Month: December 2020

Police arrested Member of National Assembly (MNA) and Pashtun leader Ali Wazir here on Wednesday in connection with a case registered against him and several leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Karachi after a recent public meeting by the country’s opposition.

The PTM leaders were accused of committing several offences, including hatching a criminal conspiracy and passing derogatory remarks against state institutions, reported Dawn.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that Wazir was arrested at the request of the Sindh police.

The CCPO said that Wazir would be shifted to Karachi after fulfilling legal requirements, and would be produced before a court on Thursday to get his transit custody for shifting him to Karachi.

According to Dawn, witnesses said Wazir was arrested after he attended a ceremony held at Shuhada APS Public Library in connection with the sixth anniversary of the Army Public School attack, where 147 people were killed.

Several leaders of the PTM, who have also been charged in the case, were also present but were not arrested.

Apart from Wazir, others named in the FIR include PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen and MNA Mohsin Dawar among others.

The complainant in the case claimed that when he reached the venue of the public meeting he saw the suspects addressing around 2,000 participants and trying to create hatred towards different groups and to create law and order problems, Dawn reported.

This comes as the rattled Imran Khan’s government registered a case against a central leadership of opposition’s 11-party alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — for causing irreparable damage to a national asset at the rally in Lahore. (ANI)

The BJP is deploying five Union ministers and other central leaders to West Bengal and has assigned them to manage six to seven Lok Sabha constituencies each in the state, which heads into Assembly polls early next year.

“On the electoral front in Bengal, five Union Ministers have been given the responsibility of five to six Lok Sabha constituencies,” sources in the party said on Thursday.

Union Minister Amit Shah is headed for the state this week, his second visit in one and a half months. On his two-day visit from November 5-6, Shah had held meetings with party leaders.

Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel and Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Independent Charge) Mansukh Mandaviya have been given the responsibility of looking after six Lok Sabha constituencies each, while Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjeev Balyan and Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has been asked to look after five Lok Sabha constituencies each.

The sources said that two senior Cabinet Ministers from other states have also been tasked with looking after some constituencies in West Bengal.

“Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has been given the responsibility of three Lok Sabha constituencies of Bengal’s Habra and Hubli where he will be responsible for all the preparations being made from the point of view of elections. Narottam Mishra, senior Cabinet Minister of Madhya Pradesh has been given responsibility for the West Bengal elections. Mishra will be looking after the work of three Lok Sabha constituencies in Bardhaman region of Bengal,” they said further.

The BJP won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections, and is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to form the next government in the state. Elections to the 294- seat West Bengal assembly is likely to be held in a few months time. (ANI)

The Supreme Court must direct the Central government to put on hold the three farm laws against which thousands of farmers are protesting at the borders of Delhi, All India Kisan Sabha President Ashok Dhawale said on Thursday.

“The Supreme Court must direct the government to put these three laws on hold and to immediately call a Parliament session to repeal these laws. After that, a committee can be formed for other things like minimum support price (MSP),” Dhawale told ANI here.

The remark comes after the Supreme Court, earlier today, asked the Central government to explore the possibility of putting the three farm laws on hold to facilitate talks.

Meanwhile, KV Biju, the National Coordinator of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, one of the unions protesting at the Singhu border, said that they have decided to consult four senior Supreme Court lawyers.

“In our committee today, we took a decision about the case in the Supreme Court. We’ll consult with four senior Supreme Court lawyers namely Prashant Bhushan, Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka and Colin Gonsalves,” Biju said.

During the hearing earlier today, the Supreme Court had observed that the protest is constitutional until it does not destroy property or endanger life and remarked that the purpose of the farmers’ protest cannot be realised by demonstrating without engaging in discussions.

The bench also said it was considering setting up an impartial and independent committee that will hear both sides and submit its findings.

“We are thinking of an impartial and independent committee before whom both parties can give its side of the story. The committee will give a finding which should be followed. The protest can go on in the meanwhile and the protest cannot endanger life,” a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said.

This comes as thousands of farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital for over the past 20 days against three recently passed farm laws. While the Centre and the farmer leaders are engaged in talks, the discussions have remained inconclusive so far. (ANI)

Allowing the farmers’ protest to be continued, as long as it “does not result in damage to the life and properties of other citizens”, the Supreme Court on Thursday suggested the constitution of a “committee, comprising of independent and impartial persons, including experts in the field of agriculture”, to end the stalemate with the government.

“We are of the view that at this stage, the farmers’ protest should be allowed to continue without impediment and without any breach of peace either by the protesters or the police,” a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said in its order on a petition, seeking removal of protesters from the Delhi borders.

The bench added: “In order to bring about an effective solution to the present stalemate between the protesters and the Government of India, we consider it appropriate in the interests of justice to constitute a committee comprising of independent and impartial persons including experts in the field of agriculture for the purpose.”

“This may not be possible without hearing all the necessary parties. Till the parties come before us, it would be advisable to obtain suggestions about the constitution of the said committee from all the parties which may be submitted by them on the date of next hearing in the matter,” the Bench added.

It posted the matter for next hearing after winter vacation when the court reopens on January 4, 2021.

The farmers have been protesting in and around the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The Supreme Court further clarified that it will not interfere with the protest in question. “Indeed the right to protest is part of a fundamental right and can as a matter of fact, be exercised subject to public order. There can certainly be no impediment in the exercise of such rights as long as it is non-violent and does not result in damage to the life and properties of other citizens and is in accordance with law.” (ANI)

Actor Genelia Deshmukh on Thursday marked the 42nd birthday of her actor-husband Riteish Deshmukh with a special video reel.

The ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ actor took to Instagram to share the video reel that comprised of several of some of her memorable moments with Ritiesh and their kids.

The ‘Force,’ actor also went on to pen down a long note expressing her love for her husband and sharing how he found the “perfect,” person him.

“There are times in life you search and you search and you search, for someone perfect.. N sometimes you just never really find that person,” she said.

“I didn’t search when I met you but I was in love with the idea of having a guy like you N Then the real deal happened, You happened to me @riteishd,” she added.

The 33-year-old actor went on to share how she and Riteish have gone through all of their phases of life together.

“We have gone through all our phases in life together, From being clueless teenagers to husband and wife to parents and it’s all been beautiful but the best part of my life will always be YOU and that doesn’t change, no matter how much time goes by,” she wrote.

“So I don’t believe we had everything perfect, I just believe we stuck with our imperfections, with our weirdness, with our flaws, and found something so imperfectly perfect,” the ‘Masti’ actor added.

She ended the note by wishing her husband on the special occasion, “I Love You @riteishd Happy Birthday Navra.”

The celebrity couple who have worked in several films like ‘Masti,’ and ‘Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya,’ together tied the knot in 2012. (ANI)

India on Thursday said that it is expecting that further discussions with China will help both sides to achieve an agreement on a mutually acceptable solution for ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquillity as early as possible.

“The two sides continue to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels. These discussions have helped both sides to enhance understanding of each other’s positions,” said Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Anurag Srivastava when asked about next Working Mechanism for Coordination and Consultation (WMCC) meeting between India and China.

“It is our expectation that the further discussions will help both sides to achieve an agreement on a mutually acceptable solution for ensuring complete disengagement in all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector and full restoration of peace and tranquillity as early as possible,” he added.

India has been engaged in a military standoff with China in the Eastern Ladakh sector where the Chinese side has transgressed at multiple locations and attempted to change the status quo on the LAC. (ANI)

Union Minister and BJP leader KJ Alphons on Thursday said that even though the BJP did very well in the recently held panchayat elections in Kerala, the party could have done even better.

“We are very happy with the results. Our numbers have gone up. we are very happy. However, we could have done even better. Like in Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the Congress ended up supporting the Communists, because they knew the BJP was going to win there,” the minister said while speaking to ANI.

He further said, “This time we won a total of 1,623 seats in Gram Panchayats, Blocks, Zila panchayats, corporations, and municipalities put together. We are going to be in power in 23 gram panchayats. There are close 50 gram panchayats in which our numbers are equal to the numbers of other parties. In some of those panchayats as well, we might come to power.”

“In gram panchayats, we have got 1, 182 seats, in block panchayats we got 37 seats, in Zila Panchayat we got two seats. The numbers have gone up dramatically in municipalities, which is 320. We have got 59 seats in corporations. It is a very good performance overall,” Alphons added while talking about the number of seats that the BJP won.

Hitting out at the Congress, the minister observed that the party joined hands with the LDF in places where they knew BJP was going to win.

“Many other places where they knew BJP was going to win, the Congress aligned with the LDF. Congress has collapsed in most places. That was expected. They have no ideology. They support whom they want,” he observed. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to TV producer Ekta Kapoor in an FIR against her for alleged objectionable content in her web series “XXX season 2”.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde granted interim protection to Kapoor.

She had moved the apex court after the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, in November this year, dismissed her petition seeking that a case filed against her for alleged objectionable content in web series “XXX season 2” be quashed.

The High Court had dismissed a petition of Kapoor seeking quashing of a case registered against her for alleged obscenity in a web series produced by her.

The complainant had alleged an episode of the series ‘XXX uncensored’ was obscene and caused annoyance to him, hurt his religious feelings and dishonored the Army.

The case was registered at the Annapurna police station, Indore, under Sections 294 (Obscene acts and songs), 298 and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the India Penal Code and various relevant sections of the IT Act and the State Emblem Act. (ANI)

Actors Sonu Sood has been named as the hottest vegetarian celebrities of 2020 by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) India.

The announcement was made by PETA India on their Twitter page.

While Sood has been named as the hottest vegetarian celebrity in the male category, actor Shraddha Kapoor has been given the same title in the female category.

“Applause! Here are PETA India’s hottest vegetarians of 2020: @SonuSood@ShraddhaKapoor,” tweeted PETA India along with pictures of the two celebrities.

To celebrate the moment, Sood took to Twitter and shared the trophy that was given to him by the non-profit organisation that works against animal cruelty.

“Thank you @PetaIndia,” Sood tweeted along with the picture. (ANI)

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Thursday said that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) polarisation agenda can be contained in the state.

“Message of Kerala election to the nation: BJP’s polarisation agenda can be contained. You have to an agenda that strengthens unity of people like the demands of the agitating farmers in Delhi and alternative development agenda as in Kerala. Will Congress rethink their tactics?” said Thomas Isaac.

As per latest trends, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF is leading in 516 out of the total 941 gram panchayats, according to the State Election Commission figures on Wednesday.

The Congress-led UDF was ahead in 375 gram panchayats while NDA is leading in 22 gram panchayats.

Out of the six corporations in the state, the LDF and the UDF were leading in three each.

The Kerala local body polls were held in three phases. The first phase saw a turnout of 73.12 per cent, while the second phase saw 76.78 and the third and final phase 78.64 per cent.

A total of 21,893 wards in 1,200 local self-governing bodies, including six corporations, 941 village panchayats, 14 district panchayats and 87 municipalities went to the polls in on December 8, 10 and 14. (ANI)