Month: February 2022

Former Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Sunil Jakhar has claimed that 42 of 79 party MLAs wanted him to take over as the Punjab Chief Minister after Captain Amarinder Singh stepped down from the post while only two legislators favoured Charanjit Singh Channi.

Addressing a public meeting in his Abohar on Tuesday, Jakhar said, “There were 42 MLAs in my favour, only two MLAs took Channi’s name as Chief Minister.”
He also claimed that he declined the post of Deputy Chief Minister offered to him by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Jakhar said that 16 MLAs were in support of Sukhjinder Randhawa, 12 MLAs wanted Captain’s wife Preneet Kaur for the Deputy chief minister post while only 6 MLAs were in favour of Navjot Singh Sidhu.

In September last year, Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn in as Chief Minister of Punjab while Sukhjinder Randhawa and OP Soni took oath as deputy chief ministers.

Notably, Jakhar has been vocal against his own party for quite some while now.

Jakhar’s remark came as the Congress party is yet to announce its CM candidate for the Punjab Assembly elections.

Addressing a virtual rally in Jalandhar on January 27, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the party workers will take the decision regarding the chief ministerial face for Punjab.

“We have had a talk in the car that who will lead Punjab going forward. Media people call this the CM candidate. Both Channiji and Sidhuji told me that this is the most crucial question in front of Punjab that who will lead the Congress. Both Channi and Sidhu assured him that whoever be the CM face for Punjab, the other person will support him.”

“Two people can’t lead. Only one will lead. Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu assured me that whoever becomes the CM face, the other person will support him. I was listening to them. I was happy. We will ask Congress workers to decide Punjab Chief Ministerial candidate,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

Six reports of department-related Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture and Motion of Thanks to the President’s address among key business listed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

These reports will be laid on the table soon after the Upper House will assemble at 10 am. The reports are linked to Transport, Tourism and Culture, including Three Hundred Fourth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in its Two Hundred Ninety-Third Report on ‘Status of Aviation Connectivity in the country’; Three Hundred Fifth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in its Two Hundred Ninety Fourth Report on Development and Conservation of Museums and Archaeological Sites – Challenges and Opportunities’; and Three Hundred Sixth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in its Two Hundred Ninety-Fifth Report on ‘Potential of Tourist Spots in the country – Connectivity and Outreach’.
Other reports include Three Hundred Seventh Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in its Two Hundred Ninety Sixth Report on “Role of Highways in Nation Building’, Three Hundred Eighth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations observations contained in its Two Hundred Ninety Seventh Report on “Functioning of Airports Authority of India’ and Three Hundred Ninth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in its Three Hundredth Report on “Promotion of Infrastructure in India’s Maritime Sector’.

Besides these, obituary references will also be made to the passing away of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu of South Africa and David Sassoli, the then serving President of the European Parliament.

The government will also table papers related to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Subsequently, the discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s address is slated.

Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha Geeta alias Chandraprabha is scheduled to initiate the discussion with a move that the “Members of the Rajya Sabha assembled in this Session are deeply grateful to the President for the Address which he has been pleased to deliver to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on January 31, 2022.”

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MP in the Upper House Swati Malik will second the motion. (ANI)

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urged the Members of the House to ensure a productive Budget Session as it was taking place at the confluence of the historic 75th year of Independence and 70 years of electoral journey of free India.

During his observations in the House today, Naidu highlighted the significance of the context of this session and urged all sections to ensure the best performance of the House during this session by reminding the Members of 93.50 per cent of productivity during the Budget Session last year.
Informing the Members that there will be a 13-hour debate on Motion of Thanks to President for his address to Members of both the Houses (from today) and more than 11-hour debate on the Union Budget, Naidu stressed that “These two important overarching discussions enable Members to raise any and every issue while adhering to the spirit of the Rules and Conventions of the House”.

He urged the Members to make the most out of the opportunities during these debates.

Stating that this Budget Session is taking place at the mid-point of the 75th year of Independence fought and won for ‘Swaraj’ by the people, Naidu urged the Members to reflect on the functioning of the House during this historic year.

He reminded that the House lost 52.10 per cent of functional time during the last winter session, the first in the 75th year of freedom and a high of 70.40 per cent during the monsoon session last year.

The Chairman said, “This trend of disruptions is highly disturbing. I refer to the same with a fervent hope that we all reflect on the same and conduct in a manner befitting the historic time that we are passing through”.

The Vice President noted that the 50 per cent increase in voter turn out from 45 per cent in the elections to the first Lok Sabha during 1951-52 to the highest ever of over 67 per cent in 2019 is a clear demonstration of the continued faith of citizens of the country in democracy.

He expressed disappointment saying, “However, our legislatures and elected representatives of the people do not seem to be reciprocating in equal measure with the functioning of legislatures declining over the years.”

The Chairman urged the 5,000 MPs, MLAs and MLCs to resolve in this historic year to return to the people the favour they have doing by relentlessly nurturing the democracy over the last 70 years. He further said: “The only way of doing so is to conduct themselves (the 5,000) in a manner befitting the trust the citizens still have in our parliamentary democracy”.

Marshalling evidence Naidu sought to dispel the perception that the special allowance of 25 per cent of airfare allowed to MPs till April 1, 2018 and discontinued thereafter, had a bearing on their participation in the meetings of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees. He cited findings of the research undertaken by the Secretariat in the impact of this allowance on attendance in the meetings of the 8 committees of Rajya Sabha.

Referring to the commendable achievement regarding anti-Covid vaccination in the country, Naidu placed on record the appreciation of Rajya Sabha to all stakeholders.

Naidu fervently appealed to all sections of the House to ensure a safe and productive Budget session keeping in mind the spirit of the occasion.

Rajya Sabha would meet from 10 am to 3 pm, the Lok Sabha would sit from 4 pm to 9 pm from today onwards.

The debate on the motion of thanks will be held for 12 hours and the Union Budget will be debated for 11 hours in Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply is expected on February 8 and that of Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 11.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled Union Budget 2022-23 on Tuesday.

The 2022 Budget Session of the Parliament commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address. The first part of the budget session is being held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part will take place from March 14 to April 8. (ANI)

India on Wednesday reported 1,61,386 new COVID-19 cases and 1,733 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The country’s overall COVID-19 cases tally has reached 4,16,30885, while the death toll has mounted to 4,97,975.
India on Tuesday reported 1,67,059 new COVID infections and 1,192 deaths.

With this, the country’s active caseload mounted to 16,21,603, which is 3.90 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases reported so far.

The daily positivity rate in the country dropped to 9.26 per cent while the weekly positivity rate also dipped to 14.15 per cent.

According to the health ministry, as many as 2,81,109 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 3,95,11,307.

The recovery rate of the country is at 94.91 per cent.

A total of 17,42,793 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Over 73.24 crore tests have been conducted so far in the country, said the ministry.

Meanwhile, under the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, 167.29 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. (ANI)

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been allocated Rs 3,676 crore as a fixed amount for the Registrar General of India to conduct Census 2022 in the Union Budget 2022-2023 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Tuesday.

The amount allocated for conducting Census 2022 is part of the total budget allocated to the MHA which accounts for Rs 1,11,425.52 crore as Budget Expenditure (BE) in the Union Budget 2022-2023 — an increase of 12.46 per cent from the BE allocated in the previous financial year to the ministry.
There is variation in increased amounts allocated to the MHA but almost all major heads like border management; police Infrastructure; Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organizations (CPOs); and the Land Port Authority of India have been benefitted in the Union Budget.

Major schemes like police Infrastructure is increased by 8.49 per cent from BE of Rs 3,612.29 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 3,918.84 crore in 2022-23.

Border Management Budget is increased by 42.84 per cent from BE of Rs 1921.39 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 2517.02 crore in 2022-23.

Provisioning Heads has been increased by 4.22 per cent from BE of Rs 3,353.04 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 3,494.58 crore in 2022-23.

Total allocations for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Police Organizations is increased by 12.98 per cent from BE of Rs 90, 888.41 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 10,2686.50 crore in 2022-23.

The increased budget allocation for MHA includes Grant 50 and 51. In Grant 50 (Budget allocation for MHA), the allocated amount for 2022-2023 is Rs 7,621 crore in BE which was Rs 7,620.40 crore in 2021-2022 BE. However, Grant 51 (Police) budget allocation is increased by 13.38 per cent from BE of Rs 1,03,802.52 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 1,17,687.99 crore in 2022-23.

The Cabinet budget allocation is 1,711.04 crore in 2022-23 while capital provisions in Police Grant increased from Rs 9,716 crores to Rs 10,500 crores– an increase of 8 per cent.

Capital provision in Cabinet Grant has been increased by 271.40 per cent from BE of Rs 137 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 508.82 crore in 2022-23.

The Union Budget for MHA also has provision for new schemes and projects targeted for better delivery on the Criminal Justice System, Forensic and Prisons.

For Inter Operable Criminal Justice System, the MHA has been allocated Rs 122 crore, Rs 150 crore for Emergency Response System, Rs 400 crore for Modernization of Prisons and Rs 300 crore for Modernization of Forensic Capacity.

Provision for IVFRT (Immigration, Visa and Foreigners Registration and Tracking) has also been increased by 127.27 per cent from BE of Rs 77 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 175 crore in 2022-23.

Provision for Land Port Authority of India is increased by 38.57 per cent from BE of Rs

216.50 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 300 crore in 2022-23.

Implementation of safe city projects provided for Rs 520.04 crore is to be funded from the Nirbhaya fund in the allocation of this budget for the MHA. However, budget allocations of Delhi Police is increased by 21.09 per cent from BE of Rs 8338.12 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 10,096.29 crore in 2022-23.

There is a provision of Rs 70 Crores to Rashtriya Raksha University and National Forensic Science University in the allocated budget for the MHA this year.

Provision for Relief and Rehabilitation for Migrants and Repatriates increased by 24.28 per cent from BE of Rs 241.20 crore in 2021-22 to BE of Rs 299.76 crore in 2022-23. (ANI)

Taking swipe at the BJP-led Central government over the Union Budget 2022-23, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that BJP has presented another budget that “picks the pocket of the common man”.

Samajwadi Party chief Yadav tweeted in Hindi, “All the businesses in India have come to a halt… due to historical recession, lakhs of people have lost their jobs… Income of people has reduced… Because of the pandemic, savings in banks have come down… Now, another budget comes to pick the pocket of the common man… With this, the sad era of BJP is beginning to end! Now UP people say that they don’t want BJP anymore.”
Yadav’s remarks came ahead of the Assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Budget 2022-23 which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament.

The meeting began at around 10:20 am ahead of the Budget presentation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Railways, Communications and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and others were present at the Parliament for the Union Cabinet Meeting ahead of the Budget presentation.

Earlier today, Sitharaman met President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of the Budget presentation. She was accompanied by Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Bhagwat Karad and other officials from the Ministry.

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, replacing her signature ‘bahi khata’, she opted to carry the documents in a tablet, which was wrapped in a red-coloured cover with the national emblem emblazoned on it.

On Monday, she tabled this year’s Economic Survey, centred around the theme of “Agile approach”, which forecasted India’s economy to grow by 9.2 per cent during Financial Year 2021-22 and by 8-8.5 per cent in fiscal 2023 beginning 1 April.

The Budget Session of the Parliament commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address. The first part of the Union Budget Session of Parliament will be held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part of the Budget Session will take place from March 14 to April 8. (ANI)

After the Model Code of Conduct came into force in the state for Vidhan Sabha elections, various enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 310.89 crore in violation of poll ethics till January 31, 2022, said a press release.

Giving details in this regard, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Dr S Karuna Raju, today said that the surveillance teams have seized 27.86 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 14.75 crore. Similarly, the enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 275.59 crore besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 19.19 crore, he added.
The Chief Electoral Officer revealed that as many as 1,203 vulnerable hamlets have been identified. Besides this, 2,903 persons have been identified as probable sources of trouble, he said adding that out of these persons, preventive action had already been initiated against 1,949 persons while the remaining would also be brought to book. He also informed that from a security point of view, 799 persons have been bound down under preventive sections of the CrPC act.

He informed that as many as 2,676 cases of non-bailable warrants have been executed, while execution in 39 cases is under process. As many as 15,722 nakas are operational across the State, he added.

As per the directions of the election commission, Dr Raju said that out of 3,90,275 licensed weapons in the state, 3,76,484 weapons have been deposited so far. On the other hand, 69 unlicensed weapons were seized in the state. (ANI)

The United Kingdom stands with the people of Myanmar in the face of brutality by the military and a humanitarian crisis, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday.

“A year ago the military junta seized power in Myanmar, trampling upon democracy. The UK stands with the people of Myanmar in the face of brutal military violence, a humanitarian crisis, and the detention of political opponents. Freedom and democracy must be restored,” UK PM tweeted.
As Myanmar reached the first anniversary of the military coup that saw the arrest of national icon Aung San Suu Kyi and her civilian government dissolved, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said that he stands in “solidarity with the people”, and for a return to an inclusive, democratic society.

UN chief described the multiple crises which have resulted due to an intensification of violence, human rights violations, rising poverty and indifference to worsening humanitarian conditions by the military regime.

The Burmese military overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint on February 1 last year, announcing a state of emergency, and imprisoning democratic leaders, while brutally suppressing street protests against the coup and imposition of martial law.

Last Friday, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet reminded that around 12,000 remain arbitrarily detained for voicing their opposition, of which nearly 9,000 remain in custody, and at least 290 have died in detention, many likely tortured.

Armed clashes have grown in frequency and intensity throughout the country, while persecution against ethnic and religious minorities has grown, including against the Rohingya.

Bachelet said it was time for an “urgent, renewed effort” to restore human rights and democracy, and ensure that perpetrators of “systemic human rights violations and abuses are held to account.” (ANI)