Month: June 2021

By Amit Kumar

No Congress leader, it is learnt, attended Tuesday’s high-profile political meeting at veteran leader and NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s Delhi residence held under the banner of Rashtriya Manch. It is learnt that an invitation was sent to almost all opposition parties including Congress leaders.

Among the big names from other opposition parties who turned up included– Trinamool Congress leader Yashwant Sinha, Rashtriya Lokdal President Jayant Chaudhary and Communist Party of India MP Binoy Viswam, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Nilotapal Basu and the National Conference leader Omar Abdullah.

Updating media persons on the absence of Congress leaders from the meeting, NCP leader Majid Menon said he personally invited five Congress leaders–Kapil Sibbal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vivek Tankha, Manish Tiwari–“but some reason they could not attend the meeting.”

“I want to clarify that today meeting is not called against BJP, and also clear that today meeting has not called by Sharad Pawar but by Yashwant Sinha under the banner of Rashtriya Manch. You can not call a political meeting,’ the ex NCP Rajya Sabha MP Menon said.

Ghanshyam Tiwary, coordinator of Rashtriya Manch said that in the two and a half-hour meeting leaders discussed various thing including the current situation of the economy.

“It was a two and a half-hour long meeting. Various topics were discussed including the current situation of the economy, price rise of essential commodities, fuel price, COVID mismanagement and Centre-state relation,” said Tiwary.

Rashtra Manch is a political action group that was set up by former union minister Yashwant Sinha in 2018. (ANI)

A meeting of the Union cabinet is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

“Union Cabinet meeting will take place at 11 am,” an official said. The meeting comes amid the speculation over a possible cabinet expansion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government.

The buzz that was going on for quite some time intensified after a series of meetings took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in the national capital. Sources stated Nadda had been frequently visiting the PM’s residence for a month now.

Earlier sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that the party is likely to accommodate a few of its prominent leaders and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members in the Narendra Modi Cabinet soon. It has been two years since the NDA came back to power in 2019.

There are also speculations of several senior leaders like former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia to be accommodated. Recently, Uttarakhand former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat met the PM as well.

Several positions in the Cabinet are vacant due to the exit of Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal and the demise of Ramvilas Paswan of Jan Lokshakti Party.

It is also understood that important NDA ally Janta Dal-United is also expected to be provided with a berth in the Cabinet.

Ahead of the Union Cabinet Meeting on June 23, JD-U national president RCP Singh on Monday said that whenever the cabinet expansion would happen, JD-U would definitely be a part of it.

Speaking to ANI, Singh had said, “I have said it earlier too. Whenever there will be an expansion of the union cabinet, JD(U) will also definitely be a part of it because JD(U) is an ally in the NDA. I have said this earlier too and there is no confusion in it.”

It has been two years since the NDA came back to power in 2019. The much-awaited cabinet reshuffle would be the first such rejig of the Narendra Modi cabinet after it was voted back to power in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

With UP elections in the offing, Apna Dal, too, is likely to get accommodated. Apna Dal leader Anupriya recently met Shah at his residence.

It is also learnt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also rejig the portfolios of several of his ministers. “At present, several ministers have been burdened with multiple portfolios, this may change and some of these may be allocated to the newly inducted ministers,” sources had added.

Party sources had earlier stated that leaders from several key states like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to be accommodated in the expansion as the BJP aims to expand in these states in the future. (ANI)

West Bengal TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to politicise the issue of actor-turned-politician Nusrat Jahan’s marriage.

“BJP is trying to politicise the personal matter of Nusrat Jahan. This is her personal family matter. If we start looking into the personal lives of others, it can be problematic for many people belonging to many parties,” Ghosh told mediapersons in Kolkata.

“Nusrat Jahan officially informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat and other departments concerned two weeks back that her marriage annulment proceedings are in court,” sources close to the TMC MP told ANI on Tuesday.

The controversy over Jahan’s “contradictory” remarks concerning her marital status has refused to die down with BJP MP Sanghmitra Maurya writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding that the matter be referred to the Ethics Committee for detailed “investigation for her illegal and ethical conduct” and appropriate action should be taken against her.

“TMC MP Nusrat Jahan in her bio (in Lok Sabha) mentioned that she is married and her husband’s name is Nikhil Jain. She took oath as Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain. Now she is saying that her marriage is invalid. I made an appeal to Speaker to take an action,” said BJP MP Sanghmitra Maurya.

Maurya described her membership of the House as “non-est”.

In her letter to the Speaker on June 19, Sanghmitra Maurya, who is BJP MP from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, attached the Lok Sabha profile of the Trinamool Congress MP where she has mentioned her husband’s name as Nikhil Jain.

“An appropriate action be intimated under relevant rules of Lok Sabha procedure and/ or the matter be referred to Committee on Ethics for detailed investigation for her illegal and ethical conduct,” Maurya said in the letter.

“Her media statement regarding her marital status controvert her oath for Lok Sabha membership wherein she took oath as Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain. This effectively renders her membership as non- est in law,” the letter added.

Maurya’s letter said Jahan in her oath ceremony on June 25, 2019 pronounced her name as Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain and was also dressed as a newly-wed person.

Speaking to ANI, Maurya said Jahan is entitled to her personal life and nobody should encroach upon it but her recent media statement about her marriage means “she deliberately provided false information in parliament”.

“She deliberately provided false information to Lok Sabha Secretariat thereby indulging in unethical, illegal and immoral conduct. She cheated her electorate by giving false information and this brings bad name to parliament and its members,” Maurya alleged.

West Bengal BJP vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar had earlier this month accused Jahan of making “contradictory” remarks pertaining to her marital status and said the law should take its own course.

“This is a huge contradiction. She is a member of parliament. She is a lawmaker and she is not obeying the provisions. The law should take its own course. Even in parliament, she said that her marital status is ‘married’,” Majumdar had said.

He had referred to Nusrat Jahan’s remarks about her separation from businessman Nikhil Jain, in which she said the question of divorce does not arise as the “ceremony” was never valid under Indian law.

Majumdar said the MP is now saying she is not married.

Nusrat Jahan had said in the statement that getting married in a foreign land (Turkey), as per Turkish Marriage Regulation, her marriage is invalid in India.

“Since it was an inter-faith marriage, it requires validation under Special Marriage Act in India, which did not happen. As per the court of law, it is not a marriage, but a relationship or a live-in relationship. Thus, the question of divorce does not arise,” she said.

The Basirhat MP also said the alleged marriage is not legal, valid, and tenable and thus, was not a marriage at all in the eyes of the law.

The actor-turned-politician went on to say that her visit to any place, for business or for the purpose of leisure, should not concern anyone from whom she has separated. All her expenses have always been borne by her contrary to claims by “someone”, she said. (ANI)

Calling for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to ensure reduction in violence in Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately for enduring peace in the war-torn country.

In his statement during the UNSC Debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the Minister said there needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terror acts.
He said it is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country and those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable.

“For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately and terrorist supply chains disrupted. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including its cross-border one. We, as international community, must ensure that our commitments to Afghanistan, including to its various institutions are maintained,” he said.

Referring to Afghanistan’s economic development, the minister said it is important to have unhindered access to the high seas.

“The international community should work towards the removal of artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan and ensure full transit rights guaranteed to Afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements without any hindrance,” he said.

Referring to the report of the Secretary General on the situation in Afghanistan issued last week, he said it is clear that the intra-Afghan talks have not resulted in a reduction of violence in Afghanistan and on the contrary, violence has only increased, especially after May 1.

He said the country has been witnessing targeted attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, girl students, Afghan security forces, Ulemas, women occupying positions of responsibility, journalists, civil rights activists and youth.

“It is, therefore, crucial that the international community and, in particular, this Council presses for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to ensure immediate reduction in violence and protection of civilian lives,” Jaishankar said.

He said a durable peace in Afghanistan requires a genuine double peace – That is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan.

“It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country,” he said.

Jaishankar said India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including the intra-Afghan negotiations.

“If the peace process is to be successful, then it is necessary to ensure that the negotiating parties continue to engage in good faith, eschew the path to find a military solution, and fully commit towards reaching a political solution. A tangible demonstration of this commitment is required.”

The minister said India welcomes any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.

“We support a leading role for the United Nations, since that would help improve the odds for a lasting and durable outcome,” he said.

“I would like to reiterate our support for an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process. Any political settlement in Afghanistan must ensure that the gains of the last two decades are protected, and not reversed. It should, therefore, preserve the constitutional democratic framework and ensure the protection of rights of women, children and minorities,” he added.

The minister said India’s development partnership, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces is aimed at making Afghanistan a self-sustaining nation.

“Additionally, we have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Afghanistan for building the Shatoo dam, which would provide safe drinking water to the residents of Kabul city,” he said.

He said India has operationalized air freight corridors and the Chabahar Port India also extended humanitarian assistance of 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port to overcome food insecurity in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Further, as a part of our endeavour to help Afghanistan tide over NSE the COVID-19 pandemic, we have supplied Made-in-India vaccines to Afghanistan, both bilaterally and through the COVAX facility.”

The minister said India continues to stand with Afghanistan in ensuring restoration of normalcy through a legitimate democratic process that is essential for the long-term stability of Afghanistan and the region.

“India will continue to provide all support to the Government and people of Afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future, free of terror, so as to protect and promote the rights and interests of all sections of Afghan society,” he said. (ANI)

Mira Rajput Kapoor on Tuesday shared a glimpse of her dream team featuring none other than her husband Shahid Kapoor and brother-in-law Ishaan Khatter.

In the Instagram images, three of them are seen sporting workout clothes.

“Dream team,” Mira captioned the post. The trio’s picture has won several hearts.

“So cool. It would be fun watching you guys working out together,” a user commented. “Posers. I wish to be a part of your dream team as well,” another one wrote.

A day ago, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Mira treated her fans with a video of her performing yoga asanas.

“You don’t need to be a Yogi to do Yoga. Bring your mat and some motivation and let’s get flowing,” she had posted.

Mira and Shahid tied the knot in 2015. They share two children, four-year-old daughter Misha and two-year-old son Zain. (ANI)

Swara Bhasker and Divya Dutta-starrer ‘Sheer Qorma’ is all set to be screened at the upcoming edition of Indian Film Festival Stuttgart (IFFS), which will take place from July 21 to 25.

Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, ‘Sheer Qorma’ is based on an LGBTQ+ theme and it narrates a story of love between two women (played by Divya and Swara).

Sharing the news on her Twitter handle, Swara wrote: “HUGE! #SheerQorma will have its German Premiere at the prestigious #IFFStuttgart ! Also nominated for the Best Film Award and German Star of India Award. Grateful to the entire team at Indisches Filmfestival Stuttgart! #IFFStuttgart A film by @futterwackening #LoveWins.”

Director Faraz, too, shared the news on his Instagram account.

“SheerQorma will have its German Premiere at the prestigious @iff.stuttgart! Elated to share that we are also nominated for the Best Film Award and German Star of India Award. Grateful to the entire team at Indisches Filmfestival Stuttgart! #IFFStuttgart,” he wrote.

‘Sheer Qorma’ also starred actors Shabana Azmi, Priya Malik and Jitin Gulati. (ANI)

Leaders of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday announced to attend an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24 but remained rigid on restoring Article 370 and 35A which gave special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Mehbooba Mufti, Mohmmad Yusuf Tarigami, and I will attend the all-party meeting called by PM. We hope to keep our agenda before Prime Minister and Home Minister,” National Conference president Farooq Abdullah told reporters here.
The alliance took the decision after its meeting at the residence of its chairperson Farooq Abdullah earlier today.

Several parties, including the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference and CPI(M) and Muzaffar Shah’s Awami National Conference formed the PAGD. Farooq Abdullah was chosen as president of the alliance and Mehbooba Mufti as its vice-president. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on October 24 last year had said that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration has been formed to ensure the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are restored.

Sharing the meeting’s agenda, Gupkar Alliance member, Muzaffar Shah said, “There can be no compromise on Article 370 and 35A.”

Meanwhile, Ravinder Raina, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief welcomed the decision of PAGD leaders to attend the meeting.

“We welcome that all political parties are taking part in the meeting. In J-K, due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, many innocent people have lost their lives. PM has called for all party meet it’s our responsibility to put forth the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir before him,” he said.

“A meeting of all senior leaders of J&K BJP has been called at its party office here today. The discussion will be held over various issues that will be taken up in the meet on June 24,” he added.

Earlier, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has telephonically invited leaders of various political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in a meeting to be held at Prime Minister’s residence on Thursday, officials said.

They said telephone calls were made to top leaders of various parties including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Home Minister Amit Shah along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top security officials had met in the national capital on Friday to discuss various issues regarding Jammu and Kashmir with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials.

The June 24 meeting is the first such meet after the Centre, in August 2019, abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 was notified by the government on August 9, 2019, paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it.

The Act provides that the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission. (ANI)

The price of bitcoin has nosedived after fresh reports emerged that China has expanded its crackdown on the mining of cryptocurrencies.

On Monday morning, Bitcoin traded as much as 9 per cent lower before recovering slightly, New York Post reported. Later on Tuesday, the crypto dipped over 3 per cent to around USD 32,000, according to the CoinMarketCap index.
The crypto has suffered a dip of 18.62 per cent over the past week. Moreover, other cryptos, including ether, cardano, XRP and dogecoin, were all also trading lower.

This development comes after Global Times reported Chinese regulators have also been stepping up a crackdown on cryptocurrency mining operations in the country. Major mining hubs such as Southwest China’s Sichuan Province are being shut down.

According to experts, more than 90 per cent of China’s cryptocurrency mining capacity is expected to be shut down.

On Monday, China’s central bank held talks with a number of Chinese banks and payment institutions with regard to cryptocurrency trading speculation, asking them to screen the capital accounts of cryptocurrency exchanges and over-the-counter dealers and cut relevant payment links.

Despite being the world’s largest mining work for bitcoin, China has intensified a crackdown on cryptocurrencies by banning institutions and companies from providing cryptocurrency services to customers.

Last month, three financial self-regulatory bodies had issued a joint notice banning financial institutions and payment companies from directly or indirectly providing cryptocurrency services to customers, including accepting the currency as payment, Nikkei Asia reported. (ANI)

Singer Millind Gaba on Tuesday launched the music video of his new song, titled ‘Shanti’, which features none other than Nikki Tamboli.

For the unversed, Nikki rose to fame with her stint in ‘Big Boss 14’.
“‘Shanti’ is a fun party song. The lyrics and music are catchy and the sets are really bright with pop colours. I’m sure my fans are going to love it,” Millind said in a statement.

Nikki has had a good time shooting with Milind for the T-series presented song.

“‘Shanti’ is guaranteed to have you grooving. I had a lot of fun filming this one with Millind Gaba and hopefully, everyone will love it just as much,” she added.

Millind is best known for crooning to songs such as ‘Zindagi ki Paudi’ and ‘Yaar Mod Do’.(ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday opposed the bail petition of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah and said that the present case discloses the commission of a serious crime where the accused is involved in the “generation of huge proceeds of crime from various countries including Pakistan to create unrest in Kashmir”.

In its reply filed in response to the bail petition of Shabir Shah in a Delhi court, the ED stated that “Shah was also involved in terror financing activities as terrorists need money to sustain themselves and to carry out terrorist acts. Money-laundering is the method by which criminals disguise the illegal origins of their wealth and protect their asset bases, so as to avoid the suspicion of law enforcement agencies and prevent leaving a trail of incriminating evidence.”
Hearing in the matter on Tuesday adjourned for June 29 by Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana as the concerned lawyer for Shah did not appear for the arguments in the matter due to personal difficulty.

According to the ED reply, accused Shabir Ahmad Shah was in regular touch with Hafiz Sayeed Chief of Band Terrorist Outfit Jamat-Ud-Dawa (JuD), based in Pakistan. Jamat-Ud-Dawa is a banned Organization under UNSC resolution number 1267 which organises and supports cross-border terrorism.

Shabir Ahmad Shah was also in touch with one Mohd. Shafi Shayar, who belongs to Kashmir and had escaped to Pakistan along with his family after his release from Central Jail Jammu.

“There are serious allegations against the applicant and further investigation in the matter is going on and the properties are being identified. The money trail is trying to be established. Further investigation in relation to the origin is being carried out. Call records leading to Pakistan are being scrutinised including mails and the donors who have paid the money to the applicant are to be identified and examined. If the applicant accused is released on bail at this juncture the entire efforts of the respondents to unearth the large conspiracy would be a futile exercise,” said the ED.

In this matter, Advocate Rajeev Awasthi and Advocate Naveen Kumar Matta are representing Enforcement Directorate while Advocate MS Khan, Adv Quaser Khan, and Advocate Ankit Karna appeared for Shabbir Shah.

Shabbir Shah recently had moved the bail application for grant of bail invoking the provisions of sec 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure on the ground that he has undergone half of the sentence prescribed for the offence of Money Laundering under section 4 of PMLA.

Aslam Wani, co-accused in the matter is already granted bail in the matter and Shah is also suffering from various health issues, stated in the bail petition.

Earlier, Shah had mentioned in a bail application that he is a chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party and allegations levelled against him are “motivated and based on falsehood”.

The first case was registered against him in 2007 for the alleged money laundering committed in 2005 for the purpose of terror financing. He was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 25, 2017, in connection with the 2005 case.

In another case, the NIA took Shah in custody in June 2019 in connection with its probe into a separate terror funding case involving Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

Several separatist leaders including Shah, Masrat Alam, and Asiya Andrabi are in judicial custody in connection with the case which involves the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. (ANI)