India

sravanabelagola-jain-mutt-seer-passes-away

Thu Mar 23 12:47:50 IST 2023

The pontiff of Sravanabelagola Jain Mutt Swastisri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swami died at a hospital on Thursday morning, sources in the Mutt said.

The 73-year-old seer was taking a stroll in the mutt when he collapsed. Immediately, his disciples rushed him to the hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.

Bhattaraka Swamiji headed the renowned Sravanabelagola Jain Mutt, which is famous for the 57 feet tall statue of Bhagawan Bahubali, also referred to as Gomateshwara, which was built on a hill in 981 AD.

The seer was born on May 3, 1949 at Varang in Karnataka as Ratnavarma.

The pontiff has done masters degree in History from Mysore University and MA in Philosophy from Bangalore University. Bhattaraka Swamiji became a Monk on December 12, 1969 and became the Dharmacharya of Sravanabelagola Mutt on April 19, 1970.

Mourning his demise, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in a tweet said he was deeply pained to learn about the death of 'Karmayogi' Swastisri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji. "His death has caused an irreparable loss to the state. May his soul attain peace," he tweeted.

congress-seeks-cbi-probe-into-amit-shahs-sangma-govt-most-corrupt-remark

Thu Mar 23 10:42:55 IST 2023

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has written to CBI Director Subodh Jaiswal asking the probe agency to summon Home Minister Amit Shah over his remark describing Meghalaya's Conrad Sangma government, in its previous term, as corrupt, and to investigate the claim.

In his letter, Ramesh stated that Shah in his public speech on February 17, 2023, said the then government of Meghalaya "was the most corrupt government in the country".

The letter comes amid a row over a Delhi police team reaching Rahul Gandhi's residence last Sunday to inquire about his "women are still being sexually assaulted" statement made during a public speech as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

In his letter dated March 21, Ramesh said, "Amit Shah is also the home minister of India. In his capacity as the home minister, he would surely have had access to information and facts that led him to this conclusion."

For some "inexplicable reasons", the home minister, who is also the former national president of BJP, has "failed" to act upon the information about the corrupt practices and instances of the then Meghalaya government, Ramesh said in the letter dated March 21 which he tweeted Thursday.

"Therefore, in the highest national interest, we urge you to summon Shri Amit Shah and ask him to submit all the information and facts that led him to the stated assessment and investigate the matter," he said.

"We also urge you to investigate if the home minister of India was under any undue duress from his party or other forces, to suppress the information related to the corruption of Meghalaya, in order to enable his party BJP to support the same chief minister after the recent Meghalaya elections," the Congress leader said.

Tagging his letter to Jaiswal on Twitter, Ramesh said he has written to the Director of CBI, asking the probe agency to question the Union home minister further on his "categorical assertion" that Conrad Sangma's government in Meghalaya was the most corrupt in the country.

"That of course did not prevent the BJP from supporting the same Conrad Sangma again," Ramesh added.

He also shared media reports on Shah's remarks during the campaigning for Meghalaya polls.

The Congress has been attacking the BJP for supporting a government led by NPP chief Conrad Sangma in Meghalaya and has said a few days back his dispensation was considered the "most corrupt" by the top BJP leadership and now the party has joined hands with him.

The opposition party also termed the coalition formed for a new term for the Sangma government a "marriage of convenience".

sc-collegium-recommends-elevating-4-district-judges-to-madras-hi

Wed Mar 22 19:20:20 IST 2023

The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has recommended the names of four district judges for appointment as judges of the Madras High Court.

The collegium, which comprises Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph, recommended the names of R Sakthivel, P Dhanabal, Chinnasamy Kumarappan, and K Rajasekar.

The resolution dated March 21 stated that the recommendation made by the High Court Collegium on August 10, 2022, for the appointment of the four judicial officers as judges of the Madras High Court has the concurrence of the chief minister and the governor of Tamil Nadu.

The file was received from the Department of Justice on January 5 this year, it said.

"In order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the above-named judicial officers for elevation to the high court, in terms of the memorandum of procedure, this collegium has consulted the judges of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Madras High Court," the resolution stated.

In another resolution, the collegium reiterated its earlier recommendation dated July 25, 2022, for the appointment of Senior Advocate Harpreet Singh Brar as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The collegium said the Collegium of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana on March 10, 2022, recommended Brar's elevation as a judge of the high court which was approved by it on July 25, 2022.

It said the Department of Justice flagged certain issues and referred back the recommendation on November 25, 2022, for reconsideration.

"In view of the opinion of the consultee-judges of this court and the report submitted by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana along with minutes of the collegium and papers enclosed with it, and after examining all aspects of the matter, the collegium is of the view that Shri Harpreet Singh Brar is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

"The collegium has also taken note of the fact that, besides being a senior advocate, the candidate has a wide-ranging experience of practice before the high court," it said.

With regard to judicial officer Sakthivel's name, the collegium said it took note of the report of the Intelligence Bureau and referred back the proposal to the Department of Justice with a request to furnish, within two weeks, specific material, on the basis of which the report of the Intelligence Bureau was formulated.

The collegium said, on January 24 this year the Department of Justice addressed a communication to the Intelligence Bureau seeking specific inputs in respect of the above-named judicial officer.

"By its communication dated 01 February 2023, the Intelligence Bureau has stated that it does not have any additional inputs in addition to the earlier inputs in respect of the above-named judicial officer. The opinion of the consultee-judges in the Supreme Court indicates that the above-named judicial officer is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the high court.

"The Judgment Assessment Committee has rated his judgments as very good. The Department of Justice has indicated that Shri R Sakthivel may be considered for appointment. Hence, in the above backdrop and bearing in mind all the relevant circumstances noted above, the collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri R Sakthivel is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the Madras High Court," the resolution said.

For judicial officer Dhanabal, the collegium said the opinion of the consultee-judges in the Supreme Court indicates that the judicial officer is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the high court.

"The Judgment Assessment Committee has rated his judgments as very good. The Department of Justice has indicated that Shri P Dhanabal may be considered for appointment. Hence, in the above backdrop and bearing in mind all the relevant circumstances noted above, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri P Dhanabal is fit and suitable for appointment as a Judge of the Madras High Court," the resolution said.

With regard to judicial officer Kumarappan, the collegium said the Judgment Assessment Committee has rated his judgments as very good and the report of the Intelligence Bureau does not contain any material adverse to the candidate.

The consultee-judges have recommended that he is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the high court, it said.

For judicial officer Rajasekar, the collegium perused the opinion of the consultee-judges in the Supreme Court and the Judgment Assessment Committee has rated his judgments as very good.

"The Department of Justice has indicated that Shri K Rajasekar may be considered for appointment. Hence, in the above backdrop and bearing in mind all the relevant circumstances noted above, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri K Rajasekar is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the Madras High Court," the resolution said.

kerala-forest-dept-all-set-for-high-risk-operation-to-tame-wild-tusker-arikomban

Thu Mar 23 12:17:03 IST 2023

On March 26, Idukki in Kerala would witness a high-risk operation to tackle a rogue tusker 'Arikomban' (rice tusker) that has been creating havoc in the high ranges for a decade. The tusker, who got this moniker due to his habit of raiding ration shops, is believed to have killed more than 10 persons and destroyed over 60 houses and shops.

The people of Santhanpara and Chinnakanal have been demanding the capture of the rogue tusker for a long time now. In 2017, the forest department made an unsuccessful attempt. Sources say the terrain is the biggest challenge to capturing the elephant.

This time, there are elaborate preparations to capture the tusker. A 71-member rapid response team, divided in 11 groups, is participating in the mission. Chief forest veterinary surgeon Dr Arun Zachariah will lead the team. The plan is to sedate 'Arikomban' using tranquiliser shots and transfer him to the Kodanadu elephant training centre. The motor vehicle department and police will ensure protection during this transfer. The fire brigade and a medical team will be ready to deal with any emergency situation during the operation.

The operation was originally planned for March 25, but was later put off for a day. Section 144 will be imposed in selected wards in Santhanpara and Chinnakanal panchayats on the day of operation. The forest department is already conducting a mock drill.

As part of its strategy to lure the rogue tusker, the department will set up a rice bait in a dilapidated building at Chinnakkanal. This building was destroyed by 'Arikomban' a few years back.

Four kumki elephants (trained captive jumbos used in operations to capture rogue elephants) will be employed in the operation. Interestingly, sensing the smell of a kumki elephant 'Vikram' that has been brought for the operation, 'Chakkakomban' (Jack fruit tusker)—another wild tusker in the area—swam across Anayinakal dam and reached almost 500m near the captive elephant. The mahouts of the elephant and the forest department watchers sent him away by making noise.

Reports suggest the presence of 'Chakkakomban' can affect the success of the operation to capture 'Arikomban'. 'Mottavalan' and 'Murivalan' are some of the other wild elephants that cause trouble to the local people in the region. 'Cigarette Komban', another wild tusker in the region, died last month because of electrocution.

100-firs-registered-6-held-after-anti-modi-posters-spotted-in-delhi

Wed Mar 22 12:01:00 IST 2023

Six people have been arrested and over a 100 FIRs registered after the Delhi Police launched a massive crackdown after anti-Modi posters sprouted at various parts of the capital. Two of the arrested men are owners of a printing press.

The posters read "Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao" (remove Modi, save nation). Police said at least 2,000 posters removed and a similar number seized from a van coming out from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters on DDU Marg. The van has been simpounded.

The driver reportedly told the police that he had been instructed to deliver the posters to the AAP headquarters, adding that he delivered a similar consignment on Monday too.

According to the printing press owners, they had received an order to print 50,000 "Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao" posters. The posters, however, did not have the name of the printing press.

Special CP Deependra Pathak told ANI that the Delhi Police registered over 100 FIRs under sections of the Printing Press Act and Defacement of Property Act.

Meanwhile, the AAM Aadmi Party has taken to Twitter to reigster its protest against the incident. The tweet, that calling the crackdown "dictatorship of Modi government is at its peak, read: "What is so objectionable in this poster that Modi ji filed 100 FIRs for putting it? PM Modi, you probably do not know but India is a democratic country. So scared of one poster! Why?"

This is the latest in the series of altercations between the Centre and the AAP-led Delhi Government. AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had lashed out at the Centre over the budget issue after the latter withheld approval for the state budget, citing allocation issues.

amritpal-singh-changed-clothes-switched-from-car-to-motorcycle-to-escape-arrest-police

Wed Mar 22 07:59:34 IST 2023

Punjab Police said they have arrested four persons for allegedly helping pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh escape even as the manhunt to nab the radical preacher continued on the fourth day on Tuesday. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh alias Manna, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja.

According to police they helped Amritpal, the chief of 'Punjab Waris De' group, to escape in a car while he was being chased by cops in Jalandhar on Saturday. During their questioning, it came to the fore that Amritpal first went to a gurdwara in Nangal Ambian village where he “changed his clothes, and wore a shirt and pants, and escaped along with three others on two bikes”.

Police had intercepted Amritpal's cavalcade on Saturday morning, but the separatist leader managed to give the cops a slip and escaped their dragnet. Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill that the Brezza car in which he was travelling has been seized and that a .315 bore rifle, some swords and a walkie-talkie set were found in it.

Police also released four photographs of Amritpal in different attire and appealed to people to help tracing him.

'Won't allow to disturb peace'

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said action has been taken against those who “at the instance of foreign forces” were speaking about disturbing the state's peace and giving hate speeches.

Mann said Punjab's peace, harmony, and the country's progress were his top priorities and asserted that nobody will be allowed to disturb the harmonious environment of the state.

"(They) were giving hate speeches and speaking against the law. Action has been taken against them and they have been arrested. They will be given the strictest punishment because the AAP is a 'kattar deshbhakt and imandar' (staunch nationalist and honest) party,” said Mann in his first reaction to the police action.

aap-gears-up-for-ls-polls-to-announce-modi-hatao-desh-bachao-campaign-at-jantar-mantar-today

Thu Mar 23 09:40:51 IST 2023

The Aam Aadmi party will conduct a mega rally in Jantar Mantar on Thursday in which the party leaders will announce the launch of 'Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao' (Remove Modi, Save the Nation) campaign. The campaign has been launched ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, AAP leader and city Environment Minister Gopal Rai will attend the meeting.

"Party workers and supporters from all over the country will gather for the meeting to be held on the martyrdom day of the country's great freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Aam Aadmi Party will start a 'Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao' campaign during this meeting," Rai said at a press conference.

The groundwork for the campaign was already done with posters announcing the campaign cropping up in many parts of the city. This resulted in a police crackdown, wherein six people were arrested. The posters were also seized from a van coming out of the AAP office in Delhi.

"The prime minister is getting scared because of slogans like 'Remove Modi, Save the Country' being written on walls. Now the voice of the people of the country will not be suppressed by FIRs and arrests by police," he said.

Rai said the country was facing grave danger. "The country got a Constitution, democracy, parliamentary system, Election Commission, independent agencies and a judiciary after a long struggle by freedom fighters. But after 75 years of independence, freedom, democracy and the Constitution, which were achieved on the strength of those freedom fighters, are facing danger. Undeclared dictatorship has been implemented in this country," he said.

The rally comes in the backdrop of Kejirwal's G-8 platform, which saw him inviting chief ministers of non-BJP states for a dinner. However, the Delhi chief minister had clarified that it will be a governance platform and not a platform for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The planned dinner of the eight leaders, including Kejriwal, which he described as the "Progressive Chief Ministers'' Group of India or G-8", was supposed to be followed by a press conference the next day, according to the letter written by the AAP supremo.

"It is a governance platform and not for an alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It is not a political platform. Eight of us will visit a state out of the eight to see the good work being done by them and to learn from each other."

"There have been several rounds of discussion between officers and among us. I am violating the protocols by sharing details. There are plans to hold a joint press conference to announce the platform. It is a work in progress," he said.

The letter was sent to chief ministers of West Bengal, Bihar, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Punjab.

surat-court-convicts-rahul-gandhi-over-modi-surname-remarks

Thu Mar 23 13:41:13 IST 2023

Surat District Court on Thursday held Congress MP Rahul Gandhi guilty in the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over alleged 'Modi surname' remark.

Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in the criminal defamation case. He was also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty.

He was later granted bail. The Court has suspended the sentence for 30 days and also allowed him to appeal in a higher court.

After convicted guilty by the court, Congress MP tweeted that "My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it-Mahatma Gandhi."

Several Congress leaders reacted to the conviction with anger and came to the forefront supporting him. Congress said that he was being punished for speaking the truth.

"We knew from the beginning because they kept changing judges. We believe in law, judiciary and we will fight against this as per law," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came to the forefront supporting her brother. "My brother has never been afraid, nor will he ever be. Have lived speaking the truth, will continue to speak the truth. Will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country," tweeted Priyanka.

Senior state Congress leaders, including GPCC president Jagdish Thakor, legislature party leader Amit Chavda, senior leader Arjun Modhwadia, AICC in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma, were at Surat airport to receive Gandhi, who arrived for the verdict on Thursday morning.

Congress party workers assembled at various spots in the city to show strength and support for Gandhi. Posters and placards showing that the “Congress will not bow before the dictatorship of the BJP” were on display.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday came out in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was convicted by Surat court. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to "eliminate" non-BJP leaders. "A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision," said Kejriwal in his tweet.

What's the case

Based on the complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi, a case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged 'how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?' remarks.

He made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In his complaint, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi alleged that Gandhi, while addressing the poll rally in 2019, defamed the entire Modi community by purportedly saying, How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?

Purnesh Modi was a minister in the first tenure of the Bhupendra Patel government. The ruling party legislator was re-elected from the Surat West Assembly seat in the December elections.

Gandhi's lawyer Kirit Panwala had said that the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma had last week concluded hearing final arguments from both sides and set March 23 to pronounce its judgment in the four-year-old defamation case, Gandhi's lawyer Kirit Panwala had said.

In October 2021, Gandhi had last appeared before the Surat court in the case, filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation) to record his statement.

Meanwhile, Gujarat BJP president C. R. Patil said it would be good if Gandhi learns from the judgment. Patil also alleged that Gandhi has been insulting the country and hence the people are unhappy with him.

(With PTI inputs)

two-held-for-abusing-crew-co-passengers-on-dubai-mumbai-flight

Thu Mar 23 09:58:49 IST 2023

Two passengers on board a Dubai-Mumbai IndiGo flight were arrested for allegedly hurling abuses at crew and co-passengers in an inebriated condition, a police official said on Thursday.

They were placed under arrest after the flight landed in Mumbai on Wednesday and were granted bail by a court here, the official said.

"The two accused are from Nalasopara in Palghar and Kolhapur. They were returning after working for a year in the Gulf and started celebrating by consuming liquor they had brought from a duty-free shop," he said.

"When co-flyers objected to the ruckus, the two abused them as well as the crew that intervened. One of them was drinking while walking down the aisle. The crew took away their bottles," the official added.

They have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 336 (for endangering life and safety of others) and 21,22 and 25 of Aircraft Rules, the Sahar police station official said.

As per officials, this is the seventh incident this year when a case has been filed for unruly behaviour by flyers.

On March 11, a man was arrested for smoking in the lavatory and trying to open the emergency exit of a London-Mumbai flight.

parliament-logjam-rs-chairman-calls-meet-of-floor-leaders-congress-says-no-compromise-formula

Thu Mar 23 09:12:51 IST 2023

In a bid to avert the Parliament logjam, the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has called another meeting of floor leaders at 10 am on Thursday. This is his third meeting of floor leaders, the first two being held on Monday.

This comes as both the ruling BJP and the opposition refuse to budge from their demands, resulting in continuous disruption of sessions. While the BJP wants an apology from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK, the opposition is insistent on a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Adani issue.

However, Congress has refused to entertain any compromise formula. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said efforts are being made since the last few days that a "formula" or middle path is found with both the Opposition and the government relenting.

"This is unacceptable to us, these two things are completely unconnected. One is a reality. The questions we are asking are fundamental questions, this has happened. The BJP's demand for an apology is just baseless, it is on false allegations. So to say that you take back your demand then we will take back the demand for an apology, we are not ready for any such bargain," he told reporters.

He added that no one from the government has talked directly to the opposition and this was only being known unofficially. Jairam Ramesh added that Rahul Gandhi has written to the Speaker to be allowed to speak under rule 357 in the Lok Sabha, saying it is his democratic right and what the speaker decides on it only time will tell.

"But to say that there is a formula, it is not acceptable to us. We are not agreeable to this because the two things are like 'chalk and cheese' between the demand for a JPC and a demand for an apology. The demand for apology that is being repeated, it is being done so that attention is diverted from the Adani issue. Their strategy is 3D -- distort, defame and divert. They distorted Rahul Gandhi's remarks, defamed him and now want to divert attention from the Adani issue," he said.

The two Houses did not meet on Wednesday as it was Ugadi/ Gudi Padava holiday.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Rahul Gandhi will speak at the Parliament on Thursday as he is set to appear before a court in Surat about the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remarks. The BJP, on the other hand, has issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today for the passage of important Bills.

sc-collegium-expresses-concern-over-centre-withholding-judge-rec

Wed Mar 22 22:57:21 IST 2023

The Supreme Court Collegium has voiced concern over instances of the Centre withholding or overlooking the names recommended for appointment as judges and asked it to take "necessary action" for elevation of those selected earlier.

The critical remarks by the Collegium, which noted that this practice disturbs the seniority of the candidates, come amid the tussle between the Centre and the judiciary over the Collegium system of judges appointing judges.

The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in a March 21 resolution said a notification for the elevation of persons including the name of Advocate R John Sathyan recommended earlier should be issued at the earliest.

The name of Sathyan was reiterated by the Collegium on January 17 this year. The Collegium had reiterated its February 16, 2022 recommendation for appointing Sathyan as a judge of the Madras High Court, brushing aside the objections of the Intelligence Bureau(IB) to his social media posts including the one critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Collegium voiced its concern in the resolution in which it recommended the names of four district judges--R Sakthivel, P Dhanabal, Chinnasamy Kumarappan, and K Rajasekar--for appointment as judges of the Madras High Court.

"The names which have been recommended earlier in point of time including the reiterated names ought not to be withheld or overlooked as this disturbs their seniority whereas those recommended later steal march on them. Loss of seniority of candidates recommended earlier in point of time has been noted by the collegium and is a matter of grave concern," it stated.

The March 21 resolution stated that the recommendation made by the High Court Collegium on August 10, 2022, for the appointment of the four judicial officers as judges of the Madras High Court has the concurrence of the chief minister and the governor of Tamil Nadu. The file was received from the Department of Justice on January 5 this year, it said.

The resolution further said that in order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the above-named judicial officers for elevation to the high court, in terms of the memorandum of procedure, the apex court Collegium has consulted the judges of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Madras High Court.

"By its resolution dated 17 January 2023, the Collegium of the Supreme Court recommended the appointment of Shri Ramaswamy Neelakandan, advocate practising before the Madras High Court, as a judge of the high court. As on March 31, 2023, Shri Ramaswamy Neelakandan was 48.07 years of age while Shri K Rajasekar on that date was 47.09 years of age.

"Shri Neelakandan, who is a member of the Bar, has been recommended earlier in point of time and must be appointed before Shri Rajasekar is appointed. Otherwise, Shri Rajasekar, who is a judicial officer and younger than Shri Neelakandan, would rank senior to Shri Neelakandan. Such a deviation in seniority would be unfair and against the settled convention," the resolution said.

The Collegium said that while recommending the name of Rajasekar for elevation, it is of the view that his appointment should be notified after the appointment of Neelakandan is notified.

The Collegium had on January 17, 2023 noted that the IB while objecting to Sathyan's social media posts has reported he has a good personal, professional image and nothing adverse has been found with regard to his integrity.

It said Sathyan belongs to the Christian community and the IB report notes he does not have any overt political leanings.

"In this view, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that R. John Sathyan is fit and suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court. The Collegium, therefore, resolves to reiterate its recommendation dated February 16, 2022 for appointment of R. John Sathyan, advocate, as a Judge of the Madras High Court," said the January 17 resolution.

In the March 21 resolution, the Collegium also reiterated its July 25, 2022 recommendation for the appointment of Senior Advocate Harpreet Singh Brar as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

It said the Collegium of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana on March 10, 2022, recommended Brar's elevation which was approved by the apex court body on July 25, 2022.

The resolution said the Department of Justice flagged certain issues and referred back the recommendation on November 25, 2022, for reconsideration.

"In view of the opinion of the consultee-judges of this court and the report submitted by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana along with minutes of the Collegium and papers enclosed with it, and after examining all aspects of the matter, the Collegium is of the view that Shri Harpreet Singh Brar is fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

"The Collegium has also taken note of the fact that, besides being a senior advocate, the candidate has a wide-ranging experience of practice before the high court," it added.

khalistan-protestors-take-out-march-to-indian-consulate-in-us-amritpals-wife-questioned

Thu Mar 23 11:43:08 IST 2023

Just after around 2,000 protesters waving Khalistan flags descended upon the Indian High Commission in London, a group of protestors held a demonstration in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Wednesday. However, there was a tight security presence of the San Francisco Police Department.

Unlike on Sunday, which witnessed violent disorder, the road leading to the consulate was heavily barricaded and a posse of police personnel stood guard, patrolling the area.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco also thanked the enforcement agencies for securing the premises. "Thank you @SFPDChief for the assurances. Met Chief Scott to discuss the attack on @CGISFO Chancery building on March 19 and request to raise the level of protection to the Consulate premises and personnel," Consul General of India at San Francisco Ambassador Nagendra Prasad tweeted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the protesters chanted pro-Khalistan slogans and reportedly came from different parts of the Bay area. The organisers also made anti-India speeches both in English and Punjabi, lashing out at the Punjab Police, for alleged human rights violations.

The protestors alleged that Indian media were calling them fringe elements backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. "There have been flyers circulating on social media and it’s the youth that’s at the forefront of protests like these," a pro-Khalistan youth told ANI.

Wife questioned

The Punjab Police have questioned the wife of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, whose name allegedly cropped up in connection with the sourcing of foreign funds for the activities of Waris Punjab De.

Kirendeep Kaur, a UK-based NRI, was questioned by the police team which arrived at his residence in Jallupur Khera, Singh's native village in Amritsar, on Wednesday. The police team is said to have quizzed both Kirendeep and Amritpal's mother Balwinder Kaur.

Kirendeep and Amritpal Singh got married in February at a modest gathering. Kirendeep, who used to live in the UK, reportedly shifted to India after the wedding.

Meanwhile, new footage of the Khalistan sympathiser has emerged showing him on a motorised cart with his bike and the person who rode it. It was not clear whether the bike ran out of fuel or developed some fault. The bike was recovered by the police on Wednesday near a canal in Jalandhar.

Videos sourced by the police on Tuesday had shown Amritpal with his close aid Papalpreet riding a motorcycle. Police said they used link roads to avoid the police gaze.

put-mp-on-development-path-despite-covid-19-hurdles-cm-chouhan-on-3-years-of-govt

Wed Mar 22 21:34:35 IST 2023

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that despite being put to severe test by the Covid-19 pandemic for two years, the BJP government has put Madhya Pradesh squarely on the path of development and growth during its three year current tenure.

Chouhan was speaking to media persons on the eve of completion of three years in office. He had taken oath as CM for the fourth term on March 23, 2020, after a defection by Congress MLAs under leadership of Union minister Jyotiradiya Scindia led to collapse of 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led Congress government in the state.

Chouhan said that the past three years were very severe testing times for his government. “In the first and the second year, we faced the Covid-19 pandemic. There was the big challenge to manage the pandemic and make various arrangements. We fulfilled this responsibility, yet did not allow the pace of progress of the state to slacken,” the CM said.

“Along with development in all sectors, major steps were taken for the welfare of farmers, youth and women,” Chouhan added.

He reminded that Madhya Pradesh did not only help its own citizens but made arrangements for the labourers walking back home through the state with people’s help. The crisis management committees in the state became an example for the entire country.

Rs 2.25 crores for farmers

Chouhan said that despite the crisis, the state government deposited Rs 200 crores of crop insurance premiums for farmers. During the past three years, the government managed to put as much as Rs 2.25 crores in the accounts of the farmers through different schemes.

“While actively working for welfare of farmers, we also dreamt of self-reliant (Atma-Nirbhar) Madhya Pradesh and managed to lay a network of 4 lakh kms road and plan major expressways like the Atal Expressway, Narmada Expressway and Vindhya Expressway.”

The CM said that the government has managed to provide irrigation facilities in 45 lakh hectare farmlands and are now on the way to increase it to 65 lakh hectare area. The power production has risen to 28,000 MW and work is speedily being done in the solar energy sector. There is a plan to construct 14 ropeways in the state and work is about to start in Ujjain. In between, ‘Mahakaal-Mahalok’ was constructed.

Network of health facilities

“We decided to revolutionise the education and health sector. For this CM Rise Schools were established, a new education policy was launched, a decision was taken to start medical education in Hindi and several new medical colleges are being opened,” he said. Network of sub-health, primary health and community health centres was being spread and the state has achieved first spot in the country in making Ayushman (health) scheme cards.

Chouhan highlighted that after getting the tags of being Tiger state, Leopard state, Vulture state and Ghariyal state, Madhya Pradesh also managed to become the Cheetah state of the country. Tourism is witnessing huge growth.

Records in economy and employment

The chief minister claimed that the government has made new records in the economy and employment sector. About 1.24 lakh government jobs have been created and recruitment process was on. Every year, one lakh youth are being provided loans for self-entrepreneurships, the guarantee and interest subsidy for which is being given by the government. Employment is being generated by connecting 2.5 lakh people to banks. Under a new policy, budget provision has been made for a ‘learn and earn’ scheme for 1 lakh youth.

He said that the state has taken revolutionary steps for women’s welfare by introducing schemes like Ladli Behna and newer provisions in the Ladli Laxmi scheme. As many as 91 lakh new beneficiaries were added in different welfare schemes. The per capita income of the state has grown from Rs 11,000 to Rs 1.40 lakhs in two decades (2001-02 to 2022-23) while the size of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has continuously grown from Rs 71,000 crores to 13 lakh crores in these two decades.

mir-jafar-jaichand-bjp-congress-trade-traitor-barbs

Tue Mar 21 21:23:35 IST 2023

As the impasse in Parliament entered the seventh straight day, the BJP and the Congress traded traitor barbs on Tuesday with the ruling party terming Rahul Gandhi as a "present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity" and the opposition party hitting back dubbing the saffron outfit members as "Jaichands".

With the BJP and opposition parties accusing each other of paralysing Parliament and escalating the slugfest, attempts to break the deadlock by Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla failed to yield any results. Dhankhar has scheduled another meeting of floor leaders of various parties at 10 AM on March 23.

Both houses of Parliament have failed to transact any significant business ever since the start of the second leg of the budget session on March 13 except on Tuesday when amid the din caused by opposition members the Lok Sabha passed a Rs 1.118 lakh crore budget for 2023-24 for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will not have a sitting on Wednesday and will reconvene on March 23.

While the opposition led by the Congress has been demanding a JPC probe into the Adani row, the BJP is seeking an unconditional apology from Rahul Gandhi for his "democracy under threat" remarks made in London and accusing the Congress leader of insulting India and its institutions on foreign soil and seeking foreign intervention.

Several opposition party leaders also held a protest in the corridors of Parliament House and raised slogans demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani row. They also hung a banner from the first floor of the Parliament building that read "We want JPC".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra set the tone for yet another stormy day by alleging that Rahul Gandhi is the "present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity" who went overseas seeking help from foreign forces to become a 'nawab' in India, and demanded his apology.

"It would not be an aberration to say that Rahul Gandhi is a present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity. What he has done in London is the same thing that Mir Jafar did," he told a press conference.

"Rahul Gandhi did the same thing during his visit to London. He invited foreign forces to come to India. Shehzada wants to become a nawab. Shehzada has sought help from the East India Company to become a nawab," Patra charged.

Mir Jafer, a former Nawab of Bengal, signed an agreement surrendering to the British army that heralded the start of the British rule in India and his name is often used to refer to a traitor.

Hitting back, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the BJP will be seen as "Jaichands" in history and claimed its ideological forefathers were British apologists.

"You want to become Jaichand of democracy....You will be called Jaichands in history if you accord more importance to your friend and not to the country. We urge you to think about the country and not your friend," Khera said, adding that it is an irony that people whose ideological forefathers have been historically known to be the apologists for the British and today they are giving us lectures on patriotism.

Jaichand, a king from the Gahadavala dynasty of northern India, is often referred to as a traitor who went overseas seeking help from foreign forces.

Khera also said the ruling BJP is just a tenant and not the owner of democracy and asserted that holding the government to account does not amount to criticising the nation.

Noting that Gandhi will not apologise, he said criticising the works of the government does not amount to criticising the country.

Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi accused the Opposition of willfully stalling Parliament with its "irresponsible" comments and "unfounded" allegations to mislead the country amid global recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

With the meetings by Birla and Dhankhar failing to bring any breakthrough to end the deadlock, Goyal and Joshi accused opposition parties of repeatedly "insulting" the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

The Congress hit back at the BJP, alleging that Goyal, who is the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, got the ruling party MPs to prevent Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress from speaking twice even after the Chairman had permitted him.

"Silencing of LoP is also an issue quite apart from the JPC on Adani," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

"How can the Opposition demand for a JPC into the PM-linked Adani scam be linked to the BJP's demand for an apology from Rahul Gandhi on totally baseless accusations?. The JPC is on a real, documented scam. The apology demand is a hoax being raised to divert attention from the Adani scam."

The Rajya Sabha chairperson personally called up several opposition leaders, including Kharge to attend the meeting but they refused, Joshi said.

After almost the entire opposition except for the regional parties like the TDP, YSR Congress and the BJD skipped the first meeting before noon, Dhankhar called another meeting in the afternoon which was attended by floor leaders of more parties like the TMC and DMK but the Congress and some other parties stayed away. Joshi said this is a "great disrespect" to the Chair.

"It is our prime duty to run the proceedings of House in an orderly manner," Dhankhar told political parties.

During the 90-minute meeting, Dhankhar highlighted that the House is meant for debate and discussion in a collaborative manner, and not for confrontation and deadlock.

Most opposition parties, however, attended the meeting convened by Birla. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury represented his party.

Sources said Birla asked the two sides to agree to let the House run and thrash out their differences outside. They added that Joshi said the treasury benches will follow the Chair's decision. However, several opposition parties have stuck to their guns on the demand for a probe into the Adani row.

eurasian-peoples-assembly-highlights-diplomacy-of-happiness-during-5-day-event

Tue Mar 21 17:55:12 IST 2023

The Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, a platform for non-governmental organisations, intelligentsia and business communities from different countries in the region, is trying a different kind of engagement—the diplomacy of happiness. Bringing together students, activists, artists and leaders, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly is holding a five-day long programme, 'Days of Eurasian Assembly', from March 20 to 26. .

Headquartered in Moscow, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly may not be a political forum, but culture too plays an important role in conveying the message of peace and unity. As part of the programme is an exhibition of drawings made by children in Eurasia on what happiness looks like to them. These happy pictures are a plea for a world without war. “We believe all people be united,’’ said Smirnova Svetlana, first deputy of the secretary-general of the head of the General Secretariat of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly. “We will need to trust each other.’’

In an attempt to reach out and build connections, the Days of the Eurasian Assembly brings together a roundtable on sports, art exhibitions, film screenings, and heritage. It will also focus on tourism. As part of the effort to bring in better economic engagement, the programme, for the first time, is also focuing on business.

Such programmes have been held in UAE, Serbia, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Azerbaijan and Egypt.

While India has been a friendly country, there is a need to reach out beyond the field of strategy. The idea of the event is to convey the message that friendliness is not restricted only to government. The idea of the series of events is also to fill the gap, especially in terms of people-to-people engagement. There is a memory of the friendship that existed between India and Soviet Russia in the older generation. “We will first connect with middle aged people,’’ said the secretary general of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, Belianinov Andrey. “The world needs better connections. The internet has ensured that people have forgotten how to connect in the real world.”

This is not the first time that the programme is being held in India. But this is the first after the Ukraine crisis. “We are not discussing anything political,’’ said Belianinov. “But it is a tragedy for the world.”

As part of the happiness agenda on Wednesday, there will be a day-long programme on learning from the experience of the assembly to spread happiness.

The Days of Eurasian Assembly was formally launched on what has been declared the International Day of Happiness on Monday. Interestingly, it was on the same day in 2014 that Crimea was “given’’ back to Russia. Happiness can sometimes be political.

covid-19-pm-modi-to-hold-high-level-meeting-as-cases-spike

Wed Mar 22 20:48:47 IST 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday directed health officials to enhance genome sequencing of Covid-19 positive samples to ensure timely tracking of new variants while also emphasizing on Covid-appropriate behaviour. Modi chaired a high-level meeting in Delhi to review the public health preparedness as the country witnessed a spike in daily cases.

According to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday morning, the active caseload currently stands at 7,026 with 1,134 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. According to the data, the daily positivity rate was 1.09 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.98 per cent. The death toll climbed to 5,30,813

The prime minister emphasized on Covid-appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by patients, health professionals and health workers. He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas, a release issued by the Prime Minister's Office said.

“The prime minister directed officials to enhance whole genome sequencing of positive samples with the designated INSACOG genome sequencing laboratories. This will support tracking of newer variants, if any, and timely response,” it said.

Modi directed that effective monitoring of IRI/SARI cases, and testing for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Adenovirus be followed up with the states. He further stressed the need to ensure availability of required drugs and logistics for influenza and Covid-19 across the health facilities along with availability of sufficient beds and health human resources.

Modi also highlighted that Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and there is a need to monitor the status across the country on regular basis. “Prime Minister advised to continue focusing on 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination & Covid Appropriate Behaviour, enhance Lab Surveillance & testing of all Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases. Mock drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that our hospitals are ready for all exigencies,” the PMO said.

During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a slight rise in new cases with average daily cases reported as 888 and weekly positivity reported as 0.98 per cent in the week ending March 22, 2023. However, 1.08 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally during the same week, the release said.

khalistan-protest-india-retaliates-removes-security-barriers-outside-uk-high-commission-envoys-residence

Wed Mar 22 14:15:45 IST 2023

Days after the Indian government protested against the Khalistan attack on Indian High Commission in the UK, the Centre retaliated by downgrading the security provided to the UK High Commission in Delhi.

Barricades that were erected outside the British High Commission at Shantipath in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave have been removed, while those in front of British high commissioner Alex Ellis’ residence at Rajaji Marg have also disappeared, reported ANI.

The British High Commission has refused to react to the same, stating that it "does not comment on security matters." There have, however, been no reports of any reduction in security personnel posted at the mission.

This comes as India strongly protested against the lack of security at the Indian High Commission when Khalistani protestors stormed the building and tried to pull down the Indian flag. The Ministry of External Affairs had summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi to seek an explanation as to why there was a "complete absence of British security that allowed these elements to enter the mission premises."

Bike recovered

The Punjab Police have recovered the two-wheeler allegedly used by Waris Punjab De chief and radical preacher Amritpal Singh to flee the police. The bike was found abandoned in Darapur village, around 60 km from Nanagal Ambian, the police said. However, Amritpal continues to remain on the run.

Earlier, a CCTV visual had gone viral on social media showing Amritpal riding pillion on the Bajaj Platina bike wearing a pink turban and black spectacles. Another footage from the Jalandhar toll plaza showed him escaping in the SUV.

There were also reports that Amritpal, on the day of the crackdown, spent at least 45 minutes in the Nangal Ambian gurudwara in Jalandhar. The preacher at the Gurudwara told The Indian Express that they were unaware of the police search for him. Amritpal was reportedly accompanied by four men and they asked for some clothes. The fugitive also used the priest's phone and returned it after a while when they were ready to leave the gurudwara.

did-india-take-us-help-in-december-9-arunachal-clash

Wed Mar 22 17:27:38 IST 2023

Questions are being raised over a US media report making a dramatic claim that the US helped India to thwart a planned Chinese PLA incursion into Arunachal Pradesh late last year by providing real-time data and intelligence.

A security establishment source familiar with the development in Arunachal Pradesh told THE WEEK: “I don’t know what information came in from the US agencies. India already has access to very accurate and high-resolution pictures and images taken by satellites that can observe everything in clear detail including the direction of movement, number of troops, even the equipment they carry.”

“Moreover, we also buy information and imagery from open sources that are provided real-time. I don’t think we need more inputs to observe the adversaries.”

India-US bilateral ties are getting stronger by the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake an official visit to the US in June 2023.

The US media report on Monday in US News quoted a source familiar with a US intelligence review of an encounter in Arunachal Pradesh as saying that “the US government for the first time provided real-time details to its Indian counterparts of the Chinese positions and force strength in advance of a PLA incursion.”

“The information included actionable satellite imagery and was more detailed and delivered more quickly than anything the US had previously shared with the Indian military.”

On December 9, about 80 PLA troops were seen advancing towards a 5,180-metre-high land feature peak before being obstructed by a much larger Indian Army contingent that repulsed the incursion.

The incident took place at Yangste, near a disputed stretch in the Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh, a week after the conclusion of a India-US joint military exercise at Uttarakhand’s Auli from November 17-December 2, just about 100 km away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

The December 9 incident led to "minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides".

There was another twist to the news development with John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, telling reporters: “No, I can't confirm that.”

India is locked in a border stand-off with China that has escalated especially after June 2020 when several lives were lost in a brutal and violent clash in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh between the two Asian neighbours.

Interestingly, on February 16, a bipartisan resolution was introduced in the US Senate endorsing recognition of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

“The United States recognises the state of Arunachal Pradesh not as a disputed territory but as an integral part of the Republic of India, and this recognition is not qualified in any way,” says the resolution introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, and Bill Hagerty, a Republican.

China claims territorial suzerainty over most parts of Arunachal Pradesh and as a part of “Southern Tibet”.

delhi-budget-presentation-today-kejriwal-says-no-changes-made

Wed Mar 22 09:08:28 IST 2023

After a day of stalemate, the Delhi Assembly budget will be presented on Wednesday after the Union Home Ministry gave its approval following a clarification from the AAP government. This came as the budget presentation, scheduled for Tuesday, was stalled after the Centre failed to approve it citing allocation issues.

Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot too took to Twitter to announce the unveiling of the budget. "Tomorrow, I shall present the @ArvindKejriwal Govt’s Budget for FY 2023-24 & my 1st as Delhi’s Finance Minister. This budget is poised to serve the best interest of citizens & take our city to greater heights. Tomorrow will be recalled as a historic day for Delhi’s development," he added.

The row over the budget had created a constitutional crisis in Delhi after the budget presentation was stalled for the first time in the country. According to the Union Home Ministry, the Delhi government had not replied to the concerns raised by L-G VK Saxena regarding certain allocations.

Kejriwal minced no words in attacking in Centre even after getting the approval, alleging that the Centre had stalled it for ego satisfaction. Stating that the budget had been approved "without any change," Kejriwal said the Centre had stalled it for ego satisfaction.

However, the BJP said that the Kejriwal dispensation sat on the clarifications sought by the Ministry of Home Affairs for three days and then blamed the Centre for gaining "cheap publicity".

But speaking in the Assembly, Kejriwal alleged that the Centre's objection was a departure from tradition and an attack on the Constitution. He also questioned the practice of sending it to the Centre for clearance. "The Delhi government wants to work and not fight. We are tired of fighting and it serves no one. We want to work together with the prime minister, we do not want any tussle," the chief minister said.

He said the Centre had raised four queries. "We replied to them without any other change in the budget. Now, they have given approval to it which proves that their ego was satisfied that the Delhi government bowed down," Kejriwal said.

He also hit out at the ministry's findings that the budget proposal had high allocation for advertisement and relatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives.

"They said advertisement allocation was higher than that for infrastructure. Uneducated people have been sitting from top to bottom. Which is more - Rs 20,000 crore for infrastructure or Rs 500 crore for advertisement?" said the chief minister in the Assembly.

He, however, expressed satisfaction over the MHA's approval to the budget, saying "better late than never" and asked what was the need to create an issue over it.

Kejriwal also asserted that the Lt Governor has no power "to raise any objections, make observations or write anything on a file", as he was bound by the aid and advice of the Cabinet of the elected government. The AAP has been at loggerheads with the LG for months now.

bilkis-bano-case-sc-agrees-to-constitute-special-bench-against-releasing-convicts

Wed Mar 22 13:19:49 IST 2023

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to constitute a special bench to hear a plea by Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped during the 2002 Gujarat riots, against the remission of sentence of 11 convicts in the case.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala assured Bano, represented through her lawyer Shobha Gupta, that the new bench will be formed.

Gupta mentioned the matter for urgent hearing and said that a new bench needs to be constituted.

"I will have a bench constituted. Will look at it this evening," the CJI said.

Earlier, on January 24, the hearing on Bano's plea challenging the remission of sentence of 11 convicts in the gang-rape case by the Gujarat government could not be held in the top court as the judges concerned were hearing a matter related to passive euthanasia as part of a five-judge Constitution bench.

Besides the plea challenging the release of the convicts, the gang-rape survivor had also filed a separate petition seeking a review of the apex court's May 13, 2022 order on a plea by a convict.

Seven members of Bilkis Bano's family were also killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In its May 13, 2022 order, the apex court had asked the state government to consider the plea of a convict for premature release in terms of its policy of July 9, 1992 which was applicable on the date of conviction and decide it within a period of two months.

All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, last year.

Bano's review plea against the May 13, 2022 order, however, was dismissed by the top court in December last year.

delhi-budget-focus-on-beautiful-modern-city-infrastructure-projects

Wed Mar 22 12:51:33 IST 2023

After a day's delay, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Wednesday presented the Budget for the financial year 2023-24. In his first budget speech, Gahlot said the budget was dedicated to clean, beautiful and modern Delhi.

Earlier the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Delhiites were "missing" Manish Sisodia on the day of the budget presentation and asserted that the work started by the former minister will be carried on at double the speed. Gahlot too honoured Sisodia in his budget speech, stating he would have been happier if the budget was presented by Sisodia who "is like my elder brother".

Gahlot stepped in after former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also handled the finance portfolio, was arrested by the CBI and ED on the now-repealed Delhi liquor policy case.

Infrastructure projects

The AAP government announced Rs 78,800 crore budget in its ninth consecutive budget on Wednesday with the announcement of nine schemes as part of the G-20 preparations. The Delhi government's budget size for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the preceding year.

Gahlot said that the Delhi govt proved its commitment to zero tolerance towards corruption through the doorstep delivery of services.

The budget also focuses on the infrastructure as 29 new flyovers are being constructed. This is besides the upgradation of the 1,400-km PWD road network and underpasses in Delhi. There is also a plan to construct three unique double-decker flyovers in collaboration with DMRC.

The government has set aside Rs 3,500 crore for the upgradation of public transport. Besides, 57 existing bus depots will be electrified. Gahlot also announced nine new bus depots, three ISBTs and two multi-level bus depots in Delhi. As many as 1,600 e-buses will also be introduced by end of 2023. This is expected to reduce Co2 emissions by 1.07 lakh tonnes, Gahlot said.

He also announced the Mohalla Bus scheme for last-mile connectivity. Other provisions include financial assistance of Rs 8,241 crore for local bodies, a six-point action plan for a clean Yamuna and the removal of all the mountains of garbage. Delhi will treat 890 million gallons of sewage a day by March 2024, a massive increase of over 373 MGD in 2015, the budget said.

110-youtube-channels-banned-since-dec-2021-for-violation-of-it-act-anurag-thakur

Tue Mar 21 22:02:46 IST 2023

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said the government has issued directions for blocking 110 YouTube-based news channels and 248 URLs since December, 2021 for carrying content against the sovereignty of the country.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Thakur also said the National Crime Records Bureau did not maintain any separate data on journalists.

The minister was responding to a question put by Congress member Pradyut Bordoloi who had sought details and the number of journalists arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code and other penal laws during the last five years and the current year.

"'Police' and 'Public Order' are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and state governments are responsible for prevention, detection and investigation of crimes and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies," Thakur said.

He said the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not maintain data separately for journalists/ media personnel.

Thakur said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued directions for blocking access of 110 YouTube-based news channels and 248 user generated URLs, including webpages, websites, posts/accounts on social media platforms, podcasts, and apps for carrying content referred to section 69A of the IT Act, 2000.

In response to a separate question, Thakur said the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau has busted more than 1,160 fake news.

The minister said the Fact Check Union takes cognizance of news both suo-motu and by way of queries sent by citizens.

punjab-govt-not-afraid-of-taking-strict-measures-to-curb-criminal-activities-says-kejriwal

Tue Mar 21 17:06:52 IST 2023

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the Punjab government was not afraid of taking stringent measures to curb criminal activities in the state.

His comments came after Punjab Police launched a major crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.

"When we came to power in Punjab, people said they (AAP) can work in the fields of education, health and power, but handling law and order situation will be tough.

"The system we inherited from previous governments showed that criminals and gangsters were provided political protection. But our government is an honest one. We are taking strict action against such elements," Kejriwal said.

The action taken over the past few days has shown that AAP government is "ready to take strictest step" when it comes to maintaining law-and-order as well as peace in the state.

He said the strict action against criminals taken by the Punjab government has shown that the "AAP is a hardcore patriotic party".

"After coming at the helm, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government of AAP began taking actions against several drug mafias and gangsters.

"Over the past one year, the AAP dispensation in Punjab has proved that if intentions are good and the government is honest, the law and order can also be very well maintained," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal congratulated Mann for the crackdown and also thanked people for their support.

"We are patriots. We love Bharat Mata (mother India). Anyone doing anything against Bharta Mata will not be spared. Anyone trying to destroy peace and tranquility will not be spared. Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government has proved that it is ready to take strictest action in the national interest if need arise," he said.

Police in Punjab on Saturday had launched a massive manhunt against Singh and members of his outfit. The preacher, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

In his reaction to the police action, Mann said he received several calls from people praising his government.

"People are telling me, you have done a good job. There should be peace and harmony in Punjab and in this matter, we will support you," he said in a video message.

lookout-circular-issued-against-amritpal-singh-close-vigil-on-india-nepal-border

Wed Mar 22 07:59:06 IST 2023

The Punjab Police have issued a lookout notice and non-bailable warrant against radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who continues to evade arrest. As the manhunt enters day five, the authorities have extended the search to other states.

"We are making all efforts to arrest him. We’re hopeful that we’ll arrest him soon…It is difficult to say that. Punjab Police is receiving full cooperation from other states and central agencies," Punjab IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters on Tuesday.

The Punjab police had arrested four aides of Amritpal Singh on Tuesday for helping him escape. The accused Manpreet Singh alias Manna, Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, Harpreet Singh alias Happy and Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja helped the 'Waris Punjab De' chief to escape in a car while he was being chased by cops in Jalandhar on Saturday.

During questioning, they revealed that Amritpal first went to a gurdwara in Nangal Ambian village where he "changed his clothes, and wore a shirt and pants, and escaped along with three others on two bikes."

The officials have also seized a vehicle he used to travel. They recovered .315 bore rifle, some swords and a walkie-talkie set from it.

Meanwhile, the search for the fugitive has extended to other states. The Uttarakhand Police on Tuesday conducted a combing operation at gurdwaras, hotels and in areas on the Indo-Nepal border in Udham Singh Nagar district.

City Superintendent of Police Manoj Katyal said the search was conducted after the state police received information from their Punjab counterparts that Singh and his associates were trying to flee the country.

Intelligence agencies are also monitoring the situation. A close vigil is being kept on the India-Nepal border so that he does not escape to Nepal. The police have also put up posters to inform residents that Singh and his aides are wanted in Punjab.

A hearing on the habeas corpus petition was also held on Tuesday which saw the Court lashing out at the Punjab government for lapses in handling the case of Amritpal Singh.

The court questioned the government on how Amritpal could escape when the government has 80,000-strong police force.

"When there was a threat to the security of the country, what was the government doing till now? They were roaming around with weapons. How did he manage to escape despite so many police. What are 80,000 police doing when the country’s security is in danger?" the High Court said.

opposition-leaders-hold-protest-in-parliament-house-complex-over-adani-issue

Tue Mar 21 16:30:46 IST 2023

Several opposition party leaders on Tuesday held a protest in the corridors of Parliament House and raised slogans demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue.

They also hung a banner that read "We want JPC" from the first floor of the Parliament building.

TMC MPs held a separate protest in the Parliament complex and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the Adani issue.

Accusing the government of helping businessman Gautam Adani by not ordering a probe into allegations of fraud levelled against his group, the party demanded that Adani be arrested.

"Adani should be arrested. Modi is trying to protect Adani in the Rs 1 lakh crore scam. This is also the reason why they are not allowing any discussion in Parliament. The TMC leadership has already demanded that the 10 non-BJP states should begin their own probe into this and ensure that public money is not misused," said TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien.

TMC Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay demanded an explanation from the prime minister on how public money was used by Adani. "PM Modi should explain this in the House. How LIC-SBI money ended up with Adani," he said.

Leaders of opposition parties had earlier met in the Parliament complex and decided to press for a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Leaders of opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, RJD, CPI-M, CPI, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JDU, JMM, IUML, AAP, MDMK, attended the meeting in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

Both houses of Parliament were adjourned till 2 pm Tuesday amid uproar over the Adani issue and demand by ruling party members that Rahul Gandhi apologise for his democracy remarks.

"This morning Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, @kharge ji was given permission by the Chairman to speak. He got up to do so but was not allowed by sloganeering BJP MPs. Chairman then adjourned RS. How can the logjam be broken if Modi Govt behaves like this," AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter after the House was adjourned.

The opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe into the Adani Group issue, saying only a JPC can bring out the truth in the matter, after US based Hindenburg Research report made allegations of financial irregularities and stock manipulation by the Adani Group.

The Adani group has denied the allegations and said no wrongdoing has been done by it.

tremors-felt-in-north-indian-states-after-earthquake-hits-afghanistan

Tue Mar 21 23:22:41 IST 2023

Strong tremors were felt in parts of north India, including Delhi-NCR, after an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Tuesday night.

Videos surfaced on social media handles from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir showed the panic-stricken people rushing out of buildings. There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

"I was waiting for passengers and suddenly my car started shaking. I immediately shouted and told my friends about it," Ramesh Pawar, cab owner in Delhi, told PTI.

Reports said there was disruption in mobile services in some parts of the Jammu region immediately after the earthquake.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the tremor had a depth of 194 km and its epicentre was in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the remote northern Afghan province of Badakhshan.

The quake shocks were felt in several Pakistan cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Jhelum, Sheikhupura, Swat, Noeshera, Multan, Swat, Shangla and other places, media reports said.

excise-policy-case-court-seeks-eds-reply-on-manish-sisodias-bail-plea

Tue Mar 21 20:48:46 IST 2023

A Delhi court on Tuesday sought the Enforcement Directorate's response on a bail plea of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case arising out of the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Special Judge MK Nagpal issued notice to the ED and sought its response by March 25.

On March 17, the court extended the ED custody of the AAP leader by five days till March 22.

The ED arrested Sisodia on March 9 in the Tihar Jail, where he was lodged in connection with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case about alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.

The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26.

mamata-to-stage-dharna-over-centres-discrimination-against-west-bengal

Tue Mar 21 20:30:51 IST 2023

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would stage a two-day sit-in in Kolkata from March 29 in protest against the BJP-led Union government's alleged discriminatory attitude towards her state.

She claimed that the Centre has not released funds for the MGNREGA project for the state and other initiatives of its housing and road departments.

"West Bengal is the only state which has not received anything from the Centre. It has not given us our due money. Even in this year's Union budget, there was nothing for our state.

Hence, in protest against the Centre's discrimination against West Bengal, I, as the chief minister, will stage a sit-in demonstration under the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Kolkata from March 29 and continue it till the evening of March 30," she told reporters at Dumdum airport before leaving for a three-day trip to Odisha.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said she would also be protesting against the price rise of gas cylinders.

After March 30, "we will take this programme from one block (of West Bengal) to another, from district to district", she said.

"They have not given our dues. I myself had met the Prime Minister and told him that we are yet to get funds for the 100 days work scheme for six months. I had told Home minister Amit Shah when he had come here for a meeting, she said.

The chief minister said she had written to the central government several times seeking the dues but in vain.

Banerjee questioned why West Bengal was not getting its dues even after earning accolades from the Centre alongside UNESCO, United Nations and other countries for its performance in different projects.

Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee alleged that the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were sending teams following instructions of the local leaders of the saffron camp.

It appears the local leader of the BJP has become the CBI director and the ED president... The country is running like this... but this cannot go on," she told reporters.

Asked whether she would discuss politics with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Banerjee said "it will be a courtesy meeting". PTI SCHMamata to stage dharna over Centre's 'discrimination' against West Bengal (Eds: Adds details)

Kolkata, Mar 21 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would stage a two-day sit-in in Kolkata from March 29 in protest against the BJP-led Union government's alleged discriminatory attitude towards her state.

She claimed that the Centre has not released funds for the MGNREGA project for the state and other initiatives of its housing and road departments.

"West Bengal is the only state which has not received anything from the Centre. It has not given us our due money. Even in this year's Union budget, there was nothing for our state.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said she would also be protesting against the price rise of gas cylinders.

After March 30, "we will take this programme from one block (of West Bengal) to another, from district to district", she said.

The chief minister said she had written to the central government several times seeking the dues but in vain.

Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee alleged that the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were sending teams following instructions of the local leaders of the saffron camp.

It appears the local leader of the BJP has become the CBI director and the ED president... The country is running like this... but this cannot go on," she told reporters.

Asked whether she would discuss politics with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Banerjee said "it will be a courtesy meeting".

dews-hypersonics-to-define-military-capability-in-2047-says-iaf-chief

Tue Mar 21 14:49:32 IST 2023

In an interesting take on India's military capability—of 25 years in the past compared with the next 25 years,—the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief has underlined the importance of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWS) and hypersonics in the coming times.

In his address at a public event on Tuesday, IAF chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari said: “The key to faster development of niche technology is to identify core areas of development, clearly articulate requirements and closely interact with the industry to design and develop the technology.”

“The weapons of India @100 would look very different from weapons of India @ 75. Directed Energy Weapons and Hypersonic Weapons have already been tested and employed.”

“DEWs, particularly lasers, provide significant advantages over traditional weapons such as precision engagement, low cost per shot, logistical benefits and low detectability. Our defence industries need to further the development of these weapons and also integrate them onto airborne platforms to get desired ranges and accuracy,” he said.

Significantly, in keeping with President Xi Jinping’s well-publicised plan of “Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation”, China’s People’s Liberation Army wants to “basically complete” modernization by 2036 and be a “world-class force” by 2049.

Neighbours India and China are locked in a violent border row that has failed to resolve even after a series of ongoing parleys both at the diplomatic and military levels.

The Indian military is undergoing a transformative phase with modernization and ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance in defence production) as its main mantras. But concomitantly, there is an ongoing process of acquiring cutting-edge technology in certain niche areas.

To further illustrate his point, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said that in 1998, the first operational launch of PSLV was yet to happen, Agni-1 MRBM with a range of 700 Km was yet to be developed and GPS was new to the world, and the IAF had no Su-30s.

“The fact that technology grows exponentially, and its effects are super-exponential, will mean that the next 25 years would witness an even greater growth, the contours of which may be difficult to predict very accurately at this stage. However, it is certain that 25 years hence, in 2047, when our nation completes 100 years of Independence, we would be looking at a very different India,” he added.

The IAF chief also alluded to other niche areas like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, and Battle Field of Things.

delhi-liquor-policy-case-brs-leader-kavitha-submits-her-old-phones-to-ed

Tue Mar 21 13:50:21 IST 2023

BRS leader K. Kavitha appeared for questioning before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for the third time in connection with the Delhi excise policy linked money laundering case.

Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao reached the ED office at 11:30 am. While reaching the office, she waved a bag of phones to the supporters that she is going to submit to the ED.

The probe agency had alleged that she had destroyed 10 phones. In a letter to the ED, Kavitha said that "These phones are submitted without prejudice to my right and contentions and larger contentions whether a woman's phone can be intruded, in the teeth of her right to privacy."

"It is baffling to note as to how, why and under what such circumstances agency made such allegations when I was not even summoned or asked any questions whatsoever," said Kavitha.

She also added that she is submitting the phones to dispel any notion or "adverse impression" that the agency is allegedly trying to create.

She had appeared before the ED on March 11 and March 20.

On Monday she had exited the ED office around 9:15 pm after her statements were recorded by the agency.

Kavitha's statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Kavitha was earlier questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the case at her residence in Hyderabad.

During the nine hours spent at the ED office, Kavitha is reportedly have been confronted with statements made by Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandran Pillai, who was arrested in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

The BRS leader had repeatedly said that she had done nothing wrong and criticised the BJP for “using” central agencies to target the opposition leaders.

According to the ED, Pillai represented the South Group, an alleged liquor cartel linked to Kavitha and others that paid kickbacks amounting to about Rs 100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to gain a larger share of the market.

The "South Group", according to the ED, comprises Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Pharma), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (YSR Congress MP from Ongole Lok Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh), his son Raghav Magunta, Kavitha and others.

ED has also recorded the statement of Butchibabu, an accountant allegedly linked to Kavitha. Reportedly he had said that there was political understanding between Kavitha and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Butchibabu was arrested by the CBI earlier and was questioned again by the ED. In connection with the case, Vijay Nair was also arrested by both ED and CBI.

In connection with the case, the ED has arrested so far 12 people including former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

amritpal-singh-still-on-the-run-punjab-police-shuts-down-his-de-addiction-centre

Tue Mar 21 18:15:55 IST 2023

Punjab Police on Tuesday shut down a drug de-addiction centre run by Amritpal Singh at Jallupur Khera in Amritsar district even as the manhunt to nab the radical preacher continued on the fourth day.

"Police arrived here and conducted a search. They asked us to shut down the centre. Seventy people who had arrived to receive treatment were sent back," Gurmukh Singh, a caretaker of the centre, was quoted as saying by ANI.

Singh claimed the police had found nothing in their search at the centre. “Nothing wrong is going on here and whatever is being said about the place is all wrong," he said.

Police on Saturday launched a major crackdown against Amritpal and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'. The pro-Khalistan leader, however, gave the police a slip when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district.

The Punjab government on Tuesday told the high court that the stringent National Security Act has been invoked against Amritpal. Police say he is still on the run after escaping their dragnet.

The state government has extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur and Amritsar's Ajnala sub-division and a few areas in Mohali till Thursday noon.

The curbs will be lifted from the rest of the state from Tuesday noon, the department of home affairs and justice said in an order.

tamil-nadu-cms-breakfast-scheme-to-be-expanded-to-cover-18-lakh-students-in-state

Mon Mar 20 21:28:38 IST 2023

With Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme showing improvement in attendance in primary schools, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu is all set to expand the scheme to cover 30,122 primary schools in the state from the upcoming academic year.

A total of 18 lakh students from classes 1 to 5 will benefit through the ambitious scheme and Finance minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Monday allocated Rs 500 crore for the scheme in the state budget.

In his budget speech, PTR said, “The chief minister’s breakfast scheme is being implemented in 1,937 primary government schools and is benefitting 1,48,315 students. The scheme will be expanded to cover all the 30,122 schools in Tamil Nadu.”

Noting that the children studying in government schools are stunted by growth and malnutrition, PTR in his budget speech said that the chief minister launched the breakfast scheme last year to ensure that students don’t come to schools hungry, without eating breakfast. He said the students coming hungry to school may be unable to concentrate on studies.

PTR also pointed out that the scheme has helped improve attendance by 10 per cent in 624 schools, 20 per cent in 462 schools and 30 per cent in 193 schools. In Tirupattur, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Thiruvarur districts attendance of students have increased in all the schools where the breakfast scheme was implemented. The chief minister’s breakfast scheme which was introduced on a pilot basis in 1,543 elementary schools has helped in improving attendance in 1,319 schools. A state planning commission study in its report submitted to the government recently said that the scheme has proved to be successful and improved attendance in primary schools.

PTR’s budget speech also noted the increase in enrollment of female students into colleges because of the Rs.1,000 given per month for their higher education. “Compared to the year 2021-22, 29 per cent more girls have entered colleges this year, which is an addition of 20,477 girl students. The fact that the many girls who did not pursue higher education after completing their schooling have now enrolled in colleges is a testimony to the success of this scheme,” Thiaga Rajan informed the state assembly in his budget speech.

Under the Pudhumai Penn scheme, the government is giving Rs.1,000 every month to girl students from classes 6 to 12 who want to pursue higher education. “A total of 2.20 lakh girl students have benefitted through this scheme in the last one year,” PTR noted.

In yet another scheme for women's welfare, the state government has allocated Rs 30,000 crore for credit linkage to women Self Help Groups (SHGs). “In the current year, so far, women self-help groups have received bank loans of around Rs. 24,712 crore,” Thiaga Rajan noted. The government, in a mission to address the difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs, announced that it will establish an exclusive startup mission for women. “Women entrepreneurs continue to face difficulties in accessing adequate, timely credit and marketing of products. To address these challenges the Government will establish an exclusive Startup Mission for women. This mission will facilitate women entrepreneurs in all aspects of their business,” Thiaga Rajan said.

the-curious-case-of-the-sparsh-darshan-at-kashi-viswanath

Mon Mar 20 20:03:40 IST 2023

A few days ago (March 13), the local edition of a Hindi newspaper reported that the Kashi Viswanath Trust had decided to charge Rs 500 for the 'sparsh darshan' of the Shivling.

The 'sparsh darshan' enables believers to touch the Shivling and seek blessings. Others only get a glimpse of it. The crowd ensures that one cannot spend more than a few moments before the shivling.

The idea of the sparsh darshan came from Ujjain’s Mahakal Mandir. It was discussed in a meeting of the Trust on February 22. The charges were implemented on a trial basis.

Slowly anger began to build among devotees who wondered what the need was to collect such money when a special darshan, which did not require waiting in queues, already cost Rs 350.

On March 14, an FIR was filed against nine named and multiple unnamed people. The FIR said that on March 2, on the occasion of Rang Bhari Ekadashi, one Ajay Sharma received a receipt for donation and forcibly got ‘sparsh darshan’ stamped on it. He then shared the receipt with a newspaper and the news went viral. The photo on Twitter meanwhile, ‘allegedly’ drew widespread use of foul language against the administration, officers and the temple.

All the accused have been charged 153-A; 295-A, 504; 120-B of the Indian Penal Code 1860 and under Section 67 of the IT Act. It is interesting to note that one of the accused tweeted on the issue on March 15 - a day after the FIR had already been registered. It is equally interesting to note that the report has been filed under the non-cognizable report category which means that a police officer cannot investigate it till the order of a magistrate.

Interestingly, no one from the newspaper which first published the news was named in the report.

Kaushal Raj Sharma, the Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi termed the report on charging Rs 500 for the sparsh darshan as ‘fake news’. He also speculated that someone from the temple management committee might have been involved in it.

Such controversies are not new for the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir. In 2020, a dress code had been issued by the temple authorities. Such codes are in place in many South Indian temples. However, after a furore, it was withdrawn.

conversion-issue-resurfaces-burial-of-woman-leads-to-tension-in-bastar-village

Mon Mar 20 23:03:10 IST 2023

Conversion issue resurfaced yet again in tribal-dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh with two groups of villagers coming face to face over burial of a woman who had reportedly converted to Christianity, leading to tension and stone-pelting on cops.

The incident occurred in village Bhejripadar in tehsil Tokapal of Bastar district. The woman, Mate Bekko, who had passed away in the early hours of March 19, could be buried on the private land of the family in the presence of heavy police force and district administration officials only on Monday afternoon.

Earlier on Sunday, the confrontation had led to stone pelting on police and two personnel were reportedly injured.

Bastar police, while saying that the situation had returned to normal now and peace was prevailing, have warned of stringent legal action against those trying to disturb the law and order situation.

A statement from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Bastar, said that Mate Bekko, wife of Mosu Bekko had passed away on March 19 and the villagers had been objecting to the burial rites being conducted by the family in the village. When the burial was being conducted on March 20 behind the residence of the Bekko family, a group of villagers again reached the spot and started protesting.

“A situation of tension arose between the two groups, but the police force and administrative officials present on the occasion managed to counsel the people and end the disagreement. District collector and senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Bastar have visited the spot. Additional district magistrate and additional SP are present on the spot with police force. Stringent legal action will be initiated against those trying to disturb the law and order situation,” the statement said.

Tension between tribal people and those who have converted to Christianity has been flaring up repeatedly in the Maoist-affected region, even as the Assembly polls are drawing close.

At the commencement of New Year 2023, clashes between two groups were reported from village Gorra in Narayanpur district of Bastar region over allegations of conversion bids. On January 2, following a meeting organised by a social group, allegedly with right-wing leanings, groups of tribal people had attacked cops and vandalized a church in Narayanpur district headquarters. SP of Narayanpur, Sadanand Kumar and six cops had sustained head injuries during the attack. Situation had remained tense for days and political heat was raised after police arrested several people – from both sides - including a former BJP MLA in the matter.

Religious conversion of tribal people is one of the biggest issues raised by the opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh, trying to corner the Congress government. The Congress has, however, called the violent incidents as political conspiracies of the BJP.

central-agencies-raise-red-flag-over-amritpal-singhs-links-to-pak-based-lakhbir-rode

Tue Mar 21 18:16:52 IST 2023

As self-styled preacher and fugitive Amritpal Singh evades arrest by the Punjab police on the fourth consecutive day, central agencies have pressed the panic button over several close entities in his circle having a connection with the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF)—banned by the Union Home Ministry in 2018 for terror activities under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

KLF is run by Pakistan-based Lakhbir Singh Rode, the nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, whose heavy influence on Amritpal was fast becoming an eyesore for the Punjab police which launched a manhunt to nab him.

When the KLF was banned, the Home Ministry said in its notification that the outfit was engaged in killing of innocent persons, including police officers, several bombings of civilian targets, collection of funds for terror activities, bank robberies and assassination attempts on important government functionaries.

According to intelligence officials, Lakhbir's close associates played an important role in the elevation of Amritpal. One of them was learnt to be in Dubai where Amritpal spent nine years.

While Rode’s family in Punjab does not support Amritpal, it was due to the links with Pakistan-based Lakhbir that he got indoctrinated before he took over the operations of Waris Punjab De and was spotted by the Pakistan ISI to target the disgruntled youth in Punjab.

One ISI officer named Mirza is learnt to have overseen the funding activities since Amritpal came to India. Sources said hawala networks were used for funding the members of Waris Punjab De after Amritpal took over and investigations are going on to trace these financial networks after several associates of Amritpal have been arrested.

Other associates of Amritpal who are abroad were allegedly funding Waris Punjab De and some of them based in Canada and the UK also enjoy close links with the KLF fugitives, said sources.

The KLF and Rode have been on the radar of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after IED blasts hit Punjab in 2021 in the Ludhiana court complex. The NIA alleged that Rode, with the help of Pakistan-based crossborder smugglers, had formed a terror module to smuggle weapons into India. The fact that Amritpal's armed militia was carrying unlicensed weapons—12 bore double barrel guns, 0.315 bore rifles and 0.32 bore revolver—has led investigators to probe whether the KLF operatives had passed on arms and ammunition to Amritpal and his associates. For now, the chase is continuing and sources said more details of the ISI penetration into WPD activities will become clear once Amritpal is arrested and interrogated. So far, there is no direct handler who has been identified, but there are several call records that point towards the role of cross-border support and ISI's gameplan to destabilise Punjab.

Deceased actor Deep Sidhu had brought Waris Punjab De under the scanner with his tractor march by protestors leading to violence at the Red Fort in 2021, but his successor Amritpal has metamorphosed the outfit into one with alleged links to terror outfits like the KLF, Babbar Khalsa International and Sikhs for Justice—which have been organising protests at Indian missions in the UK, Australia and the US in support of Amritpal.

uncertainty-over-delhi-budget-as-centre-yet-to-respond-on-resubmission

Tue Mar 21 14:35:42 IST 2023

Delhi government has resubmitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for its clearance of the budget of the national capital territory for the financial year 2023-24 that was scheduled to be presented in the Vidhan Sabha today, after some queries were raised by the Centre over certain proposals of the budget.

There is, however, uncertainty over when the budget will be presented since the Delhi government is yet to hear from the Centre with regard to the financial document after its resubmission.

Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot told reporters that responses to the queries raised by the MHA with regard to the budget were framed and communicated to the relevant authorities yesterday evening.

The responses were approved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal around 9:00 pm last night and sent to Lt Governor V. K. Saxena immediately after. The clearance from Saxena came around 11 pm, after which the file was sent to the Delhi government's Principal Secretary, Finance.

Gahlot said the budget was resubmitted to the MHA around 9:00 am this morning through an e-mail and the physical copy has also been sent to the Centre. He, however, said that so far there is no information from the Centre with regard to the resubmitted budget.

Recounting the sequence of events that led to the unprecedented situation of the presentation of the budget getting delayed, Gahlot said the budget document was sent to the MHA on March 10, well in advance of its scheduled presentation in the Vidhan Sabha on March 21.

He said it was brought to his notice only around 2:00 pm yesterday (Monday) that the MHA had raised some queries about the budget through a letter on March 17 and not approved it.

He sought further information from the Principal Secretary, Finance and the Chief Secretary and asked the officials to put before him the queries in the proper official format so that they could be replied to.

“At six pm, the file was put up before me and we immediately formed replies to the queries,” Gahlot said.

“It is very surprising indeed that the Finance Minister gets to know about the queries which were communicated by the MHA on March 17 on March 20,” he said.

He described the development as “unconstitutional”, saying it is for the first time that an elected government has not been allowed to present the budget.

“The intention is to now allow Delhi government to work. If the budget is not presented, salaries cannot be paid and the work of the government will come to a standstill...If everything is to be done by asking the Centre, then why do we have a Delhi cabinet and an elected government?,” Gahlot said.

There is uncertainty over when the budget will be presented since the Delhi government has still not heard from the MHA. The Budget Session was scheduled to get over on March 23.

woman-patient-sexually-assaulted-in-surgical-icu-of-kerala-hospital

Mon Mar 20 18:23:36 IST 2023

Kerala Police on Monday arrested a 55-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman patient at Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode. The accused has been identified as Saseendran, a Grade II attendant.

The woman, who had undergone a surgery at the hospital, claimed in her complaint that she was sexually assaulted by the accused at the post operative facility on Saturday.

"The woman was in a semi-conscious state. Around that time, another patient was in critical condition and all the staff had moved to attend that patient. The woman was shifted from the operation theatre to the Surgical ICU by this attendant. She knew about the assault but was not able to react in a semi-conscious manner," the complaint said.

She narrated her ordeal to her husband once she regained consciousness, after which the family approached the Medical College Police.

Police said Saseendran has been charged under various sections of the IPC, including 376 (Rape) and 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). He has also been suspended from the service.

State Health Minister Veena George had ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the Director of Medical Education.

interpol-drops-red-notice-against-mehul-choksi-what-does-this-mean

Tue Mar 21 13:02:47 IST 2023

In a setback to the government's efforts to bring back fugitive Mehul Choksi from Antigua to face trial in the multi-crore PNB scam case, the Interpol has removed the Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him. This means that Choksi will be free to travel outside Antigua without fearing arrest or questioning.

The last time Choksi found himself on the verge of being extradited or deported to India was when he was found in Dominica on May 25, 2021—allegedly battered and bruised after a rough boat ride from Antigua and Barbuda. The fugitive diamantaire from the Carribean is still reeling from the experience. But the Interpol decision has given a shot in the arm to Choksi who is likely to use this to counter the claims of the CBI and ED who are demanding his speedy extradition from Antigua.

A spokesperson for Choksi said that the decision of the Interpol to strike his name off the RCN, buttresses his claim that he was kidnapped and was being forcefully taken to India, allegedly violating the international norms and protection given to him as an Antiguan citizen.

“The report from the Antiguan police, and the evidence adduced by Choksi in the ongoing High Court proceedings in Antigua, point to an alarming case of state orchestrated kidnap, torture and attempted rendition by the Indian government,” said Choksi’s spokesperson.

“The decision of Interpol to delete the Red Notice strengthens these concerns,” the spokesperson said. He further said that the preliminary ruling of the High Court in Antigua demonstrates that there is a case to answer for a full investigation. In turn, Choksi has presented a compelling case that the Indian government is behind the orchestrated kidnap from Antiguan territory, his torture and the attempt to render him to India in breach of the international rule of law,” he said.

The Interpol has made it clear that it does not issue RCNs unless there is substantial evidence and does not include persecution by the state on any religious or political lines.

Choksi is one of the main accused in the multi-crore PNB scam case in which his nephew Nirav Modi is in jail in London where he faces the possibility of extradition soon after he has exhausted his legal options to claim asylum in the UK.

aap-vs-centre-delhi-budget-on-hold-kejriwal-calls-it-hooliganism

Tue Mar 21 10:21:29 IST 2023

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him "not to stop the Delhi Budget." This comes as the presentation of the Delhi government's budget for 2023-24, planned for Tuesday, was put on hold.

"It is the first time in the country's 75-year history that a state budget has been stopped. Why are you upset with the people of Delhi," CM Kejriwal wrote in his letter to PM Modi.

Kejriwal had blamed the Ministry of Home Affairs for stopping the government's budget. In a clip shared by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on their Twitter account, Kejriwal, while speaking at News 18 programme on Monday, said the Centre was resorting to "hooliganism".

"This is the first time in the history of India... The budget of Delhi was to come tomorrow morning, but the Central government has put a stop to our budget. Delhi's budget will not come tomorrow morning," he told News 18 India during an interview. "From today, the employees of Delhi government, doctors and teachers will not get their salary... This is out-and-out hooliganism," he had added.

However, the Union Home Ministry has said that the Delhi government is yet to reply to the concerns raised by L-G VK Saxena regarding certain allocations.

According to the ministry, the budget proposal had high allocation for advertisement and relatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives. "The Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, had raised certain concerns of administrative nature on the proposed Budget, keeping in view the fiscal interest of the National Capital Territory on which MHA vide its letter dated 17.03.2023 has requested GNCTD to resubmit the Budget addressing these concerns for taking further action. The reply from GNCTD is awaited for last four days. For the benefit of the people of Delhi, the GNCTD should submit reply immediately."

However, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot denied the Home Ministry's charges as lies. "The total budget size was Rs 78,800 crore, out of which 22,000 crore was earmarked for expenditure on infrastructure and just Rs 550 crore on advertisements," he said. "The allocation for advertisement was the same as in last year's budget."

He added that the MHA expressed some concerns on Delhi government's budget and refused to give it approval through a letter sent to the Chief Secretary on 17 March. "For mysterious reasons, the Chief Secretary of Delhi kept the letter hidden for 3 days," he added.

"I learned about the letter only at 2 pm today... The file with MHA's letter was put up to me officially only at 6 pm today i.e. just the day before the budget was to be presented in Delhi Assembly. Subsequently, we have responded to MHA's concerns and submitted the file back to Delhi's LG, after CM's approval, at 9pm today. The role of the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary of Delhi in delaying Delhi's budget ought to be investigated," he said.

According to sources in the lieutenant governor's office, LG V K Saxena approved the Annual Financial Statement for 2023-2024, with certain observations on March 9, and sent the file to the chief minister.

The Government of Delhi, thereafter, sought the approval of the President as mandated by law by sending a letter to the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry conveyed its observations to the Delhi government on March 17. The LG office is awaiting for the file to be sent to it from the chief minister.

According to LG office sources, Saxena flagged that "as against proposed Budget size of Rs 78,800 crore, the expenditure on Capital components is indicated at Rs 21,816 crore, which is only 27.68%.... Further, this also includes Rs 5,586.92 crore on account of loan repayment, which, if excluded will further reduce the Capital component to Rs 16,230 crore which is only 20% of the budget."

"Since Delhi is the country's capital and also a large metropolis in which need for creation and improvements of infrastructure is extremely important, the allocation for Capital projects does not appear to be sufficient," the LG said.

"It is noted that expenditure incurred by the Directorate of Information & Publicity as per the Revised Estimate 2022-23 is Rs 272.21 crore against the Budget Estimate of Rs 511.64 crore. However, the allocation for the Budget Estimate 2023-24 is Rs. 557.24 crore, which seems incomprehensible and unjustifiable," he further said.

He claimed that the entire potential under various central schemes has not been fully utilised by Delhi. "A case in example, the flagship scheme of Ayushman Bharat', has not yet been adopted by Delhi due to which CSS funds under health sector are not made available. The Union Territory needs to obtain all possible funds under Central Schemes to augment its resources and also to meet national goals," he said.

However, there is no word yet on when the budget will be presented.

mumbai-coastal-road-work-resumes-after-months-here-are-the-details

Tue Mar 21 12:36:10 IST 2023

After a brief break of three months, the work on the 10.6-km Mumbai Coastal Road resumed this week, following which the authorities issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday.

The project, which connects the iconic Marine Drive in the south to Kandivili in the north, comprises an eight-lane road and twin tunnels. Though the work was set to finish by November this year, it got delayed reportedly due to protests by fisherfolk from Worli Koliwada and the damage sustained to the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).

The TBM used for the project is the biggest so far to be ever used in any project and the replacement for the damaged part had to come from Italy. The work resumed last week after the TBM's spare part arrived.

According to the officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 72 per cent of the work has been completed. The remaining 28 per cent would be finished by next May, reported The Times Of India.

Of the two tunnels, that connect Girgaon Chowpatty with Priyadarshini Park in Malabar Hill, the work on the first was completed in January 2022. The boring work for the second tunnel began from Girgaon in March 2022 but had to be halted after the machine broke down. "The boring work for the second tunnel began from Girgaon in March 2022 but each day only a few metres is being done so there are no hiccups again," a BMC official told The Times Of India.

Traffic restrictions

Now that the work has resumed in full swing, a traffic advisory has been issued by the Mumbai Traffic Police, instructing motorists on the use of the NS Road. The circular added that SWD work will be carried out on the Southbound carriageway of Marine Drive (between Taraporewala Aquarium and Islam Gymkhana) for the next five months.

Hence, all vehicle users have been asked to use N.S. road (Marine Drive) southbound only if required. The existing southbound traffic on the NS Road will be routed through the service road running parallel to the gymkhanas.

The advisory has also instructed motorists intending to travel to South Mumbai (Colaba, Cuffe parade, Churchigate Nariman Point) to use Maharassicarve road.

The route shall be:

*Kemps Corner, Nana Chowk, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction, Godrej Junction, and further move ahead to their desired destination.

* Peddar Road, RTI Junction, Cecil Junction, Sukh Sagar Junction, take a left turn, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction and further move ahead to their desired destination.

*Walkeshwar, Bandstand, Wilson College, Chowpatty, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction, and further move ahead to their desired destination.

exclusive-how-cag-is-taking-on-a-more-proactive-role

Tue Mar 21 11:19:12 IST 2023

The iconic 1990 chart-busting rock classic ‘Winds of Change’ by the Scorpions may have been all about the defining fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. If one listens carefully though, the song could well be reverberating off the high pale earth-coloured boundary walls of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India located in the national capital.

That the BJP’s new swanky national headquarters at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg is just across the road may well be a metaphor for the new effort to change the nature of relationship between the national auditor and the political executive—from antagonism to one of cooperative affability.

Historically maintaining a low profile, constitutional bodies like the Election Commission (EC) and the CAG, have often demonstrated the range and intensity of powers they wield. After all, it took just one T.N. Seshan from EC and one Vinod Rai from CAG to show the country how seriously they should be taken because of their constitutionally-vested mandate.

In the not-so-distant past, CAG’s probing audit was looked upon by the government ministries, departments and state governments as a fault-finding exercise hell-bent on chastising the entities audited.

Nor did the CAG connect with the political executive as the entire gamut of work relating to furnishing of data and detailing explanations lay with the bureaucrats. And that is what may be changing soon with a new outreach plan by the CAG.

CAG Girish Chandra Murmu, told THE WEEK in an exclusive chat: “Earlier our engagement was primarily with the bureaucrats, but of late, we have extended our outreach to political executives. In a few instances, it has also been due to the invitation from the political executive who wanted audit inputs on various financial and governance issues pertaining to their domain or sector.”

Among the entities requesting proactive engagement with the CAG include Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Union Rail Ministry.

The national auditor elaborates: “In states, our Accountant Generals have always been closely interacting with state officials for all audit engagements but now we have further strengthened our engagement efforts not only through various innovative products such as ‘departmental appreciation notes’ and ‘management letters’ but also by increasing level of interaction and touch points.”

On the response received, he says: “Wherever we have engaged with political executives, they have been very responsive. These engagements have helped in creating shared understanding of the most pressing concerns, nuances of the challenges faced and possible solutions which would help in furthering the shared goal of good governance.”

The prompt for a change to the exercise of wider powers by the CAG may have first germinated in a landmark Supreme Court verdict on October 12, 2012 which ruled that the CAG is not there just to keep and maintain accounts.

The apex court had then said: “The CAG is not a ‘munim’ (keeper of accounts). He is a constitutional authority who can examine the revenue allocation and matters relating to the economy.”

The case pertained to a plea challenging the CAG’s power to conduct a performance audit of the controversial allocation of coal blocks by the Congress-led UPA government.

A constitutional authority, CAG audits the Union ministries, departments and offices, state government departments and offices, government-owned companies and corporations, autonomous bodies substantially financed by government and other bodies/authorities whose audit is entrusted to CAG.

And then again, on November 16, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the first-ever Audit Diwas (Audit Day), had said that the ‘CAG vs Government’ had to change: “I used to tell my officers when I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and I continue to say even today that you must give all the documents and data that are asked by the CAG. Give them other files related to your work as well. This creates scope for us to do better work. Our self-assessment work becomes easy.”

Change of role

Another sphere where the CAG is moving away from the traditional role and adopting a pro-active role is in trying to bring about mid-course corrections and suggesting ways and means to achieve economy and efficiency even during the course of the audit process.

In the past, the CAG’s role was limited to reading of accounts while maintaining total distance from policy design and execution.

An imperative need was felt to change that approach also because SAIs are in a unique position to give near real time feedback to governments and policymakers for not only mid-course correction but also changes in approach, where required.

“As it (audit) is a contemporary exercise, which goes on during the implementation of the policy, the audit observations and constructive recommendations not only helps in mid-course corrective action to improve policy implementation but also in improving the policy design. This is very significant as through these audits, we are able to be an aid to good governance and protect public interest,” the CAG said.

“As you know that apart from compliance and financial audits, we also do performance audits, the main objective of which is to constructively promote economical, effective and efficient governance. Though we do not question the policy but we audit its implementation to see how policy has translated into practice. This includes audit of the scheme, program and delivery design and the governance mechanism put in place to implement the policy.”

Improving efficiency of LSGDs

Another area witnessing CAG’s proactive initiative is in the effort to improve effectiveness and efficiency of local self-government bodies be it the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) or the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Says Murmu: “Greater resources by way of a higher number of audit personnel have been allocated for the audit of local bodies and some restructuring in the state Accountant General offices has also been carried out to enhance audit coverage, keeping in view their rising importance in the scheme of governance.”

“The emphasis is on capacity building through training and regular interactions by the state AG Offices on various facets of auditing and reporting.”

“District-centric approach with a primary focus on the implementation of activities under the functions devolved to the PRIs and ULBs. The focus is to assess how effectively the LBs have been able to provide the designated services to the target beneficiaries and citizens with the funds and powers devolved to it,” the national auditor added.

With India assuming presidency of both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and of G20, this year is a particularly important year for CAG with a number of meetings being held with the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of all the participating countries with the two focus areas being ‘Blue Economy’ and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Blue Economy

‘Blue Economy’ looks at conserving marine and freshwater environments while promoting their sustainable use, producing food and energy, supporting livelihoods, and acting as a driver for economic advancement and welfare.

With a 7,517 km long coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million square km, India has about 199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year with the coastal economy sustaining over 4 million fishermen and other coastal communities.

The primary challenge to auditing the complex and variegated ‘Blue Economy’ sub sectors like marine fisheries, coastal eco-system, aquaculture, coastal and marine tourism, bio-technology from marine resources, and extraction of sea-bed mineral resources, lies in integrating them into a single auditing framework.

Privacy concerns on AI

Asked about the addressing of serious privacy concerns on AI and its applications in the case of of audit processes, the CAG says: “India is well aware of the privacy concerns of AI and its applications. Though AI is an amazing performance enhancing tool, the concerns regarding bias and privacy, transparency and accountability are real and important. That’s why we are having this engagement regarding responsible AI in SAI20.”

“We in SAI India have some experience in applying AI tools in some of our audit products. We are seriously engaging with the major players in AI, both in the government and private sector in order to have a deep understanding of the privacy issues and to develop frameworks and control regarding application of AI in audit process as well as auditing AI applications.”

Aiding these changes is a total automation of the audit process and knowledge management system under a project called One IAAD One System (OIOS) Project that is expected to be launched in less than a month.

The OIOS will connect CAG’s 138 field offices with the headquarters in New Delhi. Of the total 45,000 staff in CAG, about 29,000 are in the field audit offices.

rahuls-unity-mantra-to-karnataka-congress-leaders

Mon Mar 20 16:59:43 IST 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday called on party leaders in the state to fight the BJP with unity, as he exuded confidence of "sweeping" the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly polls with absolute majority.

He also announced unemployment allowance for the youth, as the party's fourth poll guarantee, on coming to power.

The Congress has already announced three poll guarantees' 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya).

Addressing a public rally at Belagavi in northern Karnataka, Gandhi hit out at the BJP-led Central government, saying "this country belongs to everyone, does not belong to two to three selected, it is not Adani's".

"Select people, who are BJP's friends, are getting all the benefits. It is leading to corruption," the Wayanad MP alleged.

Gandhi and AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from the state, said an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month would be given for graduates and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders for two years in the event of the party gaining power in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.

Gandhi attacked the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka, dubbing it as the "most corrupt government". "It is a 40 per cent commission government," he claimed.

The Congress, on coming to power, will fill up all the government job vacancies in Karnataka, he asserted.

Exuding confidence in the party winning the Assembly election, Gandhi said: "All Congress leaders will fight the Karnataka Assembly election united, Congress will sweep this election."

manhunt-enters-day-4-amritpal-singh-still-absconding-as-nsa-slapped-on-aides

Tue Mar 21 11:14:32 IST 2023

As the manhunt for Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh enters the fourth day, all four aides of the radical preacher have been moved to the central jail in Assam's Dibrugarh. This comes as the Punjab police invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against Amritpal's aides, including his uncle Harjit Singh.

The NSA allows the police to detain suspects in any prison across the country. Police said Harjit Singh helped his nephew gain control over the accounts of Waris Punjab De.

Besides Harjit Singh, Daljit Singh Kalsi, Bhagwant Singh, Gurmeet Singh and 'Pradhanmantri' Bajeka have also been moved to Assam.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters on Monday that specialised units are involved in the efforts to nab the preacher. Upon his arrest, Amritpal too will be detained under the NSA. "It can be invoked against him once he is arrested, and the rest of the facts will be made clear to you," he said.

He added there is a strong suspicion of an ISI angle and foreign funding against those arrested in this case, and further investigations are underway.

Plea in Punjab, Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the State Government and its police force to reply to the habeas corpus petition seeking to produce Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal Singh, on Tuesday.

To the order from Justice NS Shekhawat, IG Gill said the police will present the facts before the court. "The preacher is still not in the custody of the police, he said. What we have done in this case is as per the law," he added.

ISI behind UK, US protests

There are official reports that hint that the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI is now instigating overseas Khalistan supporters to organise protests and demonstrations abroad including in London, San Francisco and Canberra in support of Amritpal Singh.

A report by PTI quoting unnamed officials said the overseas protests were the desperate attempt by the ISI to build followership of Amritpal who has been hiding from the Punjab Police for the last three days. All these acts by the pro-Khalistan elements were orchestrated by ISI agents operating in different countries, the officials said.

Last week, the Honorary Consulate of India in Australia's Brisbane city was forced to close down due to safety concerns after Khalistan supporters organised an unauthorised gathering and blocked entry to the office. Several Hindu temples in Melbourne were also vandalised by Khalistan supporters in recent months.

Canada has also seen a rise in anti-India activities recently by Khalistani supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples.

pakistan-isi-instigating-protests-in-support-of-amritpal-singh-officials

Mon Mar 20 22:39:24 IST 2023

Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, which has been the brain behind growth of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, has now instigated overseas Khalistan supporters to organise protests and demonstrations abroad including London, San Francisco and Canberra in his support, officials said on Monday.

They said the overseas protests were the desperate attempt by the ISI to build followership of Amritpal who has been hiding from the Punjab Police for the last three days.

While pro-Khalistan supporters vandalised the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, there were sporadic protests in Australia.

All theses acts by the pro-Khalistan elements were orchestrated by ISI agents operating in different countries, the officials said.

Citing recent incidents in different parts of the world, they said there has been a design by ISI agents to organise protests, vandalism of places of Indian interests through Khalistani elements exploiting their religious sentiments.

Last week, the Honorary Consulate of India in Australia's Brisbane city was forced to close down due to safety concerns after Khalistan supporters organised an unauthorised gathering and blocked the entry of the office, days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured India that his government will not tolerate "extreme actions".

Several Hindu temples in Melbourne were also vandalised by Khalistan supporters in recent months.

Canada has also seen a rise in anti-India activities recently by Khalistani supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples.

Last September, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the rise of hate crimes against Indians and anti-India activities in Canada, expressing concern with stern language.

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has also blamed Pakistan's spy agency ISI for instigating and funding Sikh radicalisation with false propaganda.

The Punjab Police on Saturday carried out a massive crackdown on Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal and members of his group 'Waris Punjab De' following which the radical preacher has been on run.

Amritpal was last year anointed head of 'Waris Punjab De', which was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who died in a road accident in February 2022. The event was held at Moga's Rode, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

japan-pm-fumio-kishida-to-visit-ukraine-hold-talks-with-zelenskyy

Tue Mar 21 10:14:59 IST 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is heading to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. His visit comes after he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

Reportedly Kishida is riding a train from Poland to Kyiv.

Kishida, who is to chair the G7 summit in May, is the only G7 leader who hasn't visited Ukraine yet.

Japan has taken the stand with other G7 nations in sanctioning Russia and supporting Ukraine over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida is expected to offer continuing support for Ukraine when he meets with Zelenskyy. During the joint press interaction in India, Kishida said that the position of Japan has not softened relating to their stand against Russia.

“Russia’s invasion … shakes the very foundations of the international order and must be dealt with firmly,” he said. “I reiterate that Japan strongly condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and will never recognize it.”

During his meeting with PM Modi, Japanese PM expounded on his vision for Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP).

"I believe India and Japan are in an extremely unique position in the current International relations and further in the history of the world. India is the largest democracy in the world. I have always viewed with great respect the way such a huge and diverse country as India has developed a democracy,” he said.

Japan would also generate 75 billion dollars through public and private funds to work in the Indo-Pacific and with other countries, he added.

“Japan will expand cooperation for FOIP. Russia's aggression against Ukraine obliges us to face the most fundamental challenge defending peace," Kishida had said.

india-lodges-strong-protest-with-us-after-attack-on-consulate-in

Mon Mar 20 22:09:07 IST 2023

India on Monday lodged its strong protest with the United States after a group of Khalistan supporters attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco over the Punjab Police's crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh. The US government was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“In a meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi, India conveyed its strong protest at the vandalisation of the property of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco,” the MEA said.

“The US government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation,” it said.

The statement added that the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. Has also conveyed the country's concerns to the US State Department.

The incident reportedly took place on Sunday when the protesters, raising pro-Khalistan slogans, broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

Soon thereafter, a group of angry protesters entered the consulate premises and started hitting the door and windows with the iron rods.

In a similar incident in London on the same day, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission was grabbed at by the protesters waving separatist Khalistan flags and chanting pro-Khalistan slogans.

Following the incident, India on Sunday night summoned the senior-most British diplomat in Delhi and demanded an explanation over complete "absence of security" at the mission. The Scotland Yard has detained one person in connection with vandalism.

Earlier in Canberra, Khalistan supporters had gathered outside the Australian parliament to protest against police crackdown on Amritpal and his associates in Punjab.

Still on the run

Amritapal, the chief of 'Waris Punjab De' group, evaded arrest for the third day, too, even as the Punjab Police intensified its operation and extended the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in the state till Tuesday noon. Amritpal's uncle Harjit Singh and driver Harpreet Singh gave themselves up before the cops past Sunday midnight.

Police on Monday flagged a possible ISI angle as it invoked the stringent National Security Act against five men linked to radical preacher. Harjit Singh, who officials say helped his nephew gain control over the accounts of Waris Punjab De, is among the five slapped with the NSA, which allows the preventive detention of anyone who could threaten national security or public order.

So far, six FIRs have been registered, 114 people arrested, and ten weapons and 430 cartridges recovered in the action against Waris Punjab De, police said.

delhi-liquor-policy-case-manish-sisodias-judicial-custody-extended-till-april-3

Mon Mar 20 15:45:07 IST 2023

Delhi Rouse Avenue Court extended judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia till April 3 in the CBI case on Monday.

CBI had sought extension of the judicial custody by 14 days saying the investigation is pending. Special judge M.K. Nagpal extended Sisodia's judicial custody. The bail petition in the matter is set to heard on Tuesday.

Sisodia was presented before the Court virtually since he is on Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand till March 22. Delhi court on Friday extended the ED custody by five days.

While extending the custody, Court directed that the interrogation during the remand period should be conducted in places having CCTV coverage.

Earlier while seeking the custody extension last week, the ED had claimed before the Delhi court that the AAP leader Sisodia was involved in "large-scale destruction of digital evidence to impede investigation" into the Delhi excise policy case. He had destroyed 14 phones, ED said in its application.

The agency said that the major recommendations that ultimately formed the basis for the Excise Policy 2021-22, were not decided in the group of ministers meetings and instead "imported from external sources".

ED had arrested Sisodia on March 9 in the Tihar Jail. Earlier CBI had arrested him on February 26 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

The agency alleged that Sisodia had withheld information which is in his "exclusive knowledge" and "extremely relevant to the investigation".

During the one year period of the liquor case, Sisodia destroyed around 14 phones or IMEIs of which only one phone was recovered by the CBI, it added.

ED alleged that the "pro-active destruction of evidence" led to the sole inference that Sisodia made "conscious efforts to destroy evidence of the offence of money laundering."

(With PTI inputs)

india-indispensable-in-ensuring-free-and-open-indo-pacific-says-japan-pm

Mon Mar 20 20:23:30 IST 2023

The gift—a sandalwood Buddha—was apt. Especially, as India and Japan chose to focus on shared values during the 27 hour trip of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The two countries reiterated that they were on the same page on the free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The signal is clear to China, that this is a band that sings in chorus.

“Strengthening this partnership is not only important for both our countries, it also promotes peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,’’ said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the joint press interaction.

The Japanese Prime Minister for his part expounded on his vision for Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP). The birth of the FOIP had taken place in Delhi in 2016 when the then Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe spoke about it.

“India is an indispensable partner,’’ Kishida said as he delivered the 41st Sapru House lecture.

“I believe India and Japan are in an extremely unique position in the current International relations and further in the history of the world. India is the largest democracy in the world. I have always viewed with great respect the way such a huge and diverse country as India has developed a democracy,” he said.

Over a decade later, the concept has become stronger, especially with the rise of China’s assertiveness. Japan has now chosen to increase spending on defence.

"In the International community, a big balance of power change is occurring, shifting dramatically. The International community has entered an era in which cooperation and division are intricately intertwined," Kishida said.

Japan would also generate 75 billion dollars through public and private funds to work in the Indo-Pacific and with other countries, he added.

There were discussions on Ukraine. However the conflict did not come up as a point of difference as it did last year. Ukraine did not come up at the joint news conference of both prime ministers unlike last year where Kishida chose to raise it. “Russia’s invasion … shakes the very foundations of the international order and must be dealt with firmly,’’ he had said. It was clear that Japan had hoped to get India to take a stronger line. The position of Japan has not softened.

It may not have been raised—to emphasize the different positions between the two leaders—but Kishida chose to speak his mind at the ICWA speech. “Japan will expand cooperation for FOIP. Russia's aggression against Ukraine obliges us to face the most fundamental challenge defending peace," Kishida said. He added later, “I reiterate that Japan strongly condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and will never recognize it.”

On the agenda—apart from inking agreement on languages and the bullet train—was also “the importance of reliable supply chains in semiconductor and other critical technologies”.

“Last year, we had set a target of Japanese investment of 5 trillion yen in India in the next five years, that is, three lakh twenty thousand crore rupees. It is a matter of satisfaction that there has been good progress in this direction,’’ said Prime Minister Modi.

mha-recommends-cbi-inquiry-against-harsh-manders-ngo-for-fcra-violation

Mon Mar 20 20:22:14 IST 2023

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recommended a CBI inquiry against Aman Biradari, an NGO established by writer and human rights activist Harsh Mander, for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, officials said on Monday.

Mander, who was a member of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council during the erstwhile UPA government, founded Aman Biradari -- "a people's campaign for a secular, peaceful, just and humane world".

Official said a CBI inquiry has been recommended against Aman Biradari for violation of various provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

All NGOs receiving foreign funding have to mandatorily register with the Home Ministry under the FCRA.

According to Mander's website (https://harshmander.in), he is the "founder of Aman Biradari, a people's campaign for a secular, peaceful, just and humane world, established after the Gujarat communal carnage of 2002".

"Aman Biradari works closely with other people's organisations and groups for the defence of secularism; for public compassion; and for promoting the values of the constitution," it states.

In October 2022, the MHA had cancelled the FCRA registration of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) -- two NGOs headed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi -- for alleged violation of laws.

Officials said that between 2018 and 2022, the FCRA registration of 1,827 associations were cancelled due to violation of its provisions and rules.

As on March 10, 2023, there were 16,383 FCRA-registered organisations.

A total amount of Rs 55,449 crore in foreign funding has been received by Indian NGOs in the last three years, the Rajya Sabha was informed last week.

An amount of Rs 16,306.04 crore was received by NGOs across the country in 2019-20, Rs 17,058.64 crore in 2020-21, and Rs 22,085.10 crore in 2021-22.

madhya-pradesh-prelim-survey-shows-rain-hailstorm-damaged-crops-of-55k-farmers

Mon Mar 20 19:44:26 IST 2023

Crops on about 45,000 hectare area have been damaged due to unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm that lashed various parts of Madhya Pradesh in two phases from March 6 to 9 and March 17 to 19 impacting about 55,000 farmers, a preliminary survey conducted by the state government has shown. Also, 22 persons died in lightning strikes in 12 districts between March 17 and 19.

A government note said that according to preliminary information, crops in about 38,000 hectares were damaged due to the rain and hailstorm between March 17 and 19 in 520 villages in 51 tehsils of 20 districts. This has impacted 33,758 farmers.

Principal Secretary of revenue department, Manish Rastogi confirmed these figures to THE WEEK and added that the survey indicated that crops were damaged in another about 11,000 hectare area in four districts between March 6 and 9, impacting around 16,000 farmers.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a review meeting at his residential office on Monday and directed that the survey should be completed in a week and relief distribution start immediately thereafter.

The CM said that joint teams of revenue, agriculture and panchayat departments should conduct the survey with utmost sincerity and transparency and the lists of affected people should be put up at panchayat offices for any objections. Chouhan also said that all efforts should be made for providing relief under revenue book code (RBC) norms and through claims of crop insurance.

He also said that compensation for deaths of cattle and other domesticated animals (goats, chickens) was hiked recently and the farmers should get benefit of this, too.

The opposition Congress has, however, attacked the government over delay in relief distribution. Former chief minister Kamal Nath said that not a single farmer had received relief and the government is just talking about conducting surveys for the past fortnight.

CM Chouhan had directed on March 9 (following the first phase of damages) that the survey should be completed in a week and relief distribution started in 10 days. However, this has not happened even as the second phase of inclement weather wreaked havoc in the state.

Nath first tweeted on the issue on the Monday, expressing apprehension that the strike called by revenue department field officials (tehsildars and their deputies) will have a grave impact on the crop/other damage surveys and questioned the government and the CM for “failing” to prevent the strike at a crucial time, although it was pre-declared. Calling the impending administrative chaos “a serious crime on the part of CM”, Nath asked Chouhan to get the strike called off by fulfilling the “justified demands” of the officials.

Later in the day, Nath shot a letter to the chief minister saying that if surveys cannot be completed and relief not distributed even after 15 days (of the first phase of rain and hailstorm), then the RBC provisions were meaningless. He also said that the farmers were facing multiple issues due to insensitivity of the government and demanded that the recovery of electricity bills’ dues and farm loan installments be immediately stopped considering the crisis that the farmers are facing.

The two phases of unseasonal rain, accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm, have caused extensive damage across many areas of the state especially in Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Chambal, Ujjain, Sagar, Indore, Gwalior and Rewa divisions. The inclement weather is expected to continue in several parts on Monday night, too, but a relief is expected from Tuesday onwards.