Month: June 2023

Karnataka BJP

BJP Protests With Cows Against Karnataka Min’s Statement

By LokMarg

BJP workers in Karnataka staged a unique protest with cows against the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government following State minister K Venkatesh recent remarks on cow slaughter that sparked a row.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1665967464012976129
Venkatesh had on Saturday said that if buffaloes can be slaughtered, why not cows. This did not go down well with the BJP who came down heavily on the Siddaramaiah government.

On Monday, Siddaramaiah defended Venkatesh claimed there was lack of clarity in the cow slaughter scheme brought by the previous BJP government and it will be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.

The Karnataka BJP also alleged that the State government is not delivering on its five poll guarantees.

Siddaramaiah has said that the BJP has no moral right to protest against the Congress’ poll guarantees. Siddaramaiah was speaking to mediapersons here after garlanding former Karnataka Chief Minister Devaraja Arasu’s statue in the Vidhana Soudha premises.

“BJP is an anti-people party,” he said adding that when the opposition party was in power they had looted the State. The BJP stopped giving benefits under Indira Canteen, Shoe Bhagya and cycles to students.

Siddaramaiah said that the State government will provide 10 hours of free electricity to the people and will also waive off loans.

These five ‘main’ guarantees promised by the Congress during the poll were, 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti); Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi); 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya); Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi) and free travel for women in public transport buses (Uchita Prayana). (ANI)

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Atiq Ahmed

Atiq’s Aide Held With Huge Cache Of Arms, In Kaushambi

By LokMarg

A large cache of illegal weapons were recovered from the house of late mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s aide, police said.

The active aide has been identified as Abdul Kavi.
“In a case registered at Sarai Akeel police station, accused Abdul Kavi was taken on police remand for 36 hours,” Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, Superintendent of Police (SP) said.

“A cache of illegal arms including 20 pistols of 12 bore and .315 bore with cartridges, a revolver and explosives have been recovered at his instance,” the SP added.

The seizure was made from the Kavi’s house in Bhakanda village under Sarai Akil Police Station area.

Further investigation is underway.

Gangsters Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead by men posing as journalists on April 15 night this year, while they were being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj.

All three assailants — Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovelesh Tiwari — were sent to judicial custody by the district court.

Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and also in the killing of a key witness in that case, Umesh Pal, in February this year. (ANI)

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Balasore CBI

CBI Visits Site Of Train Accident In Balasore

By LokMarg

A 10-member CBI team reached the site of train accident in Odisha’s Balasore on Tuesday as part of its investigations into the tragedy that took place on June 2 and resulted in death of 275 people.

The CBI is probing the accident that involved two passenger and a goods train.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said on Sunday said that the Railway Board had recommended a CBI probe into the tragic accident.

The minister had also said that the accident occurred due to a “change in electronic interlocking”.

Electronic interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that facilitates safe movement of a train through an arrangement of tracks.

The aim of this system is that no train gets the signal to proceed unless the route is safe.

The Railways is also conducting a probe into the accident.

The three-way accident involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods trains on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the Balasore district. (ANI)

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Namibia India Jaishankar

Jaishankar Concludes 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission Of Cooperation

By LokMarg

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the roadmap of the growing partnership between both nations covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, food security, digital, defence and arts as he concluded the first India-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation.

“Pleased to conclude the 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation and sign its minutes. The roadmap of our growing partnership covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, wildlife conservation, trade and Investment, food security, digital, capacity building, health, defence and arts, culture, heritage and people-to-people linkages,” Jaishankar wrote on Twitter.
“I take great satisfaction at this first visit by Indian External Affairs Minister to Namibia and to chair the first meeting of our Joint Commission,” Jaishankar said in his address.

“The future of our partnership is built on the firm foundation of the immense goodwill arising from the shared struggle for freedom. In the last three decades, this has taken the form of a growing development partnership, stronger capacity building, expanded trade and initial investments,” he added.

Jaishankar said that a prominent example of India Namibia is the India Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology which the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and EAM inaugurated.

“Our cooperation has also been expressed in domains ranging from health, education and electrification. Taking this to a much higher level has been the objective of the Joint Commission,” Jaishankar said.

Speaking on wildlife diplomacy, Jaishankar also spoke about the Cheetahs that were brought to India from Namibia.

“The reintroduction of cheetahs in India that were given by Namibia is truly a milestone, creating the basis for other initiatives. We hope that Namibia would join us in the creation of the Big Cat alliance,” he said.

Speaking on the booming Diamond Industry in Namibia Jaishankar said, “Our representatives of the industry take pride in imparting skills to their Namibian partners.”

The topic of the International Year of Millets also came up during the Joint Commission.

“2023 is the UN year. International Year of Millets. Prime Minister Modi has personally led the mission to increase the production and consumption of millets worldwide. This can become a new focus area between us,” Jaishankar said,

Digital delivery of public goods, advances in fintech, education, defence, and cooperation in arts, culture, heritage and people-to-people contexts were also discussed during the joint commission.

Jaishankar reiterated that it had been a very successful joint commission and a very successful visit.

He further said that it would further energise the strong cooperation including the United Nations, and the Commonwealth.

Infrastructure development, especially with regard to railways, roads, ports, electricity, transmission and water usage were also discussed.

Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Windhoek to further strengthen relations with Namibia. He was received by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu.

This is the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the Republic of Namibia. During the visit, EAM will call on the top leadership of the country.

Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In Cape Town, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa.

Upon arrival in Namibia, EAM Jaishankar in a tweet stated, “Arrived in Windhoek. Thank Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu for receiving me so warmly. Look forward to a productive visit that takes our time-tested ties forward.”

On Sunday, Jaishankar addressed the Indian diaspora in Namibia. He said that the condolence messages and the outpouring of support that he received in the wake of the horrific train accident in Odisha show how connected the world is with India.

“A lot of leaders from all over the world and the foreign minister from here [Namibia] also has expressed solidarity and sent sympathy,” EAM Jaishankar said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Namibia on Sunday.

“I received many messages and foreign ministers and friends from across the world. The Prime Minister also received lots of messages. This is an example of how globalised today’s world is and how the world is connected with India,” he added.

Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

In Cape Town, Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa stating that there is a very “deeply emotional” connection between the two countries. (ANI)

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‘₹2000-Note Withdrawal Will Pinch Only Hoarders, Not Commoners’

By LokMarg

Nitin Khanna, a Chartered Accountant based in Lucknow, says the current currency withdrawal is soft demonetisation, not comparable to the 2016 exercise. His views:

Withdrawal of high-denomination notes is a routine exercise the world over and is often used as a measure to curtail black marketing and bring the hoarded currency into formal circulation. We all remember how it created panic in 2016 when both ₹1000 and ₹500 notes were withdrawn, causing much distress to common people. This time, however, the issue is different. Allow me to explain.

First, this time the withdrawal is a soft demonetization process. There is four-month window to exchange the notes which gives ample buffer and breathing space for the exchange. More important, ₹2000 comprises only 10.8 per cent of total printed currency in circulation as the printing of this highest-value legal tender was stopped in 2018-19. So, considering the long period for exchange and the low volume of notes soften the process.

Besides, the poor masses hardly keep such high-value currency notes in hand while the middle class has them in small volumes. So, the only section which may feel the pinch is the hoarders of large amount of cash for transactions outside the ambit of taxation. Thus in the end it will only benefit our formal finance sector.

ALSO READ: No Need To Rush For Exchange, Advises RBI

The cash component is used mostly for high-value real estate transaction or in sale and purchase of precious metal and stones. This is the reason, that there was a sudden spurt in real estate or jewelry shops transactions soon after the announcement of ₹2000 note withdrawal. Being a Chartered Accountant, I noticed this myself. So, the unaccounted currency is being pushed into formal circulation. This is a good sign for the economy.

On the lighter note, the move is bound to bring more income tax litigations for professionals like us. As I mentioned transactions have shot up from the minute the RBI declared the withdrawal. Individual fresh sales of ₹2-3 crore against available cash balance are being reported every day. This means more work for CAs and finance professionals. There are still pendency related to tax litigations from the demonetization of 2016 and now this fresh ‘outbreak’. You see we have more work at hand now.

One negative aspect of this announcement is that many shopkeepers are refusing to accept ₹2000 notes though there are some cases where shops-owners are welcoming customers with offers to use the same currency notes. But overall, the Reserve Bank of India has laid down very lenient process for exchange and re-use of these notes. So for the common man, there is little to worry about.

People must realize that every currency note has an expiry date or value period. This is particularly true for the high-value denomination. It is thus desirable to use digitized or formal procedures while making high-value transactions in a sale or purchase deal. Taxations reforms will continue to create hardships for black marketers and tax-evaders.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius

Rajnath, German Counterpart Boris Hold Bilateral Talks

By LokMarg

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

A host of bilateral defence cooperation issues, with a focus on industrial cooperation, are likely to be discussed during the meeting.
Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at National War Memorial in the national capital.

Pistorius, who arrived in the national capital yesterday is accompanied by a German delegation.

Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a statement.

Bilateral ties between India and Germany are founded on common democratic principles and are marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Germany after the Second World War.

On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.

Ahead of his visit to India, the German Defence Minister said India’s continuing dependence on Russian weapons is not in Germany’s interest, German news agency Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

“It is not up to Germany to change that on our own,” Pistorius said in an exclusive interview with DW’s top political correspondent Nina Haase in Jakarta. Pistorius was in Jakarta ahead of his four-day visit to India.

“This is an issue we have to solve jointly with other partners. But of course, we can’t have an interest in the long run that India is so dependent on Russia’s delivery of weapons or other materials,” he added.

Pistorius said that Germany is ready to support partners like India. He said, “I want to send a signal that we are willing to support our partners, our reliable partners like Indonesia, like India,” DW reported. (ANI)

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Pakistan-led espionage case

NIA Raids 10 Places In Punjab, Haryana In Case Against Khalistan Tiger Force

By LokMarg

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at 10 locations in Punjab and Haryana in a case linked to banned terrorist organization Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

The raids were being conducted at nine locations in Punjab and one in Haryana in connection with a criminal conspiracy hatched to raise funds for the banned terrorist outfit and also smuggle arms, ammunition and explosives for it from across the border.
The NIA had registered a suo moto case on August 20 last year under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

In the same case, the NIA arrested two ‘wanted’ close associates of Canada based ‘listed terrorist’ Arsh Dhalla on May 19 this year soon after they arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) from Manila, Philippines, where they had been living.

The duo, identified as Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amritk Singh, both hailing from Punjab, were nabbed in an early morning operation by the NIA, whose team was waiting at the Airport for their flight to land.

The NIA earlier informed that the two accused had non-bailable arrest warrants issued against them by the NIA Delhi Court in a case related to the unlawful and violent activities of banned organisations in India. The accused have several criminal cases registered against them in Punjab.

The NIA investigations have revealed that the accused had been working for individual designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dhalla to promote violent criminal activities of the KTF in India.

In association with another notorious wanted accused Manpreet Singh alias Peeta, the NIA has said, the two accused had been involved in smuggling weapons from Pakistan and recruitment of youth to carry out acts of violence and terror in the country at the behest of the KTF.

“They were also part of an extortion racket for raising funds for the banned outfit. The accused used to identify extortion targets, including businessmen, and then threaten them into parting with huge amounts. In case the identified targets refused, their homes and other premises would be fired at by the accused’s India-based associates,” the NIA said.

The arrests were part of NIA’s continuous crackdown on individual terrorists and terrorist outfits engaged in a criminal conspiracy to smuggle terrorist hardware, such as arms, ammunition and explosives, and raise funds for carrying out terrorist acts on the Indian soil. (ANI)

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Droupadi Murmu

Suriname Confers Highest Civilian Award To Droupadi Murmu

By LokMarg

Suriname on Monday conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu- The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the first Indian to receive this award.

Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Murmu after receiving the award, said that the honour holds tremendous significance not only for her but the people of India.

“I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname’s highest distinction, “Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star.” This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent,” the President of India said in a tweet.

She dedicated the award to the “successive generations” of the Indian-Surinamese community.

“I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries,” she further said.

On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 4.

She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan read.

Earlier today, President Murmu commenced her engagements with the visit to the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo to meet her counterpart, President Santokhi.

She received a warm welcome from her counterpart Santokhi at the Presidential palace in Paramaribo.

The President appreciated President Santokhi’s warmth and hospitality throughout the meetings. She was delighted to learn that Hindi is widely spoken in Suriname, which makes her remind of India.

India and Suriname on Monday signed four major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health, agriculture and capacity building.

The pacts were inked after Murmu and Santokhi held delegation-level talks. President Murmu led delegation-level talks between the two sides.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to be in Suriname on her first State Visit as President of India when it is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in an official release. (ANI)

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First Intl Cruise

Sonowal Flags Off First Intl Cruise From Chennai To Sri Lanka

By LokMarg

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the maiden International Cruise Vessel – MV Empress, India’s first international cruise vessel – from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai on Monday.

This marks the beginning of the international cruise tourism terminal at Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crores, heralding a new age of cruise tourism and maritime trade in the country.

“Coinciding on the occasion of Enviornment Day, Sarbananda Sonowal along with the port officials also planted 2500 tree saplings at the port today,” Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways have been taking multiple steps to develop the avenues of cruise tourism in the country and bolster opportunities of maritime trade of India. With our rich heritage and culture around our coastal region, the potential of cruise tourism in India is immense.”

“Today, as we launch the maiden cruise service between Chennai and Sri Lanka, it has ushered a new chapter in the cruise tourism sector in the country. As the affordability and access to world class cruise services becomes a reality, the people can enjoy and relish luxurious amenities, entertainment, and breathtaking views,” he added.

The cruise service is the result of an MoU signed during the first Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise service. With an overwhelming response by 85,000 passengers availing the cruise service through 37 vessels for the domestic circuit, it is expected that the opening up of international circuit will further amp up the business of cruise tourism in the region.

The modern cruise terminal developed at Chennai Port is spread over an area of 2,880 square meters with an ability to host 3,000 passengers at a time.

Speaking further, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “As more and more people are likely to experience cruise tourism in the near future, the government remains deeply committed to develop world class infrastructure to support and enable growth of cruise tourism and maritime trade. I am happy to share that three new international cruise terminals are likely to be completed and become operational by 2024.”

“We expect that the volume of cruise ships will increase from 208 in 2023 to 500 in 2030 and upto 1100 by 2047,” he added.

Consequently, the number of passengers availing cruise services is also likely to increase from 9.5 lakhs in 2030 to 45 lakhs in 2047. In order to boost demand for cruise services the western, southern and eastern coasts of India, we are working on Gujarat Pilgrimage tours, Cultural and Scenic Tours, Ayurveda Wellness Tours & Heritage Tourism.

“Plans are afoot to develop new cruise tourism terminal in Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep circuits. We are also studying the feasibility of developing ferry circuits across India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar,” he said.

The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. Hanbantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei.

The tour packages on board MV Empress will be offered for 2 nights, 3 nights, 4 nights and 5 nights. During its run at the sea, MV Empress will be touching 3 ports in Sri Lanka before returning to Chennai. (ANI)

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Mukhtar Ansari

Mukhtar Ansari Gets Life Sentence For Awadesh Rai Murder

By LokMarg

A special MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi awarded life imprisonment to jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder case.

On August 3, 1991, Congress leader and brother of former MLA Ajay Rai, Awadhesh Rai, was shot dead outside Ajay Rai’s house in Varanasi.

“Ansari was presented before the court through video conference where the court convicted him under Sections 145 and 302m,” said Advocate Vikash Singh.

Reacting to the court’s judgement Ajay Rai said, “Today, we have won after a 32-year-long battle. We welcome the verdict of the court…If anything happens to me the responsibility will lie on the BJP government.

Earlier while waiting for the court to pronounce the quantum of sentence, Rai had said, “We have faith in the judicial system. We hope he gets the maximum possible punishment. Mafia Mukhtar Ansari tried to tamper with the evidence several times.”

The Special Court which concluded the hearing after arguments on May 19, reserved its order, and fixed June 5 as the date to deliver it. In the case of the killing of Awadhesh Rai, Ajay Rai had named Mukhtar Ansari, Bhim Singh and former MLA Abdul Kalim, in the FIR.

On May 17, a Ghazipur MP-MLA Court acquitted Mukhtar Ansari accused in a case of conspiracy of a murder attempt in Uttar Pradesh’s Mohammadabad area in the district.

In 2009, Mir Hasan filed a case of attempt to murder against Ansari under 120B. A case under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Ansari at Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur. (ANI)

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