February 2024 - Page 20 of 36 - Lokmarg

Cong Alleges Party’s Accounts Frozen, Calls It Freeze Of Democracy

By LokMarg 16th February 2024

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken alleged that the party’s accounts have been frozen by the Income Tax department and called it the “freeze of democracy”.

In a press conference held at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Maken said, “I have very disturbing news to share with all of you. The accounts of the Congress party have been frozen and also those of the Youth Congress have been frozen.”

“We got information yesterday that banks are not honouring the cheque we are issuing. On further investigation, we got to know that the Youth Congress bank accounts have been frozen. The accounts of the Congress party have also been seized. Income tax asked for Rs 210 crore recovery from Youth Congress and Congress party. The crowdfunding money in our accounts has been frozen. Just 2 weeks before elections when the opposition’s accounts are frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy” he added.

The Congress leader questioned the motive behind the alleged freeze of party accounts ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

“When the principal opposition party’s accounts have been frozen just two weeks before the announcement of the national elections. Do you think democracy is alive in our country?” Maken remarked.

“We don’t have money, we don’t have money to pay the salaries, not only Nyay Yatra but all political activities will be impacted. We appealed in the Income Tax appellate tribunal the day before yesterday and the hearing is going on. We believe in the judiciary,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra arrived in Bihar on Friday.

The Yatra reached its final stage in Bihar and is scheduled to enter Uttar Pradesh later today.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi as it enters Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening. She will join her brother in Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh after the yatra enters the state from Bihar.

The East-West Manipur-Mumbai Yatra traverses 6,700 km through 15 states and aims to highlight the message of “nyay” (justice) while meeting common people on the way. (ANI)

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India's first under-river metro tunnel built in Kolkata

Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar: Modi In Haryana

By LokMarg 16th February 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reteirated the “400 pitch” during his address to a public event in Haryana’s Rewari on Friday while seeking their blessings for his third term to make India the third largest economy in the world.

He also highlighted the achievements of his government in the last ten years, including the historical moon landing event.

“If the G20 summit was successful, it was because of your blessings. India’s flag reached the moon where no one could; it happened with your blessings. In the last 10 years, India rose from 11th position to become the fifth largest economy in the world. In my third term, I need your blessings to make India the third-largest economy in the world in the coming years..,” PM Modi said.

“Ab Ki Baar 400 paar” for NDA,” PM Modi said.

The visit assumes significance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due in April and May this year.

Referring to the inaugural ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January, PM Modi said, “Just a short while ago, I got the opportunity to hand over development projects worth Rs 10,000 crores to Haryana, including Rewari AIIMS, a new rail line and metro line, and a museum…The blessing of Lord Ram is such that nowadays I get the opportunity to be associated with such holy work everywhere…,” PM Modi added.

Before his address, PM Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth more than Rs 9750 crore in Haryana’s Rewari.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar felicitated PM Modi before his public address.

CM Manohar Lal Khattar said, “…This is a special occasion when PM Modi is amongst us… When you (PM Modi) were the CM in Gujarat in 2013 and people were seeing you as the PM, you started your campaign from Rewari…Today, you are fulfilling the aspiration and dream of the people of Rewari by giving AIIMS to them…”

“The Metro station project in Gurugram will not only help people from Gurugram or the country but also those foreign companies who are here to invest… In the last 10 years, the way you have guided us, especially after the Pran Pratistha (Ram Mandir), has increased trust in our leadership…,” CM Khattar added. (ANI)

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‘Now Ayodhya is Awake and Abuzz 24×7 Like Big Cities’

By LokMarg 16th February 2024

Sumit and Amit Gupta, the fourth generation owner of Chandra Sweets in Hanumangarhi, say the economic activity in the city is growing by each passing day. Their views:

Ever since the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony was held in Ram Mandir, Ayodhya has become the city that never sleeps. Earlier, sweet shops on the Ram Path, the road leading to the temple in Hanumangarhi, used to see two-fold business on Ramnavmi and Diwali. However, since January 22 (when the consecration ritual was held), the sweets (used as prasad) are selling four to five times the regular sales every day. Ab toh har din Diwali hai (Every day is Diwali now).

We have been doing business for four generations, but we have never witnessed such a monumental surge of the devotees in Ayodhya. There are two famous sweet items in our shop, khurchan and lal peda. Now, these vanish within hours of being brought to the shop. We have to outsource the ingredients from faraway vendors as our regular suppliers are unable to meet the demand. And the surge is growing by each passing day. We are not talking only about sweet shops or Pooja-related wares; you name any business in Ayodhya and you will find it flourishing in leaps and bounds.

But we have not raised the prices of any item. Nor have the new suppliers tried to make profits by increasing the price. Everybody is happy with the current windfall and feels blessed by Ramlala. The common man in Ayodhya feels content and happy that Lord Ram has found a permanent gaddi (seat) and roof after a struggle and patient wait of over 500 years.

ALSO READ: Ram Temple is a Symbol of Unity in Counrty

The entire geography and appearance of the city has changed in the past few years, since the construction of Ram Mandir began. The markets and shops have got a facelift, and there is not a single road or bylane which has not been provided with lighting. Potholes, broken roads, poor sewage systems and garbage management that used to be a trademark of the city are now a thing of the past.

There is oly one grudge though. There has been too much barricading to regulate the flow of pilgrims. This is causing a lot of movement hassles to the visitors. However, the vendors are confident that once the dust settles, these hindrances will be removed pushing the economy of the religious city to newer heights.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Modi Thanks Qatar Emir For Navy Veterans’ Release

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked the Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for supporting the release of Indian navy veterans arrested in Doha in an alleged espionage case and also extended an invitation to pay an official visit to India.

“Prime Minister thanked His Highness the Amir for his support for the welfare of the Indian community and in this regard expressed his deep appreciation for the release of eight Indian nationals of Al Dahra company. We are extremely gratified to see them back in India. PM invited His Highness the Amir to pay a visit to India,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in a briefing on PM’s visit to Qatar.

Describing details of PM Modi’s visit to Qatar, Kwatra said that PM Modi and Amir of Qatar discussed a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation, energy partnership, issues of regional security, cultural affinity, and people-to-people ties.

“There were three key and significant elements of Prime Minister’s program. The first was a ceremonial welcome. PM was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Amiri Diwan where His Highness Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received him…The two leaders thereafter held detailed discussions,” he said.

“The topics of discussion included a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation including trade partnership, investment cooperation, energy partnership, issues engaged in regional security, cultural affinity, and people-to-people ties, he added.

Additionally, both leaders also affirmed strategic investments and strategic partnerships in the field of energy and technology and discussed issues of regional and international importance.

Kwatra said, “When the two leaders spoke, they spoke about the need for strategic investments and strategic partnership in the field of energy and technology and to proceed beyond the biocellar relationship in this field. They also discussed issues of regional and international importance.”

He added, “Prime Minister’s visit to Qatar is focused on one, consolidating the wide-ranging partnership that India and Qatar have across different fields of economic cooperation. Two, also through the visit this time, build on the gains of 2016 visit, build on the gains achieved through subsequent high-level political exchanges between the two countries and lay a foundation for what the two countries, driven by the strong leadership of The Amir and the PM of India can achieve in months and years ahead, in a manner that not only expands the areas of bilateral cooperation but also increases convergences on regional issues.”

Additionally, PM Modi also held a bilateral meeting with the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The meeting was also attended by the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

PM Modi arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha on Wednesday night after inaugurating the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi and a series of bilateral meetings with prominent leaders.

Just after he arrived in Doha, PM Modi met with his counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the duo discussed ways to bolster ties between New Delhi and Doha.

PM Modi who arrived in Qatar on Wednesday night received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora outside his hotel in Qatar. People carrying the Indian Tricolour and gifts for PM Modi chanted “Modi Modi” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” PM Modi shook hands with people who had gathered outside his hotel in Doha to welcome him. Some of the people even presented him with gifts like books. People also took pictures of PM Modi as he interacted with them.

Notably, this visit came on heels of a major diplomatic triumph for India, in which eight veterans of the Indian Navy who were sentenced to death in Qatar on espionage charges, were released by Doha on Monday.

Seven out of the eight veterans have returned to India. The eighth personnel has also been released and his return is being worked out, the MEA said. (ANI)

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UK Economy Slips Into Recession, Says Report

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

The UK economy fell into a recession in the second half of 2023, ahead of an election expected later this year, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a worse-than-expected 0.3 per cent in the three months to December, having shrunk by 0.1 per cent between July and September, Reuters report quoted official data.

A technical recession is often defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth in the real GDP.

Finance minister Jeremy Hunt said there were “signs the British economy is turning a corner” and “we must stick to the plan – cutting taxes on work and business to build a stronger economy.”

As per Reuters report, Hunt was seeking to cut billions of pounds from public spending plans to fund pre-election tax cuts in his budget, if penned in by tight finances.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy grew 0.1 per cent across 2023 compared with 2022. The Bank of England (BoE) has said it expects output to pick up slightly in 2024 but only to 0.25 per cent growth.

Britain’s economy has been stagnating for nearly two years, though recessions in the country have become increasingly rare as the economy grows larger and more mature.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the deepest contraction on record over two quarters in early 2020. Before that the global financial crisis sparked a severe recession that lasted just over a year, from the second quarter of 2008 through to the second quarter of 2009.

The fall in GDP in the fourth quarter was the biggest since the first three months of 2021 when Britain imposed new COVID-19 restrictions.

In another news, Japan’s economy too contracted unexpectedly, pushing the country into recession and causing it to lose its position as the world’s third largest economy to Germany.

Gross domestic product shrank at an annualized pace of 0.4 per cent in the last three months of 2023, the Cabinet Office said on Thursday, after having contracted in the previous quarter. (ANI)

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SC Nixes Electoral Bond Scheme As Violative Of RTI, Article 19 (1)A

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

A five-judge bench of Chief Justice of Inda DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra delivered a unanimous verdict on Thursday, striking down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional

The bench was ruling on a batch of pleas challenging the legal validity of the Central government’s Electoral Bonds Scheme, which allows for anonymous funding to political parties.

At the start of the judgement, CJI Chandrachud said there are two opinions, one by himself and another by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and both arrive at same conclusion.

The bench said that the petitions raised two main issues; whether amendments are violative of right to information under Article 19(1)(a) and whether unlimited corporate funding violated free and fair elections.

The CJI while reading out his judgement said that the Supreme Court holds that anonymous electoral bonds are violative of Right to Information and Article 19(1)(a).

The Supreme Court said that information about corporate contributors through Electoral Bonds must be disclosed as the donations by companies are purely for quid pro quo purposes.

The court held that amendments in the Companies Act permitting unlimited political contributions by companies is arbitrary and unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court said infringement to the Right to Information is not justified for the purpose of curbing black money.

The Apex Court ordered banks to forthwith stop issuing Electoral Bonds and that the State Bank of India (SBI) shall furnish the details of Electoral Bonds encashed by the political parties. The court said that SBI should submit the details to the Election Commisison of India and ECI shall publish these details on the website.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Chandrachud had on November 2 last year reserved its verdict in the matter.

The scheme, which was notified by the government on January 2, 2018, was pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring in transparency in political funding.

According to the provisions of the scheme, only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and which secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the last elections to the Lok Sabha or a state legislative assembly are eligible to receive electoral bonds.

An Electoral Bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India.

The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of contribution of funds to political parties. The Centre in an affidavit had said that the methodology of the Electoral Bonds scheme are “completely transparent” mode of political funding and it is impossible to get black money or unaccounted money.

Various petitions had been pending before the top court challenging amendments made to different statutes through Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016 on the ground that they have opened doors to unlimited, unchecked funding of political parties. (ANI)

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We Should Be Allowed To Protest Peacefully: Farmer Leader Pandher

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a dialogue with farmers or else we should be allowed to protest peacefully, said the General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher, as the farmers’ protest escalates into a full-blown crisis.

Pandher told ANI on Thursday, “We have a meeting with the Union ministers today. We want PM Modi to have a conversation with them so that we can solve our demands.”

Stating that India is a democratic country, he said, “We should be allowed to protest peacefully in the National Capital. The government should remove the blockades at all entry points.”

The meeting of the Farmers unions and the central government is scheduled for 5 pm on Thursday. Sarvan Singh Pandher said that the unions are hopeful of a resolution.

“We are going to attend the meeting in a completely positive mood today and we have full confidence that a positive solution will emerge from this meeting…” Pandher said.

The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they’re marching to Delhi. The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.

According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices, after which they ended the 2021 protest. They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, in line with the Swaminathan Commission report.

They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.

The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate.

Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings. An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), linking it with farming, has also been made by the farmers.

Also, they have demanded compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member. (ANI)

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BJP Workers Clash With Bengal Police Over Sandeshkhali Incident

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

A scuffle broke out between the police and Bharatiya Janata Party workers during the BJP’s protest in West Bengal’s Siliguri district on Thursday over the Sandeshkhali incident.

Women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating for the last few days over alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides.

Tension simmered in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district’s Basirhat subdivision on Tuesday during a protest by BJP workers led by state party president Sukanta Majumder against the alleged sexual harassment of women.

Majumdar sustained injuries during the police lathi-charge as a scuffle broke out between the police and party workers.’

In connection with the violence, the BJP also formed a six-member committee of Union Ministers and MPs to visit Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North Pargana district and collect information about the alleged incidents of sexual harassment and violence against women there.

The West Bengal government has reimposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in and around 500 metres of area in seven-gram panchayats, including Sandeshkhali.

Sector 144 has been imposed in the area till February 19 to maintain law and order in view of the agitation by the BJP over allegations of sexual harassment by women in Sandeshkhali block.

The Trinamool Congress has, however, blamed the BJP for trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Sandeshkhali.”The only motive of the BJP was to create issues and indulge in hooliganism while going to Sandeshkhali or reaching near the place. Stone pelting ensued, and people were injured there. They (BJP) say that women must be respected…Smriti Irani made instigating statements. The TMC condemns the conduct of the BJP, under the leadership of Sukanta Majumdar,” TMC Spokesperson Sashi Panja said.

After listening to the grievances of women who have been protesting against the violence and sexual assault by the supporters of Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman Arun Haldar said that he will submit a report of the violence-hit Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday at 11 am.

A delegation from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is in the violence-hit Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district to assess the situation and listen to the victims as women have been protesting against the violence and sexual assault by supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).(ANI)

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Rajkumar Rao-Alaya Starrer ‘SRI’ Gets New Release Date

By LokMarg 15th February 2024

Makers of the upcoming biopic ‘SRI’ starring Rajkummar Rao and Alaya F announced the new release date of the film on Thursday.

The story of ‘SRI’ revolves around the inspiring journey of an industrialist Srikanth Bholla, who did not let his visual impairment come his way, who eventually founded Bollant Industries.

‘SRI’ is all set to hit theatres on May 17, 2024.

The film also stars Jyotika and Sharad Kelkar in the lead roles.

Srikanth has faced immense opposition and struggle early in life right from his birth to fighting a long-standing legal battle with the state after class 10 to opt for the science stream. However, Srikanth always had bigger dreams, he not only cleared his tenth and twelfth standard exams with flying colours but also managed to be the first international blind student to study at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

The new project will be produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and Chalk N Cheese Films Production LLP.

The film was earlier slated to release on September 15, 2023.

Apart from this, Rao will also be seen in ‘Stree 2’, ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi,’ ‘Guns and Gulaabs Season 2’ and ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’ for which the actor will be seen alongside Triptii Dimri and is busy shooting in Rishikesh for the same. (ANI)

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Police Fire Teargas At Protesting Farmers

Delhi Chalo Day 2: Police Fire Teargas At Farmers; Traffic Jams in NCR

By LokMarg 14th February 2024

Police lobbed multiple rounds of teargas shells to disperse farmers who were approaching the police barricade at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to resume the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest on Wednesday.

To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies.

Meanwhile, long traffic jams were seen on Wednesday at the Delhi-Ghaziabad border due to the farmers’ protest and security checks put in place by the authorities.

Rapid Action Force personnel, Police personnel and Riot Control Vehicles are deployed at the Singhu Border in Delhi in view of the farmers’ protest.

The morning visuals showed intense security arrangements at the Shambhu border in Ambala, Haryana, as farmers who marched towards Delhi on Tuesday clashed with the police.

The protesting farmers on Tuesday were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons. The Haryana police, meanwhile, detained several protesting farmers. The police deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, and police and paramilitary personnel at Kurukshetra in Haryana in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by the farmers.

They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.

Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings.An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), linking it with farming, has also been made by the farmers.

Also, they have demanded compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place. (ANI)

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