Congress leader DK Shivakumar has been appointed as Karnataka Congress President on Wednesday.
“Everyone is a team, I’m not alone. We all are together and we will work together,” Kumar said after his appointment.
Meanwhile, Eshwar Khandre, Satish Jarkiholi and Saleem Ahmed have been appointed working presidents of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. (ANI)
The Delhi Police on Wednesday appealed residents of Delhi as well as media persons to send videos, footages and pictures that will help in the investigation of the incidents of rioting in North East district.
“Delhi Police request the cooperation of residents of Delhi including media persons to send video footages, pictures or any information that will help in the investigation of the incidents of rioting in North East Delhi,” Delhi Police tweeted.
The footage can be shared via WhatsApp no — 8750871243 or details can be shared at 8750871221, 8750871227, 22829334, 22829335.
Meanwhile, Police also ensured that the identities of the person will be kept secret. At least 53 people were killed in the violence that rattled the national capital recently.
(ANI)
A day after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress claiming that he had been sidelined in the party, the Madhya Pradesh Congress on Wednesday hit out at him by highlighting the key positions, including a berth in the Union council of ministers, he held during his 18 years of association with the Congress.
The state Congress unit took to Twitter and asked Scindia as to why he still chose to go “under the shelter of Modi-Shah (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) duo?”
“In Scindia’s 18 year political career, Congress made him Member of Parliament for 17 years, Union minister twice, chief whip, national general secretary, in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Congress Working Committee member, election campaign head, 50-plus tickets and 9 ministers were given. Still under the shelter of Modi-Shah?” the MP Congress tweeted in Hindi along with an image referring that Scindia had “broken the trust”.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too reiterated that Scindia was “not at all sidelined”.
Taking to Twitter, Singh said that nothing in the Gwalior-Chambal division had moved without Scindia’s consent in the last 16 months.
“No question, he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi-Shah tutelage!” Singh tweeted.
The leader’s comment comes at a time when uncertainty looms large over the fate of Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after Scindia and 22 MLAs resigned from the party on Tuesday.
Scindia is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party today. (ANI)
The recent debacle of the Indian private sector bank, Yes Bank, whose board was suspended and superseded by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), once again brings into sharp focus the extent and depth to which crony capitalism continues to prevail in the country’s economy.
Yes Bank was founded in 2004 by Rana Kapoor and his brother-in-law, the late Ashok Kapur. Early this month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), registered a criminal case against Kapoor, who was the CEO of Yes Bank; Dewan Housing Finance Ltd. (DHFL), a non-banking financial services company; and its promoter, Kapil Wadhawan. The CBI charged them with criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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The allegations are that between April and June 2018, Yes Bank subscribed or invested Rs 3700 crores in DHFL’s short-term debentures. This financial assistance subsequently turned into non-performing assets as the bank was unable to recover the funds. More seriously, the allegations are that in lieu of the amount extended to DHFL, a company, Do it Urban Ventures, promoted by Kapoor’s three daughters, and received kickbacks in the form of loans amounting to around Rs 600 crores. In other words, the CBI alleges that Kapoor and DHFL entered into a conspiratorial quid pro quo: DHFL got the assistance (that have now turned into bad loans) and he and his family benefited from the kickbacks.
The agency has alleged that Rana Kapoor extended financial assistance to DHFL to get substantial undue benefit for himself and his family members via companies held by Kapoor and his family. On March 5, India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, announced that it had suspended and superseded the board of Yes Bank. Customers were prevented from withdrawing more than Rs 50000 from their accounts and rating agencies downgraded the bank’s core bonds.
Yes Bank’s debacle turns the focus sharply on the continued prevalence of crony capitalism in India’s economy: an unholy nexus between banks, financial institutions (FIs), and business enterprises. Banks and FIs—and not only privately owned ones—in India are known to have cosy relationships with promoters of large and medium sized Indian companies and quid pro quo arrangements of the sort that Kapoor and Yes Bank are accused of are not uncommon. Rather, it is quite the opposite. Examples of misuse of bank funds are galore in the Indian economy.
One high-profile case is that of liquor baron Vijay Mallya who is currently in the UK while the Indian government is trying to get him extradited so that he can face investigation into charges levelled against him. Mallya is accused of misusing around Rs 9,000 crore (US$1.3 billion), which are loans that his companies, including a now-defunct airline that he started, took from 17 Indian banks. The allegations are that Mallya siphoned off these funds to 40 other companies that he controls around the world.
In another headline-grabbing case in 2018, the CBI began an investigation into Nirav Modi, a high-profile Indian jeweller, on allegations that he and his partners defrauded the Punjab National Bank of Rs 28,000 crore, which he is alleged to have siphoned overseas by fraudulently obtaining letters of undertaking for making payments to overseas suppliers. Modi is absconding and is believed to be in the US even as the Interpol is looking for him.
More recently, in December 2019, another high-profile executive, Jagdish Khattar, the former managing director of Maruti Udyog Ltd., India’s largest carmaker, was booked by the CBI for charges against him of cheating the Punjab National Bank of Rs 110 crore. That case is still being investigated although Khattar has not been arrested.
These few examples are really the tip of the iceberg. Nefarious deals between banks and influential entrepreneurs abound in India. Not long ago, a private sector steel company was embroiled in a similar controversy when a partly government-controlled financial institution was believed to be lending it vast sums of money although past loans taken by the company had turned into non-performing assets.
The curious paradox about such cases is that in many of the cases, the authorities, including investigative agencies, wake up when it is already too late. In Yes Bank’s case, the RBI has been issuing warnings about financial inconsistencies in the bank’s reports. Doubts about Mallya’s ability to run his airline and manage his finances have been floating around long before he fled India.
The other, more disheartening, aspect of all this is the hagiographical treatment that the media have meted out to some of these controversial promoters and businessmen. Vijay Mallya, now 64, has had countless laudatory cover stories or “puff pieces” about him. Rana Kapoor, an aggressive publicity seeker, has found similar success with the Indian media. Jagdish Khattar was routinely lionised by India’s business press during his stint as managing director of Maruti between 2002 and 2007.
The truth is that India’s institutions, particularly in the financial sector, are prone to misuse—either because of the clout of powerful corporate borrowers or because of complicit bank officials, or both. India’s government has various laws, organisations and agencies that have been established to prevent financial fraud. Yet, with regular frequency, shocking instances of brazen misuse of the financial system come to light. What is needed is a will to break the cronyism that plagues the nexus between financiers and their corporate clients. And when frauds come to light, swift dispensation of justice could work as a deterrent.
Mohammad Hakim, 45, supplies jute bags to shops in Delhi for livelihood. During northeast Delhi communal violence in February, he provided shelter and safety to over 100 victims at his humble house in Chandu Nagar
It was something I have not seen in my lifetime. We migrated to Delhi from Khagariya district of Bihar 20 years back and since then we have been living here peacefully. We never thought such level of communal violence will ever happen here. On the intervening night of February 24 and 25, houses of my relatives was attacked and shops were set of fire. They called me for help.
My wife went there and saw some police personnel escorting my relatives and scores of other residents of the area, houses of whom were attacked by mobs with stones and petrol bombs. The cops left the rescued people in my lane. As my relatives entered my house, scores of others also pleaded for a shelter for some days. These people included women and young children.
Suddenly there was commotion towards the main road. I realised that stone-pelting had started once again. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt so I asked them to immediately enter my house.
There were 98 people in all including children. All of them managed to find space in my small house for four days. We didn’t have space to sleep for all of us; so we slept in shifts. I had some ration at my kitchen and it all got over in just two days. There was no milk for children so I requested my neighbours to help.
Even in these difficult times, people helped. My neighbours provided food and milk for the sheltered and their children. I remember not sleeping for four nights due to fear. Riots and clashes continued just two lanes ahead of my house. I was afraid that if anyone came to know that I had given shelter to nearly 100 people, their lives could be in danger. So several of us stayed awake during nights and kept a watch on the lanes.
The violence continued for four days and then abruptly stopped. Some of those who had taken shelter into my house, went to see their houses and found them burnt and looted. Their shops were also gutted. Hence, they came back and are still staying at my place.
I have a two-storied rented accommodation of 500 square feet. On the ground floor, I have a small workshop and godown and on the first floor, I have two small rooms, a kitchen and a washroom. It was all full for four days with no space to even walk. In the huddle, there was fear for an uncertain future. Most of those who had taken shelter were daily-wage labourers and vendors. Their livelihoods were completely lost in the violence. They have to feed their children; I don’t know how they will survive.
I am now trying to help these people to get government compensation. There are children who have to appear in the board exams. I have been buying newspapers for them so that we get all verified information about state measure for the riot-affected and holding of exams. God knows for how long these people will stay. I am getting help from my neighbours and other people to feed them. I just hope this never happens again. Both communities have suffered loss of life and property. The government must not allow such horrific thing to happen again.
Girls take selfie with on the occasion of the Holi festival celebration, in Guwahati on Tuesday.
In a blow to the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was a prominent and promising young face of the organisation, resigned from the party and is likely to join the BJP.
Scindia’s decision to leave Congress was followed by resignations of 22 party MLAs loyal to him, bringing the Kamal Nath government on the brink of a collapse. The legislators who have resigned include six ministers.
Before his resignation, Scindia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.
While Scindia wrote a resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the party expelled him for anti-party activities.
The young leader said in his letter that it was time “to move on”.
“Having been a primary member of the Congress Party for the last 18 years. it is now time for me to move on. I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year,” he said.
Scindia was seen to be close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and was picked by him to revive the party’s fortunes in Uttar Pradesh. He was given charge of western Uttar Pradesh while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was given charge of eastern parts of the state.
Scindia had played an important role in the Congress edging past BJP in the last assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 and forming the government in the state after 15 years. He is a former union minister and son of veteran Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia.
After the assembly polls, the Congress appointed Kamal Nath as chief minister even though Scindia’s supporters wanted him to don the mantle. Scindia was apparently keen to become the state Congress chief but was not given the post. He had been signaling his unhappiness for some time.
The immediate fallout of Scinida’s resignation for Congress is the deep crisis its government now faces in Madhya Pradesh.
Kamal Nath had a meeting with party leaders including Digvijaya Singh, Jitu Patwari, Bala Bachchan, Sajjan Singh Verma, Surendra Singh Baghel at his residence on Tuesday as Scindia resigned.
Party leader Kantilal Bhuria said after the meeting that they have the required number of MLAs for a majority.
“The state government is strong and it will continue in office. The government is not going to fall because someone is saying so. We have the required number of MLAs,” he told reporters in Bhopal.
However, another party leader, Laxman Singh said that the Kamal Nath government will not survive in Madhya Pradesh and the party should be prepared to sit in the opposition.
“I will meet Chief Minister Kamal Nath to discuss the future strategy,” Laxman, brother of former chief minister Digvijaya Singh said.
In the middle of the crisis, 20 cabinet ministers in Madhya Pradesh had tendered their resignations to Kamal Nath late on Monday night to enable him to reconstitute his cabinet.
ANI
Jyotiraditya Scindia’s aunt and Madhavrao’s sister, Yashodhara Raje Scindia, on Tuesday welcomed his nephew’s decision to quit Congress by calling it a “ghar wapasi” (home coming).
She said the bold move of quitting Congress by Jyotiraditya has been taken in the national interest.
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Yashodhara said: “I am very happy and congratulate him. This is ‘ghar vapasi’. Madhavrao Scindia had started his political career with Jan Sangh. Jyotiraditya was being neglected in Congress.”
“Rajmata’s blood took the decision in the national interest, the new country will be formed, now every distance has been reduced. I warmly welcome Jyotiraditya Scindia’s bold move to leave the Congress,” Yashodhara tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).
It is to mention that March 10, the day when Jyotiraditya quit Congress, also falls on the 75th birth anniversary of his late father Madhavrao.
“Greetings on the birth anniversary of my elder brother Srimanta Madhavrao Scindia. Dada, you have always inspired me to move selflessly on the path of public service. I know your affection and blessings are still leading me on this difficult service path,” she further wrote.
Jyotiraditya, who had served the Congress for 18 years, resigned from the party on Tuesday, stating that “it is time to move on.”Congress has been witnessing an internal turf war in Madhya Pradesh since the party formed a government in the state.
(ANI)
The first batch of 58 pilgrims who had been stuck in Iran, one of the worst coronavirus-affected nation, arrived at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad on Tuesday morning.
“First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from #Iran. IAF C-17 taken off from Tehran and expected to land soon in Hindon,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed a little while ago.
The Minister lauded the efforts of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian mebassy in Tehran as well as those of Iranian authorities in evacuating the Indian pilgrims.
“Thanks to the efforts of our Embassy @India_in_Iran and Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions. Thank you @IAF_MCC. Appreciate cooperation of Iranian authorities,” Jaishankar added.
IAF’s C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft had departed for Iran on Monday from Hindon Air Force Station here to bring back Indian nationals stuck in Iran.
Iran is among the countries most affected by the novel coronavirus. The country has reported 7,161 cases of the disease so far while 237 people have died of the infection — the highest outside of China.
The IAF aircraft had earlier been sent to the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan with about 15 tonnes of medical equipment and had brought back 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals.
The External Affairs Minister had informed on Monday that the screening process of Indian nationals stranded in Iran has started and follow up arrangements were being discussed with Iranian authorities to bring them back.
“We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there,” the dignitary also said in his twitter thread today.
Earlier in the day today, Jaishankar met families of Indian students stranded in Iran and assured them that the Centre has been facilitating their early return to India.
Around 40 Indian citizens are stranded at Qom city in Iran. New Delhi has sent a team of doctors to Iran for screening and has established a clinic at Qom.
Iranian Embassy here has also assured that the Indian citizens with no symptoms of the virus will be transferred to India and those whose medical test results are positive will be hospitalised in one of the advanced special medical centres designated by Iran’s Ministry of Health. (ANI)
Amid speculation that 17 legislators, considered loyal to Jyotirditya Scindia, planning to plunge Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh in crisis, 16 state minister tendered their resignation to the chief minister, who will now reconstitute the state cabinet.
The ministers were present in a meeting with Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday night to discuss the impending crisis.
Earlier on Monday, Kamal Nath said that he had discussed the political situation with party chief Sonia Gandhi and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was perturbed as its “corruption over its 15-year rule is going to be exposed”.
The Chief Minister also said that Congress MLAs who were reportedly missing have returned and informed him that they were on `tirth yatra’.
Allegations were levelled against the BJP for reportedly holding hostages at least eight Madhya Pradesh MLAs against their will in ITC Resort in Gurugram’s Manesar and Bengaluru.
In 2018 Assembly results, Congress, which won 114 seats in the 230-member Assembly formed the government with the support of four Independent MLAs and two BSP MLAs, and a legislator from the Samajwadi Party (SP).
The BJP had secured 109 seats in the state Assembly. (ANI)
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