January 2024 - Page 17 of 39 - Lokmarg

Bilkis Bano Case: 3 Convicts Move SC For Extension Of Time To Surrender

By LokMarg 18th January 2024

Three of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case have approached the Supreme Court, seeking an extension of time to surrender before the jail authorities.

Senior Advocate V Chitambaresh, appearing for the three convicts, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice BV Nagarathna, seeking urgent listing of the case, saying the time of surrender is expiring on January 21.

Justice Nagarathna said that the bench that passed the judgement in the Bilkis Bano case, comprising herself and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has to hear the applications.

The apex court then directed its Registry to seek orders from the Chief Justice of India for the constitution of the bench and listing of the case on Friday.

Another counsel told the bench that another convict would also file applications during the day.

The applications have been filed by three convicts–Govindbhai Nai, Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt, and Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana–who, among others, were granted remission by the Gujarat government in the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

They were sentenced to life imprisonment but released in August 2022 after serving 14 years of sentence.

Govindbhai has sought an extension of time by four weeks to surrender, citing health issues and the fact that he is the only caretaker of his elderly parents.

Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana sought an extension of six weeks, citing health issues, harvesting of crops and his son’s marriage.

Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt, 62, says he is an old senior citizen, has undergone eye surgery for a cataract and sought six weeks to surrender due to the impending harvest of crops.

On January 8, the Supreme Court struck down the Gujarat government’s order granting remission to 11 convicts.

It had quashed the Gujarat government’s remission order, by which convicts were released pre-maturely, and asked them to surrender before jail authorities within two weeks.

The bench had held that the Gujarat government was not competent to pass the remission orders but the Maharashtra government.

It held that the judgement of May 13, 2022, by which another bench of the apex court had directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of the convict as per the 1992 policy, was obtained by “playing fraud” on the court and by suppressing material facts.

The convicts had not approached the court with clean hands, said the bench, adding that proceedings before this court were due to “suppression of facts” and that is why it is fraud played on this court.

The judgement of the top court had come on a petition filed by Bilkis Bano and others challenging the premature release of 11 convicts.

Earlier, the Gujarat government, in its affidavit, defended the remission granted to convicts, saying they had completed a 14-year sentence in prison and their “behaviour was found to be good.”

In March 2002, during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Navy Destroyer INS Visakhapatnam Responds To Dattack In Gulf Of Aden

By LokMarg 18th January 2024

In a rapid and effective response, the Indian Navy’s mission-deployed guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, on Thursday addressed a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack on the night of January 17.

INS Visakhapatnam, currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, promptly acknowledged the distress call.

The destroyer intercepted the vessels at midnight on January 18, 2024, to provide immediate assistance.

MV Genco Picardy, with a crew of 22 (including 9 Indians), reported no casualties, and the fire on board was reported to be under control.

To ensure the safety and security of the vessel, Indian Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists from INS Visakhapatnam boarded the MV Genco Picardy in the early hours of January 18 to inspect the damaged area.

After a thorough examination, the EOD specialists successfully rendered the affected area safe for further transit.

The Marshall Island flagged MV Genco Picardy is now proceeding towards its next port of call. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Pakistani Pilgrims Participate In Urs Mubarak Of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz In Ajmer

By LokMarg 18th January 2024

The 812th annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) was held in Ajmer Sharif, in which a group of 230 Pakistani Zaireen also participated.

Aizaz Khan, Charge d’ Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, also paid obeisance at the dargah of one of the most revered Sufi saints of the subcontinent, who is also known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz.

After placing the traditional chaddar on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan, the Charge d’ Affaires and the visiting Zaireen offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

The 812th annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) was held in Ajmer Sharif, in which a group of 230 Pakistani Zaireen also participated.@ForeignOfficePk pic.twitter.com/v0BhjCT8Rn
— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) January 17, 2024

The Pakistan High commission in India also confirmed the visit to the Urs by Pakistan delegation

“The 812th annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) was held in Ajmer Sharif, in which a group of 230 Pakistani Zaireen also participated. Aizaz Khan, Charge d’ Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi also paid obeisance at the dargah of one of the most revered Sufi saints of the subcontinent, who is also known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. After placing the traditional chaddar on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan, Charge d’ Affaires and the visiting Zaireen offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan” the High Commission said in its post on X.

On arrival at the Dargah, the Charge d’ Affaires and Pakistani Zaireen were received by Syed Bilal Chishti and other prominent members of the Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtia Khuddam Khwaja Sahib.

The Dargah notables performed “dastarbandi” of the Charge d’Affaires and representatives of the Zaireen. Charge d’affaires Mr. Aizaz Khan, thanked the Sajjada Nashin of the shrine, as well as the local administration for facilitating the visit of Pakistani zaireen on the auspicious occasion.

Pakistani Zaireen are visiting Ajmer Sharif from January 14-21, 2024. The Zaireen attend the annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) under the framework of the 1974 India-Pakistan protocol on visits to religious shrines.

Last year also, a 110-member religious delegation from Pakistan visited New Delhi to participate in the 718th death anniversary of Sufi poet Amir Khusro. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Targeted Iranian Terrorists On Pak Soil: Iranian FM After Pak Expels Iran Envoy

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

Amid the diplomatic standoff over Iranian airstrike on a terror camp in Balochistan, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the air attacks in Pakistan targeted an “Iranian terrorist group” and Tehran government had asked Pakistan several times to take action on the group.

“The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted,” Abdollahian said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. This group killed our security forces. We only targeted Iranian terrorist group on the soil of Pakistan.

He emphasised that while Iran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, it would not “allow the country’s national security to be compromised or played with”.

“We have no hesitation when it comes to national interests and those terrorist groups inside Pakistan” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.

Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni Muslim armed group, has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Following Iran’s launch of a barrage of missiles on Pakistan, Islamabad on Wednesday expelled the Iranian ambassador and recalled its ambassador from Tehran, Geo News reported.

“Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles inside Pakistan territory on late hours of Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is “completely unacceptable” and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government.” The foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a “terrorist” organisation by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, Al Arabiya News reported.

Sistan-Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran’s security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers, Al Arabiya News reported.

Dawn news reported that last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders.

The attacks in Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq’s Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli “spy headquarters” and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report said. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

International Confidence In India At All-Time High: RBI Govnr

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

International confidence in India is at an all-time high and confidence among investors is growing, said Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das.

“There is growing confidence on India and I think the international confidence on India is perhaps at an all-time high,” Das told ANI, on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking about RBI’s growth projection for India for 2023-24 and subsequent growth estimates put out by the National Statistical Office, the latter pegged higher than that of what RBI did, Das said, “So, when we said 7 per cent for the current year, there were a lot of opinions outside that the RBI is overprojecting.”

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during its December monetary policy review meeting raised its growth forecast for the current financial year by 50 basis points to 7 per cent from an earlier estimate of 6.5 per cent.

The National Statistics Office in its first advance estimates projected the country’s economy to grow 7.3 per cent in the current financial year 2023-24, remaining the fastest-growing major economy.

“I said that for the current financial year, RBI’s growth projection was 7 per cent. The NSO (National Statistics Office) has said 7.3 per cent. So, when we said 7 per cent for the current year, there were a lot of opinions outside that the RBI is overprojecting. But in reality, the NSO has said 7.3 per cent for the current year and for FY 2024-25, what I mentioned is that my sense is that India’s GDP growth will touch 7 per cent,” Das said.

India’s economic activity has sustained its strong momentum with both urban and rural demand supporting growth. The strong thrust by the government on capital expenditure coupled with signs of pick up in private investment and healthy aggregate demand conditions, are expected to lift the real GDP growth, Das earlier said at a Luncheon Session organized by Confederation of Indian Industry on the topic ‘High Growth, Low Risk: The India Story’ as a part of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024.

He further added that amid a challenging global macroeconomic environment, India presents a picture of growth and stability.

Highlighting the reasons behind India’s emergence as the beacon of growth, Das stated that the decisive and timely monetary policy actions of the Reserve Bank of India through appropriate policy actions and liquidity measures have helped India to achieve a quick and sustained recovery.

These actions have been supplemented by structural reforms in the areas of taxation, banking, ease of doing business, and boosting physical and digital infrastructure announced by the government in the last few years, which together have boosted the medium- and long-term growth prospects of the Indian economy.

Commenting on the global headwinds, Das noted that the recent heightened uncertainty has resulted in emerging market (EM) economies being at the receiving end of excessive volatility in the US dollar and bond yields.

“In such a situation, the EM economies which have their domestic challenges cannot be held hostage to international financial cycles. EM economies have to act to safeguard their interests. Accordingly, the multilateral institutions could do well to take a more nuanced and balanced view of policy perspective of the EM economies,” he added.

On the rising prowess of India’s Fintech sector, the RBI Governor said that the Fintech ecosystem in India has tremendously improved, with the adoption rate of Fintech in India rising to 87 per cent which is well above the global average of 67 per cent. India’s Fintech market is projected to reach USD 150 billion by 2025, a significant leap from USD 50 billion in 2021, he added. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

M’rashtra Signed MoUs Of Over Rs 4L Cr At World Economic Forum: Shinde

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that the state has signed MoUs of more than Rs 4 lakh crore, i.e., around 46 billion, here on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

Speaking to ANI, CM Shinde said, “People are excited to invest in Maharashtra. Including today and yesterday, various MoUs were signed. We expected around 3 lakh crores, but MoUs worth more than 4 lakh crore, i.e., around 46 billion, were signed.”

“We get a huge international platform from the World Economic Forum. Discussions are held on the environment and technology. Maharashtra is the favourite destination for industries. Our policy is very flexible and pro-industry. The people (in Maharashtra) are very positive and cooperative,” he added.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister further said that the good relations between Maharashtra and the Central Government and the double-engine government are working.

“Everyone knows that the state government of Maharashtra and the central government have good relations. Double engine government is working. Maharashtra is also the biggest contributor to the Gross domestic product (GDP),” he told ANI.

The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Earlier, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said her government in New Delhi is working with a mantra of women-led development, and it has helped in empowering them.

She said the PM Awas housing scheme, where a majority of the beneficiaries are women, and the Ujjwala gas connection for poor women have helped empower them.

The total number of gas connections in India rose from 14 crores to 32 crores since the incumbent BJP government came to power in 2014. A majority of the new gas connections were under the Ujjwala scheme that started in 2016.

“230 million women received their bank accounts for the first time courtesy of the Jan Dhan Yojna. Of the 400 million loans given out, 70 per cent of beneficiaries were women with women-owned businesses, which means, 280 million women-owned businesses received funds. The NPA was less than 2.5 per cent”, said Minister Irani at an event organised by the industry body Confederation of India Industry, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the lounge. This initiative is devoted to capacity building, mainstreaming and sharing some of the best practices in the industry and taken across the spectrum. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Imran Out Of Election Race As Lahore HC Upholds Rejection

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

In a setback for Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the rejection of his nomination papers for the February 8 general elections, Dawn News reported.

The high court upheld the decisions of the returning officer (RO) and appellate tribunal given against acceptance of the disqualified former premier’s nomination papers from NA-122 and NA-89 constituencies.

It reported that Imran’s nomination papers had been rejected primarily on the grounds of being convicted in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), had accused Imran of not mentioning the details of state gifts in his tax declarations.

Imran’s nomination papers from NA-122 were also dismissed on the grounds of the proposer not being a voter from the constituency.

The appellate tribunals had also upheld the decisions of the respective returning officers (ROs) with an observation that the conviction and sentence were two different terms as conviction pertained to the guilty verdict and sentence stands for the rigours following conviction.

Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) reserved the decision on a writ petition filed by Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan against the election appellate tribunal’s dismissal of his appeal regarding the rejection of his nomination papers by the Returning officer (RO), The Express Tribune reported on Tuesday.

Arguing during the hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel contended that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lacks the authority to disqualify an individual.

The tribunals had noted that the conviction meant a guilty verdict pronounced by a court in reference to the delinquency attributed to an accused, whereas the sentence denoted the quantum of punishment.

Subsequently, Imran had filed two petitions in the LHC asking the high court to set aside the decisions of the ROs and the appellate tribunals of rejecting the nomination papers of the petitioner from both constituencies of the National Assembly.

During the previous hearing, Advocate Uzair Bhandari had argued on behalf of Imran that the conviction on the charge of moral turpitude did not fall under the definition of disqualification. He said the conviction of the petitioner could not be equated with the conviction for corruption or accumulating illegal assets, Dawn News reported.

He also pointed out that an Indian court enlisted the offence of moral turpitude lower than the offence involving financial corruption. However, the bench observed that the standards of morality in Pakistan were different from other regions.

Bhandari further argued that the RO had no jurisdiction to pass the impugned order on the basis of the conviction on moral turpitude. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the ECP argued that the petitioner’s conviction was still in force and he had not been acquitted by the high court.(ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Big B Buys 10,000 Sq Ft Plot In Ayodhya

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has bought a 10,000-square-feet plot in Ayodhya.

On Big B buying plot in Ayodhya, Shanti Bhushan Choubey, Ayodhya Registrar told ANI, “In ‘agreement to sale’, two documents have been presented…it is 10,000 square feet plot, transaction of Rs 9 crore has been done…second party Amitabh Bachchan, who has given agreement to purchase, his attorney Rajesh Yadav has executed it”

Talking about the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya, several celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, Hariharan, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda have received the invitation.

General secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai has said Ram temple will be open for darshan for the general public from January 23. The Pran Prathishtha is expected to conclude by 1 pm on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others present on the occasion will speak after the ceremony.

“As per tradition, gifts in 1,000 baskets have come from Nepal’s Janakpur and areas of Mithila. On Jan 20 and 21 darshan will remain closed to public,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started an 11-day special ritual in the run-up to the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla at the temple in Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Big B will be next seen in the sci-fi action thriller film ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas.

He also has a courtroom drama film ‘Section 84’ in his kitty. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Ramayan stars Govil, Sunil, Deepika To Attend Pran Pratistha Ceremony

By LokMarg 17th January 2024

Actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri, and Deepika Chikhalia, known for Ramand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’, visited Ayodhya to shoot their album ‘Hamare Ram Aayenge’.

While talking to mediapersons at an event in Ayodhya, Arun, who played the character of Lord Ram shared his thoughts regarding the Pran Pratistha Mahotsav of Lord Ram.

Arun Govil said, “Ayodhya’s Ram temple will prove to be our ‘Rashtra Mandir.’ The culture that had faded in the last few years across the world, this temple will again send a message that will strengthen our culture. It is a heritage that will be known to the whole world, this temple will be a source of inspiration, it is the centre of our faith, it will be our pride, it will become our identity. Our morals should be adopted by all.”

He added, “I had no idea that the consecration of Lord Ram would happen in this way, that it would be such a big event, this is the biggest event of my life. There is so much emotion and energy, the whole country is taking only Ram’s name, wherever Lord Ram is present. Those who believe in Ram, there is an atmosphere of happiness there, it was not imagined, hence the feeling of it is very pleasant that we are going to witness such a moment.”

Sunil Lahiri, who played the role of Laxman, said, “I am very fortunate to be attending the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, I am getting a chance to know what I did not know, the atmosphere created in the country is very religious and is very positive and it will give a very positive feeling to the world”

Sunil Lahiri added, “Those who have been denying Ram, they do not know what Ram is unless someone reads Ramayana. God is Maryada Purushottam, Ramayana also teaches us that we should live with dignity, this teaching is not known to those who deny Ram.”

Deepika Chikhalia, who played the role of Goddess Sita, said, “Our image has settled in the hearts of the people, even after the construction of Ram temple, I do not think there will be any change in it, Ram Lala’s life is being consecrated, people have given a lot of love. The characters of Ramayana will continue to receive similar love.”

Meanwhile, ‘Hamare Ram Aayenge,’ is sung by Sonu Nigam. The album was shot at Guptar Ghat, Hanumangarhi and Lata Chowk.

Actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri and Deepika Chikhalia will also attend the Pran Pratistha ceremony. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/