split verdict, it is the single largest party without a majority or an alliance with a majority that gets first shot at power.
A pro-tem or temporary speaker appointed by the governor, in this case BJP legislator KG Bopaiah, will supervise the floor test, and also vote if there's a tie. Mr Yeddyurappa has been ordered not to take any executive decisions until the floor test. The nomination of an Anglo-Indian legislator by the governor has also been scrapped.
Fearing bribes and threats to engineer defections, the Congress-JDS combine shifted lawmakers around all of yesterday and past midnight, moved them out of Bengaluru in three buses. Their plan to fly them out in chartered flights failed as Congress leaders claimed they were not granted permission.
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COMMENTSThe three buses drove into Hyderabad this morning and the lawmakers checked into a five-star hotel. They now have to double back for the floor test.
The Congress and JDS allege that the lawmakers were threatened and also offered Rs. 100 crore bribes and ministries. One of the lawmakers, Anand Singh, was "kidnapped", the Congress claimed. Another Congress legislator also went MIA after putting down his signature on a list of party legislators.
Yeddyurappa's Low-Key Oath In Karnataka, Court Battle Still On: 10 Facts
MMNN:17 May 2018
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA: BJP's BS Yeddyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka today after a rollercoaster day and a night-long court-room battle. The rare post-midnight sitting of the court took place after the Congress and ally JD(S) challenged Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to invite the BJP to form government despite the strength of alliance numbers. The BJP has 105 lawmakes, including an Independent, in comparison to the 117 lawmakers of the alliance in the 224-member assembly. Mr Yeddyurappa has 15 days to prove his majority. The court said while it is allowing the oath to proceed, it would be "subject to the outcome of the case".
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
1-Mr Yeddyurappa took oath at a low-key function at the Governor's House in Bengaluru. His cabinet will be named only after he proves his strength in a floor test at the assembly. "I seek support of all 224 legislators. I am sure they will vote according to their conscience. I am sure of winning vote of confidence and will serve 5 year term," he later said.
2-Governor Vala had extended invitation to the BJP after meeting both sides during the day. The formal letter was delivered to BS Yeddyurppa's house late in the evening.
3-The Congress, which had been prepping a petition all through Wednesday in view of such an eventuality, immediately moved to court, calling Governor's decision "an encounter of constitution".
4-The party also requested a freeze on the oath ceremony and contended that the long time-frame encouraged horse-trading. "It is the biggest license to poaching if the governor gives 15 days to BJP to prove majority as in earlier such cases 48 hours were given by SC," said Abhishek Singhvi, who was representing the alliance in court.
5-KK Venugopal, the government's former top law officer, insisted that the court could not stay the governor's decision. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing two BJP lawmakers, said no injunction can be issued to the governor.
6-The top court has ordered the BJP to produce the letters submitted by BS Yeddyurappa to the governor to stake claim to form the government. "JDS and Congress outweigh the BJP. In a situation like this, on what basis has Mr Yeddyurappa claimed he has the numbers...Arithmetic defies the way he was invited," the court observed.
7-JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that the BJP promised people in his party 100 crores in cash and cabinet posts and 32 of his lawmakers have been approached by the party.
8-To prevent poaching, the Congress-JD(S) alliance is moving all their lawmakers out of Karnataka. Reports suggest they will be moved to Cochin.
9-The Congress had swiftly sealed the deal with JD(S) after being heavily outnumbered by the BJP during the counting of votes on Tuesday. The party had offered the regional JD(S) the big brother's role, offering unconditional support. On Wednesday, the alliance had staked claim at a meeting with the Governor, submitting a letter of support for JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy signed by 116 legislators.
10-The BJP contended that it should be allowed to form the government as it is the single largest party. The Congress disputed the claim, citing the precedent set by the BJP in Goa and Manipur last year. In both states, the Congress emerged the single largest party but the BJP cobbled up alliances and was invited to form the government.
After "Missing MLAs" Scare, Busload Of Congress Men Taken To Karnataka Governor
MMNN:16 May 2018
As five Karnataka lawmakers went "incommunicado" on Wednesday morning, an orange alert went out across the Congress-Janata Dal Secular (JDS) combine, which claims enough numbers to form government, with a few to spare, following a hung verdict in the state.
Hours later, the Congress said all but one legislator of the party are on board. A busload of 77 lawmakers was driven to Governor Vajubhai Vala's home in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening. The bus-driver kept a headcount with a list that had details of the lawmakers.
"All of them are with us, we will parade them before the government if necessary," said one Congress lawmaker.
A meeting of the newly-elected Congress legislators was delayed in the morning as the party couldn't communicate with three of its lawmakers, Rajshekhar Patil, Nagendra and Anand Singh. Anand Singh and Nagendra are close to the Reddy brothers, who are linked to the BJP.
Only Anand Singh is still missing.
Two JDS members, Raja Venkatappa Nayaka and Venkata Rao Nadagouda, were also missing from their party's meeting at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru.
Another Congress lawmaker claimed he had been approached by the BJP, which had yesterday asked the governor for a chance to prove its majority.
"I got a call from the BJP leaders. They said come to us and said we'll give a ministry to you. We'll make you a minister. But, I'm going to stay here. HD Kumaraswamy is our chief minister," said Amaregouda Linganagouda Patil Bayyapur.
A JDS lawmaker Sarvanna has reportedly said four or five of his colleagues were approached.
Outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress, however, denied the "missing" reports. "All the Congress MLAs are intact. Nobody is missing. We are confident of forming the government," he said as he arrived at the Congress party headquarters for the lawmakers' meeting.
Congress leaders say there are plans to sequester their legislators. "They (BJP) are poaching our MLAs, and we know that. Everyday, there is a lot of pressure. But it is not so easy as two parties have the necessary numbers. However, we are taking all necessary steps," said Congress leader DK Shivakumar.
A BJP leader said on record that his party is in touch with Congress and JDS legislators. "The people of Karnataka have believed in BJP, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and Amit Shah. That is why the BJP will form the government here. A lot of people are angry within the JDS and within the Congress. They will come to BJP," said BJP leader KS Eshwarappa.
The Karnataka verdict has left room for negotiations as the BJP is desperate for numbers, allege Congress and JDS leaders.
The BJP emerged as the largest party in Karnataka but missed the magic number of 112 by eight seats. The Congress has won 78 seats and the JDS's 38. Along with two independents, the combine claims a comfortable majority.
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COMMENTSThe fear of "MLA shopping" was raised yesterday by JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, who is looking to become chief minister with the support of the Congress despite his party finishing third.
Mr Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of launching "Operation Lotus Part 2". In 2008, in the manoeuvre that critics dubbed "Operation Lotus", at least six JDS and Congress resigned and crossed over when the party was short of a majority
Karnataka assembly election results: As majority mark eludes BJP, here’s what could happen
MMNN:15 May 2018
Karnataka’s political theatre has just drastically opened up in a matter of hours. If early leads in the assembly election results suggested a clear win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), enabling it to form a majority government, latest trends suggest that the BJP may fall short of the majority mark.
The Congress has used this gap and extended support to the Janata Dal (Secular) with an offer of the chief minister’s post.
Here is what could happen in Bengaluru:
1. JD(S)-Congress government: With the second and third-largest parties coming together, at 3:15 pm, the Congress and JD(S) make it to 115 seats (EC data; out of the 222 seats which went to polls -- polling for two seats will be held later). This makes it the largest combine in the house. Together, they can stake claim to form the government, submit a list of signatures of all MLAs to the governor Vajubhai Vala, and on that basis, the governor could invite the JD(S) legislative party leader -- which will in all likelihood be HD Kumaraswamy -- to form the government and prove his majority on the floor of the house.
2. BJP government: The BJP is clearly the single-largest party in the Karnataka assembly. The BJP leader of the assembly, which will, in all likelihood be BS Yeddyuruppa, could stake the claim to form the government. The governor may decide that since the BJP is the single largest force, it deserves the first chance.
Once Yeddyuruppa is sworn in, he will have to prove his majority on the floor of the house. In this scenario, it will be instructive to watch if the JD(S)-Congress coalition can stay together, or if a section of JD(S) splits and moves away to BJP, or if a section abstains. In the second and third situation, if BJP can win over a section of the MLAs from JD(s) and independents, the party is through.
3. BJP-JD(S) government: Given that the JD(S) is the key swing force, tables may turn if the BJP decides to make a corresponding offer to the JD(S). This could be of a rotational chief ministership; it could entail plum portfolios at the centre besides a stake at the level of the state. While this is not the most likely scenario at the moment, it cannot be ruled out entirely.
Shashi Tharoor Charged With Aiding Sunanda Pushkar's Suicide
MMNN:14 May 2018
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been charged with abetting the suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, who was found dead in a five-star hotel in Delhi in 2014. Mr Tharoor, a parliamentarian from Kerala, has also been accused of cruelty in his marriage by a police chargesheet submitted in a Delhi court today.
Mr Tharoor, in tweets, called the charges "preposterous". Backing him, the Congress denounced what it called a "politically motivated chargesheet". Mr Tharoor is the only person named as an accused in the 3,000-page chargesheet.
Sunanda Pushkar, 51, was found dead in her hotel suite on January 17, 2014, days after she publicly accused her husband of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist. A day before, she had called a prominent journalist and had talked about a big reveal.
The police first claimed that Sunanda Pushkar was poisoned, and registered a murder case in January 2015 without naming any suspect. The AIIMS hospital had called her death "unnatural".
The police now say they have no proof of murder but it was evident Sunanda Pushkar had been driven to suicide; she had not been eating or even leaving her room, the charge-sheet reportedly says. Police sources say the couple fought frequently and Sunanda Pushkar had been taking depression pills without prescription.
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COMMENTSSince Mr Tharoor and Ms Pushkar married in 2010, their high-profile relationship was often in the media glare.
The 62-year-old former union minister was questioned more than once by the police, who had asked him to describe the circumstances in which his wife checked into the hotel two days before her death. The couple had allegedly had a huge fight on a flight from Kerala to Delhi.
Govt mulling six-month jail term for those abandoning elderly parents
MMNN:12 May 2018
The Narendra Modi government is planning to increase the jail term for those who abandon or abuse their elderly parents, to six months from the existing three months, according to a senior official.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which is reviewing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 , has also proposed widening the definition of children to include adopted or step children, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and minors represented by their legal guardians, the senior ministry official said.
Only biological children and grandchildren come under the provisions of the existing Act.
The Ministry has drafted the the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Draft Bill, 2018, which once approved will supersede the existing act.
The draft Act also proposes doing away with an upper limit of Rs 10,000 per month as maintenance amount, thus making it variable.
“Those who earn well can and should of course shell out higher amount for the upkeep of their parents. Also the definition of the term maintenance should go beyond providing food, clothing, housing, health care and include safety and security of parents,” the official said.
The Act in its current form makes it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents, by monthly allowance of Rs 10,000.
Elderly parents can approach a Maintenance Tribunal in case their children neglect or refuse to maintain them.
High Profile Mumbai Police Officer Himanshu Roy Allegedly Commits Suicide
MMNN:11 May 2018
Himanshu Roy, a senior Maharashtra police officer involved in many high-profile investigations, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Mumbai on Friday.
A former chief of the Anti-Terror Squad of Maharashtra, Himanshu Roy was an Additional Director General of Police.
The 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer allegedly shot himself using his service revolver around 1.40 pm. He was brought dead to hospital.
The 54-year-old was believed to be battling cancer and had gone on long leave on medical grounds. His death has stunned his colleagues
A charismatic officer, Himanshu Roy led investigations into several big cases including the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing, the 2012 murder of lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha and the J Dey murder.
While he was heading the anti-terror squad, he arrested software engineer Anees Ansari for allegedly planning to blow up the American School.
"He was a very bright officer. Such a tragedy," said MN Singh, who was his superior once.
The officer, regarded by colleagues as committed, sharp and popular, had seven years of service left.
Arup Patnaik, one of his colleagues, said: "He was a fitness freak. He was at an advanced stage of cancer and couldn't take it anymore. It is very, very unfortunate."
In 2015, Himanshu Roy was among police officers who were seen to be sidelined after they wrote to the Maharashtra home department alleging poor treatment by seniors and favouritism in transfers. He lost his elite posting as chief of the anti-terror squad and was moved to an insignificant role, the additional director general in charge of police housing.
Months later, he went on medical leave.
In recent months, his colleagues and journalists had heard him talk about retiring early from the police force.
Kidnappers Disguised As Students In Lodge As They Kept Bihar Teen Captive
MMNN:10 May 2018
PATNA: An abducted boy was rescued and five of his abductors were arrested on Thursday morning Patna the police said.
Sunny Kumar, a Class 9 student was abducted in Saran district two days ago and the abductors had demanded a ransom of Rs. 60 lakh for his release from his father, a contractor, and threatened to kill the boy if the amount was not paid soon.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said a joint police team of Patna and Saran rescued Sunny. "Police raided a lodge in Bahadurpur locality, rescued the boy, arrested five abductors and seized arms," said Maharaj.
According to the police officials, the abductors had kept Sunny in a room of a lodge. Sunny was kidnapped when he was returning home after school. The abductors were living in the lodge disguised as students.
Earlier this week a minor girl, a Class 3 student of a private school, was abducted in broad daylight by criminals in Purnea district. The abducted girl was the daughter of a businessman. However, the police rescued the girl within six hours and arrested the abductors.
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COMMENTSOver a dozen cases of abduction have been reported in the state in 2018.
In January, a 16-year-old boy, son of a property dealer, was kidnapped for ransom and was later found murdered.
Jinnah Portrait Row: Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Meets Rajnath Singh
MMNN:9 May 2018
NEW DELHI: Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss issues concerning the premier academic institution, engulfed in controversy over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on its premises, an official said.
Rajnath Singh assured Mr Mansoor of all help from the central government in restoring normalcy in the university, the official privy to the meeting told news agency PTI.
Mr Mansoor later told reporters that the meeting was fixed long ago and had nothing to do with the current controversy.
"I have requested the home minister to send Central government officials for the recruitment of students in central services like the engineering service," he said.
The vice chancellor said the portrait of the Pakistan founder had been hanging in the Aligarh Muslim University students' union office since 1938 and it was a non-issue.
BJP MP Satish Gautam had written a letter to Mr Mansoor objecting to the portrait, triggering a row that led to two youths being arrested in connection with incidents of violence and exams being postponed to May 12.
The vice chancellor had yesterday told students on a sit-in over the issue to get back to their studies.
In an open letter, he urged them "not to fall into the trap of certain forces which are bent upon destroying the image of our alma mater and are playing with your bright future".
The university has formed a 16-member coordination committee of senior faculty members to talk with the protesting students.
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COMMENTSSeveral Aligarh Muslim University students are on an indefinite 'dharna' after a clash with the police on May 2 when they were demanding action against right-wing protesters who had entered the campus, shouting slogans.
They are asking for a judicial probe into the "police inaction" and the manner in which the row erupted after the BJP MP objected to the portrait.
CPI(M), BJP tie up to counter Trinamool in Nadia ahead of Bengal panchayat polls
MMNN:8 May 2018
Arch-rivals BJP and the CPI(M) have joined hands in Nadia district to defeat the Trinamool Congress in the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal.
Describing it as a “formal seat sharing adjustment”, a district level CPI(M) leader said that the party had to opt for seat adjustment in many seats as several villagers wanted a one-to-one fight against the TMC.
The CPI(M), which follows an ideology opposite to that of the BJP, has described the saffron party as a “divisive force”.
The BJP’s north Nadia district unit president termed the development as an “isolated incident”.
The bonhomie first came to light in the last week of April when both the parties organised a joint protest rally in Karimpur-Ranaghat area of Nadia district against the alleged violence of the TMC during the panchayat poll process.
Cadre of both parties carried their respective flags during the protest programme.
CPI(M) Nadia district secretary and state committee member Sumit De agreed that there have been adjustments at the grassroot levels in many seats as several villagers were in favour of a one-to-one fight.
It has nothing to do with the party’s policy, he added.
“Yes, there have been adjustments at the grassroot level. In many seats as the villagers had wanted one-to-one fight, we had to respect it and act accordingly. But it is not that there have been several rounds of discussions between parties and it is a formal seat sharing adjustment,” De told PTI.
Senior CPI(M) leader and state committee member Rama Biswas, who was present at the joint rally of the BJP and CPI(M), admitted that a rally had been taken out by villagers against the violence of the TMC.
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh too admitted that supporters of the BJP and the CPI(M) were present at the rally
“I have received information that we had called a rally against the violence of the TMC. CPI(M) workers also came and joined our protest rally as they too were attacked,” Ghosh told PTI.
A senior state BJP leader who did not wish to be named, said in areas where the BJP could not field a candidate “it has given enough hints to the voters and party cadres to counter the TMC which has unleashed violence”.
Agreeing that such “isolated incidents” had taken place, the BJP north Nadia district president Mahadeb Sarkar told PTI, “In some seats where we could not field candidates, our workers at the grassroot level have extended support to independent candidates”.
“In most cases, these independent candidates are actually CPI(M) workers”, he said.
In several gram panchayat seats of Nadia-Karimpur area, BJP candidates were asked to withdraw their nominations so that the CPI(M) could fight against the TMC and vice-versa, a district BJP leader said.
In those seats, the party (either CPI(M) or BJP) which has not fielded any candidate is campaigning for the other one to defeat the TMC, the BJP leader of Nadia’s Karimpur area, who did not wish to be named, said.
CPI(M) central committee leader Sujan Chakraborty said few “isolated incidents” should not to used to judge the CPI(M)’s political line against BJP.
“We are the only party in India which has the most clear approach against BJP and its communal policies. We are not like the TMC which is not serious about fighting BJP. Our policies should not be judged based on isolated incidents. In panchayat poll such isolated incidents do happen. You will find it in other parties also”, Chakraborty said.
The TMC claimed that the political development in Nadia only proves that the BJP and the CPI(M) are having a “tacit understanding in Bengal”.
“We are not surprised at this development as we were aware of such developments in various districts. Only the TMC is serious about fighting the BJP and its anti-people policies,” TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.
According to West Bengal SEC (State Election Commission) sources, of the 48,650 seats in 3,358 gram panchayats, 16,814 were uncontested and of the 9,217 seats in 341 panchayat samitis, 3,059 were uncontested.
In the 20 zilla parishads, 203 of the 825 seats were uncontested, they said.
Trial in Kathua Rape-Murder Will Be Held In Pathankot, Says Supreme Court: 10 Facts
MMNN:7 May 2018
NEW DELHI: The trial in the gangrape and murder of an 8-year-old in Kathua, which triggered global condemnation, will be held in Punjab's Pathankot, the Supreme Court said today. The call for transfer came from the child's family as the issue triggered a backlash in Jammu and Kashmir and rallies were held in favour of the accused. "Fear and fair trial can't exist together," the top court said, adding it would monitor the trial. The horrific assault was an attempt to terrorise and push out a nomadic Muslim community from Hindu majority areas of Jammu, the police have said.
Here are the top 10 updates in this big story:
1-The 8-year-old was kidnapped from Kathua's Rasana village in January while she was grazing horses. For a week, she was drugged, starved and gangraped before her head was bashed in with a stone.
2-The eight accused include a couple of policemen and a juvenile. The chargesheet said one of the policemen asked the killer to wait so he could rape the girl for one last time.
3-Ordering that the trial be fast-tracked, the Supreme Court said proceedings will be held every day and there will be no adjournment. The trial will be closed to the press and the public, the top court said in its order.
4-The Supreme Court said the trial will be held according to the provisions of Ranbir Penal Code, which is applicable in Jammu and Kashmir.
5-The accused in the case have sought a CBI investigation, which is pending in Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who was part of the three-judge bench hearing the case, however said, "No other court will hear any case on this issue as we are monitoring it".
6-Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said, "Security is the main concern... we have adequate security in Pathankot".
7-Two days before the court's verdict, the child's mother told NDTV that she feared that the family will be murdered if the accused get released. "People in four villages are after our lives. We are only four people... everything is gone; our house, our entire property is gone... If there is no justice, shoot all four of us," she said.
8-The murder had triggered a backlash in Jammu. Rallies were held to show support for the accused, which was attended by two ministers. They had to step down later. The lawyers in Jammu held protests at court premises and stopped police officers from entering the court for hours to file the chargesheet.
9-Deepika Rajawat, the advocate representing the child's family, said members of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association had threatened her, demanding that she does not appear in the case. The association denied the allegation.
10-Earlier, the Bar Council of India gave a clean chit to the Jammu lawyers. After an on-the-ground investigation, it told the Supreme Court that the Jammu lawyers did not obstruct justice and their demand for a CBI investigation into the matter is "justified".
After Criticism, Yogi Adityanath Cuts Karnataka Campaign Over UP Deaths
MMNN:4 May 2018
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will cut short his election campaign in Karnataka later today and head back to Uttar Pradesh where more than 73 people had died in a dust-storm followed by heavy rains on Wednesday night.
The weather office has predicted more thunderstorms in parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister's Office said he would reach Agra later this evening and visit the most affected areas tomorrow morning. Agra bore the maximum brunt of the dust-storm that was accompanied by heavy rain, killing at least 43 people. Later on Saturday, he will travel to Kanpur.
The Uttar Chief Minister was earlier scheduled to continue campaigning in Karnataka till Saturday noon and leave after addressing two more election meetings.
His decision to stay put had been sharply criticised in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the target of his election speeches, had led the charge, expressing his condolences for the deaths. "I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there," he said.
In Lucknow, former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too had criticised Yogi Adityanath, the monk-politician who is seen as a Hindutva mascot. "People chose Yogi Adityanath to solve the issues of their state, not for politics in Karnataka. If he cannot return even in such circumstances, then he should form a math and stay in Karnataka forever," Mr Yadav had tweeted yesterday.
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COMMENTSHours after the stinging barbs, Yogi Adityanath had tweeted that officials had been ordered to compile an estimate of the damage by Friday evening.
This morning, the Chief Minister's office appeared to suggest on Twitter that the officials and the ministers responsible for the affected districts were doing fine on their own. To a tweet urging Yogi Adityanath to return, the official handle declared that "95.89 per cent" relief assistance had been disbursed within 24 hours.
In Handling Of Cauvery Water, BJP Could Boost "Secret Ally" Deve Gowda
MMNN:3 May 2018
For his onslaught of opprobrium against Rahul Gandhi this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the region of Old Mysuru as the venue. As anyone with even passing knowledge of Mr Modi's SOP will confirm, nothing he delivers while in campaign mode is not premeditated.
In the last Karnataka election five years ago, the BJP, heavily impugned by rival factions, was in third place in this area. The Congress won most of the 82 seats, Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) was runner up.
A year later, however, the region proved to be as susceptible to the high-voltage charisma of Mr Modi as other parts of the country.
This time around, the BJP is keeping its fingers crossed for a replay, hopeful that the youth, in particular, will be influenced by Mr Modi's public meetings and choose his party
But converting the 11 districts that form Old Mysuru into BJP turf is a tough ask. Which is why there is speculation that the party has an undeclared understanding with Mr Gowda that sees the BJP putting up weak or inconsequential candidates in areas where his contenders are strong.
In 2013, Mr Gowda's party won 24 of its 40 seats from south Karnataka(including old Mysuru ) where the Vokkaligas, the community to which he belongs, is the dominant force.
In an acknowledgement of the heavy lifting it needs in southern Karnataka, the BJP has "imported" CR Patil, a parliamentarian from Gujarat assigned last year to managing Surat, the bastion of the Patels, at a time when the community was seen as having turned against the party. He delivered a blockbuster result, which burnished his credentials as a close aide of the PM and BJP chief Amit Shah.
"I am confident of reaching from zero to two digits in these 4 districts, Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar, assigned to me," Mr Patil, who is in charge of development work in the PM's constituency of Varanasi, told NDTV. He refused to comment on whether his calculation factors in the secret understanding with Mr Gowda alleged by the opposition and bragged about by workers of both their parties.
The pre-voting prater of the Mr Gowda and the BJP being undeclared allies could hurt the JD(S) when Karnataka votes on May 12; results will be declared on May 15. "We don't want to waste our vote on a party that is not in a position to form the government on its own and might join hands rather than take on anti-constitution and anti-minority forces,'' said a group of engineering students in Mysuru without revealing their caste or naming any party.
But there are two formidable reasons that explain why Mr Gowda is seen as central to this election. First, the forecast of opinion polls that no party will win with enough numbers to form the government. This means Mr Gowda and his JD(S) will have to be annexed by either the Congress or the BJP. Second, the rural distress that is crushing farmers in the state.
Mr Gowda, a former prime minister now 84 years old, continues to brand himself as "a son of the soil". As election season approached, he strategised, with his son HD Kumaraswamy, to appropriate the early support of farmers at a time when rural distress in Karnataka has leapt off the charts during a lengthy drought. Sugar cane cultivators account for the maximum number of farmer suicides in the state which have added upto 3,500 in the last four years.
Karnataka is the second-driest state in the country after Rajasthan. Realising the emotive appeal of water at a time when farmers are really hurting, Mr Gowda fasted for a day in 2016 to draw attention to the decades-old and then unresolved dispute between Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery river. When the Supreme Court in February delivered its verdict, according more water to Karnataka, the JD(S) was quick to claim credit.
The centre's subsequent delay in creating an autonomous board to handle the distribution of the Cauvery waters, as ordered by the top court, is a play by the BJP for the support of farmers in the Cauvery basin. It is this area that is of unrivalled importance to Mr Gowda- it is home to the four districts of Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar that are his strongest supporters.
In north Karnataka, in comparison, the JD(S) has no real base of its own, and has been less aggressive than the Congress and the BJP in highlighting another huge water dispute, this one between Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa over the sharing of waters of the Mahadayi river.
For nearly 1,000 days-since July 2015 - farmers in Karnataka who are desperate for more Mahadayi water have been on protest, holding rallies, sit-ins and strikes in the town of Nargund.
From a small makeshift stage near the bustling bus-station, they have been demanding water from the Mahadayi river for drinking and irrigating their fields
"In the summer months, we get drinking water just once in 15 days,'' says Yakub, a farmer whose crop has been obliterated for the last three years because of the drought.
Last year, the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to stop the construction of a canal for rerouting water from the river. In January, the Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar said Karnataka was stealing water nonetheless and said it was a state full of "bastards."
Meanwhile, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa produced a letter from Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressing his willingness to reach an agreement -which farmers were quick to dismiss as a political stunt. "If the BJP government in Goa was serious, the letter would have been addressed to the Karnataka government. Obviously, it was only a cheap gimmick by the BJP to corner votes of farmers in the region. No one was fooled," says Kodihalli Chandrashekar, one of the leaders of the agitation.
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COMMENTS"The BJP has made it clear that the problem can be resolved only if it is elected to power in Karnataka as well, along with Goa, Maharashtra and the Centre. ...our aim is not to defeat or elect any one political party but to keep putting pressure on all three till our demands are met, " says Shrinivas, the 28-year-old son of a farmer who works as an IT professional in Bengaluru.
The protesting farmers in Nargund point out that the Cauvery and Mahadayi disputes have, over time, made the political careers of many leaders across parties - none of whom have gone on to deliver the goods.
CCEA hikes financial aid to sugarcane farmers by Rs 5.50 per quintal
MMNN:2 May 2018
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has come to the rescue of sugar cane farmers by approving financial assistance of Rs 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane and help sugar mills clear cane farmers’ dues.
The approval comes following higher sugar production against the estimated consumption during the current sugar season 2017-18 which has resulted in crash in sugar prices since the commencement of the season,leading to accumulation of cane price dues of farmers which have reached more than Rs 19,000 crore.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the assistance would be paid directly to the farmers on behalf of the mills and would be adjusted against the cane price payable due to the farmers against Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) including arrears relating to previous years.
‘Subsequent balance if any, shall be credited into the mill’s account,’ he said, adding that assistance shall be provided to those mills which will fulfil the eligibility conditions as decided by the Government.
To stabilise sugar prices at reasonable level and improve liquidity position of mills thereby enabling them to clear cane price dues of farmers, the Government has taken a series of steps in the past three months including increased customs duty on import of sugar from 50 per cent to 100 per cent in the interest of farmers and imposed reverse stock holding limits on sugar producers for the months of February and March 2018.
The Government has also fully withdrawn the customs duty on export of sugar to encourage the sugar industry to start exploring possibility of export of sugar.
In view of the inventory levels with the sugar industry and to facilitate achievement of financial liquidity, mill-wise Minimum Indicative Export Quotas (MIEQ) have been fixed for sugar season 2017-18.
Export quotas of 20 lakh tonnes of all grades of sugar; raw, plantation white as well as refined, have been prorated among sugar factories by taking into account their average production of sugar achieved by the sugar mills during last two operational sugar seasons and the current season (up to February, 2018).
Further, to facilitate and incentivise export of surplus sugar by sugar mills, the Government has allowed duty free Import Authorisation (DFIA) scheme in respect of sugar.
PM Modi attacks ‘naamdar’ Congress, pitches ‘kaamdar’ BJP in Karnataka
MMNN:1 May 2018
Karnataka’s voters have to choose between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that works for progress and the Congress that has only the “name” of its top leadership, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Modi, in his first formal election rally for the BJP in Karnataka, thanked labourers and workers for achieving his government’s target of bringing electricity to all villages and attacked the Congress party for allegedly disregarding working class people.
“I want to dedicate the historical achievement of the country on 28 April, when all villages in India were electrified, to the workers and labourers of the country on this Labour Day,” he said in Santhemarahalli in Chamarajanagara district.
“The Congress president is namdaar (dynast) so how does he know about the efforts of kaamdaars (people who work)” he said, referring to his rival Rahul Gandhi.
“Perhaps due to over excitement, the newly elected Congress president forgets decency. He did not even bother to congratulate the hardworking ‘Mazdoors’ due to whom India’s villages are getting electricity.”
Modi said Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi had failed in their promise of electrifying the entire country by 2009 when the Congress governed the country, but now were questioning his government’s achievement.
Modi criticised Congress leader and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah for fighting elections from two seats and his son from another.
“There is 2+1 formula which is being practised in Karnataka, it’s a version of the Congress’s family politics in Karnataka. Kabhi kabhi jaagnewale aur zadatar soonewale yahan ke CM ka yeh political innovation hai (This is the initiative of the chief minister, who is mostly sleeping).”
“In Karnataka there is no law, there is no order. The Lokayukta is not safe, how can the common people be safe,” he said, referring to the attack on the state’s anti-corruption watchdog on March 7.
Modi will address 15 rallies in five days across Karnataka, which votes for its 224-seat assembly on May 12, underlining the state’s importance for his government.
Two opinion polls released on April 23 predicted a hung assembly in the elections, with both suggesting that a new government in the state would have to be formed in coalition with the Janata Dal (Secular).
Robbers loot newly-wed couple, kill bride on NH58 near Meerut
MMNN:28 April 2018
Criminals shot dead a newly married bride after looting her and her husband of cash and jewellery and took away their car near village Mataur on National Highway 58 on Friday night in yet another reminder that highway travel at night in western Uttar Pradesh remains dangerous.
Shahjeb, a resident of Mimlana road of Muzaffarnagar and his bride Fahrana of Nahal village of Ghaziabad were returning home along with Shahjeb’s family members. They had stopped for food at a roadside restaurant near Partapur on NH-58. When they resumed their journey around 11 pm, four criminals in a car started chasing them and overtook their car near village Mataur, barely a km away from Daurala police station.
The criminals held the victims at gun point and directed them to hand over cash and jewellery. One of the goons then approached Fahrana who was still sitting inside the car and asked to hand over her jewellery and shot her when she resisted. The criminals than dragged the injured bride out of the car and drove away with the loot and the car.
Shahjeb and his family members then informed their relatives who were travelling in two more cars through a different route about the incident. They arrived on the spot and took Fahrana to the Muzaffarnagar medical college about 25 km away where doctors declared her brought dead.
Police have launched a manhunt for the criminals and are examining CCTV footage of petrol pumps and Western UP toll roads to identify the robbers.
Manzil Saini, senior superintendent of police, Meerut and other senior officials rushed to the spot and directed officials of crime branch and local police to identify and arrest the criminal. “We are investigating from all angles,” Saini said.
The incident has raised question about safety and security of commuters on National Highway -58 which connects Delhi to Dehradun and Haridwar and Lakhan.
Police had claimed of that security on highways in Uttar Pradesh had been tightened after the gruesome rape with a mother and her minor daughter off the highway in Bulandshahar in July 2016. But Friday’s highway robbery and murder have once again highlighted that safety on highways is still elusive at night.
Chief Justice Is The "Master Of Roster" In Supreme Court: Attorney General""
MMNN:27 April 2018
NEW DELHI: Attorney General K.K. Venugopal on Friday told the Supreme Court that the Chief Justice of India is the "master of roster" and he has full power to allocate cases and to maintain discipline.
Mr Venugopal told a bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan that vesting case allocation with multi-member collegium instead of the Chief Justice would create multiple authority and result in "conflict and chaos".
Mr Venugopal said if all the judges of the top court or collegium decide the allocation, then "each judge would express preference" and the judicial system would "collapse".
Mr Venugopal referred to many judgements to underline that the Chief Justice was the master of roster.
If all judges or five-member collegium judges decide the allocation, "there will be conflict, there will be chaos if judges decide which case they should hear, which bench they should preside".
The court had earlier sought Mr Venugopal's assistance on a plea by former Law Minister and senior counsel Shanti Bhuhan, seeking that the allocation of "important and sensitive cases" be done by the collegium of five senior-most judges and not by the Chief Justice alone.
The court reserved its verdict on the plea.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Shanti Bhushan, told the bench that "sensitive cases" like those which directly touch upon the very "survival of democracy" should not be left to the discretion of the Chief Justice.
In his plea, Mr Bhushan said the authority of the Chief Justice as a master of roster was not an "absolute, arbitrary, singular power" which may be exercised in his "sole discretion" and the Chief Justice must exercise his authority in consultation with other senior judges who are also part of the collegium.
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COMMENTSThe collective opinion of a collegium was much safer than the opinion of the Chief Justice alone, it said.
Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati To Tour Poll-Bound Karnataka""
MMNN:26 April 2018
LUCKNOW: The Karnataka ssembly polls are the new battle field for political stalwarts of Uttar Pradesh including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati, who will be criss-crossing the state to turn the tide in favour of their respective parties.
Mr Adityanath will be seen in action, addressing as many as 35 rallies and road shows the saffron party has organised for him as the Nath sect, to which he belongs, wields considerable clout in coastal Karnataka, BJP sources said today.
As per the party's plans, the chief minister's hectic Karnataka tour will begin on May 3 and he will be there holding rallies daily between May 7 and 10, BJP spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi told PTI.
Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav will also be touring the state to champion his party's cause in those constituencies where the Samajwadi Party is in the fray.
"The SP has fielded over two dozen candidates in Karnataka. The party president will be campaigning there for our candidates. The tour details will be finalised in a day or two," party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.
When asked specifically as to whether Akhilesh Yadav will campaign for the Congress too, Mr Chowdhury said, "He will campaign for SP candidates only as of now."
The Congress and the Samajwadi Party had contested the UP Assembly polls last year jointly, but had contested the civic body polls in the state independently.
BSP supremo Mayawati, whose party has entered into a pact with former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S), has already started working in the state with her rallies starting yesterday from Mysuru.
She will be addressing a rally in Chitradurga today and Belagavi and Bidar on May 5-6 respectively.
The BSP is contesting on 20 seats in Karnataka and is hoping to open an account there with the JD(S) support.
Polling will be held in a single phase on May 12 for all the 224 Assembly seats in the Congress-ruled state, including 36 reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes.
Ahead of the UP chief minister's visit, a Congress leader had made certain derogatory remarks against him.
BJP leaders here say that a counter offensive from the UP chief minister is very likely.
"Expect a counter (attack) for sure," a BJP leader said.
In mid-April, Karnataka Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao had set the tone for Mr Adityanath's visit by openly asking the people of Karnataka to boycott him.
He later apologised for his remarks, describing them as an "emotional outburst."
Earlier, during his February visit, Mr Adityanath had taken on chief minister K Siddaramaiah on the micro blogging site, which blew up into a twitter war between the two chief ministers.
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COMMENTSIn between his rallies and road shows, Mr Adityanath is also expected to visit temples and mutts as the BJP looks to play the Hindutva card in a state where it is anxious to regain power it lost 10 years ago.
In December last, while addressing a "Parivartan Yatra" rally in Hubbali, the UP chief minister had stoked passions by asking people to choose between Hanuman Jayanti and Tipu Jayanti - a remark aimed at questioning Congress' two-year-old decision to commemorate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler who hailed from the region.
Asaram Guilty Of Raping Schoolgirl, Gets Life Term In Jail: 10 Facts""
MMNN:25 April 2018
JODHPUR: Nearly five years after he was arrested, Asaram, a self-styled godman with a following that runs into lakhs, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl whose family brought her to visit his ashram in Jodhpur. The verdict today was delivered inside a Jodhpur jail; authorities decided days ago that taking Asaram to court would risk the 77-year-old's followers from turning violent on the streets. Four states - Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat - were put on high alert.
Here are the top 10 updates in this big case
1-Asaram, who has 400 ashrams across the world, raped the young girl in 2013. He is also accused, along with his son, Narayan Sai, of raping two sisters in Surat in Gujarat between 2002 and 2004.
2-The Supreme Court recently set a five-week deadline for the Surat trial be completed.
3-Asaram received life term in jail, which will continue till his death, and was fined Rs. 1 lakh by the court.
4-Asaram was arrested in Indore in Madhya Pradesh for the Jodhpur case and moved to jail in the desert city. He appealed 12 times for bail but was turned down each time.
5-"We have got justice. I want to thank everyone who supported us in this fight. Now I hope he will get strict punishment. I also hope the witnesses who were murdered or kidnapped get justice," said the father of the rape survivor.
6-During the Jodhpur trial, nine witnesses who testified against him were attacked, three of them died.
7-Asaram, who has a long flowing white beard and used to dress in white robes, was accused of rape, and trafficking under POCSO, a stringent law on sexual crimes against children.
8-The young girl he raped was left alone with him by her parents because Asaram's aides said he would "cure" her of evil spirits that had possessed her. She testified later that he threatened to kill her if she revealed what he had done to her.
9-Of the four people accused along with him, two have been found guilty, two others have been acquitted.
10-"We will discuss the matter with our legal team and then decide on our future course of action. We have confidence in our judiciary," said Neelam Dubey, a spokesperson for Asaram.
Venkaiah Naidu Defends Decision To Reject Notice For Chief Justice's Impeachment""
MMNN:24 April 2018
NEW DELHI: Questioned by the opposition over the speed at which he dismissed a notice for the impeachment of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today told a group of lawyers his decision was "not hasty" and came after "over a month of due diligence".
Venkaiah Naidu, who is chairman of the Rajya Sabha, yesterday rejected the notice submitted by the Congress and six other parties on Friday, saying it "didn't deserve to be admitted".
According to sources present at the meeting, ten Supreme Court lawyers met Mr Naidu in the morning "to compliment him" and discuss the implications of the notice.
"I don't think it warrants compliments as I only did what was expected of me and in the manner the Chairman of Rajya Sabha was expected to conduct in such matters. Some Members of the House had a point of view and the right to express it while I had a responsibility cast on me. I have done my job and am satisfied with it," Mr Naidu reportedly told the lawyers.
Mr Naidu also referred to media reports for over a month about discussions on such a notice against the Chief Justice of India and said "I have since been working on the provisions, procedures and precedents in the matter given the serious nature of the proposal and its implications and the imperative need for a timely decision".
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COMMENTSMr Naidu consulted legal and constitutional experts.
"What was the tearing hurry?...This government is very keen that this must not be allowed to inquire into. Maybe they know what the CBI knows," said Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday.
Save The Constitution Congress' Campaign To Save Dynasty": Amit Shah""
MMNN:23 April 2018
NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah today said the 'Save the Constitution' campaign launched by the Congress chief is an exercise to save the dynasty and that the opposition party's "Modi hatred" has turned into "India hatred". His statement came hours after Rahul Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister saying the latter was only bothered about becoming PM again, not about rapes or atrocities on Dalits.
In a statement soon after Mr Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah said if there is one political party that has trampled over the Constitution in letter and spirit, time and again, it is the opposition party.
He made a mention of the Congress' move to impeach the Chief Justice of India and said it is part of a trend to demonise and weaken every institution that seeks to maintain its individual identity and does not "kowtow to the dynasty", a reference to the Gandhi family.
The BJP chief also cited the Congress' alleged attack on the CAG, Election Commission, the Army and the Supreme Court at different points of time and its imposition of the Emergency in 1975 to hit back
"Those who do not trust the Army, the judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, EVMs, the RBI are now saying democracy is in danger. India has a vibrant democracy and a vibrant Constitution.
"The Congress' Save the Constitution' campaign is nothing but a farce that seeks to perpetuate the rule of dynasty over the rule of democracy. Like in the past, we need to protect the Constitution from the Congress," the BJP chief said.
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COMMENTSWhen Mr Gandhi says the Congress made the Constitution, he is continuing his family legacy of humiliating Bhimrao Ambedkar, Amit Shah said.
"By repeatedly saying the Congress made the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi is carrying forward his family tradition of insulting Dr. Ambedkar. The Nehru-Gandhi family insulted him when he was alive and is humiliating him even more now. Shameful and petty," the BJP chief said.
Minister VK Singh Tweets #JusticeForAsifa, Says "Failed Her As Humans""
MMNN:12 April 2018
Union Minister VK Singh today added his voice to the spiraling outrage over the gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, which has jolted India. "We have failed Asifa as humans. But she will not be denied justice," the junior foreign minister tweeted.
He is the first minister in the BJP-led central government to talk about justice for little Asifa. His colleague Jitendra Singh, who represents a part of Kathua in parliament, had last month appeared to back the accused when he said, "those who have not done anything wrong should be given justice", and backed the demand of local BJP leaders for a CBI inquiry.
Soon after, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, calling it a "crime against humanity."
"How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil? What happened to Asifa at Kathua is a crime against humanity. It cannot go unpunished. What have we become if we allow politics to interfere with such unimaginable brutality perpetrated on an innocent child?" Rahul Gandhi said.
Asifa was kidnapped from near her home on January 10, kept sedated and gang-raped repeatedly for days by a group that included police officers before being killed. She was drugged and not given food the entire time. Just before her head was bashed in with a rock, one of the police officers asked the killer to wait so he could rape the child one more time, according to the charge-sheet. One of the rapists is a student who travelled all the way from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh after being invited to "satisfy his lust".
The child's mutilated body was found in the forests on January 17. As her community and locals protested, two policemen tried to help the accused by manipulating the evidence. Her family and relatives were not allowed to bury her body in what they believed was their land, by the Hindu families who dominate the region.
Protests against the murder have deeply polarized the region and have become another point of conflict between ruling coalition partners Mehbooba Mufti and BJP. Yesterday, Ms Mufti, the Chief Minister, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and accused the BJP's state leadership of creating trouble in state.
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COMMENTSThe comment of General VK Singh, a former army chief, contrasts with the sight of two state BJP ministers attending a rally organised in support of the accused. Ministers Chaudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga attended the event organised by Hindu Ekta Manch, an outfit that has been protesting against the arrests in the case.
With the police charge-sheet revealing the sheer depravity of the crime and the horror of the girl's final days, #JusticeforAsifa and #RapeAndMurderOfHumanity became trending hashtags, widely posted by celebrities and other prominent voices.
Eight people have been arrested. The main accused is a retired revenue department official who planned the crime to instill fear among the Bakherwal nomads - Asifa was one of them - and drive them out of the Rassana area where they were living. The others are special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, Sanji Ram's underage nephew, his friend and Sanji Ram's son Vishal Jangotra.
IPL Matches Moved Out Of Chennai Amid Cauvery Protests: Sources"
MMNN:11 April 2018
CHENNAI: All six Indian Premier League matches that were to be held in Chennai, have been moved out of the city in view of yesterday's massive protests by Cauvery activists, said sources in Indian cricket body BCCI. The new venue for the matches will be announced soon.
Political parties and fringe groups have demanded that all the IPL matches scheduled to be held in Chennai, be cancelled till the centre forms the Cauvery Water Management Board. The centre, they say, is playing politics over the issue and a blanket cancellation, they expect, will drive the message home. One group -- Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi or TVK -- even threatened to release live snakes into the stadium if no cancellation happened.
Yesterday, thousands of activists descended on Anna Salai, the arterial road near the Chepauk Stadium, asking fans to boycott the cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Though the match was held amid tight security, slippers were seen flying inside the stadium and yellow jerseys of Chennai Super Kings were burnt. Five spectators, who allegedly threw the slippers, were later detained by the police.
In some areas, there were scuffles between the activists and fans. Fans were forced to take off the jerseys of their cricket teams, which were also set on fire. In some areas, policemen who tried to intervene, bore the brunt of the protesters' anger. Nearly 800 people were temporarily detained.
While most political parties supported the protests, many condemned the violence.
Today, actor-politician Rajinikanth uploaded the video of what appeared an attack on the police on Twitter. The accompanying message read: "The worst form of violence is the assault on uniformed personnel". Earlier, he said holding cricket matches when Cauvery protests are on, is an "embarrassment".
COMMENTSIn February, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to form a body that will implement water-sharing between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry and Kerala by March 29 according to a formula it suggested. But no action was taken. As the deadline expired, the Centre filed an appeal in top court, asking for clarifications on the structure of the body.
Cutting across party lines, political leaders from Tamil Nadu have accused the BJP of trying to score political points in Karnataka, where assembly elections will be held in May
Karnataka Dalits Livid With The Centre. Congress Not In Sweet Spot Either"
MMNN:10 April 2018
Just a half-hour drive from Bengaluru's IT hub of Electronic City, lies the town of Anekal - largely undistinguished and of no note to outsiders but known locally for its history of violence against Christians and its oppression of Dalits, who form nearly 30 percent of the population, but are divided between the "right hand touchables" or Chalavadis, who are traditionally Congress supporters, while the Madigas or the "Left Hand untouchables" have been associated with the BJP for the last decade.
What has united them - and nearly 100 other sub-castes of Dalits - is last month's Supreme Court verdict on what is referred to as the SC/ST Act. Judges say their decision did not dilute the law, but ensures that its provisions do not violate individual rights - so, for example, arrests can no longer be made as soon as a Dalit files a police complaint of discrimination.
"Dalits are seeing this as an injustice, which had the tacit approval of the BJP government at the Centre", said M Prakash, a school teacher in Anekal who is an activist of a Dalit rights organisation.
Dalits believe that the SC/ST Act is sacrosanct because it is a powerful instrument in fighting caste humiliation and is as important for them as reservation as a tool of empowerment and upward mobility. The fear that these rights, safeguarded by the constitution, are under threat is fast gaining currency on the ground despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Dalit outreach which includes frequent ceremonies and monuments commemorating Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar, ensuring the election of Dalit politician Ram Nath Kovind as President of the country, and ordering MPs to spend nights in Dalit homes in their constituencies.
Dalits, according to a leaked census which was conducted by the incumbent Congress government but never formally shared, form 19% percent of Karnataka's population. They influence the results of nearly 60 of the 224 seats that will be decided when the state votes on May 12.
A countrywide bandh or protest on April 2 saw gigantic participation and left nine people dead. The centre then asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its verdict; judges refused to suspend the controversial ruling, but have agreed to hear the centre's case later this month.
Four Dalit MPs from the BJP have insinuated that its response was neither strong nor fast enough, while also massaging the point that in appealing against the Supreme Court's verdict, their party acted counter-intuitively and not without some reluctance.
This is also the impression in Anekal, where Dalits live in separate colonies and are discouraged from entering temples in areas dominated by upper castes. "The order has been welcomed by the upper castes who form the BJP's core constituency. It will help the party to further consolidate their vote before the elections," alleged R Shankar, a local Dalit activist.
The BJP has for decades been the homestead of upper caste Hindus; its opulent victory in the last general election was facilitated by Amit Shah, the party chief, managing to weave together traditional supporters with an assortment of lower and backward castes including Dalits in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
In Karnataka, the BJP has been the preference of Lingayats and other upper castes; even in 2014, when the triumphant 'Modi wave' fanned across India, the Dalits remained unpersuaded. Of Karnataka's 28 parliamentary seats, four are reserved for Dalit candidates; the BJP won just one of those.
The PM has tried to persuade Dalits, who together with tribals form a quarter of the country's population, that Hindutva ideology is not hostile to their progress, but in 2016, nearly 41,000 cases of atrocities against Dalits were registered across India. 60% of those cases were from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, all states ruled by the BJP. "In Karnataka, crimes against Dalits have also shown an increase in the five years of Congress rule, so they cannot claim the moral high ground," former BJP chief minister Jagadish Shettar told NDTV.
But if the Dalits in the state do desert the BJP completely, the buck will have to stop with his colleague, Anant Kumar Hegde, the MP from Uttara Kannada constituency. At a public function in December , Mr Hegde, a union minister, said "The Constitution needs to be changed from time to time and we have come for that", which was seen as a remark on doing away with reservation or guaranteed government jobs and college places for scheduled castes. To make matters worse, Mr Hegde, a Brahmin, then referred to the protests staged by a group of Dalits against his statement as "the barking of stray dogs". The BJP argued that Mr Hegde's views were personal and not those of the party and thought it was a closed chapter.
Then, a fortnight ago, a meeting between Amit Shah and a group of Dalit leaders in Mysuru was marred by protests against the BJP bosses for failing to act against the minister. "The PM says that 'No government has given respect to Babasaheb the way our government has.' If this is true, then why doesn't he sack Mr Hegde? This can only mean that privately, the BJP's and its minister's views are the same," insists a Dalit activist who was one of the protestors at Amit Shah's meeting. "Since December, we have been warning our people to be vigilant, because even the poorest Dalit knows that his right to reservation is enshrined in the constitution and anyone who wants to rewrite it wants to snatch this right away from us." The derision that Amit Shah confronted was in Mysuru, the heart of South Karnataka, where the BJP won no seat at all in the last state election. It is crucial for the party to build support here.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress belongs to a shepherd community. He is backed by a cohort of Dalits, other backward castes, and minorities. He believes that crucial schemes that he introduced including give free grains to the poorest families, free milk for students up till Class 10, and interest-free loans for farmers have broadened his support to include economically backward sections of the upper caste Lingayats and Vokkaligas. He has also introduced Indira canteens serving subsidised food which are copied from the famous Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP is hoping that the Dalit vote in Karnataka will be split by the big play made by Mayawati, the Dalit leader from Uttar Pradesh, who has partnered with Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (S) in an arrangement which allows her own party to compete for 20 seats, though she did not win any in the last state election in 2013.
But her workers say that her collaboration with Deve Gowda, seen as close to the BJP, lacks conviction. "She has not given us any clear-cut order to vote for Deve Gowda's candidates," claimed a BSP worker in Anekal. "Besides, JD(S) is a feudal party, supported by the dominant Vokkaliga caste which has always victimised Dalits."
COMMENTSAs for the Congress, if it wants to win the Scheduled Caste vote in Karnataka, it will have to do more than ride the wave of Dalit anger erupting across the country and consolidate a significant section of the many sub-castes. Though the "left hand Dalits" are numerically stronger, the majority of the Congress leadership in the state including Mallikarjun Kharge and G Parameshwara, President of the Karnataka Congress, come from the "right hand Dalits" who have long been accused of helping their sub-caste to corner the larger share of government benefits.
Tempering that sentiment is no less a challenge than what the BJP is encountering
Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit, JD-U Says, "He Should Grant Special Status To Bihar"
MMNN:9 April 2018
PATNA: The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Monday said it wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce granting of special category status to Bihar when he visits the state on Tuesday.
PM Modi is slated to visit Motihari to participate in the concluding ceremony of Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations on Tuesday.
"Modi should grant special status to Bihar as promised during his visit," JD-U General Secretary Shayam Razak told media persons.
Last month, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he had not given up the demand for special status to Bihar "for even one second" since he first raised it in 2005.
COMMENTSLast week, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said: "If Nitish Kumar is a strong leader, he should directly demand special category status for Bihar from Modi."
Tejashwi Yadav said Nitish Kumar should follow TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandra Babu Naidu, who had demanded special category status for his state from Modi and walked out from the NDA when it was not granted
Kolkata Woman's Body Kept In Freezer At Home; Husband, Son Lived With It For 2 Years
MMNN:5 April 2018
Two years ago when an elderly woman in West Bengal died, she wasn't cremated. Instead her son preserved her body in a commercial freezer and had been living with it till they recovered it, police said.
The motive behind the act is yet to be known.
The woman stayed with her husband and son in South Kolkata's Behala area. While the neighbours knew of the woman's demise, they wondered why the family didn't perform her last rites.
"She was suffering from some illness... don't know the details. The family didn't socialise much. The man most probably worked in a big firm. The father would sometimes talk to us. But the son never spoke with anyone in the neighbourhood. When we asked the family about her funeral, they said her 'body is in heavens'," said Amal Kanti Guha, a neighbour.
Yesterday, the body was retrieved and taken away for investigation.
COMMENTS
A few weeks ago, the decomposed body of a 70-year-old woman was recovered from her Kolkata residence after neighbours complained that the son was living with his mother's dead body for days without taking any steps to perform her last rites, police said.
These incidents have brought back the memory of central Kolkata's Robinson Street, where a middle-aged man had lived for months with the skeletons of his sister and two pet dogs, while his father's charred body was found inside a bathroom.
No Other Government Honoured BR Ambedkar As We Did: PM Narendra Modi
MMNN:4 April 2018
NEW DELHI: Two days after massive nationwide protests by Dalit groups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused rival political parties of politicizing the legacy of BR Ambedkar and said no other government had honoured the Dalit icon like his.
The prime minister said his government had given BR Ambedkar his rightful place by completing projects conceived in the memory of the iconic leader, who drafted the Indian constitution.
The 26, Alipur Road house where Ambedkar died would be dedicated to the nation on April 13 on the eve of his birth anniversary, PM Modi said, addressing a gathering at the opening of the Western Court annexe to meant to house MPs.
Everyone was using Ambedkar's name for political gains, said the Prime Minister, stating that it was his government that had completed the Ambedkar International Centre though the idea was conceived when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister.
The previous Congress-led government had delayed the project for years, said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister's comments come after Dalit protests over a Supreme Court order putting in place safeguards to prevent the misuse of a law to prevent atrocities against SC/STs (Scheduled Castes and Tribes). Dalit groups view it as dilution of the law. On the Centre's petition asking for a review of the order, the court yesterday refused to freeze its decision and said its intention was to protect individual rights.
At least 11 died in the protests and hundreds were injured.
COMMENTSEarlier, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had hit out at PM Modi and accused him of "not uttering a word" on the alleged atrocities on Dalits and tribals.
Probe Must Before Arrest; SC/ST Law Not Diluted, Says Supreme Court
MMNN:3 April 2018
NEW DELHI: No provision of the law that seeks to prevent atrocities on scheduled castes and scheduled tribes has been diluted, the Supreme Court has said.
"We are not diluting any provisions. We are only safeguarding innocent persons from arrest," the court said while hearing a petition filed by the centre seeking a review of last month's order.
On March 20, the Supreme Court had ruled that government servants should not be arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act without prior sanction and private citizens too can be arrested only after an inquiry under the law.
The centre filed the review petition on Monday, a day that claimed 11 lives across the country during an all-India strike called by Dalit groups that claimed the court order diluted the provisions of the law.
Refusing to suspend its 'no immediate arrest' directive, the court said people who have been agitating may not have read the earlier order.
As Attorney General KK Venugopal argued that there is tremendous discontent and agitation in the society against the verdict, the court said, "We are not in conflict. Agitations may be by vested interests".
The preliminary probe will have to be done but within seven days, the court said, clarifying that a First Information Report (FIR) can be registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the provisions of the SC/ST law can be added if the probe establishes such an offence.
"Our concern is to implement the constitutional rights of the underprivileged. Can liberty of innocents be taken away without a proper procedure," asked Justice AK Goel, one of the judges on the bench that delivered the March 20 order.
COMMENTSClarifying that it wasn't against the law, the bench said "our approach is liberty can't be taken away without a preliminary inquiry. There shouldn't be any terror in society for innocent persons".
5 Dead As Violence Sweeps North During Bharat Bandh Protests: 10 Points
MMNN:2 April 2018
NEW DELHI: Protests that swept north India have cost five lives today as Dalit groups tried to enforce an all-India shutdown over a Supreme Court order. In Madhya Pradesh, four people died during clashes and a man was killed in firing in Rajasthan's Alwat. Violence was also reported from parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab came to a standstill as the government put the army on stand-by and transport off the roads. The Dalits are protesting against a Supreme Court order, which, they say, dilutes a law meant to protect the community. The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to review the order.
Here is your 10-point cheatsheet on Bharat Bandh called against Supreme Court's order on SC/ST Act
1-In Madhya Pradesh, a student leader and four others died during clashes between the police and protesters. Six people were injured in the district and the army was called into Bhind to control the situation. In Gwalior, prohibitory orders banning large gatherings were imposed as protesters blocked railway tracks and set fire to vehicles.
2-Clashes and arson were reported from cities in Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Barmer and Alwar. In Jharkhand capital Ranchi, the police lathicharged protesters.
3-Train services were hit in parts of Bihar, Odisha, Punjab and Rajasthan as protesters blocked railway tracks. In some areas, highways were blocked too.
4-In Punjab, hundreds of protesters carrying swords, sticks, baseball bats and flags forced shops to shut in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda. Traffic in and around Chandigarh was hit as protesters blocked highways and arterial roads.
5-The Punjab government has taken extensive security measures that include shutting of schools and colleges, postponing Board exams and suspending mobile internet services till 11 pm. Banks and offices are shut and transport is off the roads. Security has been stepped up in towns like Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur, which have the highest Dalit population.
6-The government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court asking for a rethink on the order. "We have filed a very comprehensive review (petition)... senior lawyers will argue (the case) with all authority," Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
7-In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party, a BJP ally, is supporting the strike. In state capital Patna, hundreds of Bhim Army workers took to the streets to enforce a shutdown. Protests were also held in various towns of Haryana and Bengal capital Kolkata.
8-In Uttar Pradesh, Meerut saw widespread arson and clashes between police and protesters. In Hapur, blocked the highway Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed for calm, saying the Central and the state governments were are "dedicated towards the welfare of backward castes, SC & ST".
9-The shutdown has been called by Dalit groups against a Supreme Court order of March 20. Maintaining that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act law was being misused in certain cases, the Supreme Court changed two key provisions of the law, stopping the immediate arrest an accused and introducing a provision for bail.
10-Dalit groups said the court could have come to a different conclusion had the Union government highlighted the high rate of atrocities on the community and the abysmally low rate of conviction. Most opposition parties, including the Congress, have sided with the Dalits. Last week, a delegation of NDA lawmakers, led by Ram Vilas Paswan, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I Made Mistake, But...": On Gaffe, Amit Shah's Sharp Comeback For Congress
MMNN:30 March 2018
MYSORE: BJP president Amit Shah today spoke for the first time on his much-talked about slip in Karnataka, which embarrassed his party's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, and turned it around to take aim at the Congress.
"In a slip of tongue, I said that the Yeddyurappa government is corrupt instead of Siddaramaiah's, and the entire Congress party started to rejoice. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that I might have made a mistake but the people of Karnataka will not," the BJP chief said, speaking to reporters in Mysuru, where he is campaigning today for the May 12 state election.
Amit Shah had stopped to speak to reporters in the middle of a hectic tour of Mysuru, where he made several stops including the Ambavilas Palace or Mysore Palace, home to the former royal family.
On Tuesday, Amit Shah had said: "Recently a retired Supreme Court judge said if there was ever a competition of the most corrupt government then the Yeddyurappa government is number one..."
Mr Yeddyurappa was sitting next to him. Then Karnataka BJP leader Prahlad Joshi was seen whispering something to Amit Shah, who quickly corrected himself.
Mr Yeddyurappa was chief minister of the first BJP government in Karnataka from 2008. He was forced to step down in August 2011 in a haze of corruption allegations by Karnataka's ombudsman or Lokayukta Santosh Hegde. He was accused in a mining scam. In 2016, he was acquitted of charges of accepting kickbacks worth Rs. 40 crores.
COMMENTSThis was the second time Amit Shah made a blooper like this on Mr Yeddyurappa's name.
After the polls on May 12, the results will be out on May 15.
Morning After CBSE "Stain", Minister Says, "Am Parent, Couldn't Sleep"
MMNN:29 March 2018
NEW DELHI: Union minister Prakash Javadekar today said the leak of question papers was a "stain" on the CBSE, but the government is tackling the issue and the culprits would not be spared. The minister, who spoke to the media this afternoon, said the Central Board will take a call on the fresh exam dates soon and an "announcement will be made by Monday or Tuesday".
The students of Delhi, however, are demanding a re-examination of all papers. Alleging that not just two or three, almost all papers have been leaked, many students are holding a protest at Jantar Mantar -- the designated protest site at the national capital.
The minister tried to connect with anxious parents, whose children will have to take two papers of the CBSE exam afresh following a leak of the question papers. "I can understand the pain and anguish of the students and parents...I also could not sleep. I am also a parent," said Mr Javadekar, a father of two sons.
Though there was no fresh update on the investigation, Mr Javadekar said he hoped the police would crack the case, as they did in the case of the government recruitment exams.
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COMMENTSThe question papers for Class 12 economics and Class 10 maths were leaked on WhatsApp ahead of the exams, which took place this week. Earlier, students had alleged another paper, accounts, had been leaked. Admitting to the leak last evening, Mr Javadekar said, "2-3 papers had been leaked around 30 minutes before the exam".
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The police, however, indicated that was not quite the case. Quoting sources, news agency Press Trust of India reported that the question papers were doing the rounds on WhatsApp the evening before the exams.
PM Modi Unhappy With CBSE Exam Leak That Played Out On WhatsApp
MMNN:28 March 2018
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed unhappiness about the leak of Class 10 and 12 CBSE papers, which is forcing students to take the exams again, sources told NDTV. Coming a month after the paper leak in SSC exams, the CBSE leak has placed the government in face of Congress allegations of mismanagement.
PM Modi dialled the education minister after the Central education board CBSE decided to set fresh tests for Class 10 Maths and Class 12 Economics following reports of a leak of question papers, sources said.
The paper leak allegations surfaced on Sunday, a day before the Class XII Economics exam, when many students found a hand-written question paper making the rounds on WhatsApp. The next day, they found a huge overlap when they saw the actual question paper. Those who took the exam, however, said the paper was not too difficult.
"PM Modi has always given a lot of importance to fair examinations," said Mr Javadekar, whose HRD ministry handles education.
Admitting that parts of the paper were leaked on WhatsApp, the minister said the government has deployed a special Delhi police team to investigate the matter. "We are sure that whoever has done this will be caught soon. They have no right to play with the lives of children," he said.
In future, the government will devise a method to avoid paper leaks with the help of technology, the minister assured, adding, "I just want to tell the parents and children that it is extremely unfortunate that this incident happened."
With four arrests reported this morning in the other huge paper leak case, the SSC exam -- through which recruitment is made for clerical level government jobs -- the Congress hit out at the government.
COMMENTS"Aabki baar paper leak Sarkar (Go for a paper leak government)" jeered Congress' Randeep Singh Surjewala. "First, the SSC paper leak put a question mark on the future of 2 million young people and now the CBSE tenth and twelfth paper leaked! The future of millions of youth in jeopardy!" the Hindi tweet read.
The arrests made last evening had confirmed the allegations of paper leak. Lakhs of students had held a week-long protest across the country in February, till the government ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Sure, We Are Friends, But... How Mayawati Gave Akhilesh Yadav A Message
MMNN:27 March 2018
Mayawati's failure to snag a Rajya Sabha seat means her newfound friend Akhilesh Yadav can forget about any help in two more bypolls ahead in Uttar Pradesh.
After losing a white-knuckled race for one Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP on Friday, Mayawati declared that her alliance with the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav was very much intact and the BJP should be under no false hope that she could divide the two before the 2019 national election.
At the same time, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief made two significant comments that telegraphed her disappointment with Akhilesh Yadav, whose party had won two seemingly impossible bypoll contests in BJP strongholds of Gorakhpur and Phulpur with the BSP's support.
One, Mayawati has said her party won't take part in any other bypoll in the run up to the national election. "The Lok Sabha polls of 2019 are approaching and so we want to concentrate on that. In any Lok Sabha bypoll or otherwise in the interim, we will not ask our workers to leave everything and work for the bypolls for anyone else," she said
This means Akhilesh Yadav cannot count on a Gorakhpur victory redux in the crucial parliamentary bypoll in Kairana and the assembly bypoll in Bijnore, both in western UP.
Juhi Singh, a Samajwadi Party leader, said: "Kairana is just a bypoll. We will take it as it comes. Mayawatiji has clearly said the tie up is intact and the next big election for all of us is the Lok Sabha 2019 poll."
In her second loaded message, Mayawati said in her press conference that Akhilesh Yadav, a former chief minister like her, was politically inexperienced and in his place, she would have helped the BSP candidate win even at the cost of the Samajwadi's candidate Jaya Bachchan.
Based on their numbers in the UP assembly, the BJP took eight Rajya Sabha seats and the Samajwadi took one. On the 10th seat, Mayawati had fielded her candidate and was banking on the Samajwadi Party, Congress and Ajit Singh's party to make up the numbers needed to win a Rajya Sabha place. But the BJP made it a fight and snatched the seat in a suspenseful contest. The Samajwadi's eight lawmakers were not enough to win Mayawati her seat.
There was talk of Akhilesh Yadav sacrificing his candidate Jaya Bachchan and asking his lawmakers to support Mayawati's candidate instead, but that did not happen. The BJP, smarting at its by-poll loss, seized the chance.
COMMENTS"Akhilesh Yadav had promised 10 solid votes to the BSP in the Rajya Sabha election. They never got those votes. So Mayawati and her party members feel extremely cheated. As far as Akhilesh is concerned, he now has two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seat for himself. But Mayawati got a blank.
Mayawati, 62, realises that she cannot let her resentment get the better of an alliance that proved its might against the BJP and its chief minister Yogi Adityanath. If the opposition has any hope of outsmarting the BJP in 2019, a larger alliance has to work.
"Did Ram Say Carry pistols?" Mamata Banerjee Livid As Clashes Dot Bengal
MMNN:26 March 2018
KOLKATA: Clashes broke out in Bengal's Murshidabad and Raniganj over Ram Navami processions, continuing the chain of violence that flared up yesterday in various pockets of the state. As the violence in Murshidabad, which continued for the better part of the morning, was followed by reports of arson from Raniganj, a livid Mamata Banerjee said the matter will be dealt with strongly.
Ram Navami has never been a major festival in Bengal but over the last two years, the BJP has been especially active, holding rallies where participants are often armed with traditional weapons like swords and tridents.
In Murshidabad's Kandi, an armed crowd barged into a police station, at which the police had to retaliate. Batons were used to control the situation. Visuals from the area showed frenzied mobs rushing around, their faces smeared with red. In the afternoon, two communities clashed in Raniganj, a town in the coal belt. Motor bikes were set on fire and policemen were attacked at a local market. Some policemen were injured.
"Did Ram tell anyone to carry pistols? So many hooligans defaming Ram," fumed Ms Banerjee. Invoking the state's peacuful traditions, she said, "We Bengalis hold Kali puja.. Durga puja... all peacefully... not with weapons and hooliganism.I will speak to the authorities on this. We will have to deal with it A-Z... we have to deal with this strongly."
Even after strengthened security in the state, clashes were reported yesterday from Purulia district after a group allegedly tried to organise a rally without prior permission from police. One villager was killed and three police officers were injured in the clash. Clashes were also reported from Bardhaman, where a puja pandal was attacked.
In state capital Kolkata, more than 60 rallies were organized - some of them by the ruling Trinamool Congress and led by the party's senior leaders like Firhad Hakim, Sadhan Pande.
But most of the violence have centred armed rallies - held in many cases without prior police permission despite a stern warning from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
COMMENTSState BJP president Dilip Ghosh, participated in one, held in West Midnapore, armed with a sword. So did the party's women wing president Locket Chatterjee and national secretary Rahul Sinha.
"We are celebrating this festival for years, no one should resist us. It is the government's duty to maintain the peace. Our groups have got permission to celebrate, this is a religious festival," Dilip Ghosh had said.
Fodder Scam: Lalu gets 14-year imprisonment
MMNN:24 March 2018
A special CBI court on Saturday awarded a total of 14 years’ of imprisonment to former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and also imposed a fine of Rs 60-lakh in the Fodder Scam.
The special CBI judge Shivpal Singh awarded seven years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30-lakh under sections 120 (B), 409, 420, 467,468, 471 and 477 (A) in case number RC38A/96 which is related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.76-crore from Dumka treasury of unified Bihar between 1991 to 1996.
The CBI court also awarded seven-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30-lakh under PC Act sections 13 (2) read with 13(1)(c)(d).
Both the punishments would run ‘consecutively’, the judge said in his judgement which means Lalu would have to undergo imprisonment of 14 years and he would have to pay a fine of Rs 60-lakh. Failing to pay the fine he would have to undergo additional imprisonment of two years.
The court had on March 19 convicted a total of 19 accused in the case including Lalu while 12 others including former Bihar Chief Minister Dr Jaggananth Mishra were acquitted. The arguments on quantum of sentencing were made on March 21, 22, and 23 after which the court had fixed March 24 as the date for announcement of the sentencing.
The CBI had filed a chargesheet against a total of 49 accused on May 11, 2000. Out of these 49, three became government witnesses and among them one has died. The higher court has quashed the charges against the then Dumka Commissioner S N Dubey in the case while 14 others died during the course of the trial.
Anna Hazare Begins His Hunger Strike In Delhi: What Are His Key Demands
MMNN:23 March 2018
NEW DELHI: Kisan Baburao Hazare, better known as Anna Hazare today started an indefinite hunger strike with a demand for the government to set up a Lokpal. He began his strike at Ramlila Maidan this morning - the same ground where his stir for an anti-corruption body seven years ago caught the country's imagination. In 2011, Anna Hazare sat on a similar hunger strike for Lokpal or a national ombudsman. This time he has a new target. Previously, he targeted the then UPA government at the centre, and his anti-corruption movement had caught the imagination of millions of Indians. This time Anna Hazare's target is the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, which has not been able to finalise a Lokpal to investigate cases if corruption.
On August 31, Anna Hazare had written to PM Modi stating that he would launch an agitation over the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta as well as implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report. Anna Hazare wrote, "Since there has been no response from your side, I have decided to launch an agitation in Delhi. I will continue with the protest until the demands are met". He also mentioned that in his next letter he would inform him about the place and the date of his agitation.
Key demands of Anna Hazare's indefinite hunger strike this time are setting up of the Lokpal at the centre and Lokayuktas in the states and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report that assures fair pay for farmers.
The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.
COMMENTSThe Lokayuktas is an anti-corruption ombudsman organisation in the states. Once appointed, Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the government, and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the state assembly.
Swaminathan Commission report: The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Professor MS Swaminathan, submitted five reports through the period December 2004 - October 2006. Following from the first four, the final report focused on causes of farmer distresses and the rise in farmer suicides, and recommends addressing them through a holistic national policy for farmers. The findings and recommendations encompass issues of access to resources and social security entitlements
Apollo Hospital Chief Dr Prathap Reddy's Big Reveal About ICU, Cameras During Jayalalithaa Stay
MMNN:22 March 2018
More than a year after her death, the last days of iconic Tamil Nadu leader J Jayalalithaa remains the subject of intense debate between political leaders who lay claim to her legacy. Days after VK Sasikala, the longtime companion of the former Chief Minister, told an inquiry commission about Ms Jayalalithaa's being videographed during her last days, Chennai's Apollo hospital chairman Dr Prathap Reddy gave an account that's seen as contradicting her version.
The 69-year-old had died at the hospital in December 2016 after 75 days of treatment. All CCTV cameras at the hospital were switched off for the entire duration, Dr Reddy said today. He also said the 24-bed intensive care unit was emptied and she was the only patient there.
Ms Sasikala -- jailed in a corruption case -- had said Jayalalithaa was videographed in a lucid state four times in hospital and senior AIADMK leaders, including O Panneerselvam and M Thambidurai, had met her. Both leaders have said they were not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa at any point during her hospitalization.
Their claims have added to the questions that mushroomed over the secrecy during Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation and treatment. The Apollo hospital has already released detailed accounts of the treatment of the former Chief Minister. Today, on the sidelines of a medical press conference in Chennai, Dr Reddy was asked by reporters if the hospital had also released the CCTV footage.
"I am sorry. Unfortunately, they switched off all the CCTVs for all the 75 days. They removed the camera because they did not want everyone to be watching," Dr Reddy said. The veteran doctor added that as soon as the then Chief Minister got admitted, access to the Intensive Care Unit was shut off. "All patients were diverted to another ICU. This ICU was occupied only by her. Only one out of 24 rooms in the ICU was used," he said. No visitors were allowed to meet her, Dr Reddy added.
The hospital, he said, had done its best, but unfortunately they lost the iconic leader after she suffered a massive heart attack.
COMMENTSThe questions regarding Ms Jayalalithaa's death partially led to the split within the ruling AIADMK within three months. They fuelled the blame game between two factions, led then by Ms Sasikala and O Pannerselvam. The factions subsequently patched up after months of intense rivalry.
Ms Sasikala -- who was ousted as part of the deal along with TTV Dhinakaran -- is set to be back in the political game after her nephew launched a new party following his huge victory at Chennai's RK Nagar. The constituency was represented by Ms Jayalalithaa till her death and his victory is seen as a successful bid for her legacy. Mr Dhinakaran has named his party Amma Makka Munnetra Kazhagam after Jayalalithaa, called Amma by millions of her supporters.
Rajya Sabha Election 2018: Amit Shah's Big Gains In The Last 24 Hours Over Mayawati
MMNN:21 March 2018
In the last 24 hours, BJP president Amit Shah has made all the right moves towards sweet revenge after losing two important bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. Seven Samajwadi lawmakers skipped an important party meeting today ahead of the Rajya Sabha election - bad news for Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav and also for Mayawati's party, which stands to lose the race for one seat in the upper house.
Days ago, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati set aside their 25-year rivalry and pulled off an incredible win for Samajwadi Party candidates in two BJP strongholds. As part of the quid pro quo, Akhilesh Yadav's lawmakers are to support Mayawati's party in the Rajya Sabha polls.
On Friday, Uttar Pradesh will decide on 10 of 31 Rajya Sabha seats. There are nine BJP candidates and one each from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati's BSP. Each candidate from UP will require the support of 37 legislators. The BJP is confident of winning at least eight seats, with 311 members in the assembly, and the Samajwadi Party, with 47 members, should be able to snag one. Akhilesh Yadav's party said it would give its surplus 10 to help Mayawati's BSP, which is short of votes with only 19 members. Along with one more from Ajit Singh's party, the BSP would make it.
Not if Amit Shah has his way.
The Samajwadi Party is struggling to keep its flock together. Seven lawmakers, including party chief Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Shivpal Yadav, skipped a meeting this morning in Lucknow. The absentees include the lawmaker son of Naresh Agrawal, a serial defector who quit the Samajwadi Party and shifted to the BJP after being denied a place in the Rajya Sabha.
A party leader was confident that these members would show up at a dinner organized later at a luxury hotel. "The Samajwadi Party is united under Akhilesh Yadav's leadership. Those who did not turn up right now will turn up later. On the day of voting, all of our MLAs will be together," said Parasnath Yadav, an SP legislator.
But party sources say they have given up on the vote of Naresh Agrawal's son. As for the rest, one member is in jail. "Azam Khan and son did not attend but their support is with us. Shivpal Yadav and two other MLAs are in touch with us and likely to vote for us," said sources.
At least seven legislators close to Shivpal Yadav had voted in favour of the BJP's nominee Ram Nath Kovind in last year's presidential elections.
The BJP is trying its best to defeat Mayawati's candidate by backing a western UP businessman, Anil Agarwal, on a seat the BSP could have won otherwise. With the BJP putting up a fight, there are chances of cross voting and even horse trading in UP.
COMMENTSThe BJP also has a meeting this evening of all its lawmakers and Rajya Sabha candidates.
Since yesterday, Amit Shah has made winning moves - he was able to persuade an upset ally in UP to fall back in line and get his four lawmakers to support the BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha. And today, an Amit Shah role was seen in the absence of seven lawmakers from the Samajwadi Party meeting
SC/ST Act: Public servant ‘cannot be automatically’ arrested, says SC
MMNN:20 March 2018
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Maharashtra state government official “cannot be automatically” arrested on a complaint filed under the SC/ST Act because sanction of the appointing authority is mandatory before taking such an action against a public servant.
The Supreme Court, in its judgement, held that there was no absolute bar for granting the anticipatory bail in atrocities matter.
The apex court said that the preliminary investigation by police was necessary now and sanction by competent authority would be required in cases against public servants.
“A public servant can be arrested after grant of approval by the superior officer. In case of registration of any offence, the DSP shall conduct a preliminary enquiry,” the bench of the apex court said in its judgement.
A division bench of the top court, headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and also comprising Justice Uday Umesh Lalit passed the judgement.
The apex court had earlier appointed Amarendra Saran, senior Supreme Court lawyer as the amicus curie (friend of the court) who submitted his opinion on it.The Court had also issued notice to the Union of India for its detailed reply on the issue.Maninder Singh represented the Union who had also submitted his opinion.
CBI Challenges Acquittal Of A Raja, Kanimozhi, Others In 2G Case: Report
MMNN:19 March 2018
NEW DELHI: The CBI has challenged the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja, DMK leader Kanimozhi and others in the 2G spectrum allocation scam cases, news agency PTI reported.
In December last year, Mr Raja, Kanimozhi and all other accused were acquitted in the politically-sensitive 2G spectrum allocation scam cases by a special court in Delhi which held that the prosecution "miserably failed" to prove the charges.
The judge OP Saini had said the CBI could not prove that Mr Raja, along with officials from companies that won the licenses for telecom services, had conspired to receive kickbacks from the sale of phone permits, causing a loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the government.
"I have absolutely no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove any charge against any of the accused, made in its well choreographed chargesheet," the judge had said.
COMMENTS"The genesis of the case lies not so much in the actions of A Raja but in the action/inaction of others. There is no material on record to show that A Raja was mother lode of conspiracy in the instant case.
The "2G" trial began in 2011, a year after the national auditor CAG said in its report that there had been massive irregularities in the allocation of second generation or 2G licences when Mr Raja was minister. In 2010, Vinod Rai was the Comptroller and Auditor General or CAG.
He alleged in a scathing report that Mr Raja, as telecom minister, caused the tax payer a loss of 1.76 lakh crore by allotting 2G spectrum licenses at throwaway prices. Mr Raja was forced to resign in 2010 just before the CAG report was to be tabled in parliament and later was jailed for 15 months in the case.
Chandrababu Naidu Quits NDA Alliance, Blames PM For 'Injustice To Andhra'
MMNN:16 March 2018
N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) walked out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition on Friday over financial support for Andhra Pradesh, delivering a huge blow to the BJP ahead of the 2019 national election.
Mr Naidu's party will also ask for a no-confidence vote against the government in parliament, deciding against playing second fiddle to rival Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress, which submitted its notice on Thursday.
"I took the decision not for selfish reasons but for the interests of Andhra Pradesh. For four years I made all efforts, went to Delhi 29 times, asked many times. This was the centre's last budget and there was no mention of Andhra Pradesh," Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said in the Andhra assembly.
Later, in the assembly, Mr Naidu directly blamed PM Modi, saying "He is responsible for injustice to Andhra Pradesh."
The TDP, which was the first party to extend its support to the BJP in 2014, has 16 members in the 545-member parliament; its exit hits the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) not by numbers but in perception.
"Far from being a threat, TDP's exit is a timely opportunity for the BJP to grow in Andhra Pradesh," said the BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao, declaring that his party would replicate its Tripura success in Andhra Pradesh, where elections will be held next year.
Last week, the TDP pulled its two ministers out of the central government but had stopped short of walking out of the alliance. Mr Naidu had said he tried to reach out to PM Modi but he "did not come on the line". But he left a door open for reconciliation.
Jagan Reddy's no-trust motion, which threatened to eclipse his party, is seen to have accelerated his exit.
The BJP had been resigned to divorce - keeping up efforts to placate its largest ally in the south even as it was seen to flirt with Jagan Reddy's party - but the pullout adds to its troubles after its Uttar Pradesh and Bihar bypoll debacle. In UP, the party suffered an unthinkable defeat in Gorakhpur, the long-term base of its Hindutva mascot Yogi Adityanath.
The Shiv Sena, another partner which announced separation recently, declared that "the Modi wave is over".
Yesterday, Mr Naidu reportedly told his party leaders that the bypoll results reflected an anti-Modi and anti-BJP wave.
COMMENTSThe Chief Minister also said the BJP was trying to use Jagan Reddy and Jana Sena boss Pawan Kalyan against the TDP.
The four-year BJP-TDP alliance crashed as Mr Naidu escalated his campaign for special category status to Andhra Pradesh as promised after Telangana was carved out of it in 2014. Special status would mean a large infusion of central funds to help with the state government's plans to develop its new capital Amaravati
Prime Minister, President To Get Their Own Planes By Early 2020
MMNN:13 March 2018
NEW DELHI: India's first set of brand new planes for the prime minister, president and vice-president will be customised and be ready for use by early 2020, senior government officials said.
Two Boeing 777-300 ERs, bought by Air India recently, will be retrofitted to have VIP enclosures, a press conference room and a patient transport unit for medical emergencies.
The aircraft will also be equipped with Wi-Fi on board and have anti-missile protection, a senior official said.
A Boeing 777 unlike the older Boeing 747, which were borrowed from Air India as and when a VVIP visited overseas, can fly non-stop to the US, thereby dispensing with the need to halt for refuelling.
In February and March, Air India inducted three Boeing 777 aircraft, completing an order of 68 planes placed with the aerospace major in 2006. Two of these three planes will be set aside exclusively for VVIP use.
"The government will buy these aircraft from Air India," a senior official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
An aircraft exclusively for VVIPs -- such as the president, vice-president and prime minister -- will mean that Air India will no more have to ground aircraft from its fleet for special flights and re-configure them to include VIP enclosures, a press conference room etc for these operations.
Earlier, during the budget announcement for the next fiscal, the government had set aside an amount of Rs. 4,469.50 crore for the purchase of these aircraft from Air India.
Officials say that the amount would cover the cost of the plane, their retro-fitment, the cost of a spare engine as well as a special equipment box list or spare parts that need to be mandatorily on-board an aircraft.
The two planes will return to Boeing's facility in the US on June 1 and June 30 to undergo overhauling which will take 18 months. The Indian Air Force is also negotiating with the US government for a special protection suite or anti-missile protection for these planes, a reliable source confirmed.
COMMENTSAir India will prepare a pool of 44 pilots for VVIP operations, four of whom will always be on standby and stationed in Delhi. There will also be a dedicated team of engineers and cabin crew.
To a question on how would privatisation of Air India effect deployment of pilots and cabin crew for the VVIP flights, a senior airline official said that the government is yet to finalise its decision on the matter.
Maharashtra Government Agrees To Farmers' Demands, Says Minister: 10 Facts
MMNN:12 March 2018
MUMBAI: The Devendra Fadnavis government of Maharashtra has agreed to the demands of thousands of protesting farmers who have been pouring into Mumbai for the last two days. The demands have been accepted in writing, said state minister Chandrakant Patil, after a delegation of farmers met government representatives this afternoon. Nearly 50,000 distressed farmers, demanding loan waiver and updated minimum support price, had assembled in Mumbai after a grueling five day march.
Here is a 10-point lowdown on the farmers' demand:
Farmers have been demanding an unconditional loan waiver scheme after some of them failed to qualify for any financial relief under the Maharashtra government's initiative last year.
The Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which spearheaded the march, wants the implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission that mandates farmers be paid one-and-a-half times the cost of production and the Minimum Support Price be fixed for their produce.
The adivasis or tribal cultivators, who joined the march in huge numbers, want the land they have been tilling for years to be transferred to their names and implementation of the Forest Rights Act, which they say will benefit them.
Inter-linking of rivers and to discontinue sharing of waters with Gujarat is among another concerns that they want to discuss.
The farmers want the state government to stop forceful acquisition of farm lands for projects such as super highways and bullet trains.
They want compensation of Rs. 40,000 per acre to farmers hit by hailstorm and pink bollworm.
As farmers across the state reportedly failed to benefit from the loan waiver scheme of the government, they decided to cover the 180 km distance between Nasik and Mumbai on foot to register their dissent. The scorching sun, blistered and cracked feet and sparse meals didn't deter the debt-ridden farmers.
Even though the farmer had planned to begin their march towards the Vidhan Sabha after 11 am, they chose to walk at night so that the students appearing for their Board exams weren't affected and the traffic ran smoothly.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government was "sensitive and positive" towards the demands of farmers and tribals. "A ministerial committee has been formed to discuss their demands. We will take a decision to resolve their issues in a time-bound manner," he said.
Poonam Mahajan appreciated their long march and said the government in looking into them. "But the farmers had accepted that the farm loan waiver was implemented. I respect these farmers but what has bothered me the most is that these farmers are holding communist flags. I hope farmers will not be used for political agendas in the future," she said.
HM directs CAPFs to launch spl recruitment drives for
MMNN:10 March 2018
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday called upon the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to launch Special Recruitment Drives for Women to achieve the goal of 33 per cent reservation for women.
Addressing the 49th Raising Day Parade of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Ghaziabad, he also asked the Force to prepare and strengthen its Cyber Security Plan.
Quoting CISF motto ‘Duty with smile’ the Home Minister said air travelers have heaped lavish praise on the CISF personnel for their politeness while ensuring foolproof security at airports. He, however, called upon the CISF personnel not to lower guard and always remain vigilant.
“India’s economy will surpass the five trillion doller mark in a few years. We will need to boost critical infrastructure including airports, metro and high-speed railways and providing security to such vital, strategic installations including space research and nuclear power plants that lies in the hands of CISF”, Rajnath said.
The Home Minister asked the CISF to roll out its Mission 2020 ahead of the “Amrut Mahotsav” (75th Anniversary) celebrations of India’s Independence in 2022. As the CISF enters its Golden Jubilee Year, he lauded the world’s largest industrial security force for its multi-dimensional roles including Internal Security in combating Left Wing Extremism.
On the occasion, the Union Home Minister presented awards and medals to CISF personnel and took the salute of an impressive parade.
Karti Chidambaram Sent To CBI Custody For 3 More Days In Corruption Case
MMNN:9 March 2018
NEW DELHI: Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, has been sent to the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI for three more days by a court in Delhi. He will presented in court on Monday. The CBI had sought his remand for six more days.
Karti has been in the custody of the CBI since his arrest on February 28. He was was arrested by the CBI last week on charges that he facilitated investment approvals for the INX media group back in 2007 and 2008, using the influence of his father, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram. In return, Karti is alleged to have been paid 700,000 dollars by the two former co-owners of the media house, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.
Karti Chidambaram was arrested on his return from the UK at the Chennai airport. He has repeatedly said he was being framed by the agencies at the instance of the government.
Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court had said that he cannot be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media money laundering case till March 20, the next hearing of the case.
The interim relief to the 46-year-old businessman came a day after the Supreme Court transferred to the Delhi High Court his plea for cancelling summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate. Karti's lawyers had argued that the ED has no jurisdiction to conduct any investigation unrelated to the allegations in the FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI on May 15, 2017.
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COMMENTSSalman Khurshid, Karti Chidambaram's lawyer and former minister, had said they had asked the Supreme Court, and now the High Court, to cancel the summons by the ED because they anticipated "sequential arrests".
"What we did in the Supreme Court was to anticipate sequential arrests, that when you get bail in one matter, then you are picked up in another matter... We wanted that to be clear... because the law doesn't allow that to be done," he had explained.
Karnataka Ready With Its Flag, To Ask Centre to Clear 'Tricolour'
MMNN:8 March 2018
BENGALURU: A red, white and yellow flag designed for Karnataka was revealed at a meeting of the state government today, before activists, ministers, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The "tricolor" also features an emblem, "Ganda Bherunda", which is a two-headed mythical bird.
The design of the flag or "Naada Dwaja" was cleared by the state government and will be forwarded to the central government.
Ahead of elections due in a few months, a separate flag has been linked to Kannada pride by the state's ruling Congress.
A member of the flag committee, Mukhyamantri Chandru, said, "There is nothing in the Constitution that says states should not have a flag. So the Siddaramaiah government decided to give some sanctity to the Karnataka state to fix a regional flag. This is no damage to the national flag."
The Kannada flag plan and the committee set up by the state fueled sparring between the Congress and the main opposition BJP, whose leaders, including Shobha Karandlaje, had accused the government of practising divisive politics. The BJP, however, went silent after public anger over its stand.
Mr Chandru said there would be rules for the use of the state flag. "I don't think they will reject this. This is what people want with their hearts," he said.
COMMENTSWith an eye on polls, the state government has been pushing a pro-Kannada agenda for months. A few months ago, a Hindi Beda or 'No to Hindi' agitation drove the removal of all Hindi signboards from the Bengaluru Metro. Only Kannada and English signboards remain in the Namma Metro now.
Senior Kannada writer and activist Chandrashekhara Patil said, "Today is a historical occasion for Kannadigas because the government has responded very positively to this demand from the people of Karnataka."
High Court Reserves Order On Plea Of 20 Disqualified AAP Lawmakers
MMNN:28 February 2018
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its order on 20 Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers plea challenging their disqualification in office-of-profit case.
A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar kept its decision pending after the MLAs, Election Commission of India and other parties concerned concluded their arguments.
"Arguments heard. Judgement reserved," the bench said.
The lawmakers had on Tuesday told the court that EC's order disqualifying them for allegedly holding office-of-profit was passed in "complete violation of natural justice" as they were not given the opportunity to explain their stand before the poll panel.
The bench was also requested by the legislators to remand their case back to the poll panel with a direction to hear the matter afresh.
The lawmakers had approached the high court challenging their disqualification after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the EC's recommendation.
Backing its recommendation to the President for AAP lawmakers' disqualification, the poll panel had submitted that the legislators cannot claim that they were not holding office-of-profit.
The EC had earlier claimed that the disqualified lawmakers' plea was not maintainable and was liable to be dismissed.
The high court was hearing the plea on a day-to-day basis since February 7.
The high court had on January 24 refused to stay the Centre's notification disqualifying them, but had restrained the poll panel from taking any "precipitate measures" such as announcing dates for by polls to fill the vacancies.
COMMENTSThe EC had on January 19 recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs - Alka Lamba, Adarsh Shastri, Sanjeev Jha, Rajesh Gupta, Kailash Gahlot, Vijendra Garg, Praveen Kumar, Sharad Kumar, Madan Lal Khufiya, Shiv Charan Goyal, Sarita Singh, Naresh Yadav, Rajesh Rishi, Anil Kumar, Som Dutt, Avtar Singh, Sukhvir Singh Dala, Manoj Kumar, Nitin Tyagi and Jarnail Singh.
India owes its spiritual prosperity to Swami Jayendra Saraswati: CM Shri Chouhan
Bhopal:MMNN: 28 February 2018
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Swami Jayendra Saraswati, the 69th Mathpramukh of Kanchi Kamkothi Peeth, who is responsible for the prosperity of spiritual heritage of India has also propagated the glory of Sanatan Hindu Dharma and culture among the people. Shankaracharya Parampujya Swami Jayendra Saraswati passed away today. This is a very sad moment for Sanatandharmi devotees and the entire India.
The Chief Minister said that today the whole Hindu community is motivated by Swamiji’s Divya darshan and his revolutionary speeches. Swamiji not only showed the way to deep spiritual awareness but was the living symbol of spiritual prosperity besides being a protector of Indian culture. India’s spiritual and cultural aura will forever remain lit due to the efforts of divine and energetic Yugpurush like Swami Jayendra Saraswati. The society will continue to benefit from his penance till eternity.
The Chief Minister paid his tributes to Swamiji on behalf of the people of the state.
Protests In Bihar Assembly Over Leader Who Mowed Down 9 Children
MMNN:27 February 2018
PATNA: The death of nine children in last week's hit-and-run case in Muzaffarpur -- allegedly by a drink-driving BJP leader -- found resonance in the state assembly today. Led by Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, the opposition parties held a protest, demanding immediate action against the absconding Manoj Baitha.
The opposition has accused the Nitish Kumar government of trying to shield Mr Baitha because of his political affiliations - a claim the government has denied. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi has said the police have been asked to take the "sternest possible action" against Mr Baitha irrespective of his political affiliations.
The BJP -- which is part of the state's ruling alliance -- suspended Manoj Baitha from the party last evening. In a statement, the party said,"Manoj Baitha, a district level worker of Sitamarhi, has been suspended from the primary membership of the party for a period of six years".
The move followed a sarcastic tweet by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who claimed Mr Baitha was driving drunk despite the alcohol ban in the state. The ban, the brainchild of Mr Kumar, was imposed by the government with much publicity two years ago. He has even received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the implementation.
COMMENTSManoj Baitha was behind the wheels of an SUV that had run over nine children outside a school in Muzaffarnagar. The family that filed a complaint with the police, said CCTV footage from the area showed that him getting off the car and running away.
The police are trying to trace the leader, who is still absconding.
6 Teens Run Over By Train In UP; They Were Walking On Track, Say Locals
MMNN:26 February 2018
Six teenagers died instantly and another is battling for his life after a speeding train hit them, in Hapur on Sunday night. Eyewitnesses claim the boys were apparently, casually, walking across the track when the train hit them at Sadikpura in Pilkhuwa.
Seven boys between 14 and 16 years of age were daily wage labourers and worked as painters and helpers. All seven of them, who were friends, were supposed to take a train from Ghaziabad for a painting contract in Hyderabad. But they missed their train and returned to Pilakhua a little after midnight.. Six of them, Vijay, Akash, Rahul, Sameer, Arif and Salim died on the spot as the train hit them while another boy who has not yet been identified is battling for his life in the ICU. All of them had ear phones and were listening to music, say locals.
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COMMENTS
After the incident local residents blocked the railway track in protest, they claim the area is poorly lit at night and there is continuous movement of people who reportedly take a shortcut by crossing the train tracks. Residents claim there is no warning when trains arrive and even the elderly and children on their way to school often cross the tracks at that spot.
A large contingent of police force has been sent to tackle the situation in Sadikpura. The superintendent of police Hemant Kutiyal and the District Magistrate Krishna Karunesh have rushed to the spot after tension erupted in the area.
Delhi CS assault case: Bail plea of AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal nixed
MMNN:24 February 2018
Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tondon on Friday dismissed the bail application of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, who were arrested on the allegation of assaulting Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.
It was alleged that the two AAP lawmakers assaulted Mr Prakash at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Monday night.
Mr Prakash had filed a complaint that he was beaten up by the two AAP MLA when he was sitting on a sofa during the course of a meeting. He said he was flanked by Amanatullah Khan and the other AAP MLA during the Monday night meeting and without provocation the two legislators “started hitting and assaulting” him “with blows on head and temple”. He further alleged that the assault was “premeditated” and a “conspiracy” of all those present.
A case was registered at the Civil Lines Police Station after the complaint filed by the Chief Secretary. Police had registered an FIR on the charge of criminal conspiracy and other provisions defined under Indian Penal Code.
Amanatullah Khan, who surrendered before the police, had alleged that the Chief Secretary was acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party and “the incident was a pretext to dismiss the AAP government”. He further submitted that there was no proof that Mr Prakash was beaten up. Jarwal was also arrested in connection with the case.
Schoolgirl On Way To Exam Beheaded Outside Madhya Pradesh School, Stalker Suspect
MMNN:23 February 2018
BHOPAL: A Class 11 student on her way to an exam was beheaded right outside her school in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly by a stalker. The girl was attacked on Thursday afternoon with a sword at a village in Anuppur, around 540 km from state capital Bhopal.
The student was about to enter her school for a biology practical exam around 12.30 pm. According to the police, no one but a teacher saw the attack.
The teacher reportedly saw a man rushing towards the girl from behind and striking her thrice with a sword. The man then dropped the sword and ran away. The school is a little out of town and there weren't too many people around.
The 63-year-old teacher who witnessed the crime says she could not see clearly as she wasn't wearing her glasses and was at some distance from the spot.
The school called the police, who took away the body and the sword.
COMMENTSThe police questioned a suspect based on her family's information, but the investigation turned on its head when the police received news of another death. A young man was found hanging near the girl's village.
The gruesome killing in a public place in broad daylight has left the town horrified and afraid.
Army Chief Bipin Rawat's Comment "Not Political Or Religious", Say Sources Amid Row
MMNN:22 February 2018
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's comments on the rise of a political party that champions the cause of Muslims in the northeast have set up a controversy. At a seminar on Wednesday, General Rawat also warned against the influx of people from Bangladesh, calling it proxy war by Pakistan with help from China.
Sources in the Army say there is "nothing political or religious" in what General Rawat said.
In comments that have provoked political reactions, the Army Chief referred to reports of an increase in Muslim population in several districts of Assam and talked about the rise of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) led by Badruddin Ajmal.
"There is a party called AIUDF. If you look at it, they have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP grew over the years," he said, adding that the BJP won only two seats in the 1984 national election. "The AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in Assam."
The AIUDF, formed in 2005, has three members in parliament and 13 legislators in the Assam assembly.
"I do not think you can now change the population dynamics of the area. If it was five districts to eight to nine, inversion has taken place whichever be the government," Gen Bipin Rawat said, referring to districts in Assam that have a Muslim majority.
The Army Chief also said the influx of people from Bangladesh into the Northeast was "planned" and part of proxy warfare by Pakistan with support from China.
"A planned immigration is taking place because of our western neighbor. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over, playing the proxy dimension of warfare. I think the proxy game is very well played by our western neighbour, supported by our northern border (China) to keep the area disturbed. We will continue to see some migration happening. The solution lies in identifying the problem and holistically looking at it," he said.
To check the influx of Bangladeshis, Assam is developing a national register of citizens.
General Bipin Rawat said the centre was "seriously taking several measures to ensure development of the region", which would "take care of a lot of things".
Efforts should be to "amalgamate" the people living in the region, he said, and then try and "start identifying those creating trouble for us".
"We will have more problem in segregating people. Yes, some people will have to be identified who are creating trouble for us."
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COMMENTSArmy sources said there was nothing controversial in what the General Bipin Rawat said, that he had just mentioned "amalgamation and development".
Badruddin Ajmal, reacting to the Army Chief's comments on his party, had tweeted: "General Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking! Why is it a concern for the army chief that a political party, based on democratic and secular values, is rising faster than BJP? Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties."
Ishrat Jahan Case: Ex-Gujarat Police Chief PP Pandey Discharged By Court
MMNN:21 February 2018
AHMEDABAD: Former top Gujarat police chief PP Pandey will no longer be an accused in the 2004 Ishrat Jehan fake encounter case, a court in Ahmedabad said today.
Mr Pandey has been charged along with other former police officers with conspiracy, illegal confinement and murder in the Ishrat Jehan case by the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI.
Mr Pandey is the first accused to be discharged in the case. He spent 19 months in jail before being let out on bail in February 2015.
19-year-old Ishrat Jehan and three others were killed in June 2004 near Ahmedabad by Gujarat police officers who said they were Lashkar terrorists planning to assassinate Narendra Modi, who was then Chief Minister.
Mr Pandey is currently out on bail. He had argued in his petition for discharge that the statements of two witnesses against him are contradictory. He had also referred to his reinstatement in the police force and promotion as Director General of Police.
He had claimed that none of the 105 witnesses examined by the court had named him and he had no "direct or indirect involvement in the case".
COMMENTSMr Pandey resigned last year in April after his promotion was challenged in the Supreme Court.
The CBI's first charge-sheet in 2013 named seven Gujarat police officers including Mr Pandey, DG Vanzara and GL Singhal.
Maharashtra Pilot Gets 35,000 Crore-Deal For India's First Plane Factory
MMNN:20 February 2018
The dream of a commercial pilot to set up an aircraft manufacturing company is set to take wings with the Maharashtra government today signing a Rs. 35,000 crore pact with him to build aircraft.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present when the MoU, which envisages Rs. 35,000 crore investment in the project, was signed at the "Magnetic Maharashtra" global investors summit in suburban Bandra.
The MoU, between Amol Yadav and MIDC, will lead to generation of around 10,000 jobs in the project, which will be spread over 157 acre land in Palghar district.
Last year, Mr Fadnavis had assured all help to Mr Yadav, 42, who hails from Satara district, to start manufacturing facility for indigenous 6-seater and 19-seater aircraft.
"I have to make planes. I have demonstrated the capabilities. Fadnavis wants the first plane making factory of the country to be in Maharashtra. The 157-acre plot was identified in Palghar. The MIDC will provide us land and support facilities like roads," Mr Yadav told PTI.
"My responsibility is to build the plane and create the factory which will be producing more, and also to look after factories to be set up henceforth. This will be an aerospace hub to make planes," he said.
Maharashtra government will help in getting the required funds, Mr Yadav said. "The government expects Rs. 35,000 crore investment for not my company alone, but also for the ancillaries which will be a part of the hub," he said.
"Rs. 35,000 crore is the total amount of funds which will be required to achieve the broader targets. The target is to create employment for 10,000 people. The investment figure is included in the MoU agreement but it will not be coming from me alone," he said.
"In the first phase, I am required to build a prototype 19-seater plane and three more similar planes for production. The investment required for this will be Rs. 200 crore, which is the immediate requirement and will be spent in the next six months," he said.
"Our target, from the Rs. 35,000 crore investment, is very simple. We want to make 600 19-seater planes in the next 2-3 years and then take it to 1,300 planes after that. We are planning for 1300 19-seater planes at present," he said.
"We have already identified many potential investors," Yadav said. The government will also help, he added.
"Pratt & Whitney is supplying me the engines at present. The engine supplied to me is 30 years old and tested one," he said, adding he "fully owns" the company.
Mr Yadav, senior commander with Jet Airways, has promoted Thrust Aircraft Private Limited company for manufacturing aircraft.
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COMMENTSHis six-seater aircraft was the centre of attraction during the Make In India exhibition held in Mumbai in 2016.
The aircraft, that was assembled on the terrace of a Charkop building, got the certificate of registration from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year.
Narendra Modi to address national conference on doubling farmers’ income by 2022
MMNN:19 February 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address here on Tuesday national conference on Doubling of Farmers Income by 2022.
The two-day conference in which top officials from states, experts and agriculture scientists are participating, was inaugurated on Monday by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh.
Emphasising the government’s attention on doubling farmers income by 2022, Mr. Singh said there was more focus on irrigation projects for “har khet ko paani’’, provision of quality seeds to farmers, investment in warehousing and cold chains, promotion of value addition through food processing, creation of e-market, Fasal Bima Yojna and more funding for animal husbandry, horticulture and bee keeping, sources said.
According to the sources, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat spoke about his experiences in zero budget natural farming which involves integrated approach to soil fertility, animal husbandry, bee-keeping and cropping.
Deputy Chairman of Niti Aayog Rajiv Kumar urged states to come up with success stories of farmers from good farm practices.
Cauvery Water Dispute Verdict: A Timeline Of Events
MMNN:16 February 2018
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court pronounced a landmark verdict in the decades-old Cauvery water dispute on Friday, reducing Tamil Nadu's share of water from the river Cauvery 177.25 TMC or thousand million cubic feet instead of 192 TMC. The 2007 tribunal allocation of 30 TMC to Kerala and 7 TMC to Puducherry remains unchanged. The top court acknowledged Bengaluru's needs as a "global city" and allotted it 4.75 TMC for drinking water out of Karnataka's increased share. The 765-km long Cauvery river is considered the lifeline for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Livelihoods of lakhs of farmers and farm labourers are dependent on release of Cauvery water in Tamil Nadu but Karnataka has maintained that it was "not in a position" to release Cauvery water to its neighbouring state.
Here's a timeline of events in the Cauvery Water Dispute:
The origins of the dispute over the sharing of Cauvery waters date back to the agreements of 1892 and 1924 between the then Kingdom of Mysore and the then Madras Presidency.
In 1990, the central government created a tribunal to examine the conflict and address the water shortage.
17 years later in 2007, this tribunal delivered its verdict on how water should be shared between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Kerala and Puducherry. All states challenged the share assigned to them.
An appeal was filed against the 2007 order of the Cauvery Water Tribunal that allocated, in a normal year, 270 TMC, or thousand million cubic feet, 192 TMC to Tamil Nadu at its Mettur Dam, 30 TMC to Kerala and 6 TMC to Puducherry. Karnataka wanted Tamil Nadu's share to be slashed by half and had made a strong case on drinking water needs of Bengaluru and Mysuru.
In 2012, the Supreme Court intervened and ordered Karnataka to increase the supply of water to Tamil Nadu. Later when Tamil Nadu filed a suit against the dip in water supply, Karnataka government said that there wasn't enough water supply in the four dams on the Cauvery to cater to the drinking needs of Bengaluru and Mysuru and it was unfair on part of Tamil Nadu to ask for more water.
As situation became tense between the two states, the Supreme Court intervened again in 2016 and directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water daily for a period of 10 days (September 7 -September 16) to Tamil Nadu. After Karnataka's interim petition, it modified the order on September 12 and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily till September 20. This triggered massive protests in Karnataka.
COMMENTSAfter Karnataka ignored the Supreme Court's order, the state was asked by the top court to explain its repeated defiance of orders. In what was seen as a "token gesture", Karnataka released some Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for its farmers.
In October, 2016, after attempts to resolve dispute through arbitration failed, the Supreme Court had asked the centre to form the Cauvery Management Board but the government declined, insisting that only parliament could create such a body. The top court asked Karnataka to release 2000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till further orders.
On July 5, 2017, the Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to file a fresh plea alleging that Karnataka was not giving its due share of Cauvery water.
In January 2018, the Supreme Court indicated that it would deliver its verdict within a month on the decades-old Cauvery water dispute, saying enough confusion has been created on it for over two decades. The top court said that any forum could touch the matter relating to the Cauvery basin, only after it gave its verdict in four weeks.
Stage set for Modi’s rallies: Electorate clamour for change
MMNN:15 February 2018
Stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key election rallies at Santirbazar and Agartala on Thursday with an overwhelming crowd gathering at the Swami Vivekananda ground here.
“Looking forward to campaigning in Tripura today. I would be addressing rallies in Santirbazar and Agartala,” Mr Modi tweeted.Among the gathering those came in at Swami Vivekananda ground, several voters including women and from minority community said that the public mood in the state is for change and hence everyone seems to endorse the slogan ‘Chalo Paltai’ (Come, Let us Change)’.
“The CPI-M government is last few years turned into a regime of self-seeking leaders as ministers and Left leaders only ensured job for their relatives and children. They simply forgot the common people of the state,” said Moinul Islam, a voter from Bordwali assembly segment.
Endorsing his views, another voter Asheem Pal, a trader by profession, hoped once BJP government is installed in the state, Tripura will see an atmosphere of booming business.
He further said, “The BJP’s promise of creating job avenues has attracted me most. I also welcome the assurance given by the BJP that there will be a comprehensive CBI inquiry into the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam”.
Prime Minister is arriving in Agartala for the second time in a week as he addressed two rallies one at Sonamura and the other at Kailashahar on February 8.
The BJP vote share in 2013 assembly polls was near negligible at 1.57 per cent and in 2014 parliamentary polls had hardly risen to 5.7 per cent.However, the saffron party strategists now claim that they have enhanced the party base and will now give a befitting fight to the CPI (M) in their own citadel.
Indian Mujahideen Terrorist, On The Run Since Batla House Encounter, Arrested
MMNN:14 February 2018
NEW DELHI: Ariz Khan, the bomb maker of terror group Indian Mujahideen that carried out serial bombings in Delhi and elsewhere a decade back has been arrested, a senior Delhi Police officer announced on Wednesday.
Khan, an engineering dropout, had helped put together bombs that went off in between 2007 and 2008 in Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
In all, the police said, these explosive devices had killed 165 people and injured 535.
Khan was present at Batla House, along with four others, on 19 September 2008 in Delhi's Jamia Nagar, in which two Indian Mujahideen terrorists were killed and as many arrested.
Encounter specialist and Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who led the police action, was killed during the operation.
Khan had, however, managed to escape after shifting places for a month, had headed to Nepal. He got hold of a Nepali citizenship card and passport in the name of Salim. Initially, he tried his hand at running a restaurant but later started teaching in different schools in Nepal.
He again came in touch with Riyaz Bhatkal, the Indian Mujahideen founder, who motivated him to travel to Saudi Arabia to raise money to revive the group in September 2014.
"For a cover, he worked as a labourer and also met with many sympathizers there," senior police officer PS Kushwah said.
COMMENTSHe returned to Nepal from Saudi Arabia in March 2017 and would occasionally travel to India also.
Alarmed Congress Leader Wants Rahul Gandhi To Expel Mani Shankar Aiyar Over Pakistan Remark
MMNN:13 February 2018
NEW DELHI: An alarmed senior Congress leader and former lawmaker Hanumantha Rao has said he will write to party president Rahul Gandhi requesting him to expel Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was suspended by the party late last year after his "neech" slur against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The latest provocation is Mr Aiyar saying in Karachi that while most political parties in Pakistan want cordial relations with India, those in India are "still caught in a partially 1947 situation".
"All political parties except the Jamaat-e-Islami say they want peace with India. Now this change in mindset that is taking place in Pakistan is not reflected in India," Mr Aiyar said.
His comments came two days after Pakistan-based terrorists attacked an Army camp in Jammu, killing five soldiers and one civilian and injured 10 people, including women and children. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman warned on Monday that "Pakistan will pay for its misadventures".
"Mani Shankar Aiyar should stop giving such remarks, he has already been suspended. He should stay quiet," said Mr Rao told news agency ANI, adding, "I am writing to Rahul Gandhi ji asking him to expel Aiyar from the party."
Mr Rao worried that Mr Aiyar's remarks - he called them "weird" - can damage the party's prospects in Karnataka, where assembly elections will be held soon. "The BJP can take advantage of this," Mr Rao fumed, also stating, "He has earlier given such kind of a wrong statement during the Gujarat election campaign and we have suffered a lot because of that. Later Congress President Rahul Gandhi ji even suspended him but still he said that I have got lot of love and affection from Pakistan. What nonsense is he really talking about?"
The BJP's Sambit Patra said Mr Aiyar is a "repeat offender," pointing out that "we have seen him in the past also going to Pakistan and saying 'Modi ko hatana hoga'."
Mani Shankar Aiyar, said Mr Patra, was not the only Congress leader to do this. "We have also seen Salman Khurshid going in the past to Pakistan and praising Pakistan and demeaning India. Such is the culture of the leaders of the Congress party, where P Chidambaram speaks about azaadi, in the sense that it means autonomy... where they, in fact, speak against the Indian Army, saying that Indian Army chief is like 'sadak ke goonde', " the BJP leader said.
Just before Gujarat voted in assembly elections in December last, Mr Aiyar had called PM Modi a "neech aadmi," a comment that earned him a reprimand and a suspension order from Rahul Gandhi.
But the damage was done and the BJP did not let the Congress forget it for a moment thereafter. PM Modi said Mr Aiyar had insulted not him but his entire home state of Gujarat and urged voters to punish the Congress.
The Congress posted its best performance in Gujarat in years, narrowing the margin, but it was the BJP that won the state for the fifth time in a row. Mr Aiyar's self goal was seen to have played a considerable role in that result.
COMMENTSAnd not for the first time. Ahead of the 2014 national election Mani Shankar Aiyar had derided Mr Modi as a tea seller who could never be Prime Minister. In his campaign, Mr Modi offered his credentials as a self-made leader, stressing that he sold tea on trains as a young boy to help support his family and contrasting his modest origins with those of the Congress' Gandhi family.
In the BJP's sweep of the 2014 elections, Mr Aiyar was seen has having made significant contribution.
13-Year-Old Girl Set On Fire For Resisting Sexual Assault, Boy Detained
MMNN:12 February 2018
RAJGARH: A 13-year-old girl was set on fire allegedly by a boy when she resisted his attempt to sexually assault her in a village in Madhya Pradesh, a police officer said today.
Police said the girl has suffered severe burn injuries and has been admitted to a hospital in Rajgarh district, 115 km from state capital Bhopal. Her condition is said to be critical as 50 per cent burn injuries is challenging for doctors to treat if infection sets in.
The boy had gone into hiding on Saturday night. He was detained a day later after the police combed the district.
She was alone at her house in Rajgarh's Sustani village on Saturday as her family members were out working at a field.
Seeing that the girl was vulnerable with no one around, the boy sneaked into her house and tried to sexually assault her, police officer Indraraj Singh said. The girl fought back furiously as he also beat her up, Mr Singh said, adding the boy then suddenly took some cooking kerosene which he found in the house, poured the flammable liquid on her and set her on fire.
COMMENTSRajgarh senior police officer Simala Prasad confirmed that the boy was taken into custody on Sunday night.
A case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against the accused, police said.
Two Army jawans martyred, 4 injured in Jammu Fidayeen attack on Military Station
MMNN:10 February 2018
Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday said that two Army personnel were martyred while four others, including a girl, were injured in the ongoing Fidayeen attack on Sunjwan Military Station here on city outskirts.
Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri said in the Legislative Assembly that at about 0410 hrs, a group of Fidayeens attacked Sunjwan Military Station (36 Brigade) resulting in death of one Subedar (JCO) Madan Lal Chowdhary and Subedar Mohammad Ashraf Mir. Four others, including a civilian, were injured in the incident and have been shifted to GMC Jammu for treatment.
The Minister informed the House that the whole area has been cordoned off by the Army and the security forces and operation is underway as militants have taken refuge in JCO quarters in the area.
Protests At Kolkata School Over Sexual Assault On Class 2 Girl By Teacher
MMNN:9 February 2018
KOLKATA: A large number of parents protested outside a convent school in Kolkata this morning after learning that a Class 2 student had been allegedly sexually assaulted by a dance teacher for nearly a year. Policemen were called in to control the crowd and one officer was also hurt.
The teacher has been arrested.
According to the police, the Class 2 student suffered repeated assault in school. She was warned against telling her family by the teacher, who allegedly threatened to bury her alive.
The horror surfaced after she stopped going to school recently.
Yesterday, the little girl confided in her mother, after which her parents went to the school and demanded the teacher's arrest.
Several parents gathered outside the school today and demanded tough action against the school's principal and administrators, accusing them of negligence.
One of the protesting parents alleged that the school had tried to downplay the allegations. "It was then we decided to stage a protest outside the school," he said.
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COMMENTSThe school has denied the attack.
Parents alleged that the school had not installed CCTV cameras despite outrage and protests last year over the sexual assault of a student by two teachers at another private school in Kolkata.
BJP Developing Northeast India, Tripura Backward Due To Left: PM Modi
MMNN:8 February 2018
SONAMURA, TRIPURA: Saying his government was working to develop northeast India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Tripura was lagging behind the rest of the country due to 25 years of "misrule" by the Left.
"The BJP government at the Centre is working with all sincerity for all round progress of northeast India. But Tripura lagged behind due to misrule of Left parties for the past 25 years," the prime minister said at an election rally in Tripura's Sonamura, which is located around 50 km south-west of Agartala.
He said that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had set up the Development of North Eastern Region Ministry to develop the region. His government also gave top priority to develop the infrastructure of the region and to improve the lives of the people.
Prime Minister Modi also said that the Rs. 1,300 crore National Bamboo Mission had been launched to utilise the huge bamboo resources in the northeast.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's Dhanpur Assembly constituency falls in the Sonamura Sub-Division.
Giving the slogan "Cholo Paltai" (Go for Change), the Prime Minister urged the people to vote the BJP to power to transform Tripura.
"Voting for BJP's lotus symbol will be a punishment for the Left Front government in the February 18 Assembly elections as during its 25 years of misrule people did not get anything, poverty went up and backwardness widened."
Criticizing Mr Sarkar, Prime Minister Modi said: "under his (Sarkar's) white kurta there is a dark side. His government cheated people by giving poor wages when the people of other parts of the country got higher wages and the government employees got higher salaries.
"In the past 25 years, the Left parties hypnotized the people. People could not understand how backward they are. Now the time has come to change the future of the state and the fortune of the people."
PM Modi went on to say: "Out of every Rs. 100 spent in Tripura, the central government is giving Rs. 80. The Manik Sarkar government is unable to spend Central money properly. The Left government is also looting the money of the poor."
"If the Left government is allowed to govern (further), there will be no development in the state."
COMMENTSThe Prime Minister said that if the BJP took power in the state, corruption will end.
"People are committing suicide in Tripura. Youths are not getting jobs... The time has come to throw out the Left.
A Rajiv Gandhi Story on "Telugu Pride" In PM Modi's Parliament Offensive
MMNN:7 February 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again showed that he is most certainly a smart politician. That is why while he was still being heckled by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other parties in parliament over unfulfilled promises to Andhra Pradesh, he spoke about "Telugu pride".
Hitting two targets with one stone, PM Modi made a reference to a widely known incident in which Rajiv Gandhi, the father of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, called then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister T Anjaiah of the Congress a "buffoon" at Hyderabad's Begumpet airport in 1982.
Rajiv Gandhi, who was then Congress general secretary and had arrived in Hyderabad for a private visit, had reportedly lashed out at Mr Anjaiah publicly for bringing a large number of party men to the airport tarmac.
PM Modi said it was in reaction to this insult of a "Dalit chief minister" that legendary actor NT Rama Rao left films and decided to start the TDP to save "Telugu atmagouravam" or Telugu pride.
Raising that episode in parliament to demonstrate what he repeatedly called the Congress's arrogance and patchy record with democracy, PM Modi ripped into the opposition party for "dividing" Andhra Pradesh, likening it to the 1947 partition.
"This is your character. You divided India. Even after 70 years of Independence, 125 crore people of India continue to suffer because of the poison you sowed. Not a single day passes when people of India are not punished for your sins," PM Modi said, speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.
As he was speaking, there was slogan-shouting by some MPs demanding a financial package for Andhra Pradesh as promised by the government when Telangana was carved out of it.
The Prime Minister said the Congress "hastily" divided the southern state for political gains.
COMMENTSPM Modi's comments are significant at a time the TDP, his party's biggest south ally, has been displaying its anger at what it feels the centre's neglect.
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is deeply upset that his state didn't get a special consideration in the Budget. It took phone calls from Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh to calm him on Sunday, when he met with top party leaders to decide on the future of the alliance.
"In Debut Parliament Speech, Amit Shah's Sharp Rebuttal To Pakoda Jibes
MMNN:5 February 2018
NEW DELHI: BJP chief Amit Shah ripped into the Congress for its criticism of the government's economic policies as he made his debut speech in parliament today. As the first speaker in a discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Shah spoke for over an hour, telling those from the opposition who interrupted his speech, "well, you will have to listen to me for the next six years."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the Rajya Sabha and sat next to Mr Shah as the BJP chief listed at length the government's achievements and what he called its "historic work" in its almost four years in power, contrasting that with the Congress's governments, which he said had suffered from "acute policy paralysis." Mr Shah, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha a few months ago, was initiating the discussion in the house on the motion of thanks on the President's address to parliament.
The BJP chief attacked the Congress over its chief Rahul Gandhi's mockery of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the "Gabbar Singh Tax" and also former finance minister P Chidambaram's recent comment on jobs. "Chidambaram compared pakoda-selling with begging. Those selling pakodas are self-employed. Can you compare them with beggars?" he said, pointing out that a "chaiwala's (tea-seller's) son has become the Prime Minister today."
Mr Chidambaram had made a dig at PM Modi, who said in a TV interview that a person selling pakodas is employed, rejecting criticism that his government has failed to create jobs.
"I accept there is unemployment in the country. It is a problem. It is the Congress that ruled the country for so many years," said Mr Shah.
COMMENTSOn Rahul Gandhi dubbing GST as the "Gabbar Singh Tax," Amit Shah said, "Is this (GST) dacoity? How much do those who have named this as Gabbar Singh Tax understand," and also asserting, "GST is the biggest reform and it was possible under the strong leadership of PM Narendra Modi."
He appealed to all parties to assist the government in making the implementation of the new national tax a success, stating, "there are lots of other places to do politics
"Rajasthan Shock Wave For BJP Leaves Its MPs Elsewhere Worried
MMNN:3 February 2018
The first day of February in Delhi brought with it the first hint of spring as well as the Union Budget, and a flurry of crucial by-election reverses that raise serious questions about the electoral health of the BJP. That the counting day for the by-elections happened to coincide with the Budget was I'm sure nothing but an innocent coincidence. After all, why would the Election Commission, an independent constitutional authority meant to safeguard our democratic processes, want to help the ruling party of the day bury the news of significant electoral losses in the media maelstrom that customarily accompanies the Budget? Why indeed?
There were by-elections for two Lok Sabha seats and one assembly seat in Rajasthan, all BJP-held seats. In the Alwar Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress won the seat with a margin of nearly 2 lakh votes, overturning a large BJP majority of 2.83 lakh. In the Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress won the seat with a margin of over 84,000 votes overturning a comfortable BJP majority of 1.7 lakhs. Most extraordinary of all was the Mandalgarh assembly seat, where the Congress candidate won by nearly 13,000 votes despite a Congress rebel taking away a whopping 23% of the vote. The Congress won 58% of the vote in Alwar, 52% in Ajmer, and would have conceivably won a similar vote-share in Mandalgarh had there not been a Congress rebel in the field. What's more, the Congress ran ahead in all 17 assembly segments that voted, with the Lok Sabha constituencies representing eight segments each, which represent 8.5% of the 200-seat strong state assembly. There was a tectonic swing in the vote-share of more than 15%. The fundamental reversal of fortune in terms of the vote and seeing it as an augury of the BJP's future electoral prospects are beyond argument.
Many in the media are trying to portray this decisive verdict against the BJP in Rajasthan as solely a reflection of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia's poor performance, and to a considerable extent, it is a fair assessment. But any Lok Sabha by-election, especially when the ruling party holds the seat with large majorities, is by default a referendum on the central government as well. And BJP leaders may not admit this in public, but in private, they are definitely worried, if not panicked. What was the Budget if not a desperate attempt to assuage the widespread anger prevalent in rural India, so much so the PM felt the need to give a second Budget speech outside the parliament just in case we had not gotten the message already?
Rajasthan is not only a large and electorally important state, it is also where the BJP swept all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the Modi wave of 2014 that traversed north and west India, the "north-west monsoon" as Rajdeep Sardesai famously described it. The by-election result comes after a highly polarised campaign with the controversy around "Padmaavat" dominating the conversation, but also the lynching of Pehlu Khan by cow vigilantes looming like a spectre in the background. The BJP candidate in Alwar was also accused of making overt comments that put the Hindu-Muslim issue front and centre.
That the voters firmly rejected this poisonous manner of campaigning should be a lesson to the Modi Government that the only thing that can save them in the coming general election is pure performance and not divisive agendas designed to distract from the main issue of governance or lack thereof. However, I won't hold my breath for this moment of enlightenment.
There was a consolation of sorts in the West Bengal by-elections for the BJP, leap-frogging to a distant but vastly improved second to the electoral behemoth that is Trinamool Congress. In the Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency, the Trinamool held their seat with a staggering victory margin of 4.74 lakhs. In the Noapara assembly seat, the Trinamool snatched this Congress-held seat with an impressive victory margin of a little over 63,000 votes. The BJP's vote-share did improve, but so did the Trinamool's with its dominance ever more evident and it looking ever more likely to sweep the state in the general election despite the BJP's best efforts.
The CPM vote-share seems in freefall and the Congress footprint in the state continues to contract. With the CPM rejecting any talk of an alliance with the Congress, the latter may have no choice but to go hat in hand and be satisfied with whatever seat-sharing alliance Didi deigns to offer them.
The Budget may have succeeding in diverting the spotlight from the by-election result in the media, but in the minds of BJP MPs, it hit home like an electric shock. It is assumed that the PM and Amit Shah will replicate their strategy, tried and tested in Gujarat, to ward off anti-incumbency by replacing a large percentage of sitting MPs with new candidates. There is a sense of foreboding within the BJP parliamentary party, oscillating between fear of facing the axe from their leaders before the election and, surviving that, the fear from ominous electoral precursors signalling a tough fight ahead.
Budget Day ended with the general consternation that major announcements like the much-vaunted new healthcare plan, predictably christened ModiCare, and the increase in Minimum Support Price for crops had been presented with almost no details about how they would work on the ground and how they would be paid for; these and other questions put by journalists and experts to North Block mandarins were left largely unanswered. It was reminiscent of what followed demonetization and the GST roll-out.
A complete disregard for the finer intricacies of competent administration in exchange for an obsession for flashy and fleeting publicity could ultimately be what decides the fate of the Modi Government. The voters of Rajasthan may well have already given us a preview of the general election to come.
"Siddaramaiah Irresponsible," Says BS Yeddyurappa Over BJP Worker's Death
MMNN:2 February 2018
BENGALURU: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa today visited the family of the BJP worker who was murdered in Bengaluru on Wednesday. The BJP workers blamed the ruling Congress in the state for the murder and protested in the city.
"A number of deaths have taken place. Santhosh was murdered. The Congress government is responsible for all these murders. I condemn this murder. Siddaramaiah is an irresponsible Chief Minister," Mr Yeddyurappa said.
28-year-old Santhosh was reportedly stabbed in the thigh and rushed to the hospital where he bled to death soon after. The police have arrested four men -- Wasim, Phillips, Umar and Irfan - in connection with his murder.
The police are citing personal enmity between Santhosh and Wasim as the reason behind the killing. "They had various issues, one of them was the sale of ganja (marijuana) by the accused," said Deputy Commissioner of Police C Rathore.
The BJP, however, has called it "political terrorism". "The same kind that we see in Pakistan," tweeted the BJP's Karnataka unit. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological mentor, is also suspecting the killing to be politically-motivated.
"Santosh had organised a kabaddi match a fortnight ago and had put up a number of saffron flags around the ground, something that Wasim had objected to," said senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister R Ashok.
The Congress attacked the BJP for "politicising Santhosh's death" at a time when the state prepares to vote for the new government.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, working president of the Congress in Karnataka, said, "It is unfortunate that Santhosh was killed. The police have made arrests. But the BJP is trying to politicise the incident. It is neither communal nor political. It shows how desperate the BJP is and what extent they can go to."
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COMMENTSHe added that the accused person is the son of a ward Congress president but it doesn't make any difference. "Action will be taken against the guilty," he said.
The RSS and BJP claim that 23 of their workers have been killed during the years of Congress rule. The state government denies this and says personal enmity or other reasons were behind at least some of those murders.
PM’s Statement on Union Budget 2018-19
MMNN:1 February 2018
I congratulate the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley for this budget. This budget strengthens the foundation stone of New India. The budget focus is on issues ranging from agriculture to Infrastructure. On one hand, budget covers aspects such as health plans to address the concerns of the poor and middle class, while on the other hand it has plans to increase the wealth of small entrepreneurs in the country. Other aspects range from food processing to fiber optics, from road to shipping, concerns of youth and the senior citizens, from rural India to Ayushman India and Digital India to Start up India.
This budget is expected to give a boost to hopes and aspirations of 125 crore people of the country. It is expected to accelerate the development process of the country. It is farmer friendly, common man friendly, business environment friendly as well as development friendly. Ease of Doing Business as well as Ease of Living are in focus in this budget. More savings for the middle class, new generation infrastructure for 21st Century India and better health assurance - all are concrete steps towards Ease of Living.
Our farmers have contributed in a big way towards the progress of the country with a record production of fruits and vegetables. Several steps have been proposed in this budget to give a boost to the farmers and enhancing their income. A record allocation of Rs. 14.5 lakh crores has been made for rural development and agriculture. Dalits, oppressed and disadvantaged sections of the society will be benefited with out of 51 Lakh new homes, more than 3 lakh kilometers of roads, about 2 crore toilets, electricity connections in 1.75 crore households. These initiatives will create new opportunities especially in the rural areas. I appreciate the decision to provide for one and a half times remunerative price for the cost incurred by the farmers for his produce. Center will put in place a sound system in consultation with the states to ensure that the farmers can avail full benefits from this decision. 'Operation Greens' will prove to be an effective instrument in this direction especially for the farmers engaged in producing vegetables and fruits. We have seen how Amul was instrumental in ensuring of fair price to the farmers engaged in the dairy sector. We are also familiar with the cluster based approach for the development of the industry in our country. Now, keeping in mind the agricultural produce in different districts, agricultural cluster approach will be adopted in different districts across the country. I welcome the plan to develop the storage, processing and marketing facilities for a particular agricultural produce after identifying the districts.
In our country, the cooperative societies are exempted from paying income tax. But the 'Farmer Producer Organization' -FPO, that is similar to the cooperative societies, does not get this benefit. Therefore, income tax exemption for the 'Farmer Producer Organization' -FPO, which mint for the welfare of the farmers, is a welcome step. By providing the linkages between the Self Help Groups for women engaged in organic, aromatic and herbal cultivation and the 'Farmer Producer Organizations' the income of the farmers will be increased. Similarly, the Gobar-Dhan Yojana will help in keeping the village clean, while increasing the income of farmers and cattle herders. In our country farmers take up different occupations along with the farming. Some are associated with pisciculture, animal husbandry, poultry or bee-keeping. Farmers have faced difficulty in accessing loans from banks for such additional activities. Arranging loan for pisciculture and animal husbandry by Kisan Credit Card is a very effective step. There are about 7000 blocks in more than 700 districts of India. In these blocks, emphasis has been laid on modernization of infrastructure of 22 thousand rural business centers, on innovation and on increasing connectivity in the villages. In the days to come, these centers will be able to increase the income of farmers, creates employment opportunities and will become new hubs of agro based rural and agricultural economy. Under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna, now the villages will be connected to rural haats (markets), higher education centers and hospitals. This will make life easier for the people in the villages.
We have seen an extension of the spirit of the Ease of Living in Ujjwala Yojana. The scheme has not only provided a relief to the poor women from the smoke but also become a huge source of their empowerment. I am happy to note that the target for Ujjawala has been enhanced from 5 crore families to 6 crore families. A large number of dalit, tribal and backward class families have been benefited from this scheme. This budget provides for allocation of about Rs 1 lakh crores for the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
Medical treatment and its cost has always been a cause of concern for the lower middle class and poor sections of the society. The new scheme 'Ayushman Bharat', presented in the budget, will address this serious concern. This scheme will be available to nearly 10 crore poor and lower middle class families of the country. It means it will provide coverage to 45-50 crore people. Under the scheme these families will get free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum in the identified hospitals. This is by far, the world's largest health insurance plan for which government will bear the cost. The idea of setting up 1.5lakh Health Wellness Centers spread over all the major panchayats of the country is commendable. This will provide easy access to health care services to the people living in the villages. Establishment of 24 new medical colleges across the country will not only facilitate the treatment of the people but also help to impart medical education to the youngsters. It is our endeavor to have at least one medical college for covering three parliamentary constituencies across the country.
Several important decisions have been taken in this budget keeping in mind the concerns the Senior Citizens. Now the Senior Citizens will be entitled to have minimum interest of 8% on amount up to Rs 15 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana. No tax will be levied on interest up to Rs 50,000 on their Banks and Post Office deposits. Health insurance premium worth Rs 50,000 will exempt from the Income tax. Besides, relief from the Income Tax has been provided on expenditure up to Rs 1 lakh incurred on treatment of serious diseases.
For a long time, the small and medium enterprises or the MSME in our country had to pay higher taxes than the big industries. In a bold in this budget, the government has reduced the tax rate for MSME by 5% now they will have to pay 25% tax in place of 30% which was the practice earlier. Credit seeking facility from the banks and NBFCs has been eased to ensure the required working capital for MSME industries. It will give a boost to the mission of Make in India.
MSME sector has been experiencing stress due to NPA in big industries. The small entrepreneurs must not suffer because of the fault of others. Therefore, the government will soon announce corrective measures to resolve the problems related to NPA and Stressed Account in the MSME sector.
In order to promote the employment and to provide social security to the employees the government has taken a far reaching decision. This will give impetus to the shift from the informal to formal sector and it will generate new job opportunities. Now the government will contribute 12% in the EPF Account of the new laborers for a period of 3 years. Besides, the contribution of new women employees in the EPF for a period of 3 years is being reduced from the existing 12% to 8% so that their take home salary increases and more employment opportunities are available for the women. However, the employer contribution will be maintained at 12%. This is a major step towards empowerment of working women.
In order to realize the dream modern India, to enhance the Ease of Living of the common man and to ensure stability in development, India requires a Next Generation Infrastructure. Special emphasis has been given to the development of infrastructure related to Digital India. Allocation of Rs. 6 lakh crores has been made which is Rs. 1 lakh crore more than the previous year. These schemes will enhance the employment opportunity manifold in country.
I congratulate the Finance Minister for the tax concession to the salaried and the middle class.
This budget will live up to the expectation of every Indian Citizen. The budget has ensured the following – remunerative price of the crop to the farmer, upliftment of the poor with the welfare schemes, respecting the honesty of the tax paying citizen, support to the spirit of entrepreneurs with a right tax structure and hailing the contribution of senior citizens for the country.
Once again my heartfelt congratulation to the Finance Minister and his team for presenting a budget which enhances the ease of living and laying a strong foundation for the New India.”
BUDGET GLOSSARY
MMNN:1 February 2018
1.Union Budget
Union Budget is the most comprehensive report of the Government's ?nances
in which revenues from all sources and outlays for all activities are
consolidated. The Budget also contains estimates of the Government's
accounts for the next ?scal year called Budgeted Estimates.
2.Direct and Indirect Taxes
Direct taxes are the one that fall directly on individuals and corporations. For
example, income tax, corporate tax etc.
Indirect taxes are imposed on goods and services. They are paid by
consumers when they buy goods and services. These include excise duty,
customs duty etc.
3.GST
The constitution de?nes "Goods and Services Tax" means any tax on
supply of goods, or services or both except taxes on the supply of the
alcoholic liquor for human consumption.
“goods” means every kind of movable property other than money and
securities but includes actionable claim, growing crops, grass and
things attached to or forming part of the land which are agreed to be
severed before supply or under a contract of supply
“services” means anything other than goods, money and securities but
includes activities relating to the use of money or its conversion by
cash or by any other mode, from one form, currency or denomination,
to another form, currency or denomination for which a separate
consideration is charged
4.Customs Duty
These are levies charged when goods are imported into, or exported from, the
country, and they are paid by the importer or exporter. Usually, these are also
passed on to the consumer.
5.Fiscal Deficit
When the government's non-borrowed receipts fall short of its entire
expenditure, it has to borrow money form the public to meet the shortfall. The
excess of total expenditure over total non-borrowed receipts is called the
fiscal deficit.
6.Revenue Deficit
The difference between revenue expenditure and revenue receipt is known as
revenue de?cit. It shows the shortfall of government's current receipts over
current expenditure.
7.Primary Deficit
The primary deficit is the ?scal de?cit minus interest payments. It tells how
much of the Government's borrowings are going towards meeting expenses
other than interest payments.
8.Fiscal policy
It is the government actions with respect to aggregate levels of revenue and
spending. Fiscal policy is implemented though the budget and is the primary
means by which the government can in?uence the economy.
9.Monetary Policy
This comprises actions taken by the central bank (i.e. RBI) to regulate the
level of money or liquidity in the economy, or change the interest rates.
10.Inflation
A sustained increase in the general price level. The in?ation rate is the
percentage rate of change in the price level.
11.Capital Budget
The Capital Budget consists of capital receipts and payments. It includes
investments in shares, loans and advances granted by the central
Government to State Governments, Government companies, corporations
and other parties.
12.Revenue Budget
The revenue budget consists of revenue receipts of the Government and it
expenditure. Revenue receipts are divided into tax and non-tax revenue. Tax
revenues constitute taxes like income tax, corporate tax, excise, customs,
service and other duties that the Government levies. The non-tax revenue
sources include interest on loans, dividend on investments.
13.Finance Bill
The Bill produced immediately after the presentation of the Union Budget
detailing the Imposition, abolition, alteration or regulation of taxes proposed in
the Budget.
14.Vote on Account
The Vote on Account is a grant made in advance by the parliament, in respect
of the estimated expenditure for a part of new ?nancial year, pending the
completion of procedure relating to the voting on the Demand for Grants and
the passing of the Appropriation Act.
15.Excess Grants
If the total expenditure under a Grant exceeds the provision allowed through
its original Grant and Supplementary Grant, then, the excess requires
regularization by obtaining the Excess Grant from the Parliament under
Article 115 of the Constitution of India. It will have to go though the whole
process as in the case of the Annual Budget, i.e. through presentation of
Demands for Grants and passing of Appropriation Bills.
16.Budget Estimates
Amount of money allocated in the Budget to any ministry or scheme for the
coming ?nancial year.
17.Revised Estimates
Revised Estimates are mid-year review of possible expenditure, taking into
account the rest of expenditure, New Services and New instrument of
Services etc. Revised Estimates are not voted by the Parliament, and hence
by itself do not provide any authority for expenditure. Any additional
projections made in the Revised Estimates need to be authorized for
expenditure through the Parliament's approval or by Re-appropriation order.
18.Re-appropriations
Re-appropriations allow the Government to re-appropriate provisions from
one sub-head to another within the same Grant. Re-appropriation provisions
may be sanctioned by a competent authority at any time before the close of
the ?nancial year to which such grant or appropriation relates. The
Comptroller & Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee reviews
these re- appropriations and comments on them for taking corrective actions.
19.Outcome Budget
From the ?scal year 2006-07, every Ministry presents a preliminary Outcome
Budget to the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for compiling them.
The Outcome Budget is a progress card on what various Ministries and
Departments have done with the outlays in the previous annual budget. It
measures the development outcomes of all Government programs and
whether the money has been spent for the purpose it was sanctioned
including the outcome of the fund usage.
20.Guillotine
Parliament, unfortunately, has very limited time for scrutinising the
expenditure demands of all the Ministries. So, once the prescribed period for
the discussion on Demands for Grants is over, the Speaker of Lok Sabha puts
all the outstanding Demands for Grants, Whether discussed or not, to the
vote of the House. This process is popularly known as 'Guillotine'.
21.Cut Motions
Motions for reduction to various Demands for Grants are made in the Form of
Cut Motions seeking to reduce the sums sought by Government on grounds
of economy or difference of opinion on matters of policy or just in order to
voice a grievance.
22.Consolidated Fund of India
All revenues raised by the Government, money borrowed and receipts from
loans given by the Government ?ow into it. All Government expenditure other
than certain exceptional items met from Contingency Fund and Public
Account are made from this account. No money can be appropriated from the
Fund except in accordance with the law.
23.Contigency Fund of India
A fund placed at the disposal of the President to enable him/her to make
advances to the executive/Government to meet urgent unforeseen
expenditure.
24.Public Account
Under provisions of Article 266(1) of the Constitution of India, Public Account
is used in relation to all the fund ?ows where Government is acting as a
banker. Examples include Provident Funds and Small Savings. This money
does not belong to government but is to be returned to the depositors. The
expenditure from this fund need not be approved by the Parliament.
25.Corporate Tax
This is the tax paid by corporations or ?rms on the incomes they earn.
26.Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT)
The Minimum Alternative Tax is a minimum tax that a company must pay,
even if it is under zero tax limits.
27. Disinvestment
By disinvestment we mean the sale of shares of public sector undertakings
by the Government. The shares of government companies held by the
Government are earning assets at the disposal of the Government. If these
shares are sold to get cash, then earning assets are converted into cash, So
it is referred to as disinvestment.
By-Election Results 2018 Live: Congress Wins Mandalgarh Seat And Leads in Ajmer, Alwar
MMNN:1 February 2018
The Congress is leading in two crucial parliament seats, Alwar and Ajmer, for which bye-elections were held in Rajasthan. Both seats were held by the BJP. The BJP is leading in the Mandalgarh assembly seat. Two Rajasthan Lok Sabha constituencies and one Assembly constituency went to the polls on Monday, January 29. Simultaneously, the Lok Sabha constituency of Uluberia and the Assembly constituency of Noapara - both of which are in West Bengal also went to polls on Monday. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is ahead in by-elections to the parliamentary seat of Uluberia, which it held, and also in the Noapara assembly seat, held by the Congress
In Rajasthan these elections are seen to test of the popularity of the BJP government, which hopes to win a second straight term in assembly elections later this year. The by-elections were held four days after the release of controversial Bollywood film "Padmaavat" and the Rajputs, nearly two lakh voters in Ajmer, had declared that they will vote against the BJP. The Congress hopes an anti-incumbency sentiment and the anger of the Rajputs against the ruling party will help it win all three - the Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha seats and the Mandalgarh assembly seat. All three are BJP seats. They fell vacant due to the death last year of the BJP lawmakers who held them. The counting of all the three seats have begun
Man Arrested For Killing In UP's Kasganj, He Shot From Balcony, Say Cops
MMNN:31 January 2018
The man who shot dead 22-year-old Chandan Gupta during communal clashes in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj has been arrested, the police said today.
Saleem, who runs a cloth store in Kasganj, has been accused of firing the shot that killed Chandan Gupta on Friday.
"(Saleem) fired from either the roof or the balcony of his house, as per statements of some witnesses. Some weapons were recovered in the last two days and we are hoping to do a ballistics match between them and the bullet found in Chandan's body," said Anand Kumar, a senior police officer in charge of law and order.
It is not clear if Saleem has a criminal record. Two of his brothers have also been named in the killing that took place after a "Tiranga Yatra" to mark Republic Day in the town around five hours from state capital Lucknow.
Chandan Gupta's father has alleged in his police complaint that the accused stopped his son, snatched and threw away his national flag, tried to make him shout pro-Pakistan slogans at gunpoint and shot him in the head when he refused.
A total of 20 people have been named by the police.
Chandan was among the bikers who participated in the "Tiranga Yatra" organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Various accounts suggest that the violence broke out when the "Yatra" - featuring bikers and others holding up the national flag and saffron flags - tried to go through a Muslim-dominated area.
The police are investigating a video in which young men are seen on a road armed with guns, sticks and clubs, apparently from the part of the town where the clashes took place. They say the video was shot from a rooftop around the time when Chandan was killed.
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COMMENTS"We are trying to reconstruct the sequence of events," said Anand Kumar, an Additional Director General with the UP police.
On the "Tiranga Yatra" and criticism of the police for allowing it, Mr Kumar said: "The Tiranga (tricolor flag) is a national symbol and should not evoke any controversy." He added that all district administrations were taking steps to ensure that the atmosphere was not vitiated during any "Tiranga Yatra".
BJP Alleges Heckling At Meeting With Arvind Kejriwal, Complains To Cops
MMNN:30 January 2018
NEW DELHI: A meeting at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's home to discuss the controversial sealing drive in the national capital lapsed into chaos today as a team of BJP leaders walked out and later alleged they had been "heckled and attacked" by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmakers who were egged on by the chief minister.
"This is urban Naxalism. I cannot this kind of gundagardi (hooliganism) can happen in a chief minister's house," said Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, who led the BJP team. The party has filed a police complaint against five AAP legislators.
Mr Kejriwal is heard in a video saying, "Dekho, dar ke bhaag gaye (they ran away)" as the BJP team walked out of a packed conference hall. Other AAP lawmakers shouted "Sharam karo (shame)".
The chief minister accused the BJP leaders of "walking out" of the meeting because they didn't want the media around. "I accepted the BJP's request for a meet so that it happens in a transparent manner. I arranged for everyone to come, including the media. I arranged for them to sit down, have snacks with us... they just walked out," Mr Kejriwal told NDTV.
Visuals showed jostling and slogan-shouting outside the chief minister's residence as the BJP leaders made their way through a large crowd.
Three BJP MPs, three legislators and two mayors had come for the meeting with Mr Kejriwal and AAP lawmakers. The plan was to meet and then go in a joint delegation to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's house with a request to stop the sealing drive, but that was not to be.
The BJP accused Mr Kejriwal of trying to turn the meeting into a "rally" to draw political capital out of an issue that affected thousands of traders.
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COMMENTSAfter the aborted meeting, the chief minister declared that his government would appeal to the Supreme Court for a temporary ban on the sealing. "We also want the sealing to stop," he said.
Delhi's BJP-led municipal corporations have been sealing establishments that allegedly use residential properties for commercial purposes
3 States Get Contempt Notice From Supreme Court On Cow Vigilantism
MMNN:29 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Three states -- Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh -- have received contempt notice from the Supreme Court for allegedly failing to prevent incidents of cow vigilantism despite an order last year to do so. The states will have to reply to the notice by September 3.
The notice from the Supreme Court came following a petition by Tushar Gandhi, who has been pursuing the matter since last year.
It was in response to his petition that the top court, on September 6, had asked 26 states to maintain law and order and prevent violence by cow vigilantes. The states had been asked to depute nodal officers and highway patrol and keep the court oinformed about their progress.
The top court also asked the Centre -- which had pleaded that law and order was a state subject -- whether under the Constitution, it had the responsibility to ask states to crack down on cow vigilantism.
Days later, on September 26, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra further underscored that compliance reports should be filed. "Nobody can wash off their hands (from their duty). We will give directions to all the states," the court said.
The first incident of cow vigilantism was reported from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh in 2015, in which an elderly man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was beaten to death after allegations that he had killed a cow.
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COMMENTSIn July last year, four Dalit men were stripped, tied to a car and flogged in Gujarat. In Alwar, a 55-year-old dairy owner, Pehlu Khan, was beaten to death on suspicion of cattle smuggling. The video footage of Pehlu Khan being yanked by the neck, thrown to the ground and kicked by cow vigilantes had sparked nationwide outrage.
As reports of similar incidents from other states piled up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers condemned cow vigilantism. "I have seen that some people are into crimes all night and wear the garb of gau rakshaks in the day," PM Modi had said
Violence Again Erupts In Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj, Buses, Shops Set On Fire
MMNN:27 January 2018
LUCKNOW: Fresh violence erupted in western Uttar Pradesh on Saturday when groups of people went on a rampage in the state's Kasganj town after the cremation of a young man killed yesterday. One group burnt down a few shops in the town's main market, others vandalised shops at an intersection a short distance away and burnt down two buses.
Chandan Gupta, 22, had died in clashes in the town 170 km from national capital Delhi that broke out during a "Tiranga bike rally" by activists of the RSS-backed students' group ABVP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Another person injured in the clashes, Naushad, is admitted to hospital. According to reports, both had bullet injuries.
After the violence on Saturday, the Kasganj police went on an overdrive to make arrests for yesterday's riot. RP Singh, the Kasganj district magistrate said 49 people have been arrested for yesterday's violence, according to news agency ANI, Also, the district's borders have been sealed and restrictions prohibiting assembling of a large group of people imposed.
A short video clip of yesterday's bike rally that has emerged shows hundreds of young men, many of them holding the National Flag and saffron flag, standing on the streets in one of the streets of the town. This is where they had been reportedly told by local residents from another community to take a different route
In the background, some voices can be heard saying that they would not change their route. Someone else raises the slogan that everyone would have to say Vande Mataram if they want to stay in India.
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COMMENTSThe violence started soon after; it started with hurling stones with each other and ended with gunshots being fired. In between, motorcycles were set on fire, stones thrown at passing vehicles and a place of worship set on fire.
Saturday morning's vandalism is seen as a revenge for Chandan Gupta's death and this attack. There were images of groups of young men, holding bricks in hand, on the streets heading towards their target till they ran into the police who pushed them back
PM felicitates bravery award winners, says their brave acts serve as inspiration for others
MMNN:25 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Felicitating 18 children from across the country with Bravery awards for their acts of valour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the acts by them serve as an inspiration for others across the country.
‘Today , when we remember the acts done by these children, the people for whom they have given their life, it is very heart touching.
For the others, the acts of bravery by these children serve as a source of inspiration,’the PM said after felicitating the children.At the same time, the PM said, the honour bestowed on these children adds to their responsibility.
‘These children have shown their bravery and people have noticed and appreciated their acts. It also gives an added responsibilty to these children to prove themselves at each and every step.
I wish that this award serves as an opportunity for these kids so that they can grow further and do more tougher jobs easily in future,’the PM said.
Eighteen children from across the country have been selected for the National Bravery Award 2018 .These include Nazia – Uttar Pradesh, Karanbeer Singh – Punjab, Netravati M Chavan (Posthumous) – Karnataka, Betshwajohn Peinlang – Meghalaya, Sebastian Vincent – Kerala, Laxmi Yadav – Chhattisgarh, Mansha N – Nagaland, N Shaungpan Konyak – Nagaland, Yoknai – Nagaland, Chingai Wangsa – Nagaland, Samridhi Sharma – Gujarat, Zonunthuanga – Mizoram, Pankaj Somwal – Uttarakhand, Nadaf Ejaj Abdul Rauf – Maharashtra, Lokrakpam Rajeshwari Chanu (posthumous) – Manipur, F Lalchhandama – Mizoram (posthumous), Pankaj Mahant – Odisha and Mamata Dalai – Odisha, While three of these were honoured posthumously, eight of these brave kids are from northeastern states.
Among these 18 children is 6-year-old Mamata Dalai from Odisha, who fought a five-feet crocodile to save her elder sister’s jaws. Mamata, who hails from the Kendrapara district of Odisha, has won the Bapu Gaidhani award.
Karanbeer Singh, 16, from Punjab saved the lives of 15 children after their school bus fell into a drain in Amritsar.
Fourteen-year-old Netravati M Chavan from Karnataka lost her life while trying to save two young boys from drowning. 17-year-old F Lalchhandama from Mizoram and 15-year-old Loukrakpam Rajeshwori Chanu from Manipur will also be awarded posthumously.
Fifteen others honoured will be participating in the Republic Day Parade on January 26 in the national capital.
The selection was made by a high-powered committee comprising representatives of various ministries, departments, NGOs as well as office bearers of ICCW.
The awards carry a medal, a certificate and a cash prize.
Need To Propagate India-ASEAN Special Ties Among Youth: Sushma Swaraj
MMNN:24 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Highlighting the strong cultural bonds between India and ASEAN countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said there is a need to propagate this "special relationship" amongst the youth of both the regions.
There are mainly two things that connect India with ASEAN, one is Buddhism and the other is Ramayana, Ms Swaraj said.
"From the Government of India's side, we would like to institutionalise the relationship through a permanent mechanism so that the youth of ASEAN countries can partake our cultural and religious ethos and become true ambassadors of India in their countries," the External Affairs Minister said on Monday.
The minister also said that India cannot become a member of ASEAN because of geographical reason as this grouping is of South East Asian nations while India lies in the South Asia.
Ms Swaraj was addressing the India-ASEAN Youth Awards function in New Delhi on Monday.
She also highlighted the strong cultural ties that bind India and the ASEAN countries.
COMMENTSMs Swaraj said the cultural bonds between India and ASEAN countries were centuries old and the "onus was on us to propagate this special relationship amongst the youth in both the regions".
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a multilateral body whose member countries include Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Body Of Kerala Fisherman, Who Died At Sea, Will Be Sent Home: Devendra Fadnavis
MMNN:23 January 2018
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Government is making arrangements for sending the body of a Kerala fisherman, who died at sea off the Maharashtra coast, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said today.
"Ratnagiri collector already in touch with Thiruvananthapuram collector since yesterday afternoon. All necessary arrangements being done to transport body of Kerala fisherman," Chief Minister Fadnavis, who is in Davos for the World Economic Forum meet, tweeted.
"Total 9 persons were on the boat. One lost life, 5 left with the boat and three (are) with the body," the chief minister said, in response to Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram lawmaker Shashi Tharoor's tweet seeking help.
Mr Tharoor had tagged Mr Fadnavis in his tweet yesterday saying that fisherman Rajumon's boat was near the Maharashtra coast, and sought help to bring the body onshore and transport it by air to Thiruvananthapuram
Mr Tharoor posted an update today, saying Rajumon's body has been brought ashore at Ratnagiri and taken to a local government hospital. It will be transported to Thiruvananthapuram after autopsy, he said, thanking the Maharashtra government for co-operation.
Rajumon, whose boat was fishing off the Maharashtra coast, died after suddenly taking ill, reports said.
AAP MLAs Withdraw Plea Against Disqualification, Will File New Petition: 10 Points
MMNN:22 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party legislators have withdrawn a petition they had filed in the Delhi High Court against the Election Commission's recommendation that they be disqualified for holding offices of profit. Party sources said they will file a fresh petition after President Ram Nath Kovind signed off on the disqualification of the 20 AAP legislators. If the High Court rejects AAP's appeal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's party has said it will move the Supreme Court.
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
1-The Election Commission recommended to the President on Friday last that the 20 AAP legislators, by occupying the post of parliamentary secretaries between March 2015 and September 2016, had held offices of profit and should be disqualified.
2-The MLAs immediately moved the High Court against the EC's recommendation, alleging that they were not given an opportunity to defend themselves by the Election Commission.
3-The High Court was to have heard that petition at 4 pm today. The AAP legislators withdrew the earlier petition and will now file a fresh petition.
4-AAP leaders had requested the President to hear their side before accepting the poll panel's recommendation, but President Kovind did not entertain their request and signed off on disqualifying the party's MLAs yesterday.
5-"President's order to disqualify AAP MLAs is unconstitutional and dangerous for democracy," said senior AAP leader Ashutosh. Parliamentary secretaries assist ministers with their work. AAP insists that despite holding the post, its MLAs did not take salary or perks and so they cannot be seen as having held offices of profit.
6-If courts do not stop the disqualification, by-elections will be held for the 20 seats. Even the loss of all 20 will not impact AAP's majority in the Delhi assembly. The party has 65 seats in the 70-member assembly. If it is reduced to 46, it will still have many more MLAs than the majority mark of 35.
7-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted an open letter to the people of Delhi today, stating, "Is it justified to disqualify elected leaders in such an unconstitutional and illegal way? Is it fair to force elections? Is this not dirty politics?"
8-Delhi's opposition parties Congress and the BJP have said Mr Kejriwal should quit on "moral grounds". The BJP has four members in the Delhi assembly, the Congress has none and a by-election will give both parties a chance to win a few seats.
9-Allowed to appoint only a limited number of ministers, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had, after AAP's sweep of the Delhi assembly elections, appointed 21 legislators as parliament secretaries. He did so after AAP pushed an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly Act to exempt the post from the definition of office of profit with retrospective effect.
10-In September 2016, the High Court had cancelled their appointment, saying it was done without the approval of the Lieutenant Governor, the administrative head of Delhi. The Congress had appealed to the Election Commission to disqualify the AAP legislators for holding offices of profit. One of the AAP legislators quit last year.
PM should spell out plans in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to get Chinese out of Doklam: Rahul
MMNN:20 January 2018
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his monthly radio talk show ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the PM should spell out in his programme his plans to create jobs for the youth, get the Chinese out of Doklam and stop the rapes in Haryana.
‘Dear narendramodi, since you’ve requested some ideas for your MannKiBaat monologue, tell us about how you plan to: 1. Get our youth JOBS 2. Get the Chinese out of DHOKA-LAM 3. Stop the RAPES in Haryana,’ Mr Gandhi said in a post on the social media.
The Prime Minister has sought suggestions from people for his first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ for 2018, scheduled to be aired on January 28.
100 ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES OF VARIOUS STATE GOVERNMENTS/UTs UNDER
ACCESSIBLE INDIA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
MMNN:19 January 2018
In a path breaking initiative to empower Persons with Disabilities, 100 Accessible websites of
various State Governments/UTs under Accessible India Campaign were launched by the Union
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot on the occasion of
‘National Conference on Improving Accessibility’ here today. Ministers of State for Social Justice
and Empowerment Shri Vijay Sampla and Shri Krishna Pal Gurjar were present. Secretary, DEPwD
Shri Shakuntala D. Gamlin and the officials from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
participated in the conference and submitted their valuable inputs on implementation of
accessibility in various walks of life.
Accessible Websites are those websites into which Persons with Disabilities can perceive,
understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web. The
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) initiated a “Website
Accessibility Project” for State Government/Union Territories under Accessible India Campaign
through ERNET India, an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics &
Information Technology (MeitY), to make total 917 websites accessible and providing funds for the
same. Now 100 accessible websites are made accessible under the project.
The aim of the conference was to sensitize and bring awareness among different stakeholders
including the officials of state government on accessibility in the context of recently enacted Rights
of Persons with Disabilities, 2016. The Accessible India Campaign has three important components
viz Built Environment; Transport and Information and Communication Eco-system accessibility.
In his address, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said that the Divyangjans are an
integral part of our society and we have to play an active role for their welfare. He said that
Accessible India Campaign is a nationwide flagship campaign of Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The aim of the campaign is
to make a barrier free environment for persons with disabilities all over the country for safe,
dignified life of Persons with Disabilities. He said that around 5800 ADIP camps had been
organised nationwide by his ministry for distribution of assistive device to Divyangjans. He opined
that such Accessible websites will play an important role in proper dissemination of Governments
policies and schemes for the welfare of Divyangjans.
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Shri Vijay Sampla in his address said that today we have moved ahead are more step towards
Accessible India campaign by launching 100 Accessible websites of various State
Governments/UTs under Accessible India Campaign. He said that DEPwD is doing a commendable
job in this regard.
In his address Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar said that during past three and a half years many
revolutionary steps have been taken by DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for the
welfare of Divyangjans. He said that we need to empower the Divyangjans so that they can lead a
normal life.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Shakuntala D Gamlin urged the Central and State Government
Departments to adopt accessibility standards while providing any service be it physical,
infrastructural and IT etc.
Mrs. Dolly Chakrabarty Joint Secretary, DEPwD emphasised on ensuring rural access as there is
substantial difference in planning accessibility in rural areas and it is a less talked about topic in the
growing era of urbanisation.
ERNET India (MEITY) is executing the project which is funded by DEPwD under Accessibility
India Campaign so far 917 websites across 27 States & UT have been chosen from the list of
websites which have been provided by the State Social Welfare Departments through DEPwD.
Accessible Website Design Principles: - Provide appropriate alternative text, Caption video;
Provide transcripts for audio; All documents (e.g., PDFs) to be accessible; Do not rely on color
alone to convey meaning; and Make sure content is structured, clearly written and easy to read.
Current Status of Accessible Websites: -Total no. of websites: 917; Under Development: 244;
Developed and Internally Audited: 208; and Live: 100
Web content accessibility guidelines –WCAG 2.0 :- Websites are made accessible by complying
it as per Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) published by the Web Accessibility
Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the main international standard
organisation for the World Wide Web.
The guideline establish three levels of accessibility on basis of which websites are designed,
namely:-
Level A: This Indicates the basic level of accessibility that any web page must have
Level AA: This indicates an intermediate level of accessibility that any web page should
have
Level AAA: This indicates the highest level of accessibility that any web page can
achieve
The founding principles of the guidelines state information and user interface components must be
presentable to user in ways they can perceive, user interface components and navigation must be
operable and information and the operation of user interface must be understandable. Moreover,
content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents,
including assistive technologies.
Disqualify 20 AAP Lawmakers For Office Of Profit, Says Election Commission
MMNN:19 January 2018
In a massive blow to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Election Commission has recommended to the President that 20 legislators of his Aam Aadmi Party be disqualified for holding offices of profit as parliamentary secretaries, sources said today.
Once the President approves the recommendation, by-elections will have to be held for the 20 assembly seats. The ruling AAP has a giant majority in the 70-member Delhi assembly with 66 seats and the disqualification will not endanger the Arvind Kejriwal government. It will come down to 46 seats, still comfortably across the half-way mark at 35.
AAP will challenge the poll panel's decision in the Supreme Court. The party's Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Office of Profit is when someone benefits. I want to ask do they use official bunglow or car? None of them can be accused of earning any salary or official facility. This entire matter was to be presented before the Election Commission. Till now there has been no hearing in this case before the Election Commission. The basic principle of justice is that the accused in the matter is given a chance to explain their point of view. No MLAs were summoned; they were not given chance to explain their version."
Mr Kejriwal and his party have insisted that the appointments violate no rules as none of the AAP legisators draw salaries as parliament secretaries. But rival parties have argued that the posts allowed them perks like offices and cars and so were offices of profit.
In 2015, soon after AAP swept the Delhi elections, Mr Kejriwal had appointed 21 legislators as parliament secretaries. A lawyer Prashant Patel had appealed to the President against the move alleging that it violated constitutional provisions and the President had sent it to the Election Commission for examination.
In 2016, the Congress petitioned the Election Commission to disqualify the 21 MLAs and had been pressing upon the panel since to act on its request. Later that year, the High Court had set aside the appointments noting that Delhi's Lieutenant Governor had not cleared them.
Last year, the Election Commission had rejected a petition by the MLAs to drop the office of profit case. One of the 21 MLAs had resigned last year.
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COMMENTS"Kejriwal has no right to continue. Half of his cabinet ministers removed on corruption charges! 20 MLAs who were enjoying ministerial perks would be disqualified! Where is Lokpal? The MLAs and Ministers enjoying perks of power and foreign travel-Where is political probity,'" tweeted Congress' Delhi chief Ajay Maken, who had petitioned the Election Commission against AAP.
The BJP's Vijay Jolly said he welcomed the Election Commission's decision and called it the "final nail in the coffin of the Delhi government." He added, "this should be an eye-opener for the misgovernance of the Aam Aadmi Party in the capital. They have subverted the constitutional norms of the government in the capital and misused the official machinery appointing the Parliamentary Secretaries and total disregardance of the laid down norms, rules and regulation concerning the government. Election Commission verdict is final nail in the coffin of the Delhi government and also in the tall claims of AAP and its deliverance of the Justice to people of national capital
National Bravery Awards 2018: 16 Courageous Children To Be Awarded On Republic Day
MMNN:17 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Ahead of 69th Republic Day, 16 courageous have been selected from different parts of the country to be given the National Bravery award 2018. Of the 16 children, four would be awarded posthumously. The children have been selected from 13 states, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Karnataka, Punjab, Meghlaya, Odisha, Nagaland, Gujarat, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. The National Bravery Awards are given every year under the aegis of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) who scrutinize the applications and select the National Bravery Award winners. The award winners will also take part in the Republic Day march
The National Bravery Awards are divided into five categories:
Bharat Award
Sanjay Chopra Award
Geeta Chopra Award
Bapu Gaidhani Award
General National Bravery Awards
The recipients, selected from across India, are given a medal, certificate and a cash prize. They also receive financial assistance to complete their schooling.
COMMENTSLast year , 25 child received the national bravery award. Among them were two school girls who helped police bust a cross-border human trafficking racket, leading to the arrest of suspects in the cases of missing girls from both India and Nepal. Shivani Gond, 17, and Tejasweeta Pradhan, 18, were honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "showing exemplary courage" when acting as decoys to gain the trust of the traffickers, allowing police catch them red-handed.
The first National bravery Award was presented to two children in 1958 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Among the recipient was Harish Chandra who, using his presence of mind, saved the lives of hundreds of people trapped in tent that caught fire due to a short circuit in at Delhi's Ramlila ground at the Red Fort when Mr Nehru was watching a performance. The Sanjay Chopra Award and the Geeta Chopra Award were established in 1978 in memory of two Chopra children who lost their lives while confronting their kidnappers. The Bharat Award was established in 1987 and the Bapu Gaidhani Award was established in 1988. The Sanjay and Geeta awards are given to a boy and a girl for acts of bravery.
Chief Justice Met 4 Judges, Ice Has Begun Melting, Say Sources: 10 Points
MMNN:16 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra today met the four judges who had criticised him publicly, and discussed "all issues", top sources have told NDTV. "The ice has started melting," said the sources, delivering another twist in the story after Attorney General KK Venugopal said that the dispute remained unresolved. One of the main triggers of the unprecedented rift, the case related to judge BH Loya's death, was taken up today by the Supreme Court.
Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
1-The Chief Justice had a "long discussion" with Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurien Joseph on issues they had raised in a press conference last week.
2-The judges will continue their discussions tomorrow, sources said, adding that "things are moving in the right direction".
3-The four judges -- who are the senior most after the Chief Justice -- have been kept out of a constitution bench announced yesterday for eight important cases. It is not clear if that will change after the talks.
4-The judges had also chatted during an informal meeting at the Supreme Court lounge, where judges usually spend some time before going to court. Later, Mr Venugopal told reporters that everything "had been settled".
5-But this morning, Mr Venugopal amended: "From what has been reported in The Hindu, I accept that the judges' conflict is not settled."
6-The Hindu newspaper quoted sources close to the four judges as denying any reconciliation and saying that there had been "no attempts so far to resolve the issues raised by the judges".
7-The judges went public against the Chief Justice after the judge Loya case was assigned to Justice Arun Mishra, who is number 10 in the Supreme Court hierarchy. Speaking to the media on Friday, they criticised the way sensitive cases were being assigned "without rationale".
8-Judge Loya died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, while attending a wedding in Nagpur. At the time, he was handling the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which BJP president Amit Shah was an accused. Mr Shah was discharged by the judge who replaced judge Loya.
9-Last weekend, judge Loya's son Anuj denied that there was anything suspicious in the death and said it was being politicised.
10-Justice Arun Mishra reportedly "broke down" at the informal meet at the lounge and complained that he had been unfairly targeted. Justice Chelameswar was seen with his arm around Justice Mishra as he was led by the Chief Justice to his chamber, reported news agency IANS
Read: Full Text Of PM Narendra Modi's Statement In Press Conference With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
MMNN:15 January 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and PM Narendra Modi today held delegation-level talks and delivered a joint statement. Later in the day, Mr Netanyahu will call on President Ram Nath Kovind. Mr Netanyahu will end the day with the India-Israel Business Summit.
Following is the full text of PM Narendra Modi's statement:
Your Excellency Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
Members of the media,
It is a great pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on his first ever visit to India.
Your visit, Prime Minister, is a long-anticipated moment in the journey of friendship between India and Israel.
Your visit is also a fitting climax to the comemoration of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
As our first honoured guest in 2018, your visit marks a special beginning to our New Year calendar. It comes at an especially auspicious time as people all over India are rejoicing the arrival of spring, renewal, hope and harvest. The festivals of Lohri, Bihu, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal celebrate the splendour of India's diversity and unity.
Friends,
Last year in July, I carried the greetings and friendship of 1.25 billion Indians during my momentous journey to Israel. In return, I was overwhelmed by the generous affection and warmth of the Israeli people, led by my friend, Bibi.
In that visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I promised each other and our people to build a strategic partnership: of hope and trust and progress of diverse and cutting-edge cooperation, and of joint endeavours and shared successes. Such a promise flows as much from the natural affinity and friendship that have linked us for centuries as it does from the compelling win-win case for engagement in almost all spheres.
And it is a measure of our shared ambition and commitment that six short months after that visit; your extraordinary visit is taking place to India.
Today and yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I reviewed the progress in our relations and renewed our conversation on the possibilities and the opportunities that beckon us and need to be seized.
Our discussions were wide-ranging and intensive. They were marked by the desire to do more. Prime Minister, I have a reputation of being impatient in getting results.
If I may let out an open secret, I know that so are you.
Last year in Tel Aviv, you had expressed the intent to cut down bureaucratic red tape with a machete and forge ahead with speed.
Prime Minister, I am happy to tell you that in India, we are well on our way to doing just that. We have imparted our shared impatience to the implementation of our earlier decisions.
The results are already visible on the ground. Our discussions today were marked by convergence to accelerate our engagement and to scale up our partnership.
We will pursue this in three ways:
- First, we will strengthen the existing pillars of cooperation in areas that touch the lives of our peoples. These are agriculture, science and technology, and security.
We exchanged views on scaling up the Centers of Excellence that have been a main-stay of agricultural cooperation by bringing in advanced Israeli practices and technology.
In defence, I have invited Israeli companies to take advantage of the liberalised FDI regime to make more in India with our companies.
- Second, We are venturing into less explored areas of cooperation, such as oil and gas, cyber security, films, and start-ups. You will find this reflected in the agreements that were just exchanged. Several of these areas are indicative of our desire to diversify and broad-base engagement.
- And third, We are committed to facilitating the flow of people and ideas between our geographies. It requires policy facilitation, infrastructure and connectivity links and fostering constituencies of support beyond Government.
We are working with Israel to make it easier for our people to work and visit each other's countries, including for longer work duration. To bring people closer on both sides, an Indian Cultural Center will soon open in Israel.
We have also decided to start an annual exchange of bilateral visits by 100 young people from science-related educational streams.
Friends,
Thriving two-way trade and investment is an integral part of our vision for a strong partnership. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed on the need to do more in this direction. After the meeting in Tel Aviv last year, we will interact for the second time with our CEOs under the bilateral Forum.
I welcome the large business component that Prime Minister Netanyahu has brought along with him. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I also exchanged perspectives on the regional and global situation.
We reviewed our cooperation as a factor for stability and peace in our regions and the world.
Friends,
Yesterday, as his first stop after touching Indian soil, Prime Minister Netanyahu joined me at the re-named Teen Murti Haifa Chowk to pay homage to the memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives a century ago in the Battle of Haifa in Israel.
We are both countries that have never forgotten our history and our heroes. And we deeply appreciate this gesture by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
As we look to the future of this exciting partnership with Israel, I am filled with hope and optimism. In Prime Minister Netanyahu, I have a counter-part who is equally committed to taking the India-Israel relationship to soaring new heights.
Finally, I am delighted to have the chance to be with you, Prime Minister, in my home state, Gujarat, day after.
There, we will have another opportunity to see the fulfillment of the promise, which our mutual cooperation holds in diverse areas such as agriculture, technology, and innovation.
COMMENTSI wish Prime Minister Netanyahu, Mrs. Netanyahu and the delegation a memorable stay in India
Mumbai Chopper Crash Live Updates: 4 Bodies Recovered, Search And Rescue Operations Continue
MMNN:13 January 2018
NEW DELHI: A Pawan Hans helicopter crashed off the Mumbai coast with seven people on board, including two pilots. The helicopter lost contact with the air traffic control today shortly after take-off from Juhu Aerodrome at 10:20 AM this morning. The chopper, Dauphin N3 with registration number VT PWA, last contacted the Air Traffic Control at 10:35 AM when it was about 30 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast. Among those on board were officials from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation or ONGC who were headed for the Offshore Development Area in the north fields of Mumbai High. The Indian Coast guard has launched a search operation for the helicopter. Choppers and Immediate Support Vessels or ISVs have been deployed
Democracy At Stake, Things Not In Order: 4 Supreme Court Judges - 10 Points
MMNN:12 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Democracy in India is at stake, said four senior Supreme Court judges today as they went public with complaints against the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra. The "rebel" judges - the four most-senior at the top court after the Chief Justice - said that "things are not in order" with what they described as "the administration of the Supreme Court". An independent judiciary is essential for a functioning democracy, they said. Asked if they believed the Chief Justice should be impeached, they said, "Let the nation decide."
Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:
1-The judges have blown the lid off a growing rift with Chief Justice Dipak Misra at their news conference, the first of its kind ever held by sitting judges of the top court. "The four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country," Justice J Chelameswar said on the lawns of his residence. He is the second most-senior judge of the Supreme Court.
2-The judges said that their concerns include cases of "far-reaching consequences" being allocated without transparency. They made available a letter written by them to the Chief Justice two months ago, alleging "selective assignment of cases to preferred judges" and that "sensitive cases were being allotted to junior judges".
3-Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurien Joseph said repeated attempts to alert the Chief Justice to their concerns - including a meeting with him this morning - had failed to make any progress which is why they decided to voice their complaints publicly.
4-When asked if their complaints include the case of the death of a CBI judge, BH Loya, "yes" said Justice Gogoi. He however declined to elaborate.
5-Judge Loya was hearing a case that accused BJP president Amit Shah of murder when he died in Nagpur in December 2014. His family has alleged that his death was unnatural and came after he was offered 100 crores as a bribe to rule in favour of the BJP leader. Medical records show Judge Loya died of a cardiac arrest. Within weeks of his death, Amit Shah was acquitted.
6-The Supreme Court has been asked to order an independent inquiry into Judge Loya's death. This morning, the case was assigned to a bench that does not include the four senior judges who held today's press conference.
7-The Chief Justice in December was backed by four other top judges in asserting that he is the "master of the roster" and is alone authorized to allocate cases. The four judges who met the press today said that the rules make him "only the first amongst the equals, nothing more or nothing less."
8-The public confrontation today comes amid growing calls for the judiciary to show more transparency including in how judges are selected for promotion and assignment to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
9-The Law Ministry says that the explosive trading of charges today is being seen as "an internal matter of the judiciary" on the administration of the Supreme Court and the government sees no reason for it to intervene.
10-In December, the Chief Justice was accused by some lawyers of inappropriately involving himself in hearing a case that alleges judicial corruption even though he was involved in earlier hearings of a linked matter - about whether bribes were paid by a medical college to reverse its blacklisting by the government.
Arvind Kejriwal To Address Rally In Maharashtra Tomorrow On Rajmata Jijau Jayanti
MMNN:11 January 2018
MUMBAI: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal will address a rally at the birthplace of Jijabai, mother of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, in Maharashtra tomorrow.
Mr Kejriwal will address the rally at Sindkhed Raja in Buldhana district, and pay tribute to the matriarch on her birth anniversary, party sources said.
Every year, lakhs of people, mostly from the politically dominant Maratha community, gather at the place to pay their respects to Rajmata Jijabai.
Police had initially denied permission for the rally citing law and order issues, but the rally, scheduled for tomorrow morning, will be held as planned after AAP leaders took up the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior police officials, sources said.
After the permission was granted, Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted in Marathi saying, "On the occasion of Rajmata Jijau Jayanti on January 12, I am coming to Sindkhed Raja to have a dialogue with the people of Maharashtra."
Marathas, who comprise approximately 32 per cent of the state's population, had taken to the streets last year, demanding reservations in education and job sectors.
The choice of the venue also underlines the agenda of the party, particularly in the backdrop of the recent turmoil in Maharashtra, where Marathas were pitted against Dalits after the Bhima-Koregaon violence.
Mr Kejriwal is expected to induct Brigadier (Retd.) Sudhir Sawant, a former Congress MP from Konkan region, into the party, at the rally tomorrow, AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said.
Brig (retd.) Sawant is a Maratha.
COMMENTSHowever, the AAP spokesperson said her party does not believe in wooing the Maratha community or any other community. "We do not believe in the politics of caste," she added.
"We chose this venue because we believe in the values of Jijabai which she imbibed in Shivaji Maharaj," she said
New Team To Look Into 186 Anti-Sikh Riots Cases, Says Supreme Court
MMNN:10 January 2018
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe 186 cases relating to the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. This comes after a supervisory panel appointed by the court submitted a report that 186 cases were closed without a probe.
Last year, the top court had formed a body comprising two of its former judges -- Justices JM Panchal and KSP Radhakrishnan -- to look into 293 cases.
S Gurlad Singh Kahlon, a member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, had moved court demanding that a special probe team be set up. He had argued that neither has the probe been completed by an earlier probe team in any of these cases, nor any chargesheet filed.
COMMENTSAn SIT was formed by the Narendra Modi government in 2015 after a special committee appointed by the centre recommended such a move to examine anti-Sikh riots case pending since 1984. The team was headed by IPS officer Pramod Asthana and had ex-district judge Rakesh Kapoor and additional DCP Kumar Gyanesh as its members.
As per today's court order, a retired high court judge, one serving and one retired IPS officer will be on the new probe team. The court will name the members tomorrow
BSP Leader Mukhtar Ansari Suffers Heart Attack In UP Jail, Hospitalised
MMNN:9 January 2018
LUCKNOW: Jailed BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, who was lodged in Banda jail in connection with various criminal cases against him, today suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the district hospital in Banda.
"I have talked to the SSP, Banda, and he told me about it (heart attack). I have sought a report from both the SP and the DM, Banda. The legislator will be provided the best treatment," Principal Secretary Home Arvind Kumar said.
About reports in a section of media that Mukhtar Ansari's wife too suffered a heart attack, Mr Kumar said he cannot confirm it immediately.
"I can confirm it only after I get a report from there," he said, adding that directives have been issued to provide best possible treatment to the legislator.
COMMENTSThe gangster-turned-legislator Mukhtar Ansari from Mau constituency had been in various jails in the state since 2015 under various sections of the IPC.
Supreme Court To Revisit 2013 Verdict Criminalising Gay Sex: 10 Points
MMNN:8 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Whether homosexuality should be a crime in India will be reexamined by the Supreme Court, which had in 2013 restored a controversial British-era ban on gay sex. No one should have to live in fear because of their sexuality, said three Supreme Court judges including Chief Justice Dipak Misra today, asking a larger group of judges to review Section 377, the 1861 law that criminalises sexual activities "against the order of nature". Responding to a legal challenge by five high-profile petitioners who say they are living in fear of being punished, the judges said: "What is natural to one may not be natural to others
Here is your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
1-Top government sources told NDTV they would "go by the court" and not push for criminalising gay sex, commenting that decriminalisation is a global trend.
2-Gay rights activists across the country exulted over the Supreme Court ruling that said "societal morality changes from age to age. Law copes with life and accordingly change takes place".
3-The "section of people who exercise their choice should never remain in a state of fear", said the judges.
4-The Supreme Court also noted that "choice can't be allowed to cross the boundaries of law but the confines of law can't trample or curtail the inherent right embedded in an individual under Article 21, the right to life and liberty."
5-Under the law, those convicted under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code face up to 10 years in jail.
6-The top court acted on the petition by Aman Nath, the owner of Neemrana hotels, Navtej Johar, a classical dancer, celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia, former editor Sunil Mehra and restauranteur Ayesha Kapur.
7-In 2013, the Supreme Court had cancelled a Delhi high court order that had decriminalized homosexuality by overturning the outdated law and said it was the job of parliament to decide on scrapping laws.
8-That decision needs to be reconsidered because of constitutional issues, said the Supreme Court.
9-In 2009, the Delhi High Court had described Section 377 as a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. It had responded to a petition by Naz Foundation, which has fought for almost a decade for gay rights.
10-Although prosecution under section 377 is not common, gay activists say the police use the law to harass and intimidate members of their community.
Lalu Yadav Sentenced To 3.5 Years In Jail In Fodder Scam: 10 Updates
MMNN:6 January 2018
RANCHI: Bihar's veteran politician Lalu Yadav, who was convicted in a second case of fodder scam -- involving the embezzlement of more than Rs. 84.5 lakh in government funds -- was given three-and-a-half-year's jail term and a fine of Rs. 5 lakh by a special court in Bihar today. In Patna, Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav, who held an emergency meeting to discuss the party's strategy, said, "The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bail". The former Chief Minister, who was in Ranchi's Birsa Munda Jail, received his sentence through video-conference.
Here are the top 10 updates in this bog story:
1-Lalu Yadav was convicted on December 23 for criminal conspiracy, forgery, use of forged documents and under the prevention of corruption act, sources said. This case relates to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs. 84.5 lakh from the Deoghar district treasury between 1990 and 1994.
2-The sentencing, which was expected last week, had been deferred twice. On Wednesday, the judge said they would proceed with the arguments on the sentencing in an alphabetical order.
3-At the emergency meeting of the party today, Tejashwi Yadav said the people were with Lalu Yadav. "He was chosen (by the people of Bihar in an election) and he's in jail," said the former Deputy Chief Minister in the Grand Alliance government. Last year, Nitish Kumar dissolved his alliance with Lalu Yadav and the Congress and partnered with the BJP instead.
4-Taking a dig at the BJP, Tejashwi Yadav said, "those who had not been elected is now in government... Amit Shah was scared of Lalu-ji".
5-Lalu Yadav has said his conviction was a fallout of political vengeance. After his conviction, he tweeted: "Truth can be made to appear as a lie, as ambiguous or a half lie by concerted onslaught of bias driven propaganda. But blurred layer of bias and hatred will still be removed, come what may! In end Truth will win."
6-The fodder scam involved the embezzlement of more than Rs. 970 crore in government funds in the 1990s during Lalu Yadav's term as the Chief Minister of undivided Bihar from 1990 to 1997. He has been accused in five cases of fodder scam and convicted in two.
7-Four years ago, Lalu Yadav was convicted in the first case of fodder scam and was given a five-year jail term. After being in jail for two months, he got bail from the Supreme Court.
8-The court had acquitted another former Bihar Chief Minister, Jagannath Mishra, and five others in the case. There were initially 34 accused, of whom 11 died during the trial. One admitted to the crime and turned approver. The other 15 people convicted include three former IAS officials.
9-With ally Hemant Soren as Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Lalu Yadav was given VIP treatment during his last jail stint in 2013. A guesthouse had been converted into a jail for him and even the chief Minister came to meet him there.
10-The state has a BJP government now with Raghubar Das as chief minister, who has ignored Mr Yadav's request that he be allowed more visitors as he is a political leader. He has, however, been allowed a cook for his special diet and has access to a television and newspapers.
PM Modi Reaches Out To Manmohan Singh, With A Warm Handshake
MMNN:5 January 2018
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh greeted each other and shook hands in the Rajya Sabha after the winter session of parliament ended on Friday. The show of cordiality comes weeks after PM Modi, in the middle of an acrid campaign for the Gujarat election last month, appeared to insinuate that Manmohan Singh had conspired with Pakistan to attempt the BJP's defeat in the state.
The Congress, aided by other opposition parties, had blocked parliament for days to demand that PM Modi apologise to the former prime minister for the insinuation. "I am deeply hurt by the falsehood being spread, everyone knows my track record," Dr Manmohan had said in the video statement.
PM Modi didn't apologise but the ruling party bought peace in parliament by a statement from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that the Prime Minister did not question, nor meant to question Dr Manmohan Singh's commitment to the country.
As soon as Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House sine die on Friday, PM Modi walked over to the opposition benches and reached out to the former prime minister as well, warmly shaking hands with Dr Manmohan Singh and speaking with him for a bit.
There was no word on what they spoke about.
But later, parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar asserted that the session had gone off much better than what many people had expected.
COMMENTSThe Lok Sabha did work for almost twice as much as the Rajya Sabha in terms of the number of bills passed. But the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling BJP is in a minority, did pass 9 bills, just a little short of the 13 passed by the Lok Sabha. "This is the first time this is happening," Mr Kumar said.
PM Modi also shook hands with some other senior leaders too including Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien and veteran Congress leader Karan Singh, whose tenure ends before parliament reconvenes for the Budget session
No Benefit To People From Hiked Oil Prices: Congress
MMNN:4 January 2018
NEW DELHI: The Congress today accused the government of not passing on to consumers the benefits of revenue it has earned by hiking excise duty on oil products, saying it garnered over Rs. 5.5 lakh crore and should tell the people what it has done with the money.
Party leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, noting that the price of crude was USD 110 per barrel in March 2014, two months before the BJP came to power, which had come down to USD 40 in June 2016. It was USD 60 yesterday, he said.
He said petrol and diesel prices were not reduced in line with the falling price and instead, excise duty on diesel was hiked by 386 per cent and on petrol by 126 per cent.
"You have earned Rs. 1.62 lakh crore annually and Rs. 5.50 lakh crore in total so far. No benefit has reached the people so far, while the extra revenue has gone to public exchequer," Mr Kharge said during the Zero Hour.
He claimed that the government has instead reduced the benefits of welfare schemes, including those meant for Dalits.
"You should tell the people under which scheme this money has been used," he demanded of the government
After Many Rejections, AAP Finds Nominees For Rajya Sabha
MMNN:3 January 2018
The Aam Aadmi Party today nominated Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and N D Gupta as its Rajya Sabha nominees. While Mr Singh has been associated with the party since its inception, Sushil Gupta is a Delhi-based businessman and ND Gupta a chartered accountant.
The decision was taken at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in a meeting attended by around 56 party lawmakers.
The party's highest decision making body, the Political Affairs Committee or PAC, met soon after and formally approved the decision.
"Sushil Gupta has made big contributions in the education and health sectors in Delhi and Haryana. He provides free education to 15,000 children. Narayan Das Gupta is the former president of the ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountant of India)," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
Kumar Vishwas, who was angling for a Rajya Sabha slot, did not attend the PAC meeting although he is a member of the committee.
Elections to three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi would be held on January 16. The AAP, which enjoys a brute majority in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, is set to win all three seats.
Join Congress: Hardik Patel's Offer To Sulking Nitin Patel, With A Rider
MMNN:30 December 2017
GANDHINAGAR: Hardik Patel, the Patidar leader who had fiercely campaigned against the BJP in the Gujarat elections, today attempted to exacerbate the birth pangs of the state's new government led Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who is struggling with a sulking deputy, Nitin Patel.
The 61-year-old Deputy Chief Minister is learnt to be feeling slighted at his boss taking away key portfolios such as finance and urban development, and replacing them with health and education, among others.
Nitin Patel hasn't spoken about his disappointment in public but he is learnt to have dropped clear hints to his close supporters that he might contemplate quitting the government too.
On Saturday, Hardik Patel waded right in the middle of the political drama playing out in Gujarat around Nitin Patel.
"If the BJP does not respect him, he should leave the party," the 24-year-old face of the Patidar campaign for quotas in jobs and education told reporters, according to news agency ANI.
Hardik Patel also offered to get the Deputy Chief Minister a good deal from the Congress. But this offer came with a rider.
"If Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel along with 10 MLAs is ready to leave BJP, then I will talk to Congress to get him a good position," Hardik said, an offer that is seen as an attempt to emphasise that the BJP did not give its most prominent Patel face a fair deal either.
Nitin Patel, who first became the state's health minister back in 1995, was upgraded as a Deputy Chief Minister in 2016 when the BJP decided to drop Anandiben Patel as Chief Minister. The upgrade was meant to signal that the Patel community would continue to get a good deal from the BJP
15 die, 23 injured in Mumbai pub fire
MMNN:29 December 2017
At least 15 people, including 11 women, were killed and 23 others injured when a major fire broke out in a pub in the Kamla Mills Compound here late Thursday night, an official said.
The blaze was reported around 00:30 hrs from Mojo’s Bistro, a rooftop restaurant pub in the Kamla Trade House, in Lower Parel area of south Mumbai and quickly spread to an adjacent pub and restaurant, official of BMC Disaster Control said here.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have condoled the deaths.As per as the official, more than 12 fire tenders were rushed to fight the blaze which was finally brought under control around 06:30 hrs.
While the majority of the victims are reported to have perished on the spot, the firemen could rescue ten others safely from the leaping flames.
The injured have been admitted in the KEM Hospital, Bhatia Hospital, Airoli Burns Hospital, while two in Sion Hospital who suffered minor injuries were treated and discharged.
Autopsies of the victims have revealed that a majority of the casualties occurred due to asphyxiation more than the burns, said Dr Avinash Supe, Dean, KEM Hospital.
The entire pub and the surrounding complex was full of patrons, including several women and tourists, thronging the fashionable area to unwind.
Mumbai Police has booked the owner of the pub for negligence, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other charges for the fire, preliminarily suspected to be triggered by an electric short-circuit.
There are many major corporates, TV-Radio-print media offices, more than three dozen high-end restaurants, pubs, etc, which suffered damage in the fire in the posh Kamla Mills Complex whose working is likely to be affected Friday.
The blaze comes as a huge setback to the government’s recent plans to make nightlife attractive by permitting all shops/malls to function round-the-clock, to generate more employment.
Barely nine days ago, the state government had notified the amendments, though it was not made applicable to bars, pubs, discotheques and wine shops.However, these were expected to come under the ambit of the new laws in due course, with the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation recently initiating measures in this direction.
Blaming the BMC for the fire, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said that stringent action should be initiated against those responsible for allowing the eateries to function despite rules being flouted.
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya also attacked the Shiv Sena-controlled BMC for lapses on its part which led to the fire and demanded a complete fire-audit of all buildings in the city immediately.
KEM hospital identified the victims as –
Jeet (49), Preeti (36), Tejal (4) Khushboo Bansal (28), Pramila (6) Vishva- (23), Veena (28), Kavita (36), Paroli (30), Dhairya (26), Manisha (30), Yash (27), Shefali, Kinjal and Manisha.
The majority of those killed were women attending a birthday party at a rooftop restaurant, police said. Twenty-eight-year-old woman Khushboo celebrating her birthday was among those who died.
Triple Talaq And Other Forms Of Muslim Divorce Explained
MMNN:28 December 2017
NEW DELHI: Instant "Triple Talaq" or "Talaq-e-Biddat" is an Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives immediately by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) thrice. The pronouncement could be oral or written, or, in recent times, delivered by electronic means - telephone, SMS, email or social media. In a landmark ruling in August, the Supreme Court had said that instant "Triple Talaq" or "Talaq-e-Biddat" was unconstitutional and violated the fundamental rights of women. A bill has been tabled in Lok Sabha today that proposes a three-year jail term and a possible fine for any Muslim man who divorces his wife through instant "Triple Talaq". This law would be applicable on the entire country except Jammu and Kashmir. Also, the proposed law will be applied to only instant "Triple Talaq" or "Talaq-e-Biddat" which is irrevocable divorce and not on "Talaq-e-Sunnat" which is a revocable divorce.
Here's an explanation on types of talaq in Islam:
Muslim Personal Law says that a talaq can either be given by the husband or by the wife. It can also be a mutual divorce.
Talaq given by husband are of following types:
"Talaq-e-Sunnat" or "Talaq-ul-Raje" is a revocable divorce that can be pronounced in Hasan or Ahsan forms.
"Talaq-e-Ahsan" is the 'most proper' form of talaq in which the husband expresses divorce in single sentence - "I have divorced thee" - during the period of tuhr (when the wife is not menstruating) and then has to wait till the iddat period is over. During iddat period, which is usually three monthly periods of a woman, the man can revoke the divorce. If before the completion of iddat, the husband resumes co-habitation with his wife or says that "I have retained thee", the divorce is revoked.
In case the woman is pregnant, the iddat period lasts until she gives birth. The waiting period for a woman after menopause is three months.
"Talaq-e-Hasan" is the 'proper' form of talaq. In this form, three successive pronouncements of talaq are made by the husband in three successive tuhrs (when the woman is not menstruating). In case of a non-menstruating woman, its pronouncement may be made after the interval of a month or thirty days between the successive pronouncements. This form of talaq can be revoked any time before the third pronouncement.
"Talaq-e-Biddat" or "Talaq-ul-Bain" (Irrevocable divorce) is instant Triple Talaq and is effective as soon as the word "Talaq" has been pronounced thrice. In this form of talaq, three pronouncements can be made during a single tuhr (when the woman is not menstruating) by saying "I divorce thee" thrice at the same instant.
The other ways in which a husband can divorce the wife are Ila and Zihar. In Ila, he husband takes an oath not to have sexual intercourse with his wife. In this case, the husband does not co-habit with his wife for a period of four months and after the expiry of four months, the marriage is dissolved.
In Zihar, the husband compares his wife with a woman within his prohibited relationship (like mother or sister). In this case, the wife can approach the court of law.
Divorce given by wife are of following types:
In Islam, only husbands can pronounce the talaq on his wife, and not vice versa. However, he can delegate this power to his wife or a third person by agreement - absolutely or conditionally, temporarily or permanently. This is called "Talaq-e-Tafweez, a delegated divorce.
The other type of divorce by wife is called lian. If the husband levels false charges of unchastity or adultery against his wife then this amounts to character assassination and the wife has got the right to ask for divorce. This practice is called lian.
A mutual divorce:
A divorce by mutual agreement is called Mubarrat or Khula. In Mubarrat, the aversion is mutual and both sides desire separation. In this mode of divorce, the offer may be either from the side of wife or from the side of husband. When an offer Mubarrat is accepted, it becomes an irrevocable divorce and iddat is necessary.
In Khula, however, wife initiates the divorce. This is effected by the return of her husband's wedding gift called Mahr.
A judicial divorce:
Before 1939, a Muslim wife had no right to seek divorce except on the ground of false charges of adultery, insanity or impotency of the husband, but then came Muslim Marriage Act. Under Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, there are several grounds in which judicial divorce can be pronounced. A woman can seek divorce in the court of law under following circumstances:
If the whereabouts of the husband are not been known for a period of four years, if the husband neglects or fails to provide for her maintenance for a period of two years, is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of seven years or upwards, has failed to perform his marital obligations for a period of three years, was impotent at the time of marriage or has been insane for a period of two years or is suffering from leprosy or virulent venereal disease.
The divorce can also be initiated by the wife in the Muslim court if the husband treats the wife with cruelty, even if such conduct does not amount to physical violence. The other conditions are if the wife has been given in marriage by her father or guardian before she attained 15 years of age, if the husband associates with women of evil repute or leads an infamous life or attempts to force her to lead an immoral life or disposes of her property, obstructs her in the observance of her religious practice or if he has more wives than one and does not treat her fairly
Vijay Rupani Swearing-In Ceremony LIVE: Gujarat Chief Minister Takes Oath For Second Term
MMNN:26 December 2017
GANDHINAGAR: Vijay Rupani swore in as Gujarat Chief Minister today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and several other senior party leaders, including chief ministers of other NDA-ruled states. Mr Rupani, a confidante of BJP national chief Amit Shah, will hold the post for a second term. Mr Nitin Patel also took oath as his deputy. The BJP retained power in Gujarat for the sixth consecutive term by winning the recently-held Assembly polls with a lower margin of victory than last time.
PM Modi Asks People To Use Public Transport; Save Fuel Costs, Benefit Environment
MMNN:25 December 2017
NOIDA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today advised people to use public transport and help save fuel and costs associated with the import of petroleum. The prime minister, who launched a 12-km section of the Delhi Metro's Magenta Line connecting Noida and south Delhi said, traveling on a metro train should be a matter of pride.
Speaking at a public function after flagging off the metro train, PM Modi said governments spend a lot in creating good infrastructure, which, once ready, benefits generations to come.
Addressing a public meeting, Prime Minister Modi said that by 2022, when India celebrates its 75 years of Independence, the country should cut down on imported petroleum products.
He said a multi-modal transportation system will ensure that the use of fuel is cut down, which will help the common man save money and also be useful for the environment.
On December 24, 2002 then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a ride on the metro, Prime Minister Modi recalled. "It was a historic moment. Since then, the Metro network in NCR (National Capital Region) has expanded considerably," he said.
We live in an era in which connectivity is all important, the prime minister said. "Without connectivity, life comes to a standstill. This Metro is not only for the present but also for future generations," he said.
There was need to change the mindset so that people prefer using public transport than their private vehicles. He said travelling on a metro should be a "matter of pride
Every House to be Illuminated by Pradhan Mantri Soubhagya Yojana
Bhopal:MMNN: 24 December 2017
Minister for Public Relations, Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Narottam Mishra inaugurated Pradhan Mantri Soubhagya Yojana at Datia today. Dr. Mishra on the occasion, said that Pradhan Mantri Soubhagya Yojana has been implemented in the entire country. Electricity connection will be provided to every house under the scheme. Free electricity connections will be provided in the houses of people belonging to scheduled caste and tribe category. Other categories will get electricity connection in just Rs. 500. He further mentioned that target has been set to give electricity connections to about 30 thousand families of Datia district.
Programme was presided over by the President Jila Panchayat Smt. Rajni Prajapati. Other Public Representatives were present on the occasion.
Minister Dr. Mishra Interacts with Hammals (Porters) and Traders
Public Relations Minister Dr. Mishra reached Datia mandi and met hammals and traders there. He also held discussions with the hammals and tulavatis. He deliberated with the hammals about the wheat, rice and salt being provided by the government at the rate of Re. One per k.g. besides scholarship for their children and other facilities. Moreover, Dr. Mishra held talks with the traders about the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.
President and Vice President Mandi and the traders accorded welcome to the Minister Dr. Mishra. President Jila Panchayat, President Nagar Palika and other Public Representatives were present on the occasion.
32 Killed After Bus Falls Off Bridge In Rajasthan, Driver Was 16
MMNN:23 December 2017
At least 32 people were killed and several others injured when a bus fell into the Banas river from an 100-foot high bridge in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district today. The bus was ferrying passengers from Lal Soth to Sawai Madhopur, about 65 km away. It was being driven by a 16-year-old conductor who was speeding and lost control over the vehicle which fell off the bridge near Dubi. The driver, police say, was sleeping at the time. Both of them died in the accident.
"There were around 50 passengers in the bus. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals," a senior police officer said.
Emergency workers equipped with steel cutters rushed to the scene of the accident to rescue those trapped inside the bus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, anguished by the tragedy, has offered his condolences to the families of the affected.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje also tweeted that the state government has been closely monitoring the situation and rescue operations are on.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also asked the Rajasthan unit of the party to help in rescue ops. He tweeted, "Saddened by the tragedy. My condolences are with the families of the deceased. I would appeal to the state government to offer immediate help to the affected."
The passengers belonged to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam. Several of them were going to offer prayers at a temple in Malarna Chour in the district, Sawai Madhopur Superintendent of Police Mamman Singh told news agency Press Trust of India.
Police said the death toll may rise.
Parliament Being On And Off Not Good For Country: Venkaiah Naidu"
MMNN:22 December 2017
NEW DELHI: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today made his displeasure known about frequent adjournments during the ongoing session of Parliament, saying the House being "on and off" these days is not good for the country.
Today, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as the Congress insisted on resolving the impasse over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against Manmohan Singh.
The virtual stalling of the Rajya Sabha proceedings due to the Congress protests over PM Modi's remarks against his predecessor denied cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar his maiden attempt to speak in the House yesterday.
"Parliament is in session... these days, it is on and off. It is not a good thing for the country," said Mr Naidu, who is also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The constant endeavour, Mr Naidu said, is to make India the global economic leader by adopting a holistic approach towards inclusive economic growth, highlighting that progress must be made to achieve double-digit economic growth at the earliest.
He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) and the Integrated Transit Corridor Development Project here.
Referring to various territorial invasions in the past, the vice president said: "This country with its over 10,000-year-old civilisation has no record of attacking any country at any time because we want to live in harmony with all."
"Before the invasion, 27 per cent of world GDP was from India alone. So, let us all remember that, and we must all work towards making further progress in crossing 7.5 per cent to double digit at the earliest," he added.
Observing that the world economy is slowing, Mr Naidu said: "Even our powerful neighbour (in an apparent reference to China) has gone a little negative. The only economy which is moving forward is India, thanks to the reforms and thanks to the leadership of the country as well as contribution made by people in various sectors."
He outlined a series of reforms such as GST, Digital India, liberalisation of foreign direct investment regime and Start Up India that have significantly improved domestic business and investment climate, which have led to huge investment inflows.
Development and good governance should be the focus of everybody, including the public sector and the government, the vice president stressed.
Pointing to the lack of "proper convention centres" in a country as large as India, Mr Naidu said world-class infrastructure in terms of international convention facilities is very essential to promote trade and commerce and "a growing economy like ours needs high quality venues to host events".
Calling on stakeholders for speedy completion of the IECC, he said, "I hope that this project will be completed at the earliest. I would like to see that before the deadline (September 2019). The deadline that you have set for yourself should not be confined to a headline one day."
He observed that such a complex was long overdue in Delhi without adding to the congestion and the IECC project will be a landmark state-of-the-art structure. He also spoke of the need for such convention centres in other cities of the country, including Smart Cities and state capitals.
On the proposed decongestion plan around Pragati Maidan's redevelopment, the Vice-President asserted that the traffic interventions being implemented will not just significantly improve access to the new complex, but also benefit the public
Congress Taking 2G Judgement As A Badge Of Honour, Says Arun Jaitley"
MMNN:21 December 2017
NEW DELHI: After a Delhi court today acquitted all the 17 accused in the 2G spectrum case, including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK leader M Kanimozhi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that the Supreme Court had in 2012 held that the 2G policy of the Congress-led government was "corrupt and dishonest" and cancelled all 122 licences handed by Mr Raja.
A judge today said no evidence had been found against the accused. "I have no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charges and all the accused are acquitted of the charges," said the judge. Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, say the verdict proves that the charges of massive corruption against the UPA government were unfounded.
Mr Jaitley scoffed that the Congress was taking today's ruling as a "badge of honour" that the 2G policy of the UPA government was honest policy.
"That this was a corrupt, dishonest policy was upheld by the Supreme Court in February 2012. Each and every case of spectrum allocation was quashed by the Supreme Court as unfair and arbitrary."
Mr Jaitley said a first-come-first-serve policy, with a "huge amount of arbitrariness" was followed by the UPA, intended at serving only a selective few. "The first come first served policy was converted to the first pay first served policy and a chosen few were informed about the change of policy...the favourites had their bank drafts prepared," he said.
"On the basis of all this, in February 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the challenge and cancelled the policy of first come first served and the government was directed to have a fresh policy through auction," he added.
Ripping into the Congress for interpreting todays acquittal as a "certificate", the Finance Minister question: "From this entire scam, who is liable? I am sure investigating agencies will have a close look at it and decide... The fact that this was a corrupt policy intended to promote corruption and there was a loss goes by the Supreme Court verdict and subsequent auctions."
While cancelling all licences issued by Mr Raja, the Supreme Court had said that the licences had been allotted in "an unconstitutional and arbitrary manner." At the time, the Congress-led government had called it an indictment of the previous BJP government's legacy of allotting licenses on a first-come-first -served basis
PM In House As Congress Shouts "Apologise To Dr Sahab(Manmohan Singh)"
MMNN:20 December 2017
NEW DELHI: The curtailed winter session of parliament lost yet another day as the opposition pressed for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his allegations that his predecessor, Dr Manmohan Singh, had colluded with Pakistani officials to influence the Gujarat elections. The Lok Sabha -- where the Prime Minister was present today for the Question Hour -- was adjourned temporarily, the Rajya Sabha for the rest of the day, as slogan-shouting members of the opposition refused to relent.
Senior Congress leaders later said they would prefer an explanation. "When did we ask for an apology? We want a clarification from the PM. Let him say he had given this allegation to win the Gujarat election and withdraw the statement," said Ghulam Nabi Azad. "We want nothing less than a discussion and an explanation why such remarks were made," added Mallikarjun Kharge.
The government has made it clear that there will be no apology or explanation.
Prime Minister was present at the Lok Sabha since today's Question Hour was on his office. But no work was conducted. As the Question Hour started, the members assembled in the Well of the House, shouting "Dr sahab se maafi maango" (apologise to Dr Manmohan Singh). Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the proceedings of the House till noon.
In Rajya Sabha, chairman Venkaiah Naidu's repeated appeals for calm went unheeded. "This is not the way. Nobody is going to give apology. Nothing happened in the House. The statement was not made here," Mr Naidu was heard saying amid the uproar.
PM Modi's accusation, made at a pre-election rally in Gujarat last week, has triggered a huge controversy. Dr Singh has made an unusually sharp rebuttal, accusing the Prime Minister of trying to win "political points" through "canards" and demanding that he apologise to the nation.
That demand is being hotly pursued by the Congress in parliament.
Little was done over the three days since the shortened Winter Session started. Yesterday, Mr Naidu said he had met senior leaders from both sides to try and address the problem. He said he also met Dr Singh. There was an agreement that a joint committee will be formed to find a solution.
"PM Modi must either apologise to Manmohan Singh-ji or give a valid proof why he accused him in that speech. He can't carry out such calumny... Our protest will continue till we get what we want," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla later said.
Congress Lost Gujarat Election, But Defeated The BJP": Shiv Sena
MMNN:19 December 2017
NEW DELHI: The BJP victory in Gujarat has been dismissed entirely by its fractious ally, the Shiv Sena, which has issued fulsome praise for the performance of the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi. The drop in the BJP figures, Sena said, was an indication of Gujarat's disappointment with the BJP and its development model. The nail-biting counting session yesterday eventually saw the BJP win 99 seats in the 182-member assembly -- 16 less than their figure in 2012. The Congress gained 19 seats to reach 80.
"Although you see the BJP coming to power, the real winner is the Congress party. They may have lost, but have defeated the BJP," senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.
Sena has made its change of stance on Rahul Gandhi clear. It had said the Gujarat campaign saw him emerge as a leader in his own right and criticized the BJP for failing to acknowledge it. On the morning of counting, an editorial in Saamna, the Sena mouthpiece had heaped praise on the 47-year-old, who took charge of the Congress from his mother Sonia Gandhi two days ago.
"When the faces of bigwigs (in the BJP) were turning grey due to fear of defeat, Rahul Gandhi was in the poll arena without bothering about the result. It is this confidence that will take Rahul forward," the editorial read.
Mr Raut said the BJP victory was a "foregone conclusion" given its "22 years of rule in the state, the use of money power and deployment of 14 Chief Ministers for the campaign. But the BJP has not won the victory it expected".
The Gujarat results happened "none of the dreams you (BJP) showed the state and the country were realised," Mr Raut said. The BJP, he indicated, should take lessons from Gujarat and gauge the mood of the country. "If people in Gujarat are not happy (with the BJP) today, then understand their psyche, understand what people in the country feel," he said.
The Sena, which had been at odds with the BJP since forging afresh alliance after the Maharashtra assembly elections of 2014, has recently spoken of pulling out. Elections will have to be held within a year, Aaditya Thackeray, the son of party chief Uddhav Thackeray has said. The Sena boss's meetings with NCP chief Sharad Yadav and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee have already triggered speculations of a political realignment.
The Saamna editorial had also taken a dig at the BJP allegations about the Congress governance. "Are those who think that nothing happened in the previous 60 years and that India progressed only in the last three years, humans or epitome of foolishness
Girl, 21, Commits Suicide After Being Allegedly Stalked by Man in UP
MMNN:16 December 2017
BANDA (UTTAR PRADESH): A 21-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district committed suicide on Thursday evening after being allegedly harassed and stalked for days by a man from her locality.
The woman's father has claimed that he went to the local police station regularly over the few days to try and register a case but the police refused to do so.
Angry relatives of the girl staged a demonstration outside the district police chief's office on Friday alleging negligence by the police.
The woman's family alleged that the boy was initially friends with the girl and had some of her phone conversations and a secretly recorded video, which he was threatening to make public. The girl had informed her parents about this.
The family alleges that the police did not help them. "My daughter called police many times but nothing happened. I was out of town, I went to a police station on December 12 when I came back, but I was not given any answers," the girl's father said.
Police, however, refuted allegations. "He was not interested in filing a case. He only wanted to know who was behind this, we had put the number under surveillance," the district police chief said adding, that the girl's brother had also shouted at her for speaking to the man, which could also have been a trigger
Cabinet Clears Bill That Proposes To Make "Triple Talaq" Criminal Offence
MMNN:15 December 2017
NEW DELHI: A bill that proposes to make the "triple talaq" a criminal offence has been cleared by the union cabinet and the government hopes to get parliament clearance for it during the short winter session that began today. In August, the Supreme Court said in a landmark ruling that the practice of Muslim men uttering "talaq" three times for an instant divorce is unconstitutional.
Judges agreed with Muslim women that "triple talaq", often delivered by their husbands over Skype or WhatsApp, violates their right to equality and leaves them destitute. Despite the court's order, however, "triple talaq" still continues to be practiced, the government has said.
The proposed bill, called the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, is a "priority agenda" for the government, people familiar with the matter said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh led a group of ministers to draft the bill.
The government's seeking of a ban against "triple talaq" because it is derogatory and discriminatory against women has created an unlikely coalition between Muslim women and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration as they took on Muslim groups which say the state has no right to interfere in religious matters
The West Bengal subcommittee of the Muslim Personal Law Board met in Kolkata yesterday and has said that the proposed bill has been drafted without consulting any Islamic scholars and amounts to an interference in the personal law of the community. The members have urged the government to initiate consultations saying it would otherwise be a "handicapped" bill that would create discord.
Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, who count on Muslim voters, have argued against a ban, and said reform should be encouraged from within the community and not imposed on it. However, they have endorsed the Supreme Court verdict.
Many Muslim countries have banned "triple talaq", including Pakistan and conservative Saudi Arabia. It survived in India because religious communities are allowed to apply their own laws in personal matters such as marriage, divorce and property inheritance.
BJP Brings Up "Kissing Competition" Issue In Jharkhand Assembly
MMNN:13 December 2017
RANCHI: The BJP today raised in the Jharkhand Assembly the issue of some Jharkhand Mukti Morcha legislators organising a "kissing competition" at a village fair, claiming that hosting such an event was an "insult" to women.
But the JMM launched a counterattack by raising land acquisition and domicile policy of the state government, forcing adjournment of the House twice, and subsequently for the day.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das was present in the House.
Two JMM MLAs - Simon Marandi and Stephen Marandi - courted controversy by organising a "kissing competition" for tribal couples during a traditional village fair in Pakur district in Santhal pargana of Jharkhand on Sunday.
"It is an insult to women. Half of the population is women. JMM MLA says it is a tradition. Let there be a debate over it," BJP's chief whip Radhakrishna Kishore said after BJP MLAs Ram Kumar Pahan, Biranchi Narayan, Raj Sinha and other ruling party MLAs waved newspapers reporting the event soon after the House convened.
They resumed in their seats on the request of Speaker Dinesh Oraon.
However, slogan-shouting JMM MLAs trooped into the well of the House, protesting land acquisition and domicile policy of the Raghubar Das government, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House twice during the morning session.
With the chaos refusing to die, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
The "kissing competition" event has hogged the limelight for the past few days.
JMM president Shibu Soren yesterday served a show-cause notice to its MLA Simon Marandi following newspaper reports about the event at Jhumaria in his Littipara constituency in Pakur district on December 10.
Shibu Soren, a former chief minister of Jharkhand and JMM patriarch who hails from Santhal pargana region, directed the party MLA to reply in writing within seven days.
Today was the second day of the winter session of the Jharkhand Assembly.
The BJP has made a scathing attack on its rivals over the event, demanding that the two MLAs be suspended from the assembly as they had "insulted" the local culture.
Simon Marandi, the organiser, has argued that the "kissing competition" was held to stop the increasing number of divorce in the tribal society.
Party MLA Stephen Marandi was also present at the fair.
A video of the "kissing competition" had gone viral on social media on Monday. In the video, tribal couples could be seen locked in a kiss while the crowd cheered
Rahul all set to be declared Congress President today
MMNN:11 December 2017
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is all set to become party president on Monday, stepping into the shoes of his mother Sonia Gandhi. Tomorrow is the last for withdrawal of candidature for the post of congress president.
With Rahul being the only candidate in the race, the announcement of his elevation to the party’s top post is likely to be made tomorrow evening when The deadline for withdrawal of nominations ends.
The Congress’s Central Election Authority chairman Mullapally Ramachandran, and CEA members Madhusudan Mistry and Bhubaneswar Kalita will announce that Mr. Gandhi’s was the only nomination for the top job tomorrow, marking his elevation to the top post.
Sources, however, said that Mr Rahul Gandhi is likely to assume the reins as Congress president later in the week when he would be handed over the certificate appointing him the party president in the presence of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders.
He will be stepping in the shoes of his mother Sonia Gandhi, who has been the longest-serving president of the party. The process for election for Congress president was kickstarted on December 1 with issuance of notification.
December 4 was last date for filing of nominations while December 5 was the date for scrutiny. Altogether 89 nominations received in his favour were found to be valid during scrutiny.
The announcement of his election as congress president will come three days ahead of voting for second phase of polling for Gujarat assembly elections.
Gujarat Election 2017: 397 'Crorepati' Candidates In Poll Fray, Congress' Pankaj Patel Richest
MMNN:9 December 2017
AHMEDABAD: Ahead of the Gujarat Election 2017, an interesting figure has come out from the analysis of election affidavits. Two NGOs have found that of the 1,828 candidates who have filed nominations this time, as many as 397 are crorepati candidates. The report also found that 1,098 nominees have passed class 12 or below. The report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) also showed that there are only 118 women candidates in the poll fray this time.
The Gujarat Election 2017 is a high-stake political contest where two leading parties the BJP and the Congress are battling against each other. The BJP has been in power from the last 22 years in Gujarat and the Congress aspires to break the ruling party's winning spree by wooing the voters from the Patidar community.
While 198 out of the total 977 candidates of the first phase have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore, 199 nominees out of the total 851 of second phase have emerged as 'crorepati' as per the analysis of their affidavits conducted by the NGOs.
The report said that 131 of these 397 'crorepati' candidates have declared assets worth over Rs. 5 crore, while 124 others have shown movable and immovable assets in the range of Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore.
While the ruling BJP has given tickets to 142 'crorepati' candidates, the opposition Congress has fielded 127 such nominees. The NCP has given tickets to 17 crorepati candidates, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded 13 such candidates and the BSP to five.
The report said that 56 independent candidates also fall under this category. The remaining 'crorepati' candidates belong to lesser known parties or outfits.
Congress candidate for Daskroi seat, Pankaj Patel has emerged as the richest candidate with declared assets worth Rs. 231.93 crore, it said. He is followed by another Congress nominee Indranil Rajyaguru of Rajkot-West seat who has declared assets worth Rs. 141.22 crore.
Mr Rajyaguru is followed by BJP candidate for Botad seat Saurabh Patel, who is former Gujarat finance minister, and has declared assets worth Rs. 123.78 crore, the report said.
BJP candidate and prominent businessman Dhanjibhai Patel of Wadhwan seat is in the fourth place with declared assets of Rs. 113.47 crore.
Contrasting to these figures, six independent candidates have declared that they have 'zero' movable or immovable assets.
As many as 13 candidates have declared that their annual income is more than Rs. 1 crore, based on the last Income Tax returns filed by them, the report stated.
At educational front, the report said that as many as 1,098 nominees have either passed only 5th, 8th, 10th or 12th class. 119 candidates mentioned that they were only literate, while 23 others declared that they were illiterate.
According to the report, of the 1,828 candidates, 118 were women. 658 candidates were in the age group of 25 and 40 years, 889 between ages of 41 and 60, while 193 of them were between 61 and 80.
Voting for the first phase of the polls began this morning, while polling for the second phase will be held on December 14. Counting of votes for both the phases will be held on December 18.
Licence Of Delhi's Max Hospital That Declared Newborn Dead Suspended
MMNN:8 December 2017
The licence of an upscale Delhi hospital that found itself in the middle of a huge backlash after it incorrectly declared a newborn dead was suspended today. Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh cannot take new patients for now, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. "The negligence in the newborn death case was unacceptable," he said.
On Wednesday, the baby boy found alive after being declared dead along with his still-born twin and handed over to his parents in a plastic bag last month by Max Hospital died after nearly a week of treatment. The twins were being taken for burial when a movement in one of the packages shocked the family. When the wrapping was opened, the baby boy was found breathing and squirming.
The baby was taken to another hospital and placed on life support. A three-member panel asked by the Delhi government to investigate the shocking mistake has found Max Hospital guilty of not following rules while dealing with newborns. The panel reports that the hospital failed to carry out ECG tracings to check if the child was alive. Electrocardiogram tracing or ECG tracing helps evaluate heartbeats.
Mr Jain said the hospital can continue the treatment of patients who were currently admitted but cannot admit new patients. Patients in the hospital can shift to a different hospital if they wish, he added.
Mr Jain said last month they had issued a notice to Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh for problems in the treatment of poor patients as mandated by law.
Max Hospital, facing anger and protests, had earlier sacked the two doctors in charge of the twins' case - AP Mehta and Vishal Gupta.
Survival in extreme pre-term births is rare, Max Healthcare said in a statement today, expressing grief over the baby's death.
The other twin, a girl, was declared still-born after birth.
The well-known private hospital had told the parents that the other baby needed critical medical care and had to be kept in an incubator. "The hospital said for three days, it will cost Rs. 1 lakh each and after that, it would cost Rs. 50,000 each day, and he had to be kept for three months," a relative said.
But when the parents were debating the costs, they were told that the infant had died
Gujarat Election 2017: On 'Safe' BJP Seat, CM Vijay Rupani To Face Stiff Challenge From Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru
MMNN:7 December 2017
RAJKOT: Gujarat's Rajkot-West seat has traditionally been a BJP fortress and considered safe for the ruling party, which has been representing it since 1985. This time, however, the elections in this constituency could get exciting with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani facing a challenger in Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru, the sitting MLA from Rajkot-East and the richest candidate in Gujarat election.
Mr Rajguru -- who has declared assets of Rs. 141 crore, in comparison to the Chief Minister's 7.4 crore -- left his Rajkot East seat to contest against the chief minister. "I have money and I can help people," said the legislator, whom the locals have dubbed "dhankuber" -- roughly an equivalent of King Midas.
Vajubhai Vala, incumbent Governor of Karnataka, had won the seat seven times for the BJP - from 1985 to 2012. Mr Vala vacated the seat for Narendra Modi in 2002 after the latter was then nominated as the chief minister. Later, when Mr Modi moved to Maninagar constituency, Mr Vala continued his undefeated run till 2012.
After Mr Vala was shifted to Karnataka, Vijay Rupani won the bypoll from the seat in 2014.
To rework the caste combination in party's favour, the Congress has fielded Mr Rajyaguru.
Mr Rupani has to surmount the angry Patidars and the trading community, which is smarting under the impact of demonetisation and rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Rajkot West is the largest constituency in the Saurashtra region. Out of 3.15 lakh voters in the constituency which goes to poll on December 9, the number of Kadva and Leuva Patidars is the highest at 62,000, followed by Brahmins, Lohana and Jain communities.
Dubbed "CM seat" by many, Rajkot West has given Gujarat three chief ministers - Keshubhai Patel, Vijay Rupani and Narendra Modi, who went on to become the Prime Minister. PM Modi had contested his first elections from this seat in 2001.
The Congress is trying to direct the anger among Patidars who are angry over lack of reservation in education and government jobs.
The quota agitation and Hardik Patel joining hands with Congress may dent the BJP's base among the Patidars, who till now were considered as the foundation of the BJP's support base in Gujarat.
Mr Rajyaguru believes that he has won the "initial battle" against Mr Rupani by keeping him busy in the constituency since the poll schedule was announced.
"I wanted to keep the chief minister busy in Rajkot-West constituency and morally I have won the initial battle as the chief minister has to visit his constituency more than once in a week," Mr Rajyaguru was quoted as saying.
Mr Rupani, however, remains unfazed and is confident of his victory.
"I will win the seat easily,"Mr Rupani had told PTI in an interview recently, citing the work done by him in his constituency, especially bringing the Narmada river water to Rajkot.
"As the CM, he has done well and because of his tireless efforts, Rajkot could get the Narmada water in less than five years of the project announced by then chief minister Narendra Modiji," BJP's Saurashtra and Kutch spokesperson Raju Dhruv said.
The 182-member Gujarat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases -- on December 9 and 14 -- and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 18.
'Why Link Ram Mandir And Elections', Says PM Modi In Sharp Attack On Congress: 10 Points
MMNN:6 December 2017
DHANDHUKA, GUJARAT: After BJP chief Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attacked the Congress over its leader Kapil Sibal's plea in the Supreme Court to defer hearing in the Ayodhya case till after the 2019 parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister said that while he has "no problems with Kapil Sibal representing Muslims," he questioned his plea to postpone hearing till 2019, asking, "Why does he have to link Ram Mandir with elections. Is this thinking proper?" The row comes four days before the first phase of assembly elections in Gujarat, where the BJP has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of visiting temples to draw Hindu votes.
Here is your 10-point cheatsheet to the story:
1-PM Modi was addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Dhandhuka, when he hit out at the Congress over Mr Sibal's remarks. "Now the Congress links the Ram Mandir with elections. They are least bothered about the nation," he said.
2-25 years ago today, the 16th century Babri mosque was demolished in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, by Hindu karsevaks or volunteers who claimed that it was built where a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram had stood. The Supreme Court is hearing the claims of Hindu and Muslims to the disputed site.
3-Kapil Sibal, who is also a lawyer, was representing the Sunni Waqf Board in the Supreme Court on Tuesday when he requested judges to postpone hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute till after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, arguing that the BJP has said "the Ram temple will be built before 2019 through legal means... They want to make it part of their election manifesto and the court should not fall into the trap."
4-The Supreme Court rejected his appeal and said it would begin final hearings from February 8 on a batch of petitions that have challenged a 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which divided the disputed site in three parts -- one each for Hindu group Nirmohi Akhara, the Ram Lalla or infant Lord Ram represented by the Hindu Mahasabha, and the Sunni Waqf Board which handles properties owned by Sunni Muslims.
5-All the parties have challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.
6-The Congress has distanced itself from Mr Sibal's comments, saying "who he represents in court is Kapil Sibal's personal matter. The Congress has nothing to do with it." Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also said his party's stand "has always been clear, that the Ayodhya case will be decided by Supreme Court."
7-Mr Surjewala was responding to BJP chief Amit Shah, who said the Congress and its boss Rahul Gandhi must clarify their stand on the Ram temple. The BJP, Mr Shah said, is clear it wants the dispute resolved at the soonest. "The Supreme Court should give a judgment and a grand Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya," he said.
8-Mr Shah also referred to Rahul Gandhi's frequent visits to temples during his Gujarat campaign. "On the one hand, temples are being visited ahead of elections. On the other hand, they are trying to delay hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi case. The Congress has double standards on the issue," the BJP chief alleged.
9-The BJP, whose political growth was powered by its Ram temple campaign in the 1990s, has in recent years relegated the issue to the back pages of its election manifestos. But the appointment of saffron-robed priest Yogi Adityanath as UP chief minister earlier this year was seen to indicate that the party could again bring back the Ram temple issue to the forefront of its agenda as it preps for the 2019 national election.
10-Yogi Adityanath has asserted that building a Ram temple is a key agenda, including in his campaign for the BJP in Gujarat, which votes for a new government on December 9 and 14. Votes will be counted on December 18. The BJP has ruled the state for the last 22 years.
Staff Of Another Kolkata School Arrested For Alleged Sex Abuse Of 3-Year-Old
MMNN:5 December 2017
KOLKATA: Protests by parents in Kolkata continued as the staff member of another school was arrested last night in connection with the sexual assault on another student. Manoj, the staff member of MP Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, had allegedly sexually abused a three-year-old child twice -- in June and September.
The parents had lodged a complaint with the police in September, but the arrest was made only after parents of other students held demonstrations following the rape of a four-year-old in G D Birla Centre for Education.
The principal of G D Birla Centre for Education is being questioned by the police since morning after the parents of the four-year-old filed a complaint with the police alleging that she had revealed the identity of their daughter in violation of law.
In a letter sent to nearly 4,000 parents of the school, principal S Nath jad named the student. The issue concerning [name of the child] is under investigation by the police," read the letter, which has shocked the parents. "This is unethical and illegal," said a parent who got the letter. "The naming of the girl demonstrates how callous the school is about the whole thing," said another parent.
The school's communication came after two of its teachers were arrested for the assault and it was shut down indefinitely. But lawyers say the principal's letter further exposes the school's callousness towards its students. The letter, they said, violates every legal norm and the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, which prohibits naming of minor sexual assault survivors.
Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti, the chief of the child rights body in the state, said it would showcause Ms Nath for identifying the girl. "This is absolutely illegal. She cannot name the child. We will show cause the Principal for violating the POCSO Act. How can she do it? She has violated the basic tenets of humanity," she was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.
The father of the student in GD Birla has demanded the resignation and arrest of the principal. Otherwise, he said activists would march to Lalbazaar, the police headquarters. He has also threatened to sue GD Birla, the corporate group that runs four schools in Kolkata and has several other business interests
Vijay Mallay's Extradition Trial Begins In London Court After Fire Alarm Hiccup
MMNN:4 December 2017
LONDON: Tycoon Vijay Mallya appeared before a court in London today that will decide whether he would be extradited to India to stand trial for fraud and money laundering. The 61-year-old, who arrived with a team carrying four large boxes of evidence, stuck to his "not guilty" stance.
The hearing for the liquor baron's extradition will take place over eight days and continue till December 14, after which the date for the verdict will be announced.
Ahead of the hearing at the Westminister court, Mr Mallya told reporters, "I have said repeatedly that the charges are false, fabricated and baseless. I have nothing to say, submissions in court will be self-evident". The 61-year-old, who has been out on a 650,000-pound bail bond following his arrest by Scotland Yard in April, told the reporters to "Please hear the proceedings".
A four-member team from the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is pursuing the case, was at the court. The Crown Prosecution Service -- led by barrister Mark Summers -- is arguing on behalf of the Indian government.
The defence team is led by barrister Clare Montgomery, known as an expert in criminal and fraud law.
The opening of the trial, however, was delayed as a fire alarm went off and the courtroom had to be evacuated. Trial resumed after nearly 40 minutes.
Mr Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines owes Rs. 9,000 crore to a consortium of banks. He left the country in March 2016 when the banks united to scale up their efforts to recover the money. On May 9, he was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court, after he was found to have sent his children millions of dollars.
BJP Set For Big Win In Uttar Pradesh Civic Elections: 10 Points
MMNN:1 December 2017
LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has delivered in his first big test, with the BJP set to win mayoral elections in 14 of 16 municipal corporations in Uttar Pradesh. The state's ruling party is also leading in municipal councils and nagar panchayats. "The BJP's historic win in the UP civic polls is because of PM Modi's development policies and Amit Shah's strategies," said the Chief Minister, who conducted a turbo-charged campaign with his party's performance being watched closely after its massive sweep of the UP assembly polls in March this year.
Here are the top 10 updates on UP civic polls:
1The BJP's candidates for mayor are leading in state capital Lucknow, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Chief Minister Adityanath's home town Gorakhpur and ten other municipalities. The BSP is leading in two, up from the one municipality that an Independent backed by the party won last time.
2Lucknow looks set to get its first woman mayor in the BJP's Sanyukta Bhatia, who said this morning, "I don't consider anyone my competitor. I will be number one, no matter who is second or third."
3In 2012, the BJP had won 10 of 12 municipal corporations, one each were won by Independents backed by the SP and BSP. There are four new municipalities this time, Ayodhya, Saharanpur, Firozabad and Mathura.
4The BJP is also leading in Ayodhya-Faizabad. Chief Minister Adityanath began his campaign with a rally in Ayodhya, which, along with twin city Faizabad, has just been upgraded to a municipal corporation. The 45-year-old Chief Minister addressed 26 rallies, travelling to all 16 districts where civic elections were held.
5The BJP is leading in most of the 198 municipal councils and 428 nagar panchayats or notified area councils with the Samajwadi Party in second place. Independents backed by the Samajwadi Party and the BSP had won a majority of these in the last elections, with the BJP trailing.
6This time, the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, crushed in the assembly elections, contested on their symbols, but in sharp contrast to Yogi Adityanath's high-powered campaign, neither Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav, nor Mayawati campaigned.
7Yogi Adityanath asked voters to support the BJP just the way they did in the 2014 national election and this year's assembly election. The party swept both, winning 73 of the state's 80 parliament seats three years ago and over 300 of 400 seats in the assembly elections.
8The Chief Minister has to both thank his party and prove his worth with a big win. After the BJP's humongous win in March, party leaders unexpectedly picked the saffron-robed priest-politician over several front-runners for the top post.
9A powerful local leader in eastern UP and the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple in his home town Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath served as a BJP lawmaker for 19 years and is leading the party in an election across the state for the first time ever.
10The Samajwadi Party, which lost power in UP to the BJP in March, has accused the ruling party of "misusing government machinery to fix the elections" alleging that it tried to rig electronic voting machines. The BJP has called the allegations baseless.
Aadhaar To Work As Big Weapon Against Benami Property: PM Modi
MMNN:30 November 2017
NEW DELHI: Noting that Aadhaar is helping in bringing about an "irreversible change" in the interest of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Unique Identification Number will work as a "big weapon" in the fight against benami property too.
Aadhaar has a played a "big role" in ensuring that ration at proper rates, scholarships, pension and government subsidies reached the poor, he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks at the inaugural session of the 'Hindustan Times Leadership Summit - 2017' in New Delhi.
"Linking Aadhaar with mobile and Jan Dhan accounts have evolved such a system which was not even thought of till some years ago -- a system which is irreversible," PM Modi said.
"Earlier, pension money was distributed in crores of fake accounts. All that has been addressed with the help of Aadhaar in the last three years," he said.
PM Modi said Aadhaar will now be used against benami property. "It is going to be a big weapon (in the fight against benami property)," he said.
Referring to the notes ban, he said it had brought about a "behavioural change" in the country. Corrupt people, for the first time after Independence, were scared of making illicit money, he said.
"The day the country will have a technical and digital address for all monetary transactions, organised corruption will be checked to a great extent," he said.
Black money coming into the banking system had also brought along with it massive data, a "treasure trove" that would enable the government take action against wrong-doers, he said, adding that ill-gotten wealth earlier funding a parallel economy was now a part of the formal economy.
Recently, Union Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had reportedly said that property transactions would be linked to Aadhaar to eliminate black money from the real estate sector and help in addressing the issue of benami property.
Hardik Patel's Show of Strength 30 km Away From PM Modi Rally In Gujarat
MMNN:29 November 2017
MORBI, GUJARAT: Hardik Patel has tweeted photos to show the kind of crowd he mobilised at a public rally today in Morbi, about 30 km away from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was campaigning in the same district in the heart of Gujarat's Saurashtra for next month's assembly elections.
"This crowd of thousands at a public meeting to discuss reservation and farmers' issues in Morbi district is encouraging," tweeted the 24-year-old, who led the massive Patel agitation for reservation against PM Modi's party, the BJP.
Hardik Patel strategically timed his Morbi tour to coincide with the Prime Minister's rally. A comparison of the audiences the two rallies drew was expected after reports of a sub-par turnout for the Prime Minister's public meetings in Saurashtra on Monday.
Morbi, a town famous for ceramic tiles and seen as an influencer for surrounding areas, has voted for the BJP for two decades. But it also has a significant Patel population and was one of the epicentres of the community's agitation for reservation in government jobs and colleges in 2015.
Hardik Patel, who was jailed for sedition during the agitation and was exiled on court orders from Gujarat for six months, is too young to contest elections. But he has vowed to ensure the BJP's defeat, accusing the party of betraying the Patels, loyal to it for years, by not including them among castes that benefit from affirmative action. He is asking his community to vote for the Congress in the assembly elections after assessing as satisfactory, the party's formula for reservation for Patels if it comes to power.
PM Modi told a capacity crowd today that "in good times and bad, we have stood with Morbi," which he said was not true of the Congress. Morbi, he said, was typical of the Gujarat model that he is credited with developing when he was the state's Chief Minister. Indira Gandhi of the Congress, the PM said, "held a handkerchief to her nose against a foul smell when she came to Morbi."
Morbi district has three of Gujarat's 182 assembly seats. In 2012, when then Chief Minister Modi led his party to yet another victory in Gujarat, the BJP had won two seats in Morbi and the Congress one. But in panchayat or rural body elections held in 2015, the Congress won most seats in worry for the BJP.
Morbi is filled with small traders who have traditionally not just voted for the BJP, but have also funded the party. Congress vice president Rahul Ganhdi has been urging the traders to punish the BJP for a chaotic roll-out of new national tax GST, which he has alleged has brought small businesses to their knees.
Rahul Gandhi too is in Saurashtra today and will address three rallies. PM Modi is addressing three in Saurashtra and one in south Gujarat.
Hafiz Saeed Files Petition In UN Seeking Removal Of His Name From Terror List
MMNN:28 November 2017
LAHORE: Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has filed a petition in the UN seeking removal of his name from the list of designated terrorists on the ground that none of the allegations against him - either related to terrorism or otherwise - has been proved in the Pakistani courts.
The banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head, who carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities, walked free on Friday after the Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any other case. He was under house arrest since January this year.
Lahore-based law firm - Mirza and Mirza Law Associates - has filed the petition on behalf of Saeed in the UN.
Supreme Court Advocate Navid Rasul Mirza, the owner of this law firm, told PTI today that his law firm had recently filed the petition in the UN.
"My law firm has filed the petition on Hafiz Saeed's behalf at the UN seeking removal of his name from its list of designated terrorists. My son Haider Rasul who is director of this firm is looking after this case," he said.
Saeed, who is accused of having masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, was placed on the terrorism black list by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.
To a question about any progress in the case so far, Mr Mirza said: "We have just filed the petition."
Mr Mirza was Additional Advocate General of Punjab Government (1993-1996) and Prosecutor General for the National Accountability Bureau, a government anti-graft body (2000-03).
This is the first time that Saeed has hired a law firm other than that of his permanent counsel Advocate AK Dogar.
"In Pakistan, all cases of the JuD chief are being handled by Dogar. This firm to pursue his case in the UN has been hired in consultation with Dogar," a Jamaat-ud-Dawah office-bearer told PTI.
The office-bearer said Saeed has decided to challenge the UN's decision on the basis of different court decisions since 2009 in which no allegation - either related to terrorism or otherwise - has been proved in the Pakistani courts.
He said the UN's decision to place Saeed's name on the list of terrorists had caused harm to his reputation as it appeared that this had been done on international pressure.
"We have enough ground to fight our case in the UN. The UN should take up our petition and remove Hafiz Saeed's name from the designated terrorists list," he said.
LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was also placed on the terrorism black list along with Saeed.
According to the UNSC's sanctions committee, the LeT leaders were "subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo," set out in Security Council resolution 1822.
The UNSC website says: "Saeed is proscribed for being associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Qaeda for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts of activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both entities."
India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to re-investigate the Mumbai terror attack case and also demanded trial of Saeed and Lakhvi in the light of evidence it had provided to Islamabad.
A Lahore High Court's Judicial Review Board last week unanimously ordered Saeed's release after the Punjab government failed to provide any evidence related to terrorism or otherwise before it.
After his release, Saeed said the US, on India's request, pressured Pakistan to detain him. "I was detained on the pressure of the US on the Pakistani government. The US did so on the request of India," he claimed.
India had expressed outrage over the decision of the judicial board to release Saeed, calling it an attempt by Pakistan to mainstream proscribed terrorists and a reflection of its continuing support to non-state actors.
The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the banned LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack in November 2008 but he was freed by a court in 2009.
Nine of the Mumbai attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught and executed after a trial.
Request Congress Not To Mock My Poor Origins,' Says PM Narendra Modi In Scathing Attack
MMNN:27 November 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has requested the Congress "not to mock my poor origins," extending his scathing attack on the opposition party and its leader Rahul Gandhi from one rally in Gujarat to another, as he begins a campaign blitz his home state, which votes early next month for a new government.
"The Congress dislikes me because of my poor origins. Can a party stoop so low? Yes, a person belonging to a poor family has become PM. They do not fail to hide their contempt for this fact. Yes, I sold tea but I did not sell the nation," PM Modi said in Rajkot, adding, "I request the Congress not to mock the poor and my poor origins."
The PM's comments referred to the latest controversy the Congress landed itself in last week, when the party's youth wing mocked the Prime Minister as a "chai-wala" in a meme it later deleted, but not quickly enough.
The BJP has since resurrected its "chai" campaign strategy that it had successfully deployed ahead of the 2014 general election, highlighting the Prime Minister's childhood when he sold tea at railway stations to stress that he is a self-made leader in contrast to the Gandhis' dynastic control of the Congress.
The chai campaign was constructed as a result of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar infamously deriding Mr Modi as a tea-seller who could never become Prime Minister
The BJP has said the repeated attacks on the PM over his humble origins exemplify the Congress' elitist mindset and that an enraged public will punish it by ensuring the BJP sweeps the Gujarat election.
Gujarat, the Prime Minster, said at his first rally in Bhuj today, will not forgive the Congress for making "baseless allegations against the son of the soil," as he pitched the election as a battle between "vikas(development)" and "vanshwaad (dynasty)," in an attack on Rahul Gandhi, who is set to take over from his mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress president before Gujarat votes.
"When Keshubhai Patel, a son of Saurashtra became the CM the Congress tried everything to dislodge him. They repeated the same disruptive tactic with Anandiben Patel, a daughter of the Patel Community. Congress has defamed Gujarat always," the Prime Minister said, also accusing the opposition party of learning from the Aam Aadmi Party "whose style is to keep abusing and running away. I thought the Congress, being an older party would not indulge in such politics but they have also taken this short cut in the past two months and only hurled abuses and lies
Rahul Trains Guns On Modi Over Rafale Deal, Jay Shah Issue
MMNN:25 November 2017
DAHEGAM (GUJARAT): Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound Gujarat today and alleged that the latter did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal and Jay Shah issue to come out before the Assembly election in his home state.
He also alleged that the NDA government was delaying the Winter Session of Parliament as Modi was not ready to discuss the Rafale and Jay Shah issues in the House before the Gujarat polls.
"I would ask Modiji three questions (on the Rafale deal). First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contract (signed with a French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract?
"And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?," he asked while addressing a public gathering here in Gandhinagar district.
The Congress leader also sought to know if the due procedure was followed while inking the deal with France last year to procure the Rafale fighter jets.
"And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why the (then) defence minister was seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega deal)?," he asked.
Gandhi alleged that the prime minister was avoiding answering these questions due to the fear that the "truth" would come out before the crucial polls in his home state. "Narendra Modiji is not replying to these questions because he wants that the truth of Rafale and Jay Shah should not come before the public ahead of the Gujarat elections," he said.
"Rafale is a matter related to the Indian Air Force, national security, martyrs. Modiji will have to answer these questions before the people of the country and Gujarat," he said.
The 47-year-old Amethi MP said while the mediapersons asked him a lot of questions, they did not do the same with the prime minister over the Rafale and Jay Shah issues.
"Modiji will make many tours of Gujarat. Press reporters ask me various questions. Why don't you ask Modi about the Rafale deal and Jay Shah? The people should also ask Modiji about Rafale and Jay Shah when he comes to Gujarat," he said.
The prime minister is scheduled to address a series of poll rallies in Gujarat in support of the BJP candidates next week. The 182-member Gujarat Assembly will go to the polls in two phases -- on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 18.
"Generally, Parliament's (Winter) session is held every year in November and discussions (on crucial issues) take place in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But, due to two reasons, Parliament is opening after the Gujarat polls this time.
"First, (BJP chief) Amit Shah's son (Jay) converted Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 80 crore in three months. Second, and a more important reason, is the Rafale deal. The entire procedure went on for the purchase of the planes and after all the discussions were over, Narendra Modi himself went to France to change the contract," he alleged.
In September last year, India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs. 58,000 crore. The Congress had recently raised questions over the deal and accused the Modi-led BJP government of compromising on national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer.
However, the BJP had rubbished the allegations. In an article published on news portal The Wire, it was alleged that the turnover of a company owned by Jay Shah grew exponentially from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 8 crore after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014.
Both Amit Shah and his son have denied any wrongdoing by the company. Jay Shah has filed a criminal defamation case against the news portal
Bilkis Bano Case: Gujarat Government Given Time To Explain Action Against Cops
MMNN:24 November 2017
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today granted six weeks time to the Gujarat government for apprising it on whether any disciplinary action has been initiated against policemen convicted in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang-rape case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, considered the submission of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, that some more time be given to get instruction on the authorities concerned in the case.
The bench listed the plea for hearing in the first week of January.
The bench, however, made it clear that the separate plea, seeking enhancement of compensation to be awarded to Bilkis Bano, would be taken up next week for hearing.
The Supreme Court had already granted time, on October 23, to the state government to apprise it whether any departmental action had been initiated or taken against police officers whose conviction was upheld in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case.
The Bombay High Court had on May 4 upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of 12 people in the gangrape case, while setting aside the acquittal of seven people including policemen and doctors.
Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped in March, 2002, while she was pregnant, lost seven of her family members in the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident.
The bench had convicted seven persons, including five policemen and two doctors, for not performing their duties (sections 218) and tampering of evidence (section 201) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The convicted policemen and doctors are Narpat Singh, Idris Abdul Saiyed, Bikabhai Patel, Ramsingh Bhabhor, Sombhai Gori, Arun Kumar Prasad (doctor) and Sangeeta Kumar Prasad (doctor).
A special court had on January 21, 2008, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment 11 men in the case.
They later approached the Bombay High Court challenging their conviction and sought for the trial court's order to be quashed.
The CBI had also filed an appeal in the high court seeking harsher punishment of death for three of the convicted on the grounds that they were the main perpetrators of the crime.
According to the prosecution, on March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano's family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village near Ahmedabad during the post-Godhra riots and seven members of her family were killed.
The trial in the case began in Ahmedabad. However, after Bilkis Bano expressed apprehensions that witnesses could be harmed and CBI evidence tampered, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Mumbai in August 2004
Hardik Patel-Congress Formula For Patidars Not Legally Tenable, Says BJP
MMNN:22 November 2017
AHMEDABAD: For Hardik Patel it was never about ensuring reservation for the Patidars, alleged Gujarat's deputy chief minister Nitin Patel of the BJP today, accusing the 24-year-old activist of a sell-out after he announced his support for the Congress in next month's Gujarat elections.
"The people of the state have seen in the last few days that reservation was a facade and it was all about the political ambition of Hardik Patel," said the Deputy Chief Minister, who too is a Patidar and was appointed last year by the ruling BJP as number 2 in the government to signal to the powerful caste its importance for the party.
On the pact between Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Congress on reservations, Nitin Patel said that the two were fooling the Patidar community. ''The judgements that they are quoting, one delivered by a nine-judge bench clearly states no reservation above 50 per cent. They are fooling the Patidars offering a formula which is not legally tenable,'' he said.
Hardik Patel, who led a massive agitation two years ago demanding that Patels or Patidars be included in castes that get reservation in government jobs and colleges, today vowed to work with the Congress to oust the BJP as punishment for not meeting the Patels' demand.
The Congress, he said, has offered a solution for how to include Patels in castes that benefit from affirmative action and will detail it prominently in its manifesto for the assembly elections, to be held on December 9 and 14, before votes are counted on December 18.
Hardik Patel's announcement came after days of negotiations as the Congress attempts to cash in on the recent Patel anger with the BJP. The community, 14 per cent of Gujarat's voters, have for decades supported the BJP, which has been in power in the state for the last 22 years. Hardik said his one-point agenda is "doing my utmost to defeat the BJP."
The BJP has sent out strong signals to the Patels too. Patidars make up more than a fourth of the BJP's candidate list announced so far for the assembly elections. A third of the ruling party's current legislators in Gujarat are from the community, including nine ministers.
After previous chief minister Anandiben Patel was seen to mishandle the Patel agitation, the BJP effected damage control replacing her with Vijay Rupani and appointing Nitin Patel as his deputy.
Nitin Patel has been meeting the different Patidar groups that have been involved in the agitation to try and address their concerns and Hardik Patel had attended such a meeting last month.
With Triple Talaq Still Taking Place, Government Ready With New Plan
MMNN:21 November 2017
A new bill to ban "triple talaq" will be presented by the government lawmakers when they meet for the next session of parliament. In August, in a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court said the practice of Muslim men uttering "talaq" three times for an instant divorce is unconstitutional.
Muslim women say they have been left destitute by husbands divorcing them through "triple talaq", including by Skype and WhatsApp.
Judges agreed that it violates their right to equality and abolished the practice. Government sources said that despite the ban, triple talaq is still in effect; they pointed to the recent controversy over a professor from the famous Aligarh Muslim University or AMU who has been accused by his wife of divorcing her by text.
The winter session of parliament has not been scheduled yet because Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top ministers are busy campaigning in Gujarat, which votes next month. Amid fierce criticism from the opposition which has alleged "sabotage" by the PM in delaying the winter session, which usually begins in November, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said yesterday that the dates for it would be finalised shortly.
The government's seeking of a ban against triple talaq because it was derogatory and discriminatory against women created an unlikely coalition between Muslim woman and PM Modi's administration as they took on Muslim groups which say the state has no right to interfere in religious matters.
Parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress, who count on Muslim voters, argued against a ban, and said reform should be encouraged from within the community and not imposed on it. However, they later endorsed the Supreme Court verdict.
Many Muslim countries have banned triple talaq, including Pakistan and conservative Saudi Arabia. It survived in India because religious communities are allowed to apply their own laws in personal matters such as marriage, divorce and property inheritance.
Veteran Congress Leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, In Coma Since 2008, Dies At 72
MMNN:20 November 2017
NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and former union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, in coma since 2008, died at a hospital in Delhi today. He was 72.
Mr Dasmunsi had been critically ill over the past month, according to the Apollo hospital, and died at 12.10 pm, in the presence of his wife Deepa Dasmunsi and their son.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and and former president Pranab Mukherjee were among those who expressed grief at Mr Dasmunsi's death.
"Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was a popular leader with rich political and administrative experience. He did notable work to popularise football in India. Saddened by his demise," tweeted PM Modi.
Sonia Gandhi called his death an irreparable loss to the Congress and described him as a "devout political activist and one of the tallest leaders of Bengal".
The former union minister fell into a coma after suffering a massive stroke that left him paralysed and unable to speak.
One of the Congress's most popular leaders in West Bengal, Mr Dasmunsi enjoyed a good rapport with leaders across the political spectrum. He was union Parliamentary Affairs Minister when he went into coma.
The blood supply to a part of his brain was cut off, which caused irreversible damage, according to doctors.
The politician was on life support for over a decade. His family even took him to Germany for treatment.
Over the years, his wife became active in Congress politics. Deepa Dasmunsi was also a union minister in the Congress-led UPA government.
Former president Pranab Mukherjee, who worked with Mr Dasmunsi in the Congress government, said: "Deeply saddened at the passing away of Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. His loss will be felt forever. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."
In 2006, Mr Dasmunsi was the first Indian to be a match commissioner in a FIFA World Cup game between Australia and Croatia.
He was heading the Indian football governing body at the time of his stroke in 2008, which led to Praful Patel taking over as president.
Ram Temple-Babri Masjid Case: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Meets Muslim Leaders In Lucknow
MMNN:17 November 2017
LUCKNOW: All issues can be resolved through dialogue, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in Lucknow today after meeting Muslim leaders as part of his efforts to mediate a solution to the protracted Ram temple-Babri Masjid dispute.
Ravi Shankar, who was in Ayodhya yesterday and met various leaders across the religious spectrum, said he respected the courts but they cannot connect hearts.
"Even after 100 years, the judgements of courts will remain but if we find a solution through our hearts it will be recognised through the ages," Ravi Shankar told reporters after meeting the rector of the Farangi Mahal Islamic Centre of India, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangimahli, and other community leaders.
Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangimahli is also a senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board or AIMPLB.
"We accept that it is a little late for such efforts but we want that the issue should be resolved soon," Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said. "I am confident we will achieve something big for the country through this," he added.
According to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a new message of brotherhood needs to be taken forward.
Asked if his efforts are aimed at a settlement before the court decision on the issue or even after that, he said, "We are not leaving any possibility... we are not working on an agenda but trying to find a way."
The Art of Living founder asked for time and said there was no hurry, religious heads would come together and talk.
Giving his take on the talks, Maulana Farangimahli said differences will be removed if leaders of both sides sit together and talk regularly.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar yesterday met Dinendra Das of the Nirmohi Akhara as well as Muslim intellectuals in Ayodhya and Faizabad. His efforts to mediate have found favour only with a section of both communities with major parties, including the AIMPLB and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, expressing their reservations.
A day before visiting Ayodhya, he had met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow and said he wanted "unity and amity.
BJP Leader Shiv Kumar, Security Guard Shot Dead In Greater Noida
MMNN:16 November 2017
A BJP leader and his security guard were shot dead by attackers in bikes in Greater Noida near Delhi this evening. Shiv Kumar was in his Toyota Fortuner car when the bikers reportedly drove up and fired shots at the car in the Bisrakh area. The BJP leader died instantly.
Apart from a security guard who was also killed, there were two more in the car.
Will Help Arvind Kejriwal To Prevent Smog Crisis In 2018, Says Haryana
MMNN:15 November 2017
One down, another to go. Haryana has pledged its assistance to Delhi in fighting the toxic smog that has covered the city for over a week, leading doctors to declare a public health crisis. Punjab, the other state whose actions impact the filthy air, has so far ignored Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's entreaty for a meeting to discuss possible solutions.
Mr Kejriwal met this morning with his counterpart from Haryana, ML Khattar, who is from the BJP, to toss around ideas on how to protect Delhi in the future from the sort of filthy air that has left residents complaining of headaches, watering eyes and dizziness, and forced the shutdown of all schools last week. The two leaders said in a statement "We agreed upon the need for action on many measures aimed at predicting its re-occurrence in the winter of 2018."
The levels of poisonous airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, have been off the charts in Delhi, often crossing 500. How dangerous is that? The upper limit of "good" quality air is 50.
"We accept that pollution in Delhi is a concern for the whole country...it is the national capital," acknowledged Mr Khattar who has recently accused Mr Kejriwal of trying to "politicize" the issue to distract from his own government's failures in preventing the toxic smog. The Chief Ministers said they have "jointly identified action points" and are committed to "quick action on a number of fronts."
The crisis is a combination of vehicular exhaust, dust from construction sites, and stubble-burning in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana which border Delhi. Every year, at this time, farmers set the remnants of their harvested crop on fire to prep their fields for the sowing of the winter crop. The fires send smoke streaming into Delhi
Mr Kejriwal flew to Chandigarh to meet with Mr Khattar after the latter refused to make time for him during a two-day trip to Delhi at the start of the week. The Delhi leader asked to meet while in Chandigarh with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who is from the Congress, but was brusquely refused. Captain Singh said a consult would be pointless as the issue of stopping farm fires needs to be resolved by either the centre or the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions that ask for its intervention in the fight against Delhi's pollution.
Farmers are a substantial vote group and no party wants to risk angering them by enforcing a ban on crop burning. Mr Kejriwal has said he understands and accepts that farmers must be given financial aid if they are ordered to stop farm fires for more environment-friendly options.
Children's Day 2017: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Was A Prolific Writer. A Look At The Books Authored By Him
MMNN:14 November 2017
NEW DELHI: Children's Day is celebrated across India on November 14, the birth date of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, who was very fond of children. Children fondly call him Chacha Nehru. Mr Nehru, under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, turned out to be a leader of India's struggle for independence. For laying the foundation of independent India as sovereign, socialist, secular and a democratic republic, he is credited as the architect of modern India.
He was a prolific writer in English and wrote a number of books. His speech on the eve of India's Independence, towards midnight on 15 August 1947, is considered to be one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century.
Here's a look at the books Jawaharlal Nehru has authored:
1. The Discovery of India: Jawaharlal Nehru wrote this book while he was in jail for his participation in the Quit India movement. He wrote the book during 1942-46 and dedicated it to the prisoners who provided him a stimulating environment to pen down his thoughts and experiences of living in the country he loves.
The book is a mix of personal essays and reflections and provides a broad view of Indian history, philosophy and culture, as viewed from his eyes. The book is seen as one of the finest writings on Indian history.
2. Glimpses of World History: This book is a collection of 196 letters that Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to his daughter Indira when he was in various prisons in British India between 1930-1933.
The letters were meant to introduce her to world history. In the first few letters, Mr Nehru expresses his sadness for not being able to be around his daughter and give her the materialistic gifts that other parents could, but he promises to give her a gift that he could afford; in the form of knowledge and wisdom through words that come from the core of his heart.
The book contains the history of humankind from 6000 BC to the time of writing of the book. He talks about the histories of every significant place ranging from Greece in the far West to China in the east. The book talks about the wars that were fought during these years and the greatest revolutions that overthrew established dynasties. He has also written about the legendary leaders and kings like Alexander the Great and Mahatma Gandhi.
3. An Autobiography, also called Towards Freedom: This book is an autobiography written by Jawaharlal Nehru during his time in the prison. In the book, he mentions about why he took the path of civil disobedience and ended up being in the prison.
The book begins with anecdotes of how his ancestors had to flee Kashmir. He writes about how his life history, from even before his father was born, seems to have led him naturally to where he was. The book depicts the political realisation of an upcoming giant of a nation and the battle for its freedom.
The book was published in 1936 and ran nine editions in the first year alone.
4.
Letters From A Father To His Daughter: This book was published in 1929 and has a collection of 30 letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1928 to his daughter Indira Gandhi when she was 10 years old. In the letters, written in English, he is teaching her about natural history and the story of civilisations. At the time of the writing of the letters, Mr Nehru was in Allahabad, while Indira was in Mussoorie.
UP Government Spreading Hatred In Name Of Development: Akhilesh Yadav
MMNN:11 November 2017
LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today accused the government in Uttar Pradesh of spreading hatred in the name of development, saying there was no one better than the BJP in creating a "vertical divide".
The former UP chief minister also alleged that the projects of the earlier Samajwadi Party government were being inaugurated by the Yogi Adityanath government.
"BJP people are very wise in instigating problems, spreading hatred, and there is no one better than them in creating a vertical divide, be it in a family or political party... you can see Gujarat, Bengal or Uttar Pradesh," Mr Yadav said at a newspaper event in Lucknow.
"Who is better than them in creating a divide in the name of Hindu-Muslim or castes... People charge us for being casteist but don't call them casteists," he claimed.
Mr Yadav also claimed that he had never asked for votes on the basis of caste and religion.
The former chief minister also asked, "Was the UP government made for spreading hatred in the name of development. It is only the development of hatred," he alleged.
On the rift within the Samajwadi Party, Yadav said that with his party losing power, the problems in his family have also come to an end.
"There can be no tiff now as there is no power...when there is no power there is no tiff," Mr Yadav said.
Taking a dig at the BJP government in UP, the former chief minister said that during his tenure, he had never inaugurated projects which had been inaugurated previously. "The works done by the Samajwadi Party government are being inaugurated by this government," he claimed.
"If they have done anything on their own for the state, they should tell people," he said.
The Samajwadi Party president, who had struck an electoral alliance with the Congress before the UP Assembly polls, also stated that his "friendship with Rahul Gandhi will continue".
"I am not the one who changes friends and this fact should be clear. On the political front, we were friends and will remain as such...the alliance as it is today, will continue," he stressed.
Asked about Congress not asking him to campaign in Gujarat, he said, "It does not matter...Who will stop me from going there for candidates of my party in fray."
On his equation with Patidar leader of Gujarat, Hardik Patel, Mr Yadav said that though he has not been introduced to him yet but can be friends with him whenever he wants to.
Mr Yadav, however, refused to comment on any possibility of a tie-up with the BSP.
Referring to demonetisation, Mr Yadav said that though former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who is an economist, and all other economists say that it has harmed the economy, it is sometimes difficult for people to accept the truth and they ignore many things due to caste and religious considerations.
Making a reference to the amendments in the GST, he said more such steps will be undertaken as the elections draw closer.
The former UP chief minister said that those who used to talk about digital India are today talking about 'gobar' (cow dung) and cow.
On the works done during his government especially his pet project of Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Mr Yadav said, "I still maintain that those who have travelled on it will say that this is how the roads in the country should be made."
"The Prime Minister and UP Chief Minister can make roads better than the expressway, but they do not have the intention to do so..officials tell them that there are shortcomings in the River Front and other such projects. And the same officials come to me and say that CM does not know anything," he alleged.
100 Suggestions' But You Always Pick Odd-Even, Delhi Government Scolded
MMNN:10 November 2017
NEW DELHI:Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's government confronted resounding criticism today from the country's top environmental court for ordering "odd-even" traffic restrictions in the capital next week.
In an attempt to reduce the thick and hazardous smog hanging over Delhi, Mr Kejriwal said that the odd-even scheme, used twice before in the capital to check pollution, will apply from 8 am to 8 pm for Monday to Friday. It limits cars with license plates ending in even numbers to run on one day and odd numbers on the next.
"The odd-even formula can't be imposed like this. Nothing has been done from your end for the past one year," the National Green Tribunal rebuked the Delhi government. It said that "100 measures" have been suggested to curb pollution, "but you always opted for odd-even. Delhi government will have to justify the implementation of this scheme
The government is expected to present evidence in court tomorrow of why the traffic restrictions are needed. It does not have the support of the centre. "What was the use of the odd-even formula last time? Did it even have any effect?" asked union minister Mahesh Sharma.
Thick smog this week swathed Delhi, where pollution readings in some places peaked at 500, the most severe level on the government's air quality index that measures poisonous particles.
All 6,000 schools in Delhi have been closed till Monday with the Chief Minister saying the city has turned into a "gas chamber". He has urged Haryana and Punjab to stop farmers from setting existing crop waste on fire - "stubble burning" what's left after fields have been harvested - as they prep to sow the winter crop.
Other major contributions to the filthy air are vehicle emissions and dust from construction sites. Trucks have been banned from entering the capital for now; a stop to all construction activity has also been ordered.
The problem has been compounded this year by still conditions, the weather office said
Reconstructing Pradyuman Murder, CBI Takes Student To Knife Shops, School
MMNN:9 November 2017
NEW DELHI: A 16-year-old schoolboy accused of slitting the throat of Pradyuman Thakur, his junior at the Ryan International School in Gurgaon, was today taken by a CBI team to knife shops and will also be taken to school in an attempt at reconstructing the crime.
The CBI, which started questioning the Class 11 student in custody today, took him to select shops to find out where the murder weapon - a knife - may have been bought. Sources say in the next two days, he will be taken to his school so he can explain his actions on September 8, when seven-year-old Pradyuman was found murdered in a toilet near his classroom.
Investigators have told a Juvenile Court that the teen confessed to the crime in the presence of his father and independent witnesses. The motive, apparently, was to delay an exam, but the CBI is yet to find clinching evidence to seal the student's guilt.
The agency, for the first time investigating a child for another child's murder, was yesterday granted custody of the student for three days.
Pradyuman, a Class 2 student, was found murdered some 15 minutes after he was dropped off by his father, along with his older sister at 7.55 am.
Seven hours later, the police told the media that they had the killer. Schoolbus conductor Ashok Kumar, they said, murdered Pradyuman after trying to sexually assault him. They claimed that they had recovered the knife from him.
The botch-up, according to the CBI, started from there.
"Gurugram Police claimed that Ashok had taken the bus driver's knife with him to the toilet to clean it. There he saw Pradyuman alone and tried to sexually assault him, and when he shouted for help, he slit his neck," an official said, referring to the police theory.
Two days after the arrest, the driver said there was no knife in the bus.
The police said they would file a charge sheet in seven days. Before that charge sheet, however, the case was handed to the CBI as Pradyuman's family insisted that the police was in a hurry to solve the case and the killer was not Ashok
The CBI took over on September 29 and went to the school the next day.
The arrested bus conductor, questioned afresh by the CBI, repeatedly denied killing the child.
The child's autopsy report didn't mention sexual assault, which made the CBI wonder about the police investigation.
The gardener, who was among the first to see Pradyuman's body, told the CBI that he saw Ashok Kumar entering the toilet but didn't see a knife. He also told officials that two students told him Pradyuman was lying in a pool of blood in the washroom.
When the students were questioned, they mentioned a Class 11 student who was seen with a knife earlier.
The investigation changed course. The CBI then turned to a careful analysis of CCTV footage from near the toilet and saw the teenager near the toilet.
The officer says during investigations, a background check of the student revealed that he had received psychiatric counselling for a year and had anger management issues.
"When we were questioning him, we realized that he used to pick up fights in school and was termed rowdy by many of his classmates," the officer adds.
More inquiries revealed that a day before Pradyuman was killed, he had told a few classmates that they shouldn't prepare for exams as there would be a school holiday next day (September 8).
But there is no solid evidence connecting the teen student to such a brutal murder.
The agency claims the teenager was not good in studies and wanted to postpone school exams and a parent-teacher meeting. Without proof, none of this will wash in court as motive.
It is still not clear whether the crime was planned or spur-of-the-moment. Officials are questioning why Pradyuman was killed so violently without any sexual assault involved.
The CBI says after committing the crime, the teenager flushed the knife down the pot. But no forensic evidence links him to the weapon so far.
The CBI says that they cannot rule out the possibility of the Haryana police planting evidence (the knife) on Ashok Kumar. "Our probe is going on we will investigate this also and then take a call whether it was deliberately amateur probe or was it all done at someone's instance," reveals the officer.
Parking Fee Hiked By 4 Times In Delhi To Curb Air Pollution
MMNN:7 November 2017
NEW DELHI: People in Delhi will have to pay four times the usual parking fee after severe pollution levels today prompted tougher measures.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) to discourage people from using private vehicles.
The capital struggled with the worst smog and pollution this year, worse than a day after Diwali, as a brown haze hung heavy.
The green panel has recommended reduced fares in the Delhi metro for off-peak hours and the return of the odd-even scheme to regulate the number of cars
A Year After Demonetisation
MMNN:7 November 2017
November 8, 2016 would be remembered as a watershed moment in the history of
Indian economy. This day signifies the resolve of this Government to cure the country
from “dreaded disease of black money”. We, the Indians, were forced to live with this
attitude of “chalta hai” with respect to corruption and black money and the brunt of this
attitude was faced particularly by the middle class and lower strata of society. It was a
hidden urge of the larger section of our society for a long period to root out the curse of
corruption and black money; and it was this urge which manifested in the verdict of people
in May 2014.
Immediately after taking up responsibility in May 2014, this Government decided to
fulfil the wish of the people in tackling the menace of black money by constituting SIT on
black money. Our country is aware that how even a direction from the Supreme Court on
this issue was ignored by the then Government for number of years. Another example of
lack of will to fight against black money was the delay of 28 years in implementation of
Benami Property Act.
This Government took decisions and implemented the earlier provisions of law in a
well-considered and planned manner over three years to meet the objective of fight
against black money. These decisions span from setting up of SIT to passing of
necessary laws for foreign assets to demonetisation and to implementation of GST.
When the country is participating in “Anti-Black Money Day”, a debate was started
that whether the entire exercise of demonetisation has served any intended purpose. This
narrative attempts to bring out positive outcomes of demonetization in short-term and
medium-term with respect to stated objectives.
RBI has reported in their Annual Accounts that Specified Bank Notes (SBNs) of
estimated value of Rs.15.28 lakh crore have been deposited back as on 30.6.2017. The
outstanding SBNs as on 8 th November, 2016 were of Rs.15.44 lakh crore value. The total
currency in circulation of all denominations as on 8 th November, 2016 was 17.77 lakh
crore.
One of the important objective of demonetisation was to make India a less cash
economy and thereby reduce the flow of black money in the system. The reduction in
currency in circulation from the base scenario reflects that this intended objective has been
met. The published figure of “currency in circulation” for half year ending September, 2017
is Rs.15.89 lakh crore. This shows year on year variation of (-) Rs.1.39 lakh crore;
whereas year on year variation for the same period during last year was (+) Rs.2.50 lakh
crore. This means that reduction in currency in circulation is of the order of Rs.3.89 lakh
crore.
2
Why should we remove excess currency from the system? Why should we curtail
cash transactions? It is common knowledge that cash is anonymous. When
demonetization was implemented, one of the intended objectives was to put identity on the
cash holdings in the economy. With the return of Rs.15.28 lakh crore in the formal
banking system, almost entire cash holding of the economy now has an address. It is no
more anonymous. From this inflow, the amount involving suspicious transactions based
on various estimates ranges from Rs.1.6 lakh crore to Rs.1.7 lakh crore. Now it is with the
tax administration and other enforcement agencies to use big data analytics and crack
down on suspicious transactions.
Steps in this direction have already started. Number of Suspicious Transaction
Reports filed by banks during 2016-17 has gone up from 61,361 in 2015-16 to 3,61,214;
the increase during the same period for Financial Institutions is from 40,333 to 94,836 and
for intermediaries registered with SEBI the increase is from 4,579 to 16,953.
Based on big data analytics, cash seizure by Income Tax Department has more
than doubled in 2016-17 when compared to 2015-16; during search and seizure by the
Department Rs.15,497 crore of undisclosed income has been admitted which is 38%
higher than the undisclosed amount admitted during 2015-16; and undisclosed income
detected during surveys in 2016-17 is Rs.13,716 crore which is 41% higher than the
detection made in 2015-16.
Undisclosed income admitted and undisclosed income detected taken together
amounts to Rs.29,213 crore; which is close to 18% of the amount involved in suspicious
transactions. This process will gain momentum under “Operation Clean Money” launched
on January 31, 2017.
The exercise to remove the anonymity with currency has further yielded results in
the form of
56 lakh new individual tax payers filing their returns till August 5, 2017 which was
the last date for filing return for this category; last year this number was about 22
lakh;
Self-Assessment Tax (voluntary payment by tax payers at the time of filing
return) paid by non-corporate tax payers increasing by 34.25% during April 1 to
August 5 in 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016.
With increase in tax base and bringing back undisclosed income into the
formal economy, the amount of Advance Tax paid by non-corporate tax payers
during the current year has also increased by about 42% during 1 st April to 5 th
August.
The leads gathered due to data collected during demonetisation period have
led to identification of 2.97 lakh suspect shell companies. After issuance of statutory
notices to these companies and following due process under the law, 2.24 lakh
companies have been de-registered from the books of Registrar of Companies.
3
Further actions were taken under the law to stop operation of bank accounts
of these struck off companies. Actions are also being taken for freezing their bank
accounts and debarring their directors from being on board of any company. In the
initial analysis of bank accounts of such companies following information has come
out which are worth mentioning:
Of 2.97 lakh struck off companies, information pertaining to 28,088 companies
involving 49,910 bank accounts show that these companies have deposited and
withdrawn Rs.10,200 crore from 9 th November 2016 till the date of strike off from
RoC;
Many of these companies are found to have more than 100 bank accounts – one
company even reaching a figure of 2,134 accounts;
Simultaneously, Income Tax Department has taken action against more than 1150
shell companies which were used as conduits by over 22,000 beneficiaries to launder
more than Rs.13,300 crore.
Post demonetization, SEBI has introduced a Graded Surveillance Measure in stock
exchanges. This measure has been introduced in over 800 securities by the exchanges.
Inactive and suspended companies many a time are used as harbours of manipulative
minds. In order to ensure that such suspicious companies do not languish in the
exchanges, over 450 such companies have been delisted and demat accounts of their
promoters have been frozen; they have also been barred to be directors of listed
companies. Around 800 companies listed on erstwhile regional exchanges are not
traceable and a process has been initiated to declare them as vanishing companies.
Demonetization appears to have led to an acceleration in the financialisation of
savings. In parallel, there is a shift towards greater formalisation of the economy in the
near term aided by the introduction of Good and Services Tax (GST). Some of the
parameters indicating such shift are given below:
Corporate bond market has started reaping the benefits of additional financial
savings and transmission of interest rate reduction. The corporate Bond market
issuance grew to Rs. 1.78 lakh crore in 2016-17, the year on year increase was
Rs.78,000 crore. With other sources of issuance in capital market the incremental
variation is almost Rs.2 lakh crore in 2016-17 while that was Rs.1 lakh crore in
2015-16.
This trend is further substantiated by the surge in primary market raising through
public and rights issues. There were 87 issues of public and rights for raising equity
involving amount of Rs.24,054 crore during FY 2015-16; in the first six months of
2017-18 itself there are 99 such issues amounting to Rs.28,319 crore.
Net inflow into Mutual Funds during 2016-17 increased by 155% during 2016-17
over 2015-16 reaching 3.43 lakh crore; Net inflows in mutual funds during November
2016 to June 2017 was about Rs.1.7 lakh crore as against Rs.9,160 crore during the
same period in the year before;
4
Premia collected by life insurance companies more than doubled in November
2016; the cumulative collections during November 2016 to January 2017 increased
by 46 per cent over the same period of the previous year. The premium collections
witnessed 21% growth for year ending September 2017 over the corresponding
period of previous year.
With a shift to less cash economy, India has taken a big leap in digital payment
during 2016-17. Some of the trends are given below:
110 crore transactions, valued at around Rs.3.3 lakh crore and another 240
crore transactions, valued at Rs.3.3 lakh crore were carried out through credit cards
and debit cards, respectively. The value of transaction for debit and credit card was
Rs.1.6 lakh crore and Rs.2.4 lakh crore respectively during 2015-16.
Total value of transaction with Pre-Paid instruments (PPIs) have increased from
Rs.48,800 crore in 2015-16 to Rs.83,800 crore in 2016-17. Total volume of
transactions through PPIs have increased from about 75 crore to 196 crore.
During 2016-17, National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) handled 160 crore
transactions valued at Rs.120 lakh crore, up from around 130 crore transactions for
Rs.83 lakh crore in the previous year.
With higher level of formalisation, it has brought out related benefits to workers who
were denied of social security benefits in the form of EPF contribution, subscription to
ESIC facilities and payments of wages in their bank accounts. Large increase in opening
of bank accounts for workers, enrolment in EPF and ESIC are added benefits of
demonetisation. More than 1 crore workers were added to EPF and ESIC system post-
demonetisation which was almost 30% of existing beneficiaries. Bank accounts were
opened for about 50 lakh workers to get their wages credited in their accounts. Necessary
amendment in Payment of Wages Act was done to facilitate this.
The reduction in incidences of stone pelting, protests in J&K and naxal activities in
LWE affected districts are also attributed to the impact of demonetisation as these
miscreants have run out of cash. Their access to Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) was
also restricted. During 2016-17, the detection of FICN for Rs.1000 denomination
increased from 1.43 lakh pieces to 2.56 lakh pieces. At the Reserve Bank’s currency
verification and processing system, during 2015-16, there were 2.4 pieces of FICNs of
Rs.500 denomination and 5.8 pieces of FICNs of Rs.1000 denomination for every million
pieces notes processed; which rose to 5.5 pieces and 12.4 pieces, respectively, during the
post-demonetisation period. This shows almost doubling of such detection.
In an overall analysis, it would not be wrong to say that country has moved on to a
much cleaner, transparent and honest financial system. Benefits of these may not yet be
visible to some people. The next generation will view post November, 2016 national
economic development with a great sense of pride as it has provided them a fair and
honest system to live in.
In Gujarat, Team Of 40 'Chhupa Rustams' Informing Rahul Gandhi Decisions
MMNN:6 November 2017
As Rahul Gandhi moves through Gujarat, visiting temples, addressing small neighbourhood gathering and much larger rallies, taking the occasional selfie with a young fan who climbed to the top of his mini-van for a selfie, there's a far more media-shy contingent that's assessing what voters want.
You can call them by different names - in Hindi, we refer to them as 'Chhupa Rustom' - but it's crucial that they remain anonymous, unrecognizable," said one of these secret agents. "They source information, then give this information to a boss who is one level above them, and that rung conveys the material to Rahul Gandhi," he said, agreeing to be filmed but in silhouette so that his identity is concealed.
The secrecy is not unwarranted, said more than one of these Chhupa Rustoms that we spoke to. On reconnaissance missions, they gauge public mood to help shape what narrative the campaign should follow; more crucially, they try to evaluate which candidates the Congress should shortlist for the 182 seats in Gujarat that will be decided when the state votes next month.
As Rahul Gandhi attempts to drive a wedge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his home state, which has been governed by the BJP for 22 years, his decision to use a secret council of advisors is based on recent experience in Goa and Punjab where the Congress leader's official aides were supplemented by another similar secret council that helped determine candidates. The Congress won the most seats in both states.
The "intel agency"of the Congress works like this, explained the source who is part of it. "Rahul Gandhi handpicks the top tier which then chooses the foot soldiers who conduct low-profile surveys of voters and party workers to identify which candidates are likely to be winning acts.
He said that senior Congress leaders - like Gujarat president Bharatsinh Solanki and Ashok Gehlot - are "partially in the know" about the role of the Chhupa Rustoms. If there were full disclosure, he said, "they will drive us out...they will finish us in the womb before we do something. But they are not able to that means they have a message".
"Any information can only help the party," said Mr Solanki to NDTV, "they are secret stars to allow them to collect unbiased facts." Whether he's fully in on the secret was unclear - he was unable to explain the exact count of "secret agents" but said they have been brought in "from Maharashtra, from Rajasthan, so it's hard to track details."
Sources said there are about 40 Chhupa Rustoms deployed in Gujarat, some of whom are covering upto 14 constituencies. Candidates must be formalised by the 20th of this month, but so far, no names have been released by the Congress, which is why there's a voluptuous crowd of aspirants, CVs in hand, at the party office in Ahmedabad. Earlier, in a power play typical of the Congress' centralized leadership, they would have to travel to Delhi, said contenders. Now, a screening committee of four aides to Rahul Gandhi interview them.
Its' not clear how much the committee is influenced by the Chhupa Rustoms; its members didn't want to talk to NDTV. But an aspirant, Chamanji Thakor, who has twice been elected as a law-maker, told NDTV that "the party conducts a survey...who does it is a secret...but we are told it is carried out on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi. It is a top secret affair."
Congress sources who work closely with its Vice President said that for years, Mr Gandhi has been trying to create a team of young leaders across India whose motivation is not to run for office themselves but to help the party identify and promote deserving talent and candidates.
For all the effort that the Congress is putting into determining its candidates, equally crucial will be its strategy in deciding how to handle those it rejects. As Shankersinh Vaghela proved before quitting the party, it's easy to move disgruntled Congressman towards the BJP -at least six Congress law-makers switched teams at that point, in total 43 stayed loyal. Perhaps the secret ops should focus on uncovering other likely defectors, say some Congress sources wrly.
Those Who Were In World Bank Now Question Ranking: PM Narendra Modi Slams Opposition
MMNN:4 November 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a swipe at the opposition Congress for questioning the country's improved ranking in the World Bank's ease of doing business report, saying those who had worked with the World Bank previously too were raising questioning India's ranking. Speaking at a session on India's business reforms, PM Modi listed the initiatives and reforms that his government had pushed through "in all sectors" that led to an improvement in the ease of doing business ranking from 142 to 100.
"But there are some people who cannot understand this... They don't want to work, but are quick to question those who do," PM Modi said at the conference in the presence of World Bank chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva.
"This is not just an ease of business ranking... it is also an ease of living life," PM Modi said at the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, responding to the primary criticism from the Congress camp that there was a wide gap between the improvement in rankings and the plight of small businesses.
Leading the opposition attack has been Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi who has accused the government's decision last year to ban high value currency notes followed by the Goods and Services Tax of having devastated businesses. "Ask small traders about ease of doing business," Rahul Gandhi has said, describing the two measures as "twin torpedos" that sunk entrepreneurs into losses.
The quantum improvement on this ranking means that life has become easier for the common people, the middle class, he said. "Because most of the parameters selected for this ranking are linked to the day-to-day life of people too," PM Modi said, counting efforts to simplify filing tax returns, train reservations and gas bookings as some areas
PM Modi said ease of doing business is "critical for small businesses including small manufacturers" that provides the bulk of employment, makes them more competitive and reduces the cost of doing business.
He also attempted to blunt the criticism over GST, telling traders that the government had been listening to their concerns with an open mind and was making amends. He announced that the group of finance ministers appointed to smooth out the rough edges had met and "almost all points" flagged by businesses were being "positively addressed".
This ranking takes into account reforms initiated only till May-end and does not reflect the impact of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which was implemented from July 1, he said, confident that India would occupy the pride of place in the ranking when GST and other reforms are also accounted for.
World Bank chief Kristalina Georgieva had earlier called India's jump of 30 places in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking as "very rare".
"In reforms what pays off is persistence, what we are seeing is extraordinary achievement by India," Ms Georgieva said
In Gujarat Election, Why The Role And Influence Of ASHA Workers Matters
MMNN:3 November 2017
VADODARA, GUJARAT: The day before the election for Gujarat was called, the state government announced a 50% raise for ASHA workers in the state, part of an assortment of well-funded schemes introduced quickly to win public favour.
Along with the raise, a free sari was promised for the 43,000 women who are trained to provide basic health care in rural areas.
ASHA - Accredited Social Health Activists - assist in childbirth, provide first aid, help with vaccinations and educate communities on birth control measures and issues of sanitation as part of the National Rural Health Mission introduced in 2005, which envisaged planting at least one ASHA worker in every village by 2012.
For over two years, ASHA workers in Gujarat have been demanding fixed wages, permanent employment with regularized working hours and social security benefits like maternity leave and health insurance.
In a state that prides itself on development, prosperity and three terms of Narendra Modi's governance, they say, the basics - education, health, clean drinking water - are far more inadequate here than in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
In a sign of their relevance, Rahul Gandhi met with ASHA workers yesterday during his tour of South Gujarat.
"Our numbers are not small. Together, we are a formidable vote bank. So the government had to make a token gesture. But they have not addressed a single demand we made," said Tanuja Makwana, an ASHA worker in the Nadiad district of Central Gujarat.
ASHA workers are well aware of their influence in the communities they visit, and of their status as government workers. They are also often from families where men work as farmers or are small traders, groups that have been reeling from the impact of the new national sales tax or GST and demonetization.
Tanuja points out that ASHA workers are paid for every assignment and are guaranteed no minimum monthly income. In addition, they have to be available around the clock to travel to remote areas.
"Presently, for every delivery we are paid Rs. 300 and an additional Rs. 250 for a week of follow-up visits and writing up the delivery report. But this is only if the woman is a BPL card holder (below poverty line); otherwise, we get nothing. For collecting samples for various tests, we get Rs. 15. Our income depends entirely on the number of cases we handle. So when there are fewer cases, we barely earn anything. So how does a 50% hike and a free sari help us?" she asked while giving an insulin shot to a young diabetic patient who has turned up at her house.
Each ASHA worker is meant to handle 1,000 people. Very often, she is required to carry out door-to-door visits to check the spread of malaria or a flu. "We spend several days, walking from home to home in the hot sun and in heavy rain, but we are not paid a single paisa for our effort. They make us work for free," said Tanuja.
Now in her early 30s, she says that even if spends nearly every day of the month in the field, she barely makes Rs. 2,500 a month despite nine years of experience. "I should be earning at least Rs. 10,000," she says.
"The same work is twice as difficult for ASHAs covering Adivasi dominated districts where the terrain is hostile and the infrastructure is limited", says Meena Rathwa, who is based in Chhota Udaipur in South Gujarat, which has a large tribal population. "Often, the distance between one hamlet and the next is several kilometres. We have to make our own transport arrangements and sometimes spend the night in the village. But we have to pay for all these expenses. The government does not reimburse us."
That's one reason why the epicenter of the two-year long protest by the ASHAs has been Vadodara with its proximity to the Adivasi belt of South Gujarat. Their peaceful struggle turned aggressive in recent days with members heckling and chasing senior government officials and national and state law-makers from the area. The conflict escalated when a few women leaders were arrested for allegedly throwing bangles at the motorcade of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he campaigned in Vadodara last month.
The ruling BJP has accused the ASHAs of upping the ante at the urging of the Congress before the election. It's a charge they deny. "They are undermining our battle for survival", said Meena.
"We are sensitive to their demands and in fact have made announcements recently increasing there wages. As far as the government is concerned, they are satisfied with our response; only a handful could be protesting for reasons best known to them," said Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.
Congress workers allege that it is in the vacuum created by Mr Modi's departure for Delhi that protests have begun to take shape and erupt - among farmers, health care workers, the Patels who want affirmative action policies.
The Gujarat government has been reducing its spend on health care; in the last three years, it has fallen from 5.6 percent of the state's budget to barely 5%.
Of this, barely a third was allocated to rural healthcare, with the bulk reserved for urban areas.
The neglect shows, particularly in villages.
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of Gujarat, an economic powerhouse, is 35 per 1,000 births; Kerala's is 10.
In rural areas of Gujarat, the IMR is 43, nearly double that of urban areas. Similarly, the state registered a Maternal Mortality Rate of 112 per I lakh deliveries as compared to 68 in neighbouring Maharashtra.
One reason for these poor figures is an acute shortage of government doctors in Gujarat. More than half the sanctioned posts of 1,500 doctors in primary health centres located in rural areas are vacant. More shockingly, for a state that prides itself on world class infrastructure, the National Rural Health Mission Data for 2015-16 reveals a shortfall of 12 district and 5 sub-district hospitals, 36 community health centres, 113 primary and 20 sub- primary health centres.
For its public health schemes to start taking effect, the salaries of frontline workers like ASHAs and anganwadi workers, who staff women and child care centres in rural areas, has to be improved. Earlier this year, about 1.5 lakh anganwadi workers in Gujarat went on a 3-day strike demanding Rs. 4,000 a month. An anganwadi worker is paid Rs. 3,000 in Gujarat making it the 14th lowest-paying state, while states like Haryana and Tamil Nadu pay them between Rs. 8,000 - 10,000 a month.
These issues don't decide a voter's preference of party or candidate. But ASHAs and others like them hope to raise awareness of how their low wages create a cycle of negligence
Setback For Arvind Kejriwal As Court Says Delhi Needs Lt Governor's Nod
MMNN:2 November 2017
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi needs the Lieutenant Governor's nod to govern the national capital but the city's administrative head cannot sit on files beyond a reasonable period, a top bench of the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday.
The observation came on a petition by the AAP government against a court verdict that held the Lieutenant Governor was the national capital's boss. During the day, senior lawyer Gopal Subramaniam, representing the AAP government, told a five-judge bench that "an elected government cannot be without any power".
Hit A Button On Your Phone, And A Chinese Youth Gets A Job: Rahul Gandhi
MMNN:1 November 2017
The morning after India was recognised for vast self-improvement making it an easier place to do business, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that "it is just a handful of businessmen who have found the going easier" as he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of encouraging crony capitalism and failing to create jobs.
Mr Gandhi's criticism was made at a public meeting in Gujarat, where he is leading his party's campaign for December's election in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. He reiterated his criticism of the new national sales tax or GST, reminding his audience in Jambusar, "I have called it the Gabbar Singh Tax". Gabbar Singh is one of India's best-known fictional villains from the blockbuster movie "Sholay".
Yesterday, the World Bank said that India has improved its ranking by 30 places and is 100th out of 190 countries for doing business. Mr Gandhi said that the PM and his administration are congratulating themselves over an assessment by "foreigners and not by our poor."
"Ask small traders about ease of doing business," he said, alleging that GST and demonetisation - described by him in an earlier speech as "twin torpedos" - have sunk entrepreneurs into losses.
In retort, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted that the difference between this government and its predecessor, which was led by Mr Gandhi's party, is "The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business"
India was ranked 142 for ease of doing business during PM Modi's first year in office in 2014. He has declared a target to place India among top 50 and in the last two years has attracted record foreign direct investment. The new ranking of 100 "indicates India's endeavour to further strengthen its position as a preferred place to do business globally," Annette Dixon, World Bank vice-president for South Asia, said at a media conference in New Delhi.
India's economic growth slid to a three-year low of 5.7% in the last quarter, the result in part of PM Modi's sudden ban of high-denomination notes a year ago and this July's hurried rollout of the GST.
The World Bank rankings didn't take into account impact of demonetisation and the goods and services tax, reported Bloomberg.
The BJP has governed Gujarat for 22 years and its campaign is being fronted by PM Modi, who in his speeches emphasizes that GST and the notes ban are key structural reforms that will increase transparency, reduce prices through increased competition, and further economic growth while checking black money and corruption
The "transitory" disruptive effects of both reforms are over and India's economic growth will see a "sizable turnaround" when September quarter numbers are out next month, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg said in an interview recently to Bloomberg.
65% of Gujarat's' population is younger than 35, so concerns over unemployment run high and this election has been overtaken by a tug-of-war between different castes demanding affirmative action policies that would entitle them to government jobs and seats in state-run colleges.
Mr Gandhi said that in comparison to China, where "50,000 jobs are provided by the government for the youth every day, in India, only 450 people get jobs every 24 hours". This, he alleged, exhibits the failure of the PM's "Make In India" initiative to promote manufacturing.
"Just take you phones and see the back... does it say 'Made in India'? No. It says 'Made in China'. Every time you click a button on your phone, a youth in China is getting a job," he said.
Gujarat votes on December 9 and 14; results will be counted on December 18
President Ram Nath Kovind And Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Pay Tributes To Sardar Patel
MMNN:31 October 2017
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 142nd birth anniversary.
President Kovind remembered Sardar Patel as "India's Man of Iron, of Integrity and of Integration" in the tweet he posted after paying floral tribute at Patel Chowk.
Mr Naidu too, paid floral tribute to Sardar Patel, who is credited for the ensuring integration of the nation post Independence.
Born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat, Sardar Patel became the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. He died on December 15, 1950.
Popularly known as the 'Iron Man' of India, Sardar Patel was conferred with the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, in 1991 for his services to the nation.
Bring Hadiya Here: Supreme Court To Father In Kerala 'Love Jihad' Case
MMNN:30 October 2017
Hadiya is 24 years old, her consent as an adult is "prime" and her version of how and why she married a Muslim man in Kerala last year will be heard on November 27, the Supreme Court today as it examined the landmark "love jihad" case that has become the subject of an investigation by the country's top counter-terror agency.
Her testimony next month will be made in open court, judges said today, which means the hearing can be attended by the public.
24-year-old Akhila Ashokan took the name Hadiya after converting to Islam, married a Muslim man she met on an Islamist matrimonial site, and was then taken to court by her father, who alleged that the marriage was a form of recruitment by ISIS that is gaining currency in Kerala.
In May, the Kerala High Court annulled Hadiya's marriage and ordered her to return to live with her parents in the Kottayam district. Her husband, Shafin Jehan, has appealed against the annulment as well as the sanction given in August by the Supreme Court to the National Investigating Agency to determine if his marriage is part of an emerging pattern which sees vulnerable Hindu women being lured by Muslim men who are agents of terrorist groups including ISIS.
"Get me out of here. Today or tomorrow, I am going to die. I am sure about this. My father is getting angry, I can make out. He pushes me," Hadiya said in a video released last week by an activist who met her family and her in August.
Akilha's father, Ashokan KM, has denied his daughter's allegations.
The activist Rahul Easwar, says he will submit his recording to the Supreme Court. "While I am a Hindu activist, I believe Hadiya's voice must also be heard," Mr Eashwar told NDTV.
The National Investigating Agency or NIA told judges today that it has evidence of nearly 90 "similar cases" of indoctrination and radicalization in Kerala, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
The Kerala government earlier this month told the Supreme Court that its police had conducted a "thorough investigation" into Hadiya's conversion and marriage and did not find any merit for the involvement of the NIA.
Ahead Of Rahul Gandhi's Visit, Hardik Patel Sets A Deadline For Congress
MMNN:28 October 2017
Hardik Patel, the 24-year-old face of the Patidar community's campaign for reservation that has locked horns with the ruling BJP in Gujarat, seems to be playing hardball with the Congress over his support to the party for the state elections to be held in December.
A day after Congress sources indicated that Mr Patel would share the stage with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Surat on November 3, he tweeted that the party must first come out with a clear stand on the reservation issue.
"If the party doesn't not clear its stand on the issue by November 3, it could face the same fate as Amit Shah did during his rally in Surat," tweeted Mr Patel.
BJP chief Amit Shah's meeting with leaders of the Patidar community in Surat last month descended into chaos as supporters of Mr Patel went on a rampage, chanting his name and vandalizing the furniture.
Though the Congress party has openly expressed its support to the Patidar leader in the past, it is yet to make its stand clear on a separate reservation quota for the community. A separate quota for the Patels in government jobs and colleges could take the reservation percentage beyond the 50 per cent currently allowed by a Supreme Court ruling. The Congress party has still to react to Mr Patel's threat.
Mr Patel has been indirectly expressing his backhanded support to the Congress party, making announcements at recently rally like: "If you have to bring down a maha chor (mega thief) it doesn't matter if a chor (thief) is helped".
The BJP on its part has been alleging that Mr Patel was nothing but a B-Team of the Congress. A CCTV clip leaked by the Gujarat Police had shown how despite vehemently denying to do so, Mr Patel did apparently meet Rahul Gandhi in a city five star hotel. Both Mr Patel and the Congress have denied any such meeting
Decide On Alliance,' Devendra Fadnavis Tells Shiv Sena After New Attack
MMNN:27 October 2017
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has warned partner Shiv Sena that its "dual stand" will not wash and that its chief Uddhav Thackeray must decide if he wants to continue the alliance with the BJP.
"The Sena opposes all our decisions. They can give their suggestions, but cannot simultaneously play the roles of a ruling party and an opposition at the same time," Mr Fadnavis said at a function, even as the Sena's Sanjay Raut delivered another set of jibes at the BJP, asserting that the "Modi wave has faded".
The Chief Minister said, "As a party, Uddhav-ji has to decide. People do not like the picture they are portraying. Balasaheb (Sena founder and Uddhav's father Bal Thackeray) never saw every decision with negativity, neither does Uddhav-ji. But some of his leaders think they are bigger than the party chief and make statements."
Sanjay Raut was participating in television discussion when he also declared that Rahul Gandhi is now capable of leading the country. "People want to hear what he is saying...It is wrong to call him 'Pappu'," the Sena lawmaker said, referring to a name used by BJP supporters to mock Mr Gandhi. "The biggest political power in this country is the people... the voters. They can make a Pappu of anyone," Mr Raut added in an apparent dig at the BJP.
The Shiv Sena has not always been kind to Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to take over as Congress president from his mother Sonia Gandhi soon. Just two years ago, the party had said that "even 100 Rahul Gandhis cannot match Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'mega wave'".
But the BJP-Shiv Sena relationship has gone steadily downhill since, with a splenetic Sena now taking regular pot shots at PM Modi and his party and threatening to dismantle their alliance, though it has not done so yet.
A break-up will mean that the Devendra Fadnavis government will be in a minority in Maharashtra and will have to take the support of Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Mr Fadnavis said given a choice, he would choose to work with the Shiv Sena as the two parties have been together for 25 years and have the same ideology. "But I will give Pawar credit
for one thing. He never opposes beyond a certain point when it comes to development. He is never against development," Mr Fadnavis said, again asserting, "but our differences with the NCP will continue".
On comparisons with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the young chief minister said, "It is difficult for me to become Modi, he being a great communicator, a master administrator who has changed the country and the way politics is done. However, he should be the role model for every chief minister
Rajnath Singh, In Meet With Mehbooba Mufti, Asks About Jobs For Pandits
MMNN:26 October 2017
AGRA: At their first meeting after former intelligence chief Dineshwar Sharma's appointment as the centre's interlocutor for Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Home Minister Rajnath Singh today discussed how the take the initiative forward. They also reviewed the implementation of a special package for the state. One of the key issues that Mr Singh flagged at the 60-minute meeting was the delay in rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, particularly jobs for them in the Kashmir Valley.
A senior government official said the Home Minister was particularly concerned about a delay in offering Kashmiri Pandits jobs that they had been promised. The government had earlier announced setting aside 6,000 jobs for the Hindu community in Kashmir who were driven out of the Valley by terrorists.
But the Jammu and Kashmir government had reported to the centre that only 3,000 jobs have been given. Ms Mufti has promised to restart making the appointments for the remaining appointments that had been held up due to "legal issues".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 80,000 crores package for the state in 2015. In two years, the government has sanctioned projects totalling 78 per cent of this package and 28 per cent money has also been disbursed.
Much of their 20-minute one-on-one meeting that followed the official meeting focused on the steps needed at the government and political level to consolidate the gains expected to accrue due to the centre's outreach attempt that the opposition Congress has called a "publicity exercise".
Following up on the initiative, Ms Mufti yesterday told the state police to stop retaliatory attacks on families of terrorists, prefer surrender of terrorists over killing them and follow the law themselves before enforcing it among people. "You will have to follow the law and not compete with militants by doing what they do," she told them.
Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat have, separately, made it clear that the appointment of an interlocutor to engage in dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir would neither impact the Army operations nor the crackdown on terror funding by the National Investigation Agency.
Hizbul Chief Syed Salahuddin's Son, Who Is Government Employee, Arrested
MMNN:24 October 2017
Syed Shahid Yousuf, the son of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen's chief Syed Salahuddin, has been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2011 terror funding case.
Yousuf, 42, works in the state government as a village agriculture assistant and has a family home in Budgam.
"He was summoned for questioning to Delhi on Tuesday after initial rounds his role was conclusively established in the case and so we arrested him," NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal told NDTV.
The case involves funding through hawala channels by terrorists based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
According to the top anti-terror agency, Yousuf was in touch with Saudi Arabia-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Aijaz Ahmad Bhat and had received money to fund secessionist and terror activities in the Kashmir Valley.
Sources say Yousuf accepted money transferred through Western Union by Aijaz, who is on the run, and investigators have documents from Saudi Arabia and India confirming the transfers.
The money allegedly meant to fund the Hizbul Mujahideen's terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir, was sent in four instalments to Yousuf between 2011 and 2014.
The NIA also has call records of multiple conversations between Aijaz and Yousuf.
"We have all the documents on money transfers as well as call details. It is on the basis of this irrefutable evidence that we have gone ahead with Yusuf's arrest," said a senior officer.
Four accused in the case are in Delhi's Tihar jail while two are missing.
The case had been dormant after the four arrests. The NIA revived the investigations recently and questioned Yousuf a few days ago.
Yesterday, the central government announced a new interlocutor, former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma, for a "sustained dialogue" with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. Yousuf's arrest is a clear sign that the centre does not plan to go slow on its crackdown on separatist leaders.
Syed Salahuddin was in June declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State.
Centre To Start New Dialogue In Jammu And Kashmir Led By Ex-Intel Chief
MMNN:23 October 2017
NEW DELHI: Dineshwar Sharma, a former intelligence bureau chief has been appointed by the NDA government as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Monday, declaring that the retired officer would have "complete freedom" to talk to all groups and individuals" including Kashmiri separatists.
"There is no bar on him to talk to one group and not another... We want to understand aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir," the minister said.
This is the first concrete attempt by the NDA government in three years to reach out to Kashmiris and comes after a particularly-focussed offensive by security agencies anchored from Delhi to crack down on foreign funding for separatists. In Srinagar, police and army teams have taken out dozens of local commanders of terrorist groups active in the Kashmir Valley.
It also addresses recurring criticism of the central government's approach in handling the problems in Kashmir from the prism of security operations without a matching political outreach.
At the government's meetings with political parties, the Union Home Minister said, there had been suggestions that the government from across the political spectrum that there should be dialogue.
In 2010, the Manmohan Singh government too had appointed a group of three interlocutors led by eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar who had given their final report in two years. But most of their recommendations were not accepted.
Asked if the government really needed another report, the Home Minister didn't refer to the initiative by the UPA but underlined that the Modi government's policy and intentions were clear: "To understand aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir and the problems that people are facing, how they can be resolved and the challenges".
He also explained the government's decision to go for the intelligence chief as its interlocutor, saying the centre wanted someone who did not have any political affiliations as he would be most-suited to reach out all individuals and organisations concerned
Taj Mahal A Hindu Temple Called Tejo Mahal: BJP Lawmaker Vinay Katiyar
MMNN:18 October 2017
LUCKNOW: The Taj Mahal is originally a Hindu temple and should be renamed as "Tejo Mahal", BJP parliamentarian Vinay Katiyar has said, asserting that a temple was destroyed to build the world-renowned marble monument.
"Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple. There are many symbols of Hindu gods and goddesses in Taj. It was known as Tejo Mahal and water used to drip from its ceiling but that was removed from there,"Mr Katiyar, a Rajya Sabha member, today said.
The BJP leader went on to buttress his theory on the 17th century mausoleum and said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath "should go into the Taj Mahal and should see the Hindu signs inside it".
"If this was only a grave then why are so many rooms built here? There is no need to demolish any structure anywhere. Its name should be changed to Tejo Mahal...The British did not demolish our structures but the Mughals did,"Mr Katiyar said.
His remarks add another facet to the controversy over the Mughal-built monument, which was recently left out of an Uttar Pradesh government tourism brochure.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal next week for damage control after a legislator of the BJP, Sangeet Som, supported the shocking omission in the tourism booklet and described the Taj Mahal as "blot on Indian culture", a monument built by traitors and a symbol of slavery.
Sangeet Som, one of the politician accused of inciting riots in 2013 in Muzaffarnagar, also said Mughal history should be erased.
Yogi Adityanath, who had months ago commented that the Taj did not represent Indian culture, said yesterday that the monument was built by the blood and sweat of Indian workers and "it does not matter who built it
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Promises Ayurveda Hospital In Every District
MMNN:17 October 2017
NEW DELHI: Underscoring the importance of Ayurveda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said time has come for a "health revolution" led by the traditional medicine system and pitched for affordable and accessible healthcare.
Addressing a gathering after dedicating the country's first All India Institute of Ayurveda to the nation, the prime minister noted that the world is heading "back to nature and wellness".
Marking 'Ayurveda Divas' today, he described the medicine system as India's strength and urged those working in the sector to revive it. He also asked experts from the field to find medicines which can, like allopathy, give immediate relief to people but without side-effects.
The prime minister also urged private players to use part of their corporate social responsibility funds to help strengthen Ayurveda
"We have seen the IT revolution in last 30 years. Now, time has come for a health revolution under the aegis of Ayurveda. Let's pledge to strengthen, revive Ayurveda," PM Modi said.
Listing steps being taken by his government to revive and strengthen the system, PM Modi said Ayurveda-related hospitals should be set up in each district of the country.
He said the Ayush Ministry would ensure that there was a good Ayurveda hospital in each district.
Noting that people across the world were getting attracted towards good health as well as wellness, the prime minister suggested that time was ripe for an atmosphere of Ayurveda to evolve.
He said there was need for a relook of the Ayurveda syllabus and underlined the requirement for standard guidelines and treatment in the medicine system so it is not overpowered by Allopathy.
The government, PM Modi added, respects all health and medicine systems.
He said the Ministries of Ayush and Agriculture can guide farmers to sow medicinal plants. This will also help farmers boost their income in line with the government's plan to double their income by 2022, when India attains 75 years of independence.
Narendra Modi Bihar Visit LIVE: PM Attends Patna University Function, Will Launch Projects Worth Rs. 5,000 Crore
MMNN:14 October 2017
PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bihar today to launch and attend the centenary celebrations of Patna University. The country's seventh oldest university, standing on the banks of the river Ganga, completed 100 glorious years on October 1 and the administration held a simple function to mark the historic occasion. PM Modi will also launch projects worth Rs. 5,000 crore including a bridge across the Ganga which costs about 1,200 crores. Soon after the celebrations, PM Modi will head to Mokama, about 96 km from Patna, to launch about half-a-dozen schemes including projects under the 'Namami Gange' programme. It will also be the first time since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's exit from the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and return to the NDA, that he will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar.
PM Narendra Modi's Speech At Patna University For Its Centenary Celebrations
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech at Patna University:
Nitish Kumar's dedication and commitment towards to progress of Bihar is commendable.
Bihar has the capability to be one of the most developed states in India If the people of Bihar decide to put an effort and work towards it.
Bihar has the blessing of goddess Saraswati... it can also get the blessings of goddess Lakshmi if it works towards it... Patna has contributed to knowledge and the civil services for many years. It should now move towards wealth creation and innovation. I am sure this won't be a difficult task for the people of Bihar, who have given us some of India's brightest minds.
Today, we cannot imagine that at least one in the top five posts in India isn't an alumni of this grand institution.
The seed of education was sowed in Patna a century ago... It has created this iconic institution.
Technology is changing the way of life... It is giving a new meaning to the way we live... It is important we embrace it.
Sometimes we are rigid and not open to change, but the key to success in life is to learn, unlearn and then relearn.
We must look at any situation and any circumstance with an open mind... Universities today must work towards helping students have an open mind... Being rigid only hampers growth and slows us down.
Someone told me during a visit to a village once that when we were young we used to play with snakes, but today's children are playing with the mouse (computer)... Times are changing.
Technology should be made available to the poorest of the poor and should be user-friendly. India already ranks fourth among all nations in terms of startups... The time is not far when India will rank number one in the world.
Another area of utmost importance to Bihar, and India at large is skill development.
12:17 (IST)
Soon after the celebrations, PM Modi will head to Mokama, about 96 km from Patna, to launch about half-a-dozen schemes including projects worth 5,000 crores including a bridge across the Ganga under the Namami Gange Programme which costs about 1,200 crores. The four national highway projects for which foundation stones will be laid include four-laning of Aunta-Simariya section of NH-31 and construction of six-lane Ganga Setu. The other three projects are four-laning of Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama section of NH-31, two-lane construction of Maheshkhunt-Saharsa-Purnea section of NH-107 and two-lane construction of Biharsharif-Barbigha-Mokama section of NH-82.
12:16 (IST)
PM Modi will launch a special centenary souvenir. The management is hopeful that PM's visit will allow them to request for central university status for the Patna University.
12:11 (IST)
Vice-Chancellor Ras Bihari Prasad Singh had also invited the former finance minister, who graduated from the institution with a degree in political science and also taught here, but Mr Sinha has not indicated whether he will attend. The Vice Chancellor said that even if Mr Sinha attends the function, he may not be seated near the PM whose office and security clear all arrangements including seating plans for the stage.
12:10 (IST)
But today while welcoming PM Modi to "his Patna University", the former actor tweeted, "...even I got an invitaion, alas very late and with a very short notice...delayed by the 'more loyal than the King's people' involved in the affair. So, though 'Muhabbat Karne waale kam na honge...Teri mehfil mein lekin hum na honge'. However, my best wishes."
12:09 (IST)
PM Narendra Modi is attending the centenary celebrations of Patna University. The country's seventh oldest university. Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also participate in the celebrations. The university's famous alumni and BJP leaders-turned-critics Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha, however, might not attend the event. Lawmaker from Bihar Shatrughan Sinha had told ndtv.com that he had not been invited to attend the celebrations. The actor-turned-politician, who is "very emotionally attached to my alma mater", said, "I'm pained over being denied invitation on such an occasion."
12:03 (IST)
PM Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will attend Patna University's centenary celebrations following which they will travel to Mokama where the Prime Minister will launch several projects.
12:02 (IST)
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Patna airport for his day-long visit to the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar welcomed him with a red rose. The two leaders are meeting in Bihar for the first time since JD(U)'s exit from the Mahagathbandhan and return to the NDA fold. Soon after they shook hands, PM Modi expressed his desire to visit the newly opened Bihar Museum, to which Mr Kumar said, "why not". Governor Satya Pal Malik presented him a book in line with directions that no bouquet be presented to the PM during his tours in India.
Soon after the celebrations, PM Modi will head to Mokama, about 96 km from Patna, to launch about half-a-dozen schemes including projects under the 'Namami Gange' programme. It will also be the first time since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's exit from the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and return to the NDA, that he will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar.
12:00 (IST)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bihar today to launch and attend the centenary celebrations of Patna University. The country's seventh oldest university, standing on the banks of the river Ganga, completed 100 glorious years on October 1 and the administration held a simple function to mark the historic occasion. PM Modi will also launch projects worth Rs. 5,000 crore including a bridge across the Ganga which costs about 1,200 crores.
Have Documents? Go To Court': Amit Shah Rejects Allegations Against Son Jay Shah
MMNN:13 October 2017
Amit Shah today responded to allegations that his son Jay Shah, an entrepreneur, enjoyed a big upswing in his business after the BJP came to power in 2014. The question of corruption does not arise, the BJP chief told the news channel Aaj Tak.
"If you have documents to prove your allegations, bring them to court," Mr Shah said, emphasizing that none of his son's companies "did even one rupee worth of business" with the government or "received kickbacks like in the case of Bofors".
Jay Shah has sued news website The Wire for 100 crores for reporting that his firm's revenues escalated by 16,000 times after the BJP came to power. The report also questioned allegedly unsecured loans given to Jay Shah's firms, including from a state-run firm that reports to the Power Ministry.
NDTV cannot independently verify the allegations, which, according to the Congress, is an "excellent example" of crony capitalism.
"Please understand this is not corruption. Many allegations of corruption were made against the Congress. Did it ever file a civil suit or defamation suit? No. Why they lacked such courage? Today Jay has filed a defamation as well as civil suit and is demanding a probe himself," Mr Shah stressed, responding to questions.
He added: "The business was of commodity trade which is a high value low profit venture. If a company's turnover becomes Rs. 1 crore, its profit does not become Rs. 1 crore...It is unfair to say there was an over 16,000 times jump in profit...say what the turnover was...It makes it seem like the turnover was huge but it wasn't."
The BJP president also said after achieving a turnover of Rs. 80 crore, his son's company suffered a loss of Rs. 1.5 crore. "All the payments were made through cheques. There is no question of money laundering." The loans, he said, were not unsecured but a line of credit.
On Thursday, the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said there must be enough evidence for the allegations to be worth investigating.
Talwars Acquitted Of Daughter Aarushi's Murder By Allahabad High Court: 10 Points
MMNN:12 October 2017
ALLAHABAD: Dentist couple Nupur and Rajesh Talwar are innocent of killing their teen daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj in 2008, the Allahabad High Court said today, stressing that it was giving them the benefit of the doubt. Aarushi, 13, was found dead in her bedroom; Hemraj was the main suspect till his body was found hours later on the roof of the Talwar home in Noida. The CBI has said it will study today's verdict before deciding whether to appeal against the Talwars' acquittal.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:
1-
The judges today said that the CBI had been unable to prove the Talwars' guilt. "There is no irresistible conclusion that accused did the murders," they said.
2-The Talwars were in jail in Dasna in Uttar Pradesh when they were acquitted. A jail official said that they had been anxious this morning and were happy to hear of the verdict. "They said they got justice," he told NDTV.
3-Aarushi Talwar was found with her throat slit in her bed, just days before she turned 14. Their live-in help Hemraj was discovered dead the next day on the terrace of the apartment building in Noida.
4-The case was mishandled by the Noida police and after lapses that included reporters to trample all over the scene of the crime, it was transferred to the CBI.
5-The Talwars were arrested in 2013; in 2015, a court found them guilty and sentenced them to life in prison. The CBI wanted the death penalty.
6-That conviction came after the CBI said it wanted to close the case as an unsolved mystery; the agency said it believed Rajesh Talwar was guilty, but did not have the evidence to prove it. That statement was seen by many legal experts as irresponsible. But the CBI was told to continue its probe.
7-AP Singh, who then headed the CBI, told NDTV today, "There were loopholes in our investigation, that's why we had closed the case saying it was inconclusive." He said today's verdict "does not say that the Talwars didn't do it" but that there's not enough evidence against them.
8-The court that convicted the couple accepted circumstantial evidence offered by the CBI. Investigators said the double murder was an inside job because the apartment had not been broken into and that the "last seen" principle indicts the Talwars because the victims were in their presence before they were killed.
9-The police had alleged that the Talwars were furious after finding their daughter in a compromising position with Hemraj, but offered no evidence to substantiate this premise.
10-The Talwars have described their portrayal in the media as a witch-hunt and have repeatedly offered to assist the investigation.
RSS worker attacked, bombs hurled at BJP office in Kannur district
MMNN:11 October 2017
A 36-year-old RSS activist was injured in an attack, while bombs were hurled at BJP office in separate incidents of violence in the district, the police said on Wednesday.
The activist KM Suresh, an auto driver by profession, was injured in the knee when some unidentified persons attacked him at Thalassery Tuesday evening.
He has been admitted to a hospital here and his condition is stated to be serious, they said.
A case has been registered against unknown assailants, police said, adding, they suspect it to be a fallout of political rivalry.
Police had recovered some swords, knives and iron rods near the BJP district committee office here Tuesday.
In the other incident, police said bombs were hurled at the BJP party office at Patyam around 12.30 am today but no one was injured.
Some furniture was damaged in the attack, police said.
A complaint has been received from BJP area committee president K Ajeesh and a case has been registered, they said.
The incidents come two days after a hartal was observed at Panur in the district on October 9 by CPI (M) to protest the crude bomb attack on its workers allegedly by RSS men.
As many as 14 persons, including four police personnel, were injured in the attack on Sunday during a procession taken out by CPI(M) activists at Kaivellikal.
The BJP had on October 3 launched its ‘Jana Raksha Yatra’ from Kannur to highlight “Left’s atrocities” in the state.
Addressing the Delhi leg of the yatra’ on Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah had slammed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that the maximum killings of BJP and RSS workers have taken place in the latter’s home district of Kannur.
Huge 2014 Defeat Knocked Sense Into Us, Admits Rahul Gandhi
MMNN:10 October 2017
NEW DELHI: On his campaign tour in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi explained today that a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP in the 2014 national election helped him "a lot". The brief concession stood out as Mr Gandhi took generous digs at the ruling party and the Jay Shah controversy on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf.
"The BJP helped me a lot. They have really helped me. We lost 2014 but the defeat could not have helped us more. Itni buri tarah haraya ki pit pitkar humein akal aagayi (They beat us so badly in 2014 that it drilled sense into us)," the Congress Vice President said, expressing "gratitude" to the BJP for his party's virtual wipeout after 10 years in power.
"They helped me a lot by by pitai karke, gaali deke, maar maarke (they beat me, abused me, thrashed me). They opened my eyes."
Ahead of polls in Gujarat later this year, Mr Gandhi is touring the BJP's strongest citadels in the state where the Congress has been out of power for nearly 20 years.
Speaking before a gathering of students last evening, he referred to the allegations reported in the Wire website, that BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's fortunes rose 16,000 times after the BJP came to power -- from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 80 crores.
"Have you heard of start-up India? The most successful is Jay Shah's start up... it's a very interesting story," Mr Gandhi said, going on to sum it up for his audience. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said: "The chowkidaar of India is quiet, he doesn't like to comment on these things."
In Mr Gandhi's sharp and pointed attacks, his party men see signs of the new, more savvy and confident leader set to take over as Congress president.
Not long ago, on a visit to an American university, the 47-year-old had conceded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a "better communicator" than him.
Participating in a Q&A session at the University of California, Berkeley, last month, he said, "I am an Opposition leader, but Mr Modi is also my Prime Minister. He has certain skills; he's a very good communicator, probably much better than me.
In Godhra Train Blaze, Alleged Mastermind And 62 Others Acquitted Again
MMNN:9 October 2017
The Gujarat High Court has decided a set of appeals challenging convictions and acquittals in the case of the burning of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra in 2002, which triggered massive communal riots across the state of Gujarat in which more than 1,000 people were killed.
A total of 94 people, all Muslims, had stood trial on charges of murder and conspiracy. In 2011, a court acquitted 63 of them. The High Court today has refused to change that verdict. Those acquitted include Maulvi Umarji, accused of being the mastermind behind the fire.
31 people were convicted of murder, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy. The death sentence for 11 of them has today been changed to life imprisonment. The others remain sentenced to life in jail.
In February 2002, 59 people, most of them 'kar sevaks', Hindu devotees returning from Ayodhya, died after a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set on fire at the Godhra station, around 130 km from Ahmedabad.
The Muslims who were tried have always denied setting the train ablaze on February 27, 2002.
The train was returning with passengers from the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya that had been demolished by lakhs of right-wing workers and volunteers in 1992. The special court, in 2011, in Gujarat ruled that the accused had conspired to torch the train.
Woman, 30, Allegedly Gang-Raped In Front Of Husband, Child In UP's Muzaffarnagar
MMNN:7 October 2017
A 30-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly gang-raped by four men in front of her husband and their three-month-old baby, the police said. The woman and her husband, 35, had taken their baby to a pediatrician and were returning home on a motorbike in Muzaffarnagar when they were waylaid by four men, who were carrying weapons, in a car. They stopped them, snatched the baby from her and beat up the man. Then they dragged the woman to a sugarcane field.
The men took turns to allegedly rape her after tying up her husband. They threatened to kill the infant who cried through her ordeal. After they were done, they warned the couple against raising an alarm and fled, police said.
"Four men dragged me to a sugarcane farm and raped me at gun-point. They threatened to kill my child, also tied and beat up my husband," the woman alleged according to news agency ANI.
The family screamed for help and a few farmers from a nearby village rushed to rescue them.
The police were informed and the cops took the family to the hospital for treatment and her medical examination. A search for the accused is on, a senior police officer said.
"We are waiting for her medical report. A case has been registered against the four and investigation is underway," said Ajay Sahdev, SP Rural, Muzaffarnagar.
How Judges Are Appointed By Supreme Court To Be Made Public
MMNN:6 October 2017
NEW DELHI: How judges are appointed or transferred will be open to the public, the Supreme Court has decided, for the sake of transparency.
The Supreme Court collegium - a panel of senior most judges that decides on appointments and transfers - has decided that all its recommendations will be put up on the top court's website.
The collegium system of judges appointing judges has been strongly criticized by the government, which has often called for transparency and accountability in judicial transfers and appointments.
Many eminent jurists have also said that how judges are appointed needs reform because the process lacks transparency.
In 2015, parliament cleared a National Judicial Appointments Commission which would include the Law Minister and two eminent persons selected by a separate panel including the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.
But the new procedure was cancelled by the Supreme Court, which felt the government would have too great a say in deciding judges and the independence of the judiciary would be eroded.
Amit Shah Skips Kerala In Abrupt Sked Change, Meets PM Modi, Arun Jaitley In Delhi
MMNN:5 October 2017
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP chief Amit Shah today skipped a visit to Kerala, opting out of a walk through Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's village as part of the party's 15-day yatra in the state. He flew instead to Delhi from Mangalore this morning for a key meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Mr Jaitley has just returned from an official visit to Bangladesh. Sources said the leaders are expected to discuss the economy and also possibly the Gujarat assembly elections due later this year. PM Modi had in a speech yesterday refuted criticism of the government's handling of the economy and promised steps to reverse the current economic slowdown. He also promised to identify and remove hurdles faced by small traders after the launch of the new national tax GST.
Amit Shah's abrupt change of plans meant that state BJP leaders led thousands of party workers through Pinarayi village, roads to which were lined with BJP flags and posters to welcome the BJP chief. The party had said earlier that he would walk nine km and address a public rally today. Senior BJP leaders dismissed speculation that the party chief had decided to skip today's Kerala visit because response to the yatra he launched two days ago has been tepid. There is no question of a poor response, they asserted.
In Kerala's Kannur, state BJP chief Kummanem Rajasekheran said Mr Shah's presence was not required as he himself could take the party's fight into Mr Vijayan's home base. Chief Minister Vijayan's party, the CPM, had called for a shutdown of the town, amid massive security, in anticipation of Mr Shah's second visit for the yatra, which aims to highlight what the BJP has called the "murder politics" of the ruling CPM.
Party spokespersons confirmed Amit Shah will now only join the BJP yatra when it wraps up in Kerala capital Thirvananthapuram on October 17. The BJP chief had launched the Jan Raksha (protect the people) yatra on Tuesday, with prayers at a Kannur temple and a searing attack on the CPM and the Chief Minister, stating, "More than 84 BJP and RSS workers have been killed in Kannur district alone. I want to ask Pinarayi Vijayan...Who has killed them? If he does not have answers, then I am saying that the chief minister is responsible for the killings."
Mr Vijayan hit back accusing the BJP of "trying to break the secularism of the state," and alleged, "Amit Shah came and became like a wet cracker here." He said the state government will "not be scared away by the weapons and wealth you have collected. Nobody should think that you can scare us away."
Honeypreet, Ram Rahim's Aide, Arrested On The Highway Near Chandigarh
MMNN:3 October 2017
Honeypreet Insan, the "adopted daughter" of self-declared guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was arrested today after being hunted for weeks by the police. She was arrested from the highway near Chandigarh by the Haryana police.
The 36-year-old had been seen on various media channels since morning, though the police had been unable to track her down.
Honeypreet Insan has been charged with sedition and trying to help the Dera Sacha Sauda chief escape after he was sent to jail for rape. She has also been accused of inciting the rioting by mobs of Dera supporters after Ram Rahim was declared guilty on August 25. Thirty-eight people were killed in the violence.
She will be produced before a court tomorrow.
Hours before her arrest, she told the News 24 channel that she was "devastated and depressed" by the allegations against "Papa" and her. "When Papa went away (was jailed), my world came crashing down," she said.
Honeypreet Insan went missing after she accompanied Ram Rahim in a special chopper taking him to a Rohtak jail on August 25.
"Have you heard me saying a word where I instigate people? I had gone there (to CBI court in Panchkula) with a hope that my father will return by evening, but when he was held guilty, I went into depression, How could I think about anything else? I was totally devastated," she said.
Reacting indignantly to her ex-husband Vishwas Gupta's allegations that her father-daughter relationship with Ram Rahim is fake, she said: "I cannot understand how anyone can point fingers at pious relations that are there between a father and his daughter. What proof do they have? Please don't believe such people."
On her vanishing act, Honeypreet said: "Try to understand what my condition was. The woman who used to make patriotic films with her father (Ram Rahim), the woman in whom her father had infused the spirit of patriotism over the years...he goes to jail, which was unthinkable for me. I was completely shaken to hear of sedition charges when I haven't even killed an ant."
Honeypreet Insan went on: "I was there with my Papa (Ram Rahim) and discharging my duty as a daughter (on August 25). Every daughter remains with her father, I went with him."
She also rubbished the rape charge against Ram Rahim. "We call him 'papa coach'. Crores of women and girls have been empowered by Papaji. You believe two women and not millions others?"
Honeypreet, whose real name is Priyanka Taneja, calls herself "Papa's Angel" on social media. She has been by Ram Rahim's side since 2009 and has co-starred with him in five films he made.
Over 50 Dead, 200 Wounded In Las Vegas Shooting, Deadliest In US History
MMNN:2 October 2017
A gunman killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 200 others at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, raining down rapid fire from the 32nd floor of a hotel for several minutes before he was killed by police.
The death toll, which police emphasized was preliminary and tentative, would make the attack the deadliest mass shooting in US history, eclipsing last year's massacre of 49 people at an Orlando night club.
Thousands of panicked people fled the scene, in some cases trampling one another as law enforcement officers scrambled to locate and kill the gunman. Shocked concertgoers, some with blood on their clothes, wandered the streets after the attack.
The suspect was a local Las Vegas man who acted alone and was not believed to be connected to any militant group, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters.
The gunman has been identified by the police as Stephen Paddock. The shooter's 62-year-old companion, an Asian-American woman identified as Marilou Danley, has been located, the police added.
"We have no idea what his belief system was," Lombardo said. "Right now, we believe he was the sole aggressor and the scene is static."
Police had located two cars that belonged to Paddock.
They said that rumours of other shootings in the area were false.
Las Vegas's casinos, nightclubs and shopping draw some 3.5 million visitors from around the world each year and the area was packed with visitors when the shooting broke out shortly after 10 p.m. (0400 GMT).
Witnesses on social media said the shooting broke out on the last night of the three-day Route 91 Harvest festival, a sold-out event attended by thousands and featuring top acts such as Eric Church, Sam Hunt and Jason Aldean.
The spokeswoman for the University Medical Center hospital said 14 of the wounded were in a critical condition. All had suffered gunshot wounds, she said.
US media, including Fox News, reported that Aldean was performing around 10:45 p.m. local time on Sunday when the rampage began but that he had been bundled safely off stage at the event outside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in the Nevada gambling mecca. CNN reported all the artists were safe.
Lombardo said the gunfire came from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay, where the gunman was killed.
The gunman, who was a local man, was killed after police "engaged the suspect," Lombardo told reporters.
Police said on Twitter that at this time they did not believe there are any more shooters.
Toll May Rise
Police warned the death toll may rise.
"I don't want to give you an accurate number because I don't have it yet," Lombardo said.
At least one police officer was hospitalized with critical injuries, Lombardo said.
Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping and entertainment.
Video on the festival's website showed stage set up outside the front of the Mandalay Bay.
The hotel is near McCarran International Airport, which said on Twitter it had temporarily halted flights after the shooting. Later, the airport said that some flights had resumed.
One Twitter user posted that the casino hotel was on lockdown, while another, citing police scanners, said two gunmen who had shot at a bodyguard and police were on the 32nd floor, although there was no confirmation from police.
Video clips posted online showed what sounded like automatic weapons as panicked concertgoers fled, dropped to the ground screaming.
Witnesses heard numerous gunshots at the hotel, where police tactical teams were searching for the attacker, according to reports on CNN and in the New York Times.
Police have disclosed no information that would suggest a motive for the shooting or revealed the identify of the suspect.
Even so, the rampage was reminiscent of a mass shooting at a Paris rock concert in November 2015 that killed 89 people, part of a coordinated attack by Islamist militants that left 130 dead.
A witness named Christine told CNN both she and her husband had separately taken shooting victims to two hospitals, the University Medical Center and the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
"The shots just kept coming," she said. "Everyone was telling us 'run, run as fast as you can'."
Off-duty police were believe to be among the victims, the sheriff said.
The concert venue was in an outdoor area known as Las Vegas Village, across the Strip from the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor hotels.
The United States has seen a series of deadly mass shootings in recent years. Prior to Orlando, the deadliest occurred in April 2007 when a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech university and in December 2012 a man killed 26 young children and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
22 Dead, Many Injured In Stampede Near Mumbai's Elphinstone Station
MMNN:29 September 2017
Twenty-two were killed and over 30 seriously injured in a rush-hour stampede in Mumbai this morning, when a crowd tried to leave a narrow railway bridge connecting two stations after heavy rain. Heart-wrenching visuals showed a crush of bodies on the bridge, straining against the railing. Screams were heard from those trying to escape the weight of the bodies and some were seen jumping off the bridge.
The stampede broke out around 10.30 am on the bridge between the busy Parel and Elphinstone Road stations. According to witnesses, four trains came at the same time and due to the rain, a few commuters slipped, which led to the tragedy. There were more than the usual people on the bridge at the time, waiting for the rain to end.
Many were waiting in the rain. There were too many people in a cramped space. When people were trying to rush to their trains, the stampede happened," said railway spokesperson Anil Saxena.
Visuals after the incident showed people on the ground, many not moving at all, and attempts to revive them. Passengers and local people were seen carrying bodies down the bridge. Footwear was scattered next to the bridge and rescuers cleared out more from the stairs.
The police are investigating reports that a short-circuit with a loud sound near the bridge led to panic and people started running.
The incident took place hours before Railway Minister Piyush Goyal arrived to launch new services. "Just landed in Mumbai. Deeply grieved at tragic loss of innocent lives due to an unfortunate stampede at Elphinstone Road foot over bridge," he tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted condolences.
The two stations are used by much of Mumbai's local train commuters as there are a large number of offices in the area.
Angry commuters and residents said the bridge is too old and narrow and not strong enough to take the busy sector. "It was a disaster waiting to happen," remarked a local resident, saying that the bridge has been overcrowded for years and there have been multiple demands for more railway bridges for the area.
"I have been travelling for five-six years. It has always been like this. We have no choice but to use this bridge...where else can we go? No one listens to us," said a woman commuter.
Akhilesh Yadav's Invitation To Father Mulayam At First Meeting In Months
MMNN:28 September 2017
LUCKNOW: Akhilesh Yadav today visited his father Mulayam Singh Yadav at his Lucknow home and invited him to a key meeting next week of the Samajwadi Party, which he now heads after a bitter tussle for power early this year. It is believed to be the first meeting between the two in many months.
The Samajwadi Party's national executive will meet in Uttar Pradesh's Agra on October 5. Akhilesh Yadav's visit is seen as a sign that a patch-up could be in the works between the estranged father and son. Another such signal came three days ago, when Mulayam Singh did not, as widely expected, announce a new party.
He declared instead that it was Akhilesh who quit the Samajwadi Party and that "He is my son and so has my blessings but I do not agree with his decisions." He recalled that his son had promised to return the post of party chief within three months of the UP elections in March, but that was yet to happen. "A big leader of this country said one who can't honour promises to his father, how can he be there for the people," Mulayam Singh said cuttingly.
Akhilesh Yadav merely tweeted in response, "Netaji zindabad, Samajwadi Party zindabad!"
Mulayam Singh founded the Samajwadi Party over 25 years ago, but early this year, before assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, was sidelined by his son who was then the state's Chief Minister. Akhilesh Yadav replaced his father as party chief and consigned him to a mentorship role.
A bitter Mulayam Singh did not participate in the UP elections, in which his son suffered a massive loss at the hands of the BJP. Relations since then have remained frosty, marked by periodic public takedowns of Akhilesh Yadav by his father.
Both Mulayam Singh Yadav and his younger brother and Akhilesh's bitter rival Shivpal Yadav had pointedly stayed away from a recent Samajwadi Party meeting saying they were not invited. They were expected to announce a new party, but that did not happen and Mulayam Singh said, "I am not forming any new party as of now."
Yashwant Sinha Fails Arun Jaitley Big Time, Praises Nitin Gadkari
MMNN:27 September 2017
NEW DELHI: After a complete takedown of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Indian Express today, senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha spoke to NDTV and expanded on his view that the economy will not recover by 2019 when the next national election is due. The only exception to his targeted missiles was Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Water Resources.
The government "did not try seriously" to remove the bottlenecks which had led to policy paralysis during the previous Congress-led UPA rule, he said. "Big projects remained stalled as except Nitin Gadkari, no other minister took urgent steps to remove the bottlenecks," noted the 84-year-old, whose son Jayant Sinha is a union minister.
Describing demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the "two major disruptions that have slowed down the economy", Mr Sinha said GST - pitched as the biggest tax reform since independence - should have been implemented in October instead of July. "The government hurried through GST," he said, sounding a lot like several opposition leaders.
Yashwant Sinha also suggested that demand had weakened, making it difficult to revive growth sentiment in the economy. "The economic slowdown has had a negative impact on employment generation as well. It is making it difficult for the Modi government to create jobs as promised." New private investments had not happened as expected, he added
In the Indian Express article that has set the cat among the pigeons - titled "I need to speak up now" - Mr Sinha grimly notes what he calls "the mess the Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) has made" of the economy and comments that many are silent out of "fear".
"I shall be failing in my national duty if I did not speak up even now against the mess the Finance Minister has made of the economy. I am also convinced that what I am going to say reflects the sentiments of a large number of people in the BJP and elsewhere who are not speaking up out of fear," writes the veteran sidelined by the BJP after the Narendra Modi government took charge in 2014.
Bluff and bluster is fine for the hustings, it evaporates in the face of reality. The Prime Minister claims that he has seen poverty from close quarters. His Finance Minister is working over-time to make sure that all Indians also see it from equally close quarters."
Reacting to the sucker-punch, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "India's record is well-known across the world. It is one of the fastest growing economies and its role is acknowledged well."
The Congress seized on the article to put out a series of I-told-you-so tweets, with Rahul Gandhi sneering: "Ladies & Gentlemen, this is your copilot & FM speaking. Plz fasten your seat belts & take brace position. The wings have fallen off our plane."
Mr Sinha broadly paints a bleak picture of the economy: "Private investment has shrunk as never before in two decades, industrial production has all but collapsed, agriculture is in distress, construction industry, a big employer of the work force, is in the doldrums, the rest of the service sector is also in the slow lane, exports have dwindled, sector after sector of the economy is in distress, demonetisation has proved to be an unmitigated economic disaster, a badly conceived and poorly implemented GST has played havoc with businesses and sunk many of them and countless millions have lost their jobs with hardly any new opportunities coming the way of the new entrants to the labour market."
No baton charge, eve-teasing incident a conspiracy against me: BHU vice chancellor
MMNN:26 September 2017
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi said police didn’t baton-charge female students, but only used force to drive away anti-social elements who hurled stones and vandalised the campus on the night of September 23.
The vice-chancellor also dubbed the eve-teasing incident as part of a larger conspiracy to instigate female students against him. “I will not tolerate this,” he said.
Since the day I took over as vice-chancellor, I have been treating the students, professors and other faculty members of BHU as my own family. However, some anti-social elements couldn’t digest my honest way of working. These people – in association with anti-social elements – hatched this conspiracy against me,” he said.
Defending the police in a press statement issued late on Monday, Tripathi said: “There was no baton-charge on any girl on the varsity premises during the intervening night of September 23 and 24. Action has been taken against criminal and anti-social elements who (vandalised) varsity property.”
“They tried to create anarchy at the VC residence by pelting it with stones. In the garb of conducting a dharna near the BHU main gate, some anti-social elements tried to paint the statue of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya black,” he said, adding that such an attempt is “nothing less than sedition
Tripathi said that the molestation victim and her friends had called him to say that unknown people were conducting a dharna in front of the gate. “She also said that they were not allowing her or her friends to leave the protest venue. They were, in a way, holding her hostage.”
The vice chancellor went on to claim that the victim requested him to visit Triveni hostel to conduct a dialogue on the matter. “So I decided to go there. However, many anti-social elements waylaid me at the gate and began hurling stones as well as petrol bombs,” he said
GST Biggest Economic Reform Since Independence, Says BJP At Big Meet: 10 Points
MMNN:25 September 2017
NEW DELHI: BJP chief Amit Shah this morning thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for resolving the Doklam standoff with China and praised Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj for her speech attacking Pakistan over terrorism at the United Nations General Assembly on the weekend, as he highlighted the BJP government's achievements at a meeting of the party's national executive in Delhi. A resolution adopted at the meeting said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is the biggest economic reform since Independence, union minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters.
Here is your 10-point cheatsheet to the BJP National Executive:
1-PM Modi, who is attending the entire day-long meet, will speak this evening and is expected to counter critics of his government's economic policies and address worries over jobs and a slowdown in economic growth, blamed by the opposition on last year's notes ban and what it alleges was a faulty implementation of GST.
2-About 2,500 members of the BJP, including 13 Chief Ministers and all its elected lawmakers - 1,400 legislators and 280 parliamentarians - are attending today's meet, Day 2 of the national executive, at the capital's Talkatora stadium.
3-Amit Shah, in his opening address, attacked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics in the US last week, saying the BJP believes in the politics of performance while the Congress banks on the"politics of appeasement and dynasty," pointing out that the current president, vice president and PM Modi have reached their positions due to their hard work, despite their humble origins.
4-Mr Shah said the BJP government led by PM Modi demonstrated patience, perseverance and confident politics in its resolution of the Doklam standoff with China. He also praised the government on its handling of Naxalism and terrorism in its three years of rule.
5-The BJP chief cited figures to say that the economy is stronger under the BJP-led NDA government than it was under the previous Congress-led UPA government.
6-PM Modi is expected to highlight his government's pro-poor measures and other policy decisions. He will also highlight, sources said, the government's success in boosting transparency and curbing black money.
7-The Prime Minister's agenda of development will be a key feature. The PM's address is also expected to provide broad guidelines on how the party can revitalise its connect with the people.
8-A political resolution will be adopted with a road map for crucial state elections ahead and then the 2019 national election, party sources said. Strategy for elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year is expected to be discussed.
9-Sources said the party decided to open its convention to the media after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological parent, alerted it about signs of a shift in public mood over the government's performance. Even some of the Sangh's economic fronts have announced a protest in November to flag the BJP-led government's failures.
10-The BJP's national executive is usually a closed-door meeting attended by about 120 top leaders. Today's meeting, however, is being called an "extended" National Executive as the party wraps up year-long celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of its founder Deendayal Upadhyaya. It is also for the first time that the BJP's legislators and lawmakers have been invited for the meet.
PM Modi Meets Deadline For Disclosing Assets, Top Ministers Don't
MMNN:22 September 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disclosed that he has assets worth Rs. 1,00,13,403. He has shared details on a government website in keeping with a rule he introduced after taking office.
The PM ordered that all his ministers must, by August 31 ever year, share their assets and liabilities to illustrate transparency and a commitment to fighting systemic corruption.
Out of the 92 ministers in PM Modi's cabinet, only 15 have met the August 31 deadline for disclosure.
But this year, only 15 of 92 union ministers have met with the deadline. Among those who have defaulted for this year are Piyush Goyal, Smriti Irani, Maneka Gandhi and Ravi Shankar Prasad. So have Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju.
It was, in fact, the Home Ministry that was tasked with coordinating with different ministers to collate the statements of their finances. Ministers are required to provide financial details of their immediate family members as well
Terrorist Dawood Ibrahim 'In Talks' With Centre For His Return, Alleges Raj Thackeray
MMNN:21 September 2017
Raj Thackeray dropped a bombshell today as he claimed that India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is trying to negotiate his return with the central government as "he wants to spend his last days" in his home country. The Maharashtra politician claimed that the ruling BJP wants to bring the don back to score in elections.
Dawood is "very sick and crippled", said the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief at a function to mark his Facebook debut.
"He is currently in talks for a 'setting' with the government for this and this could happen," he said, commenting that the BJP government would try to take credit for the gangster's return even though he wants to return to India.
"It is he (Dawood) who is keen to return... But, the BJP will claim credit for this to win the next elections," Mr Thackeray predicted.
Last week, reacting to reporters' questions on the news that Dawood Ibrahim's properties in the UK have been seized, union minister VK Singh had commented that "things are happening".
"We will not talk about Dawood at all. Certain things are happening. We can't let the cat be let out of the bag," Mr Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, had told reporters in Kerala.
Dawood Ibrahim is the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which 257 were killed. India says there is proof he has been living in Pakistan's Karachi for decades, which has been confirmed by the UN.
In more validation of New Delhi's stand that the man it has hunted for over two decades has been sheltered by Pakistan, Britain's list of Financial Sanctions Targets refers to the gangster's three recorded addresses in Karachi.
Part Of Rs. 389-Crore Bihar Dam Crashes Hours Before Launch by Nitish Kumar
MMNN:20 September 2017
PATNA: Hours before its grand launch by Nitish Kumar, a portion of a Rs. 389-crore dam in Bihar crashed during a trial run and left parts of a town in Bhagalpur flooded. The Chief Minister was forced to cancel the inauguration today of the Ganga canal project that was completed after a 40-year delay.
Last evening, Mr Kumar's office cited "technical reasons" for dropping the launch of the Bateshwarsthan Ganga Pump Canal Project, which has been set up to irrigate land in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand. Ads in newspapers had announced that Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan would also be present at the event.
The wall of the canal collapsed when water from the river Ganga crashed into it after the pump was switched on for a trial. The water gushed into Kahalgaon village and inundated areas that are part of a thermal power project.
The Principal Secretary of the Water Resources department, Arun Kumar Singh, and top Bhagalpur officials are overseeing efforts to drain out water from the submerged areas around 3 km from the canal.
"Sandbags are being placed to check the flow of water," Mr Singh told reporters. Experts blame the collapse on the negligence of officials.
A joint scheme by Bihar and Jharkhand, the project aims to irrigate 18,620 hectares of land in Bhagalpur and over 4,000 hectares in Jharkhand, a government brochure on the project said.
The Planning Commission had originally approved the project in 1977 at an estimated cost of nearly Rs. 14 crore.
In a series of tweets, Mr Kumar's former deputy and Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi Yadav snarked: "One more dam has been sacrificed to corruption...The Water Resources department is a den of corruption...wonder why the Chief Minister is silent on that?" Mr Yadav didn't take names but appeared to be hinting at Mr Lallan, the Water Resources Minister.
Dawood's Brother Was Watching KBC, Eating Biryani When Cops Picked Him Up
MMNN:19 September 2017
THANE, MAHARASHTRA: When Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar, the brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, was picked up from his home in south Mumbai late on Monday, he was busy watching the "Kaun Banega Crorepati" show and eating biryani, Thane Police Commissioner Parambir Singh said today.
Kaskar was picked up from the home of his sister, Haseena Parker, late on Monday by a crack team of the Thane Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) and later placed under arrest. He will be produced before a court later today.
"Iqbal Kaskar demanded four flats and Rs. 30 lakh as ransom from a builder. The names of some other builders and politicians have also emerged during the investigation," Mr Singh told reporters.
The police are now examining whether the dreaded Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be applied to Iqbal Kaskar and his brother Dawood, believed to be in Pakistan.
Mr Singh said that Iqbal Kaskar has been running the extortion racket for quite some time and on Monday night the AEC finally arrested him.
The police chief said he has threatened and made extortion calls to several builders in Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Amit Shah Testifies In Riots Case In Which Maya Kodnani Is Accused Of Murder
MMNN:18 September 2017
BJP president Amit Shah told a Gujarat court today that he had seen Maya Kodnani, a leader of his party, in the state assembly and then at Ahmedabad's Sola Civil Hospital on the morning of February 28, 2002. Mr Shah appeared as a defence witness in a riot case in which Kodnani is accused of murdering 11 Muslims on that day in Naroda Gam, an Ahmedabad suburb.
Ms Kodnani, who is a gynaecologist and was a legislator at that time, has pleaded in court that she was not in Naroda Gam when the rioting happened. She has claimed that she was in the state assembly that day and then went straight to the Sola Civil Hospital, where Amit Shah was present. She had sought that Mr Shah, who was a Gujarat legislator too then, testify to help prove her alibi.
"Maya Kodnani was inside the state assembly at 8.30 am," Mr Shah told the court today, adding that he had then left the assembly and reached the hospital at about 9:30 or 9:45 am. He said he met Kodnani while leaving the hospital between 11 and 11.15 am and that they were escorted out together, after which they went their separate ways.
Asked by lawyers whether he knew where Maya Kodnani was between the time that he saw her at the assembly and in the hospital, Mr Shah said he did not know. He also said he did not know where she went from the hospital.
Witnesses have alleged in court that Maya Kodnani led the rioters who attacked Naroda Gam on February 28, 2002. They have said they saw her in the area between 9.30 and 10 am on that day.
The judge had said last week that Amit Shah must appear today either in person or assign a lawyer to respond to Kodnani's claim that she was not present when 11 Muslims were killed during the riots in Naroda Gam. Kodnani had complained that she was unable to reach Mr Shah.
Maya Kodnani is one of 79 people facing trial in the case. The Supreme Court had last month asked the Ahmedabad court to conclude trial within four months.
Naroda Gam is one of nine major 2002 riots cases investigated by a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court.
In another case, Maya Kodnani was found guilty of the massacre of nearly 100 Muslims in a neighbourhood called Naroda Patiya, about 10 km from Naroda Gam, on the same day in 2002. She was sentenced to 28 years in jail, but was granted bail in 2014 after pleading that she is very unwell.
Kodnani became Gujarat's Minister for Women and Child Development in 2007 and served in that post till her arrest in 2009.
Ryan school murder: SC notice to Centre, states on plea over safety of students
MMNN:15 September 2017
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and state governments on a petition seeking comprehensive guidelines and a monitoring process for safety and security in schools.
The top court has asked for replies to be filed in three weeks. It has also asked solicitor general to assist the court in the case related to school security.
Two lawyers had moved the petition after last week’s murder of an eight-year-old inside the toilet of Ryan International School in Gurgaon.
Earlier, a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and AM Khanwilkar, said it has already issued a notice on a similar plea filed by the father of the child, who was killed at the Ryan International School.
The Supreme Court earlier had issued notice to the Centre, the Haryana government and the state’s Director General (DG) of Police, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the CBI on a plea seeking a probe by the central agency into the murder of a seven-year-old boy inside the Ryan International School.
After this, the CBSE issued a circular mentioning guidelines to be adopted by all schools for ensuring the safety of the students.
The CBSE, in its circular, directed schools to install CCTV cameras, ensure police verification of staff and regulate entry of outsiders in school building
Prime Minister Modi On Bullet Train Critics Then And Now
MMNN:14 September 2017
AHMEDABAD: Critics who earlier dismissed the bullet train as "big talk" are now asking what use it is, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today after inaugurating work on India's first bullet train in collaboration with Japan, whose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe jointly launched the project in Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
"When I was in Gujarat and used to speak about the bullet train, they said Modi only talks of bullet trains in India... They kept asking when will he get it. Now that they see I have actually got the Bullet Train to India, they ask why are you getting a Bullet Train?" the Prime Minister said.
"It's a new India which has to fly high," PM Modi said. He said the ambitious project would bring pace to development in the country and that no country can grow if they don't dream big. "To grow one needs to expand his dreams and decide his strength to achieve that," the Prime Minister said.
The bullet train is not India's priority," said Congress leader Anand Sharma, adding that the strategic partnership between Japan and India is very important and there are more crucial issues to be discussed. "Our prime minister should not limit it to the photo opportunity and theatrics. There are serious issues on the agenda. Prime Minister Modi has misplaced the priority," Mr Sharma said.
Sharp criticism also came from the BJP's Maharashtra ally Shiv Sena, which described the new bullet train project as PM Modi's "expensive dream" alleging that it will "loot the nation of Rs. 1,08,000 crore". Among the problems that the Shiv Sena listed in an article in its magazine the Saamna, is that the bullet train will have eight stops in Gujarat and only four in Maharsahtra. And that Maharashtra will "have to shell out Rs. 30,000 crore" for it.
It compared the project to those launched by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of the Congress, like the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other schemes, saying, "All those projects were needed by the country. Is the bullet train a project of national importance for which such a huge amount is being spent to cover the 508-km distance at 350-kmph speed?"
The bullet train, which is expected to halve the travel time between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, would be a ride for the rich, the Sena alleged, arguing that the money could've been spent to write off loans to distressed farmers. It has also asked why the bullet train project has been speeded up while existing infrastructure for the Railways is yet to be upgraded.
The ally has also questioned the timing of the launch, alleging that the bullet train is aimed at giving "something new to the industrialists of Gujarat where elections are coming up shortly."
The Congress has asked why Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is being hosted by the Prime Minister in Gujarat and not in national capital Delhi.
"We do not want to transgress propriety by commenting on a state visit but it is rather quixotic that the Prime Minister of a country as important as Japan, who is almost India's strategic partner in many respects, is strangely not even being hosted in Delhi," aid Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, and added that he hoped the visit is not being used for "political purposes" in view of the elections in Gujarat.
Can't Let Cat Out Of Bag': On Dawood Ibrahim, Minister VK Singh's Hint
MMNN:13 September 2017
NEW DELHI: Amid reports that the properties of India's most wanted Dawood Ibrahim have been seized by the UK government, union minister VK Singh commented today that "things are happening" but added: "We can't let the cat out of the bag".
Reports say Dawood's properties worth nearly seven billion dollars have been seized by the British government.
"We will not talk about Dawood at all. Certain things are happening. We can't let the cat be let out of the bag," Mr Singh told reporters in Kerala.
Dawood, the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which nearly 260 were killed, appears on UK's latest list of Financial Sanctions Targets. He has been based in Pakistan's Karachi for years.
He is listed as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council's ISIS and al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the UK in 2015, had reportedly handed over a dossier on the terrorist and gangster to his then British counterpart David Cameron.
According to the British media, Dawood owns a hotel and other residential properties in the country.
Known to be one of the richest gangsters in the world, Dawood allegedly has business interests in more than a dozen countries spread over Europe, Africa and South Asia.
Cabinet Nod Soon For Rs. 75,000 Scholarship For Bright Students: HRD Minister Javadekar
MMNN:12 September 2017
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet will soon give its nod to Rs. 75,000 monthly scholarship scheme for bright students in higher education institutes to arrest brain drain and encourage innovation, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar today said. The scholarship, the minister said, is meant for bright sparks at institutes like IITs and universities where required infrastructure is being provided under the Vishwajeet project and Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana.
"We are also starting PM Scholarship. I have already signed the Cabinet note. That is under circulations. It will come to the Cabinet very soon," Mr Javadekar said after inaugurating 'Sumant Sinha ReNew Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Energy and Environment' at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here.
The minister further said the scholarship will be for the best of the best brains who innovate.
"It will be Rs. 75,000 per month scholarship, which would be given to 1,000 students (in higher education institutes and universities). Rs. 75,000 per month (per head) is not a small thing. This is happening first time in India. I want to stop the brain drain," Mr Javadekar asserted.
The minister expressed hope that this will further push Make in India and help retain talent in the country.
He expressed confidence that the proportion of girl students in IITs will increase to 20 per cent by 2022, from the current 8 per cent.
About other initiatives, he said: "We have already started three major things on the Vishwajeet project through other agencies. The Higher Education Financing Agency is already operational. With Rs. 2,000 crore budget support, we are leveraging.... can improve debt market creating Rs. 20,000 crore or USD 3 billion. We want to push research in the higher education system."
The rationale behind the CoE is to establish a world-class research and development facility to develop cutting-edge renewable energy solutions. It is expected to foster exchange of ideas among the industry, the academia and policy makers from across the world to promote faster adoption of renewable energy.
Besides, it looks to offer research and internship opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D students in the industry. Developing research reports on renewable energy policy also forms part of the mandate.
The CoE is carrying out research in three broad fields - integration of large scale solar rooftop capacity with the electricity distribution network using battery storage technology, strengthening of the transmission grid to accommodate flow of renewable energy and development of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Chairman and CEO, ReNew Power, Sumant Sinha told reporters that the CoE would also take up more research projects in addition to the three in-hand projects.
Professor V Ramagopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi, said: "The CoE will bring together knowledge and research on clean energy, facilitate clean energy investments, and help deploy clean energy technology solutions to establish India as a rising leader in the world of renewable energy."
Supreme Court To Decide CBI's Appeal Against Karti Chidambaram On September 18
MMNN:11 September 2017
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today fixed on September 18 the appeal of the CBI challenging the Madras High Court order staying government's look out circular against Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, in a corruption case.
The FIR lodged by the CBI on May 15 had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs. 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said that its direction staying the Madras High Court order on lookout circular will remain in force in the meantime and as a result, Karti will not be able to leave India.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Karti, alleged that allegations levelled his client are baseless and challenged the probe agency to bring out the details of any property which the Chidambarams cannot account for.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, vehemently countered the submission and said that the probe was at a very crucial stage and substantial information have been given to the court in a sealed cover. The bench then fixed the matter for final disposal next Monday.
On September 1, the CBI had told the top court that there were "good, cogent" reasons for issuing look out circular against Karti.
On August 18, the court had asked Karti to appear before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters here for questioning in the case.
The bench had given the probe agency the liberty to question Karti as many times it wanted.
Prior to this, the apex court had said that Karti would not be allowed to leave India without subjecting himself to investigation in the case. The court had then stayed the Madras High Court order putting on hold the LOC issued by the Centre against Karti.
The CBI had claimed that the FDI proposal of the media house, cleared by Chidambaram, was "fallacious". The FIR was registered on May 15 before the special CBI judge here and the registration of the case was followed by searches at the residences and offices of Karti and his friends on May 16.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Objects To UGC Letter On Viewing PM's Speech
MMNN:9 September 2017
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a special address to the nation on Monday to mark the centenary celebration of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and 125 years of Swami Vivekananda's address at the Chicago World Parliament of Religions.
The theme of the event is Young India, New India - A Resurgent Nation: From Sankalp to Siddhi.
The speech will be broadcast from the Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi at 10:30 am, and the University Grants Commission or UGC, the apex body for hundreds of varsities across the country, wants all students to listen to the address.
The UGC has written to all vice chancellors saying they must "provide an opportunity and facility to teachers and students to view the PM's address", which UGC chairman VS Kaushal says, "could be life changing."
But the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal is not amused. "This is a clear attempt to saffronise education. They are taking decisions on their own without consulting us," West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, hours after he was made aware of the letter Friday.
Mr Chatterjee also objected to the clubbing together of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, a politician and head of BJP's fountainhead - Bharatiya Jan Sangh - and Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk and philosopher seeking to raise interfaith awareness.
Just last month, ahead of August 15, the Mamata Banerjee government had attacked PM Modi for sending out instructions on how to observe Independence Day in schools
Gauri Lankesh Dealt With Naxals, Why Did She Not Have Security, Asks BJP
MMNN:8 September 2017
NEW DELHI: Did the Karnataka government know of Gauri Lankesh's work to rehabilitate Naxals, and if it did, why was she not provided adequate security, union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asked today, also attacking Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for declaring RSS ideology guilty without an investigation having even begun into the journalist's murder.
Mr Prasad said the BJP condemned Gauri Lankesh's "dastardly killing", but also attacked what he called the "hypocrisy" of liberals. "Why is it that all my liberal friends who speak so eloquently and so strongly against the killing of a journalist, perfectly so entitled to, or even maoists and naxalites, maintain a conspicuous silence when so many RSS workers are killed in Karnataka or BJP workers in Kerala?" the minister said.
He asked the Congress government in Karnataka to "honestly investigate, without politics" the murders of BJP and RSS workers in the state. Rahul Gandhi, he said, had made "prejudiced and malafide" comments soon after Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at her Bengaluru home. "Even before the I of investigation could start, great leader Rahul Gandhi who always speaks without any homework, publicly alleged that the RSS and the right wing ideology is responsible... In the light of this unilateral, malafide comment, should we expect a fair investigation by the SIT of a Congress-led government (sic)?
Rahul Gandhi had tweeted after Gauri Lankesh was murdered, "Anybody who speaks against the RSS/BJP is attacked & even killed. They want to impose only one ideology which is against the nature of India."
Ms Lankesh, a fierce advocate of secularism and a frequent critic of right-wing ideology, was shot dead at pointblank range as she was entering her home after returning from work on Tuesday night. She worked extensively to rehabilitate Maoists as part of her Communal Harmony Forum
Her family has said they believe there was no personal motive behind Ms Lankesh's murder and that she was "killed for her views."
A day after her death her brother Indrajit Lankesh said Gauri Lankesh had got hate messages from Naxals. Asked yesterday if he suspected that Naxals could be behind her sister's death, he told NDTV, "It might be, it might not be. It might be the right wing extremists or it might be the Maoists because of the background."
But Gauri Lankeshs sister Kavitha said she did not see a Naxal link. "I think basically...I would like to say right-wing activism because her own ideology was dead against them. I don't know, I don't know, it is not personal I know. It is basically killing a thought. They wanted to kill a thought, kill a movement. I don't want to pinpoint right now,"
Hotels-for-land scam: Lalu Yadav to appear before CBI on Sept 11, Tejashwi on Sep 12
MMNN:7 September 2017
The CBI on Thursday issued fresh summons to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi in connection with irregularities in awarding the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels to a private firm during the former’s tenure as the railway minister.
The RJD leader has been asked to appear for questioning at the agency headquarter on September 11 and Tejashwi the next day, agency officials said
It is alleged that Yadav as railway minister had handed over the maintenance of two Railways hotels-- BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri-- to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime plot of land through a benami company.
The FIR alleged that Yadav, as a railway minister, abused his official position for extending undue favours to Kochhars and acquired the “high-value premium land” through a benami company Delight.
It alleged that Yadav, “dishonestly and fraudulently”, managed the award of leasing out BNRs at Ranchi and Puri to the company of Kochhars in quid pro quo transactions.
Reacting to the CBI summon, RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav that the government was adopting different yardstick in dealing with Prasad and those guilty of swindling public money in the Rs 1,300 crore Srijan government fund transfer scandal in Bihar.
He questioned why the Central government did not show the same alacrity in acting against the accused in the Srijan scam. He said there was no point raising brouhaha over a CBI notice to Prasad.
The CBI has registered the case against Lalu Yadav, wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi, and Sarla Gupta, the wife of former union minister Prem Chand Gupta.
Others named as accused in the FIR include Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel; Delight marketing company, now known as Lara Projects and the then Managing Director P K Goel.
'India Signs 11 Agreements With Myanmar To Bolster Ties
MMNN:6 September 2017
NAYPYIDAW: India and Myanmar today signed 11 agreements in a range of sectors, including one on maritime security cooperation, to further strengthen their multifaceted partnership.
The MoUs were signed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
India and Myanmar signed an MoU to strengthen maritime security cooperation.
The two sides also signed an agreement for sharing white shipping information to improve data sharing on non-classified merchant navy ships or cargo ships.
The 11 MoUs also include one between the Election Commission and Union Election of Myanmar, the national level electoral commission of Myanmar. An MoU was also signed to organise cultural exchange programme for the period 2017-2020, according to a statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs.
The two countries also signed agreements on cooperation between Myanmar Press Council and Press Council of India, extension of agreement on the establishment of India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT skill.
They also signed agreements to cooperate in 'Medical Products Regulation' and in the field of health and medicine. An MoU on enhancing the cooperation on upgradation of the women's police training centre at Yamethin in Myanmar was also inked.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Myanmar on the second leg of his two-nation trip during which he travelled to southeastern Chinese city Xiamen where he attended the annual BRICS summit and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.
This is PM Modi's first bilateral visit to Myanmar. He had visited the country in 2014 to attend the ASEAN-India Summit.
Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and shares a 1,640-km-long border with a number of northeastern states.
'Teachers Have Central Role In Realising New India Dream: PM Modi
MMNN:5 September 2017
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the teaching community on Teacher's Day and said they had a central role in realising the vision of a new India.
The prime minister also paid tribute to former president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary today. The day is celebrated in his honour.
"On Teachers' day, I salute the teaching community that is devoted to nurturing minds and spreading the joys of education in society. Teachers have a central role in realising our dream of a 'New India' that is driven by cutting edge research and innovation," PM Modi said.
He added that the next five years should be about teach to transform, educate to empower and learn to lead.
"My tributes to Dr S Radhakrishnan, an outstanding teacher and statesman on his birth anniversary," PM Modi, who is in China for the BRICS summit from where he will be going to Myanmar, said his message.
'Arvind Kejriwal Fined Rs. 5,000 By Court In Arun Jaitley Defamation Case
MMNN:4 September 2017
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today imposed another Rs. 5,000 as cost on Arvind Kejriwal over delay in filing his reply to a fresh Rs. 10 crore defamation suit filed by Union minister Arun Jaitley over use of an objectionable word allegedly by the CM's former lawyer.
Joint Registrar Pankaj Gupta directed Mr Kejriwal, who was earlier slapped with Rs. 10,000 as cost, to deposit Rs. 5,000 in the 'Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties'.
The cost was imposed after Mr Jaitley's counsel Manik Dogra informed the court that the chief minister's written statement to the suit was filed beyond the time of two weeks granted by this court on July 26.
The counsel further submitted that these were delayed tactics on the part of the chief minister.
Advocate Rishikesh Kumar, appearing for Mr Kejriwal, urged the court to condone the delay on the ground that the written statement could not be filed due to certain technical objections raised on two occasions by the High Court Registry.
Taking note of this submission, the Registrar condoned the delay on behalf of the chief minister and said the same is "subject to deposit of Rs. 5,000 costs."
The court has now fixed the matter for October 12. Meanwhile, Mr Kejriwal, in his reply to the defamation suit, filed through advocate Anupam Srivastava submitted that the union minister's suit "is liable to be dismissed as no civil action for damages for slander lies for any statement in pleadings or during the conduct of a suit against a party or a witness in it."
The high court had on May 23 sought response of Mr Kejriwal on why defamation proceedings should not be initiated against him.
Mr Jaitley had filed the second defamation suit after Mr Kejriwal's then lawyer Ram Jethmalani allegedly "abused" him in open court during proceedings of another defamation suit he had filed against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and five other party functionaries.
During the cross-examination of the Union minister on May 17 before the Joint Registrar in the High Court, Mr Jethmalani had allegedly used a term Mr Jaitley had found objectionable.
A day after, another high court judge, who was hearing a connected matter, had termed as "scandalous" the remarks allegedly made by Mr Jethmalani against Mr Jaitley before the Joint Registrar
'PM Modi To Pick New Team In Cabinet Rejig Tomorrow: 10 Points
MMNN:2 September 2017
NEW DELHI: More than 10 new ministers will be inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers will be sworn in tomorrow morning at 10 am in a big cabinet revamp. Sources says in short while from now the new minsters will start receiving phone calls and they have to be in Delhi by this evening. Since late Thursday night, at least eight ministers, including Uma Bharti, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjeev Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Kalraj Mishra and Bandaru Dattareya have resigned and sources say that more resignations are expected to make way for new faces.
Here are 10 updates in the story:
1-
A new Defence Minister is expected to be appointed as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who took on the extra job after Manohar Parrikar shifted to Goa as Chief Minister, will retain the Finance Ministry and shed off defence portfolio, sources said; he currently handles both key departments.
2-
Rail minister Suresh Prabhu is expected to get a new assignment, possibly defence, while his junior minister Manoj Sinha could be elevated in the ministry. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too could get a new ministry.
3-
The new team will also have at least two members from the BJP's new partner in Bihar, Nitish Kumar's the Janata Dal United. Ram Chandra Prasad Singh and Santosh Kushwaha are tipped to be ministers.
4-
The cabinet reshaping - the third in as many years - has been due for months now, especially in the scenario of vacancies and shifting alliances. Evictions from the cabinet are based only on performance after a review, the sources said, with PM Modi clear he wants ministers who perform and work hard.
5-
A performance review of ministers and their rating was reportedly submitted to PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, and it was the reference point when decisions were taken on changes to the cabinet.
6-
Sadananda Gowda, who was demoted from Law to Statistics and Programme Implementation in the last reshuffle, and who has not been among the best performers, is unlikely to lose his place in the cabinet because of elections in his state Karnataka next year. Two more BJP leaders from Karnataka could become ministers as the BJP tries to wrest the state back from the Congress. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh could be asked to go, sources said, though he denied any knowledge of an imminent exit.
7-
Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti did not deny that she has quit when asked, only saying, "I haven't heard that question, will not hear it and will not answer." Sources said though her ministry's performance on the gigantic Clean Ganga project, was found sub-par but she is likely to be retained in the cabinet.
8-
The move is expected to fill key cabinet vacancies and also bring into the council of ministers, leaders from states where elections will be held soon.
Bhupendra Yadav, who is the BJP's man in-charge of Gujarat, is among those likely to be made a minister. BJP chief Amit Shah has set a target of winning 150 of the 182 seats in assembly elections due in the state by the end of the year and an A-list central team led by Mr Jaitley will shape election strategy.
9-
Prahlad Singh Patel, who is from Madhya Pradesh, another state where elections will be held next year, could also be made a minister. The name of BJP Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra Vinay Sahasrabuddhe who is a party idealogue is doing the rounds as a possible new minister. As is that of Satyapal Singh, former police commissioner of Mumbai who defeated Uttar Pradesh politician Ajit Singh in his bastion Baghpat in the 2014 national election.
'Rabba (God), What's My Fault?' Ram Rahim Kept Saying In Jail
MMNN:1 September 2017
NEW DELHI: When he was taken to a jail in Haryana's Rohtak following his conviction for rape, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the self-appointed spiritual leader, kept muttering - "Rabba (God), mera kya kasoor hai (what is my fault)?"
Another prisoner, who is now out on bail, has also said that the Dera Sacha Sauda chief refused to eat proper meals and couldn't sleep the entire night on the first day.
"The five days I was in the jail, he didn't eat anything. We just had milk, tea, biscuits," said Swadesh Kirad, who was also at the Sunaria jail.
Swadesh Kirad said when two days later, a judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison for raping two followers, Ram Rahim kneeled down and shouted - "Hang me, I don't want to live anymore."
He also sat on the floor and wept loudly, refusing to leave the courtroom until he was led out by commandos.
Swadesh Kiran said the flashy and controversial Baba would have been attacked by fellow prisoners had he not been kept separately. "Prisoners were angry due to the violence that caused so many deaths. Had he not been kept separately, they would've attacked him."
Over 30 people died and nearly 200 wounded in violence by Dera followers after Ram Rahim was declared guilty by a court in Panchkula. He was later flown by a special government chopper to the Rohtak jail. His "adopted daughter" Honeypreet Insan accompanied him.
"He couldn't sleep the entire night. Also, there was no VIP treatment to #RamRahimSingh in jail, treated like every prisoner," Swadesh Kirad insisted
Arun Jaitley's Quip, Amit Shah's Meeting With 8 Ministers Fuel Reshuffle Buzz
MMNN:31 Aug 2017
NEW DELHI: Amid strong buzz around a cabinet reshuffle any day now, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was today asked by reporters how long he would continue as Defence Minister. "At least I hope not very long," he replied, chuckling.
Mr Jaitley took on the extra job after Manohar Parrikar shifted to Goa as Chief Minister earlier this year. Sources say he is likely to shed one of the two ministries before he leaves next month for Japan, where he is to attend the annual defence ministers' conference.
The possibly last major reshuffle before the 2019 national election is expected before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves on Sunday for a Brics summit in China. Amit Shah, the chief of the ruling BJP, has held several meetings over the past few days and today held discussions with eight ministers including Mr Jaitley. "It was about the Gujarat polls, nothing else was discussed," said minister Nirmala Sitaraman.
Many expect a change in the Railways Ministry after a series of accidents. For the first time after two derailments within four days, Minister Suresh Prabhu met PM Modi and indicated that he had offered to quit but was "asked to wait".
A rejig of the government has been due for months now, especially in the scenario of vacancies and shifting alliances. The ruling BJP may also accommodate leaders like Bhupendra Yadav, the in-charge of Gujarat, with an eye on elections in the state later this year.
Two key ministries opened up and were re-alloted after M Venkaiah Naidu was named Vice President of India. The Environment ministry was reassigned as additional charge after the death of minister Anil Dave.
The Centre is widely expected to reward Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), which is back to sharing power with the BJP in Bihar after a dramatic break-up with Lalu Yadav's RJD and the Congress in July.
Former union minister Praful Patel has denied reports that his NCP or Nationalist Congress Party will join the Modi government. "There is no basis for speculation that the NCP is joining the government in Delhi," Mr Patel tweeted on Monday.
Many are not convinced after Sharad Pawar's party has been telegraphing its detachment from the Congress-led opposition. The NCP skipped a meeting of the opposition called by Sonia Gandhi earlier this month, despite Mr Pawar claiming he would depute a representative. It was speculated that Mr Pawar was upset about the Congress suggesting he had betrayed the party in the recent Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat.
Mumbai's Civic Body BMC Lists Priorities For Restoring Rain-Ravaged City
MMNN:30 Aug 2017
MUMBAI: A day after copious rains, the civic authorities have moved to clear roads which have become slushy and strewn with garbage, and are also gearing up to tackle rush of patients in municipal hospitals.
Cars and other vehicles left behind by their owners due to flooding of streets, running out of fuel and breakdowns are causing traffic snarls and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is tackling this issue on a priority basis.
"Our first and foremost task is to clear the road traffic which is facing hurdles owing to silt and garbage which has got collected on street several places
"People have left their cars on roads, so (removing) them is among our first priority," said Sudhir Naik, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, today.
The police have taken note of cars and other vehicles left behind and offered free towing service. "If your car is out of fuel/stranded #Diall100 or 8454999999 or tweet us for free towing till the nearest fuel pump or garage #mumbairains," the Mumbai police tweeted.
"Then our second priority would be to attend the flow of patients in civic hospitals and dispensaries which usually see a spurt in their number after a spell of heavy rains," he said.
Also, the civic personnel are removing trees and branches which have fallen on roads and housing colonies, said the officer.
The civic body is making arrangements for 'visarjan' (immersion) of Lord Ganesh idols in the next few days, the officer said. "We are also repairing non-functional pumps installed at critical locations to flush out rainwaters."
Leaves of municipal staff have been cancelled and they have been asked to report to their respective work sites, the commissioner said.
He said over 25,000 civic staffers reported for work this morning and they have been immediately deployed for various tasks.
Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta was present in the BMC's Disaster Management Cell till late last night and reviewed the situation and the civic body's efforts to deal with heavy rains, Mr Naik said.
The officer admitted that a few places like Khar, Linking Road and SV Road in Bandra, Parel, Kalina, Hindmata (Dadar) and Sion were still water-logged. However, water level at these places had receded in absence of overnight rain.
Meanwhile, traffic jams on roads and subways at Andheri, Santacruz and Khar continued to cause hardships to motorist. Long-distance passengers were a harried lot after some of the trains were cancelled.
Savita Kumari, a stranded passenger at LTT, said, "I had to go to Varanasi yesterday but my train was cancelled due to rains. Now I am clueless what to do and I don't know how long can I survive here without food and water."
Central and western railways have short-terminated, diverted or cancelled a number of trains due to submergence of tracks and signal failure
Gurmeet Ram Rahim sentencing LIVE: Dera chief gets 10-year jail term for rape, two vehicles set on fire in Sirsa
MMNN:28 Aug 2017
Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Monday sentenced to 10 years in jail in a rape case. The court slapped a fine of Rs 65,000 on the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
Authorities are on high alert in Punjab and Haryana, as his followers went on the rampage that left 38 dead after his conviction of Friday. Ahead of the Monday’s court proceedings, the two states ordered schools and colleges shut, suspended mobile services, stepped up security and threw a five-tier cordon around a Rohtak jail, where a judge handed out punishment to the Dera chief for raping two disciples 15 years ago.
This (sentence) must be accepted by the people and peace must prevail, ANI quotes Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh as saying. “There is total normalcy, our forces are on their toes. Will not let any untoward incident happen
Meanwhile, Dera chairperson Vipassana Insaan appealed for peace amid reports that two vehicles have been set on fire in Sirsa, the headquarters of the sect.
The 50-year-old Dera Sacha Sauda leader was on Friday found guilty in the 15-year-old case. Within minutes of the verdict, his followers ran riot and clashed with security forces, leaving 38 people dead and 250 injured. While 32 people were killed in Panchkula, where the case was heard, six died in Sirsa, the headquarters of the sect.
The medical examination of Ram Rahim Singh is being done. After this, he will be given a jail uniform and will be allotted a cell in jail. Three ambulances are seen entering the jail premises.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh sentenced to 10 years in jail for rape.
Reports of arson from Sirsa’s Phulkan village, located within 1 km radius of Dera headquarters, say sources. Two vehicles reportedly set on fire by dera followers
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh holds security review meeting with DGP, chief secretary and other senior officials
Back in Delhi, an official said there were no Metro rail diversions or restrictions. “...these are just rumors to propagate false stories,” ANI quoted Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma saying.
“Delhi Police have made proper arrangements and deployment. Additional forces have been mobilised.”
The deployment of undercover policemen to guard sensitive locations across the national capital is among a slew of measures devised at a high-level police meeting to protect the city on Monday. Miscreants had set on fire two train coaches at Anand Vihar railway terminal, torched a few buses in parts of west and east Delhi and pelted stones at least in 12 locations across the city after Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction
Tough talk and assurance
Ahead of the sentencing, the deputy commissioner of Rohtak has said that those creating trouble should expect bullets if they defy warnings.
“We will not allow anyone to create any sort of trouble in Rohtak. Anyone breaking law or indulging in acts of violence or arson will himself be responsible for his fate. Anyone creating trouble will be given a warning first and if he still pays no heed, then he will have to face the bullet,” Atul Kumar told reporters in Rohtak, where the army has been kept on standby.
Kumar also said people do not have any reason to be afraid as stringent security measures have been taken and the situation in the district was “completely under control”.
Lockdown and high alert
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court judge Jagdeep Singh, who had on Friday held the Dera chief guilty of rape and criminal intimidation of two female disciples in 2002, will be flown to Rohtak for announcing the sentence.
The district jail premises, about 10 km from Rohtak town, has been completely cordoned off by security forces, including para-military forces and Haryana Police. The Army has been kept on stand-by.
No movement of people, other than those authorised, will be allowed within a distance of 10km from the prison premises.
“We are fully prepared for any situation. The army has been kept on stand-by,” Haryana director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu said.
Rohtak range Inspector General (IG) Navdeep Singh Virk said that 28 companies of para-military forces, along with Haryana Police, have been deployed in Rohtak.
Security forces were on high alert again on Monday in Haryana and Punjab as both states braced for the sentencing.
Curfew was reimposed in Haryana’s Sirsa town, where the sect’s headquarters are located, on Sunday. The curfew will continue on Monday.
The sect has lakhs of followers mainly in Punjab and Haryana
High Court Slams Haryana CM For Alleged 'Political Patronage' To Dera Chief
MMNN:26 Aug 2017
CHANDIGARH: Criticising Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for allegedly "protecting and extending political patronage" to self-styled godman and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today told the state government to file a case against those who instigated the large-scale violence in parts of Haryana, Punjab and New Delhi.
The high court told the state to verify a newspaper report on alleged instigation by leaders of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, and file a police complaint against the instigators "if the reporter stood by his report".
A high court bench of Justices SS Saron, Surya Kant and Avneesh Jhingan, in its resumed hearing, asked the state about its plans to sanitise the Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa town, some 260 kilometres from Chandigarh, where hundreds of followers are reportedly still inside.
Getting tough, the judges criticised Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma for recently granting Rs. 51 lakh to the sect.
The judges told the Deputy Commissioners of Punjab and Haryana to provide a list of the sect's properties and not to sell or transfer the assets, besides seeking a report on the violence.
A Central Bureau of Investigation court in Haryana's Panchkula town, adjoining Chandigarh, yesterday held Ram Rahim guilty of raping two women followers in 2002, sparking violent protest by his followers. The security forces opened fire to control the mob.
Thirty-one people, 29 of them in Panchkula, died while 250 others were injured.
DMK Urges Tamil Nadu Governor To Ask Chief Minister Palaniswami To Prove Majority
MMNN:25 Aug 2017
CHENNAI: The DMK today urged Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to immediately direct Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to prove his majority in the Assembly in the wake of revolt by 19 AIADMK MLAs, saying any delay could lead to "horse trading".
DMK working president and leader of the opposition in assembly MK Stalin, who had earlier this week written to the Governor seeking a floor test, dubbed the Palaniswami regime as a "minority government".
In a statement released in Chennai, he also questioned assembly Speaker P Dhanapal's action in issuing notices to the 19 MLAs yesterday on a memorandum by the Government Chief Whip seeking their disqualification for alleged anti-party activities.
Mr Stalin said had earlier written to the Governor urging him to immediately ask Mr Palaniswami to prove majority in the assembly.
Mr Rao should have immediately convened the assembly to ascertain the government's present strength after the MLAs loyal to sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran met him and sought Palaniswami's removal on Tuesday, he said.
Mr Stalin said the Governor should ensure that Mr Palaniswami does not continue in power by "creating a constitutional crisis and misusing anti-defection law
Referring to the Speaker's action, Mr Stalin said the notices had been issued in connection with an episode that did not happen in the assembly.
While the Speaker had not acted against present Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerslvam-led faction for voting against the government in the February 18 trust vote as the then rebel faction, he had issued notices to the 19 MLAs from Dhinakaran camp now, the DMK leader said.
"It is clear the Speaker has done so to save Palaniswami's minority government. During such times, every day's delay by the Governor in directing a confidence vote will pave the way for horse trading and other political manoeuvres," he alleged.
Mr Stalin's remarks come even as the 19 MLAs remained in a resort in Puducherry and have dismissed the disqualification demand as a "planned drama" and "intimidation" tactics.
The Dhinakaran camp MLAs raised the banner of revolt a day after the AIADMK factions led by Mr Palaniswami and former chief minister O Panneerselvam merged on August 21.
Ahead Of Ram Rahim Verdict, Court Says Haryana Government Has Failed
MMNN:24 Aug 2017
Barely two kms from where a court will tomorrow declare whether self-styled guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is guilty of rape, formidable groups of his followers have gathered on both sides of the road. The police estimates a lakh all and in this part of the town of Panchkula, it is easily out-numbered.
Groups of followers who are called "Premis" gathered on the side of the highway near the court said ''hundreds more of us will come by truck today." Naresh Kumar Insan arrived from Delhi three days back and is staying on the footpath, such is his devotion.
There is restricted entry now for Panchkula, a small town in Haryana about 15 kms from Chandigarh. A spokesperson for Ram Rahim's sect, called the Dera Sacha Sauda, says in what seems to be an exaggerated claim that there are at least 20 lakh "premis" in Panchkula for tomorrow's big ruling. As tension swells, their leader has called for peace on Twitter while disclosing that he will appear in person in the courthouse tomorrow. That's likely to throw the crowds into a frenzy.
"If that happens, we will ensure that proceedings happen peacefully and there is absolutely no disruption," said BS Sandhu, the top police officer in Haryana. "We intend to seal the entire court premises and shall not allow anybody to enter it, or from nearby."
The Punjab and Haryana High Court isn't impressed with the arrangements. It rebuked the Haryana government today for failing to maintain law and order, given the large presence of premis in Panchkula.
But clusters of hundreds of premis have already taken position near the courthouse. Sahil Insan, an 18-year-old who travelled by bus from Patiala and then walked 11 kms along with his friends, says the whole point of his journey is to get a glimpse of the 50-year-old guru who has starred in two movies called Messenger of God ('MSG") and its sequel in which he jiu jitsus the bad guys into the air.
Ram Rahim's cult of personality includes rhinestone-heavy costumes, some of them in leather, and the odd appearance on a high-end motorbike. He travels largely in a convoy of bullet-proof cars, part of the perks of the Z+ security given to him by the government of Haryana, where his sprawling campus is located in the town of Sirsa.
From Sirsa to Panchkula is a five-hour journey by road; many premis we spoke to said their travel was impelled by the need for solidarity at a time when their chief is fighting "fake charges."
The case, filed in 2002, accuses Ram Rahim of sexually exploiting two women followers at his ashram; he has denied any wrongdoing. Separately, a court has asked the CBI to investigate whether he encouraged 400 men to undergo castration, promising it would benefit them spiritually.
Chandigarh, which has a large prayer centre that doubles up as a major organizational office of the sect, is in total lockdown. Schools and colleges are closed, major roads are being patrolled by the police and buses are being stopped from heading towards Panchkula.
Those who have already made it into the town are using the local Ghaggar river to wash; some are cooking on its banks and helping new arrivals to settle in.
Air India chief Ashwani Lohani appointed chairman of Railway Board
MMNN:23 Aug 2017
New Delhi: The appointments committee of the cabinet on Wednesday appointed Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani as chairman, Railway Board. Lohani takes over from A.K. Mittal, whose resignation was accepted by railway minister Suresh Prabhu.
Lohani is an officer from the 1980 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME).
Mittals resignation came as a surprise because the appointments committee of the cabinet had just given him an extension. The extension was cleared by the Prime Ministers Office. The committee had approved Mittals continuation as chairman till he attains the age of 62 in 2018.
A senior government official, on condition of anonymity, said, Appointment of Lohani is a good move and his name was already doing the rounds, especially after his performance in Air India.
Will Win Panaji By-Poll With Better Margin, Says Manohar Parrikar
MMNN:23 Aug 2017
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday expressed confidence of winning the Panaji assembly by-poll with a bigger margin as there was "virtually no opposition" in the contest.
He said 98 per cent of his party's voters would be stepping out to cast their ballots. "My lead will increase," Mr Parrikar said.
When asked about his chances of winning the Panaji assembly seat for the sixth time, he said, "I can't see any opposition."
Asked about putting in more than usual effort in the by-poll campaign, than he and the BJP had in the past, Mr Parrikar replied: "Shouldn't one campaign?"
"There were general elections when I would campaign all over Goa. Now we are campaigning only here," Mr Parrikar said, after casting his vote at the Masson de Amorim polling booth.
"From my side we'll get 98 per cent... Two per cent may not be able to ...for some technical, medical reason," said Mr Parrikar, who is contesting against Girish Chodankar of the Congress and Anand Shirodkar from the Goa Suraksha Manch.
Speaking to reporters here, former state RSS chief Subhash Velingkar, who is the mentor of the Goa Suraksha Manch said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers would not support Mr Parrikar.
"RSS workers will not vote for him and our Anand Shirodkar will win this election, with a small margin," Mr Velingkar said.
Triple Talaq Verdict: Muslim Personal Law Board AIMPLB To Plan Future Action At Bhopal Meet
MMNN:22 Aug 2017
LUCKNOW: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board or AIMPLB will chalk out its future course of action with regard to the Supreme Court's verdict on triple talaq in its working committee meeting slated on September 10 in Bhopal, an official of the body said.
The meeting was convened earlier and its agenda was issued yesterday, member of the Board's working committee Zafaryab Jilani said.
"The working committee meeting in Bhopal on September 10 will take a decision on the future course of action on today's Supreme Court verdict after studying it in detail," he said.
Besides, other issues will also be taken up in the meeting with the verdict being the most prominent one, said Mr Jilani, who is also a senior counsel.
He said that the hearing on the Babri mosque case is also on the agenda of the Bhopal meeting.
When asked to comment on today's verdict on Triple Talaq, Mr Jilani said it will not be appropriate to comment on the Supreme Court's decision without studying it in detail
Lt Col Purohit, first Army officer arrested for terrorism, claims innocence
MMNN:21 Aug 2017
When Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit was arrested in late 2008, it shocked the country. He was the first Army officer to be arrested on charges of terrorism, accused of being a conspirator in the Malegaon blast. Here are key facts about Purohit, who was given bail on Monday.
At around 9.30 pm on September 29, 2008, a bomb kept on a motorcycle exploded near Hamidia Masjid in Malegaon, a communally sensitive textile town in Nasik district of north Maharashtra. Six persons were killed and 101 injured in the blast that was probed initially by the Maharashtra Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and then, taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011.
Purohit, 45, was a member of Abhinav Bharat, a trust formed to promote Hindu values but allegedly was a front to carry out attacks against Muslims. He collected funds to buy arms and explosives for the trust and organised meetings where the Malegaon attack was planned, investigators allege.
“Purohit was also accused of floating an organisation by the name of Abhinav Bharat in year 2007 with the intention to propagate a separate Hindu Rashtra with their own constitution with the intent to threaten unity, integrity and security of India,” says the NIA’s chargesheet in the Malegaon case . The NIA says Purohit hid his association with Abhinav Bharat, but he claims he was gathering intelligence and his senior officers were aware of his work.
“I have said everything before the (Army’s) court of inquiry. I have infiltrated Abhinav Bharat. I can only say that I have done my job properly and kept my bosses in the loop. Everything is in the Army records,” Purohit told Outlook magazine in an interview in July 2012.
“Having a particular ideology does not make me a terrorist or anti-national,” said Purohit when he was asked in the interview about allegations that Abhinav Bharat was involved in the Malegaon blast.
According to the NIA, Purohit held meetings in Faridabad on January 25 and 26, 2008, where the formation of a Hindu Rashtra was discussed. Purohit allegedly read the constitution of Abhinav Bharat and discussed the formation of a “Central Hindu government in exile in Israel and Thailand.
An NDTV profileof Purohit in March 2011 notes Purohit was commissioned into the Maratha Light Infantry after passing out of the Officers’ Training Academy at Chennai. He was serving in Jammu and Kashmir when he fell ill and was medically downgraded. He was then shifted to Military Intelligence.
The same NDTV report says Purohit was posted at Deolali in Maharashtra when he allegedly came in contact with Ramesh Upadhyay, a retired Major, and a founder of Abhinav Bharat. Upadhyay too is accused in the Malegaon case.
Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) passes resolution to join NDA
MMNN:19 Aug 2017
The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday passed a resolution to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during the party’s national executive meeting chaired by leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
The political move that makes the ruling party in Bihar officially an ally of the NDA at the Centre comes weeks after Nitish broke ties with the Grand Alliance parties - Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal - in the state and re-formed the government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Earlier in the day, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said that senior leader Sharad Yadav has every right to put forward his points of disagreement with the alliance, but he shouldn’t attend Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s programme as it will break their trust.
“Sharad Yadav is invited for the JD(U) national executive meet and he can sort out differences, but he shouldn’t attend Lalu Yadav’s programme. We will lose our faith in him, if he does so. He is one of the founders of the party, therefore, he can put forward his views in the meeting,” Tyagi told the media here.
He added that although Sharad Yadav does not agree with party’s decisions, there is no rift in the party.
Meanwhile, ahead of the national executive committee meeting of the JD(U), the two factions of the party - one led by Nitish Kumar and the other by former party president Sharad Yadav - put up striking publicity material in Patna, leading up to a poster war in the city.
Incidentally, both factions claim to be the “real JD(U)”.
The poster put up by Sharad Yadav’s faction showcased him with “Jan Adalat ka Faisla - Mahagathbandhan jari hai (decision of the people’s court - the grand alliance continues)” written on it.
The other has Nitish with party leaders - state JD(U) chief Basistha Narayan Singh, RCP Singh and others. “Nitish Kumar hi zindabad (hail only Nitish Kumar),” said the poster.
Sharad Yadav was sacked as JD(U)’s Rajya Sabha leader when he made his chagrin against Nitish Kumar snapping ties with the Lalu Yadav-led RJD and forging an alliance with the BJP, to form the next government in Bihar, quite evident.
Yadav also asserted that Nitish’s flip-flop, as far as his views on the BJP were concerned, was an insult to the 2015 mandate of the people given to the “Mahagathbandhan” and that he was still a part of the grand alliance in the state.
In the aftermath, the Nitish-led JD(U) even suspended 21 party leaders for participating in Yadav’s recent three-day Jan Samwad Yatra, wherein he interacted with the people of the state, indicative of a widening rift in the party.
Lalu Yadav had also come out in support of Sharad Yadav, leading up to the Nitish faction, reportedly, warning the latter that if he attended the August 27 “Desh Bachao, BJP Bhagao” rally of the former, he would be sacked from the party.
Sharad Yadav will hold a parallel convention in the state under the title ‘Jan Adalat’ later on Saturday.
Not Seeking Power, Positions For Children: Narayana Murthy Responds
MMNN:18 Aug 2017
NEW DELHI: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, singled out by the board of the software giant for the abrupt resignation of CEO Vishal Sikka, today said he is "anguished" by the allegations and is not seeking money, position for children or power." The 70-year-old reiterated that his chief concern has been "the deteriorating standard of corporate governance".
Mr Sikka quit Infosys three years after he became the first non-founder to be named the CEO of Infosys. His resignation comes after a protracted clash with Mr Murthy and other founders over his own pay as well as severance packages provided to top executives. The board has promoted Chief Operating Officer U.B. Pravin Rao as the interim CEO till a replacement is named.
A recent letter by Mr Murthy which allegedly attacked the integrity of the board was named by the company in its statement on Mr Sikka's exit.
"Murthy's continuous assault, including his latest letter, is the primary reason for the resignation of Sikka despite strong Board support," said the IT major in a statement after it accepted Mr Sikka's resignation and appointed him as Vice-Chairman till the new Chief Executive is appointed by March 31, 2018.
"Murthy's letter contains factual inaccuracies, already disproved rumours, and statements extracted out of context from his conversations with Board members," asserted the company.
Mr Sikka has blamed "unrelenting, baseless/malicious and increasingly personal attacks" for his decision.
Uttar Pradesh Police Detain Akhilesh Yadav On Way To Attend Protest Rally
MMNN:17 Aug 2017
UNNAO: Akhilesh Yadav was today detained by the police in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district when he was on his way to Auraiya to attend a protest rally. The Samajwadi Party or SP president, who was later released and allowed to go to Lucknow, attacked the Yogi Adityanath government in the state alleging that it was misusing state machinery.
The former chief minister was stopped near an under-construction toll plaza in the Hasanganj police station area on the Lucknow-Agra expressway and taken to the agriculture research centre in Dhaurhara from where he was allowed to return to Lucknow, Circle Officer Dhirendra Kumar Singh said.
"I was going to Auriaya to meet my party workers who were subjected to barbaric police action. The state government wants to win the zila panchayat post by misusing official machinery. My workers did not do anything wrong in Auraiya," Mr Yadav said.
"This dictatorial attitude with the help of police will not be tolerated. The BJP is only doing politics over cow," he added.
On a question about the tragic death of several children in a state-run hospital in Gorakhpur, he said it was a result of the government's failure.
Yesterday, the police had detained some senior SP leaders after workers allegedly turned violent at not being allowed to accompany their candidate for the zila panchayat chairperson's post to the nomination room in the Auraiya collectorate.
Supreme Court stays HC order that put on hold lookout circular against Karti Chidambaram
MMNN:14 Aug 2017
The Supreme Court stayed on Monday the Madras high court order that had put on hold the lookout circular issued by the Centre against Karti Chidambaram, son of former minister P Chidambaram, and others in connection with an alleged corruption case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notice to Karti Chidambaram and others on an appeal filed by the Centre challenging the high court’s order staying the look out circular.
The bench, during the hearing, repeatedly observed that Karti had not joined the investigation in the case and, moreover, he has not sought grant of anticipatory bail in the matter.
The bench, meanwhile, asked the high court to decide the petition seeking quashing of the FIR lodged by the CBI.
The case is related to alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds when Karti’s father was the Union finance minister in 2007.
The CBI had claimed that the FDI proposal of the media house was “fallacious”, but Chidambaram had cleared it.
The FIR dated May 15 was registered before the special CBI judge in Delhi. It was followed by searches at the residences and offices of Karti and his friends on May 16.
Chandigarh stalking: Vikas Barala, friend sent to judicial custody till Aug 25
MMNN:12 Aug 2017
The main accused in Chandigarh stalking case Vikas Barala, son of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Haryana unit president Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar were sent to judicial custody till August 25 on Saturday.
On August 5, Barala and Kumar were arrested on charges of stalking and harassing IAS officer’s daughter Varnika Kundu in Chandigarh. But he was granted bail on the same day.
The two appeared before duty magistrate Gaurav Datta at the Chandigarh district court on Saturday.
The police cops submitted an application asking for their judicial remand for 14 days. The court allowed the application and the two will now be produced in court on August 24.
After massive outrage on streets and in the Parliament, the accused appeared before a Chandigarh court on Thursday. The two, were then remanded in two-day police custody and charged with bid to kidnap the 29-year-old woman.
However, the accused have denied before police that they either stalked or made any bid to kidnap her. They, however, have admitted that they were in a car seen in the CCTV footage procured for the case.
Confronted with the footage, Barala recently also admitted he was driving the vehicle and that he - along with Kumar - had consumed beer before hitting the road when Kundu was allegedly stalked.
PM Narendra Modi Welcomes 'Farmer's Son' Venkaiah Naidu to High Post, Congress Defensive
MMNN:11 Aug 2017
Welcoming M Venkaiah Naidu, India's new Vice President as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning noted that "people from a humble, rural background today occupy the highest positions in India."
It showed the "maturity of Indian democracy and the strength of India's Constitution," said PM Modi, who sold tea at a stall in Gujarat when he was a young boy. He talked of how Mr Naidu, a farmer's son, rose to hold top positions in government, always in touch with his roots. "I always felt that he touched more on villages and farmers ...with a greater interest...it has been close to his heart."
Mr Naidu, the Prime Minister said, had risen from the grassroots and would lead Indian polity to greater heights, PM Modi said.
The inference was not lost on the Congress, for decades led by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. "Rich and poor is not the question," said the party's Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House. There were many people, he said, in high posts who came from families of limited means, but added, "salute the society who made this possible but also those who were rich back then. Jawaharlal Nehru was a big lawyer; by today's standards he might have been earning up to 10 crore a day. Gandhiji had a good family background, that is why he reached South Africa. But people like these sacrificed everything for the nation."
The Congress leader then reeled off a string of names of leaders who he said "were well-off but sacrificed everything and gave us a nation where anybody can be the President, Vice-President, Army Chief. "
Mr Naidu, 68, walked into the Rajya Sabha today to loud cheers and a standing ovation. He was elected earlier this month as Vice President, defeating former West Bengal Governor Gopal Gandhi who was fielded by a joint opposition. A seasoned parliamentarian, Mr Naidu was, till he resigned to contest the vice presidential election, a senior Union Minister. He has also served as the BJP's president.
PM Modi, who welcomed Mr Naidu as soon as the Upper House convened today, the last day of the monsoon session, said "Mr Venkaiah Naidu is the first Vice President to be born in Independent India. He is the the only VP according to me who has been for years in this (Parliament) complex, among all these people. He is acquainted with all nitty-gritties of all procedures and functions of the House."
Ghulam Nabi Azad too referred to Mr Naidu's experience as a parliamentarian and hoped that "the legacy of not allowing any Bill to be passed in a jiffy will continue."
"You as an MP and a minister have been witness to a custom, that everybody has the freedom to express themselves here. This is the forum given to us by our Constitution... MLAs are elected by crores and they send us here...So this House has a dual responsibility, towards the public and the state legislatures," the Congress leaders said.
The Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav said bills must not be passed amid shouting and chaos, and wished Mr Naidu luck saying, "Hope after Vice President you will move to the next top post," referring to post of President of India.
Fear, unease growing among Muslims in India, says outgoing vice president Hamid Ansari
MMNN:10 Aug 2017
In his parting interview to Rajya Sabha TV, vice president Hamid Ansari ruled out possibilities of Indian Muslims getting influenced by ISI and such other elements but mentioned that it would be a correct assessment to say that the Muslim community is feeling insecure.
A feeling of unease and insecurity is creeping in among Muslims in India, vice president Hamid Ansari said, joining a growing number of leaders who have expressed concerns over attacks on minorities.
Ansari, who completed two terms as vice president on Thursday, said that there is a breakdown of Indian values and of the abilities among authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work.
“Overall, the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought,” he said in his parting interview to Rajya Sabha TV, released on Thursday
On Wednesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi raised similar concerns during a speech in Parliament where she urged people to not let “dark forces” diminish India’s core values.
Neither Ansari nor Gandhi named any party or individual in particular, but their statements can be seen to allude to the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which the Congress party and other opposition outfits often accuse of pandering to right-wing Hindu ideologies.
Ansari was a member of the Congress before being nominated Vice President in 2007.
In his interview, Ansari said that he shared his apprehensions to the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers, but refused to divulge details of their interaction on the plank that “what passes between the vice president and the Prime Minister in the nature of things must remain in the domain of privileged conversation.”
Ansari was asked a question on his lecture at the National Law School in Bengaluru earlier this month where he said rejuvenating secularism’s basic principles was becoming a challenge.
“Yes, it is a correct assessment. From all I hear from different quarters, the country. I heard the same thing in Bengaluru, I have heard from other parts of the country, I hear more about in north India. There is a feeling of unease, a sense of insecurity is creeping in,” he told journalist Karan Thapar during the interview after being asked to reflect on his statement in Bengaluru.
The outgoing vice president also ruled out the possibility of Indian Muslims being influenced by militant outfits.
Ansari, the only two-term vice president after S Radhakrishnan, also voice advice for Muslim community.
“Do not create for one self or one’s fellow beings an imaginary situation which is centuries back, when things were very different. I mean the whole idea was that what are the challenges today... The challenges today are challenges of development, what are the requirements for development; you keep up with the times, educate yourself, and compete...”
He said the issue of Triple Talaq is a social aberration and the reform has to come from within the community. “The religious requirement is crystal clear, emphatic, there are no two views about it but patriarchy, social customs has all crept into it to create a situation which is highly undesirable.”
Former union minister Venkaiah Naidu has been elected as his successor and Ansari thinks that the nature of the job (chairman of Rajya Sabha) will dictate the response and there is no reason why the Opposition will not get a fair deal under Naidu’s chairmanship.
Parliament Live: Rajya Sabha resumes after adjourning again over MPs protesting BJP
MMNN:9 Aug 2017
Parliament began its Wednesday session with a commemorative discussion on the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement in Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed Mahatma Gandhi’s “Karenge ya marenge” (do or die) slogan, saying India needs to tackle its challenges of poverty, lack of education and malnutrition.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi recalled the Quit India Movement struggle and added that secularism and free speech are in danger today.
The lower house was expected to introduce the National Sports University Bill, while it will also consider the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill and the Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill.
The Rajya Sabha is expected to take up for consideration the Indian Institutes of Management Bill.
MPs still argue about which to take first – opposition’s currency issue or the NDA’s Banking Ordinance. Few MPs ask to not pass the Banking Ordinance without discussion
‘Sultanate gone, but we behave like sultans’: Jairam Ramesh admits Congress in deep crisis
MMNN:8 Aug 2017
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it was wrong for the Congress party to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in the states being ruled by the BJP in the elections
The Congress is facing an “existential crisis”, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said, pitching for “a collective effort” by party leaders to “overcome” the challenges it faced from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.
Ramesh also said that business as usual approach will not work against Modi and Shah and advocated for a flexibility in approach to make Congress relevant.
“Yes, the Congress party is facing a very serious crisis,” Ramesh told PTI in an interview.
He said the Congress had faced “electoral crisis” from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power. The party had also faced “electoral crisis” in 1977 when it lost the elections held soon after the emergency.
“But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis,” he said, when asked whether the threat of “poaching” of MLAs posed by the BJP in Gujarat had forced the party to transport its MLAs to Karnataka to ensure party leader Ahmed Patel’s victory in the Rajya Sabha polls.
He, however, justified the Gujarat Congress’s decision to send 44 of its MLAs to a resort in party-ruled Karnataka on July 29 to fend off the alleged “poaching” attempts by BJP, saying the saffron party had also “transported” MLAs in the past.
He said it was wrong for the Congress party to think that anti-incumbency will work automatically against the Modi-led government in the states being ruled by the BJP in the elections.
“We have to understand we are up against Mr Modi, Mr Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly,” the Congress leader said.
He said the Congress party must also recognise that India has changed. “Old slogans don’t work, old formulas don’t work, old mantras don’t work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change,” he said.
The former union minister hoped that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would end the uncertainty over his taking over as the Congress president to make the party ready for crucial electoral battles in key states in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls scheduled a year later.
“I think in all probability, Rahul Gandhi will take charge (as Congress president) before the end of 2017,” he said.
The senior leader lamented that he had been proved wrong in the past about his prediction about Rahul’s assuming charge of the top party job.
“I thought it will happen in 2015, it didn’t happen. I thought it will happen in 2016, it didn’t happen. So I am the wrong person to ask this question. I feel that it may happen before the end of 2017,” Ramesh said.
He said he had “no” indication about appointment of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president.
“I have only expectation. That’s all. In 2018 and 2019 you will be busy with elections. State elections, national elections...and this type of thing ...uncertainty is not good,” and urged the Gandhi scion to “finish it off.”
Asked if there is anyone in the Congress party to give a strong challenge to Modi in 2019 elections, Ramesh said, “I have always maintained that it is the collective strength of the Congress that will overcome Mr Modi not some individual magic wand”.
“It has to be a collective effort,” he said.
Ramesh took a potshots at party leaders who still behave as if the party is still in power.
“The sultanate has gone, but we behave as if we are sultans still. We have to completely redo the way of thinking, the way of acting, the way of projecting, the way of communicating.
“I think there is a lot of goodwill for the Congress, a lot of support for the Congress but people want to see a new Congress. They don’t want to see old mantras, old slogans. We must recognise this is a big challenge. Huge challenge for us,” he said.
He said Nitish Kumar’s return to the Indian fold was a big setback for anti-BJP coalition in the country, describing it as a “completely betrayal of the mandate” given to the Mahagathbandhan by the people of Bihar.
Ramesh, who shares a personal rapport with Kumar, said, “personally, I was aghast, astonished, deeply disappointed, but we have to move on and we don’t have time.”
Ramesh, representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, expressed hope that the “revival” of Congress will happen in Karnataka next year as it had happened 40 years ago in 1978 in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in the state which gave political rebirth to Indira Gandhi who faced defeat in Rae Bareli in the elections held after the Emergency.
Dialogue and debate, Asia’s oldest traditions, needed to resolve conflicts: Modi
MMNN:5 Aug 2017
PM Narendra Modi said the ancient Indian concept of “Tarka Shastra” (debate) is founded on dialogue and debate as the model for exchange of views and avoidance of conflict
Dialogue is the only way to cut through deep-rooted religious stereotypes and prejudices that divide communities across the world and sow seeds of conflict between nations and societies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
“As the inter-connected and inter-dependent world of 21st century battles a number of global challenges, from terrorism to climate change, I am confident that the solutions will be found through Asia’s oldest traditions of dialogue and debate,” he said.
Modi said he is a “product of the ancient Indian tradition that firmly believes in dialogue on difficult issues.”
He stated this in a video message to the 2nd edition of ‘Samvad- Global Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness’ being held in Yangon.
The prime minister said the ancient Indian concept of “Tarka Shastra” (debate) is founded on dialogue and debate as the model for exchange of views and avoidance of conflict
It is only natural that the search for answers be led by the humanity’s longest traditions of thought, rooted in various religions, civilizations, and multiple streams of spirituality, he said.
Giving examples of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha and Bhakta Prahlada, he said the purpose of each of their actions was to uphold ‘dharma’ (duty), which has sustained Indians from ancient to modern times.
Talking about the environment, he said man must relate to nature and revere it and not merely consider it a resource to be exploited.
If man does not nurture nature, then nature reacts in the form of climate change, he said.
Environmental laws and regulations, while essential in any modern society, afford only an inferior protection to nature, he added, calling for “harmonious environmental consciousness.
For the first time, BJP is largest party in Rajya Sabha; Cong pushed to second spot
MMNN:4 Aug 2017
It is also the first time that the Congress – the grand old party of India – has been pushed to the second spot in the Upper House, reflecting the downswing in its fortunes across the country
For the first time ever, the ruling BJP has become the largest party in the Rajya Sabha and is set to add a few more to its tally next year, potentially giving the ruling NDA a chance to push through key legislations in the Upper House.
It is also the first time that the Congress – the grand old party of India – has been pushed to the second spot in the Upper House, reflecting the downswing in its fortunes across the country.
Madhya Pradesh tribal leader Sampathiya Uikey took oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Thursday, taking the number of BJP lawmakers to 58, one more than the Congress.
The BJP already has a brute majority in the Lok Sabha after the party’s stunning success in the 2014 Lok Sabha seat. The BJP also is in power in 18 states, either on its own or in alliance with other parties
The Congress’ power base is now reduced to just six out of 29 states.
Even during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government’s tenure, the BJP was mostly below 50 seats in the Upper House.
Though the BJP-led NDA is still far short of the majority mark in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, it is likely to change from mid-2018 when it might hope to outnumber the opposition grouping with help from friendly parties.
In April next year, 57 Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant.
Of the 10 seats falling vacant from Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is expected to get as many as nine, a gain of eight seats for the ruling party.
It will also reap rich harvest in other states, such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana, where the party is in power
While the Modi government may not get a majority in the Rajya Sabha during its current tenure, it is likely to have enough numbers to overcome the opposition with support from like-minded parties including Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), who revived an old alliance with the BJP this month.
Income Tax raids continue at Congress minister DK Shivakumar’s properties
MMNN:3 Aug 2017
Sources said cash was recovered from the operation, but the value was still to be determined. Officially, the department has not said if it retrieved any money.
Income Tax department officials continued for the second day on Thursday their raids on properties linked to Karnataka energy minister DK Shivakumar, who is in charge of hosting Congress MLAs from Gujarat shifted outside to avoid a break in their ranks.
Officials said 39 locations in Karnataka were being searched, in addition to some in Chennai and Delhi. IANS identified the Delhi properties to be located in Safdarjung and RK Puram.
According to sources, cash was recovered since the searches began at 7am on Wednesday, but there was no indication of the value. The department has not officially confirmed if it retrieved cash.
The raids on Shivakumar escalated into a political confrontation between his Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress raised the issue in parliament, forcing multiple adjournments in the upper house, and the BJP of carrying out “an unprecedented witch-hunt”.
The Congress legislators taken to Karnataka are crucial for the party’s prospects in a close Rajya Sabha election scheduled next week in which Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to party president Sonia Gandhi, is seeking re-election.
The party saw a string of defections from its Gujarat cadre, prompting it to accuse the BJP of using money and muscle power to gain an advantage in the RS polls.
The raids on Shivakumar triggered protests by Congress members. On Wednesday, youth Congress leaders protested near Shivakumar’s residence in Bengaluru and outside the I-T office in Mangaluru.
Senior Congress leaders in the state were quick to condemn the raids, especially the use of paramilitary forces at the residence of the minister.
“I-T raids targeting energy minister D K Shivakumar is completely politically motivated and central government’s role behind it is well known,” chief minister Siddaramaiah said in a statement. He said, “It is not right on the part of central government to use I-T department for its political conspiracies. We will not bow down to such intimidation.”
Note ban had positive impact on incidents of violence, stone-pelting in J-K: Govt
MMNN:2 Aug 2017
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been sponsored from across the border.
The demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had a “significant positive impact” on most “theatres of violence” in the country, including stone-pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said since illegally held cash forms a major chunk of terror funding, after the Centre’s note-ban decision on November last, most of the cash held by terrorists turned worthless.
He said demonetisation led to instant extinguishment of Pak-printed high quality fake Indian currency notes and also adversely affected the hawala operators.
“As per reports of agencies, the demonetisation of bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations resulted in significant positive impact on most theatres of violence in the country including stone-pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir,” Ahir said in reply to a question.
The minister said the demonetisation caused disconcert among the Maoists, who tried to minimise their losses by having the money deposited in the accounts of sympathisers or of simple villagers on the basis of coercion.
Replying to another question, Ahir said terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been sponsored from across the border.
Giving statistics, he said in 2017 up to July 23, there were 184 incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir in which 109 terrorists, 38 security personnel and 19 civilians were killed.
During the same period in 2016, there were 155 incidents of violence in the state in which 86 terrorists, 31 security personnel and five civilians were killed, Ahir said.
‘Our Gujarat MLAs threatened by cops, offered bribe ahead of RS polls: Congress in Parliament
MMNN:31 July 2017
The Congress has accused the BJP of threatening and trying to “buy” MLAs in Gujarat ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha election
Opposition Congress on Monday forced a brief adjournment of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, alleging the Gujarat police abducted and threatened its MLAs in the state in order to influence their votes in the upcoming elections to the Upper House.
Congress members marched to the Well of the House, raising anti-government slogans, which were matched by counter-sloganeering by the Bharatiya Janata Party benches. Amid the pandemonium, deputy chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes during the Zero Hour soon after it met in the morning.
Raising the issue, Congress’ Madhusudhan Mistry alleged his party’s legislators were being “kidnapped” and offered a bribe of “Rs 10-15 crore” in order to influence their vote in the August 8 elections to send three members from the BJP-ruled western state to the Rajya Sabha.
The BJP has fielded three members, including party president Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and a rebel Congress MLA Balwantsinh Rajput for the election. Ahmed Patel, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser, is seeking a re-election for the fifth time from the state.
The saffron party has rejected the Congress’ charge and countered tongue and cheek whether the rival lawmakers were “purchasable”.
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Kurien said he was not allowing Mistry’s notice under rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business to take up the issue as the same matter was raised on Friday as well.
Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi charged the Congress with “kidnapping” its own MLAs and lodging them in a holiday resort in Karnataka at a time when the people of Gujarat were facing miseries after flash floods.
“You should be ashamed,” he said, daring the Congress party to debate the matter in the House.
As slogan-shouting Congress members entered the Well, some BJP members moved into the aisles and raised counter slogans. Kurien said he was forced to adjourn the proceedings on Friday as well after members from both the sides came into the Well.
He said he has heard Naqvi say the government was ready for a discussion. “If you want discussion, give separate notice. We will consider it,” he said.
Congress members were unmoved but that did not prevent Kurien from calling members to raise their Zero Hour mentions. “If you have something against the government, why do you obstruct other members,” Kurien said adding that Zero Hour was members’ business and their rights are being obstructed.
“By slogan shouting, you will achieve nothing,” he added.
In the melee, AIADMK’s AK Selvaraj raised the issue of hydrocarbon exploration in Tamil Nadu and asked the government to cease all such activities as it would impact ground water table and crops.
His colleague S Muthukaruppan sought the government’s intervention for the release of 75 Tamil fishermen and their fishing boats from Sri Lankan captivity.
But Congress members remained unrelenting and continued to raise slogans, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue, saying: “The Congress MLAs are being put under pressure.”
Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia too alleged that each of the Congress MLAs in Gujarat was offered Rs 15 crore in return for supporting the BJP.
Both Kharge and Scindia wanted a discussion on the issue in the House.
However, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the demand, saying it was a subject relating to a state and cannot be discussed in the House.
The Congress flew most of its Gujarat MLAs to Karnataka, which it rules, after six of its 57 lawmakers in the Gujarat assembly resigned on Friday and Saturday. The defectors are believed to be close to former chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the Congress on June 21, his 77th birthday, alleging some party leaders were conspiring against him.
The defections reduced the party’s strength in the assembly to 51, but Patel still has the numbers to sail through.
Patel will need the votes of 45 lawmakers. The party hopes two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lawmakers will vote for him. Besides, rebel BJP lawmaker Nalin Kotadiya could switch sides.
Congress strategists fear more desertions, considering that 11 party MLAs allegedly cross-voted for the BJP-led NDA candidate, Ram Nath Kovind, in the July 17 presidential election.
But with each resignation, the number of required votes for Patel will go down too.
‘Terrorists wear Pathan suits’: How tribunal justified bail for Machil soldiers
MMNN:29 July 2017
The so-called Machil encounter saw three men - Shazad Khan (27), Shafi Lone (19) and Riyaz Lone (20) –killed in a staged shooting in the early hours of April 30, 2010 at Sona Pindi in Machil sector of the LoC.
Wearing a Pathan suit in Kashmir can be dangerous, so much so that one can be taken for a terrorist and killed by security forces.
A military tribunal, which granted bail this week to five army soldiers convicted of killing three people in a staged shooting in 2010, said it believed the dead were terrorists because they wore Pathan suits.
In its bail order, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), said, “The fact that the accused persons were terrorists… cannot be ruled out because they were wearing Pathan suits which are worn by terrorists.” The flowing Pathan or Pathani suit is a common men’s clothing across Kashmir.
HT has a copy of the order.
The extra-judicial shooting came to be known as the Machil fake encounter in which three civilians were killed in cold blood by soldiers looking to collect a bounty on militants. Subsequently, an army court sentenced six soldiers, including a colonel, to life in jail but five of them went into appeal before the AFT in New Delhi.
The AFT also said they believed the three young men killed were not civilians because they had ventured too close to the de facto border between India and Pakistan, which is often used by militants to travel between the two countries.
“There was absolutely no justification for a civilian to be present at such a forward formation near LoC, that too during the night when infiltration from across the border was high,” the AFT bench said, referring to the heavily militarised de facto boundary or the Line of Control (LoC).
The tribunal is being presided over by Justice V K Shaili and Lt General SK Singh
In granting bail to the five soldiers, the court also imputed motive behind a delay in filing of a police complaint by the parents of the dead men.
The bench said, “Complaint was belatedly filed only to garner some sympathy or getting material monetary compensation on account of the alleged killing of their child.”
The so-called Machil encounter saw three men - Shazad Khan (27), Shafi Lone (19) and Riyaz Lone (20) –killed in a staged shooting in the early hours of April 30, 2010 at Sona Pindi in Machil sector of the LoC.
Later, investigations found the three were lured with the promise of jobs to an army camp in Kupwara where they were shot dead by soldiers looking to claim a reward for killing militants.
The bodies were buried in a local graveyard. The staged gun battle was later exposed by the state police after the families of the victims filed a missing report.
A subsequent army inquiry also upheld the police findings and court-martialed the soldiers.
The Machil killings triggered a cycle of violent street protests in Kashmir that left more than 100 people dead that year. It was also the first time in Kashmir that army personnel, including a colonel, were given life terms for extra-judicial killings.
The bench also questioned why three civilians would be in “combat Pathan fatigue with ammunition belts around their waists and carry firearms”.
“If a person is a civilian, he would certainly not be in combat uniform, much less he would carry fire arms and ammunition with him,” the bench concluded in its bail order.
SC dismisses abortion plea for 10-year-old rape survivor who is 32 weeks pregnant
MMNN:28 July 2017
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking its nod for terminating the 32-week-old pregnancy of a 10-year-old rape survivor after taking note of a medical report that abortion was neither good for the girl nor for the foetus.
A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the report of the medical board set up by PGI (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) Chandigarh to examine the rape survivor and the consequences if the termination of pregnancy was allowed.
The bench expressed satisfaction over the medical care being provided to the rape survivor at present and dismissed the plea seeking abortion.
The bench asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, who was present in the court room, to consider its suggestion to set up a permanent medical board in every state to take a prompt decision on prospects of early abortion in view of the fact that such cases are reaching the apex court in a big way.
The PIL was filed after a Chandigarh district court on July 18 refused to let the girl undergo the abortion.
Courts allow medical termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and can make an exception if the foetus is genetically abnormal.
The petition, filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, has sought appropriate guidelines be framed by the top court to set up a permanent medical board in each district of the country for expedient termination of pregnancies in exceptional cases involving child rape survivors under the best-possible medical facilities.
Bihar game of thrones: Nitish Kumar’s journey from Modi-baiter to BJP ally
MMNN:27 July 2017
Nitish Kumar has been a pivotal figure in Bihar politics even before he became the chief minister for the first time in 2000, a short term that lasted merely barely a week in a hung assembly. Since then, he has been in charge for many years, growing in stature and even being seen as the opposition’s challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. But four years after challenging Modi, political compulsions forced Nitish to take the support of the same BJP to stay in power.
A timeline of Nitish Kumar’s political journey...
1994
February: Internal revolt in ruling Janata Dal in Bihar. Nitish Kumar joins the faction opposed to then chief minister Lalu Prasad. “We seek our rightful share, not charity, a government that ignores our interests cannot be allowed to remain in power,” he says.
June: Nitish quits Janata Dal and floats Samta Party with George Fernandes.
2000
March 3: Nitish becomes chief minister for the first time after assembly elections throw up a hung house. But he lasts only till March 10, barely a week
2003
October 30: Janata Dal, led by Sharad Yadav, merges with Samta Party, forming Janata Dal (United).
2005
November 24: CM Nitish’s begins second term that lasts till November 24, 2010. Ahead of taking charge, Nitish says: “People are anxious for a change and would throw Lalu out forever…”
2010
November 26: Returns to power for third term.
2013
June 16: Breaks alliance with BJP after BJP names Narendra Modi as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He says defiantly, “We decided not to compromise on our basic principles and whatever happens I am not worried about the consequences.”
2014
May 17: Resigns as CM a day after the Modi-led NDA wins a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The NDA bags 31 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and Nitish’s JD (U) manages just two. “I take moral responsibility for the defeat…I should,” he says.
May 20: Nitish annoints colleague Jitan Ram Manjhi as Bihar CM. Nitish and Manjhi fall apart after 276 days.
2015
June 5: Nitish Kumar named CM candidate of the JD (U)-led grand alliance (GA) that includes RJD and Congress
November 8: Nitish-led alliance wins 178 out of 243 assembly seats, forms government.
2016
January 21: First signs of trouble in GA with RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh blaming Nitish for law and order situation in Bihar
September 10: Former Siwan MP and controversial RJD politician Shahabuddin released from jail. He praises Lalu Prasad and terms Nitish a “chief minister of circumstances”.
September 11: Nitish hits back at Shahabuddin, saying people of Bihar know whom they have pledged support to. “Everybody knows what (the) mandate of the people of Bihar is. Should I go by the people’s mandate or pay attention to what someone is saying?”
September 29: Nitish praises surgical strike by army across LoC
November 9: A day after demonetisation, Nitish and Lalu differ on Modi’s step. Nitish calls it as a move to wipe out black money, while the RJD chief calls it a “fraud”
2017
January 5: Prime minister Narendra Modi shares stage with Nitish Kumar in Patna. Modi praises Nitish on total prohibition and says it will inspire others
May 26: Nitish skips lunch hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss joint Opposition candidate for presidential post
May 27: Nitish attends lunch hosted by Modi in honour of visiting Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. Nitish also holds private meeting with PM.
June 21: Nitish pledges support to former Bihar governor, Ram Nath Kovind, NDA’s candidate for president’s poll.
July 7: CBI raids 12 locations related to Lalu Prasad in connection with the alleged land-for-hotel scam. His son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, wife Rabri Devi and business associates named in FIR.
July 8: Residence and properties of Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti in New Delhi raided.
July 10: RJD rules out Tejashwi’s resignation
July 11: Nitish breaks silence, tells Tejashwi to reply “fact-wise” in public. He says : “I shall not compromise with my principles. I am firm on my resolve of zero tolerance against corruption.”
July 15: Tejashwi skips an official function in Patna chaired by Nitish. His nameplate on the dias is first covered with a cloth and later removed.
July 18: Tejashwi meets Nitish after Cabinet meeting to explain his stand on the CBI charges.
July 26: Lalu reiterates Tejashwi will not resign, says Nitish has not asked him to quit. Nitish meets governor after JD(U) legislature party meeting, submits resignation. BJP extends support to Nitish for forming next government.
July 27: Nitish sworn in as chief minister. “Whatever decision we have taken will be in the interest of Bihar and of its people. It will ensure development and justice. It will also ensure progress. This is a collective decision. I ensure that our commitment is towards the people of Bihar,” he says after taking oath.
PM Modi’s ‘largesse’ for Gujarat floods outrages ‘ignored’ Assam
MMNN:26 July 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aerial survey of flood-affected areas in his home state Gujarat on Tuesday and the announcement of Rs 500 crore as relief haven’t gone down well in Assam.
Many in Assam, where floods wreaked havoc in 29 of the state’s 32 districts this month and claimed 77 lives till date, have vented ire on social media accusing the Centre of neglect.
The state government has estimated that the total damage caused by the recent floods is nearly Rs 2,939 crore. The Centre is yet to announce any interim flood-relief package for Assam.
“Over 70 died in Assam flood. Modi sends junior minister (Kiren) Rijiju. Flood in Gujarat. Modi flies himself. Why two separate standards?” questioned journalist Atanu Bhuyan on Twitter.
While Modi conducted an aerial survey of two flood-ravaged districts in Gujarat, a seven-member central team led by Union home ministry joint secretary VS Sekhar arrived in Guwahati to assess the situation.
“Forget the announcement of an aid package, the PM didn’t even consider visiting Assam himself or sending a senior minister. It clearly shows Centre’s biased attitude to our state,” farmers activist Akhil Gogoi told media on Wednesday.
Nearly 1.32 lakh people were displaced by the floods and had to seek shelter in 363 relief camps. Over 15,700 flood affected people were evacuated by rescue teams in 21 districts.
Flood waters have receded in many areas due to clear skies in the past week, but 9 districts still remained inundated and 4,716 people continue to take shelter in relief camps in five districts.
While the state government claims adequate relief was provided to all flood affected, there are accusations of laxity in rescue and relief efforts. Ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government were heckled by affected residents at several places for their late response.
The so-called step-motherly attitude of Centre towards Assam has given fodder to opposition parties in the state as well.
“Assam floods claimed 76 lives, Narendra Modi never visited and his government has not released adequate funds,” former Congress chief minister Tarun Gogoi tweeted on Tuesday
President of the opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) Badruddin Ajmal also requested the PM to “spare some time for the people of Assam” and visit the state.
Many on social media connected Modi’s decision to visit Gujarat instead of Assam with the upcoming assembly polls in the western state.
“Floods killed many in BJP ruled Gujarat and Assam. Where will Modi go, announce relief for? The state going to elections, where else,” Rajnath Kashmiri tweeted.
Iraq says has ‘no substantial information’ on whether 39 Indians abducted in Mosul are dead or alive
MMNN:24 July 2017
Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has said his government has “no substantial information” on the 39 Indians kidnapped by the Islamic State in Mosul in June 2014.
The Iraqi government has “no substantial information” on the fate of the 39 Indians who were taken hostage by the Islamic State terror group in Mosul in 2014, foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said on Monday.
“We have no substantial evidence that they (the Indians) were killed or they are still alive, so we cannot give anything in that regard,” al-Jaafari, who is an official visit to India, told reporters here.
The Iraqi government, he said while speaking through an interpreter, was as concerned about the fate of the 39 Indians as the Indian government and their families.
Al-Jaafari said the Iraq government will continue with its efforts to trace the men, all construction workers, who were kidnapped by militants more than three years ago.
Ahead of al-Jaafari’s arrival in New Delhi, the Iraqi embassy had said “search operations are on and there is high-level coordination between Iraqi and Indian authorities to locate” the Indian nationals.
The matter of the kidnapped Indians is believed to have figured in al-Jaafari’s talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.
On July 16, Swaraj had told reporters that information gathered by minister of state VK Singh during a recent visit to Iraq suggested the 39 Indians were possibly being held in Badush prison, located a short distance from Mosul. She said she was hopeful of getting more information when al-Jaafari visited New Delhi.
However, the Hindustan Times reported on Saturday that the Badush prison is a desolate and abandoned structure that has been unoccupied for weeks, if not months.
Harjit Masih, the sole Indian who managed to escape from the group of 40 men kidnapped in Mosul, has told several media outlets the others were gunned down in the desert near Badush on June 15, 2014. His account has been rejected by the government.
Railways food unfit for eating: 5 things CAG said about edibles served on trains
MMNN:22 July 2017
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has hit out at Indian Railways for serving food “unfit for human consumption” such as recycled, contaminated and expired items and unauthorised water brands.
In a joint inspection conducted in collaboration with officials of Indian Railways at 74 stations and 80 trains between July and October 2016, the country’s top audit body observed grave deficiencies in the food hygiene standards.
Here are five things the CAG said about the substandard food served to train passengers:,
1. An iron nail was found in a plate of cutlets offered to a passenger on the Lucknow- Anand Vihar double decker in 2016.
2.Fungal growth was found around petha (sweets) served to passengers.
3.Cockroaches, rats, insects and dust was noticed in pantry cars of the premier Duronto trains.
4.Around 100 unsold parathas were found in the base kitchen of the North Central Railways for reuse and recycling, while uncovered food items were found on the floor at the Chapra station in Bihar
5.Buckets of drinking water and beverages were found in the vestibule near the toilet area in the Paschim Express.
President-elect Ram Nath Kovind’s vote share lowest since 1974: EC data
MMNN:21 July 2017
Ram Nath Kovind, the ruling NDA coalition’s candidate, may have won the presidential election comfortably, but his vote share is the lowest since 1974, figures reveal.
Kovind received 2,930 votes with a value of 7,02,044, while his rival Meira Kumar, the joint opposition candidate, secured 1,844 votes with a value of 3,67,314. This comes to a vote share of 65.65% for the President-elect.
However, the victory margin is the lowest since the 1974 presidential poll.
According to Election Commission data, Kovind’s immediate predecessor Pranab Mukherjee (2012) secured 69.31% votes while Pratibha Patil (2007) got 65.82% of the total votes, marginally higher than the share secured by Kovind.
KR Narayanan (1997) and APJ Abdul Kalam (2002) bagged 94.97% and 89.57% respectively, the highest victory percentages since 1974.
Only Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, in 1977, was elected unopposed to the top constitutional post.
Gyani Zail Singh (1982) got 72.73% votes, while R Venkatraman (1987) bagged 72.28%. Shankar Dayal Sharma (1992) got 65.87%.
Besides Narayanan, only two presidents -- Rajendra Prasad (98.99%) in 1957, and Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (98.24%) in 1962 -- secured over 90% of the votes.
Presidential election results: Ram Nath Kovind’s village all prepared for celebrations
MMNN:20 July 2017
Villagers are glued to TV sets and radios so that they begin celebrations the moment news flashes the NDA presidential candidate’s victory
Paraunkh and Jhinjhak in Kanpur Dehat district are all set to celebrate as the village and the town are confident that Ram Nath Kovind will become the next President of India shortly.
Villagers are glued to TV sets and radios so that they begin celebrations the moment news flashes the NDA presidential candidate’s victory. (Live result updates)
Paraunk, Kovind’s village, comes under Derapur tehsil, 110 kms from Kanpur. Paraunkh has a population of nearly 9,000.
Jhinjhak is a very small town (a kasbah) where Kovind’s brother Pyarelal lives. Kovind’s another brother, late Shivbalak, also lived there. Shivbalak was the one who educated Kovind.
Shivbalak’s widow, Vidyawati, is fasting in Jhinjhak since Wednesday wishing Kovind’s victory.
People will play ‘Holi’ during the day and celebrate ‘Diwali’ at night.
In Paraunkh, villagers have called a ‘Bhangra band’ with dhols (percussion instrument) for the Holi and dance that they would do once Kovind is declared President.
There’s a Pathri Devi temple in Paraunkh, where puja and rituals have been going on since the day Kovind’s candidature was announced.
At the Jhinjhak house of Pyarelal (Kovind’s brother), a marquee has been put up to host all those who will come in to congratulate. Sweets will be distributed among them.
Kovind had visited Paraunkh village in July 2016, when he became the governor of Bihar. He had converted his village house into ‘community hall’ for his village people.
Late Maikulal, the father of Kovind, ran a small general store in the village and was known as a religious person. It is through his religious bent of mind that he first came in touch with RSS, in which Kovind later became a member.
165 people arrested in sedition cases in last 3 years: govt
MMNN:19 July 2017
The data for 2016 excludes Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal because figures were not available from these two states.
As many as 165 people were arrested on the charge of sedition in the last three years across the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Minister of State for Home Gangaram Ahir said that 58 people were arrested in 47 such cases registered in 2014.
“73 people were arrested in 30 cases registered in 2015 and 34 people arrested in 28 cases registered in 2016 under the offence of Sedition (Section 124A of IPC),” he said.
The 2016 figure excludes Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal as data from the two states were not available.
Ahir said the names those arrested and the current status of cases were not recorded in the NCRB data.
The data related to 2017 are being collected by the NCRB
Two minor girls among 4 of a family burnt to death over property dispute in Bihar’s Katihar district
MMNN:17 July 2017
Four people of a family were burnt to death over an alleged property dispute between siblings in Katihar district on Sunday night.
A couple and its two daughters were burnt to death in sleep at Coundi village under Barsoi police station, 60 km east of district headquarters Katihar and 305km east of Patna.
The charred bodies of the victims were sent for post mortem examination to the district hospital.
The victims have been identified as Kedar Singh (45), his wife Pratima Devi (40), and their two daughters Dimple Kumari (15) and Soni Kumari (17). Son Laxman Kumar Singh (12), who was sleeping in the other room, managed to escape in the nick of time.
The police have lodged an FIR on the basis of his complaint. The boy has named his uncle Manoj Kumar, younger brother of victim Kedar Singh, as an accused. He is since absconding.
Laxman said, “My uncle used to threaten my parents over a piece of ancestral land, which he wanted to grab and sell. On Sunday, he threatened my father of dire consequences and later at night he set the house ablaze, killing my parents and sisters, who were asleep.”
Laxman’s mother and his sisters died on the spot while his father Kedar died at the Katihar Medical College Hospital (KMCH) during treatment. Kedar was initially taken to the Katihar sadar (district) hospital, where doctors referred him to the medical college.
Locals said the accused Manoj was a habitual gambler and used to invest money in lottery. “He wanted to sell a chunk of land, held as a joint property with his brother Kedar. Manoj killed his brother when Kedar resisted,” said some villagers. They even alleged that Manoj was a habitual drunkard and often spent time gambling in West Bengal.
Confirming the incident, Katihar superintendent of police Siddharth Mohan Jain said, “The accused escaped soon after the incident.”
The police said it was in contact with the West Bengal police and confident of arresting the accused.
Katihar has been infamous for killings over property dispute. Two years ago a family of four, including two minor children, were burnt to death over a land dispute. They were sleeping when some villagers locked them from outside and set their house ablaze.
Amarnath terror attack: PDP MLA’s driver arrested for questioning
MMNN:15 July 2017
A policeman serving as a driver of PDP MLA has been arrested in connection with investigations into the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims this week, police sources said on Saturday.
Touseef Ahmad, a policeman from the security wing of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Wachhi legislator Aijaz Ahmad Mir’s driver, was detained for questioning two days ago.
Wachhi is in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
Ahmad was formally placed under arrest on Friday as part of investigations into militancy-related violence in south Kashmir, police sources said.
The sources said two other people, suspected to be overground workers for militants, have also been detained for questioning.
It was not immediately clear whether Ahmad, who was posted as Mir’s driver seven months ago, has any direct link to the attack on Amarnath pilgrims at Anantnag on Monday that left seven pilgrims dead and 21 others injured.
A police official, on the condition of anonymity, said things are expected to be clearer about the involvement of the driver in the July 10 attack and other militancy-related activities later Saturday.
Missing India? There’s nothing to miss, says fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya
MMNN:14 July 2017
The Supreme Court on Friday is scheduled to pronounce a quantum of sentence against liquor baron and businessman Vijay Mallya in connection with a contempt of court case.
However, the flamboyant businessman says he is ‘enjoying the fruits’ of his labours and is planning high-flying Force India’s next decade.
In the last hearing, the apex court had convicted him for contempt of court and summoned him to personally appear on July 10. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till July 14. Consequently, Mallya is fighting a high-profile Indian extradition request to the UK, where he is currently based.
Missing India, and pining for a pit lane he can visit only once a year? Not a bit of it, says the embattled Formula One team owner.
He is also, despite the court appearances and travel restrictions, still living the good life and enjoying a summer of sport.
Horse racing at Royal Ascot, the Wimbledon tennis championships and Champions Trophy cricket have all been on his social diary, along with Wednesday’s Formula One promotional event in London.
“There’s nothing to miss,” the 61-year-old told Reuters at the British Grand Prix when asked if he missed India.
“All my immediate family is either in England or the US. Nobody in India at all. As far as my step-siblings are concerned, they are all UK citizens. So there’s nothing family-wise to miss.”
India is seeking Mallya’s extradition over $1.4 billion that the authorities say he owes as a result of loans tied to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Mallya has dismissed the charges against him.
“This witch hunt against me has been going on for a while,” said Mallya, who has lived in Britain since 1992 and considers it a second home.
“So it isn’t as if I have any emotional ups and downs. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. In fact I am glad that it is finally before a UK court and an impartial court. So we wait and see how it plays out.”
The full extradition hearing has been provisionally listed to start on December 4 and to last two weeks.
Until the issue is resolved, Mallya cannot leave Britain but he said that was no hardship, even if Silverstone is likely to be his first and last appearance in the Formula One paddock this year.
Novelty value
“I enjoy this atmosphere ... I enjoy meeting all the guests and sponsors and walking around the paddock. But while I enjoy it, there’s no novelty value any more,” he said. “I’ve been there and done it. “
“When I first started I went to every single race to the point where it was getting a bit exhausting, going to 20 races in a year. So it’s not as if I am missing something. If you look at my role in the team, there’s nothing for me to miss. I am participating in all the decision making and I’ve got a virtual pit wall at home.”
“I miss being around but I’m also happy in my space. My time will come and I’ll go back to the tracks.”
Mallya took over the failing Jordan team a decade ago and renamed it Force India as a measure of his pride in setting up India’s first Formula One entry.
The talk now is of taking India out of the name to attract the sort of big name sponsors who want a global reach rather than a regional focus.
“Things have changed. Force India is getting very limited in terms of potential. The Indian Grand Prix is gone, sadly. There are no Indian sponsors who’ve come to the table. They seem to be spending all their money on cricket,” said Mallya
“And I need, for the continuing financial stability of this team, to reach out to more international sponsors. We have to think about positioning the team for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that he intended to be around as well.
Force India are currently fourth overall in the constructors’ standings, the position they finished in last year.
“When the team is doing well, then I am able to enjoy the fruits of my labour over so many years,” said Mallya.
“Getting the right people and culture in place and motivating them and developing a car that has fought in the world championship – that’s no coincidence or stroke of luck. This is proper performance.
“This is the time I’m enjoying the fruits of my 10 years of ownership.”
Cow vigilantes strike again, beat up Muslim man in Nagpur for ‘carrying beef’; 4 arrested
MMNN:13 Jul 2017
A 36-year-old Muslim man was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was assaulted in a Maharashtra town on Wednesday evening allegedly by self-styled cow protectors who accused him of carrying beef.
The Nagpur police have arrested four men for the assault in Jalalkheda town, the latest in a series of violent incidents involving cow vigilante groups.
“We have arrested all the four accused and they would be produced before the court for police custody,” Jalalkheda police station in-charge Vijay Tiwari said on Thursday.
The four are the members of Prahar Sanghatana, which describes itself as a social and cultural body. Sanghatana is led by Bacchu Kadu, an independent MLA from Amravati.
According to reports, Ismail Shah was pulled off his two-wheeler by four men, who accused him of carrying cow meat. Shah kept telling them it was goat meat and not beef but the men won’t listen to him.
Police identified the alleged attackers as Ashwin Uike, Janardan Chowdhury, Rameshwar Tayde and Moreshwar Tandulkar.
A Delhi youth was stabbed in a train last month after an argument, as the crowd accused him and his brothers of being “beef eaters”.
The killing sparked nationwide protest, forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say “killing people in the name of protecting cows is not acceptable”.
There has been a rise in incidents of mob violence in the name of cow, considered holy by many Hindus. Cow slaughter and smuggling is banned in most states of the country. The BJP-ruled states, which includes Maharashtra, have come out with stringent punishment for these offences.
To curb cow vigilantism, the Maharashtra government plans to provide beef-detection kits to police for on-the-spot meat tests.
CBI raids 23 premises in Bengal, Jharkhand in graft case against Income Tax commissioner
MMNN:12 Jul 2017
The CBI on Wednesday conducted raids at 23 locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand in connection with a corruption case registered against the principal commissioner of Income Tax and others, an official said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took the step against principal commissioner Tapas Kumar Dutta, posted in Ranchi, and three of his colleagues following allegations of criminal conspiracy.
They were accused of favouring private persons and companies in the matter of taxes and for taking illegal gratification.
“It is alleged that Dutta and three other Income Tax officials conspired with six private persons, including a chartered accountant, and some unidentified persons,” the official added.
The CBI raids took place at 18 residential and office premises of the accused in Kolkata and five places in Ranchi in Jharkhand, a CBI official said.
The CBI officers questioned Dutta at the IT office in Ranchi. Sources in the know of things said the raids were related to hawala transactions.
‘The firing did not last for more than 20 seconds’: Amarnath Yatra survivors recount deadly attack
MMNN:11 Jul 2017
It didn’t take much time for the terrorists to create the mayhem in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on Monday night when seven pilgrims were killed and several others injured while returning from the Amarnath cave shrine.
Survivors of the terrorist attack said had it not been for the driver of the bus they were travelling in, many more would have lost their lives.
Recounting the attack, the survivors said they did not realise what was happening as many were sleeping and the gunmen fired indiscriminately in the dark.
“The firing did not last for more than 20 seconds. And, we could not see who was firing as it was dark outside,” said Amit Kumar, a Rajasthan resident who works as a cook for the pilgrims from Gujarat. “People just rolled on the bus floor one over another,” he said.
The bus carrying over 50 pilgrims mostly from Gujarat and Maharashtra was attacked around 8.20pm near Batengoo area on Monday. Police said the terrorists initially attacked a bullet proof bunker in the area and later a check post near Khanabal.
“Phataphat marne lage goli, andhere mein kuch samaj nahi aaya (They started firing indiscriminately. We could not fathom anything in the dark),’’ Baghimani Thakur, another traveller from Palgad Maharastra, added.
Kumar said he survived the attack as he was sitting in the back seat. “The people sitting near the driver’s cabin bore the brunt but the driver survived,” he said.
He added the bus driver Saleem’s presence of mind saved many lives as he did not stop the vehicle even amid the hail of bullets. “Malik (the owner of the bus) told the driver Saleem: ‘Bhai, just rush the bus. Don’t stop’. And the driver just drove the bus at full speed and only stopped when we reached an army camp,” he said.
A policeman from Anantnag, who was keeping a watch over two of the injured at the Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, also corroborated Kumar’s account. He said the bus stopped in Khanabal Chowk and the injured were immediately taken to the army hospital.
“After basic treatment at the army hospital, the injured were taken to the district hospital in Anantnag after which the seriously wounded were rushed to Srinagar hospitals,” he said.
Prakash Wadani, another survivor, said that the pilgrims had planned to visit Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra the next day.
Kumar said that they left their hotel in Srinagar at 5:30pm and as fate would have it, the bus had a flat tyre. “It took an hour for us to replace the tyre and that caused the delay,” he said.
Daksha, a pilgrim from Dahnu in Maharashtra, said the passengers spent the time chatting on the roadside while the tyre was being changed “unaware of what lay in store for them minutes later’’.
All the survivors and injured were airlifted to Delhi on Tuesday morning. Only two of the injured - Pushpa and Lalita – are being treated at the state’s tertiary care hospital Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar. Kumar is looking after them at the hospital.
Pushpa was hit on her right hip and is recuperating in the emergency ward and Lalita, doctors said, was in the intensive care unit.
Police have blamed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba of the attack, however, the militant outfit denied the charges and its spokesperson Abdullah Ghaznavi called it a “highly reprehensible act’’ and blamed “Indian agencies’’ for the attack.
“Islam doesn’t allow violence against any faith. We strongly condemn such acts,’’ a LeT statement said.
Police insisted that the bus came under fire and was not the “actual target of the militants’’.
A senior police officer, who did not want to be named, refused to call the incident a security lapse saying “the bus had flouted all norms’’.
“The Amarnath yatris escorted by security cross the Banihal tunnel around 2pm, on Monday the yatris had crossed the area by 1pm. The highway is secured but high security can’t be 24 hours. We don’t allow any movement of yatris or tourists in the area after 5pm,’’ he added.
“Technically, they were tourists and not yatris so we could not stop them,’’ the officer said.
Police have said the bus was a private vehicle and not registered with the Amarnath Shrine Board. The passengers had completed the darshan on July 8 and stayed back in Srinagar for sight seeing.
Over 2.20 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine - situated at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir Himalayas - during an unrest in 2016 after Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani’s killing in July last year. The number was lowest since 2003.
This year the numbers have already crossed 1.5 lakh. The state government has not stopped the pilgrimage and a fresh batch of more than 3000 pilgrims left Jammu for base camps in Kashmir on Tuesday.
Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping ‘did not have a bilateral meeting’ at G20 summit in Germany: China
MMNN:10 Jul 2017
Technically, China is correct but the fact is the Indian side didn’t claim the two leaders held a bilateral meeting, which is usually a structured and previously agreed engagement.
China on Monday appeared to play down a brief conversation Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping had on the sidelines of the recent G20 summit, saying the two “did not have a bilateral meeting”.
Technically, China is correct but the fact is the Indian side didn’t claim the two leaders held a bilateral meeting, which is usually a structured and previously agreed engagement.
“I can tell you there was no bilateral meet between President Xi and PM Modi in Germany,” foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular media briefing when asked about the meeting.
The brief conversation the two leaders had during an informal gathering of BRICS leaders on the margins of the G20 summit in Hamburg on July 7 made headlines. It came at a time when the two countries were locked in a tense standoff along India’s northeastern frontier.
China’s denial of something that didn’t happen is being seen as yet another attempt by Beijing to make its displeasure over the Doklam row known.
“According to my information, the two leaders did not hold any bilateral meeting (on the sidelines of the G20 summit),” Geng said, adding Xi presided over the informal meeting of the BRICS leaders that was attended by Modi and others.
While repeatedly denying the bilateral meeting, Geng also didn’t mention the conversation the two leaders had.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay had on July 7 tweeted a photo of the two leaders smiling and shaking hands. He said Modi and Xi had a “conversation on a range of issues”.
The border standoff link was not hard to draw, as Geng again said the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Donglang, as Chinese refer to the region, was the precondition for a resolution of the military impasse.
To a question about Indian media reports that the soldiers were prepared for the long haul in Doklam, Geng said if those were true, it revealed India’s true intentions.
“If they (the reports) are true, they are only prove that the Indian trespass was organised and elaborate….and the intention was to damage the status quo at the (Sikkim) boundary,” Geng said.
“So, how can diplomatic solutions happen under such circumstances? We have said that the Indian troops withdrawal is the pre-condition (for a resolution),” he said.
China has accused Indian soldiers of trespass and preventing its soldiers from building a road in Doklam, which is close to the Sikkim border on India’s northeast, and is claimed by Bhutan.
The Doklam region is located at the narrow but strategically important tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, with the three countries barely separated by mountains and passes.
Chinese-state media has also said that India planned the trespass to coincide with Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump to convey to the US that New Delhi was ready to check China’s rise.
Modi met Trump on June 26, 10 days after the standoff started.
Govt, BJP have no role in CBI raids on Lalu Prasad Yadav and family: Venkaiah Naidu
MMNN:7 Jul 2017
The government and the BJP have no role in the CBI raids against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday.
The information and broadcasting minister said the Central Bureau of Investigation was doing its duty and acting in accordance with the mandate given to it by law.
“What is political vendetta? Where is BJP in this? I am not able to understand. Do you mean to say that anybody against whom any charge is there, it should not be inquired into at all?” Naidu asked.
“CBI is doing its duty and it is allowed to do so. Earlier it was not allowed... after our government came there is no interference and that is why CBI is free and acting as per the mandate given to it...,” he told reporters.
The raids against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and his family started at 7 am today and were conducted at 12 locations in Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Gurugram after the investigating agency registered a corruption case.
It is alleged that Yadav as railway minister handed over the maintenance of two railway hotels to a company after receiving a bribe in the form of prime land of three acres through a benami company.
After Amit Shah meet row, Goa Cong leader seeks nod to host his wedding at airport
MMNN:6 Jul 2017
Goa Congress general secretary Janardhan Bhandari has written to AAI for permission to host his wedding reception on Dabolim airport premises in September.
Barely days after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's meeting at Goa's Dabolim international airport triggered a row, a state Congress leader has written to the Airports Authority of India to be allowed to use the premises as his wedding venue.
In his letter, also marked to Dabolim airport director BC Negi, on Thursday, Goa Congress general secretary Janardhan Bhandari said he should be granted permission to host the wedding at the airport on the lines of Shah’s meeting on July 1, which was attended by more than 2,000 people. Bhandari wrote he would adhere to all rules and regulations, including ban on photography, during his wedding and not allow guests to bring cars to airport premises.
His letter states, “I am very pleased to inform you that I have been engaged recently and planning to get married soon. Since my guests will be coming from various states and landing at Dabolim airport and as such I cannot afford to make arrangements for the stay and travel of so many guests.
“It would be nice if you could permit me to use your airport for my wedding reception in September 2017. I will fix the date as per the availability of the airport as per your convenience.”
Shah’s meeting at the airport, which is operated from an Indian naval base, triggered allegations of violation of rules and regulations by the BJP, including putting a defence ministry installation at risk. While the airport director claimed no permission was given for the meeting, the BJP said it was an unplanned event and people came on their own to greet Shah.
Congress national secretary Girish Chodankar said Shah’s meeting was illegal and demanded an FIR be registered.
City based lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues has complained in writing against Shah’s meeting to secretary of Civil Aviation, Goa Chief Secretary, and Director General of Police. No action has been initiated so far.
PM Modi’s Israeli flag-themed attire catches attention
MMNN:5 Jul 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent choice of apparel that grabbed eyeballs was what he wore on the first day of his three-day visit in Israel.
The Prime Minister alighted from Air India One at Tel Aviv, in an immaculate white bandhgala. Also quite noticeable was the blue pocket square.
Significantly, blue and white are the colours of the Israeli flag; and white is PM Modi’s preferred colour for solemn occasions, such as the visit to Yad Vashem on Tuesday, where he added to his look a traditional Himachali cap.
He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Terming it to be a historic visit, PM Modi tweeted, “Hello Israel! Today I begin a special & historic visit with the aim of further strengthening the relations between India and Israel.”
His Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu donned a blue-and-white suit with a red tie, as he welcomed PM Modi at Tel Aviv airport.
UP govt to ‘probe’ welfare grant sanctioned to NGO run by Akhilesh Yadav’s sister-in-law
MMNN:4 Jul 2017
Aparna Yadav’s NGO Jeev Ashraya reportedly received 86% of the funds sanctioned by the previous government for organisations working for cow welfare in the state
Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to initiate a probe into the grant sanctioned by the previous Samajwadi Party-led dispensation to an NGO run by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s sister-in-law Aparna Yadav.
An indication to this regard was given by state’s dairy development minister Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary while addressing a programme at Sahibabad industrial area on Monday.
Nearly 86% of the grant sanctioned by the previous government for organisations working for cow welfare in the state went to Aparna Yadav’s Jeev Ashraya, an RTI reply has revealed recently.
Aparna is the wife of Prateek Yadav, the step-brother of Akhilesh Yadav.
Her NGO runs a gaushala, Kanha Upvan, at Amausi on the outskirt of Lucknow, which Adityanath visited in March, days after taking over as chief minister. He also lauded the facilities provided to bovines there.
To a query by activist Nutan Thakur, the UP Gau Sewa Aayog replied that during the tenure of the previous government, it sanctioned Rs 9.66 crore, of which Rs 8.35 crore (86.4%) went to Jeev Ashraya.
During 2017-18, till now, Rs1.05 crore has been given to various gaushalas. But Jeev Ashraya was not one of the recipients.
“During the Samajwadi Party regime, criminals and mafias were given political protection. In this case, the former CM sanctioned 86% funds meant for organisations working for cow welfare to only one NGO being run by his sister-in-law,” Chaudhary said.
“The issue cannot be taken lightly as it indicates an organised loot of public money,” he said, hinting the government is contemplating to probe the charges of nepotism.
The development comes at a time when several projects launched by the Akhilesh government are under scanner.
“There have been reports of misappropriation of Waqf properties. We have referred the probe to the CBI,” Chaudhary said.
Talking to a news agency, Aparna Yadav denied getting any undue favour, there was nothing wrong if works of an active NGO were recognised by the government.
“If an organisation is doing good work, it should get 100 per cent funds,” she said.
“There are approximately 462 ‘gau shalas’ (cow shelters) in UP and of them Jeev Ashray is the most active. Anyone can go there and check,” she said.
Stating that the RTI should not be used to “terrorise” people, Aparna said she would give a befitting reply to the people who were trying to malign her image.
EC can extend voting rights to NRIs in 3 months if govt gives go-ahead
MMNN:3 Jul 2017
The decision to allow over 10 million NRIs — of whom 24,348 are registered with the EC — to vote through a postal ballot will offer expatriates a chance to participate in the country’s electoral process without having to be physically present.
The Election Commission has informed the Centre that it can pull off the process of introducing voting rights for non-resident Indians (NRI) within three months of the law being introduced.
The decision to allow over 10 million NRIs — of whom 24,348 are registered with the EC — to vote through a postal ballot will offer expatriates a chance to participate in the country’s electoral process without having to be physically present at the polling stations.
If it comes to fruition, NRIs from states such as Kerala, Punjab and Telangana -- which have large populations of NRIs -- will stand to be benefit.
Chief election commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi, who demits office on July 5, told HT that the poll panel is ready to implement the one-way postal ballot system for allowing NRIs to vote, if the government gives the go-ahead.
The one-way postal ballot system involves sending e-ballot papers to the voters, which are retuned by post after the voters have marked their choice. The system was introduced for armed forces personnel and service voters in October last year.
“Voting rights to NRIs is a long term vision and is under evaluation,” Zaidi told HT.
He said the commission has proposed a one-way e-postal ballot system for NRIs, but is awaiting for word from the law ministry.
“We have written to the Law ministry, we are ready and have been saying it, we only need a law. It will be on the similar lines as the one-way postal ballot that was started for the service personnel. The moment we have the law we will be ready to implement it within three-months” he said.
The Centre has told the Supreme Court, where petitions have been filed to allow NRI voters to participate in the electoral exercise, that it is willing to accept the poll panel’s recommendation to allow NRIs to vote through e-postal ballots or proxy voting.
“We have proved that the technology works,” Zaidi said.
The proposal can only be implemented after Parliament amends the Representation of the People Act and the Conduct of Election Rules. The CEC said the proposal to allow voting rights for domestic migrants, is also pending.
“A committee report (on the issue) has also been given, the government has to take a call,” the CEC said. After amendments were made to the RP Act to make provisions for NRIs, the EC undertook an awareness campaign last year to familiarise expatriates with their voting rights.
Patna GPO completes 100 years, special stamp likely
MMNN:1 Jul 2017
Though officials have planned to commemorate the centenary year of the GPO on July 1, the celebration will continue for a whole year with a number of events and activities
The General Post Office (GPO), Patna, completed 100 years of its existence on July 1.
The Patna GPO, which earlier housed Bankipore post office, is built in the British Gothic architectural style. It is among the four buildings that came up during the pre-Independence era in the state around the same time. The other three are Patna high court, Patna museum and the old secretariat.
Though officials have planned to commemorate the centenary year of the GPO on July 1, coinciding with the launch of first day cover on the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the celebration will continue for a whole year with a number of events and activities, which might include release of a special postal stamp as well.
Post master general, Bihar circle, Anil Kumar, said Bihar had showed the way in terms of development of postal services in the country. Besides the grand structure with 1.93 lakh square feet built-up area, Patna happens to be the first postal unit in the world to have evolved a prepaid system for postal services,” he said.
In 1774, Patna had come out with a copper ticket with a face value of one anna and half anna. “Copper tickets are now rare and available barely at four or five locations in the world, including the National Museum, New Delhi, Postal Museum, London, and in a private collection of a Jabalpur resident,” said Kumar.
The Department of Posts (DoP) had issued a commemorative stamp on copper tickets in 1980. The ticket had ‘Azimabad Ekanni’ imprinted on the obverse and ‘Patna Post One Anna’ on the reverse. In those days, Patna was known as Azimabad.
Some of the noted philatelists claimed that the ticket was introduced as a prepaid arrangement to do away with the growing loss of revenue due to the return of undelivered letters, as the persons addressed refused to accept them. “Charges for delivery were decided by the distance, known as stages, at that time,” added Kumar.
The work on the GPO building, on sprawling 22 acres, began after Bihar was carved out of Bengal. The construction cost was around Rs 2.69 lakh and it was formally opened in 1917. It used to handle both postal and telecom operations then.
The building underwent renovation in 2000 at the cost Rs 1.25 crore, which saw five gardens, including one having medicinal herbs, being added to its landscape.
At a time when information technology services underwent a sea change, the GPO is still delivering around 25,000-30,000 accountable articles, including those of speed post, parcels, registered and insured letters, every day with 96 postmen. Daily transaction of ordinary letters is estimated to be around 30,000-40,000. Besides, the GPO operates more than 12 lakh accounts of its savings bank equipped with core banking solutions (CBS).
Pilgrim dies as landslide hits Vaishno Devi track
MMNN:30 Jun 2017
One pilgrim died and five others were injured after a landslide hit between Himkoti and Adhkuwari enroute the cave shrine on Friday morning.
A woman has died and five others have been injured. One of them is critical, SSP (Reasi) Tahir Sajjad Bhat told Hindustan Times.
He said the landslide hit at about 11.30am.
Bhat said the identities of the victims, who are being brought down to Katra, are yet to be ascertained.
Minister Radha Mohan Singh caught urinating in public, says there was no urinal nearby
MMNN:29 Jun 2017
Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh draws criticism with many trolling him saying his act shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat programme in poor light.
An undated picture of Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh urinating in public has put the BJP in a spot as the picture went viral on social media on Thursday.
The minister, however, defended himself, saying there was no urinal for long distances on National Highway 28 near Pipara when he wanted to relieve himself.
Stating that his intention was not wrong, he said the photograph was of a dhaba (roadside eatery) on the NH.
The photograph showed the minister urinating on a wall, believed to be in his home constituency Purvi Champaran (East Champaran), as two security personnel stood guard.
Netizens trolled the minister for his act, saying it showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat programme in poor light.
The photograph was also shared on RJD’s Twitter handle, with a sarcastic comment, “Amid tight security, the Union minister of agriculture gives the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a boost, as he inaugurates an irrigation project in a drought-affected state.”
State BJP spokesperson, Rajib Ranjan, however, found nothing wrong in the minister’s act.
“One cannot suppress nature’s call for long. What do you do if you are travelling long distances and there are no public urinals on the way?” he asked HT, adding “There is absolutely nothing wrong in what the minister did.”
He further said the photograph was “six months to one year old” as the minister’s SUV had a red beacon, which the government had banned from May 1.
Ranjan came down heavily against the ruling coalition in Bihar for deriving vicarious pleasure in sharing the minister’s photograph. “They are part of the corrupt combination in state,” he said.
The party, however, believed that the photograph was taken by an insider who was part of the minister’s cavalcade and subsequently leaked.
Presidential poll: Sonia, Yechury, Pawar accompany Meira Kumar as she files nomination
MMNN:28 Jun 2017
New Delhi: Opposition candidate Meira Kumar filed her nomination for the Presidential election on Wednesday, the last date for submitting the papers.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other senior Opposition leaders were present when Kumar handed over the papers to Anoop Mishra, Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, who is the returning officer of this prestigious election.
Kumar’s competitor, NDA’s Ram Nath Kovind had filed his nomination last week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for his foreign tour.
3 activists of Yogi Adityanath’s Hindu Yuva Vahini arrested on rape charge
MMNN:27 Jun 2017
Three activists of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), an organisation floated by Yogi Adityanath, were arrested in Bareilly on charges of gangrape and thrashing a police officer.
The incident took place on Monday night following a dispute between one Deepak and Avinash over playing of loud music in Ganeshnagar locality, Superintendent of Police (City), Rohit Singh Sajwan said on Tuesday.
Avinash called his friends, who were HYV workers, and barged into Deepak’s house and allegedly misbehaved with the women.
Deepak, who later reached with his brother Gaurav, allegedly beat up Avinash and handed him over to the police.
When the news spread, HYV regional President Jitendra Sharma and city unit President Pankaj and a number of other HYV activists reached the police station to protest the arrest.
BJP city unit chief Umesh Katharia also reached the police station and in presence of police, HVY activists allegedly misbehaved with the BJP leader and allegedly beat up sub-inspector Mayank Arora.
The city SP said that two FIRs have been lodged in this connection.
One FIR was lodged by Arora against Avinash, Jitendra and Pankaj for allegedly beating him and the other by a woman against the three and another person Anil Saxena for allegedly gangraping her.
Avinash, Jitendra and Pankaj have been arrested, police said, adding that a probe is on in the matter.
Five STF jawans wounded in gunbattle with Maoists in Sukma
MMNN:24 Jun 2017
The gunfight is underway between a joint team of security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Five special task force (STF) personnel were on Saturday injured in a fierce gunbattle with Maoists in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, the police said.
The encounter is still going on, they added.
The exchange of fire is underway between a joint team of security forces and ultras in the interior forests of Chintagufa police station area, deputy inspector general of police (Dantewada range) Sundarraj P told PTI.
“As per the preliminary information, five STF jawans have sustained injuries in the encounter,” he said.
The joint team, comprising personnel from STF, district reserve guard (DRG) and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), was carrying out anti-Maoist operation in Chintagufa area, around 500 km from Raipur, he said.
The team members were cordoning off a forest patch in southern part of Chintagufa when they came under fire from a group of Maoists, the IPS officer said.
The security forces retaliated, triggering an exchange of fire, he said.
The DIG said on getting information about the gunbattle, reinforcement was rushed to the spot and efforts were on to evacuate the injured jawans.
Further details were awaited, he added.
On April 24, 25 CRPF personnel were killed in a rebel ambush in Burkapal area under Chintagufa police station of limits of Sukma, the worst Maoist-affected district in the state.
Muslim man arrested in Jharkhand for allegedly making anti-Modi remarks in video
MMNN:23 Jun 2017
In the video clip Sameer Ansari is seen allegedly heard backing Pakistan cricket team and also voicing his desire to see India humiliated
Police arrested a 20-year-old Muslim man on Thursday night in Jharkhand for a viral video clip where he is allegedly heard making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.
The clip was shared widely in the state’s Sahibganj region before India’s shock loss to Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy last Sunday. In the video clip -- HT has a copy of it -- Sameer Ansari is allegedly heard backing Pakistan but also voicing his desire to see India humiliated.
“The video was circulated in many WhatsApp groups. His statements were provocative and against the country, so, we had to arrest him, “said Sahibganj superintendent of police P Murugan.
Local residents said Ansari was a student but police refused to confirm.
RJD to question Nitish Kumar’s support for NDA presidential nominee Kovinda
MMNN:22 Jun 2017
Nitish Kumar took initiative to form a united opposition, but sidelined them to supported the NDA nominee, RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad said.
Questioning Nitish Kumar’s extension of support to Centre’s nominee for President, its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday said that it was a very good opportunity for the secular front to counter the saffron party but the Bihar Chief Minister’s change of side has put the united opposition’s future in jeopardy.
Asserting that it was Nitish who had initiated the whole idea of an united opposition and grand alliance to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at national level, RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad said that his party will be questioning the JD(U) in this regard.
“It was an opportunity for the secular parties to stand united in at the time of Presidential elections. We will be questioning JD(U) for the stand Nitish ji has taken. We would like to ask JD(U) what is their take on the secular party group which was formed to counter the BJP,” Prasad told ANI.
“We were very happy when Nitish ji had taken the initiative to form a secular front of united opposition on the national level, but now he sidelined us and supported the BJP’s candidate. Now the ball is in his court, he will have to think that now how will we oppose the BJP?,” he added.
Police knew about Karnan’s hiding place for 3 days before arresting him
MMNN:21 Jun 2017
CS Karnan, who was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Supreme Court for contempt but was untraceable, was arrested near Coimbatore.
A police team searching for Calcutta high court’s former judge CS Karnan knew about his hiding place in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu for three days before moving in to arrest him, the West Bengal police chief said on Wednesday.
“We knew about his (Karnan’s) whereabouts three days back. We were tracking phone calls of people close to him and we also have our own sources,” director general of police Raj Kanojia told IANS in Chennai.
Kanojia spoke at the Chennai airport before boarding a flight to Kolkata.
According to him, this was a unique case he handled in his entire service and “maybe no other police officer will be handling such a case in a long time to come”. “Tracking Karnan was difficult. It was a difficult case,” Kanojia said.
Karnan, who was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Supreme Court for contempt but was untraceable, was arrested on Tuesday near Coimbatore, around 500 km from Chennai.
Karnan was eluding arrest for more than a month.
Tripura girl, whose head swelled to over three times its normal size, dies
MMNN:20 Jun 2017
Her condition caused her head to swell to a circumference of 94 centimetres (37 inches), putting pressure on her brain and making it impossible for her to sit upright
An girl who made international headlines when a rare condition caused her head to swell to more than twice the normal size has died, days before she was to undergo corrective surgery.
Roona Begum’s family said she died Sunday at her home in a village in the remote northeast after complaining of breathlessness.
“She was otherwise fit and fine. But on Sunday she started having breathing problems and I rang up my husband asking him to come back home,” said Fatima Begum.
“He rushed home and gave her water but before we could take her to the hospital she died,” she told AFP.
The five-year-old was born with hydrocephalus, a potentially fatal condition that causes cerebrospinal fluid to build up on the brain.
Publication of pictures taken by an AFP photographer in the remote state of Tripura prompted a New Delhi hospital to treat her for free in 2013.
Her condition caused her head to swell to a circumference of 94 centimetres (37 inches), putting pressure on her brain and making it impossible for her to sit upright.
After several round of surgery at the Fortis Hospital, her head circumference shrank to 58 centimetres.
Pictures showed the distraught parents sitting next to her body, wrapped in a cream towel as her younger brother looked on.
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, US lawmakers ask India to rethink price cap on stents
MMNN:19 Jun 2017
The Narendra Modi government has in recent years capped prices of hundreds of life-saving drugs to make them more affordable.
A group of US lawmakers has backed medical device makers by urging India to reconsider its decision to cap prices of heart stents, raising the issue ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States later this week.
In a letter sent to the Indian ambassador to Washington last month, and seen by Reuters, 18 members of Congress said they were “troubled” by the price cap, warning that it could deter firms from launching new medical products in India.
Modi’s government has in recent years capped prices of hundreds of life-saving drugs to make them more affordable. And in February, it imposed a 75% price cut for certain heart stents - wire mesh tubes used to treat blocked arteries.
The government justified its action by citing “huge unethical markups”. But global medical device makers have protested the new cap, with some saying it would force them to sell below cost.
The US lawmakers warned that people would be denied access to the latest medical advances if companies backed away from India’s $5 billion medical-technology market.
“The sudden and unprecedented nature of the decision threatens citizens’ access to the newest and most innovative medical technologies and raises strong concerns about the business environment in India,” they said in the May 22 letter, which has not previously been made public.
The Indian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
The US Department of Commerce is likely to raise the issue with Modi during his visit on June 25-26, according to an industry source aware of the plans. “It’s one of the biggest pain points,” the source said.
Soldier killed, another wounded in Pakistani shelling in Nowshera
MMNN:16 Jun 2017
Pakistan has been continuously violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India, and the firing and shelling has left the hapless villagers in a precarious situation
A soldier was killed and another injured in Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Friday morning, officials said.
The dead soldier was identified as Naik Bakhtawar Singh of 8 Sikh Light Infantry, and a resident of Hajipur village in Punjab’s Hoshiyarpur district.
“Pakistan Army opened heavy fire around 4am and the exchange lasted for around 20 minutes. During brief exchanges, two Indian soldiers were injured at Kalsian. One of them died around 5am,” an intelligence official said.
Nowshera sub-divisional magistrate Harbans Lal Sharma and Nowshera police station head Kuldip Krishan confirmed that the soldier died around 5am when he was hit by a mortar shell at a forward post in Kalsian area of Nowshera sector.
However, the army was yet to issue a statement on it.
The identity of the injured soldier has not been ascertained yet.
Another farmer commits suicide in Madhya Pradesh, seventh in 7 days
MMNN:15 Jun 2017
Seven deaths have been reported from Madhya Pradesh in seven days as angry farmers have torched vehicles and ransacked property demanding loan waiver and fair price.
A farmer killed himself in Madhya Pradesh’s Hoshangabad district on Thursday morning, news agency ANI reported, the seventh such suicide in seven days in a region rocked by violent farmer protests over plummeting crop prices.
Narmada Prasad was a resident of Hoshangabad’s Babai village and was being pressurized by local moneylenders, ANI added. The details of his death couldn’t be immediately ascertained.
Opposition’s choice of president likely today; Meira Kumar, Gopal Gandhi in focus
MMNN:14 Jun 2017
The move to pick the Opposition’s candidate comes two days after the ruling BJP announced its committee to talk to all parties in an effort to build consensus for a candidate to succeed President Pranab Mukherjee.
The opposition will likely name its candidate for the next President of India on Wednesday, with Congress leader Meira Kumar and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi among the possible nominees.
The meeting of the Opposition’s 10-member selection panel is slated for 4pm.
The move to pick the Opposition’s candidate comes two days after the ruling BJP announced its committee to talk to all parties in an effort to build consensus for a candidate to succeed President Pranab Mukherjee, who demits office on July 24.
The Opposition panel comprises Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, JD(U) veteran Sharad Yadav, NCP leader Praful Patel, Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek o’Brien, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and DMK’s RS Bharathi.
Monsoon session of Parliament likely to begin on July 12, say sources
MMNN:13 Jun 2017
The monsoon session of Parliament will begin from July 12 and conclude on August 11.
The month-long monsoon session of Parliament is likely to commence from July 12.
According to one of the proposals before the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), the session will begin from July 12 and conclude on August 11, according to government sources.
The final call on the dates will be taken by the committee, headed by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, after June 20, the sources said.
Sources told IANS the session was being convened earlier due to the presidential election in which MPs and MLAs are voters. A session at that time will ensure that all the MPs are in Delhi for the polling. An MP can also vote in his home state where MLAs generally vote.
Doyen of Telugu literature C Narayana Reddy dies in Hyderabad
MMNN:12 Jun 2017
Doyen of Telugu literature and Jnanpith awardee Dr C Narayana Reddy passed away in Hyderabad on Monday following a brief illness.
Doyen of Telugu literature and Jnanpith awardee Dr C Narayana Reddy died of brief illness in Hyderabad on Monday morning.
He was 86. He is survived by four daughters.
Reddy complained of chest pain in the morning and was rushed to a private hospital where he breathed his last.
Popularly known as Cinare, the noted litterateur was born at Hanumajipet village of Rajanna Sircilla district (which was part of Karimnagar district till recently) of Telangana on July 29, 1931.
Though he studied in Urdu medium school, Reddy mastered Telugu literature and joined Osmania University as a Telugu professor. He also served as vice-chancellor of the Telugu University.
Known for his excellent rhyming skills, Reddy wrote several books, including composition of poems like Karpoora Vasantha Rayalu and Nagarjuna Saagaramu.
His magnum opus Vishwambhara, which was translated into several other Indian languages, fetched him Jnanpith award in 1988.
He was honoured with several literary awards like Kala Prapoorna and doctorates by various universities. In 1992, he was honoured with India’s third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan.
He was nominated to Rajya Sabha in August 1997.
Reddy became more popular among the common people with his lyrics in Telugu films. He had penned more than 3,000 songs for various Telugu films, and all of them were big hits.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao and several literary personalities and lyricists from Telugu film industry condoled Reddy’s death.
MP CM Shivraj on indefinite fast, says pained to see violence in state
MMNN:10 Jun 2017
Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s decision to observe a fast comes in the wake of violence in several parts of the state during the agitation by farmers and the killing of five farmers in Mandsaur in police firing.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced the setting up of commission which would assess the input cost of agriculture produce, and said he was pained to see the violence in the state during the farmers’ agitation.
Chouhan, who began an indefinite fast on Saturday in his bid to restore peace in the violence-hit state, appealed to the farmers for peace, saying when his door was always open for talks, where was the need for violence.
A pandal was erected at BHEL, Dussehra Maidan in state capital Bhopal from where Chouhan will run his government.
Chouhan’s decision to observe a fast comes in the wake of violence in several parts of the state during the agitation by farmers and the killing of five farmers in Mandsaur in police firing a few days back. He announced his decision at a press conference on Friday evening.
Chouhan was flanked by his ministerial colleagues and BJP leaders. Many party workers too gathered to listen to the chief minister on the occasion. A number of farmers were brought by the party for interacting with the chief minister. Government officials were also present on the occasion.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh termed the fast as a “Kejriwal drama”, which, he alleged, would involve an expenditure of crores of rupees.
He was referring to Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal who had gone on an indefinite fast, promising 24-hour power at half the existing rate and up to 20 kilolitres of free water for all when his party comes to power in the national capital.
Congress workers in Indore sat on a dharna and prayed for “wisdom” for the chief minister.
Without taking the name of the Congress, Chouhan said he was pained when he heard words like “Thaane me aag laga do” (Set the police station on fire) or “Patthar maro” (Pelt stones).
“The Mandsaur incident is the most unfortunate. I was deeply pained. I will get this inquired into as to who were behind the violence and what was their motive. Those who spread violence during the agitation will not be spared,” he warned.
Chouhan said it was “unfortunate that children are being given stones in their hands. This is painful. Where do they want to the push the state? Where will the state go with such attitude of people?” he asked.
He said that during the violence, more than 100 police personnel sustained injuries. Of them, six were seriously injured. As many as 197 buses and 127 government vehicles were damaged.
Chouhan said that since he assumed his office 11 and a half years back, his first and foremost priority has been welfare of farmers.
The irrigation area has been increased from 7.5 lakh hectares in 2003 to 40 lakh hectares now, he said.
The rate of interest on loan to farmers has been reduced from 18% to zero percent. Further, it was minus 10% because if a farmer took a loan of Rs 1 lakh, he was supposed to return Rs 90,000 only.
Chouhan said if facilities to farmers had grown manifold, the bumper crop led to sharp fall in prices. That was why a Rs 1,000-crore price stabilisation fund was created to allow farmers to get adequate return on their produce.
Thousands of tonners of onion has been purchased at Rs 8 per kg by the government. From June 10, tur daal would be purchased at Rs 5,500 per quintal whereas the market rate was Rs 3,400-3,500 per quintal. Similarly, moong and urad would be purchased at Rs 5,225 per quintal across the state, he said.
In new Rajasthan textbooks, Veer Savarkar overshadows Gandhi and Nehru
MMNN:9 Jun 2017
The class 10 textbook reduces Mahatma Gandhi’s historical significance during India’s freedom struggle to a passing mention while the country’s first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru is missing from class 8 textbooks.
New textbooks for Rajasthan state board schools being taught from this year have an extra dose of nationalism, with Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar pushing to the margins the role of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
One of the textbooks introduced in the BJP-ruled state even describes the first crop of Congress leaders as mostly moderates who were prosperous, middle-class intellectuals hailing from big cities and having no connection with the masses.
The revised textbooks for classes 10, 11 and 12 also bring students up to speed on current “hot topics” such as the Uniform Civil Code, Hindi as the country’s contact language and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policies, especially with reference to Pakistan.
But what is bound to raise more eyebrows is Savarkar getting a big chuck of space, even edging out Jawahar Lal Nehru from the social science textbook of Class 10 and decimating Mahatma Gandhi to a passing reference. Education experts are calling these history “revisions” as Hinduisation of the country’s freedom struggle.
Last year, India’s first Prime Minister Nehru was erased from the Class 8 textbook.
The government, however, defends the revisions saying that Nehru has been given ample space in the Class 9 textbook. “Every hero can’t be included in every book,” says Vasudev Devnani, state education minister.
Army foils infiltration bid in J-K’s Nowgam, soldier and 3 militants dead
MMNN:8 Jun 2017
The infiltration bid took place along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowgam sector.
A soldier was killed as the army foiled an infiltration bid on Thursday along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowgam sector, a spokesperson said.
Three militants were also killed during the infiltration bid, the spokesperson said, adding that operations are on in the area. Weapons and warlike stores were recovered from the slain militants.
On Wednesday, three militants were gunned down in Machhil sector near the LoC in north Kashmir. Three weapons were recovered from them.
Team India Players Attend Virat Kohli’s Charity Ball And Once Again Absconding Businessman Vijay Mallya Spotted At The Event
MMNN:6 Jun 2017
Ahead of Team India’s next encounter against Sri Lanka in Champions Trophy, cricketers took part in Virat Kohli’s charity ball on Monday. Along with the Indian players in attendance was absconding businessman Vijay Mallya.
Mallya made his presence felt once again after he was spotted enjoying the India’s match against Pakistan from the VIP stand in Edgbaston on Sunday.
Five Pakistani nationals detained in Rajasthan; being interrogated by intelligence agencies
MMNN:5 Jun 2017
Jaipur: Five Pakistani nationals were detained in Barmer district of Rajasthan for violating visa norms.
Khojo Bhil (60), Chandu Bhil (75), his wife Dhai Bai Bhil (70), and two minors — Naresh Bhil (10) and Dharmi Bai (12) — had a visa for Jodhpur but travelled to Barmer.
They were detained from Gadra road railway station in the district when they were waiting for a train to Jodhpur on Sunday.
Khojo and Naresh came to Jodhpur two years ago and the other three entered India around 20 days back, Station House Officer (SHO) of Gadra road police station Karan Singh said.
They were staying at their relatives' house in Barmer for two days.
The place where they stayed is restricted for foreigners, the SHO said.
They are being interrogated by intelligence agencies.
Barmer is among four districts in western Rajasthan which lies along the border with Pakistan.
Infiltration down 45% since surgical strike, Kashmiri youth the future: Rajnath
MMNN:3 Jun 2017
Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the Narendra Modi government’s commitment to bringing peace in Kashmir and how the administration had thwarted Islamic State
"There is no dispute within the family. There is no reason for dispute. Whatever, problems are there, they are due to sycophancy and backbiting. Our first priority will be to unite the family", Shivpal said.
"If family is united everything will be well. I ask everyone to sit with Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), who is head of the family. I want him to get due respect and honour as he is the one who made Samajwadi Party. Whatever we are is due to him", he said.
On his decision to form the 'Samajwadi Secular Front', which will be headed by Mulayam, Shivpal said that it will bring the party on the "right track".
Maintaining that he is still in the party and will only try to strengthen it, Shivpal said, "if Mulayam gets due respect in the party, I am ready for any placement".
Shivpal, who has been at odds with nephew and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, however had made it clear that he was forming just a "front" and not a political party.
"We will constitute the Samajwadi Secular Front on July 6 to bring the SP on the right track. We will formally announce it at a meeting in Lucknow", Shivpal had said.
Indian cricket team upset before Champions Trophy tie vs Pakistan - This is why
MMNN:2 Jun 2017
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble had reservations as the practice arena was small in size. The main issue was the run-up for fast bowlers. India will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on Sunday.
The Indian cricket team was unhappy with the practice facilities at Edgbaston with captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble making their displeasure known, according to a report on PTI. (ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY FULL COVERAGE)
The report added that both Kohli and Kumble had reservations as the arena was small in size. The main issue was the run-up for fast bowlers.
Backbiting, sycophancy responsible for SP woes: Shivpal Yadav
MMNN:1 Jun 2017
LUCKNOW: Sidelined Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav on Thursday said he was ready for any "placement" in the party provided Mulayam Singh Yadav got "due respect" even as he held "sycophancy" and "backbiting" responsible for the party's woes.
Mulayam's brother insisted that all will be well if the family is united.
"There is no dispute within the family. There is no reason for dispute. Whatever, problems are there, they are due to sycophancy and backbiting. Our first priority will be to unite the family", Shivpal said.
"If family is united everything will be well. I ask everyone to sit with Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), who is head of the family. I want him to get due respect and honour as he is the one who made Samajwadi Party. Whatever we are is due to him", he said.
On his decision to form the 'Samajwadi Secular Front', which will be headed by Mulayam, Shivpal said that it will bring the party on the "right track".
Maintaining that he is still in the party and will only try to strengthen it, Shivpal said, "if Mulayam gets due respect in the party, I am ready for any placement".
Shivpal, who has been at odds with nephew and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, however had made it clear that he was forming just a "front" and not a political party.
"We will constitute the Samajwadi Secular Front on July 6 to bring the SP on the right track. We will formally announce it at a meeting in Lucknow", Shivpal had said.
Narendra Modi four-nation tour Live: PM meets President of Spain Mariano Rajoy
MMNN:31 May 2017
Narendra Modi will hold discussions with his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy on ways to deepen bilateral engagement, including in the high-tech sector
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Madrid in the Spanish capital on Wednesday on the second leg of his six-day, four-nation tour aimed at boosting bilateral economic engagement with them and inviting more investment for India’s transformation.
Modi’s visit to Spain is the first visit by an Indian prime minister since 1988.
“Hola Espana! Prime Minister Modi arrives in Madrid, first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly three decades, is received by Spanish FM in a special gesture,” said Gopal Baglay, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in a tweet.
Police may have reached UP highway robbery victims sooner if they called 100
MMNN:27 May 2017
Officials say they have the ability to track people based on their mobile connections, and could have saved time looking for family that lost a member to robbers near Yamuna Expressway if they made the 100 call themselves
The UP police say they could have reached the victims of the highway robbery near Greater Noida within minutes if they had called 100 instead of their relatives back home, an official in the department said.
A family of eight was attacked by robbers at around 1.30am on Thursday when they were on their way to Bulandshahr from Jewar on a desolate stretch close to the Yamuna Expressway. One of the men in the group was shot dead and the women said they had been raped. The case triggered fresh criticism of law and order in the country’s most populous state.
Officials said the victims first called a relative in Jewar, who made the call to police.
“A police response vehicle (PRV) located the relative in minutes, but since he had no idea where the victims were, we had to start canvassing the highway,” said additional director general (ADG) Anil Agarwal, in-charge of the UP-100 programme.
PRVs, Agarwal explained, are equipped with devices that can relay the approximate location from where an emergency call was made to 100.
The call lands at a centre in Lucknow, which gets the approximate location of the caller based on the mobile network towers from where he or she was connected. This information is passed on to screens in the PRVs, which are supposed to reach a victim with 30 minutes in rural areas and 15 in cities, the ADG said.
In Thursday’s incident, the victim’s relative in Jewar was far from the crime scene.
“The mobile phone of the victims was switched off, making it difficult for the UP-100 team to locate them,” said Agarwal.
In the region, each PRV patrols a 30-km area and several were deployed to look for the family.
When a team found the victims, the suspects had fled leaving one person dead and the others tied up.
UP-100, an integrated emergency service, was launched by the previous government headed by the Samajwadi Party in November.
The project began with 1,500 squad cars deployed across the state, managed from a control room in Lucknow that receives all calls made to 100 from within the state.
Agarwal said that since its launch, UP-100 teams have rescued and attended to scores of people involved in accidents and crimes on highways.
Highways are typically a blind spot for local police in India, and emergency response is complicated by matters of jurisdiction.
The UP programme earned praise from the Union government’s Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), which urged governments in other states to replicate the model.
During a presentation by police and home department in April, UP’s new chief minister Yogi Adityanath too stressed on the strengthening the UP-100 service.
3 years of Modi govt: Terrorism claims more lives in Kashmir, situation mixed in Northeast
MMNN:27 May 2017
As the BJP government completes three years in office this week, IndiaSpend is analysing five of its key electoral promises–on employment, Swachh Bharat, roads, access to electricity and terrorism.
Eight members of a family were travelling to Bulandshahr from Greater Noida’s Jewar when they were waylaid by the gang at about 1.30am. The six looted cash and valuables from the family and then raped the women, the police said, quoting the victims . When the man tried to resist, he was shot dead.
“It’s a heinous crime. An FIR has been registered. A man has been murdered. Four women have alleged gang rape. Police teams are working on the case,” said Love Kumar, senior superintendent of Gautam Budh Nagar. “The women are being taken for medical examination. The post-mortem is being done. Two other teams are hunting for the suspects.”
Police said the robbers first targeted the wheels of the vehicle, a Maruti Eeco van. “After crossing Sabota village, two tyres got punctured. The driver of the car stopped at 1:30am to check the wheels when six men armed with country-made pistols surrounded the vehicle,” said IG Meerut, Ram Kumar.
The suspects snatched jewellery and Rs 47,500 in cash before tying the male passengers up with dupattas and taking the women to a field nearby, police said, quoting the victims.
“Several teams have been formed to nab the criminals. We are also seeking help of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force,” said Kumar.
Doctors tending to the victims were set to issue a statement on Thursday.
Read | Noida woman, daughter raped near Bulandshahr highway, 15 detained
Last July, a mother and her 13-year-old daughter were waylaid and raped by a group of highway robbers also in Bulandshahr. A Noida-based family of five was headed to Shahjahanpur when miscreants attacked them about 1.30 am on the Ghaziabad-Aligarh highway at Dostpur village, near Bulandshahr.
The incident sparked a political slugfest ahead of the assembly elections and had brought under focus India’s largest state’s notorious reputation of being unsafe for women. The BJP swept to power two months ago on a promise of tighter law and order.
Read | I want to punish attackers with my own hands: Bulandshahr rape victim
Uttar Pradesh has the longest network of highways among all states, according to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) data. National Crime Records Bureau’s data for 2014 show the state also accounts for the highest number of highway crimes — 80% of the 84,000 cases of dacoity and thefts on highways across the country were recorded in Uttar Pradesh.
“The victim’s family is from Jewar. They were travelling in Eeco car and going to Bulandshahr. The criminals threw something on the tyre and it got punctured. However, the driver of the car didn’t stop and drove for quite a distance and stopped near a hut,” Jewar MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh said.
Women ‘gang-raped’, man killed: Police launch hunt for suspects in highway robbery near UP’s Bulandshahr
MMNN:25 May 2017
Family travelling to Greater Noida attacked by gang of robbers late night.Senior police officer confirms ‘heinous crime’.
Eight members of a family were travelling to Bulandshahr from Greater Noida’s Jewar when they were waylaid by the gang at about 1.30am. The six looted cash and valuables from the family and then raped the women, the police said, quoting the victims . When the man tried to resist, he was shot dead.
“It’s a heinous crime. An FIR has been registered. A man has been murdered. Four women have alleged gang rape. Police teams are working on the case,” said Love Kumar, senior superintendent of Gautam Budh Nagar. “The women are being taken for medical examination. The post-mortem is being done. Two other teams are hunting for the suspects.”
Police said the robbers first targeted the wheels of the vehicle, a Maruti Eeco van. “After crossing Sabota village, two tyres got punctured. The driver of the car stopped at 1:30am to check the wheels when six men armed with country-made pistols surrounded the vehicle,” said IG Meerut, Ram Kumar.
The suspects snatched jewellery and Rs 47,500 in cash before tying the male passengers up with dupattas and taking the women to a field nearby, police said, quoting the victims.
“Several teams have been formed to nab the criminals. We are also seeking help of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force,” said Kumar.
Doctors tending to the victims were set to issue a statement on Thursday.
Read | Noida woman, daughter raped near Bulandshahr highway, 15 detained
Last July, a mother and her 13-year-old daughter were waylaid and raped by a group of highway robbers also in Bulandshahr. A Noida-based family of five was headed to Shahjahanpur when miscreants attacked them about 1.30 am on the Ghaziabad-Aligarh highway at Dostpur village, near Bulandshahr.
The incident sparked a political slugfest ahead of the assembly elections and had brought under focus India’s largest state’s notorious reputation of being unsafe for women. The BJP swept to power two months ago on a promise of tighter law and order.
Read | I want to punish attackers with my own hands: Bulandshahr rape victim
Uttar Pradesh has the longest network of highways among all states, according to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) data. National Crime Records Bureau’s data for 2014 show the state also accounts for the highest number of highway crimes — 80% of the 84,000 cases of dacoity and thefts on highways across the country were recorded in Uttar Pradesh.
“The victim’s family is from Jewar. They were travelling in Eeco car and going to Bulandshahr. The criminals threw something on the tyre and it got punctured. However, the driver of the car didn’t stop and drove for quite a distance and stopped near a hut,” Jewar MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh said.
Saharanpur Dalit-Thakur violence: 5 things about UP’s caste-communal cauldron
MMNN:24 May 2017
Saharanpur in western UP has a history of caste and communal violence, fuelled by religious diversity and political attempts at polarisation
A wave of caste clashes at the westernmost tip of Uttar Pradesh spanning the past two weeks has killed two Dalits and injured scores. But this is only the latest of many such caste and communal conflagrations in Saharanpur. Here are five things to know about UP’s cauldron of sectarian violence:
1. The current flare-up began on May 5 when Dalits objected to a procession carried out by Thakurs and Rajputs to commemorate 16th century king Maharana Pratap. The ensuing clashes killed one Thakur youth. Hours later, around 50 Dalit houses were torched.
2. Earlier this month, A BJP rally held to mark Dalit icon BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary in Sadak Dudhali village near Saharanpur sparked angry protests from locals. The dispute turned violent and injured 15 people, before the police stepped in and stopped the procession for being organised without permission. Hours later, members of the BJP — including MP Raghav Lakhanpal, his MLA brother Rahul Lakhanpal — barged into the house of the senior superintendent of police and their supporters allegedly vandalised the premises.
3. In July 2014, Saharanpur was rocked by pitched battles between the Sikh and Muslim communities over a property dispute. Three were killed, more than 50 injured and police had to issue shoot-at-sight orders to control mobs.
Indian national Uzma, who was forced to marry in Pak, allowed to return home
MMNN:24 May 2017
Uzma had travelled to Pakistan earlier this month. She had said that Pakistani national Tahir Ali “forced” her to marry him at gun point.
The Islamabad high court allowed on Wednesday an Indian woman, who has sought refuge at the Indian mission here after accusing a Pakistani man of forcibly marrying her, to return to India, a media report said.
Uzma, in her early 20s, had travelled to Pakistan earlier this month. She had said that Pakistani national Tahir Ali “forced” her to marry him at gun point.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani was hearing pleas filed by Uzma and Ali. While Uzma had requested to be repatriated to India, Ali had asked to be allowed to meet his wife.
The HC assured Uzma, who hails from New Delhi, that she was free to return to India at any point and would be escorted to the Wagah Border with police security, Dawn newspaper reported.
During the hearing, the judge asked Uzma if she wished to speak to her husband but she refused.
She has alleged that her travel documents were stolen by Ali.
Uzma had petitioned the court on May 12 with the request and had submitted a medical report, showing that her daughter was suffering from thalassemia - an inherited blood disorder characterised by abnormal hemoglobin production - and she urgently needed to return to India.
Uzma and Ali reportedly met in Malaysia and fell in love, after which she travelled to Pakistan on May 1 via the Wagah Border. The two contracted nikkah (marriage) on May 3.
Centre renames maternity benefit scheme, adds Pradhan Mantri to it
MMNN:24 May 2017
Government sources say the name of the scheme, which was cleared by the Union cabinet last week, was changed to make it more appealing.
The Centre has renamed the Matritva Sahyog Yojana - a scheme under which pregnant and lactating mothers get Rs 6,000 to for the first live birth - as Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) in yet another instance of the Prime Minister’s name being prefixed to a government programme.
Government sources said the name of the scheme, which was cleared by the Union cabinet last week, was changed to make it more appealing.
“The earlier name did not ring a bell. Many targeted beneficiaries were not even aware,” said a senior women and child development (WCD) ministry official.
This is the second time that the scheme’s name has been changed. When it was launched in 2010 it was called the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana. After coming to power in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government dropped “Indira Gandhi” from the scheme.
PMMVY is the latest to be affixed with Pradhan Mantri. Since 2014, over a dozen schemes have been launched or re-launched across ministries and have been affixed with PM.
These include the PM Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, PM Mudra Yojana, PM Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, PM Gram Sinchai Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, PM Khanij Kshetra Yojana, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana among others.
The BJP’s political adversaries have accused the ruling dispensation of centralising everything around Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who remains the party’s most popular face.
The saffron party, however, said Pradhan Mantri is a “neutral term” and is connected with development.
“Unlike UPA era when programs were named after the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, the BJP led NDA government has mostly done away with the practice. Instead of naming schemes after some person, they are using Pradhan Mantri, which is a neutral term. The idea is to project the PM as the face associated with development,” said a senior BJP leader.
It is a similar strategy that the BJP has used in a string of state assembly elections in the last 3 years.
“Be it Bihar or the recent Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand polls, the party did not project a CM face. In the recent state assembly elections, for instance, the campaign revolved around PM Narendra Modi and his style of development oriented, corruption free governance. And the strategy worked,” said another BJP leader, who did not want to be named.
Indian taxi driver ‘racially’ abused, beaten up in Australia: Report
MMNN:22 May 2017
The cab driver Pardeep Singh was beaten at the Sandy Bay McDonald’s drive-through in Australia’s island state of Tasmania.
A 25-year-old Indian taxi driver in Australia has been assaulted and knocked unconscious by two passengers, including a woman, who yelled racial slurs at him, a media report said on Monday.
Pardeep Singh, who is studying hospitality in the country, was beaten at the Sandy Bay McDonald’s drive-through in Australia’s island state of Tasmania on Saturday night.
Singh said he was attacked when he asked his passenger to step outside the cab because she was going to vomit, The Mercury reported.
“If you mess up the car you have to pay a cleaning fee,” Singh told the passengers.
Singh alleged the woman passenger told him in an expletive-filled rant that she wouldn’t pay the fare or the cleaning fee.
“They punched me too many times and kicked me,” Singh said.
“[They said] ‘You f.....g Indians deserve this’.”
Singh was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Inspector Ian Whish-Wilson said a man and a woman have been charged in relation to the assault on Singh.
They will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on June 26.
“It is alleged that the driver asked the passengers to leave his taxi after one of them was sick,” Wilson said.
“There was a dispute over payment and it is alleged the passengers assaulted the driver and damaged the vehicle.
“It was alleged a racial comment was made during the assault but it does not appear that the incident was racially- motivated,”Wilson said.
It is the third attack on an Indian taxi driver in Australia in less than a year.
Indian cabbie Li Max Joy was assaulted by four teenagers in the Argyle St McDonald’s in the early hours of March 25 and a third driver was assaulted by four men in June last year.
Wilson said charges have also been laid in relation to the March assault on Joy but no “special investigative unit” has been established.
Singh said he will not drive taxis again “because it’s so dangerous”.
PM Modi’s fourth visit to Gujarat begins today, Congress calls it ‘political compulsion’
MMNN:22 May 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over annual general meeting of African Development Bank (AfDB), among other programmes. Congress described Modi’s visits to Gujarat, which goes to polls this year, as “a political compulsion to bolster a weak state BJP leadership”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to home state Gujarat, where elections are expected by the end of the year, is scheduled to begin on Monday afternoon. This will be Modi’s fourth visit to Gujarat in this year.
Congress state unit chief Bharatsinh Solanki said the PM’s “frequent visits” to Gujarat were “a political compulsion to bolster a weak state BJP leadership”.
Modi will preside over a couple of inauguration ceremonies and also attend the annual general meeting (AGM) of African Development Bank (AfDB).
He is scheduled to land at Bhuj around 2.30 pm and head to a foundation ceremony for two general cargo berths at Kandla Port.
Later, he will inaugurate Narmada water pumping station at Bhachchau for Kutch and address a public meeting.
On Tuesday, the PM will attend the 52nd AGM of the AfDB at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. ‘Transforming Agriculture for Wealth Creation in Africa’ is the central theme of the five-day meet. Apart from 54 African region members, this financial institute has 24 non-regional members.
Nearly 3,000 delegates, several heads of state, and finance ministers from 80 countries are expected to participate in the AGM.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, who is India’s governor to AfDB, will be the chairperson at the event. Seminars, exhibitions by private companies, and the release of African Economic Outlook 2017 are among the programmes at the event.
On the eve of Modi’s visit, Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel and 50 of his community youths tonsured their heads, raising the political heat in Gujarat. Patidars, a financially and politically influential community and BJP supporters for three decades, are up in arms against the state government seeking OBC status.
‘Enough negative politics’: Shatrughan takes on critics targeting Lalu, Kejriwal
MMNN:22 May 2017
BJP leader wants critics of Delhi CM Arvind Kejrwal and RJD chief Lalu Prasad to substantiate allegations.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and RJD boss Lalu Prasad, facing corruption allegation, have received a support from an unusual ally: BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha.
“Enough of negative politics & mudslinging by opponents on our political leaders, be it Kejriwal, Laloo Yadav (sic) or Sushil Modi,” Sinha tweeted on Monday.
The actor-turned-politician said the allegations must be substantiated.
“High time to substantiate your claims..or pack up! Can’t just keep feeding media with one night stories & sensationalising. Enough is enough!”
A Lok Sabha member from Bihar, Sinha said he holds all political leaders, especially Kejriwal, in high esteem for their “credibility, struggle & commitment” towards society.
“Our BJP surely believes in honesty & transparency, which seldom go together, but must go together. An allegation is ONLY THAT unless proved!” he wrote on the micro blogging site.
Kejriwal’s former colleague Kapil Mishra has accused him of giving undue benefits to a relative and taking Rs 2 crore in cash from another minister, Satyendra Jain.
Lalu Prasad’s family members have been accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known income.
In both cases, the Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the most prominent voices calling for action against the two leaders.
Sinha’s tweet triggered an outrage in the BJP. “Jis Lalu ki benami sampatti ke bachav mein Nitish nahi utare, uske bachav mein bhajpa ke shatru kood pade (BJP’s ‘shatru’ came to the defence of the benami properties of that Lalu who is not being defended by even Nitish),” Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi wrote on Twitter.
Sinha is known for airing views contrary to the party’s stand and has been sidelined by the BJP. He has praised Kejriwal and Lalu in the past as well.
President, Union ministers may soon have to give speeches only in Hindi
MMNN:18 April 2017
All dignitaries, including the President and Union ministers, may soon start giving speeches in Hindi if a parliamentary panel's recommendations accepted by President Pranab Mukherjee are implemented.
Mukherjee has accepted most of the recommendations made in the ninth report of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language. The report was submitted in 2011.
The panel's recommendation that all dignitaries including the President and ministers, especially those who can read and speak Hindi, may be requested to give their speech/statement in Hindi only, has been accepted, as per an official order.
The President has accepted many other recommendations, including making announcements on civilian flights in Hindi followed by English.
On flights, half the reading material should consist of Hindi newspapers and magazines as "Hindi is grossly neglected by airlines", as per the panel's recommendation, was accepted by the President.
The ministry of civil aviation has been asked to ensure implementation of these recommendations.
Mukherjee has accepted another recommendation of the committee that maximum usage of Hindi should be ensured on all tickets of Air India and Pawan Hans helicopters.
The recommendation favouring 100% availability of training material in bilingual at the Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Administrative Academy, the premier institute to train civil servants including those in Indian Administrative Service (IAS), has also been accepted.
The panel had asked the ministry of human resource development to make serious efforts to make Hindi language compulsory in curriculum. "As a first step, Hindi should be made a compulsory subject up to tenth standard in all schools of CBSE and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan," it had recommended.
"This recommendation is accepted in principle. The Union government should form a policy in consultation with state governments," the order said.
Another recommendation accepted by the President is that universities and higher educational institutes situated in non-Hindi speaking states, where the students are not given an option for Hindi to appear in exams/interviews, must be given an option to answer in Hindi.
In Guwahati on Tuesday, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu urged people to use Hindi daily along with regional languages.
"The Centre is using more and more Hindi in government programmes and policies and we have to make the habit of using the Rashtrabhasha in our day-to-day life, along with the regional languages," Naidu said while presiding over a meeting of the Joint Hindi Advisory Committee.
Average monsoons: Analysts see farm GDP clipping at 3-4 per cent
MMNN:18 April 2017
A normal monsoon season, as projected by the Met department (IMD) could help the agricultural GDP grow by 3-4 per cent this year, a tad lower than last year's, says a report. The IMD today said there would be good distribution of rainfall across the country and it will receive 96 per cent of the long period average. "We believe that the agricultural GDP is most likely to be in range of 3-4 per cent, a tad low compared to 2016-17, if rainfall remains normal," an SBI Research said. It said even in case of deficit rainfalls there are instances where agri-GDP has in fact expanded and smartly grew in slightly more than normal rainfall in 2010 and 2011.
In 2009, despite a 22 per cent decline in rainfalls, agri-GDP expanded by 0.8 per cent. The report said the current year's forecast is majorly important for the farm sector with initial reports pointing fingers at the El Nino which may happen during the later part of the year.
The IMD, however, says weak EL Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are currently combining to give a positive monsoon scenario in 2017. The report said an analysis of monsoon forecast (1st and 2nd stage) since 2008 indicates that IMD has only once increased its 2nd stage forecast (in 2014), else the forecast remained same or slightly less than the first.
"With a 38 per cent probability of normal rainfalls, we believe rainfall is most likely to be higher than 96 per cent of LPA," the report said.
Meanwhile, Icra in a report said the timing of rainfall will be crucial as higher rainfall in the early part of the monsoon may support sowing while adequate rainfalls in the second half is important for yields. Its principal economist Aditi Nayar said if rainfall is around 96 per cent, our baseline expectation is that growth of agricultural GVA will moderate from above 4 per cent in fiscal 2017 to 3.6 per cent in fiscal 2018.
Partly due to unfavourable rainfalls and reservoir levels, the GVA for crops contracted by 2.2 per cent in 2016, she pointed out.
Modi hints at laws to push doctors to prescribe affordable, generic drugs
MMNN:17 April 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday indicated that his government may bring in a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines, which are cheaper than equivalent branded drugs, to patients.
Modi said his government brought in a health policy after 15 years and capped the prices of medicines and stents, which has angered some pharmaceutical companies.
Speaking at the inauguration of a charitable hospital here, he exhorted the wealthy people to come forward and contribute towards health care of the needy people.
This country has not been built by the kings and leaders alone but by the power of the people, he said.
"Doctors write prescriptions in such a way that poor people do not understand the handwriting, and he has to buy that medicine from private stores at high prices," Modi said.
"We will bring in a legal framework by which if a doctor writes a prescription, he has to write in it that it will be enough for patients to buy generic medicine and he need not buy any other medicine," he said.
"In our country doctors are less, hospitals are less and medicines are expensive. If one person falls ill in a middle class family, then the financial health of the family gets wrecked. He cannot buy a house, cannot conduct the marriage of daughter," he pointed out.
"It is the government's responsibility that everybody should get health services at minimal price," the PM said.
"We have recently declared a health policy. The health policy has been brought in after 15 years," he said.
"Earlier, the health policy was brought when Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was the Prime Minister. Nothing happened in between (in health sector), which I have to do (now)," Modi said targeting the previous UPA government led by the Congress.
"When I was in Gujarat, I used to attract the wrath of many (by my decisions). Now when I have gone to Delhi, I have been instrumental in making many people angry, everyday I do some work which makes some or other person sulk," he said.
"See these companies which are manufacturing medicines, they used to charge Rs 1,200 for an injection. We called everyone (pharma companies) and ensured that the prices are reduced.
"The prices of 700 medicines were capped so that poor people get medicines at reasonable rates when they face grave diseases," Modi said.
"We have also capped the prices of stents used in heart ailments," he said.
"We have done this work, and you can imagine how angry the manufacturers of medicines will be. Despite the wrath of a very powerful lobby, the government is taking one step after another so that poor people and middle class get quality health services," the Prime Minister said.
He said the government has implemented the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna', where people get generic medicines from stores at reasonable rates.
Modi also stressed on preventive health care saying if people adopt it, they will not have to visit hospitals.
"Preventive health care is very important. My Swachhta Abhiyan (cleanliness campaign) is aimed at preventive healthcare as it has been proved that many diseases are contracted if we live in an unclean environment," he said.
"Yoga is also very important for wellness and I am running a campaign to make it popular across the world," he said.
He exhorted the well-off people to come forward and provide health care to the poor and middle class people.
"We require a jan andolan, jan shakti to provide effective healthcare to every person in the country," he said.
"Our country has a different mentality, our country was not made by governments, our country was not made by kings, neither by leaders, our country was built by the service oriented approach of our countrymen," he said.
"'Seva permo dharma' has been the motto of our people," the PM said.
"You tell me the dharmshalas outside every important pilgrim town, were they built by the government? Who used to build wells and lakes in villages? Did the government build it? he asked.
"The cow shelters in villages are not built by the government, libraries are not built by government," he said asking people to come forward to build and run hospitals in the rural areas.
Prior to his speech, Modi inaugurated the Rs 400 crore Kiran Multi Super Speciality Hospital and Research Centre, built by Samast Patidar Arogya Trust in Katargam area here.
He had also laid the foundation stone of the hospital when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Budget Session most productive; 18 bills passed by both houses: Ananth Kumar
MMNN:17 April 2017
Uttar Pradesh's BJP chief minister Adityanath today compared those who are silent and don't speak out against triple talaq to those who stood by silently while Draupadi was being stripped in the Mahabharat myth.
"I'm reminded of everyone staying silent when Draupadi was being disrobed. Those who stayed silent were as guilty and at fault as those who disrobed her. Similarly, the people who are silent on the issue of triple talaq are equally guilty," he said at a Lucknow event.
"I'm surprised over the silence over a burning issue of triple talaq by certain individuals," he added, while speaking at an event to release a book on late politician Chandrashekhar, who was once India's Prime Minister.
"Even Chandrashekhar was in favour of a common civil code," the UP CM said, adding that everyone should speak out against oral talaq.
The Supreme Court (SC) is currently hearing a case on the constitutional validity of triple talaq+ , the Islamic practice some Muslims follow of divorcing their wife by saying the word 'talaq' three times.
The Centre and some NGOs, who are a party in the case in the SC, have submitted that triple talaq violates the right to gender equality. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other clerics have argued that triple talaq has the sanction of the Quran, forms part of Muslim Personal Law, and therefore, falls squarely outside the purview of the judiciary. It also said declaring it unconstitutional is akin to "rewriting the Quran."
"Those who give triple talaq without reasons+ prescribed by the Sharia (religious law) will face social boycott," said the AIMPLB yesterday.
"There has been misunderstanding on this issue, we will issue a code of conduct on it," it added.
Adityanath also chose to touch on Kashmir - which has been wracked with violence lately - and said he agreed with Chandrashekhar that Kashmir must remain a part of India.
"Chandrashekhar had said that if Kashmir is separated, India will lose its belief," Adityanath said at the book launch.
EVM tampering: Opposition parties have failed to take defeat sportingly, put EC image in dock
MMNN:12 April 2017
Senior Congress leader M Veerapa Moily's statement taking on his own party the Indian National Congress for showing a "defeatist" mindset on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is indicative of the deep divide that exists in the main opposition party's ranks on the issue. It also shows the kind of anxiety that is there among a section of its leaders over the party leadership's rent-a-cause attitude, irrespective of the veracity of the issue, its degree of popular support and potential pitfalls.
The shrillness with which the 16 political parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Aam Aadmi Party and the Left parties are alleging EVM tampering essentially suggests they have not reconciled to the defeat in recent rounds of Assembly and local bodies elections.
Finding fault at the EVM, which have been delivering credible and fast results for over 35 years, is an easy alibi to take the attention away from the concerned parties leadership failure to win public trust and votes. Unfortunately, the likes of Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, D Raja, Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav have chosen to fight a flimsy, fictitious battle against trustworthy voting machines when they should have been fighting a political battle against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on policies and issues through varied programmes.
It should be noted that Rahul Gandhi has not held a single review meeting with his party leaders after Congress's rout in UP and Uttrakhand. The UP election results have thrown a situation where Mayawati would not remain a Member of Parliament (MP) in Rajya Sabha after March 2013. With zero seats in Lok Sabha, staring at a zero in Rajya Sabha in times to come and with negligible numbers in the UP assembly, Mayawati, like Congress, is facing an existential crisis. It is anybody's guess why Mayawati came out with EVM tinkering theory even as the results were still coming out. Anyone who had covered UP elections with open eyes could sense a wave-like situation for BJP.
The Congress party is even unmindful of the fact that it was Rajeev Gandhi government with its brute majority in Parliament in 1988 that had amended Representation of the People Act and inserted a new section 61A to empower the Election Commission of India to use voting machines. Since the year 2000, EVMs have been successfully used in 107 Assembly elections and three Parliamentary elections.
Elections of all kinds - Parliamentary, Assembly, Presidential and local bodies (rural and urban included) in the country - are held by ECI and by the election commissions of respective states. All officials, central and state engaged for poll-related works function during election period under the strict supervision of ECI. By alleging that BJP has been tinkering with EVMs, election after election, at whim in whichever part of the country it so wishes is actually a charge against the ECI, a Constitutional Body which is recognised across the world as the finest impartial institution India has created to hold free and fair elections.
The sixteen political parties have not only latched on to Mayawati's accusations on EVMs recording most votes to BJP in the recently concluded UP Assembly election but they stretched it to all recent municipal and panchayat elections in the recent past. The ECI has given a detailed point-by-point rebuttal to charges made by these parties. The poll panel also clarified that there are multi-layered check processes where representatives of political parties participate in testing and sealing of the EVM machines from the point it is released from the factory to polling stations. The parties, candidates and their representatives have multiple occasions to point out a malfunction if they find one.
The EC has also clarified in Bhind and Dholpur incidents.
Those raising a hell against the ECI, the Modi government and BJP on flimsy claims of EVM tinkering should spare some minutes to read various judicial pronouncements. Since 2001, the matter has been settled by five high courts - Madras High Court in 2001, Delhi High Court in 2004, Karnataka High Court in 2004, Kerala High Court in 2002 and Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) in 2004. The verdicts of the high courts concluded that EVMs are credible, reliable and totally tamperproof. In some of these cases, even the Supreme Court dismissed appeals filed by some petitioners against the high court orders.
it's worth noting what the Karnataka High Court had to say on the matter: "This invention is undoubtedly a great achievement in electronic and the computer technology and a national pride." The Madras High Court observed: "There is also no question of introducing any virus or bugs for the reason that the EVMs cannot be compared to personal computers. The programming in computers, as suggested, has no bearing with the EVMs. The computer would have inherent limitations having connections through the Internet and by their very design, they may allow the alteration of the programme but the EVMs are independent units and the programme in EVM is entirely a different system."
Supposing for a moment that the charges levelled by the Opposition parties are true then one also has to appreciate the kind of invisible army of thousands and even lakhs of well-trained people that the BJP has created to stealthily manually tamper every single sealed EVM that is kept in polling stations. Not just that, the BJP has compromised the entire system - the ECI, its state subsidiaries, poll officials at all levels, security officials and personnel at all levels, parties' candidates and their representatives in all constituencies - without the world getting an inkling of it. They have done it without getting noticed at any level of the multi-tiered checks. Going by that assumption, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have to be geniuses of the highest order who could create and an army of invisible "Mr Indias" whose stealth acts - breaking and reassembling of lakhs of EVMs - would not be seen by anyone or captured by any camera.
In 2014, when BJP registered an emphatic victory in the Parliamentary elections, Congress was ruling at the centre and the party and its new-found 16-party EVM brigade were ruling the two-third of the states in India. When BJP won UP in March 2017, the state was under the rule of SP while Uttrakhand was ruled by Congress. AAP won Delhi in 2015, winning 67 out of the 70 seats when BJP was ruling at the centre and the state was in Lt Governor's rule. BJP lost Bihar and Punjab but then the EVM brigade said that BJP consciously didn't tamper polling machines there.
Budget Session most productive; 18 bills passed by both houses: Ananth Kumar
MMNN:12 April 2017
The Budget Session of Parliament has been one of the most productive sessions in its history, Union Minister Ananth Kumar said today, adding that as many as 18 bills were passed by both the houses during the session. The productivity of Lok Sabha during the Budget Session was 114 per cent while that of Rajya Sabha was 92 per cent. As many as 23 bills were passed in the Lower House and 14 legislations in the Upper House, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.
While in both houses 18 bills were passed, he said. The major highlight of the session was the passage of four Goods and Services Tax (GST) bills to enable the implementation of the new indirect tax regime from July 1, he said.
"I think this was one of the most productive budget sessions and it will go down as the golden chapter in the Parliament's history," Kumar told reporters here.
It is for the first time in the Indian legislative history that all financial business of government, including passage of finance bill and demand for grants and appropriation bill, was completed before the start of next fiscal, he said.
Besides, some other important legislations including Maternity Benefit (Amendment) bill, Enemy Property bill and Mental Health Care bill were passed by both the houses. The Budget Session started from January 31 and came to a close today.
Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence: Sushma Swaraj warns Pak, Parliament speaks in one voice; top 10 developments
MMNN:11 April 2017
A united parliament stood in protest on Tuesday against the death sentence to former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan. Jadhav was sentenced on charges of espionage and destabilising peace in Pakistan. Pakistan's Inter-services public relations office issued a statement confirming the news on Monday. Here is how things unfolded since his sentencing:
1. Kulbhushan Jadhav was tried though Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of of?cial Secret Act of 1923 and awarded death sentence. The charges levelled against him included destabilising peace in Pakistan's Balochistan region and Karachi in Sindh. He was also charged with waging war against Pakistan. The trial was conducted secretly.
2. Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations office issued a press statement announcing his death sentence. The statement named him as Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)India's external intelligence agency.
3. Hours after the announcement of Jadhav's death sentence, India summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit and a demarche was issued terming the sentence as farcical.
A warning was also issued by the Indian government that if the execution was carried out by the Pakistani government, India would consider it as a premeditated murder.
4. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke in Parliament on Jadhav's sentencing. Swaraj issued a stern warning to Pakistan threatening if they go ahead with the death sentence of Jadhav, it will have consequences. The minister cautioned Pakistan that the execution will have a serious impact on bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
5. Swaraj assured that the government will make sure Jadhav gets the best legal support to fight his case. The minister, replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, said: "Our position is very clear, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Kulbhushan Jadhav," Swaraj also said that the government would raise the matter at different levels indicating that it may resort to applying diplomatic pressure by raising the matter in the United Nations.
6. Earlier, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had raised the issue in parliament demanding a reaction and response from the government. Kharge said: ""If we fail to save Kulbhushan Jadhav, then it will be government's weakness." While Owaisi added that the Pakistani military court was a banana court and the Indian government should use all its clout and influence to bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav. The parliament spoke in a united voice against Pakistani action backing the government to take the sternest measures.
7. Support came from all quarters of the government machinery. Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his ministry's support to Kulbhushan Jadhav in his address to Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Rajnath said that the government of India will do all it takes to save the life of Kulbhushan Jadhav.
8. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif came out in defence of the military court's decision to grant Kulbhushan a death sentence. He said that all laws of the land were followed and that the sentencing was done only after a three-month trial. In November, Pakistani Prime Minister's advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said that there was insufficient evidence on Jadhav. However, he recently retracted his statement and thereafter his trial resulted in a death sentence.
9. Jadhav was charged with carrying out counter-intelligence and subversive operations in Pakistan. Asif also said in his statement that this sentencing should serve as a warning to all those who were "plotting" against Pakistan. "Those plotting against Pakistan will not be spared," he said.
10. Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 from Mashkel, Balochistan region in Pakistan. After an interrogation of three weeks, a video was released by ISPR where Jadhav was seen giving a confession of being an agent of the R&AW. Indian government denied the validity of the video alleging coercion, tutoring and doctoring of video. According to Indian government, Kulbhushan, 46, is not a serving Navy officer and he left service in 2002. The government states he is a businessman and was in no way related to any government activities.
Work like Hanuman, PM Modi tells BJP MPs for govt achievements
MMNN:11 April 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed satisfaction on a successful budget session, which he said had been "very meaningful and useful", and advised BJP MPs to work like Lord Hanuman to publicise the government's achievements. Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party MPs here, Modi told them not to wait for his instructions before carrying out government work among the people.
"When Lakshman went into coma, Hanumanji went to find a cure without any prodding. Similarly, MPs must go ahead without waiting for instructions.
They need to carry forward the government's work among the masses," a BJP MP who attended the meeting quoted Modi as saying.
Modi's remarks came after he greeted people and MPs on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Modi urged the MPs to get inspiration from Hanuman.
"Take inspiration from Hanuman. He never took anything from anyone but he kept giving. You also need to give to people like him," Modi said.
Asking MPs to go their parliamentary constituencies, Modi they too needed to establish their own identity despite banking on him (Modi). Later, talking to reporters, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said the Prime Minister dubbed the budget session as 'Vijay Prapti Satra' (Winner Session) for the government.
"Modiji said the budget session was very meaningful and useful. It was a 'Vijay Prapti Satra'," Kumar quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
BJP sources said Modi also spoke about the positive mood among people reflected in the sweeping win for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the just held assembly elections.
"This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived. This is the time for doing more development and reforms," Modi said.
He congratulated the MPs for the passage of 21 bills in the Lok Sabha and 14 in the Rajya Sabha including the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST). The Prime Minister said there was an environment in the country in favour of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it leads.
"This is a golden opportunity to move on the path of development."
Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu also addressed the MPs and hailed Modi for providing the country a tranformative leadership.
Naidu said in just three years, Modi had emerged as the messiah of the poor. Naidu also gave tasks to MPs for the third anniversary celebration of the Modi government. This was the last BJP parliamentary party meeting of the budget session which ends on Wednesday.
Kulbhushan Jadhav, accused by Pakistan of being a RAW spy, sentenced to death
MMNN:10 April 2017
Pakistan said on Monday that a military court has sentenced to death former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav for allegedly spying and stoking violence in Balochistan, drawing an angry response from New Delhi which described it as "premeditated murder" if carried out.
India summoned the Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over a demarche describing the court proceedings as "farcical" and also put on hold the release of several Pakistani prisoners, scheduled for Wednesday.
Jadhav was arrested on March 3 last year in Balochistan and accused of being a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) agent who was fuelling the Baloch separatist movement and attempting to sabotage the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. India denies the charges.
A statement by the Pakistani military's publicity wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said Jadhav was declared guilty by an army court of waging war against the country.
"The spy was tried through field general court martial under the Pakistan army act and awarded the death sentence. Today chief of army staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," the ISPR said.
"He confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi."
Relations between the neighbours are at their lowest in several years following a string of militants on defence installations in India, which New Delhi blames on Pakistan-based groups.
Shorty after the Pakistan army statement, Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar summoned Basit - whose successor was incidentally named on Monday and handed over the demarche.
"If this sentence (is) against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," the demarche said.
"The proceedings that have led to the sentence against Jadhav are farcical in the absence of any credible evidence against him. It is significant that our high commission was not even informed that Jadhav was being brought to trial."
Last December, Pakistan's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz told the upper house of Parliament that the "dossier on Jadhav contained mere statements" and didn't have any conclusive evidence. Hours later, Pakistan denied the statement.
Pakistan Army had also released a "confessional video" of Jadhav who is purportedly heard saying that he was serving the Indian navy. In the video, Jadhav allegedly says he arrived in Iran in 2003 and started a small business in Chahbahar.
Islamabad also repeatedly refused India's request for access to Jadhav, who allegedly held an Iranian residency permit and a passport in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel. The place of birth given in this passport was apparently Sangli, Maharashtra.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, the country's largest province, but it has never offered any evidence to back up its claims. India last year launched a new offensive by highlighting Pakistan's human rights abuses in Balochistan.
Though several suspected Pakistani spies were arrested in India over the years, none had been sentenced to death.
In 1999, Pakistan had hanged an Indian, Sheikh Shamim, also on charges of spying.
In 2013, another Indian national, Sarabjit Singh, who was sentenced to death for spying in Pakistan, was killed in jail after being attacked by fellow inmates. Singh was on death row for 16 years. However, previous cases have largely gone through civilian courts.
Months later, a Pakistani prisoner was killed by inmates in the Jammu jail.
India, Australia ink pact to expand counter-terror cooperation
MMNN:10 April 2017
A pact to significantly expand counter-terror cooperation was among six agreements India and Australia inked today as the two countries called for strong action against those financing and providing sanctuary to terror groups.
However, no breakthrough was achieved on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull who merely decided to direct their respective officials to hold an early round of negotiations for the free trade deal.
During their talks, the two leaders decided to significantly expand their ties in several key areas including defence, trade, energy and education.
While Modi thanked Turnbull for passage of a legislation by the Australian parliament with bi-partisan support paving way for the country to export uranium to India, Turnbull said he was looking forward to starting the supply "as soon as possible".
Both the prime ministers felt that commercial export of Australian uranium could begin soon, opening up a new avenue for Australia to support Indias energy requirement.
The entire expanse of bilateral ties was reviewed at the talks including issues relating to Indian students studying in Australia and ways to deepen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
"We took a number of forward-looking decisions to further strengthen our partnership, including the decision to soon hold the next round of negotiations on a CECA," Modi said at a joint media event with Turnbull.
Using cricket analogy, Modi, in a lighter vein, said "I am, of course, glad that our decisions are not subject to the DRS review system." Decision Review System (DRS) is a technology-based mechanism in cricket to review controversial umpiring decisions.
Referring to martime issues, the joint statement said both leaders recognised the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded
lawful commerce, as well as resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with the international law.
It is seen as a reference to Chinas growing assertiveness in South China.
Modi and Turnbull also welcomed "continued and deepened" trilateral cooperation and dialogue among Australia, India and Japan.
In the talks. Turnbull noted Australias strong support for Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. He also said Australia supports Indias entry into the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, the two key export control groups.
On CECA, Turnbull did not give a timeline for the deal but said, "I think its fair to say that progress has not been as fast as either of us would have liked."
The two prime ministers have now asked negotiators on both sides to find a way out and list their priorities soon so that talks on it can move forward. There were indications that sticking points on the pact included issues relating to agriculture.
On the threat of terrorism, the two leaders asserted that the fight against terrorists, terror organisations and networks should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against those who encourage, support and finance terror, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues.
"They emphasised the need for urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism and violent extremism and radicalisation and expressed their determination to take concrete measures to step up cooperation and coordination among the law enforcement, intelligence and security organisations," a joint statement said.
The MoUs signed provided for deeper cooperation in areas of health and medicine, sports, environment, climate and wildlife, civil aviation security and cooperation in space technology.
Expressing happiness over cooperation in the energy sector, Modi said, "With the passage of a legislation in the Australian parliament with bi-partisan support, Australia is now ready to export uranium to India."
He also thanked Turnbull for Australias decision to join the International Solar Alliance.
Referring to cooperation in the maritime sphere, Modi said peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific was key for economic growth.
"We, therefore, agree on the need for a secure and rule- based Indo-Pacific. We are also aware that in this globalised world, challenges like terrorism and cyber security extend beyond the boundaries of our region and, therefore, require global strategy and solutions," he said.
Modi said cooperation between the two countries in the area of defence and security has reached new heights.
The two prime ministers highlighted their shared desire to ensure that Indian Ocean architecture keeps pace with regional issues and addresses emerging threats and challenges in the region.
Noting that both the countries have been victims of terrorism, Modi and Turnbull said the signing of the MoU on cooperation in combating international terrorism and transnational organised crime will help both countries to address global and regional security threats.
"Our strong and vibrant strategic partnership is of course important for the security and well-being of our societies. But, it is also a major factor for peace, stability and security in our region," Modi said.
He said student exchanges are an important element of bilateral education cooperation and referred to more than 60,000 Indian students studying in the country.
As PM Narendra Modi Welcomes Sheikh Hasina, An Outreach To Mamata Banerjee Too
MMNN:6 April 2017
"A visit without water" is how some officials are describing the visit to India of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, because a crucial water-sharing agreement, negotiated over nearly 20 years, is unlikely to progress during the three-day trip that begins tomorrow. That's because West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remains opposed to the agreement.
Yesterday, she said to officials in West Bengal, "There is a water crisis in Teesta River. Water levels are drying up in Teesta as well as in the Mahananda. Just imagine what will happen during peak summer."
The Teesta is one of nearly 50 cross-boundary rivers between India and Bangladesh. A water-sharing agreement exists only for one of them.
The latest draft of the agreement was prepared by Dr Manmohan Singh's government. It divides the waters of the Teesta equally between India and Bangladesh. Teesta originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal into Bangladesh.
In 2011, Dr Singh was prepping to sign the treaty on a trip to Dhaka, but at the last minute, Ms Banerjee pulled out of the visit, stating that the terms were damaging for her state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has not revised that draft. As part of the outreach to Ms Banerjee, she will be included at his lunch for the Bangladeshi premier on Saturday, and attend the launch of two new trains and a bus between Kolkata and Bangladesh.
This is Sheikh Hasina's first bilateral visit to India in seven years. She has been criticised at home for failing to close the Teesta deal.
During her visit, Bangladesh and India are likely to sign up to 35 agreements and memoranda of understanding for bilateral trade and investment and cooperation in the energy sector as well as better security along the highly-porous border between the two countries.
India is also expected to announce a fresh credit worth about $5 billion for infrastructure projects like railways, roads and waterways as Delhi moves to counter China's influence in neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. Last year, Dhaka bought two submarines from China. India expects to sign a defense deal with Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina's trip.
Babri case: SC for concluding joint trial, including one against Advani and other top BJP leaders, in 2 years
NEW DELHI: MMNN:6 April 2017
The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it will use its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to transfer the Babri Masjid demolition related trial in Rae Bareilly against top BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to Lucknow, where a CBI court is hearing conspiracy and other serious criminal charges against "lakhs of unknown kar sevaks" for the actual act of razing down the 15th century mosque.
A Bench of Justices P.C. Ghose and Rohinton Nariman, while reserving the judgment on the CBI's appeal to revive the conspiracy charges against BJP leaders, indicated during the morning hearing that it plans to order for a joint trial in Lucknow.
Terming the 25-year pendency in the Babri demolition trials an "evasion of justice," Justice Ghose said the Supreme Court plans to order the joint trial to be completed in two years.
"Kindly notice that this is a matter of 1992. Twenty-five years have passed. Our answer is have it on a day-to-day basis and finish it off in the next two years," he observed.
Justice Nariman at one point remarked how "many of the accused are dead and some will die now."
'Evasion of justice'
As far as the Rae Bareilly case is concerned, the court has examined 57 witnesses and have to examine another 105. In Lucknow, in the case against kar sevaks, 195 witnesses had testified before the trial court and it has to examine a whopping 800 more. The court said the pendency of the trial itself for so long was by itself an "evasion of justice".
Arguing for Mr. Advani, senior advocate K.K. Venugopal countered that the Allahabad High Court had set aside the transfer of the Rae Bareilly case to Lucknow in February 2001. The Supreme Court had accepted the Uttar Pradesh government's discretion to continue the trial separately in Rae Bareilly and not club it with the Lucknow one.
A transfer of the Rae Bareilly trial to Lucknow will negate all the past orders. "Your Lordships' use of Article 142 should be in accordance with law and due process of law as guaranteed in Article 21. Your recent order on the highway liquor ban has rendered lakhs of people jobless," Mr. Venugopal hit back.
Additional Solicitor General and CBI counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul said the February 2001 order of the High Court did not negate the joint charge sheet filed against Mr. Advani, Dr. Joshi and some known leaders of BJP and Hindutva groups.
The CBI said the High Court order of 2001 had said that a prima facie case of conspiracy has been made out against the leaders and it still stood against them.
"The HC had never said that the charge of criminal conspiracy introduced in the Lucknow FIR cannot be applied to the accused [Advani, Joshi, etc] in the Rae Bareilly FIR. The CBI has found an overarching conspiracy. Conspiracy as a charge still remains against them," Mr. Kaul argued.
When asked by the Bench about the practical difficulties of a joint trial in Lucknow, Mr. Kaul said witnesses have to recalled and trial may have to start "de novo [afresh]".
But senior advocate Kapil Sibal, arguing for petitioner Haji Mehboob, said the trial need not start anew. A joint trial would require only the granting of the right to an accused to recall and cross-examine witnesses. It does not require fresh charge sheet and framing of charges all over again.
On March 6, the Supreme Court indicated it may consider reviving the conspiracy charge against Mr. Advani, Dr. Joshi and other BJP leaders in the demolition case.
The sudden development came on an appeal filed by the CBI in 2011, during the UPA era, in the Supreme Court against the dropping of conspiracy charge against Mr. Advani and leaders such as Uma Bharti, Dr. Joshi, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambara, Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmia.
Noting that "there is something very peculiar going on in this case" , the Bench of Justices Ghose and Nariman said it would examine in detail why the conspiracy charges against the BJP leaders were dropped on mere technical grounds and never revived all these years.
"We prima facie do not approve of the way these people have been discharged... And no additional charge sheet filed so far? See, people cannot be discharged like this on technical grounds," Justice Nariman had observed orally.
"We will allow you (CBI) to file supplementary chargesheet by including the conspiracy charge. We will ask the trial court to conduct a joint trial in a Lucknow court," he had said.
Shia Personal Law Board for Triple Talaq Ban, Issues Fatwa Against Cow Slaughter
MMNN:5 April 2017
The All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) has adopted three resolutions including a fatwa against cow slaughter, a move to ban Triple Talaq and a call to solve the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute through an out-of-court settlement.
The fatwa banning the slaughter of cows in India was issued at its executive meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday after the AISPLB sought a clarification from Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain Najafi, a top Shia cleric from Iraq. It said communal tensions arise often in the country over cow slaughter.
Seventy five-year-old Hussain Najafi is one of the five Grand Ayatollahs in Iraq and is entitled to issue a fatwa for the community members.
Maulana Yasoob Abbas, member of the All India Shia Personal Law Board told News18 that how this fatwa aims to put an end to communal riots.
"For us Shias, horses are considered an important animal and likewise cows are considered holy by the Hindus. Hence, we need to respect other religions as well. If due to the death of one cow, a hundred humans are killed, I think it is best to save that cow," said Abbas.
This move from the Shia community comes just a day after the Dewan of Ajmer Dargah and an influential Sunni Islamic spiritual leader came down heavily on the practice of triple talaq and called it "un-Islamic" and something which was against the Holy Quran. He also called for a legislation which would ban the slaughter of all the bovine species in India and announced a personal decision to have given up beef along with his family members.
However, this resolution concerning triple talaq was not unexpected as on March 15, Shia Personal Law Board member Maulana Yasoob Abbas had stated that triple talaq in one sitting was not acceptable.
Abbas said: "I am moving an intervening application in the SC in the next two or three days and will request the court to make me a party. This is because I want such a strong law against triple talaq, that a man thinks thrice before divorcing his wife."
The Shia personal law board also seems to have supported the Chief Justice of India's stand by calling for an out-of-court settlement when most of the parties to the dispute had dismissed the offer stating that previous negotiations and mediations have not yielded any result.
On the suggestion for an out-of-court settlement for the Babri Masjid dispute Abbas said: "Whenever there is a religious matter to be decided, it's best to leave the political parties aside and take a call. Hence, this settlement should be without political interference and I am sure it will be successful as we understand each other's concern."
Recently Abbas had paid a courtesy visit to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to express their demands in connection with certain demands of the Shias in India.
The Shia delegation headed by Abbas was expected to demand the establishment of a separate committee or commission on the lines of the Sachar Committee report for ensuring development and welfare of minority Shia among the Muslims.
India underlines claim over PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan
NEW DELHI: MMNN:5 April 2017
India underlined its claim over territories of Jammu and Kashmir under Pakistani occupation+ today amid moves by Islamabad to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as a new province.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asserted in the Lok Sabha that it would be wrong to think that India will let go of any part of its territory.
She made the statement after BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab wondered if the government has even properly responded to Pakistan's move to make Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth province.
Noting that some western countries had criticised it, he asked, "What is our government's response?"
He asked the government to not forget history or it will be condemned to repeat it.
In her response, Swaraj said the Indian government had opposed Pakistan's move the very day it got to know about it.
"Even raising a doubt over this government that it will let go of some area will be wrong," the minister added.
She noted that both Houses of Parliament had passed resolutions which had iterated India's claim over the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, both under Pakistan's occupation, and the government was bound by it.
She also quoted a BJP slogan which underlines India's claim over the territory and noted that its founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee had "sacrificed" his life over this.
"We are bound by Parliament's resolutions and also our resolve," she said.
Arunachal Pradesh climber Anshu Jamsenpa to scale Mount Everest again
MMNN:4 April 2017
After seeking blessings from the 14th Dalai Lama here on Sunday, Anshu Jamsenpa, the woman climber from Arunachal Pradesh who had already summited the Mt Everest thrice, has left for Kathmandu in Nepal to scale the world highest peak again. She reached Kathmandu on Monday and is expected to reach the base camp on Tuesday.
This time, with the blessing and good wishes from the Tibetan spiritual on her side, Anshu during her expedition will attempt to summit the Everest twice-the feat she did within 10 days in May 2011. The mother of two children, Anshu again scaled the Everest on May 18, 2013. If she is successful with her double ascend this time, Anshu will add to her record of climbing Everest five times.
Anshu's public relation manager, Nanda Kirati Dewan said the Dalai Lama blessed the mountaineer and flagged off her double ascend expedition for Mt
Everest during a special audience with the Tibetan spiritual leader here. Dewan quoted Dalai Lama saying to Anshu, "your achievement is the testimony of your hard work, firm determination and a strong belief in yourself" .
Anshu said, "His Holiness is the Living Buddha and getting his blessings in person is one of the most treasured and blessed day of my life. I shall cherish it life long especially the warm hug I got. It will always motivate me and infuse strength to overcome all my struggles of life."
Arunachal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Association president and Anshu's husband, Tsering Wange offered the Indian tricolor flag to the Dalai Lama, who in turn handed over to Anshu to be unfurled at the summit of Mt Everest.
Dewan said that the entire expedition might take 45 to 60 days, depending upon weather condition.
"As she has left for the base camp on Tuesday, the process of her expedition has already started," Dewan added.
Arvind Kejriwal has failed the test of probity in public life, Ram Jethmalani's offer of help notwithstanding
NEW DELHI: MMNN:4 April 2017
On the auspicious day of Ram Navami, one nonagenarian Ram has vowed to fight for free for a 'poor' chief minister. It could have been a good Bollywood script. Sadly for Arvind Kejriwal, whose entire career is built around high-octane political theatrics, the reel world is dissolving into real.
Ram Jethmalani's belated offer to represent his 'poor client' Kejriwal pro bono in a 'dharm yudh' against Arun Jaitley could be a post facto attempt at damage control after dirt hit the roof. The move doesn't pass the basic smell test though.
The ace lawyer's personal animosity against Jaitley is well known. He may even make good on his promise and not charge Kejriwal a penny for his services.
However, that doesn't absolve the Delhi chief minister of his moral failings. His robe of rectitude in tatters, Emperor Kejriwal now stands in full frontal glory clothed in garbs of trickery and hypocrisy.
After trying every trick in book to force Delhi taxpayers into picking up the tab for his personal legal bill, attempting to bypass the lieutenant governor in doing so, Kejriwal has now relegated AAP into claiming that Jaitley's defamation case was not against 'Kejriwal the individual' but against an 'idea'.
One hopes Delhi citizens will find it reassuring that they voted for an 'idea' instead of an individual as a chief minister. This at least may explain why AAP felt the need to create a deputy chief minister for a Union territory and put him in chair while the original 'idea' went searching for greener pastures. After stinging electoral reverses in Goa and Punjab, the 'idea' is now back in Delhi, dipping into public funds either to spread his awesomeness through media advertisements or to meet Jethmalani's steep legal fees.
J&K: CRPF convoy attacked near Pantha Chowk, one dead, five injured
MMNN:3 April 2017
A CRPF jawan, who was hospitalised after being injured in firing by suspected militants, has died while five others are undergoing treatment. Six CRPF personnel and a civilian were injured when militants attacked a vehicle carrying security forces in Panthachowk area of Srinagar on Monday afternoon, police said. One of the injured personnel, Head Constable Basappa, later succumbed to his injuries while two other security personnel were said to be critical, the official said.
This is the second such attack in two days against security forces. "Our companies were going from Jammu to Srinagar when they were fired upon by militants, 6 personnel injured and taken to the hospital," CRPF PRO, B Chaudhary told ANI. The CRPF jawans of the 97 Battalion were on their way to Srinagar for election duty for Lok Sabha bypolls scheduled to be held on April 9.
"It's a sensitive time, separatists have called for boycott of elections. We are on high alert; CRPF is doing its duty," Chaudhary added. This is the third militant attack on security forces in Srinagar in as many days. On April 1, militants had opened fire on an army convoy
on the Parimpora-Pantha Chowk bypass, injuring two jawans.
Earlier on Sunday, militants attacked a joint party of Jammu-Kashmir and paramilitary forces on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kashmir to inaugurate the Chenani-Nashri road tunnel. A policeman was killed and 11 others were injured in the grenade attack. The attack took place in the evening when the security forces, deployed in the old city, were withdrawing. The militants lobbed a grenade at the security personnel near Nowhatta.
'Misconceptions' due to my saffron-clad look: Adityanath
NEW DELHI: MMNN:3 April 2017
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath+ has said "misconceptions" have been created about him due to his saffron-clad look and promised to win hearts of "all sections" by spreading a new idiom of happiness and prosperity.
He also said those who have been "insulting" India's traditions in the name of secularism are feeling threatened after he assumed office.
"Many misconceptions are created about me. Many people say I am saffron-clad, so there are many in the country who are averse to saffron," Adityanath said in an interview to RSS affiliated weekly 'Organiser'.
He said, those who were insulting India's tradition and culture in the name of secularism and appeasement are feeling threatened after he took office.
"We will win hearts of all sections of people with our style of working. We would spread a new idiom of happiness and prosperity," the 44-year-old Adityanath, considered a Hindutva hardliner, said.
Noting that for him power was not for fun and frolic, he said, "We are not in politics to run after prestigious positions and posts."
Listing out the priorities of his government, Adityanath said protection of "rashtra" (nation) will be the main "dharma" (religion) of his government. "This is focal point of humanity. In UP we would provide corruption-free administration and rid the society of goonda raj," he said, adding plans have been made and their impact will be visible in the next two months.
A new industrial policy will be in place to check migration of people from the state and it would make sure that 90 per cent of the employees in any industrial unit were from within Uttar Pradesh, he said.
Promising to clear the dues of sugarcane farmers within 14 days, Adityanath announced five-six new sugar mills will be opened in the state over the next six months.
'Arrest and put me in jail', Justice Karnan challenges SC Bench
MMNN:31 March 2017
In an openly confrontational hearing, controversial Calcutta High Court judge, Justice C.S. Karnan on Friday challenged a seven judge Bench of the Supreme Court to "arrest and put him in jail" for contempt.
Countering an order of the Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar to file an affidavit explaining his disparaging remarks and allegations of corruption against fellow High Courts and Supreme Court judges, Justice Karnan accused the Bench of robbing him of his mental and physical balance and his dignity by stripping him of his judicial and administrative powers as a High Court judge.
Justice Karnan was appearing for the first time before the Bench in the contempt action against him. He had refused to appear before it despite repeated notice from the apex court summoning him. Finally, the court had to issue a bailable warrant against him, which was served on him by a police team led by the West Bengal Director General of Police.
Justice Karnan, appearing for himself in a packed courtroom, shouted at the Bench that he will not come before it again.
"Had I not come today, you would have issued non-bailable warrant against me... What way am I an offender or an anti-social element or a terrorist for you... you should protect my dignity, my personal life has been destroyed, police entered my colony and people are watching me," Justice Karnan submitted.
"We issued bailable warrants against you Mr. Karnan not because you were an accused but because you did not enter procedure. You are not a terrorist," Chief Justice Khehar responded.
When the court gave Justice Karnan the choice between rendering an unconditional apology for his scurrilous letters and accusations against the judiciary, Justice Karnan rebutted saying they should first restore his powers as a judge in order for him to be in a position to prove his allegations.
The allegations of Justice Karnan had prompted the contempt action - the first in the court's history against a sitting High Court judge.
Finally, after a 45-minute hearing, Chief Justice Khehar recorded that Justice Karnan was replying neither coherently nor affirmatively about the accusations he had made, thus giving him an option to pen them down in an affidavit to be filed in the next four weeks.
The court refused his plea to restore his judicial and administrative duties.
"I have lost my physical and mental balance... If you do not restore my work, you can very well now impose any punishment you want," Justice Karnan said.
"If you feel you are not mentally fit to respond to us in an affidavit, you give us a medical certificate," Chief Justice Khehar replied.
"Medical certificate is not required. You have disturbed me like anything," Justice Karnan told the Bench.
The hearing started with Justice Karnan explaining that his "fight is not against judiciary or for personal gains".
"My fight is against corruption," Justice Karnan submitted, handing over a letter concerning allegations against 20 judges to the Bench.
"You think about what you want to say. If you want legal help, I suggest you take legal advice. You should be properly prepared," Justice Jasti Chelameswar asked.
"If you unconditionally apologise, this matter will take a different course. If you choose to accuse 'a' or 'y', the matter will be adjudicated," Justice Dipak Misra observed.
The Bench also comprised Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur, P.C. Ghose and Kurian Joseph.
When the Chief Justice asked Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi whether Justice Karnan was in a position to comprehend his predicament, he said there was no question of "non-comprehension" here.
"This gentleman has appeared before My Lords and affirmed and again affirmed that he will continue to make insinuations till the judicial institution is damned. He says 'I will render unconditional apology if I have committed contempt'. Apology for contempt cannot be conditional," Mr. Rohatgi submitted.
Meanwhile, in a separate petition filed by Madras HC, Justice Karnan said he has returned his official bungalow.
In Gujarat, it will be life imprisonment for cow slaughter
MMNN:31 March 2017
The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed The Gujarat Preservation (Amendment) Bill that seeks to award life term to those found guilty of cow slaughter in the State.
The amendment Bill passed on the last day of the budget session of the House also has stringent provisions for punishment for those found involved in transportation and sale of beef or beef products.
The Bill introduced in the House stated that maximum punishment for cow slaughter will be 10 years but not less than seven years. However, junior Home minister Pradipsinh Jadeja sought an amendment to enhance the punishment to life term, which was passed and adopted in the Bill.
With the passing of the amendment Bill, Gujarat becomes the first State in the country to make cow slaughter punishable.
In the statement of objects of the Bill, the government noted that "it is considered necessary to provide for more deterrent punishment for offences committed by contravening the provisions of the Act and also to make the offences cognizable and non-bailable."
As per the provisions of the Bill those found guilty will face "imprisonment for a term, which may extend to 10 years but shall not be less than seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than one lakh rupees."
Another important provision is with regard to vehicles used for transportation of animals for slaughtering.
It says, "The vehicles or any conveyance so seized under sub section (3) shall stand forfeited to government in the manner as my be prescribed. It is, however, experienced while implementing the said Act that still more stringent provisions are required to be made amending the said Act for curbing the menace of illegal slaughtering of the animals covered under the said Act to provide for more stringent punishment and effectively check the rampant use of vehicles for transporting such animals."
The decision comes just ahead of the Assembly polls in the State. The BJP has set a target of winning 150 seats or more in the polls.
Narendra Modi Set To Become India's Third Most Successful PM: Ramachandra Guha
MMNN:30 March 2017
Narendra Modi is set to become the "third most successful" Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, renowned historian Ramachandra Guha has said, asserting that the 66-year-old leader's "charisma" and "appeal" transcend the boundaries of caste and language.
Speaking at the ongoing London School of Economics (LSE) India Summit 2017 in New Delhi, 58-year-old Ramachandra Guha said Prime Minister Modi's "authority" and "Pan-Indian vision" put him on the same pedestal as that of Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi.
"We live in a time when Narendra Modi is poised to become, and perhaps already is, the third most successful Prime Minister in Indian history. He is the only one you would place on par with (Jawaharlal) Nehru and Indira (Gandhi) in terms of authority that he exudes and the Pan-Indian vision he commands," Mr Guha said yesterday.
"Since (Jawaharlal) Nehru and Indira (Gandhi) there has been no Indian Prime Minister who has had that authority, that sense of command, that charisma, that cross-caste, cross-linguistic, cross-regional appeal in India," he said.
Deliberating on Indian political history, Mr Guha noted that caste system and discrimination against women were two of its "indisputable facts". He alleged that both Islam and Hinduism, the two major religions of the sub continent, "grievously" discriminate against women. "Caste system is the most rigorous, most diabolical system of social stratification ever invented by humans and we Hindus invented it," he said.
"The second indisputable fact is that Islam and Hinduism in their scripture and their social practice grievously discriminate against women," Mr Guha said at the 3-day summit which began yesterday and is organised to commemorate 70 years of India's independence.
Mr Guha, who was Philippe Roman Professor of History and International Affairs at LSE IDEAS in 2011-12, also spoke on LSE's long and rich historical relationship with India. He said the prestigious institution has had more "substantive" and "enduring" impact on the intellectual, social and political history of the 20th century than Oxford and Cambridge. "If you look at Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Public Policy, LSE has had a definitive and formative impact. It has had a great influence on the world and a major influence on India," he said.
Mr Guha said renowned political scientist Harold Laski, an LSE alumni, mentored many Indian social scientists and also influenced Jawaharlal Nehru.
Recounting some of its illustrious alumni such as BR Ambedkar, Krishna Menon, Tarlok Singh among others, Mr Guha said the premier institution possessed an international and democratic spirit which went hand in hand.
Picking Mr Singh as one of his favourites, he said the noted Civil Servant set the foundation of India's Green Revolution and saved the country from becoming a client state of America.
"At the level of civil society, deepening of democracy and egalitarian ethos as well as working for women and peasants, there is an invisible impact of LSE on India," he observed.
Michael Cox, professor Emeritus of International Relations and Co-Director of LSE IDEAS, in his speech said the London-based institution has had more influence abroad than at home.
Triple Talaq Important, Will Hear It During Summer Vacation, Says Supreme Court
MMNN:30 March 2017
A decision on the legality of triple talaq -- the practice of Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying talaq thrice -- is crucial and a five-judge Constitution Bench will sit during the summer vacation to examine the issue, the Supreme Court said today. It will be one of the three issues three constitution benches will look into during the summer vacation, Chief Justice JS Khehar today said. The hearing will begin on May 11.
When senior advocates -- including former law minister Kapil Sibal -- objected to the top court's benches working during the summer vacation, Chief Justice Khehar said, "There are three important issues we are taking up during the vacation. These are matters pending and if you don't want us to take them up, then don't say huge pendency of cases in the Supreme Court."
"If we don't take up these cases, they will be pending for years," the Chief Justice added.
A bunch of petitions had been filed in the top court opposing triple talaq after women complained of being divorced on Facebook and WhatsApp. But the court has said instead of looking at individual cases, it would take a call on whether practices like triple talaq and polygamy -- which violate women's rights -- can be upheld under the right to religion. Whether the law should be changed thereafter, by measures such as the uniform civil code, will be left to the legislature, the court had said.
The court took up the matter after the Centre's posed four questions regarding the triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy.
The NDA government has long contended that such practices violate the fundamental rights of women guaranteed by the Constitution. It also insists that it does not form a part of the "essential religious practices" in Islam. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said ideally, the government wants triple talaq to be abolished completely.
The personal law board contends that Muslim practices such as polygamy and triple talaq are matters of "legislative policy" that could not be interfered with by the judiciary.
While triple talaq allows Muslim men get instant divorce by saying "talaq" three times, nikah halala bars a man from remarrying his divorced wife unless she consummates her marriage with another man, and her new husband dies or divorces her.
Probe ex-CMs in iron ore mining case: SC to Karnataka SIT
MMNN:29 March 2017
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Karnataka Police to investigate the role of former chief ministers N Dharam Singh and H D Kumaraswamy in the iron ore mining case and file a report within three months.
The apex court, however, said that its stay on the investigation against another former chief minister S M Krishna will continue during the period.
A bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman restrained all other courts including the high court from passing any order in the case.
It has been alleged by one of the complainants, T J Abraham that the former chief ministers connived with several bureaucrats and others in de-registering a huge tract of forest land and allowed illegal iron ore mining on a large scale.
The complainant had also referred to various reports of the then Lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde indicting several politicians, bureaucrats and others.
India's crackdown on abattoirs spreads, causing Muslim unease
MMNN:29 March 2017
A crackdown on unlicensed abattoirs in India's most populous state has spread to other states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, as Hindu hardliners press a political agenda that risks alienating the country's Muslim minority.
The latest crackdown started after Modi appointed Yogi Adityanath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh following the Bharatiya Janata Party's landslide victory in elections there earlier this month.
The demands by right-wing Hindu groups to stop the slaughter of cows, considered holy in Hinduism, could stoke communal tensions with Muslims, who dominate the meat industry and make up 14 percent of India's 1.3 billion people. Most of the beef produced in India comes from buffalo rather than cattle.
Adityanath ordered closure of abattoirs operating without licenses soon after taking over as chief minister on March 18.
"If it is legal, nobody has a right to stop it. But if it is illegal, why should this be allowed to function? We believe in the rule of the land," said Rajiv Tuli, media coordinator of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of the BJP.
A senior BJP official also defended the action, saying it was part of the party's election manifesto in Uttar Pradesh, and followed through on the stand taken by Modi during 2014 general election campaign, when he spoke out against India increasing meat exports.
"Even Modiji vowed to put an end to pink revolution during the 2014 election campaign, so there is nothing wrong in shutting down illegal shops," the official said, referring to the modernisation of meat and poultry processing units and growth of the meat industry.
Several other BJP-ruled states, including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, have followed suit, ordering closures of abattoirs operating without licences, according to media reports and local officials.
"The order has been issued keeping overall issues of public health, hygiene, and safety in mind. We will not allow any illegal abattoirs to operate," K G Rahate, a senior Jharkhand government official told Reuters.
Raghubar Das, chief minister of Jharkhand, also issued advertisements in local papers to appeal to meat sellers to follow his government's instruction.
In Rajasthan, 16 illegal slaughterhouses were shut down last week, a government official said.
The closures have led to fears of meat shortages and disruption of exports of buffalo beef and other meat products.
India is one of the largest exporters of buffalo meat, selling $4 billion worth of beef in the 2015/16 fiscal year. Its biggest buyers included Vietnam, Malaysia and Egypt.
Uttar Pradesh is the biggest producer of buffalo meat in the country, and exporters said the latest crackdown will hurt business.
"Right now everyone is very scared because they don't know whether what they are doing will be termed as legal or illegal," said Priya Sud, partner at Al Noor Exports, which operates slaughter houses in Uttar Pradesh.
Muslims working in the meat industry are fearful for their jobs and meat sellers in Uttar Pradesh have gone on strike in protest.
"Supply of all kinds of meat has been disrupted due to the new rules. Restaurants don't have enough meat to serve," said Iqbal Qureshi, president of the Meat Murga Vyapar Kalyan Samiti, a meat sellers' body in Uttar Pradesh.
Yogi Adityanath as UP CM: Outrage over crackdown on illegal meat trade is untenable, indefensible and immoral
MMNN:27 March 2017
Liberals are once again missing the point and mainstream media, not for the first time, asking all the wrong questions in the ongoing crackdown on illegal meat trade in Uttar Pradesh under new chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
The liberal position is unambiguous. It sees Yogi's every action through the prism of distrust and interprets his each step as an extension of the larger Hindutva project.
From western media to eminent jurists and almost everyone in between claiming to uphold the edifice of India's liberal-secular order, Yogi's ascension to the UP CM's chair is an Apocalyptic catastrophe. They are not ready to give the Mahant of Gorakhnath mutt even a small fraction of the benefit of doubt they grudgingly extended to Narendra Modi post-2014. Not that it matters.
Openness of ideas is the sine qua non of liberalism. When ideological positions become ossified, it blinkers practitioners and makes them blind to reality. At this stage, liberals resemble indoctrinated ideologues, the antithesis of everything liberalism represents. Right now in India, liberalism is undergoing such a crisis of logic that it finds merit in arguing that illegal abattoirs - that have earned the wrath of courts for slaughtering the environment - should be allowed to function so that shops may serve delectable kebabs.
The entire political discourse over the last few days has seen dire threats of Armageddon being issued from liberal towers over chicken and mutton replacing buffalo meat in 'Tunday kebabs'. Let's wrap our heads around the argument. Shops should be allowed to procure meat from illegal sources so that kebabs may retain their succulence, prices may be kept down and India's liberal edifice may be maintained. That the chief minister has moved to put an end to this illegal ecosystem has been presented as the biggest proof of Yogi's 'persecution of Muslims' and elaborate theories have been spun around how this denies a section of UP populace their daily intake of protein. Without a morsel of evidence.
The ridiculousness of this argument resists a rational rebuttal. If the 'reputed' shops had so long been procuring raw materials from illegal sources then it is time penal action is levied against these instead of lobbying for excuses or lending them a sympathetic ear. Sourcing meat from unlicensed butcher shops not only plays havoc with local economy, it also incentivises law-breakers and makes those who live by rules appear as fools. If ending of this illegal cycle forces eateries to source meat from elsewhere, so be it.
It is also misleading to think that all eateries who have been affected are in opposition to this move. One of them whose kebabs have gone off the platter told PTI that he supported the closure of illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses in the state. The owner admitted that it was "difficult for a common man to pass through a locality where the slaughterhouses were operating almost openly. He also alleged that the illegal abattoirs even indulged in slaughtering dogs."
The more persuasive argument is of the larger ramifications of the step. Abrupt shutting down of the illegal operations renders thousands of people associated with the industry jobless and has a domino effect on the ancillary industries linked with the unlicensed abattoirs. There is no doubt that there may be a temporary spurt in unemployment as these abattoirs and butcher shops, assuming they are intent on running their businesses, apply for a licence and set up effluent treatment units.
There are two intrinsic problems with this argument. One, blaming Yogi Adityanath for acting against illegal butcher shops and meat processing units because a large number of Muslims are associated with this trade is to argue against the very grain of the Constitutionality of his position. A chief minister's job is to ensure rule of law. He cannot be expected to indulge in acts of omission based on which section of the populace is being affected. Since assuming office, Adityanath has also banned chewing of paan and gutkha in all government premises - a trade mostly linked with Hindus. Is the chief minister anti-Hindu?
Closing of illegal abattoirs and unlicensed butcher shops was part of BJP's poll manifesto. The chief minister, in implementing the order, is staying true to one of the promises that presumably has voter support. To argue that he should show some leeway to illegal meat traders and selectively apply rule of law is a slippery slope that might set grave precedents. It is inconceivable how the liberal argument has once again fallen on the wrong side of law and ethics.
Supreme Court asks Centre to consider alternatives to pellet guns in Kashmir
MMNN:27 March 2017
The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Monday to consider effective means other than use of pellet guns to quell stone pelting mobs in Jammu and Kashmir as it concerns life and death.
A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also expressed concern over injuries suffered by minors involved in protests in the Kashmir Valley and asked the government what action has been taken by it against their parents.
The top court asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file a detailed reply on what alternate effective steps could be taken to deal with such situation of agitating mobs in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bench posted the hearing for April 10.
On December 14 last year, the Supreme Court had said pellet guns should not be used "indiscriminately" for controlling street protests in Jammu and Kashmir and be resorted to only after "proper application of mind" by the authorities.
A bench headed by the then Chief Justice T S Thakur had issued notices to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government while seeking their replies on a plea alleging "excessive" use of pellet guns in the state.
The top court had also sought assistance of Attorney General on the issue and asked him to submit copy of the report submitted by the Expert Committee constituted for exploring other alternatives to pellet guns.
The court was hearing an appeal filed by Jammu and Kashmir high court bar association against the high court order seeking stay on the use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to its use.
The Jammu and Kashmir high court had on September 22 rejected the plea seeking a ban on use of pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum dated July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns.
Taking note of the statement, the high court had disposed of the petition, saying that no further direction was required since the matter was being looked at by the Centre.
The high court bar association challenged the order, contending that high court should not have disposed the petition and instead waited or called for the report of the expert committee.
The high court had also declined to accept the plea to prosecute the officers who ordered use of pellet guns and those who actually fired them.
It had also directed the authorities concerned to ensure that all the injured are extended adequate medical treatment by specialists for whatever injury they sustain.
Remembering Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev: India will never forget their sacrifice, says PM Modi
MMNN:23 March 2017
Exactly 86 years ago on this say, freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death in the Lahore jail, a death sentence they earned for the failed Ghadar conspiracy of 1915.
Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated their death anniversary in a tweet, saying that India will never forget their courage and sacrifice.
"Remembering Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev on the day of their martyrdom. India will never forget their courage & sacrifice," he wrote.
In a step to mark Bhagat Singh's martyrdom, the Border Security Force (BSF) has decided to put on display the pistol he used to kill British officer John Saunders at a new arms museum in Indore.
Singh's historic semi-automatic .32-bore Colt-make pistol is currently on display at the School of Weapon Central School of Weapons and Tactics museum.
Despite the length of time that has passed since Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev gave their lives for our country, they is remembered for their stance and sacrifice without fail.
Here are a few things every generation of Indians should know about them:
As many may know from the score of movies made on him, Bhagat Singh was moved to fight for India's independence at a tender age of 12, when he visited the Jalianwala Bagh after the mass massacre in 1919.
Legend has it that he was so touched by the bloodied sight at the Jalianwala Bagh, he brought home a bottle of the blood-soaked mud as a sign of remembrance.
There have also been stories that say Singh, as a child, used to talk about growing guns in the fields to fight the British Raj.
Singh was an avid reader and writer, and was drawn to the subjects of socialism, socialist revolutions and communism.
Born into a a Sandhu Jat family, he gave up on his faith and became an atheist later in life.
He is the man behind the famous phrase, 'Inquilab Zindabad', which literally means 'Long live the revolution'.
In 1929, Bhagat Singh and his comrades had bombed the Central assemble in Delhi with low-grade explosives, in an attempt to startle the occupants and gain attention to their cause.
He also led a hunger strike against the low-life treatment that prisoners of the revolution received in the jail. He demanded that they, the 'political prisoners', be given the basic amenities and access to books and newspapers while imprisoned.
His comrade Rajguru's full name was Hari Shivaram Rajguru. He was from a Deshastha Brahmin family in Maharashtra.
Rajguru was only 22 at the time of his death (Bhagat Singh was 23 and Sukhdev was 24).
Like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru was not a believer in Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent and civil disobedience ideology to fight the British Raj.
Rajguru, along with Bhagat Singh, had fatally shot Saunders in Lahore, which later got them arrested and eventually, sentenced to death.
Khed, his birthplace in Pune, has been renamed as Rajgurunagar in his memory.
Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru's third comrade, was from Ludhiana, Punjab.
Like his associates, Sukhdev was an active member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
Prior to his execution, Sukhdev is said to have written a letter to Mahatma Gandhi, protesting his disapproval of their (revolutionaries like himself, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru) violent approach of fighting the British Raj.
The 1915 Ghadar conspiracy case, which got Bhagat Singh Rajguru and Sukhdev the death sentence, went awry after they mistakenly killed officer John
Saunders for James Scott, the British police superintendent who ordered the lathi charge that led to Lala Lajpat Rai's death.
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged at 7:30pm on March 23, 1931, 11 hours prior to their scheduled execution time.
Their bodies were sneaked out through a hole in the back wall of the jail.
They were secretly cremated in the dark of the night, and their ashes were thrown in the Sutlej river.
Indian Techies Need Not Worry About H1B Visa Curbs In US: Sushma Swaraj
MMNN:23 March 2017
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said there was no reason to worry about the curbs on H1B visas or the job security of Indian IT professionals working in the US for the time being as the Indian government is in talks with the US regarding this.
"Currently there are four bills in the US Congress about curbs on H1B visas. We are engaged (in a dialogue) with the US at very high level regarding this... We are making all efforts (through diplomatic channels) to ensure these bills are not passed," Ms Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha.
"So there is no reason to worry about it as of now," she added.
The minister pointed out that even before Donald Trump became President, there had been a "flip-flop" in the H1B visa policy by the US.
"In 1990 when H1B visas were first introduced, the cap was 65,000. In 2000 it was raised to 1,95,000 for three years. In 2004 the number of these visas was again reversed to 65,000 by the US. So there has been a flip-flop on this policy even before Donald Trump government," she said.
The minister also informed the house that the visa facility extended to the spouse of the Indian professionals has not been withdrawn by the US so far.
On illegal migrants, Ms Swaraj said that the US authorities have given a list of 271 persons who they have identified for deportation.
"We have asked for more details about these 271 persons. Once we check their antecedents and find they are actually Indian citizens, we'll provide them travel documents back to India so that they are not put behind bars by US authorities," she said.
She said India will once again raise the issue of totalisation once "the jobs of Indian IT professionals are ensured to be secure".
Ajmer dargah blast case: Bhavesh Patel, Devendra Gupta sentenced to life imprisonment
MMNN:22 March 2017
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday sentenced Bhavesh Patel and Devendra Gupta to life in jail in the Ajmer Dargah blast case.
The magistrate also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Patel and Rs 5,000 on Gupta, both of whom claimed innocence.
"We will approach the High Court," Lokesh Sharma, Patel's advocate, told IANS.
"We are innocent and it is a political conspiracy against us," Gupta told the media while coming out of the court.
The court found the three guilty for criminal conspiracy and action intended to outrage religious feelings besides charging them under the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Three of the 13 accused are still missing.
On 8 March, the court had convicted Patel, Gupta and Joshi in the case while acquitting others including Swami Aseemanand. Joshi died soon after the blast.
The case was handed over to the ATS Rajasthan and was later transferred to NIA which re-registered the case with the NIA police station in New Delhi on 6 April, 2011.
There were as many as 149 witnesses in the case and 451 documents were examined and the NIA filed three supplementary chargesheets in the case.
The blast on 11 October, 2007 inside the premises of the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer around 6.15 pm at the time of Roza Iftaar, had left three pilgrims dead and 15 others injured.
The revered shrine is visited by thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims, both from India and abroad.
Yogi Adityanath's UP development agenda is a pipe dream unless women are considered equal partners
MMNN:22 March 2017
Yogi Adityanath, after his appointment as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, was in Delhi on Tuesday to pay the customary obeisance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Speculations were rife that Adityanath is already in disagreement with deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over the allocation of portfolios. But it was his speech in Lok Sabha, reportedly his last one as an MP, that garnered the maximum amount of attention.
Known for his controversial, communally-charged speeches, the Hindutva leader's tone and language suggested a clear departure from his usual style as he made the right noises about development, anti-corruption and inclusivity. "In Uttar Pradesh, the new model of development will be based on 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'... My government will be for everyone, not specifically for any caste or community... We will work for development of all sections and castes and create a new structure of progress," he said.
The BJP that fought the recently-held Uttar Pradesh election on the tried and tested development plank, it's the selection of Adityanath as the chief ministerial candidate came as a surprise. While trying to make sense of this decision, some came up with a rather weak argument: If you make the naughtiest student the class monitory, then discipline automatically follows. The man who once said, "Probably in the rest of Uttar Pradesh, Hindu women run away with Muslims but in Gorakhpur, Hindu men marry Muslim women and bring them home" can hardly be described as naughty.
For argument's sake, let's assume that Adityanath has renounced his hardliner ways and accepted development as his mantra, his views on women empowerment and equal participation will definitely prove to be an impediment in his road to development. Adityanath was one of the BJP MPs, who went against the party whip, and opposed the Women's Reservation Bill in 2010. On the website www.yogiadityanath.in, in an essay titled 'Matrishakti - Bharatiya Sanskriti Ke Sandarbh Mein', he writes on the importance of women's participation in the development of society, but limits the role of woman to a mother, sister, daughter and a wife.
He goes on to write that just like if energy is not channelised, it goes to waste and proves to be disastrous, a women's power needs to be reined in. He writes that women don't need freedom, they need protection and channelisation. His opinionated, but dubious take on women's freedom gets confusing, considering he has been equally loquacious about cows and their protection.
Continuing in a similar vein, he writes a father offers protection to a girl, in her adulthood the role is taken up by her husband and in her old age it is the son that looks after her. His myopic vision restricts a woman's involvement in the family structure. The struggles of a working woman might as be well non-existent for this leader.
At some point, he acknowledges women's contribution in the Independence movement and in the progress of the nation and lauds their successes in various sectors. He also writes that years of discrimination have pushed women in the background and that though women have made progress in all walks of life, it has been mostly witnessed in urban areas and in affluent families and writes that a lot has to be done in the rural sector.
Making his argument against the Women's Reservation Bill, he writes that the Constitution doesn't discriminate based on caste, gender or community, then how does reservation for women makes sense. He elucidates that it will only fracture the family and the relations between a man and a woman. He says it only politicises women's rights. He exhibits his shaky hold on issues related to gender equality and argues that if progress is made organically, then there is no need rush things up. At one point he talks about women's rights and equal opportunities and goes ahead contradicts his statement by arguing about the futility of the Women's Reservation Bill.
Adityanath also implies in the essay, the West-driven women's liberation movement can potentially prove to be destructive to the Indian family structure.
The newly appointed chief minister might be on track with the development agenda, but unless he stretches his imagination and recongnises the role of women as an equal stakeholder in the socio-economic growth of the state and not just limit to the domestic set-up, all-round development of Uttar Pradesh can remain a myth.
Yogi Adityanath as UP CM: From the ashes of pseudo-secularism rises the phoenix of hardline Hindutva
MMNN:20 March 2017
By appointing Yogi Adityanath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Narendra Modi has made his third disruptive move after surgical strike and demonetisation. So immediate and deep has been the impact that it has annihilated in one stroke all codified cleavages, and redrawn India's ideological map. The Left, Right and Centrist Venn diagrams are now in disarray. The entire Indian political spectrum, as the current Mahant of Gorakhnath Temple took oath on Sunday, resembled a smoking battleground strewn with the debris of conflicting positions.
Leave alone the regressive Alt-Left which has greeted Adityanath's elevation with customary cries of Apocalypse, Adityanath's ascension has spooked centrists and the moderate Right alike, leaving those on the right of Right to justify why Modi's move makes immense political sense and is entirely in line with the logical progression of 'new BJP'.
Among the ideological Right, a rift has risen overnight, with one side interpreting Modi's choice as a "betrayal" and the other accusing it of falling into the elitist trap and disregarding the voice of people. I shall explain presently why this "voice of people" argument is misleading.
A large section of liberal Indians disgusted with the pseudo-secularism of India's political discourse and sickened with naked minorityism in the name of secularism, had seen in Modi-led BJP a refreshing perspective where Indians, regardless of their caste and community fault lines, were co-opted as active participants in the nation-building process.
As the prime minister went about his job putting in place the building blocks for a new India, they saw in Modi a strong, therapeutic leader determined to cleanse the country of Congress-led "appeasement culture" that had fatally afflicted Indian politics. The toilets that were built, bank accounts that were opened, gas connections that were installed, insurance schemes and easy loans that were disbursed did not discriminate between Hindus, Muslims or Christians. Modi did not need to wear a skull cap to project himself as "secular", his slogan for "sabka saath, sabka vikas" resonated enough.
When the opposition parties - and entrenched power brokers in media, academia and civil society - threw tired old cliches at Modi, he responded by asking people to fight poverty, not each other. Indians responded.
Bucking all trend, Modi's personal popularity that had soared during 2014 elections refused to come down. And in the 2017 Assembly elections, the closest that we have towards mid-term polls, BJP's resounding win showed that Modi has retained the trust of a large section of Indian polity, including minorities whose patience at being turned into a permanent veto power against BJP was getting thin.
The shift was palpable. It seemed as if Modi was trying to shift BJP from the Right to a centrist position, where it would be able to expand its core base and draw support from neutrals, floaters and ideological fence-sitters, and administer consensus-based growth and development. That was at least what the prime minister said in his post-UP victory speech last week.
Except that nobody foresaw the Yogi uppercut. Out of the ashes of faux secularism, arose the phoenix of hardline Hindutva that defined BJP of the 1990s. If this was the plan all along, Modi and BJP hid it well during the campaign.
BSP ran a blatantly communal canvassing and SP-Congress shelved their decade-old rivalry to attempt a consolidation of Muslim votes. Modi steered clear of identity politics - as he did in 2014 - and sought a larger consolidation based on hope and aspiration. When results came out, shell-shocked rivals blamed the EVMs.
Manipur Floor Test: BJP's Biren Singh Wins, Thanks PM Modi -- 10 Facts
MMNN:20 March 2017
After winning the crucial trust vote in the Manipur Assembly with 32 votes, Chief Minister N Biren Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was a measure of his success and the party's. The BJP, which was the second largest party winning 21 seats out of the 60 in the state assembly, needed another 10 to prove majority. It stitched together the number with support from local parties and an Independent. The Congress, which won 28 seats, was unable to get the support of three legislators it needs to prove majority. A three-day Budget session of the Assembly will begin tomorrow with the address of the Governor.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
"It is not my success, but the BJP's, the Prime Minister's success in Manipur," Chief Minister Biren Singh said after the trust vote.
The BJP got the support of four legislators each from the Naga Peoples' Front and the National Peoples' Party; the lone legislator of the LJP, Independent legislator Asab Uddin and Congress legislator. The lone Trinamool Congress legislator, T Robindro Singh, also extended support to the BJP-led government though his party's central leadership said he had "not consulted the party" over it.
Earlier in the day, Yumnam Khemchand Singh of the BJP was elected as the new Speaker of the House. He was also elected by voice vote against Congress candidate Govindas Khonthoujam.
As in Goa -- where it won the trust vote despite Congress winning the most seats -- the BJP distributed most of the ministerial portfolios in Manipur to local allies with the hope of retaining their support for the crucial trust vote.
The National People's Party was given two ministerial berths, including that of the Deputy Chief Minister, a post being held by Joykumar Singh. The Naga People's Front got three ministerial berths. The lone LJP legislator and Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, who defected from Congress, were also made minsters.
Besides the Chief Minister, the BJP has so far kept one ministerial berth for itself -- Thongam Biswajit Singh, who was a contender for the top post.
Ahead of the trust vote, The BJP had kept its lawmakers at a secluded hotel in Assam's Guwahati to keep them from being influenced by the rival party. The 27 legislators of Congress have been kept at the house of an MLA in Imphal for a similar reason.
N Biren Singh - a former footballer and Congressman who joined the BJP in October 2016-- had taken oath as the Chief Minister on March 15, along with eight ministers of his new cabinet.
On the eve of the trust vote, the new government successfully lifted the Naga economic blockade that had crippled the state's supply lines for the last 130 days. The blockade -- led by the United Naga Council -- ended last evening after talks with the central and state governments.
No party received simple majority in the recently concluded assembly election in the state. The Congress, who ruled the state for the last 15 years, emerged as a single largest party with 28 seats. The BJP, which made its debut in Manipur this year, went from zero to 21 seats. The party won the crucial elections in Assam last year and also controls Arunachal Pradesh.
Congress forces adjournment in Rajya Sabha protesting Goa Governor's role
MMNN:17 March 2017
Opposition Congress on Friday forced an adjournment of Rajya Sabha proceedings over the conduct of the Goa Governor in inviting the BJP to form the government in the state after she reportedly consulted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Congress Members alleged breach of propriety and constitutional norms in the consultations Goa Governor Mridula Sinha held with Mr. Jaitley. They stormed into the Well of the House raising slogans against murder of democracy, forcing Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to adjourn the House till noon.
Earlier when the House met for the day, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said he had given a notice under rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business of the day to take up "gross constitutional impropriety committed by Governor of Goa."
Mr. Singh read out from an interview Ms. Sinha gave to a newspaper in which she reportedly said she did not expect the BJP to form the government but spoke to Mr. Jaitley before arriving at the decision to call the party to form the government ahead of Congress which had emerged as the single largest party in elections.
Mr. Kurien said the conduct of a Governor can be discussed only on the basis of a substantive motion and disallowed Mr. Singh's notice under 267. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the conduct of Governor was discussed when the Arunachal Pradesh issue was debated in the House.
"Why don't you move a substantive motion?" Mr. Kurien asked. "No. I have to go by rules. You can bring substantive motion, Chairman will consider it."
Mr. Azad said his party colleague Mr. Singh had not raised any issue with the conduct of the Governor but merely stated what she had said in an interview. "How can the Governor seek permission of a Cabinet Minister to form a government," Mr. Azad asked as Mr. Kurien insisted on a substantive motion for any discussion.
Mr. Singh said the House was supreme and a sense of Members present can be taken and his notice under rule 267 converted into a substantive motion. Anand Sharma said the Constitution clearly defines the duties and powers of Governor in appointing Chief Minister and it does not anywhere state that the Governor is supposed to consult a serving Cabinet Minister.
Mr. Kurien said if the Governor has violated the Consitution, a substantive motion can be brought. "You are going by a newspaper report. I am not bothered about that. I have made it very clear that if you feel that the Governor has violated any of the provision of Constitution, please bring a substantive motion. I cannot allow you to discuss the conduct of Governor," he said.
Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) said a Cabinet Minister is answerable to the House. To this, Mr. Kurien said if any Minister has violated any provision of the Constitution, there can be a motion for that as well. "We can discuss that. I have no problem."
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government is ready to discuss if the Congress was to bring a substantive motion. He went on to say that the opposition party by its continued protests was insulting the verdict of the people as also the ruling of the Chair.
Congress members then trooped into the Well shouting slogans against what they said was murder of democracy. Treasury benches also countered the slogan shouting.
Mr. Kurien again said he was not against any discussion. "I am not denying or refusing any discussion... if you want to discuss (Governor's conduct), please give a substantive motion. I will also request Chairman (to consider it) and then we can have a discussion anytime."
But Congress members continued to insist on a discussion.
Mr. Singh said Mr. Jaitley is a member of the House and he can avail of his right to reply. He then went on to state that a substantive motion will be given. Mr. Azad said the House should be adjourned for an hour for the substantive motion to be framed and submitted and the same can be discussed thereafter.
But this was not agreeable to the Chair or the treasury benches. As the slogan shouting continued, Mr. Kurien adjourned the House till 12 noon.
Sushma Swaraj asks for update from Islamabad on Indian clerics missing in Pakistan
MMNN:17 March 2017
Two Indian clerics, including the head priest of New Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, have gone missing in Pakistan, prompting India to take up the matter with the Pakistani government.
Early on Friday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj posted on Twitter a series of posts in which she confirmed that two Indian clerics had gone missing in Pakistan.
She tweeted that the two Indian nationals, Syed Asif Ali Nizami who is the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia dargah and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami had gone missing after they landed at Karachi airport.
Swaraj further said that India has taken up the matter with Pakistan and had requested them for an update on both the Indian nationals.
According to official sources in New Delhi, Asif Nizami, the chief priest, and Nazim Nizami had gone to visit the famous Data Darbar shrine in Lahore and were to catch a flight from there to Karachi on Wednesday.
"As per their families, while Asif was allowed to go to Karachi, Nazim was stopped at the Lahore airport on grounds of incomplete travel papers."
"While Nazim went missing from Lahore airport, Asif went missing after arriving at the Karachi airport," a source said.
The matter has been taken up with the Pakistan government both in New Delhi as well as through the Indian mission in Islamabad, the source said.
"My father Syed Asif Ali Nizami, 80, and his nephew Nazim Nizami, 60, went missing from Lahore and Karachi airports, respectively, on Wednesday evening," Asif's elder son Sazid Ali Nizami told IANS.
He said that his father and cousin went to Karachi in Pakistan on 6 March from where they visited Lahore on 13 March to offer "Chadar" at Baba Farid's shrine, the master of Baba Nizamuddin.
"On 14 March, they offered another Chadar at Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore. The next day they reached at Lahore airport to take a flight for Karachi at 4.30 pm. At the Lahore airport, my cousin was stopped by the airport authorities to clear some documentation and my father was asked to board the flight."
"My father reached Karachi airport at 6 pm but my cousin could not join him. At the airport, my father talked to my relatives on phone and informed them to come outside, but he did not come," Sazid said.
Sazid further said that my father and cousin's mobile phones were also switched off. "Pakistani authorities and police are still clueless about them," Sazid said.
Narendra Modi's three tasks: Create jobs, make BJP more inclusive and avoid hubris of power
MMNN:16 March 2017
In an insightful article, Sanjaya Baru, the media advisor to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has pointed towards lack of new data and tools that is hampering political science from analysing correctly the sweeping winds of change blowing across Indian political landscape.
In Baru's own words from the Indian Express column: "...Contemporary political analysis continues to use theoretical tools from inter-war Europe or statistical tools from post-war American political science to explain the rise of the BJP and the popularity of Narendra Modi."
For students of Indian politics, wading through oceans of reportages/analyses pre and post Assembly elections has been a frustrating experience. While journalists failed to detect the wave in Modi's favour, pollsters and data scientists were unable to capture the extent of his domination. Post facto analyses, ensconced in ossified ideological compartments of Left and Right, have hardly fared any better. We see a regurgitation of tired cliches such as 'reverse polarisation', 'Hindu consolidation', 'rainbow coalition of castes', 'majoratiarian agenda', 'populism' and so on. These tell us more about the commentators than the subject they are trying to analyse.
And yet a clear understanding of the factors behind a Modi-fied BJP's rise is central to the question that concerns us the most: What will be Modi's roadmap for the future now that he has got the mandate?
To arrive at that question, we must first grasp the genesis of Congress's decline and the rise of a 'new BJP'. As always, Pratap Bhanu Mehta offers clarity. In his column for Indian Express, he writes: "As far as electoral politics goes, the obsession with the mathematics of every sub-caste tells us more about an elite trying to do cheap sociology, entirely ignoring the fact that people are willing to vote big mandates, if they seem convinced of your sincerity and capability."
Theories about majoritarian agenda and communal politics may trap us within a maze of obsolescence. It will be far more useful to see Modi's rise as a change emanating from within the bowels of Indian democracy - a sort of reactionary movement against decades of votebank politics that focused on doles and appeasement, not empowerment.
Remember, the scale of BJP's recent win in Uttar Pradesh surpasses its tally even during the height of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid movement. The most cynical of Modi's detractors who puts BJP's UP victory down to polarisation, sees it as best as an 'undercurrent'.
This should tell us that we are barking up the wrong tree when we see polarisation behind Modi's rise. BJP's win (with a 40 percent vote share) was stitched across the length and breadth of India's most populous state - including in Muslim-dominated regions. The portends are clear. It is a ringing endorsement of hope from a primarily young electorate who for once want to invest in theirs and India's future and sees the best catalyst of that change in the prime minister.
Viewed from here, Modi is merely the product of his times. He is the inevitable pushback against an elitocracy that ruled by way of disenfranchising the masses under the facade of a democracy. The shrewd, hard-working, ground-to-the-ear mass leader that Modi is, he understood this urge for real change and tapped into the narrative of hope. This is why the opposition has failed miserably in stopping him. The more they abused Modi, the bleaker they made it for themselves.
In her column for TheNewsMinute, Chitra Subramaniam writes, "What most commentary missed is Modi is coming from the future, Indians are responding and willing to move with or without dead wood. They want to seize power democratically and this bumpy ride is neither rootless nor random - it is focussed on a search for a better living. The ala kamaan (High Command) trap does not offer it, Modi does. He will get things wrong, but viewed against what he has enabled - real democracy - the rest must be negotiated with the electorate.
If we understand Modi's mandate primarily as the plebeian longing for real franchise and hope, then it places an unbearable amount of responsibility on Modi. The central question, therefore, should be this: How will Modi cope with this burden and shape his legacy and India's future? What will be his roadmap?
I break it down into three areas that require Modi's pinpoint focus - economic, social and political.
It doesn't require knowledge of rocket science to figure out that economy poses the biggest challenge. India's primarily young electorate is ambitious and impatient. The force that put Modi in power and renewed faith will become antagonistic with a vengeance if the prime minister fails to deliver. The problem is, faced with the prospect of jobless growth, how will Modi accommodate almost a million new workers each month? And that too at a moment when worldwide, job creation is under huge threat from automation?
The very inequality that cushioned Modi against the economic fallout of demonetisation and turned it into a political capital, is increasing. Job growth is anaemic. As Wall Street Journal says, India needs an "industrial boom" and Modi somehow must jack up "manufacturing to 25% of the economy in 2020 from the current 16%."
The good news is that UP win will give him the numbers in Upper House to push through crucial reforms in areas such as labour but by the time he achieves those numbers, 2019 Lok Sabha election will be here. Modi's task is, therefore, tricky and perilous and will require maximum and sustained concentration.
Socially, he must turn BJP into a more inclusive party if he is serious about occupying and staying put in the centrist space relinquished by the Congress. One must be careful. BJP cannot and should not turn into another Congress but it must take Modi's slogan 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' literally and metaphorically. Under Modi, BJP is already expanding its base from being a trader-based to a more 'pro-poor party'. While it is ironing out India's class cleavage, it must also narrow the community fault lines. Modi enjoys bipartisan appeal and is uniquely placed to do that.
As BJD Lok Sabha MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda writes in Times of India, "Even long-term sceptics of BJP are beginning to admit that the PM succeeded in marketing his all-aboard strategy in UP. One of the best-known faces among Indian liberal journalists told me that the party's victory in heavily Muslim dominated constituencies indicates an unprecedented breakthrough for it."
Politically, BJP's agenda must be to ensure that it does not fall into the trap of communal binaries. The time for polarisation is over. It must also avoid the hubris that accompanies absolute power. Modi's post-victory speech offers insights into his thinking. He advised BJP workers and leader to display more humility than ever before and wield power responsibly.
The cognitive dissonance at work here, though, is this: while BJP is a virile, ever-growing national force subsuming the space of rivals and allies alike, it is unwittingly driving the political parties - suffering from existential crisis - into ganging up against it. How Modi cracks this puzzle remains to be seen.
Goa floor test highlights: BJP govt led by Parrikar wins with support of 22 MLAs, Congress' Rane resigns
MMNN:16 March 2017
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar won a crucial trust vote in the state assembly on Thursday, with 22 legislators backing the BJP-led coalition to bring down curtains on the drama over the government formation process.
Parrikar, who has stepped down as the defence minister, was sworn in as the CM for the fourth time on Tuesday evening along with nine ministers. But the Supreme Court ordered an immediate trust vote since his party, the BJP, finished second in the recently concluded assembly elections.
In Thursday's floor test, the BJP had the support of 12 of its own MLAs - excluding pro-tem speaker Sidharth Kuncalienker -- three each from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Goa Forward Party, three independent lawmakers and a Nationalist Congress Party legislator.
Issue of hate attacks taken up with US government at 'very high levels', says Sushma Swaraj
MMNN:15 March 2017
Making an impactful comeback on her first day in Parliament since undergoing kidney transplant in December, minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday dismissed Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's charge that the government was silent on hate attacks against Indians in the US and said the issue had been taken up with the US government at "very high levels".
"That we have been silent on the attacks is far from reality. That is not how this government works. In fact, even if one Indian living abroad is aggrieved, we try and solve his problem within 24 hours. The government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the Indian diaspora," said Swaraj, showing flashes of the oratorial skills that she is well known for.
Making a detailed statement in the Lok Sabha on recent 'hate' attacks against Indians in the US -- which killed engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas and Harnish Patel in South Carolina, apart from injuring Deep Rai in Kent, Washington and Ashok Madasani (in the Kansas incident) -- Swaraj cited the separate statements by US President Donald Trump, Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, condemning the incidents as well as their ongoing investigation by agencies including FBI to highlight the "prompt and clear response of the US political leadership and the law enforcement authorities".
"..the widespread messages of sympathy and support from all quarters in the US give us confidence that these incidents are acts of individuals and do not represent the overwhelming sentiments of the American people towards India," she said.
Congratulating Swaraj, who was received at the Parliament entrance by 5-6 party MPs including Yogi Adityanath and Uma Bharati, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she was happy to hear her "powerful voice" once again in the Lok Sabha. This drew applause from both the treasury and opposition benches, with many MPs cutting across party lines walking up to Swaraj's desk to greet her post-sabbatical and inquire about her health.
Dressed in a crisp green silk saree and with Uma Bharati by her side, Swaraj was standing through the 15-minute speech. She seamlessly switched between reading from the prepared text of the statement and making extempore observations, stopping only to take sips of water.
Stating that safety and security of Indian diaspora abroad was a top priority of the Modi regime, Swaraj said both the Prime Minister and she had closely followed incidents in the US and supervised the government's response, which included dialogue with US government and reaching out to families of the victims.
"The Prime Minister was busy with election campaigning when these incidents occurred but made it a point to ask MEA every single day what it was doing. I personally oversaw the response of MEA while still recuperating from my medical condition. Even the families of the victims have acknowledged and thanked us for reaching out to them and giving them all possible help and support," Swaraj said adding that she had personally spoken to the families of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Deep Rai.
Giving away how she was clued in to happenings related to her ministry in Parliament, Swaraj said she had watched the entire debate on racial attacks against Indians in the US on TV. Responding to MPs Bhartruhari Mahtab and Mohammad Salim's raising US 'travel advisory' to its nationals visiting India, the minister informed the House that there is no travel advisory by US currently in force for India.
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