Top Trending Politics News & Highlights
Pawan Singh of the BJP Discusses Running for the Lok Sabha
Pawan Singh, an actor and singer from Bhojpur, stated on Monday that "time would tell" if he decided to run in the next Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to the media following his meeting with BJP president JP Nadda, Singh—who had been scheduled to run as the BJP candidate from Asansol in West Bengal but declared he would not after receiving negative feedback on his candidacy—avoided discussing the reasons behind his decision. "I spoke with the president of the party. After meeting with Nadda, Singh told the media, "Whatever happens in the future will be good." "That only time would tell," he responded when asked if he would run in the upcoming elections. I'll let you know if something occurs. Put it on hold for the time being "... On the other hand, Singh declined to respond to inquiries regarding the reasons behind his choice.Singh withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha election contest on Sunday from the West Bengal seat of Asansol, one day after the BJP announced him as its candidate from the seat currently held by Shatrughan Sinha of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).Singh thanked the BJP leadership in a post on X, but he also stated that he would not be able to run from Asansol "due to some reason," without providing an explanation.
Published 04 Mar 2024 05:25 PM
In Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee meets with PM Modi
"Following protocol, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described her interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan on Friday night as a courtesy meeting. According to Banerjee, she also discussed with the PM the matter of the state's unpaid bills. ""In addition to chatting with the prime minister, I brought up state-related issues with him,"" Banerjee told reporters following the meeting.Beginning on Friday, PM Modi will spend the night at Raj Bhavan while on a two-day tour of West Bengal. The prime minister arrived at the governor's house shortly after Banerjee's convoy pulled in. Governor C V Ananda Bose took to X and said he met the PM at the Raj Bhavan. Earlier in the day, Bose had also attended the prime minister's official program at Arambagh, where Modi dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the groundwork for several development projects totaling more than ₹ 7,200 crore.Banerjee met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi in December of last year to demand the release of the state's outstanding debt. The TMC claimed that West Bengal owed the Center ₹ 1.18 lakh crore. According to the Union government, two tranches of tax devolution were released to all states on Thursday. West Bengal received ₹ 10,692 crore, which is the fourth-highest amount after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, the state government started paying over 30 lakh MGNREGA workers their outstanding debt of ₹ 2,700 crore, which had been unpaid since March 2022."
Published 01 Mar 2024 09:04 PM
Congress To Defend 18 Seats in Maharashtra Opposition Seat Deal
According to sources who spoke with NDTV on Friday morning, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra has decided on a seat-sharing agreement for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In 48 hours, there'll probably be an official announcement. Sources claim that 20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be contested by the Shiv Sena faction, which is led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The Nationalist Congress Party unit under Sharad Pawar will field candidates for the remaining 10 seats, with the Congress contesting 18 of them. The Sena (UBT) will give two seats to regional parties like Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, and Mr. Pawar's share will give a ticket to an independent candidate named Raju Shetty.Additionally, according to sources, the Sena (UBT) will run for four of Mumbai's six Lok Sabha seats; the VBA may receive one of them, potentially the Mumbai North East seat. The MVA's seat-sharing agreement is a significant step forward for the opposition bloc in India, which is attempting to finalize agreements as soon as possible because the election is scheduled for a few weeks from now. State parties have consistently pushed the national outfit to secure a larger share of seats, making it difficult for the Congress-led group—which was founded in June of last year with the specific goal of unseating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party—to reach agreements.Its task has been made even more difficult by the Congress's miserable electoral record over the past ten years, particularly in 2014 and 2019, when it won a combined total of fewer than 100 seats. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has been riding the alliance to an almost impossible level. After the Congress persisted in negotiating Mamata Banerjee's "final" offer of two seats—the same (and only) two it had won the previous time—the Trinamool Congress in Bengal even ended all negotiations with the party.
Published 01 Mar 2024 10:24 AM
The Himachal Crisis and Congress: Navjot Sidhus War Cry
Navjot Sidhu's War Cry During Congress' Himachal Crisis: "Purge The Party" After launching a fierce attack this morning on six party lawmakers who crossed-vote in Tuesday's Rajya Sabha election, which the party should have easily won, Navjot Singh Sidhu, the leader of the Congress in Punjab, appeared to be siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party. A political crisis in the hill state, where the Congress won less than two years ago, has been brought on by the shocking Rajya Sabha loss. The BJP is now demanding that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's weakened government demonstrate its strength in the 68-member House.Next, Mr. Sidhu attacked "masqueraders" who were "secretly dancing to the tunes of agencies like CBI, ED" and said that leaders in the Congress should be removed for "prioritizing personal gain over the collective good." "'Masqueraders' (for) plum posts, covertly dancing to the tunes of agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and Income Tax Department, have spelt doomsday for us many-a-times!" said he.
Published 28 Feb 2024 05:25 PM
Politics
Politics is one of the most discussed topic in every corner of the globe and almost every citizen wants to know what is happening in domestic politics as well as the world politics which is now a days dominated by USA followed by India and China politics.
Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey
I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.
The biggest shake-up in Congress history
"The Congress announced significant organizational changes on Saturday in advance of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including the removal of Priyanka Gandhi as the party's leader in Uttar Pradesh.The ancient party has named Ramesh Chennithala as its Maharashtra in-charge and Sachin Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, as the leader of the Chhattisgarh Congress.With no designated job, Priyanka Gandhi will continue to serve as the party's general secretary, the Congress stated in a statement.The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, presided over a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, two days prior to the appointments. Senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, were present. Senior leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, K C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, and Jairam Ramesh continue to serve as general secretaries, with responsibility for Gujarat, Karnataka, communication, and organization, respectively. According to the statement, Deepak Babaria is in charge of Delhi and Haryana, while Jitendra Singh, the general secretary in charge of Assam, was assigned the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh."
Congress rearranges the leadership group, giving Sachin Pilot a major role
"With the Lok Sabha elections quickly approaching, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge completed the much-needed reorganization of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretariat on Saturday. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was relieved of her duties as general secretary for the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, and Sachin Pilot was named general secretary for the state of Chhattisgarh. These nominations followed the party's appointment of a manifesto committee, chaired by former Union Minister P Chidambaram, to formulate the party's platform and issues for the Lok Sabha election campaign. Several leaders of the party urged the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to act quickly and begin organizing for the general elections on Thursday. As general secretary, Priyanka will remain so ""without any assigned portfolio."" There are rumors that she might receive a significant position within the company. The AICC general secretary Pilot's promotion and Ashok Gehlot's appointment to the national alliance committee earlier this week suggest that the Congress may consider a different candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition position. granted that Pilot has been granted a function outside of the state and that Ashok Gehlot was included in a national alliance group earlier this week, Congress may be considering a new candidate for Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition."
Avinash Pande is who? The new UP chief for the Congress, who took over for Priyanka Gandhi
"In the party's reorganization ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Avinash Pande took over as the Congress General Secretary overseeing Uttar Pradesh, replacing Priyanka Gandhi. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party named senior leader Avinash Pande as the General Secretary responsible for Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Pande responded to the appointment by writing on X, ""I swear, Smt. Priyanka ji, to uphold your legacy."" I shall fully utilize the authority bestowed upon me as the General Secretary in charge as well as the task that has been assigned to me."
"Those who receive a summons from Lord Ram...”: BJP as CPM's Yechury turns down an invitation to Ayodhya
"Following the CPI(M)'s confirmation on Tuesday that it will not be attending the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, a furor broke out. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi stated, ""Invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come,"" in an interview with news agency ANI.I received the invitation from Nripendra Mishra ji and a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The CPI(M) respects and upholds each person's freedom to practice any religion they so choose. But now, the state is funding this inauguration ceremony. Attendees at the event will include the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister, and other constitutional officials. Politicization like this is wrong, Yechury said to India Today TV. ""According to the Constitution and the Supreme Court, the state shall not profess any particular religion or have any religious affiliation,"" he added.Our stance is to uphold each person's freedom to practice their religion and their beliefs. Religion is a matter of personal preference that should not be used as a political tool. Despite being invited, Comrade Sitaram Yechury will not be attending the ceremony, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) announced on X."
Amit Shah and JP Nadda are scheduled to meet in Kolkata prior to the Lok Sabha elections.
"On Tuesday, December 16, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda arrived in Kolkata to evaluate West Bengal's organizational readiness for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Throughout the day, West Bengal BJP workers are expected to attend a number of organizational meetings with Amit Shah and JP Nadda. On the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda attended and offered prayers at Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat in Kolkata on Tuesday."
Caste, religion, and god in Kannada: How Karnataka Rakshana Vedike came to represent the state's language war
On Wednesday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) made headlines once more when its members destroyed non-Kannada signage and vandalized commercial establishments in Bengaluru, demanding that they have 60% Kannada. The demand has been made by pro-Kannada organizations previously. However, Wednesday’s vandalism came after the state government directed all establishments to sport Kannada signboards prominently and the Bengaluru civic body – Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) – set a February 28, 2024, deadline for the same.Parties have refrained from confronting the KRV due to its influence and network, which have been established over 20 years, and Siddaramaiah government's cautious response to the most recent wave of vandalism."
Congress seeks to determine a ""safe"" path after the Ram Temple event, where the road was paved with mines.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust invited the Congress to the Pran Pratishtha, or consecration ceremony, of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, but the Congress is not at all happy about the invitation. The Congress is caught in a political minefield, trying to craft a stance that won't do too much electoral damage, knowing that the BJP stands to gain political ground from the ceremony on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. The matter may also cause rifts within the INDIA alliance. The Trinamool Congress has hinted that Mamata will speak at the function, although the CPI(M) has formally announced that its general secretary Sitaram Yechury will not be there and has criticized the BJP and RSS for combining religion and politics. In response to the Cong predicament, Shashi Tharoor says that invitees ought to have the freedom to choose, ""rather than being described as 'anti-Hindu' if they don't go, or 'playing into BJP hands' if they do."""
The main political events of 2023, in numbers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building on May 28. The Lok Sabh However, in terms of Parliament's operations, the year was still turbulent. It started with the chaotic Budget Session, which saw the second-lowest amount of time this government has ever spent in office. Though the Monsoon and Winter Sessions saw some of the most Bills passed since 2019, the productivity of the next two regular Sessions of Parliament suffered as well. However, there were constant interruptions during each session, and many important and divisive bills were passed with little to no debate. The government called a Special Session in September and unveiled the women's reservation bill, which aimed to give women 33% of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, shocking the electorate ahead of the Assembly poll. During this session, the Bill was approved by both Houses.a chamber now has 888 seats, up from 543 in the previous building. Additionally, the Rajya Sabha chamber's capacity was increased from 250 to 384 seats. Although the precise amount has not been disclosed, the construction is thought to have cost around Rs 1,200 crore. However, because the PM was launching the Parliament and ""sidelining"" President Droupadi Murmu, the legitimate head of state, twenty opposition parties, representing 242 MPs in both Houses, boycotted the inauguration."
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Live Updates: Ram Temple lit up on eve of Pran Pratishtha; Aarti performed at Saryu Ghat
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached Dhanushkodi. He visited Arichalmunai, which is said to be the place from where the Ram Setu was built. The PM also performed pooja at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple. 'Kothandarama' means Rama with the bow. According to popular belief, it was at this place that Ravana's brother Vibhishana first met Lord Ram and sought refuge. According to legends and ancient scriptures, this is also the place where Lord Ram conducted the coronation of Vibhishana. The PM will later wind up his 3-day tour of Tamil Nadu, during which he inaugurated the Khelo India Games 2023 in Chennai on Friday. On Saturday, he visited the Sri Ranganathaswamy and Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy temples in Srirangam and Rameswaram, respectively. Stay with TOI for all live updates. On the eve of pranpratishtha ceremony of Ayodhya Ram Temple, the words 'Jai Sri Ram' illuminates a parade ground in Dehradun. Jewellers come up with new collections to commemorate Ram temple consecrationSeveral jewellery retailers have joined the bandwagon of the Ram Temple consecration, unveiling new collections with temple-style motifs and imagery of Lord Ram.Senco Gold & Diamonds has launched its 'SiyaRam' collection, while Kalyan Jewellers introduced 'Nimah', a heritage jewellery line-up, company officials said. "The atmosphere of devotion to Lord Ram is palpable everywhere in anticipation of the Ram Mandir inauguration,” said Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO of Senco Gold & Diamonds.TTD chairman hands over laddus to Ram temple representative in AyodhyaTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman B Karunakara Reddy, who is currently in Ayodhya to participate in the consecration of the Lord Ram temple, handed over laddus from the temple body to a representative of the Ram Mandir Trust on Sunday.The TTD, the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, agreed to supply one lakh laddus for the Ayodhya Ram temple's consecration on Monday.Weighing 25 grams each, the laddus are meant for distribution among visitors during the consecration. They were dispatched in 350 boxes on a cargo plane to Ayodhya from Tirupati Airport recently.Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman reacted strongly on Sunday to a report in a Tamil newspaper that the Tamil Nadu government had banned special poojas in temples in the state managed by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments department during the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday. HR and CE minister P K Sekar Babu, who is attending the DMK youth conference in Salem, told TOI, “There is no such action.”Actors Kangana Ranaut, Shefali Shah, Pawan Kalyan, and Randeep Hooda were among the Indian cinema personalities who arrived in Ayodhya ahead of the grand Ram temple consecration ceremony.Veteran star Rajinikanth and music composer Shankar Mahadevan, who are also part of the event's guest list, were spotted at the Lucknow airport on Sunday as they left for the temple town. While about 8,000 people are in the long list of invitees for Monday's ceremony, the select list features 506 A-listers, including prominent politicians, leading industrialists, top film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges and high priests.Indian community in Taiwan celebrates the pranpratishtha of Ram temple in Ayodhya that will be held tomorrow, 22nd January 2024. Two events were organized on the eve of the occasion - one by the Indian diaspora in Taiwan and another by Isckon Taiwan.Actor Randeep Hooda along with his wife Lin Laishram arrives at the Lucknow airport to attend the Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya tomorrowHe says, "We are very excited and looking forward to being present there and getting the blessings of Lord Ram. It is not just a religious event, it is also a cultural and heritage event..."Two Arogya Maitri Disaster Management Cube-BHISHM, revolutionary mobile hospitals equipped with cutting-edge technology, have been deployed in Ayodhya to bolster medical readiness and response capabilities during the upcoming 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. This cube is a part of the broader initiative named “Project BHISHM” – Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri, is tailored to treat up to 200 casualties, emphasizing rapid response and comprehensive care. The Aid Cube is equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies. It integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in the field: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Today in Politics: PM Modi to inaugurate Boeing campus in Bengaluru, caste census to begin in Andhra Pradesh
Plus, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy will unveil a 125-foot Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada, and Karnataka Congress’s Lok Sabha election committee to meet in Bengaluru.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set for a whirlwind tour of three states on Friday. Making his second visit to Maharashtra in as many weeks, the PM will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Solapur around 10.45 am. In this week’s State Watch column, Shubhangi Khapre attempts to decipher the political signals from the PM’s Maharashtra focus. The PM will then travel to Bengaluru, where at around 2.45 am he will inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) campus. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 43-acre campus has been built for Rs. 1,600 crore and is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US. Modi will also launch the Boeing Sukanya Programme that aims to support the entry of more girl children into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers, according to the PMO. The government said at the time that it had committed to allocating Rs 15,000 crore annually for the welfare of the backward classes and would be able to direct resources to communities that need them the most if the population of each backward class group was known. In context: Last April, Jagan Mohan Reddy forwarded to the Central government an Assembly resolution asking it to simultaneously conduct caste census and population census but learnt that it would not happen anytime soon. The state government then decided to go ahead with the BC caste census to comprehensively enumerate backward classes region-wise, profession-wise, and under other parameters such as socio-economic status. Meanwhile, on Friday evening Jagan Reddy will unveil a 125-foot statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Vijayawada. The statue, constructed for an estimated Rs 404 crore, stands on an 81-foot pedestal, making it a 206-foot monument. At a time when some of the major players in the INDIA alliance of Opposition parties are pushing for a nationwide caste census in an attempt to find an ideological counter-narrative to the BJP’s Hindutva politics, the Andhra Pradesh government led by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is all set to begin a comprehensive caste census on Friday to enumerate all castes in the state.Initially, the scope of the exercise was limited to enumerating the 139 Backward Class (BC) communities but now it has been expanded to cover all castes in the state. To conduct the exercise, the government will extensively deploy the village secretariat system along with the volunteer system. The PM will then travel to Bengaluru, where at around 2.45 am he will inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) campus. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 43-acre campus has been built for Rs. 1,600 crore and is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US. Modi will also launch the Boeing Sukanya Programme that aims to support the entry of more girl children into the country’s growing aviation sector. The programme will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers, according to the PMO. Deputy CM and state Congress president D K Shivakumar has said former BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi who joined the party from the BJP before last year’s Assembly elections have also been invited to the meeting. Ministers in charge of districts have collected opinions from the areas under their jurisdiction and all that will be discussed at the meeting, according to Shivakumar.
In Karnataka, Congress govt fights shy of Dalit sub-quota poll pledge, puts ball in Centre’s court
Siddaramaiah Cabinet decides to urge the Centre to amend the Constitution by inserting a provision under Article 341 – Article 341(3) – to allow states to provide internal reservations Despite promising in its manifesto that it would implement the Justice A J Sadashiva Commission report to provide for internal reservations for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Karnataka, the Congress dispensation in the state has now put the ball over the issue in the court of the BJP-ruled Centre.This was decided by the Congress Cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a meeting here on Thursday, following which the government said that the implementation of the Dalit sub-quotas would be only possible if the Central government ensures the amendment of Article 341 of the Constitution. “Parliament is the only authority (on the SC internal reservation issue). State government has no role – it is only a recommendatory body,” Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa said. The state government will compile a list of all recommendations made regarding Dalit sub-quotas and submit them to the Centre, he said.The Congress had made a pledge ahead of the May 2023 Assembly polls that it would accept the Sadashiva panel report soon after coming to power. However, the Minister claimed Thursday that it could not be done as the erstwhile Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government had rejected the panel’s report. “After the Congress announced (that it would accept the Sadashiva panel’s report), the BJP government, in a hurry, formed a Cabinet sub-committee under Law Minister and recommended SC internal reservations to the Centre. They (also) said that the Sadashiva Commission was irrelevant and closed,” Mahadevappa said.The Bommai government had announced the SC internal reservations in March 2023, days before the Election Commission’s model code of conduct came into force for the polls. The BJP government had then proposed sub-quotas in the 17% SC reservation in the state by splitting it into 6% for the most backward SC (Left) group, 5.5% for the less backward SC (Right), and 4.5% for the SC (touchable) group, with other SC communities getting the remaining 1%. This had triggered protests across the state, especially from the SC (touchable) groups such as Bhovis and Banjaras, who, in the past, were accused of cornering a lion’s share of the Dalit quota. The SC sub-quotas announced by the BJP government was based on Justice Nagamohan Das Commission’s report, Mahadevappa said. “They announced it without applying any legal mind.”The Nagamohan Das panel was constituted by the then BJP government in October 2019 to look into the demand of hiking SC/ST reservation.The Sadashiva panel was set up in 2005 by the then Congress-JD(S) government to look into the demand for the SC internal reservations, which submitted its report in 2012 to the then BJP government. However, it has not been tabled by the successive governments led by all the three major players – the Congress, BJP and JD(S).
FIR against Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for route deviation in Assam
An FIR has been lodged against the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and its chief organizer KB Byju for reportedly straying from the approved route within Jorhat town, Assam, on Thursday, PTI reported citing police sources. According to an official statement, the march took an unauthorized direction in the town, deviating from the permitted KB Road route, causing a "chaotic situation" in the area. Some people fell due to the sudden rush of people and a stampede-like situation was created. A suo motu FIR has been registered at Jorhat Sadar Police Station against the Yatra and its chief organiser," he added. As per the official, the FIR states that the Yatra failed to adhere to the norms set by the district administration and violated road safety regulations. In response, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia informed PTI that the FIR is a strategic move aimed at generating unwarranted obstacles for the Yatra. “There was no police manning the traffic diversion at the PWD point. The assigned route was too small and we had a huge gathering. So, we took a detour for just a few metres. Himanta Biswa Sarma is scared of the Yatra's success on the first day (in Assam) and now wants to derail it," he added. Furthermore, Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra reached Assam's Majuli. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said, “No rules have been broken. Assam Chief Minister is making all attempts to stop people from joining the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra. No one can stop this yatra. We are in Assam for the next 7 years. Let them arrest us, we accept the challenge." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X said, “The Chief Minister of Assam is the most corrupt Chief Minister of India, whose only work is to loot public money under the guise of hatred." The Assam segment of the march is scheduled to persist until January 25, covering a distance of 833 km across 17 districts. The Yatra, under the leadership of the Congress MP, began its journey from Manipur on January 14 and is slated to conclude on March 20 in Mumbai. The overall plan envisions the Yatra traversing a total of 6,713 km over 67 days, encompassing 110 districts in 15 states.
The history of pre-Independence violence at the Ram Janmabhoomi site
In 1855, when a great rapture took place between the Hindus and Muhammadans, the former occupied Hanuman Garhi in force, while the Musalmans took possession of the Janmasthan.On February 8, 1855, Major General G B Outram of the Awadh Frontier Police wrote to Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh, that there was a strong possibility of a Hindu-Muslim clash in Ayodhya. His fears came true five months later, when a bloody clash on July 28 left 75 members of the Muslim community dead. In his recent book Tryst With Ayodhya, journalist-turned-BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj quotes Outram’s letter: “It appears that Shah Ghulam Hussein has assembled a large force of Musalmans at the Kotuahain neighbourhood of Faizabad and is intent upon committing some dreadful breach of peace and is determined to destroy and ruin Hanuman Garhi, which is inhabited by Hindus. His Lieut. (asst.) called the Maulvee Sahib is even more diabolically inclined and ready for strife; hence the mendicants and devotees, who are there at the Hanuman Garhi (temple) in defence of their lives, have been obliged to arm themselves. Therefore, the Resident feeling exceedingly anxious on this subject, entreats His Majesty to dispatch a very swift camel messenger with all possible speed, most peremptory orders to cause the immediate apprehension of Ghulam Hussein and his coadjutors.” In its November 2019 judgment granting the Ayodhya title suit to the Hindu side, the Supreme Court too referred to the clash. “The Janmasthan is within a few hundred paces of Hanuman Garhi. In 1855, when a great rapture took place between the Hindus and Muhammadans, the former occupied Hanuman Garhi in force, while the Musalmans took possession of the Janmasthan. The Muhammadans on that occasion actually charged up the steps of the Hanuman Garhi, but were driven back with considerable force. The Hindus then followed up this success, and at the third attempt, took the Janmasthan, at the gate of which 75 Muhammadans are buried in the martyrs’ grave (ganj-e-shahid). Several of the King’s Regiment were looking on all the time, but their orders were not to interfere.” The judgment added: “It is said that up to that time, the Hindus and Muhammadans alike used to worship in the mosque-temple. Since British Rule, a railing has been put up to prevent disputes, within which is the mosque (where) the Muhammadans pray, while outside the fence, the Hindus have raised a platform on which they make their offerings.” Punj argues in his book that even as early as 1751, when the Marathas were on the ascendant, they had appealed to the Nawab of Awadh – whom they had helped vanquish Pathan forces in the Doab region – to transfer control of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura to them. In 1756, too, when Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula sought their help against an imminent Afghan invasion, the Marathas requested that the three sites be transferred to them. Punj later writes about another unsuccessful attempt to capture Hanuman Garhi made by one Amir Ali Amethawi, who was killed by British troops.This sparked from an FIR filed by a Mohammad Salim on November 30, 1958, against some Nihang Sikhs, who had installed the Nishan Sahib and performed a havan inside the Babri Masjid, also writing ‘Ram’, says Punj.All this happened against the backdrop of the events of 1857-58, variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence.
On way to Ayodhya, Ram is omnipresent, jostled by other concerns
There is Ram on flags, stoles, stickers and diyas as west UP gets ready to celebrate consecration; Muslims hold on to "peace", say Babri has nothing to do with them. IT IS almost noon and the winter fog has just begun to lift. From a distance, one can spot an array of saffron flags featuring Lord Ram fluttering at the shop of Joginder Singh. Located in Meerut on the Delhi-Meerut-Baghpat road, the shop also has on sale Diwali diyas, and piles of stickers and stoles with Ayodhya’s Ram Temple as the theme. A solitary Tricolour jostles for space.“Republic Day is coming, but there is greater enthusiasm for the Ram Temple inauguration. A lot of Shri Ram and Rudra Hanuman flags are being bought,” says Singh, 30. He usually sells baby diapers for a living. “But seeing the enthusiasm around Ram Temple, I have started selling these.” An Armyman, posted in Sikkim and at the shop bargaining for a flag, says, “it is all thanks to Baba (Yogi Adityanath)”. “Now we will celebrate January 22 (the day of the consecration of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya) like Diwali.”Across these western UP districts on the way from Delhi to Ayodhya, which have a significant Muslim population and history of communal tension, the excitement over the Ram Temple is palpable but uneven – tempered by caste, by religion, often, just daily pressures. The Indian Express interacted mostly with those born after the Babri Masjid demolition of 1992, unburdened by the weight of that history, their worldview shaped by the new temple narrative. Across the street, Sumit Sharma, a cigarette shop owner, and Sunny — both 30 – are discussing holding a drive to collect money from shopkeepers to decorate the market with lights on January 22. The talk moves on to how “(Prime Minister) Modi has put Muslims in their place”. Have Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan donated for the temple, they ask. “After three decades, the sacrifice of Hindus is bearing fruition. People are euphoric,” beams Sharma. A Brahmin who loves watching YouTube videos, particularly those of his favourite “Khan sir”, Sharma adds: “Once this market was dominated by Muslims. But after the 1987 riots, they retreated to the main city.” Sunny, who is a Kumhar (an OBC caste), says there are more changes ahead. “You will soon see crowds at Mathura Vrindavan falling by half. Krishna’s time is over, Ram is rising.”Outside the gates of the Meerut Institute of Technology, where students are waiting in biting cold to appear for their exams, this euphoria is more nuanced. “I am not interested in politics,” says Jai Dwivedi, when asked about the Ram Temple. “Though it is okay, there should be more focus on education and healthcare. There is not one good government hospital one can go to. People sell their land to get their loved ones treated.”
Lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus...: Scindia takes aim at Shashi Tharoor in airport chaos spat
Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia responded to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's criticism of the Delhi Airport's handling during the winter fog season. In a series of posts, Scindia provided a detailed rebuttal, highlighting the government's proactive measures and the technical complexities in aviation operations. Tharoor had criticised the aviation ministry in his posts, using various media reports to emphasise the airport chaos.Scindia, taking a dig at Tharoor, remarked, "it is for someone who is lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus that data mining of selective press articles from the internet qualifies as research." He addressed Tharoor's concerns about the recent chaos at Delhi Airport, emphasising the critical importance of runway maintenance for passenger safety. Here are some actual facts for arm-chair critic Shashi Tharoor and the Cong IT Cell that might help tackle their lack of depth in understanding of technical sectors like civil aviation,” Scindia added.Scindia acknowledged that unforeseen pollution incidents and the enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi led to a delay in runway recarpeting, pushing its commissioning by a month.Responding to Tharoor's portrayal of the recent chaos as a "Modi govt-made disaster," Scindia clarified that runway maintenance work is a critical safety element, and any compromise with runway conditions directly jeopardises passenger safety. He explained that the maintenance was prioritised to be completed by December 15 before the onset of the fog season. However, due to pollution incidents and GRAP-IV enforcement, the recarpeting got delayed, and the revamped runway is set to become operatio this week. Tharoor had questioned the timing of runway repair, and Scindia clarified that maintenance work was essential for safety and was scheduled with priority. He addressed Tharoor's concern about a crane blocking CAT III-B operation, stating that it was used for another project and would now operate only on non-fog days. Scindia refuted Tharoor's claim about insufficiently trained pilots, presenting data that showed a significant increase in trained pilots over the years.The aviation minister concluded by mentioning that the DGCA mandates airlines to deploy CAT IIIB compliant aircraft only with qualified crews during the winter season. Any violations are strictly dealt with by the regulator, with show cause notices issued to SpiceJet and Air India.
After Gurpatwant Singh Pannuns threat, Bhagwant Mann says won let anti-Punjab forces succeed
A day after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated terrorist by India, issued a veiled threat to him and the Punjab police chief, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said he is the custodian of peace and prosperity of the state and such intimidation tactics cannot stop him from this task. Speaking on the sidelines of a function to hand over job letters to youths, the chief minister said such threats are a natural outcome of the zero-tolerance policy adopted by his government against anti-Punjab forces and efforts are on to bring back criminals involved in anti-national activities from safe havens abroad to punish them.These people are trying to disturb the hard-earned peace of the state but his government will not allow these forces to succeed in their evil designs, he asserted."The masterminds of such anti-Punjab stances have taken shelter in countries abroad but we are trying to bring them back and punish them for their sins," he said.Mann said that being a border state, there are challenges both from within and outside the state but they will face them valiantly by not succumbing to such threats. The countries that are safe haven to such dreaded criminals should also send these hardcore criminals back to the state in the larger interest of world peace, said Mann.The countries that are safe haven to such dreaded criminals should also send these hardcore criminals back to the state in the larger interest of world peace, said Mann.The Indian government should also take steps to bring such dreaded anti-national criminals back to the country and punish them as per the law of the land, said the CM.Khalistani terrorist Pannun had asked gangsters in the state to join the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice and stop top political leaders from attending the Republic Day parade.Pannun was designated as terrorist by the Union home ministry under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sikh for Justice banned in 2020.CM Mann also took a swipe at Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for targeting his government over the state debt issue.Mann dubbed the former cricketer as a "fugitive" saying he ran away from discharging his duty when he was offered the charge of Power minister."When he (Sidhu) was the minister, he did not do anything and when he was given the power department, he did not take it," said Mann.
Karnataka: DK Shivakumar backs Yathindra in attempt to quell rumours of internal rift
The statement had added fresh sparks in the ever-present leadership tensions in the state’s Congress regime. “The polls will be held under the leadership of Siddaramaiah. In that election too, if we win the maximum number of seats, we will get moral support… By showing your support in the Lok Sabha polls, you should strengthen his hand,” the former MLA had said.Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said that there was no need to twist chief minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra’s words, in a bid to smooth things over, a day after the latter claimed that a good show by the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections would ensure his father remained in office for a full term.Refuting rumours of a rift, the deputy CM backed Yathindra, calling him a responsible leader, and claimed Yathindra’s words were about seeking strength and power from the people. “Our government will be strong for five years. Siddaramaiah is our Chief Minister now and I am the President of the State Congress, both of us will fight the upcoming elections together,” he said. The BJP, he added, should fix its own internal power struggles before fixating on other parties.Rumours about the leadership tussle between the CM and his deputy have abounded ever since the Congress won the assembly polls in May last year. There were speculations that Siddaramaiah was not going to complete a full term in office and was going to cede his chair to Shivakumar after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. While the Congress party has not officially said so, the rumours have persisted well past the government’s half-year mark.Step into a realm of unmatched home appliance excellence with this comprehensive guide to the branded deals during the Amazon Great Republic Day Sale! Dive into a world of exclusive discounts on premium TVs, washing machines, ACs, and refrigerators from industry leaders such as Sony, Samsung, LG, Haier, IFB, and Godrej. Unveil an immersive home entertainment experience with the Redmi (32) F Series, priced at just Rs 10,999 at the Amazon Sale. This HD Ready TV offers a 60Hz refresh rate, 178-degree viewing angle, and a metal bezel-less screen for captivating visuals. Its connectivity features include Dual Band Wi-Fi, 2 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth 5.0, and more. With 20 Watts Output, Dolby Audio, and DTS Virtual: X, you can enjoy a powerful audio experience. This smart TV integrates Fire TV, supports popular apps, and features a voice remote with Alexa. Overall, this is one of the best deals at the Amazon Sale.
Airlines May Consider Canceling Flights In Advance: DGCA Issues SOP Amid Fog-Induced Delays
In response to the increasing number of flight delays and cancellations due to fog-related disruptions at airports, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) onMonday issued a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Monday. The aviation watchdog has instructed airlines to provide accurate real-time information regarding delays and enhance the sensitization of staff at airports to communicate effectively with passengers, news agency PTI reported. The DGCA emphasised the importance of airlines publishing timely information about flight delays and ensuring that staff at airports continuously guide and inform passengers facing disruptions. The SOPs also recommend that, in anticipation of significant delays due to prevalent fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines may consider canceling flights in advance to prevent airport congestion and alleviate passenger inconvenience, PTI's report mentioned.These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were issued by the regulator late Monday evening. Earlier in the day, following massive delays and chaos at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the government had directed the airport to expedite the operationalisation of a CAT-III-compliant runway that has been closed for repair since September last year. While appealing to travellers “to bear with us during this difficult period”, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Monday in a post on X added that the DGCA will be issuing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for airlines on better communication and facilitation of passengers “to minimise discomfort in view of flight cancellations & delays due to adverse weather”. In the SOP sent to all airlines, the DGCA said, “in view of the fog-induced disruptions and adverse weather conditions at various airports including Delhi Airport causing delays, cancellations and inconvenience to passengers, the…Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are mandated in public interest”.Airlines, it said, will be required to publish accurate real-time information regarding delays of their flights on their websites as well as give advance information to affected passengers by SMS/WhatsApp and email. “Appropriate sensitization of the airline staff at the airports to suitably communicate with and continuously guide and inform the passengers about flight delays,” it said.It added that airlines may also cancel such flights that are anticipated to be delayed for more than hours. “…airlines may cancel, sufficiently in advance, such flights that are anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such conditions beyond a period of 3 hours with a view to obviate congestion at the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience. ”“All airlines shall mandatorily adhere to the above SOP with immediate effect,” it said.Meanwhile, in his post, Scindia had said that all stakeholders are trying their best to minimise passenger inconvenience. “Incidences of unruly behaviour amidst this are unacceptable, and will be dealt with strongly in line with the existing legal provision
Vivek Ramaswamy Quits US Presidential Race, Endorses Trump
Vivek Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old Indian-American entrepreneur and political novice who quickly created a name for himself with aggressive policy proposals and an outsized sense of confidence, has withdrawn over of the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses, news agency Reuters reported. He then backed former President Donald J. Trump for the presidency. Ramaswamy, who was virtually unknown in political circles when he entered the campaign in February 2023, managed to pique the interest and support of Republican voters with his strong views on immigration and an America-first attitude. In terms of tone and philosophy, his campaign plan closely paralleled that of former President Donald Trump. Ramaswamy attempted to draw into Trump's conservative base, which had pushed him to victory in prior elections.He said, “Tonight, I have to face the truth. It was hard for me to accept, but we have looked at the facts. And the fact is, we did not get the result we hoped for tonight.”Ramaswamy had recently taken a harder stance against Trump, claiming that the former president’s legal troubles and strong political enemies made him a weak candidate. Trump responded by attacking Ramaswamy on social media, calling his campaign “deceitful” and “very sly,” in the first sign of hostility between them.Ramaswamy had been one of Trump’s biggest supporters during the campaign. He had praised Trump as “the greatest president of the 21st century” and stood by him despite the numerous criminal charges and obstacles to his candidacy.On Tuesday, Trump said on social media that his accuser had gained fame and money through "fabricated lies and political shenanigans" in the case.Former US President Donald Trump left Trump Tower on Wednesday morning as he heads back to Manhattan court where rape accuser E. Jean Carroll was poised to testify against him for $10 million defamation case.
Govt Pulls Up Indigo, Mumbai Airport After Viral Video Shows Fliers Eating On Tarmac
After a video of passengers eating on the tarmac at Mumbai Airport went viral on social media, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia held a meeting with all ministry officials at midnight yesterday. In the early hours on Tuesday, MoCA's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued show cause notices to Indigo and Mumbai Airport.According to the notices, “both Indigo and MIAL were not proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport”. For instance, “the aircraft was allotted a remote bay C-33 (instead of a Contact Stand - an aircraft parking stand that is suitable for walking passengers to and from an aircraft from an allocated boarding gate), which further added to passenger woes and deprived them the opportunity to avail basic facilities like rest rooms and refreshments at the terminal”.Delayed flights, dense fog and hassled passengers have been grabbing headlines for the past few days in India. And through all this chaos, budget airlines IndiGo has been thrown into the limelight. The domestic carrier is facing flak over several flight disruptions owing to intense fog in Delhi and other places in northern India and its handling of passengers.Now, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo Airlines and Mumbai Airport after a video of passengers eating food on the tarmac spread online on Monday (15 January). The passengers of a Goa-Delhi flight that was diverted to Mumbai owing to poor visibility in the National Capital on Sunday (14 January) were seen dining on the apron upon disembarking. In the video that went viral on social media, flyers can be seen seated on the tarmac and eating food next to the parked IndiGo aircraft. The incident sparked safety concerns as the apron is designated for aircraft activities. The ground staff connected the aircraft with the stepladder and the passengers were asked to deboard. As the angry flyers disembarked, they refused to enter the terminal building of the Mumbai airport, HT reported.Many disgruntled passengers demanded the flight be taken directly to Delhi. Videos showed some flyers with their food packets, eating on the apron.An airline official told HT that Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel had to be called to remove them from the tarmac and take them to a safety zone.The flight finally took off for Delhi at 2.39 am on Monday. IndiGo said it was aware of the incident and apologised to the customers, saying it was “currently looking into the incident”.According to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the passengers were “irate” due to the flight delay in Goa and left the aircraft as soon as it landed in Mumbai.
