Bank account freeze case: Why accounts of Congress were under I-T depts scanner | Explained

The Congress' main bank accounts were frozen on Friday over an income tax demand of ₹210 crore but an I-T appellate tribunal later allowed it to operate them pending a further hearing next week, a huge relief for the party which said the move had impacted all political activity.ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal) will hear the matter on February 21, sources told ANI, adding that the current due of Congress to the Tax Department totals ₹115 crores.No bank operations have been seized or stopped in the Congress bank account freeze case, the sources informed further. "The Congress' tax due pertains to FY 17-18, AY 18-19. The initial due to the Tax Dept was ₹103 crores and ₹32 crores in interest accrued on late payment. The claims were for not filing the returns on time. The tax due was reassessed at ₹105 crores on 6th July 2021. Post this, the INC appealed before Commissioner Appeals but did not pay the mandatory 20 per cent of the tax as they had filed a plea by then," a source said. "INC paid only ₹78 lakh, prompting CIT (Appeal) to dismiss their plea. Again, on May 2023, the INC went for 2nd appeal at ITAT. The Congress did not apply for any stay on the tax demand at ITAT. In October 2023, the INC paid ₹1.72 crore. No orders were passed by ITAT today. Nowhere in their appeal has the Congress disputed the tax-due amount. No bank account operation has been stopped by the Income Tax department," the source told ANI. “You are hereby required under Section 226(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, to pay to me forthwith any amount due from you to or, held by you, for or on account of Bank Account No. 062304xxxxx and any other bank account/fixed deposit with your bank in the name of Indian National Congress upto the amount of arrears shown above" All Our bankers are being sent this...    

57% vs 10%: BJP vs Congress share in electoral bond funds

In the six years since the electoral bonds scheme was introduced, more than half, or 57%, of the funds extended through bonds have gone to the BJP. The party, as per its declarations to the Election Commission, received Rs 5,271.97 crore via bonds between 2017-2022. The Congress was a distant second at Rs 952.29 crore. The EC is yet to publish the annual reports of parties for the financial year 2022-2023. The Supreme Court on Thursday held the changes made in the law to introduce the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional, in a unanimous verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the legal validity of the Centre’s scheme which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties. A five-judge Constitution Bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud also directed that “the issuing bank shall herewith stop the issuance of electoral bonds” and asked the State Bank of India (SBI) to “submit details of the electoral bonds purchased since the interim order of the court dated April 12, 2019, till date to the Election Commission of India (ECI)”. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said, “The deletion of the proviso to Section 182(1) of the Companies Act, permitting unlimited corporate funding to political parties is arbitrary and violative of Article 14”. Under the scheme, notified by the Narendra Modi government on January 2, 2018, electoral bonds could be purchased by any citizen of India or entity incorporated or established in India. An individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. It was pitched as an alternative to cash donations and as a way to increase transparency in political funding. In the period between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022, electoral bonds worth Rs 9,208.23 crore were sold, according to State Bank of India data obtained by The Indian Express through RTI.An analysis of the annual audited account statements submitted by the parties to the EC puts the worth of the contributions via bonds to the BJP at Rs 5,271.97 crore, from 2017-2018 till 2021-2022.  

After Swami Maurya, SP’s Apna Dal ally speaks out over ‘sidelining’ of backwards

There is trouble brewing within the Samajwadi Party (SP), with dissenters using the latest round of rolling Rajya Sabha polls, due on February 27, as a platform to voice their disagreements with the party leadership. At least two prominent leaders of the party have questioned the SP’s “treatment” of backward leaders, with questions raised on why it had not stood by its own Lok Sabha poll promises regarding, what it calls, the PDA (Pichda, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) groups, while naming its Rajya Sabha candidates. The first was party national general secretary Swami Prasad Maurya, who resigned from his post on Tuesday, claiming that he was being undermined within the party by other leaders who described his statements as his “personal views”. Now Pallavi Patel, who won the Assembly seat from Sirathu in 2022 on the SP symbol, with her party Apna Dal (Kamervadi) as SP’s ally, has said she won’t cast her vote for the Rajya Sabha polls. The vote of the lone Apna Dal (K) leader could become crucial for the SP in getting all three of its nominees elected to the Rajya Sabha. Patel has objected to the fact that two of the three candidates nominated by the SP are not from PDA communities, and she suggested Wednesday that it was not certain that her party would continue as an SP ally. SP sources claimed her real grievance was that her mother Krishna Patel wasn’t nominated. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, still recovering from the exit of ally RLD, asserted that there was no cause for worry. The SP, which can win 3 of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh that are falling vacant, has nominated former chief secretary Alok Ranjan, actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan — both Kayasths — and Ramji Lal Suman, a Dalit. Other party leaders too said on Wednesday that there was a difference between what SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is preaching and what he does. “To vindicate his PDA pitch, he should have sent three PDA people to the Rajya Sabha. He has sent Jaya Bachchan ji, who is a reliable leader for the SP. But was it the right choice in an election year? The second choice — Alok Ranjan — has raised more eyebrows within the party. He is from an upper caste, has no grounding in politics. The party leadership could have chosen a woman from a marginalised community. Maybe a Muslim woman and a backward class leader…,” a Lucknow-based SP leader said. Another SP leader said: “Look at what the BJP is doing. They have given Bharat Ratna to a farmer leader (Chaudhary Charan Singh) and a backward leader (Karpoori Thakur). This is all a part of their election strategy. Akhileshji and the top leadership could have also made the nominations a tactical move. The Muslims are a main vote bank for the SP now, but it seems they have no standing within the party.”  

Farmers protest: Congress promises MSP for various crops if INDIA bloc wins Lok Sabha elections

The Congress has promised to implement MSP for various crops if INDIA bloc wins the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The development came even as members of over 200 farmer unions began a Delhi Chalo agitation to press their demands. The protesters have called for several changes including the enactment of a law guaranteeing minimum support price for crops. “Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per Swaminathan Commission. This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice," tweeted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at the "dictatorial Modi government" for being “hell-bent on curbing the voice of farmers!". The Congress party, he assured, would provide full support to the farmers' movement. Barbed wire, tear gas from drones, nails and guns... everything is arranged. The dictatorial Modi government is trying to curb the voice of farmers! Do you remember that farmers were called "agitators" and "parasites"? In 10 years, the Modi government has broken three promises made to the food providers of the country -Farmers' income to double by 2022, according to Swaminathan report, implementation of Input Cost 50 per cent MSP and legal status to MSP," he said. The remarks however sparked censure in the BJP ranks with lawmakers noting that the other party had previously failed to implement its guarantees. “Congress failed not once but many times and the guarantees of Congress also failed...In Himachal Pradesh too, they had given a guarantee of ₹1500 to every woman per month...but all their guarantees have failed...we increased the prices of MSP and also increased the procurement and Congress spent ₹5.5 lakh crore. While the Modi government spent ₹18.49 lakh crore... the Modi government has done many times more work for the agriculture sector and the welfare of farmers and will continue to do so in future also…" Union Minister Anurag Thakur told ANI.  

Ashok Chavan to join BJP today, calls it ‘a new beginning’

Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan on Tuesday morning announced that he would be formally joining the BJP today.Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday. Sources close to the party further revealed some MLAs and office bearers of the Congress party are also likely to follow him. After submitting his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole, he told reporters on Monday, "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership." Ashok Chavan served in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms from 1999 to May 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010, when he was forced to resign due to corruption allegations linked to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. Meanwhile, several Congress leaders condemned the move, calling it a 'dirty political' game. Party leader Prithviraj Chavhan said, "Our senior colleague Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party and also as the MLA. It's a sad decision. This had been talked about for a long time. We didn't think he would make this decision. He was made the state CM on two occasions. What went wrong, who was he upset about--only he will tell about this. This is very tragic. All members of the Congress Legislative Party are together. BJP leaders are spreading rumours that some people are in touch with them," Chavan said while addressing the media. "It is really surprising. This hasn't happened in Maharashtra before. It is totally a dirty political game by the Bharatiya  

Donald Trump Raises Funds for His Campaign With A Valentines Day Letter To Melania

In an email intended to raise money, former US President Donald Trump requested donations from supporters using a Valentine's Day love letter to his wife, Melania. ''I love you, Melania!'' was the subject line of a campaign email that Trump offered to write on Wednesday morning. He thanked his wife in the letter for standing by him despite numerous civil and criminal charges. The Republican presidential nominee is indicted on four federal and state counts totaling ninety-one felonies, which is noteworthy.  The words in the letter are, "Dear Melania, I LOVE YOU!" You never left my side, not even after all of the accusations, arrests, and witch hunts combined. You've always helped me out no matter what. Without your advice, warmth, and kindness, I would not be the man I am today. Melania, you will always be my everything! From your husband, Donald J. Trump, with love.In addition, the email has three "SEND YOUR LOVE" buttons that, when clicked, take supporters to a donation page with the same Valentine's Day greeting, "If you love Melania, I humbly ask you for you to leave her some kind words below!" The website recommends a $20.24 minimum gift. But individuals who believe he is the greatest president of all time can give any amount—$47, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $3,300, or more.Since the passing of her mother Amalija Knavs last month, Melania Trump has not been sighted in public. On Saturday night, though, she and her spouse attended a gala at Mar-a-Lago. In January 2005, Donald and Melania Trump tied the knot in a lavish ceremony held at his exclusive Mar-a-Lago club. They had become engaged in 2004. In 2006, they welcomed Barron, their only child together. Nikki Haley, Trump's primary Republican opponent, sent the former president a Valentine's Day message of her own.  

Pakistani government drags on, Imran Khans party names its PM candidate

Imran Khan's jailed leader has nominated Omar Ayub Khan as a candidate in a parliamentary vote to choose a new prime minister after last week's national elections, according to a senior aide to the former prime minister of Pakistan. Although no candidate emerged with a clear majority from the polls, Khan's independent candidates secured 92 of the 264 seats, making them the largest group. As a result of Khan ruling out coalitions with the three biggest parties, his candidate does not currently have enough support to form a government.After meeting with the former prime minister in jail, Asad Qaiser, a senior leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, informed reporters, "Omar Ayub will be our candidate for the prime minister election; he has been nominated by Imran Khan. Qaiser stated that PTI would talk to other parties about endorsing Ayub's candidacy. A coalition to establish a minority government has already been announced by Khan's opponents. Because they were technically prohibited by the election commission from participating in the polls under the electoral symbol of Khan's party, Khan's supporters filed as independents.Millions of Khan's fans turned out to vote for him in spite of the ban and his incarceration for convictions stemming from charges of corruption to state secrets leakage. Khan is prohibited from serving in any government while he is incarcerated. Ayub is presently in hiding and is wanted by law enforcement for a number of reasons, including possible involvement in the rioting that followed Imran Khan's arrest. Despite not participating in the campaign, he ran for office and was elected. He had previously belonged to both the ruling party of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the former head of the military, and the party of Khan's principal opponent, Nawaz Sharif. The first military dictator of Pakistan, Ayub Khan, is the grandson of Ayub.

Sold until 2022, Election Bonds valued at ₹16,000 crore.

Given that the Bharatiya Janata Party received more than 60% of the donations made under the electoral bonds scheme between 2016 and 2022, the party is probably going to suffer the most as a result of the Supreme Court's decision to discontinue the programme. A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled that the electoral bonds scheme was unconstitutional just months before the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. The plan violates citizens' fundamental right to information, the court declared. A financial tool called electoral bonds enables people and organizations to give money to political parties in secret. In lieu of cash donations, the BJP government introduced them in 2018. They were presented as a project to increase political funding transparency.Election Commission data shows that 28,030 electoral bonds were sold for ₹ 16,437.63 crore between 2016 and 2022. Nearly 60% of the total donations, or ₹ 10,122 crore, went to the BJP, which was the main recipient of these contributions. In the same period, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal received ₹ 823 crore, or 8% of all electoral bonds, while the main opposition Congress party received ₹ 1,547 crore, or 10%. Election-bond donations to the BJP exceeded the total contributions to all other thirty parties on the list by a factor of three. The following are the donations that seven national parties reportedly received: BJP: 10,122 crore rupees Congress: INR 1,547 million TMC: ₹ 823 crore CPI(M): ₹ 367 million NCP: ₹ 231 crore BSP: 85 crore rupees CPI: 13 crore rupees

Electoral bonds: What Are They? Contribute to Political Parties

The Supreme Court invalidated the electoral bonds program today, citing violations of the constitutional rights to information and freedom of speech and expression. This decision is a historic one. However, what are electoral bonds exactly? As initially stated by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2017–18, an electoral bond is a means of financing donations to political parties.As per the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, an electoral bond is defined as a bond that is issued with the characteristics of a promissory note and must have bearer character. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a bearer instrument is one that lacks a buyer or payee's name, no ownership information is kept on file, and the holder of the instrument—a political party, for example—is assumed to be its owner.Citizens of India may donate these bonds, which are issued in multiples of ₹ 1,000, ₹ 10,000, ₹ 1 lakh, ₹ 10 lakh, and ₹ 1 crore, to political parties of their choice under the scheme. The political parties have fifteen days to redeem these bonds. An individual can purchase bonds on their own or in partnership with other people. There is no cap on the quantity of electoral bonds that an individual or corporate entity may buy. The authorized bank will deposit the amount of bonds to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund if they are not cashed within the 15-day validity period. The ADR drew attention to the fact that the scheme does not mandate that political parties include the names and addresses of individuals making contributions through electoral bonds in their yearly contribution reports that are submitted to the Election Commission.  

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Pakistani Caretaker PMs View On Candidates Supported by Imran Khan

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan's acting prime minister, stated on Monday that the only reason independents, who were supported by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, became the single largest party in the general elections was because his administration gave "a level playing field" to all political parties. Prior to Thursday's election, Mr. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party had made repeated claims that the ruling elite and the interim administration were not treating all political parties equally and that certain parties and their leaders were receiving special treatment.The results of the National Assembly showed that the PTI-backed independents won 101 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by another former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, won 75 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, won 54 seats, and the MQM-P, in addition to others, won eight seats.The state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) cited Mr. Kakar as saying, "A large number of independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the largest single group on the national and provincial assemblies."Mr. Kakar emphasized that social media was the source of claims of electoral tampering, which were false and at odds with the actual situation. He also stated that "people had always questioned the electoral process throughout the country's democratic history."    He emphasised, "Such results indicated the transparency and non-interference by any quarters," during a press conference at PM House.While acknowledging the possibility of flaws or other minor issues, Mr. Kakar said that "in general, the elections were conducted in a way that the entire nation and the law enforcement agencies deserved commendation despite various security challenges."  asserting that the PTI achieved outcomes "the party never dreamt of during 2018," he stated, "The loyalists of jailed PTI leaders emerged as returned candidates in the general elections, but no one is appreciating that aspect of the neutrality of the caretaker government."  Mr. Kakar asserted in response to a question that more than 60 million people exercised their constitutional right to choose their preferred candidates in "a pressure-free environment."    "The elections in Pakistan were held in a free and fair manner and there was no institutional mechanism to favour any group," Mr. Kakar stated.      

PM Modi Is Traveling To Jammu & Kashmir

According to sources, on February 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute over a lakh appointment letters at a Rozgaar Mela in Jammu and Kashmir. During his visit, the Prime Minister will also officially launch a number of massive projects. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister's visit to the Union Territory is perceived as an effort to win over the young voters in the area.    Union Ministers Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Dr Jitendra Singh are expected to attend the job distribution mela at BSF Headquarters Paloura in Jammu, as planned.According to the sources, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farm Welfare Kailash Choudhary will give out appointment letters to young people at the Rozgar Mela in Leh, while Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Women and Child Development Mahendra Munjpara will attend the Rozgar Mela in Srinagar.   "The PM will inaugurate mega projects in Jammu, which includes the inauguration of AIIMS in Vijainagar and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM)," a top BJP official stated.   "Before the Model Code of Conduct is declared some promises made by the party would be fulfilled and also some mega projects would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister," said the leader.   "With the removal of Article 370, this Lok Sabha election will be the first to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, which has five seats. Thus, the stakes are high for us as well," he said.  

Amit Shah says BJP always welcomes new allies, talks on with SAD

  The BJP does not believe in "family planning" in politics and always welcomes new allies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Saturday and said that talks were on with the Shiromani Akali Dal. Speaking at an event, Shah also stressed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be implemented before the Lok Sabha polls and predicted the BJP will win 370 seats while the NDA will get more than 400 seats out of 543 in the elections.Asked about the possibility of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), headed by Jayant Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and other regional parties joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the home minister said, "We believe in family planning (in general) but not in politics." "We always want that our alliance grows and we always welcome new allies. Our ideology has remained the same since the days of Jan Sangh. Those who like to join us can come," he said at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024.When pressed further on the re-entry of SAD in NDA, he said, "Talks are going on but nothing has been finalised." On the possibility of joining hands with the TDP, which left the NDA in 2018, or the YSR Congress, Shah said, "Everything is not disclosed in such platforms. Wait for some time. Everything will be clear for all." In a major political realignment ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar switched from the opposition INDIA bloc to the NDA last month while there is talk of RLD also joining the BJP-led alliance."There are normally two reasons why they leave. It is because of certain incident or it is because of the political equation of a particular state. But the BJP never sought separation from any party. BJP always maintained the coalition dharma," Shah said. The Union minister asserted that there is no suspense over the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls and even the Congress and other opposition parties have realised that they will again have to sit in the opposition benches.    

PM Modi banters with MPs during surprise lunch, reveals he sleeps for 3.5 hours, doesn eat after 6 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised MPs on Friday after stopping for a meal at the Parliament canteen during the ongoing Budget session. The senior politician was joined by eight lawmakers from different parties for a platter of platter of rice, khichdi, paneer, daal, til and ragi sweets. The NDA politicians dubbed it a 'casual cordial meeting' that spanned a variety of topics — from the Prime Minister's lifestyle to his foreign trips.“Everyone was surprised and happy at the same time. PM Modi talked about his daily routine, his exercise, his foreign trips, when he visited Karachi. We got to spend 45 minutes with him. We learnt so many inspiring things from him. He said he sleeps for 3.5 hours and does not eat after 6pm," Union minister and MP L Murugan later told ANI. The Winter Session of Parliament ends on Saturday. It is the final session for both Houses before the Lok Sabha elections — likely in April-May.“Enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, made even better thanks to the company of parliamentary colleagues from various parties and different parts of India," the PM later tweeted. He also shared photos of their repast.      

Cannot afford any further delays in decision-making: AAP to INDIA bloc

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its contenders for three seats in Assam, signalling its readiness to contest the polls independently, outside the INDIA alliance if necessary. AAP MP Sandeep Pathak expressed frustration over prolonged discussions with the INDIA bloc, urging the need for swift decisions in securing victory in the elections.Addressing the media, Sandeep Pathak stated, "Talks with the INDIA alliance have been ongoing for months. We are growing weary of mere discussions. It's time to not just talk but also to contest and emerge victorious. We cannot afford to delay any further. We stand in solidarity with the INDIA alliance and hope that these three seats announced today will be allotted to the AAP." Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Pathak stressed the importance of time and strategy in the electoral process. "When aiming for victory through an alliance, time and strategy are crucial. We cannot afford further delays in decision-making. It's time to expedite all processes and take decisive actions," he asserted. AAP's declaration of candidates for the Assam seats includes Manoj Dhanohar for Dibrugarh, Bhaven Chaudhary for Guwahati, and Rishi Raj for Sonitpur. Pathak expressed confidence in the maturity of the alliance and expressed hope that the INDIA bloc would endorse the AAP's candidates. Pathak also called for urgency ahead of the polls, he said, "With time slipping away, the window for contesting the polls is narrowing. We must accelerate all proceedings. Talks have been ongoing for months, yet no concrete results have emerged. All decisions regarding the alliance must be made promptly," he urged. The Congress and AAP party held a meeting on Monday to gear up for the elections, particularly in Delhi. Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely stated at the time that the party was in the process of finalising a panel of candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the capital.  

Uttarakhand Assembly passes UCC Bill; becomes Indias first state to implement Uniform Civil Code

A day after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, the state Assembly passed it on Wednesday. With the House nod, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement a Uniform Civil Code, which presents common law for marriage, divorce, inheritance of property, etc. The UCC Bill, which will now become an Act is based on the draft submitted by a high-level committee formed by the Uttarakhand government under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana P Desai. The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand comes months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The reports have claimed that the Union Government is planning to bring a similar law at the national level and BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Assam are already in the process of passing UCC law in their respective states. The Uniform Civil Code has been one of the foundational items of BJP's agenda apart from the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Uniform Civil Code brings a common law for marriage, divorce, inheritance of property, etc., which were earlier governed by personal laws of every religion. The common code bars bigamy (marrying one person while still legally married to another) and polygamy (having multiple spouses simultaneously). The Uttarakhand government has cleared that the members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community will remain out of the purview of the Uniform Civil Code. The UCC will not apply to "members of any Scheduled Tribes within the meaning of clause (25) of Article 366 read with Article 142 of the Constitution of India and the persons and group of persons whose customary rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution of India."  

Rahul Gandhi bats for caste census after Modis iggest OBC remark

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated calls for a caste census on Monday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that he was the ‘biggest OBC’. The Wayanad MP — currently travelling through Jharkhand for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra — said the PM appeared to ‘get confused’ during his address in Parliament and urged him to ‘decide first’. Gandhi said that it was necessary to count members of the community if the administration ‘wanted to give them participation’. The question is in front of everyone. PM calls himself OBC. In between he got confused and then started saying that there are only two castes in the country – rich and poor. So he should decide first...We want caste census to be done…" Gandhi said. Prime Minister Modi had come down heavily on the Congress and other Opposition parties during an address in Parliament on Sunday, accusing the UPA government of not delivering justice with OBCs. “Congress can't tolerate OBCs...They keep counting how many OBCs are there in government. Can't you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here (pointing towards himself)?" PM Modi said during his reply to the 'Motion of Thanks' on the President's address. This question is not just of one person but of the people of India. As an example, there are only three OBCs out of 90 IAS in Delhi. You will not find Dalits and tribals in the health and education system. Name any OBC owner among the top 100 corporate companies in India. You might have heard the names of Adani, Tata, and Birla but there is no name of any OBC. What kind of country would there be in India of injustice?" he added  

Champai Soren to face floor test in Jharkhand Assembly today, Section 144 imposed

Jharkhand Assembly will witness crucial ‘floor test’ on Monday, 5 February, of the ruling alliance led by JMM leader and chief minister Champai Soren. Last week Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in land fraud case, necessitating another senior JMM leader Champai Soren to take over. The Assembly will convene for a two-day session on 5 February. The newly formed Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Jharkhand under the leadership of Chief Minister Champai Soren will face the floor test today. Section 144 has been imposed near Jharkhand assembly. A special court in Ranchi allowed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the state assembly on February 5. JMM leader Manoj Pandey said, "I think it is just a formality. The spirit of the opposition is already low seeing the numbers and the unity of the INDIA alliance. The figure can also cross 48. Our party, our alliance is united...Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren will also be present and will vote during the floor test. The ruling alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had sent off their MLAs to Congress-ruled Telangana to prevent any poaching by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).  

Arvind Kejriwal sympathises with Delhi police action after MLA poaching charges.

On Delhi Police serving notice to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said ‘Sympathise with police, they're being made to do drama instead of stopping crime.’Earlier in the day, a team of Delhi Police Crime Branch officials arrived at the residence of AAP leader and issued notice alleging that his party charged that Bharatiya Janata Party "of trying to buy AAP MLAs". They also sought a reply from him in the next three days Police officials also came to serve notice on Friday and asked him to provide evidence that BJP "of trying to buy AAP MLAs". They also visited the residence of AAP minister Atishi.Sources close to ANI cited that both the AAP leaders were not present at their respective residences.Atishi also revealed that the AAP possesses a recording of one such "Operation Lotus 2.0" conversation, hinting at its potential release if necessary. The Aam Aadmi Party accuses the BJP of attempting to destabilize the elected Delhi government through "Operation Lotus 2.0," and also alleged that BJP has offered bribes and threats to AAP MLAs to induce defection.Atishi said “BJP has started 'Operation Lotus 2.0', and is trying to topple the democratically elected AAP government in Delhi. 7 MLAs of the AAP have been contacted by the BJP, and have been told, that Arvind Kejriwal will be arrested soon, after which AAP MLAs will be rifted apart. They are in touch with 21 of our MLAs, using whom they aim to topple the Delhi government. Those 7 MLAs have been offered ₹25 crores each. Operation Lotus is the tactic used by the BJP to come into power in states, where they are not democratically elected. Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are examples,"