Author: LokMarg

The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the schedule of the Vice-Presidential election with the polling to take place on August 6.

The term of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu will end on August 10.
The notification will be issued on July 5 and the last date for filing nominations is July 19. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 20, the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is July 22 and voting, if necessary, will take place on August 6.

The schedule of the election was finalised in a meeting of the poll panel held today which was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The Vice-President is elected by the members of the electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

An Election Commission release said that the electoral college for the 16th vice-presidential election this year consists of 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha, 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha, and 543 elected members of Lok Sabha.

“Electoral College comprises of a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament. Since, all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of the vote of each Member of Parliament would be the same i.e.1 (one),” the release said.

Voting will be held by secret ballot. There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections is totally prohibited.

Political parties cannot issue any whip to their MPs in the matter of voting in the Vice-Presidential election.

Secretary-General, Lok Sabha will be the returning officer for the election.

The nomination paper of a candidate has to be subscribed by at least twenty electors as proposers and by at least other twenty electors as seconders.

An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a proposer or a seconder.

The poll panel said that a copy of the electoral college is also being uploaded on the Commission’s website.

However, the list is required to be updated after the date of issue of notification of names of 51 elected members of the Rajya Sabha and seven nominated members of the House (if filled up during election).

“Supplementary list(s) to the Electoral College will be published, as and when required,” the poll panel said.

It said all related COVID-19 safeguards and protocols will be enforced in all the steps of the electoral process and, on the day of polling and counting. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved the decision on the plea filed by Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s direction to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to hold the floor test on June 30 (Thursday).

Supreme Court to pronounce its order at 9 pm.
A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala also asked Uddhav Thackeray led-Shiv Sena group how can floor test impacts the disqualification process or interfere with the powers of the Speaker to conduct disqualification proceedings.

Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing rebel Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde, told the bench in SC, “First and foremost it is to be decided if the Speaker has to be removed or not,” referring to Nabam Rebia’s decision that disqualification cannot be decided until a decision on Speaker’s removal is taken.

“It is well settled that a floor test should not be delayed. Merely because of pendency of proceedings relating to whether MLA has resigned or 10th schedule is no ground to interdict floor test. Supreme Court has held both are distinct issues,” he said.

The slightly different argument put forward by Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing on behalf of Prabhu is that the proceedings are not voluntarily kept pending by the Speaker but are stopped because of orders of the Supreme Court.

“I will respond to your lordship’s pertinent observation. When we came to court, an overwhelming majority was with us. We also write to Speaker that you don’t enjoy the majority of the House. On June 24th, the Speaker gives us a disqualification notice. On this context, we came here, Kaul said.

“It is not as if your lordships are interfering with the proceedings. My principal argument was that Speaker has no authority. That is settled by the Constitution Bench judgment.”

Listening to Kaul’s arguments, Justice Kant said, “This argument suggests that first of all we should determine the competence of the Speaker.”

“Supreme Court in its judgement had said disqualification proceedings have no bearing on floor test. The floor test is the healthiest thing that can happen in a democracy. Supreme Court says the moment a Chief Minister shows reluctance, it prima facie gives the view that he has lost the confidence in the House,” Kaul said on behalf of the rebel faction of Shiv Sena.

The Bench of the Supreme Court asked Kaul, in response to these arguments, “Can there be a situation against democratic morality that the government, knowing that it has lost the majority?”

“This unfolding situation requires a floor test and Governor in his discretion has decided to hold it,” senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing Eknath Shinde tells Supreme Court.

Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul further said, “I have seen everyone keen to take the floor test. I have seldom seen a party so afraid to conduct a floor test.”

“Normally parties rush to Court to say hold the floor test because someone else is hijacking the party. Here, the opposite is sought, the party wants no floor test. Where does the natural dance of democracy take place?,” Kaul said.

Singhvi said,”It is repeatedly argued by the other side that the Speaker is always suspect, always a political, but the Governor is a holy cow. That Governor can never be wrong, but the Speaker, the persona designate under 10th schedule is political.

Those who believe that the Speaker is only political and Governor can never be political, I tell them, wake up and smell the coffee, don’t live in ivory towers. This is a Governor who has not allowed nominations to MLC for one year.”

“Does the Governor have a single sentence in the order that the issue is subjudice before the Supreme Court and despite that I am exercising?, Singhvi added.

“Two days before the Governor comes to Raj Bhavan, meets the leader of the opposition yesterday and issues the order today. But the Speaker is to be always a suspect. Governors are not angles. They are humans. The Governor did not address the issue of sub judice. He did not verify. He did not call the Chief Minister for his view,” Singhvi added.

“Please look at the real world. A floor test done tomorrow, followed by a disqualification to be proceeded by the Speaker, is irreversible. We cannot live in a theoratical world, it is irreversible. Floor test and disqualificaiton of MLAs are undoubtedly related after this court has put a fetter on the Speaker. Either defer the floor test for a week or prepone the other matter, that is the only way to balance,”Singhvi concluded.

As the political turmoil in Maharashtra continues to unfold, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis accompanied by 8 independent MLAs on Tuesday submitted a letter to the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and demanded an immediate floor test.

“We have given a letter to the Maharashtra Governor demanding an immediate floor test,” Devendra Fadnavis said.

Sources earlier today also learned that eight independent MLAs have sent an email to the registered email address of the Maharashtra Governor demanding for an immediate floor test. It is being reportedly said that Fadnavis will further demand a meeting with the Governor.

Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the rebel MLAs to come for talks. “Don’t fall prey to anyone’s missteps. The honour given to you by Shiv Sena cannot be found anywhere. If you come forward and speak, we will sort out the issues. As Shiv Sena party chief and family head, I am still worried about you. Come here for a dialogue,” he said.

Meanwhile, rebel leader Eknath Shinde stated that he will return to Mumbai soon and that his faction was taking “Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena forward”. Shinde has claimed the support of over 50 MLAs.

In a jolt to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and other rebel MLAs revolted against the party on June 20 and camped in Gujarat’s Surat. Later, the rebel MLAs shifted base to a hotel in Guwahati. (ANI)

Bollywood diva Sara Ali Khan sparkled in purple as she shared some stunning pictures of herself on social media.

The ‘Kedarnath’ actor captioned the string of images on Instagram with emojis.
In the first picture, Sara could be seen striking an elegant pose donning a see-through purple saree having shimmery embroidery. The fusion of purple and magenta ruffled blouse added charm to the stunning actor. Sara sported a dewy makeup look with matching purple eyeshadow and a shade of soft pink lipstick.

In the second picture, she accessorized her look with small-studded golden and purple earrings, looking stunning as usual.

In the third picture, the actor posed sideways not facing the camera. Sara exuded grace and confidence, donning the saree, looking no less than royalty.

Sara Ali Khan, the daughter of actor Saif Ali Khan, has established a name for herself in the Bollywood film industry with many notable films to her name like, ‘Atrangi Re’, ‘Love Aaj Kal’, and ‘Simmba’. She often shares fun and quirky videos on her social media, poking fun at her co-stars and brother Ibrahim Ali Khan.

She also posts glimpses of her travel getaways to exotic locations as well.

Meanwhile, on the film front, Sara will be seen sharing screen space with Vikrant Massey in ‘Gaslight’. She has also recently finished shooting for an untitled project next to Vicky Kaushal. (ANI)

Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan Ram Kumar Verma on Wednesday slammed the state government for the Udaipur beheading incident and said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should resign over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Speaking to ANI, Ram Kumar Verma said, “Rajasthan government always constitutes SIT after every incident but the way the investigation carried out by SIT was not satisfactory. So, if there is even a little morality in the Rajasthan government then the Chief Minister who is also the state Home Minister should resign because the law and order situation is the worst in this government.”
Alleging appeasement politics by the Gehlot government, Verma said, “The result of the appeasement policy of the state is being seen in the Udaipur incident and Gehlot government is sleeping. The Chief Minister should think about this. Because of this incident, not only entire Rajasthan is feeling ashamed but entire India is feeling ashamed”, Verma told.

He welcomes the Centre government’s decision to hand over the case to NIA.

“BJP government in Centre is sensitive and the Prime Minister and Home Minister were compelled to order an investigation by the NIA in this case. We know that all the investigation agencies under the Rajasthan government cannot work independently, so it is very important that the central government has ordered the investigation of NIA. Thanks to the Centre that they have ordered an NIA investigation so that terrorists will be caught and the secret motive behind it revealed,” he said.

A shopkeeper was murdered by two men in Rajasthan’s Udaipur on Tuesday.

The Udaipur murder was recorded on camera and its video has gone viral on social media.

The shopkeeper is believed to have been killed over a social media post supporting BJP leader Nupur Sharma. As tensions flared up, section 144 has been imposed in Rajasthan. (ANI)

Battalion Commander Level Border Meeting, which is conducted to discuss border security issues, was held at Munabao, Barmer district on the India-Pakistan border, a BSF press release said on Tuesday.

The meeting was carried out between BSF Battalion Commanders of Barmer Sector and Wing Commanders of Pakistan Rangers. The delegations were led by BSF commandant G L Meena and lieutenant colonel Murad Ali Khan, the Wing Commander of the Pakistan Rangers.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification to widen the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) for seizure, search and arrest up to 50km from the international border in Assam, West Bengal and Punjab.

This notification replaces a 2014 order under the BSF Act, 1968, which also covered the States of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

It also specifically mentions the two newly created Union Territories- J-K and Ladakh.

The BSF was raised in 1965, after the India-Pakistan war.

It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Other Central Armed Police Forces are: Assam Rifles (AR), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The 2.65-lakh force is deployed along the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders.

It is deployed on the Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations. (ANI)

Over 600 inmates escaped a rehabilitation centre in Polonnaruwa in central Sri Lanka on Wednesday after a fight broke out between two prisoner groups, Xinhua News Agency reported citing the Sri Lankan police.

Police spokesman Nihan Thalduwa said, “Army soldiers and an additional police force have been deployed to the Kandakadu rehabilitation centre to bring the situation under control.”
“A hunt has been launched for the escaped inmates,” he added.

There were around 1,000 detainees in the prison. The police said that after the incident, the remaining detainees tried to block the army and police from entering the premises. However, the police took the situation under control, Xinhua reported.

The police have been deployed around the incident spot and the area around the rehabilitation centre has been cordoned off.

Meanwhile, fuel shortage continues to grip Sri Lanka as the country struggles with the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.

This has led to an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel across the island nation.

The nearly-bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, had announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026. Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt.

The economic crisis has particularly impacted food security, agriculture, livelihoods, and access to health services. Food production in the last harvest season was 40 – 50 per cent lower than last year, and the current agricultural season is at risk, with seeds, fertilizers, fuel and credit shortages.

Sri Lanka is one of the few nations named by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which is expected to go without food due to the global food shortage expected this year. (ANI)

The 9th Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST) between the Australian Army and Indian Army were conducted in Dehradun on Wednesday.

“9th Army to Army Staff Talks AAST between Australian Army and Indian Army were conducted in Dehradun. AAST focused on joint military exercises, training cooperation and preparing a roadmap for enhanced Defence Cooperation between both the Armies,” the Indian Army said in a tweet.
Australian Army delegation is on a visit to India from June 25 to August 01.

They visited Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Infantry Div based at Dehradun, Bengal Engineer Group Centre Roorkee, Wargame Research & Development Centre (WARDEC) Delhi and Centre for Land Warfare Studies CLAWS.

Talks were held at IMA and both sides reviewed road map for activities promoting defence cooperation like training courses between both Armies, Cadet Exchange Programme between Pre-Commission Training Academies, Bilateral ex Austrahind, subject matter expert exchange in niche domains, functional and high-level visits, the interaction between think tanks, virtual interactions in the field of medical and doctrinal exchanges.

Earlier in March, Lt Gen Richard Maxwell Burr, Chief of Army Australia visited India along with a four-member delegation.

During his visit, the Australian Army Chief called on the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and other senior military officers.

Interaction between both the Chiefs of the Army Staff was warm and cordial. Both Chiefs exchanged views on the current global situation and the situation in Indo-Pacific in addition to discussing measures for enhancing defence cooperation between both armies. (ANI)

China on Wednesday issued a yellow alert for high temperature and heatwave in various parts of the country.

The National Meteorological Center said that several parts of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Chongqing, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia are expected to record a temperature of 35 to 36 degrees Celsius during daylight hours on Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
The forecast also mentioned that the temperature might reach 39 or 40 degrees Celsius in some of these regions.

The residents were advised to avoid working outdoors during daylight hours and workers who are exposed to the high temperatures to take necessary preventive measures, the local media reported.

A four-tier colour-coded weather warning system is followed in the country with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Earlier on Monday, China’s National Meteorological Center renewed its yellow alert for rainstorms in several parts of the country.

Due to severe thunderstorms and heavy rains, the centre has also advised halting outdoor operations in hazardous areas and urged airports, railways, expressways and water transportation units to take safety measures such as flight restrictions, speed limits, or temporary closures to ensure personnel and traffic safety.

The centre had advised local authorities to prepare for rainstorms, thunderstorms, gales and hails, and be vigilant against flash floods, landslides and mudslides and drivers have been alerted as transport authorities were asked to guide traffic in water-logged streets.

During daylight hours, parts of Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangdong, Fujian and Xinjiang were expected to reach temperatures of 35 to 36 degrees Celsius, whereas in some regions it was expected to cross 40 degrees Celsius as well.

The centre advised avoiding outdoor activities during high-temperature periods in the afternoon and suggested that workers exposed to high temperatures take necessary protective measures.

In order to tackle heavy rains, China had previously upgraded its flood control emergency response to level II.

A total of 548,000 people were affected due to the heavy rain in China’s Jiangxi province last Tuesday, according to the provincial flood control headquarters.

The local meteorological department had predicted further rainstorms in the province this week.

According to local authorities, the torrential rains and rain-induced floods since May 28 have wreaked havoc in 80 counties of the province. (ANI)

Mortal remains of Kanhaiya Lal, who was killed on Tuesday by two men in Udaipur’s Maldas street area, reached his native place in Udaipur today.

Hundreds of people join the funeral procession of Kanhaiya Lal.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of the brutal murder of the man who was allegedly beheaded in broad daylight on Tuesday.

Home Ministry Office (HMO) took to Twitter to make the announcement a day after the incident that shocked people across the country. “MHA has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of the brutal murder of Shri Kanhaiya Lal Teli committed at Udaipur, Rajasthan yesterday,” HMO tweeted.

In the tweet, the HMO has also mentioned that “the involvement of any organisation and international links will be thoroughly investigated”.The move comes after a team of NIA was on Tuesday rushed to Udaipur including a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday also said the state government will uncover the “conspiracy” behind the cold-blooded murder of a tailor in Udaipur a day ago.

Speaking to reporters here Gehlot said, “It is not an ordinary incident, we will seriously decipher the conspiracy and links to this killing. I’m going for a meeting and will let you know the outcome.” The Chief Minister departed for Jaipur from Jodhpur on Wednesday.

Gehlot had called a meeting with officials regarding the law and order situation in the state after one tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, was beheaded in broad daylight by two men in Udaipur’s Maldas street area yesterday.

The Opposition on Wednesday criticised the police for not providing him protection.

Rajasthan LoP Gulab Chand Kataria reached MB Government Hospital in Udaipur, to meet the family of Kanhaiya Lal.

He said, “Police should’ve provided protection when he asked for it & after his shop was closed for 4-5 days. It was a 100 per failure of the police.” (ANI)

India reported 14,506 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours with a daily case positivity rate of 3.35 per cent, as per the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

With this, the active caseload in the country inched closer to the 1 lakh mark as it stands at 99,602.
According to the Ministry, 11,574 COVID patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total number of recoveries in the country to 4,28,08,666.

The recovery rate currently is 98.56 per cent.

As many as 30 patients succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,25,077.

A total of 4,33,659 COVID samples were tested during this period. 86.19 crore tests have been conducted in the country so far.

The weekly positivity rate is 3.30 per cent.

Under the nationwide vaccination drive, 13,44,788 COVID vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours. The total number of vaccines jabbed so far is 1,97,46,57,138.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them with COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.

Amid the recent surge reported in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Health Ministry of India on June 9 urged States and Union Territories to not lower their guards and strictly maintain the COVID appropriate behaviour. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday wrote a letter to States/UTs and directed them to ramp up RT-PCR testing, surveillance, clinical management, vaccination, COVID-19 protocols and take timely pre-emptive actions. Bhushan also advised the government to follow a ‘five-fold Strategy’. (ANI)