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
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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."
On February 6, PM Modi will open India Energy Week in Goa.
In addition to laying the cornerstone for several projects totaling more than ₹ 1,330 crore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology to the country on Tuesday, marking the start of India Energy Week 2024 in Goa. Additionally, PM Modi will speak about the Viksit Bharat and Goa 2047 initiative. At 10:30 am, the PM will kick off India Energy Week and open the ONGC Sea Survival Center in Betul village, South Goa. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, he will take part in the afternoon Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047 program at Fatorda.About 17 energy ministers from various nations are expected to attend the Energy Week, which is India's largest and only comprehensive energy exhibition and conference. The Prime Minister has made achieving "aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) in energy requirements one of his main areas of focus. India Energy Week 2024, which will take place in Goa from February 6 to 9, is another step in this direction, according to the PMO. It will bring together the entire energy value chain and be the largest and only comprehensive energy exhibition and conference in India. It will also act as a catalyst for the country's energy transition goals. According to the release, the PM will host a roundtable with CEOs and experts from the global oil and gas industry. One of the main goals of India Energy Week 2024 will be to support, nurture, and integrate startups into the energy value chain. It said that approximately 35,000 attendees, more than 900 exhibitors, and about 17 energy ministers from various nations are anticipated to attend.The United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Canada, and the United States will all have country pavilions during Energy Week. A dedicated Made in India pavilion will also be set up to present cutting-edge energy-related solutions that Indian MSMEs are leading the way in developing.
What Made Jaya Bachchan Lose Her Composure in Parliament? "We e Not Schoolchildren
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan responded sharply to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's comment about a Congress leader during an outcry by opposition members over the omission of a question, stating that the members are "not schoolchildren" and would have understood if the matter had been explained to them. She added that respect should be shown for the MPs. During Tuesday's Question Hour, Deputy Chairman Harivansh of the Rajya Sabha was questioned by Ms Bachchan, Congressman Deepender Singh Hooda, and other opposition members about why a question on aviation had been skipped. Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, asked the opposition members to take their seats amid the commotion and announced he would come back to the question. "You are not her (Ms. Bachchan's) spokesperson," Mr. Dhankhar remarked as Mr. Hooda persisted in his protest. She is one of the more senior members. She is a very senior member, so you don't need to help her." In an attempt to diffuse the tension a bit later, Mr. Dhankhar stated he had mentioned that the answer to question number 18, which had been overlooked, would be addressed following the completion of the response to question number 19. It will be addressed calmly and an attempt will be made to find a solution. Since Jaya Bachchan ji is a very senior member, she can be trusted to take her feelings seriously when they come to me ", she remarked. The chairman cut Ms. Bachchan off mid-sentence, saying, "Jaya Bachchan ji, you are a very senior member. I would like to make a request. Anything you say is respected in the nation, even if it isn't otherwise. You will lift our spirits all together, and I have no doubt that a talented actor such as yourself had to retake a lot of scenes. Ms. Bachchan stepped in to say that she should be given the opportunity to speak and emphasized how much she respects the deputy chairman.
Why Rahul Gandhis ‘Nyay Yatra’ won help Congress win Lok Sabha polls 2024
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has chosen the wrong time to start the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, cited ace political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor and further critised his advisors saying, ‘it was the worst time to leave the Delhi headquarters’. Speaking to India Today, he said, “Look at whoever is advising them. This could be the worst time for you to leave headquarters and go for a yatra."Kishor cited that the yatra should have been conducted six months to a year before elections, and further stressed the need to focus on strategic allies, finalising candidates and campaign strategy.“When you are needed at headquarters, you are in the field. When you needed to be in the field then you were sitting in Delhi. I don't know who advises them," Kishor said. Along similar lines, Kishor told Indian Express that he finds no logic in Rahul Gandhi's Manipur-to-Mumbai yatra. “At a time when he should be at the centre of where politics happen, he is busy doing a Yatra in the Northeast. Visiting the areas is fine but deserting the headquarters is definitely not a wise move. I don’t know who is advising him on these issues."The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' which started in Manipur on January 14, will cover to traverse 6,713 km over 67 days, spanning 110 districts in 15 states, concluding in Mumbai on March 20. The dates are very close to the Lok Sabha elections, which are likely to be held between April and May. The statement holds significance as Congress is receiving flak from some INDIA bloc allies over ‘seat-sharing’ deals. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar ditched the Mahagathbandhan and formed a new government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party it also severed ties with the opposition alliance.
Nitishs Return to NDA: Its Wrong to Conclude a Cakewalk for the BJP in Bihar
“The BJP, of course, has got psychological advantage by bringing the Bihar CM and Janata Dal (United) president from the INDIA bloc, of which he was the architect. But there is a palpable anger among the people against Nitish. The BJP will have to pay the price for accepting him back to its fold,” the election strategist turned activist, Prashant Kishor said.Kishore predicted, “Irrespective of whatever alliance Nitish contests with, his party won’t be able to win more than 20 seats in the assembly polls.” Kishore, who is on his Jan Suraj padyatra in north Bihar’s Begusarai district these days, has been advancing this argument in his speeches as well as his interviews with the media. The widely held ‘assumption’ that the BJP’s victory is a “done deal” particularly after Nitish jumping to its side has subsumed the likely troubles that the Hindutva party might face in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, expected in April-May, this year.The first and foremost trouble which the BJP is all set to face is over sharing of seats. Nitish’s JDU and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan (alive then) were the part of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2019. The BJP and the JDU had shared 17 seats each, sparing six seats for the LJP. The NDA had won 39 seats—BJP-17, JDU-16 and LJP-6. Now, besides Nitish’s JDU, the BJP has Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Aawam Morcha – Secular (HAMS), Chirag Paswan’s LJP and his uncle Pashupatinath Paras’s Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) are in the NDA. Creating a buzz in the name of Ram temple and around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘persona’, the BJP cadres are clamouring for more seats than what they had contested in Bihar in 2019. The RLSP, the HAMS, the LJP and the RLJP, which have been with the BJP from before Nitish’s JDU has joined it, are, obviously, expecting their share of seats. There are only 40 seats in the state to share with. How many seats the BJP will keep in its share and how much will it spare for its five other partners? Needless to say that there is an apparent disquiet in the camps of these parties on Nitish’s return in the NDA; their lack of enthusiasm was obvious at Nitish’s ninth swearing-in as the CM at Patna’s Raj Bhavan on Saturday-January 28.
Global Corruption Index 2023: India Ranks 93rd Out of 180 Countries, Was 85th in 2022
The index comes at a time when the Union government run by the Bharatiya Janata Party is targeting only opposition leaders through its investigating agencies – ostensibly to weaken their public appeal before the crucial 2024 general elections and project the INDIA alliance as corrupt.Significantly, of India’s 28 states, BJP and its allies were in power in 17 in 2023. As per the country-wise corruption perception index (CPI) of the report put together by Transparency International (TI), a noted platform that works in over a hundred countries to fight corruption and promote transparency in public life, India has slipped from 85th position in 2022 to 93rd in 2023. In all, TI ranks 180 countries in terms of their perceived levels of public sector corruption in a scale of 0 to 100; the perceived levels are drawn from consultations with experts and people in business in the respective countries. Those closer to the scale of 100 are perceived to be highly corrupt. While India stands at 93, the country’s overall score for 2023 stands at 39, one point lower than 2022. About India, the TI report states, “India (39) shows score fluctuations small enough that no firm conclusions can be drawn on any significant change. However, ahead of the elections, India sees further narrowing of civic space, including through the passage of a bill that could be a ‘grave threat to fundamental rights’.”Among India’s neighbours, China is shown at a score of 42 (against India’s 39) but the report cautions that the country’s heavy reliance on punishment rather than institutional checks on power raises doubts over the long-term effectiveness” of its anti-corruption measures. China, which has been grabbing headlines for cracking down on corruption, has punished over 3.7 million public officials in the last 10 years.
Tamil Nadu government retracts announcement about V-C appointments
This happened a few days after M K Stalin, the chief minister, met Ravi in response to the Supreme Court's recent recommendation that they work out their problems.In the midst of the current impasse between the Tamil Nadu government and Raj Bhavan regarding the vice chancellor appointments to three universities, governor R N Ravi revoked three notices he had sent out regarding the subject last year on Tuesday.This happened a few days after M K Stalin, the chief minister, met Ravi in response to the Supreme Court's recent recommendation that they work out their problems.According to a statement released by the Raj Bhavan, "the governor is hopeful that the government will now constitute search committees including a nominee of UGC (University Grants Commission) chairman in line with the judgments of constitutional courts." But he also demanded that the state revoke its three notices and proceed by sending out new ones to form search committees in compliance with the 2018 UGC regulations and rulings from the Supreme Court and lower courts.The Madras High Court's December 19, 2018, ruling, which ordered Puducherry's government and Puducherry Technological University to "amend statutory provisions governing the varsity to bring it in conformity with the UGC Regulations 2018," was cited by Governor Ravi. The statement from Raj Bhavan stated, "In view of this clear enunciation of the law, the Hon'ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, in his capacity as Chancellor of the concerned Universities, is confident that the Government of Tamil Nadu would withdraw its Notifications in deference to constitutional proprietary and legality." "...and awaits appropriate action in this regard from the Government of Tamil Nadu as soon as possible to ensure that the state's future and the cause of higher education are not negatively impacted."GOVT REACTION The Tamil Nadu government, led by the DMK, filed a case in the Supreme Court in November contesting the governor's notifications. Chief Minister M K Stalin led a delegation of senior ministers and bureaucrats to the Raj Bhavan on December 31 in response to the top court's directive that the two meet to resolve outstanding matters.
The 12th Parliaments first session will begin at 3 p.m. on January 30, 2024.
Tomorrow, January 30, at 3 p.m., President Mohammed Shahabuddin will give the opening speech at the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS). Every year, the President addresses the first legislative sitting in accordance with parliamentary custom.Tomorrow, January 30, at 3 p.m., President Mohammed Shahabuddin will give the opening speech at the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS). Every year, the President addresses the first legislative sitting in accordance with parliamentary custom. Earlier, he used the authority granted to him by Article 72 (1) of the Constitution to call the first meeting of the legislature for 2024.President's Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin told BSS that the cabinet has already authorized the president's address. He stated that the President's speech will prioritize the achievements and future ambitions of the Awami League government, especially its development initiatives. In addition, the spokesperson stated that a number of proposals are probably going to be introduced and approved by the House during this conference. Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will preside over a meeting of the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee to determine the agenda items and length of the meeting prior to the start of House business that day.Under the direction of Deputy Speaker Shamsul Hoque Tuku, the 12th parliament's first session got underway today. At approximately 3 p.m., the day's events started with a reading from the Holy Quran. In accordance with parliamentary procedure, President Mohammed Shahabuddin will give the opening speech.Earlier, he used the authority granted to him by Article 72 (1) of the Constitution to call the first meeting of the legislature for 2024. The president will give a speech to the group highlighting the achievements and goals for the future, including the government of the Awami League's development initiatives.
RS revokes suspension of 11 Oppn MPs held guilty of breach of privilege
The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee on Tuesday held 11 suspended opposition MPs guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council of States, but Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revoked their suspension allowing them to attend the Budget session, sources said.In its report to the Rajya Sabha chairman a day before the session starts on Wednesday, the committee also recommended that the period of suspension already suffered by the members be treated as "sufficient punishment" for the transgression. The MPs held "guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council" of States are Jebi Mather Hisham, L Hanumanthaiah, Neeraj Dangi, Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, G C Chandrashekhar, Binoy Viswam, Sandosh Kumar P, M Mohamed Abdulla, John Brittas and A A Rahim.The committee presented the report to Dhankhar, taking note of the situation that the suspended members would not be able to attend the special address of President Droupadi Murmu to both Houses of Parliament, the first address in the new building of Parliament, on Wednesday. The committee usually submits its recommendations to the House.The sources said the chairman invoked the authority vested in him under the rules of procedure to revoke their suspension enabling the members to attend the special address by the president.The matter of 11 MPs suspended by the chairman during the Winter session of Parliament were referred to the Privileges Committee.
Congress slams govt over UGC dereservation row, demands to sack chairman
Stepping up attack, the Congress on Monday demanded the dismissal of UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar over the draft guidelines for "de-reservation" of posts in higher education institutions, with party leader Rahul Gandhi alleging it was a "conspiracy" to end the reservation given to SC, ST and OBC categories.The party had on Sunday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the UGC's draft guidelines proposing that any vacancy reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates can be "declared unreserved" if enough candidates from these categories are not available.Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, however, has clarified that not a single post will be de-reserved and there is no scope for ambiguity about reservations after the introduction of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019.In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi claimed it was an attempt by BJP and RSS to "eliminate" the participation of deprived sections and the party demanded that Kumar should apologise to the entire backward classes. "In the new draft of UGC, there is a conspiracy to end the reservation given to SC, ST and OBC categories in higher education institutions."Today, out of approximately 7000 reserved posts in 45 central universities, 3000 are vacant, and of which only 7.1 per cent are Dalit, 1.6 per cent are tribal and 4.5 per cent are backward class professors."The BJP-RSS, which have even talked about reviewing reservation, now want to snatch the jobs of the deprived classes from such higher education institutions," Gandhi alleged."This is an attempt to kill the dreams of the heroes who have fought for social justice and to eliminate the participation of the deprived sections," he said.Gandhi said this was the difference between 'politics of symbolism' and 'real justice' and reflected the character of the BJP. He said Congress will never allow this to happen and will continue to fight for social justice. Vacant posts will be filled only with qualified candidates from reserved categories, the former Congress chief asserted.Addressing a press conference alongside Congress' SC Department chief Rajesh Lilothia, Chairman of Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress Udit Raj said after the Congress party protested against the "anti-people" move, the UGC was forced to issue a statement in the media that there is no such decision.
BJP again crying CAA for votes: Mamata after Union Ministers guarantee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday saying that the party has again started crying "CAA CAA" for the sake of votes as Lok Sabha elections are approaching."We have fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes," Mamata Banerjee said at a public distribution program in West Bengal's Cooch Behar on Monday.Banerjee's remarks came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across the country in a week.The West Bengal Chief Minister said that her government has acknowledged all colonies as "permanent addresses," and all residents who get the benefit of various state government benefits are citizens of the country."All of you are citizens. We have given permanent addresses to all colonies. They get ration, go to school, get scholarships, get Kisan Bandhu, Shikhashree, Oikoshree, Laxmir Bhandar. How could they get these benefits if they had not been citizens? Had they been able to cast votes if they were not citizens?" Banerjee questioned. Hitting out at the central government for misusing central agencies, Banerjee said, "Do you remember the Sitalkuchi case? The CISF has earlier shot four people to death. They shoot people as if they are zamindars. If anyone oppresses you in your village, fire an FIR first. They instil fear and conduct elections through agencies."Various reports have claimed that four people were killed in West Bengal's Sitalkuchi after being fired by CISF during the assembly elections in 2021.Accusing the BJP of misusing the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, to harass political opponents, Banerjee said, "They call leaders and say that if you do not come with us, we will send ED to your houses. What will the ED do? What will the CBI do? They are here today by they may not be there tomorrow." The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants - including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians - who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Following the passage of the CAA by Parliament in December 2019 and its subsequent Presidential assent, significant protests erupted in various parts of the country.
Newly formed Nitish Kumar-led govt holds its first cabinet meeting in Patna
The newly formed Nitish Kumar-led goverment in Bihar held its first cabinet meeting in Patna on Monday.After a dramatic volte-face, ditching the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, along with eight ministers--three each from the BJP and the JD-U, one from HAM and one independent--took oath on Sunday.Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time at Raj Bhavan on Sunday after snapping ties with "Mahagathbandhan".Among the ministers sworn in were Prem Kumar (BJP), Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Vijay Kumar Chowdhary and Shrawan Kumar (JD-U), Santosh Suman (HAM-S and son of Jitan Ram Manjhi) and Sumit Kumar Singh (Independent).Alongside Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, took the oath as Deputy Chief Ministers Despite turbulence in state politics, Nitish, whether with the Mahagathbandhan or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has managed to retain the CM's chair and ensured that his party has not split over his repeated flip-flops.In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator.Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Jungle Raaj'. Till now, he has been Bihar's CM on eight occasions.In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi's selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided to not change its decision, Kumar left the alliance.
3 CRPF personnel killed, 14 injured in Naxal attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh
At least three CRPF personnel, including two commandos of its elite jungle warfare unit CoBRA, were killed and 14 others injured in an encounter with Naxalites along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh on January 30, police said.Among the three slain personnel, two belonged to the CoBRA’s 201st battalion and one to the CRPF’s 150th battalion, a senior police officer said.Three personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including two from the specialised Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), were killed in an encounter with Maoists on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Tekulagudem village, where Tuesday’s encounter took place, was also the site of another encounter in 2021 that left 23 soldiers dead.Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting with stakeholders in Raipur on Left Wing Extremism (LWE), where he said the Maoist menace should end in the next three years. The incident took place hours after a new security camp was established in the village, which is 616 kilometres from state capital Raipur. On Republic Day, the Indian Tricolour was hoisted for the first time in the Sukma-Bijapur area.After setting up the new camp, a joint team of the CoBRA, the Special Task Force (STF) and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was conducting anti-Naxal operations in Jonaguda-Aliguda area when Maoists opened fire at the personnel, taking advantage of the forest cover.The security personnel fired back, following which Maoists ran away and took cover in the forest. The injured personnel have been airlifted to Raipur for treatment. The three deceased were identified as constables Deven C and Pawan Kumar from the CoBRA 201 and constable Lambdhar Sinha from CRPF battalion 150. The CoBRA is a specialised force under the CRPF to combat extremists and insurgents in guerrilla/jungle warfare operations.January has also seen five alleged Naxals, including two women, being killed in encounters in the state. A six-month-old girl had also died in cross-firing during an anti-Naxal operation.
