July 2023 - Page 17 of 49 - Lokmarg

India Came Out Of Pandemic Relatively Stronger: Ajay Banga

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

India has come out of the pandemic relatively stronger, said World Bank chief Ajay Banga, who is currently in India, and noted maintaining the momentum in economy will be the best way to tackle poverty and buoy growth.

Indian-American Banga, who began his five-year term as World Bank Group President on June 2, 2023, visited a skill centre facility here in Dwarka, where he interacted with students enrolled in various skill development programs.
The executive directors of the World Bank selected Banga as the 14th President of the Bank for a five-year term in May this year.

“I think India has had an advantage over tackling poverty as its economy has been growing, India had a year or two of challenges during the pandemic, but India has come out of it relatively strong…The best way to tackle poverty is growth in jobs,” said Banga here in the national capital on being asked to comment on a Niti Aayog report which showed 13.5 crore Indians escaping poverty in past five years.

The Niti Aayog report titled ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023’ was released on Monday. The report stated as many as 13.5 crore individuals in India moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Banga further said the gains made on poverty over the last three to four decades the world over took a little hit due to the pandemic and climate change, and higher debt in some countries.

“The best way to drive a nail in the coffin of poverty is growth. And jobs every other way, is you have to provide skilling for those jobs. You have to provide education for those jobs. You have to provide health care for people grow up,” Banga said.

India, he noted, is focused on both growth and jobs.

“So I’m actually more optimistic today with all the infrastructure investment that has been going on with all the investment with digital and physical infrastructure (here in India),” he said. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Magisterial Probe Ordered In Chamoli Electrocution Deaths: Dhami

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

Condoling the incident of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, where 15 people were electrocuted, state Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said that orders have been given to conduct a Magisterial inquiry.

As many as 15 people died due to electrocution at the under-construction Namami Gange project, officials said.
“It is a sad incident. The district administration, police, and State Disaster and Response Fund (SDRF) have reached the spot,” CM Dhami said.

He said that the injured are being referred to higher centre and are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh via helicopter. “Orders have been given to conduct a Magisterial inquiry,” he added.

The Chief Minister also left for the incident spot for inspection.

Earlier in the day, officials said that the casualties include a police sub-inspector and three home guards.

Additional Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, V Murugesan said, “Around 15 people including a police sub-inspector and five home guards have died. The investigation is underway. Prima Facie reveals that there was current on the railing and the investigation will reveal further details.”

Further information is awaited. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Rajnath To Chair All Party Meet Today Ahead Of Parliament Monsoon Session

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to chair an all party meeting on Wednesday afternoon, convened by the Central government for the smooth functioning of the monsoon session of Parliament which begins on Thursday.

While the opposition parties will apprise the government of the issues they intend to raise during the session, the government also has prepared its legislative agenda.
Apart from it, a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) floor leaders is also scheduled for today.

The monsoon session of Parliament will continue till August 11.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has urged all parties to contribute towards productive discussions on legislative business and other items during the session.

There will be a total of 17 sittings during the session.

The Monsoon session will start in the old Parliament building.

Opposition parties held a unity meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday and decided that the group will be called Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Leaders from 26 opposition parties attended the two-day Bengaluru meeting, the second such meeting after the first meeting held in Patna.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance also held a meeting which was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The bill to replace the ordinance over control of services in Delhi is expected to come up during the monsoon session.

The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill 2023, which received Cabinet nod earlier this month, is also expected to be introduced.

Meanwhile, the Congress is demanding discussions on several issues, including the Manipur situation, and assault on federal structures among others. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Arvind and VK saxena meeting for DERC Chairperson

Kejriwal, LG To Hold Meeting Over Appointment Of DERC Chairperson Today

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena are scheduled to sit together in a meeting to decide on the name of the Chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Wednesday.

The meeting will take place in LG Secretariat at 4 pm.
This comes after Supreme Court on Monday asked LG Saxena and CM Kejriwal to “rise above political bickering” and sit together and decide on the name of the DERC chairperson.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said they both are constitutional functionaries and they have to rise above political bickering.

It asked, “Does everything run through modalities of the Supreme Court? They both are constitutional functionaries. Can’t the LG and Chief Minister sit and come with a name on which both agree.”

“So much of the work of government happens away from the public eye. We are not so much concerned about the DERC Chairperson appointment which will be done. We are on the larger issue. You both can sit together and sort out some issues,” it said while posting the matter of the DERC Chairperson’s appointment for a hearing on Thursday.

During the hearing, CJI said that there are many ways, one way is that one functionary gives a list of three names and the other functionary accepts one name. “We don’t want to step into this. We want you both to sit down and do this,” the bench added.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by the Delhi government relating to the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) Chairperson.

The apex court on July 4 had ordered to defer the oath-taking ceremony of the appointment of Justice (retired) Umesh Kumar as the chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) till July 11.

The Delhi government moved the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Umesh Kumar as DERC chairperson on the ground that it was unilaterally made by the Lieutenant Governor without its concurrence.

The bench had noted that the petition raises a point of law regarding the validity of Section 45D of the GNCTD Act, as amended by the latest Ordinance issued by the Centre, which gives overriding powers to the Lieutenant Governor over the elected government in the matter of appointments.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, had sought stay of the notification appointing Justice Kumar.

Unilateral action by the LG is against the Supreme Court’s five-judge Constitution bench judgment and also the spirit of Article 239AA of the Constitution, he had said.

Delhi power minsiter Atishi alleged that the recruitment was done by “overlooking” the aid and advice of the elected government, therefore, violating the constitution by appointing someone else for that position.

She had said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on June 21 had recommended Justice (retd.) Sangeet Lodha for the post, however, the same was “wilfully ignored” by the President.

Earlier, Kejriwal approved Justice (retd.) Rajeev Shrivastava for the DERC chairman, and the file was put up by former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also held the power portfolio. However, the file was returned by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena with a recommendation to also consult with Delhi High Court Chief Justice for the appointment.

Later, the Delhi government approached the Supreme Court on April 12, blaming the LG for delaying the appointment.

On May 19, the top court observed that the LG is not supposed to act on his own discretion on such appointments, and directed the government to appoint the DERC chairperson within two weeks.

However, Justice Shrivastava later ‘expressed his inability to accept the appointment’ due to ‘family commitments and requirements’.

The bench had said while appointing a sitting or a retired judge to the post of a state electricity regulatory commission, the Chief Justice of the High Court, to which the judge concerned belonged, has to be consulted.

Chief Justice of the High Court, under whose jurisdiction the electricity regulatory panel falls, need not be consulted for the appointment if the judge concerned has not served in that High Court, it had added.

The apex court while referring to a 2018 Constitution bench judgement and its judgement on the services row between the Centre and the Delhi government, the bench said it has been made clear that the “LG has to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.”

Delhi government had filed a plea in the top court alleging inaction by Lieutenant Governor in appointing the Chairperson of DERC.

The DERC has been functioning without a Chairperson for the last four months after previous Chairperson Justice (Retd) Shabihul Hasnain demitted office on January 9, 2023 upon attaining the age of 65 years. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Tata To Set Up EV Battery Factory In UK

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

In a major development, Tata Group has announced that it will establish a battery cell gigafactory in the UK.

“Today, I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, adding that the Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across its businesses.
“Our multi-billion pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, Jaguar Land Rover,” the Chairman added.

Though Tata has by far not revealed the size of the investment, a UK government statement billed it to be over 4 billion pounds (over £4 billion).

The new gigafactory, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe and will create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as thousands of further jobs in the wider supply chain for battery materials and critical raw minerals, said the UK government release.

“We can be incredibly proud that Britain has been chosen as home to Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, securing our place as one of the most attractive places to build electric vehicles,” said UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

“Tata Group’s multi-billion-pound investment in a new battery factory in the UK is testament to the strength of our car manufacturing industry and its skilled workers,” Sunak added.

Production at the new gigafactory is expected to start in 2026, the UK said.

“Details of government support to Tata Sons will be published in due course as part of our regular transparency data,” the release added.

Tata Group is already operating in the UK across technology, consumer, hospitality, steel, chemicals, and automotive.

“This is a great news and an opportunity to deepen the India and the UK partnership and the huge contribution which Tata Group makes to it (sic),” British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis wrote on his Twitter timeline. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Traffic Normalises Near Red Fort Days After Floods

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

Vehicular movement on the road near the Red Fort returned to normalcy on Wednesday morning, days after it was halted after severe waterlogging and flood conditions as the Yamuna river continued to be in spate, officials said.

Water reached the Ring Road at the backside of the Red Fort earlier Thursday as the Yamuna River continued to flow above the danger level.
Meanwhile, the water level of the Yamuna River was recorded below the danger level on Wednesday. It was recorded at 205.25 meters at 6 am today against 205.35 meters at 7 pm yesterday. At 3 pm yesterday, it was recorded at 205.26 meters.

A “slight rise” was recorded in the river’s water level on Monday due to rains that lashed some areas of Haryana on Monday.

The danger mark for the river stands at 205.33 meters. The Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger mark at 5 pm on July 10.

Meanwhile, as the situation is gradually getting back to track in Delhi, the State Government has lifted the ban on entry of heavy vehicles into the national capital, effective today.

“Considering the improvement of the flood situation and descending water level of Yamuna River, it has been decided by the competent authorities to withdraw all the restrictions imposed as per the orders on July 13th and 17th with effect from July 19th,” read the official statement.

Earlier, in an order issued on July 13, the entry of heavy vehicles into Delhi was restricted from the Singhu border, Badarpur border, Loni border and Chilla border owing to waterlogging. However, heavy vehicles carrying food items and essentials were excluded from it.

However, several areas in the national capital are still grappling with water logging and flood-like situations. Visuals showed the areas near Rajghat reeling under water, earlier today.

Considering the prevailing situation, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 17 teams for rescue work in flood-affected districts in Delhi. 1606 people have been rescued. Moreover, 7241 people and 956 livestock have been evacuated by the NDRF teams. Further, pre-hospital treatment has been given to 908 rescued persons.

Around 26,401 people have been evacuated from the flood-affected low-lying areas of six districts of Delhi, out of which around 21,504 people are staying in 44 camps (including temporary relief camps as well as Pucca Buildings like schools, community centres). The rest of the evacuated people have shifted to the places of their choice like their relatives’ houses or rented accommodations. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

5 Held For Planning Explosion Held In Bengaluru

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) have arrested five suspected terrorists and recovered explosive materials from their possession in Karnataka’s Bengaluru, officials said on Wednesday.

The five suspected terrorists are from different areas of Karnataka’s Capital city, and were suspected to have made a meticulous plan to blast here, they said.
“All five identified as Sayed Suhel, Umar, Janid, Mudasir, and Jahid, were accused in a 2017 murder case and were in Parappana Agrahara Central jail where they came in contact with terrorists,” the CCB officials said.

Owing to information a team traced the location and arrested the suspected terrorists, they said.

We are further looking into the matter, they added.

More details are awaited. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Yamuna Level Goes Down Below Danger Mark

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

The water level of the Yamuna River went down below the danger mark on Wednesday morning.

It was recorded at 205.25 meters at 6 am today against 205.35 meters at 7 pm yesterday. At 3 pm yesterday, it was recorded at 205.26 meters.
A “slight rise” was recorded in the water level of the river on Monday due to rains that lashed some areas of Haryana on Monday.

The danger mark for the river stands at 205.33 meters. The Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger mark at 5 pm on July 10.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department, on Tuesday, predicted rainfall in Delhi and several parts of the national capital region.

On the other hand, several parts of the National capital continue to grapple with water logging and a flood-like situation. Rain lashed several parts of Delhi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, as the situation is gradually getting back to track in Delhi, the State Government has lifted the ban on entry of heavy vehicles into the national capital, effective from today.

Keeping in view the prevailing situation, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 17 teams for rescue work in flood-affected districts in Delhi. 1606 people have been rescued. Moreover, 7241 people and 956 livestock have been evacuated by the NDRF teams. Further, pre-hospital treatment has been given to 908 rescued persons.

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

India Is At The Right Place And Time: Nita

By LokMarg 19th July 2023

India is at the right place and time and its rich culture is attracting people around the globe, according to Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani.
Speaking to ANI in New York, where her Foundation has supported an art exhibit “The Tree and the Serpent” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art she said, “This is our fourth exhibit at the MET (museum). We started in 2016 with Nasreen Mohamedi and also at NMACC (Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre) we have the vision of bringing best of the world to India. So I am kind of delighted to be here and be a part of this large exhibit.”

The exhibit “The Tree and the Serpent” is a piece of Buddhist art from the period 2nd century BC to 4AD.

“So I am really excited to be here. India is the cradle of Buddhism and Buddhism is intertwined with Indian ethos.”

She said her Foundation is also looking at collaborating with various museums of the world and to bring art to India.

“In last three months after we opened (the NMACC), we saw footfalls of 5,000 to 6,000 a day. Just for two exhibits we had over one and a half lakh people coming. India is at the right place and time now. So much of Indian culture is interesting people around the globe,” she said.

India’s first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, was opened around three months ago, aiming to showcase the best of India across music, theatre, fine arts and crafts to the world.

The Centre was named after the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Mukesh Ambani. The cultural centre is housed within the Jio World Centre, located in the heart of Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.

When asked how much influence India has in the West and how it has changed in the past few years, Nita Ambani said she could see the transition in front of her eyes.

“I came here first as a young bride at 21 and today I sit here as a very proud Indian. There has been so much global interest in Indianness and Indian culture and so much appreciation for what India holds. I think our young Indians are leading the way for this change. I met the Indian diaspora at the White House and the excitement of meeting them was palpable. They are doing so well in healthcare, at NASA, at culture, at media and at businesses,” she said.

Referring to Indians who are heading international corporations, she said she thinks the confidence on India is “so high”. “It’s wonderful to see this happening.”

At the State dinner hosted by the US President and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House last month for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nita Ambani was among the Indians who were part of the guest list.

She said it was wonderful to experience the deepening of friendship between the oldest and largest democracies.

“I think this century is going to belong to the youth of our nation. We have 50 per cent population under 25 and it is young girls and boys that are making India shine and proud, and this meeting is only going to strengthen the relationship between these two countries,” she further said. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Pak Federal Govt Justifies Military Trials Of Civilians

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Defending its decision of military trials of civilians, involved in incidents of violence and vandalism targeted at military installations and government buildings, the federal government of Pakistan has termed them as a direct attack on the national security of the country, reported The Nation.

The federal government claimed on Monday that acts of violence against the armed forces and vandalism against military installations harmed Pakistan’s security, interests, and defence since they directly threatened the country’s national security.
On behalf of the federal government, Mansoor Usman Awan, the attorney general of Pakistan, filed a response to the petitions objecting to the trials of civilians in military courts and pleaded for their dismissal.

He claimed that the episodes of May 9, 2023, entail planned and coordinated targeted attacks on numerous military stations and establishments around the country. The attacks weren’t specific to one area or isolated, as per The Nation.

The Nation is a leading daily newspaper based in Lahore, Pakistan.

According to him, the events of May 9 point to a planned and intentional effort to weaken the country’s armed forces and impede domestic security as numerous military facilities were simultaneously targeted.

It also stated that on that date, 62 violent incidents were reported in Punjab alone, injuring almost 250 individuals, including 184 members of the law enforcement community. 139 vehicles in all, including 98 government vehicles, suffered partial or total damage.

The overall damage caused by the violence on May 9, and the hours that followed is estimated to be worth Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 2539.19 million, including PKR 1982.95 million in losses to military installations, equipment, and vehicles.

It further stated that multiple FIRs were filed against the culprits as a result of the events on June 9. Even while some FIRs do not explicitly specify the provisions of the Army Act, it is important to remember that this Court has ruled that the nature of the offences made out depends on the content of the FIR, not on whether a specific statutory provision is mentioned, according to The Nation.

The court maintained, “Thus, the mere fact that the offences under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 triable under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 (Army Act) have not been mentioned in some of the FIRs registered regarding the events of 09-05-2023 does not imply that offences under the Army Act cannot be made out from the contents of said FIRs. Even otherwise, in some of the FIRs the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 have been specifically mentioned.”

“The challenges raised in the titled Petitions can adequately be adjudicated by the High Courts in their original constitutional jurisdiction under Article 199 of the Constitution which empowers the High Courts to “make an order […] as may be appropriate for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights,” as per The Nation.

“It is noteworthy that the titled petitions seek to challenge the trial of those accused of offences ensuing from the violent event of 09-05-2023 under the provisions of the Army Act on two grounds,” said the reply.

It also said that the titled petitions fall outside the purview of the contours that this Court has determined for the exercise of its original jurisdiction, in that the subject matter can adequately be adjudicated by the High Courts under Article 199 of the Constitution.

“It is also important to highlight that both the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Official Secrets Act) not only predate the Constitution but were never, to date, challenged. As such, all actions taken or being taken under the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act are the fair exercise of power, in accordance with the law,” maintained the reply, reported The Nation. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/