January 2023 - Page 26 of 60 - Lokmarg

CBI Produces Chanda Kochhar, Husband In Videocon Loan Case | Lokmarg

Bail Granted To Videocon Chairman In ICICI Fraud Case

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Friday in the alleged loan fraud case related to ICICI Bank.

Dhoot was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 26, 2022.
Venugopal Dhoot’s lawyer Sandeep Ladda had filed this petition in the court days after the prime accused, former ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar, were granted bail on the grounds of “illegal arrest by CBI”.

CBI has alleged that Deepak Kochhar, husband of former ICICI Bank CEO-MD Chanda Kochhar, was helped by a co-accused to get the ownership of Nupower Renewables Ltd (NRL) and receive ill-gotten money.

CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot in March 2018 to probe alleged irregularities in the Rs 40,000 crore loan made by a consortium of lenders to the Videocon Group.

The agency had registered a case against Chanda, her husband and Venugopal Dhoot, along with their companies viz NuPower Renewables, Supreme Energy, Videocon International Electronics Ltd and Videocon Industries Limited.

During its preliminary inquiry, the CBI found six loans worth Rs 1,875 crore were sanctioned to the Videocon Group and companies associated with it between June 2009 and October 2011 in an alleged violation of laid-down policies of ICICI Bank, which are part of the probe.

The agency has said that the loans were declared non-performing assets in 2012, causing a loss of Rs 1,730 crore to the bank. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Centre on Activities of Wrestling Federation

Wrestlers Meet With Anurag Thakur To Continue Today

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Meeting of wrestlers with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence continued for hours, but still ended on an undecisive note on Friday morning.

The sportspersons have alleged Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan of sexual misconduct and harassment, and thus have been demanding his resignation and action against him. The Sports Minister, however, has assured that the issue will be resolved soon.
The Wrestling sportspersons–Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya and other wrestlers left Thakur’s residence after meeting him for three hours.

According to the sources, the meeting remained fruitful, but there were many points that remained undiscussed. Hence, the meeting will continue at the Sports minister’s residence this morning.

They met the minister in connection with their protest and allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.

Thakur arrived at his Delhi residence from Chandigarh after many [protesting] wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallikkh, levelled charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the president and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation.

Earlier in the day, champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat arrived at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where they continued their sit-in protest for the second day demanding action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and other officials against alleged sexual exploitation of several athletes and “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.

“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today,” Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering.

Babita, who is a deputy director in the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Department, and a former wrestler had earlier tweeted, “I stand with all my fellow players in this matter of wrestling. I assure all of you that I will work to raise this issue with the government at every level, and the future will be decided the way players feel right.”

Vinesh Phogat had previously alleged that coaches who are favourites of the WFI misbehave with women and harass them. She also accused the wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing girls and calling her a ‘khota sikka’ after her defeat at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

On Wednesday, taking cognizance of the protest staged by wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made.

The Ministry stated that if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday said that wrestlers, who made allegations of sexual harassment against coaches, should have approached the Federation with their names earlier.

The WFI president claimed that 97 per cent of wrestlers are with the BFI and those protesting were pressured into it.

He denied any incident of sexual harassment.

“There has been no incident of sexual harassment. If such a thing has happened, then I will hang myself,” said the WFI president during a press conference.

He also said that he is ready for an investigation.

“Sexual harassment is a big allegation. How can I take action when my own name has been dragged into this? I am ready for an investigation,” he added.

To this, Bajrang Punia on Thursday said that the wrestlers have “proof” of the allegations levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief and demanded that the body should be dissolved.

“The WFI president stated that he will hang himself if the sexual harassment allegations are found to be true. Earlier there were just two girls who had come forward but now 5-6 girls have raised their voices and that too along with the proof. We are not making bogus claims,” Punia said.

“Our aim is to revive wrestling in India. If actions are not taken promptly we will take the help of the police and judiciary,” he added.

Punia alleged that WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has influence not just in the organisation but in state wrestling associations as well.

“We want the Federation to be dissolved and not just the resignation of the WFI President as he will ensure that another close aide of his takes the seat and then act on his muse. This also holds true for state wrestling associations as the current WFI president has linkups there too. We want the WFI to be dissolved and that is our demand from the government,” the Arjuna awardee said.

Clarifying that the wrestlers are not staging the protest against the government, he said, “Our fight is with the WFI and not the government as they have always supported us be it either the Haryana government or the central government”.

Olympic medalist Sakshee Malikkh also voiced her concerns and said “only assurances have been given but no concrete actions have been confirmed”.

“We want a fresh start for the WFI and state associations. No satisfactory response has been received by us.”

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya was also present at the protest. “We have not received any satisfactory response and are waiting for it. If we don’t get any concrete resolution we will take legal way,” he said. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Makki Releases Video Denying Links With Al-Qaeda

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) deputy chief Abdul Rehman Makki on Thursday released a video from the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, denying any links with Al-Qaeda.

“I believe that the grounds for my listing are based on heresy and disinformation by the Indian government. I never met Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al-Zawahiri or Abdullah Azam as alleged by some propaganda reports,” Makki said.
He also denounced the views and actions of Al-Qaeda and said that it was totally the opposite of what he believed in.

“I denounce all kinds of terrorism and violence perpetrated by such groups. I believe in the principal position of the Pakistani government regarding Kashmir…,” he said.

Regretting the UNSC decision, he said, “No due process was followed or information was provided regarding these listings.”

Notably, India’s relentless efforts to list Pakistan-based terrorists paid off as Makki was finally listed as a ‘global terrorist’.

India had made listings of Pakistan-based terrorists a top priority of its United Nations tenure during 2021-22, according to the sources.

A total of five names were submitted by India for designation under 1267 in 2022: Abdul Rehman Makki (LeT), Abdul Rauf Asghar (Jaish-e-Mohammed, JeM), Sajid Mir (LeT), Shahid Mahmood (LeT), and Talha Saeed (LeT).

Each of these five names was initially placed on technical hold by one member state while all other 14 members of the Council agreed to their listing.

Makki’s case was submitted on June 1, 2022, by India with the US joining as a co-designating state. One member state placed a technical hold on 16 June 2022 and after the six-month period again renewed its hold in mid-December, according to the sources.

Even though the successful listing comes just after India left the Council, this was a culmination of long-standing and persistent efforts made over the last several months, along with partner countries.

Earlier, on Tuesday, China finally lifted its ‘technical hold’ on the designation of Makki as a global terrorist under the 1267 UN Sanctions Committee after the country was left isolated in the Security Council.

This listing comes after China last year put a ‘technical hold’ on India’s bid to name the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader a global terrorist. In June 2022, India slammed China after it blocked the proposal to list terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under the Sanctions Committee, also known as the UNSC 1267 Committee.

“On 16 January 2023, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,” the UN said in a statement.

India and the US have already listed Makki as a terrorist under their domestic laws. He has been involved in raising funds, recruiting and radicalizing youth to violence and planning attacks in India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir.

Makki has performed various leadership roles within the LeT, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), while also playing a role in raising funds for LeT operations.

In 2020, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court convicted Makki on one count of terrorism financing and sentenced him to prison, according to the US State Department. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Modi To Distribute 71,000 Appointment Letters To Govt Dept. Recruits

By LokMarg 20th January 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute around 71,000 appointment letters to newly-inducted recruits in government departments and organisations, via video conferencing on Friday, said the PMO.

PM will also address these appointees on the occasion, added the PMO.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Modi will distribute appointment letters at 10:30 am via video conferencing and will also address these appointees.

The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in national development.

The new recruits, selected from across the country will join various positions or posts under the Government of India like junior engineers, loco pilots, technicians, inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, stenographers, junior accountants, grameen dak sevak, income tax inspectors, teacher, nurse, doctor, social security officer, PA, MTS, among others.

The experience of newly inducted officials in learning from the Karmayogi Prarambh module will also be shared during this Rozgar programme. Karmayogi Prarambh module is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various Government departments.

Additionally, various union ministers will visit different states in January to provide jobs to the youth under the ‘Rozgar Mela’.

A total of 45 ministers will take part in the Mela including senior ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal, Hardeep Puri, Anurag Thakur, and others.

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will be in Bhopal, Anupriya Patel in Mumbai, Ashwini Choubey in Nagpur, Nityanand Rai in Pune, Piyush Goyal in New Delhi, Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhubneshwar, Hardeep Singh Puri in Ludhiana, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Lucknow, Arjun Ram Meghwal in Udaipur, Anurag Singh Thakur in Kanpur, RK Singh in Ghaziabad. Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Patna, Bhupendra Yadav in Faridabad, Ajay Bhatt in Jammu, Pashupatinath Paras in Ranchi, and Pralhad Joshi in Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister had launched the “Rozgar Mela” to recruit 10 lakh people and underscored his government’s efforts to create jobs in the last eight years amid the opposition’s constant criticism of it on the issue of unemployment.

In his address after more than 75,000 people were given appointment letters for various government jobs in the first tranche, PM Modi acknowledged the challenges facing the economy the world over with many countries hit by record inflation and unemployment, and said India is making every effort to come out of the situation unscathed.

The Prime Minister had launched the concept of Rozgar Mela at the central level on Dhanteras. This was the beginning of the campaign to provide 10 lakh jobs at the central level of government.

Since then, the Prime Minister has addressed the Rozgar Melas of Gujarat, J-K and Maharashtra governments, and also launched a Karmayogi Prarambh module for online orientation courses for all new appointees in various Government departments while distributing about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Serious Allegations, Will Meet Them: Anurag On Wrestlers Protest

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that the allegations levelled by wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief are serious in nature and that he will meet the wrestlers once he returns to the national capital and listen to them.

Many wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallikkh, have levelled charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the president and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation.
Thakur said he will meet the wrestlers and the required action will be taken.

“Government has worked for the welfare and upliftment of sports and players. India has won a lot of medals and delivered good performances at the global level. Work has been done to make federations better. Allegations levelled by wrestlers are serious in nature. Taking swift action, the Government of India sent a notice to WFI and sought a reply within 72 hours. Camp has been postponed. I will try to meet the wrestlers after I reach Delhi. We will talk and listen to them and take the required action,” Thakur to ANI.

Earlier in the day, champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat arrived at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where wrestlers continued their sit-in protest for the second day demanding action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and other officials against alleged sexual exploitation of several athletes and “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.

“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today,” Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering.

For the second day, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh, and Vinesh Phogat, among others gathered at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi and were joined by other members of the fraternity.

Vinesh, the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both Commonwealth and Asian Games, alleged, “Coaches are harassing women and some coaches, who are favourites of the Federation, misbehave with women coaches as well. They sexually harass girls. The WFI president has sexually harassed many girls.”

The WFI president claimed that 97 per cent of wrestlers are with the BFI and those protesting were pressured into it.

He denied any incident of sexual harassment.

“There has been no incident of sexual harassment. If such a thing has happened, then I will hang myself,” said the WFI president during a press conference.

He also said that he is ready for an investigation.

“Sexual harassment is a big allegation. How can I take action when my own name has been dragged into this? I am ready for an investigation,” he added. (ANI)

Meghalaya Gujarat Rahul Bharat Jodo Yatra

Bharat Jodo Yatra Enters Jammu From Kathua Region

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi entered Jammu on Thursday evening.

The Yatra entered the region at Kathua’s Lakhanpur area. Supporters were seen carrying party flags and torch lights as the Yatra marched ahead later in the evening (Thursday).

Earlier party leaders had said that the Yatra will reach Jammu’s Kathua at 6.45 pm on Thursday.

After that, the Yatra will halt in Kathua’s Lakhanpur for the night, the party said.

Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and CPI (M) leader Mohamad Yousuf will also participate in the yatra at the different locations, Congress leaders said.

Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that a few politicians should not use Bharat Jodo Yatra to whitewash their past on Kathua Rape accused Lal Singh joining the Yatra.

“The INC has to make sure that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is not being used to whitewash their past,” said Abdullah.

In view of the Bharat Jodo Yatra entering Jammu, the Jammu and Kashmir police authorities have also announced to ensure all the possible security arrangements. The Yatra is to conclude in Srinagar on January 30.

In another similar development, Jammu and Kashmir Congress spokesperson Deepika Pushkar Nath has resigned from the party after its state unit “allowed” former BJP leader and minister Choudhary Lal Singh to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Previous Govts Discussed Poverty, But Now India Is Dreaming Big: Modi

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that while poverty and aid from other countries used to be discussed during the rule of previous governments, now for the first time since independence, India is daring to dream big and has the potential to realize it.

Speaking at the launch of multiple development initiatives, the Prime Minister said, “For the first time after independence, India is daring to dream big and fulfill them. A long period in the last century was spent discussing poverty, seeking help from the world, and living somehow. For the first time in the history of independent India, the world trusts India’s resolutions.”
PM Modi said that in the last 8 years, the BJP government has worked with a futuristic vision and modern approach to develop physical and social infrastructure.

“We have seen those times when the money meant for the welfare of the poor was lost in scams. There was no sign of sensitivity regarding the tax received from the taxpayer,” said PM Modi.

“Today, India is investing in upgrading its physical and social infrastructure, with futuristic thinking and modern approach,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the eagerness of Indians to build a developed India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal is visible in the world as well.

“Today, everyone feels that India is doing something essential for rapid development and prosperity. Today, India is full of unprecedented confidence. With the inspiration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a sense of ‘swaraj’ and ‘suraaj’ reflects on the double-engine government of today’s India,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the big economies of the world are in trouble today, but even in such difficult times, India is giving free rations to more than 80 crore countrymen.

He said that modern connectivity will take Mumbai to new heights.

“We are working towards making cities like Mumbai future-ready to fuel India’s growth. Infrastructure like Metro is being developed on a mission mode,” said the PM.

PM Modi said India is making huge investments in the construction of infrastructure adding that it shows the reflection of today’s India.

“Now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal, one of the oldest railway stations in the country, is also going to be rejuvenated,” he added. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

Joshimath: 35% Affected Families Ready To Take Houses In Pipalkoti

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

Almost 35 percent of the affected people of Joshimath are ready to shift to accommodations being offered by the government in Pipalkoti, sources said.

Officials on condition of anonymity said that the administration took suggestions from around 1000 affected people over a call and sought an opinion if they want a new house in Pipalkoti or seek a lump-sum amount from the government for their relocation.
Earlier today, the District Magistrate of Chamoli, Himanshu Khurana while talking to ANI said, “We are seeking suggestions from people for the place where we should relocate the people and establish a new Joshimath.”

Around 35 percent of the people have agreed to get a house in Pipalkoti, while about 25 percent of the people have asked the government to give them a lump sum amount instead of a house, they said.

About 40 percent of the affected people have still not taken any firm decision and are waiting for the government to reveal a complete relocation package.

According to the sources in the administration, the government has finalized an area in Pipalkoti and is searching for land in Gauchar and the nearby areas to relocate the affected people of Joshimath.

“In Pipalkoti and Gochar areas, the government will make pre-fab or pucca houses for the affected people. For those whose shops have been affected due to this calamity, roadside shops are being arranged in Pipalkoti itself. Shops would also be set up in the areas where the government intends to build houses,” they said.

According to the sources, the government has a fixed capacity to build houses. If the house of the affected person is bigger than the one given by the government, then some rupees will also be given to them.

An official said on the condition of anonymity that around 40 percent of people are waiting for the government order. They first want to see the government houses in the Pipalkoti-Gauchar area and then take a decision.

For the people who have agreed to settle in a house in Pipalkoti, the paperwork will be started to get permission from them in due course of time officially, confirmed the source.

Due to land subsidence in the Joshimath city area, over 849 buildings have been identified that developed cracks. Residents, as a part of the rehabilitation, have been moved to safer places even as geologists and experts scramble to ascertain the reasons for subsidence in the ecologically fragile region.

Uttarakhand government announced a relief package of Rs 45 crore to families in Joshimath, where large cracks appeared on houses and on roads.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared a relief package for nearly 3,000 families affected by gradual land subsidence in the Himalayan state.

He also announced that Rs 50,000 had been given by the state disaster authority to each family as a non-adjustable one-time special grant for the transportation of goods and immediate needs of their buildings. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

India Repatriates Pakistani Via Attari-Wagah Border

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday said that India repatriated a Pakistan national via the Attari-Wagah border who was under imprisonment in the country.

“In close coordination with Foreign Office Pakistan and also the Indian side, a national who was imprisoned in India, was repatriated today via the Attari-Wagah border. We will continue our efforts for early repatriation of those Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” Pakistan High Commission tweeted.
India and Pakistan this month had exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody, in line with the longstanding agreement between the two countries.

In an earlier statement on January 1, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.

In the statement, the Indian government called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defense personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody.

“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian,” the MEA said.

The ministry said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country.

In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

The external affairs ministry also said Pakistan had been requested to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/

75th Army Day: Indian Embassy Hosts Banquet In Nepal

By LokMarg 19th January 2023

The Indian embassy in Nepal hosted a banquet on Wednesday on the occasion of the 75th Indian Army Day. India’s envoy to Nepal recalled the lasting bond between the two countries, according to the statement released by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava recalled the bond that the Indian and Nepalese armies share and said it binds both countries.
It is pertinent to mention that Army Day is celebrated in recognition of Lieutenant General (Later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa being appointed the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on 15 January 1949, according to the statement.

Expressing gratitude for the selfless service and sacrifice of Nepali soldiers in the Indian Army, Srivastava reiterated India’s commitment to the welfare of Indian Army pensioners and their families residing in Nepal.

During the celebration, General Prabhu Ram Sharma, who was also present there, conveyed his greetings to General Manoj Pande, COAS Indian Army and Honorary General of the Nepali Army, and congratulated General Anil Chauhan, on being appointed the second CDS of India.

He highlighted the intimate relationship between the two armies and appreciated the support of the Indian Army to the Nepali Army in niche’ skill development. General Prabhu Ram Sharma also felicitated the valiant gallantry awardee, Nepalese soldiers of the Indian Army, as per the statement.

The event was also attended by former Army Chiefs of Nepal, serving and retired army officers, officers from the diplomatic community, officials from the government of Nepal, and the press corps. (ANI)

Read more: http://13.232.95.176/