Month: June 2022

Slamming the Centre for denying permission to Congress to hold its “Satyagraha march” in the national capital, party general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has imposed an “undeclared emergency” in the entire central Delhi area.

Addressing a press conference here he said, “We will hold a peaceful protest march to the ED office under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. We are the protectors of the Constitution, we will not bow down or be scared. By deploying a large police force, it has been proven that the Modi government is shaken by Congress.”

Huge police deployment was seen outside the Enforcement Directorate office on this morning with some Congress workers getting detained outside party headquarters.

“Modi government has imposed an undeclared emergency in the entire central Delhi area. thousands of barricades have come up. Thousands of Congress workers have been arrested since last night. Congress will continue raising the issues of people. National Herald is a heritage of the country. We are determined to protect the national heritage. We will continue raising voice against inflation and unemployment. We will expose the government,” Surjewala told mediapersons.

He said the Centre cannot suppress the movement of Congress.

“Satya ka Sangram will continue under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Even the British could not suppress the voice of Congress during the freedom struggle, then how can this ruling government?” Surjewala told ANI.

The party had earlier announced that it has planned a march from party headquarters to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office and will hold ‘satyagrahas’ outside the ED offices in states in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi.

According to sources, Congress MPs, and Congress Working Committee (CWC) members have also been asked to be present in Delhi on Monday for the rally.

Delhi Police, however, had denied permission to a Congress rally. The Delhi police cited law and order behind the denial of the permission for the rally.

Police have been deployed outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence additional security forces have been also deployed outside the Enforcement Directorate office in the national capital.

Rahul Gandhi has been summoned to join the investigation on June 13. He was earlier summoned to join the investigation but he was out of the country and later he was given a fresh date of June 13 to join the probe.

ED on Friday issued a fresh summons to Sonia Gandhi asking her to appear on June 23 for questioning in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

Congress has alleged that it is a “political vendetta” and the case has no grounds for investigation.

The ED also questioned senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year in New Delhi in connection with its money laundering probe into the National Herald case.

The agency then recorded the statements of both the Congress leaders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The National Herald is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited (YIL). While Kharge is the CEO of YIL, Bansal is the Managing Director of AJL.

The ED is currently investigating the shareholding pattern and financial transactions as well as the role of party functionaries in the functioning of the AJL and YIL.

The YIL promoters include Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

While the US is discussing tough measures on gun violence, Chicago on Saturday (local time) witnessed multiple incidents of shootouts resulting in the death of five persons and 16 injured.

At least five people have been killed and another 16 have been injured in shootings across the city of Chicago so far this weekend, according to police, reported NBC.
In an incident, a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed at approximately 12:19 am Saturday in the 0-100 block of South Albany, authorities stated.

The woman was a passenger in a vehicle when unknown offenders fired shots before running off in an unknown direction. The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. She was later pronounced dead, police said.

At approximately 2:27 am Saturday, a 34-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in the 2800 block of South Indiana. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries, reported NBC.

In the most recent deadly shooting, a 23-year-old man was killed and three others were injured. At approximately 3:20 pm Saturday in the 8600 block of South Damen.

Four men were in an alley when an unknown vehicle drove by and a person inside the vehicle produced a gun and fired shots, authorities said. The 23-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

A 39-year-old man was shot in the left leg and listed in good condition. An additional victim, 24 years old, was shot in the left leg and foot and also reported to be in good condition. The fourth victim, a 42-year-old man, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was transported to the hospital in fair condition, police stated.

In the first fatal shooting of the weekend, a 25-year-old man was shot and killed at approximately 5:02 pm Friday in the 6800 block of South Justine, authorities stated.

The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and torso and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

No arrest has been made as Area One detectives investigate the incident, reported NBC.

In the second deadly shooting, a 26-year-old man was shot and killed in the 400 block of West 18th Street at approximately 11:05 pm Friday, authorities said.

The victim was a passenger in a vehicle when a black sedan approached and unknown men inside opened fire, according to police. The victim was shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital where he died, reported NBC. (ANI)

India talked tough in Geneva. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in his remarks at the closed-door session at the 12th ministerial conference touched upon the spiralling food inflation and the need for the agreement on food stockholding by the developing countries.

Piyush Goyal said, “After the Bali Ministerial Decision in 2013, the General Council in 2014 mandated permanent solution on the issue of public foodstocks, which has already been delayed. It should be the topmost priority for 12th WTO ministerial meeting (MC12), before we move to new areas. Nothing is more important than this for the people of the world.”

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also cornered WTO for failing to protect the health of the people of poor nations during Covid-19 pandemic. He said, “The pandemic reinforced the importance of “One Earth One Health”, calling for global solidarity and collective action. My country ramped up supplies of medical products to provide medical and health items globally. Unfortunately, the WTO could not respond with alacrity. We have let down the people of the LDCs and developing countries. The rich countries need to introspect.”

Earlier on Sunday, India participated in the G33 Ministerial Meeting organised by Indonesia. At the meet, the Commerce Minister said, “We are fighting for developing countries and LDCs. They are always at the receiving end.” He mentioned the Uruguay agreement and how the developing world got a raw deal in the past.

Goyal told reporters that he discussed and put forward India’s point of view on food stocks, fisheries, agriculture and vaccines in meetings with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Trade Representative of the United States of America, Katherine Tai and South Africa Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel in Geneva.

He also emphasised that India will not buckle under any pressure. In reply to ANI reporter, he said, “There is no power on earth that can put pressure on today’s India. No one can pressurise today’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. We can face any challenge. We don’t take any decision under pressure.”

India also cautioned the WTO about any agreement on curtailing subsidies in fisheries. Goyal said that we must not repeat mistakes of the past.

He continued, “Fishing by my country’s traditional fishermen and women is to address hunger, poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, which is largely sustenance fishing. Their right to life and livelihood cannot be curtailed in any manner.”

“On the contrary, those nations responsible for the depleted fish stock should assume responsibility, having exploited the oceans for far too long by giving subsidies. Fisheries are global public commons and should be shared equitably considering the past and being mindful of the future to strike the right balance on the principles of common but differentiated responsibility.”

“For food security and eradication of hunger, sustainable fishing is as important as agriculture, which is an important SDG goal. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the Uruguay round in Agriculture in a Fisheries agreement,” he added. (ANI)

In a major success against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 100 terrorists have been gunned down in the region this year, said a police official on Sunday.

According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, a terrorist linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Adil Parray was involved in the killing of two J-K police personnel in the region.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “An encounter started at Kreesbal Palpora Sangam area of Srinagar with terrorists and a small team of Srinagar Police. When the search operation started, the terrorists opened fire on our party. The encounter started in which Adil Parray was killed. LeT terrorist Adil Parray of Ganderbal who was involved in the killing of two JKP personnel Gh Hassan Dar in Sangam and Saifulla Qadri in Anchar Soura & injuring a 9-year-old girl, killed in a chance encounter with a small team of Police.”

“It is a matter of success for the police to neutralise Adil Parray. 100 terrorists have been killed in J-K so far this year,” he added.

Earlier in the day, an encounter broke out at the Drabgam area of Pulwama in which a total of three terrorists were killed.

“PulwamaEncounterUpdate: 02 more terrorists killed (Total 3). Identification and affiliation being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on,” tweeted Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The officials listed the identity of one of the terrorists as Junaid Sheergojri.

“All three killed. Terrorists are locals, linked with terror outfit LeT. One of them has been identified as Junaid Sheergojri, involved in killing of our colleague Martyr Reyaz Ahmad on May 13,” said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir. (ANI)

Highlighting the attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Beijing on Sunday asked Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to stop attacks on its nationals who are working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects in the Balochistan region.

The Chinese demand came in a meeting of senior officials of Pakistan and China who discussed their perspectives on the international and regional security situations, reported Frontier Post.

The developments come after the Islamabad Police recently decided to set up a foreign security cell at the Central Police Office (CPO) with requisite staff and logistics amid reports of Chinese nationals continuously being targeted in Pakistan.

It was decided to apply all standard operating procedures to non-China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) security projects on the pattern of CPEC security, reported The News International.

Similarly, the Special Branch, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Security Division will audit the security arrangements periodically.

Pakistan’s Army Chief General Bajwa headed the Pakistani delegation in an “Apex meeting” with the Chinese military in China. Both sides pledged to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Attacks on Chinese nationals by Baloch groups were also discussed in the meeting. Geopolitical issues in Pakistan have propped up, as the Baloch insurgency poses a constant threat to peace and stability.

The Baloch insurgents are regularly targeting CPEC infrastructure projects, such as gas pipelines and electricity towers, because they consider China as an imperialist power that, along with the Pakistan government, wishes to plunder Balochistan’s natural resources.

“Both sides discussed their perspectives on the international and regional security situation, and expressed satisfaction on defence cooperation between the two countries,” Inter-Services Public Relation said in a press release.

A senior-level tri-service military delegation of Pakistan visited China from June 9 to 12 and held wide-ranging discussions with senior officials the of Chinese military and other government departments.

“Apex Meeting was held on 12 June wherein Pakistani side was headed by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa while the Chinese side was led by General Zhang Youxia Vice Chairman Central Military Commission of China,” according to the statement. (ANI)

In view of the prevailing situation and incidents of protest in various parts of the country following controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal, the district administration of four districts of Assam clamped Section 144 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) banning all sorts of processions, rallies and demonstrations.

Apprehending a breach of public peace and tranquillity, the district administration of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Bongaigaon districts of the state have issued separate orders clamping Section 144 CrPC banning all sorts of processions, rallies and demonstrations in the districts.

In an order issued by Pankaj Chamua, Additional District Magistrate of Bongaigaon district on Sunday stated, “In view of prevailing situation and incidents of protest rallies in several parts of the country by some organizations including few incidents of violence which took place in Ranchi, Cooch Behar, Kolkata, Jammu and Kashmir, Kanpur, Prayagraj likelihood such incidents in the district cannot be ruled out.”

On the other hand, an order issued by the Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Cachar District Administration, Dipak Jidung clamping Section 144 CrPC in the district stated, “In exercise of the power conferred upon me under section 144 Cr.P.C. I, Dipak Jidung ACS, Addl. District Magistrate, Cachar do hereby promulgate the prohibitory order as prohibit assembly of 5 or more persons at any place of Cachar district.”

He further said that no person shall carry arms, weapons, explosives, lathis and other things which can cause injury except by Army, Para-Military Forces, Police on duty.

“No person or organisations shall take out any procession or rallies agitation protest or hold any public meeting without specific permission from the District Magistrate and Additional District Magistrate,” he said.

The order also restricted from busting any crackers or bomb or other sound producing materials and display any fireworks in public places and thoroughfares.

“No person or organisations shall use any loudspeaker/microphone/sound amplifying devices etc without obtaining specific permission from district Magistrate and Addl. District Magistrate, Cachar,” the order reads.

Additionally, the Cachar district administration has deployed adequate security personnel in the sensitive areas of the district to prevent any untoward situation and to maintain law and order situation.

Protests erupted in various states including Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal.

Notably, some Gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target.

On Friday, MHA issued a statement to all state and Union Territory police after several incidents of violence.

A senior MHA official informed that they sent alerts to all state and Union Territory police to remain vigilant as they can be targeted during the violence. (ANI)

The IPL media rights value for the 2023-2027 cycle has gone past ₹42,000 crore and is expected to go even higher as per sources in BCCI. This is nearly three times more than what Star India paid in the year 2017.

The details of who bid what are yet to come but the value for per match TV, and digital rights value have surpassed Rs 100 crore mark.

The process has been divided into a total of four packages (A, B, C and D). Package A is exclusive for TV (broadcast) for the Indian subcontinent while package B is for digital-only grouping for the same region.

There are four specific packages in which e-auction is being conducted or 74 games per season for a five-year period with a provision of increasing the number of matches to 94 in the final two years.

Package C is for 18 selected games in each season for digital space. In Package D, all games will be for combined TV and digital rights for overseas markets.

All bidders are making separate bids for each package. Bidders for Package A must have a net worth of Rs 1000 crore; it is Rs 500 crore for those bidding for other packages.

This year, global giants like Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), Reliance-Viacom 18, Disney Star Network and Sony Network are in the fray to grab the rights to the event. (ANI)

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday lambasted the BJP government at the Centre, alleging that the ruling dispensation is beginning a “new bulldozer” culture and destroying the houses of the people who it claims to be involved in rioting.

The remarks of the Congress leader came at a time when bulldozers are being used in various parts of Uttar Pradesh to demolish the houses of the people who were allegedly involved in the violence that erupted on Friday over the controversial remarks by suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.

Addressing a press conference here, Singh said, “An atmosphere of fear is created in the country. A new bulldozer culture has begun. The houses of the people are being destroyed at will. The BJP is running a campaign against the political opponents and some sections of society. We object to it.”

Singh also came out in defence of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi who have been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. He hit out at the BJP stating that it is running a campaign against its political opponents.

This comes a day ahead of the date of summon issued by the central agency to Rahul Gandhi in the money laundering case.

“They forget that it is that family which did not bow down in front of the Britishers. They would not be scared of such summons. Rahul Gandhi will go to the ED office from the AICC office. The members of the parliamentary board will reach the AICC office tomorrow at 9.30 am,” Singh said.

Claiming that the ED had closed the case in 2015, the Congress leader questioned BJP MP Subramanian Swamy over seeking a stay to the summon issued by the court to register his statement in the National Herald case.

“The case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the Modi government came to power. The ED had closed the case in 2015 as it was baseless. No FIR has been registered till today. Subramanian Swamy filed a PIL in Delhi court seeking the registration of the FIR. The court issued the summons which was answered to. The facts were presented. Swamy was asked to give his statement in court. He challenged it in the High Court and it put a stay on it. If Swamy had facts with him, he should have presented them in court. What was the need to seek a stay from the High Court?” he said.

“The Congress leaders had started National Herald in 1937 to awaken people in the freedom struggle. But due to the condition of the print media these days, National Herald suffered losses. The employees were not able to be paid. The payment was made with the fund of the Congress party. A complaint was registered with the Election commission, to which it said that there is no such restriction on how the money is spent. ED also rejected it, there is not a single FIR and no proof,” Singh added while speaking about the history of the organisation and claiming vendetta against the Congress leaders.

Meanwhile, the ED on Friday issued a fresh summons to Sonia Gandhi asking her to appear on June 23 for questioning in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

Rahul Gandhi has been summoned to join the investigation on June 13. He was earlier summoned to join the investigation but he was out of the country and later he was given a fresh date of June 13 to join the probe.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has alleged that it is a “political vendetta” and the case has no grounds for investigation.

The ED also questioned senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year in New Delhi in connection with its money laundering probe into the National Herald case. (ANI)

Reacting to the recent violence across the country over the controversial remarks of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan on Sunday said that violence is not an answer to any provocation.

“Violence is not the answer no matter what the provocation is!” the former cricketer said in a tweet.

Protests erupted in various states including Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal.

Notably, some Gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked the police heads of states and Union Territories to be prepared and alert as they will be on target.

On Friday, MHA issued a statement to all state and Union Territory police after several incidents of violence.

A senior MHA official informed that they sent alerts to all state and Union Territory police to remain vigilant as they can be targeted during the violence. (ANI)

Following the demonstrations in various cities over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has alleged that police atrocities during nationwide protests against blasphemy and its inability to control the situation added fuel to the fire.

In a statement Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said, “Insulting the Prophet could not be tolerated at all. To protest against this is a constitutional and democratic right of Muslims and justice-loving citizens of the country. Denial to these rights through the means of indiscriminate arrests, police firing and the use of bulldozers is a disgrace to any democratic government.”

He said that the governments should comprehend that the protesters are the citizens of the country, and thus they should not be treated as foreign enemies.

Qasmi said efforts were being taken at all levels to provide legal help to those arrested.

Expressing concerns over the two deaths during a demonstration in Ranchi, he demanded from the Jharkhand government to conduct a full judicial inquiry into the matter and provide reasonable compensation to the family of the deceased.

Protests erupted in various states including Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal.

Notably, some Gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet, the country has been witnessing protests.

The protest turned violent in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand, after which the government of each said state took necessary actions to restore peace in the stressed cities.

The administration of Ranchi had imposed a curfew in the district, however, West Bengal has suspended internet services till 6 am on June 13.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also gave full liberty to the police officials to take stringent actions against the ones involved in disturbing the peace of various cities across the state.

In Punjab, the protestors have demanded the arrest of sacked leaders, whereas the instances of stone-pelting and sloganeering were witnessed after the Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)