Month: September 2024

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday attacked Congress-NC alliance over restoration of Article 370, saying that ‘three generations’ of their family will not be able to bring back Article 370.

Addressing a public meeting in Chenani, Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said, “You will all vote not just for Chenani but make a decision for the entire J&K. After independence, it is for the first time that an election is held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag…NC and Rahul Baba say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370.”

He further attacked three families–‘Gandhis”, ‘Muftis’ and ‘Abdhullas’ in his address and said that the families only gave tickets to their own people.

“The three families have given tickets to their own people and made only 87 MLA. But we made more than 30,000 Panch, Sarpanch and Tehsil Panchayats… The river of corruption that they started was cleaned by Prime Minister Modi from the bottom,” Amit Shah said.

“Since 2014, we have been working tirelessly to empower SCs, STs, Dalits, poor, and women. We secured our borders and ensured reservation for our Pahadi brothers and sisters. Congress never cared for you, Abdullahs never cared for you. And you should remember this,” Amit Shah said.

Amit Shah further accused the NC and the Congress of perpetuating terrorism in the region.

“The world is closely watching the Jammu and Kashmir elections, where two vastly different visions are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress, and PDP parties, perpetuating terrorism in the region for around 40 years, are eyeing for power. On the other hand, the BJP, committed to rooting out terrorism entirely, offers an absolutely contrasting picture,” he said.

“It is Abdullahs and Nehrus who are accountable for the killing of 40,000 people in Jammu and Kashmir. Where was Farooq Abdullah at that time? He was vacationing in London during the summers, and was riding expensive motorcycles… No party, but only the BJP has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir,” the Home Minister added.

Meanwhile, voting for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls was held on Wednesday. The second phase of J-K assembly polls recorded a turnout of 57.03 pc till 11:45 pm, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press release.

The ECI said that Budgam recorded 62.98 percent voter turnout till 11.45 pm, Ganderbal recorded 62.51 percent voter turnout, Poonch recorded 73.80 percent voter turnout, Rajouri recorded 70.95 percent voter turnout, Reasi recorded 74.70 percent voter turnout and Srinagar recorded 29.81 voter turnout.

The third and final phase J-K assembly polls will take place on October 1. The results will be declared on October 8. (ANI)

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday morning refused to comment on the ongoing protests of the BJP-JDS leaders on Thursday within the Vidhana Soudha premises, demanding his resignation and a CBI inquiry into the MUDA scam.

The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, demanded the resignation of the Karnataka Chief Minister, and said that the high court itself has called it a scandal instead of any political party.

“The High Court has already said it is a scandal, not BJP or anyone else is saying, it is the court. That is why we are demanding the resignation of the CM,” he said.

He further said that a CBI inquiry is necessary as the government would be appointing the police officer who would be investigating the matter, calling into question the impartiality of the investigation.

“The government is appointing the police officer, so how can an inquiry be independent? The Lokayukta is independent, but the officer will not be independent,” he said.

Another BJP leader, Y A Narayanaswamy, said that the CM has no moral right to continue on his seat.

“There is no question denying for inquiry, the inquiry has to be conducted. When the CM himself is facing an inquiry, he should not have moral right to continue his seat. That’s why we have demanded for the past two days that he should resign and face the inquiry. But the CM is telling very bluntly that he will not resign. This is unbecoming of CM Siddaramaiah, so we are demanding here that he resigns and make way for others in the state,” the BJP leader added.

Calling the MUDA scam the biggest scam in Karnataka’s history, BJP leader Arvind Bellad said, “This is the biggest scam the Karnataka has seen. Siddaramaiah has been implicated in that. The High court has upheld the decision of the governor. Any man with some kind of dignity would have resigned by now. But Siddaramaiah is acting as if nothing has happened and he wants to continue in the chair. It is not right, so we are doing a dharna in front of Gandhi statue.”

He further reiterated the demand for a CBI inquiry, saying that an investigation under the Congress government would not be fair.

“The CBI inquiry should be done, because any inquiry under the Congress government would not be a fair trial so an independent agency like CBI should do the trial where there would not be any influence of the congress government. The CM is so thick skinned, he is refusing to resign in spite of such a big scam,” he added.

On Wednesday, after the Special Court for elected representatives ordered an investigation by the Mysuru Lokayukta into the alleged MUDA scam the CM said he would fight the charge legally.

“I am ready to face the investigation and continue the legal fight. As I said yesterday, I repeat today: there is no question of fearing an investigation; I am determined to face everything. After discussing with legal experts, I will decide the next course of action,” Siddaramiah had posted on X. (ANI)

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Welcoming the Supreme Court decision to grant bail to V Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday while hitting out at the central government, said that in the midst of “political oppression”, only the Supreme Court is dawn for it. He further said that Senthil Balaji’s sacrifice is great and his determination is greater than that.

Referring to Balaji’s time-period in jail, Stalin, in a veiled attack on the central government, said that even during the ‘Emergency’, the jail life hadn’t exceeded for so long.

Stalin accused that they (central government) wanted to break the determination of Senthil Balaji by imprisoning him.

In a post on microblogging site X, MK Stalin wrote, “After 471 days, SC have granted bail to brother V Senthilbalaji. In the current environment where the enforcement department has been turned into a department to suppress political opponents, the Supreme Court is the only dawn for it. Even during the Emergency there is no jail life for so many days. Political conspiracies continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the determination of brother Senthil Balaji. I welcome Brother Senthil Balaji, who is coming out of prison having already received manure. Your sacrifice is great! Your determination is greater than that!”

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in connection with a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam.

Earlier on February 28, The Madras High Court dismissed the bail petition of Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case registered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).

DMK MP and Advocate NR Elango said, “The SC granted bail to V Senthil Balaji who is incarcerated in the prison as an under-trial prisoner in an ED case for more than 15 months. The long delay which has occurred…could be there in conducting the trials in the predicate offence as well as the PMLA case. The bail has been granted imposing certain conditions that he should appear before the Enforcement Directorate twice a week, he should not tamper with the witnesses and surrender his passport.”

Balaji was arrested on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Tamil Nadu Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime.

The Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) was registered on the basis of three FIRs lodged against him by the local police in 2018 for his alleged involvement in a cash-for-job case when he was the Transport Minister in Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet in 2015.

The charges dates back to his tenure as transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015. He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in December 2018 and assumed office as the electricity minister after the party came to power in May 2021. (ANI)

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A Metropolitan Magistrate in Mazgaon, Mumbai, on Thursday convicted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in a defamation case and sentenced him to 15 days of simple imprisonment.

The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him in a case filed by Medha Kirit Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Raut was convicted under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, her advocate said.

“Sanjay Raut has been sentenced to 15-day imprisonment; he has been taken into custody. A Rs 25,000 fine has been imposed on him. He will have to pay this sum to complainant Medha Somaiya,” BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told reporters.

In May 2022, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Kirit Somaiya had filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against Sanjay Raut in the Bombay High Court.

Raut has accused Medha Kirit Somaiya and her husband of being allegedly involved in a Rs 100 crore scam in the construction of public toilets in the area under the jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation.

Medha Somaiya registered a complaint against Raut stating that the accused made malicious and unwarranted statements against the complainant in the media.

“I state that the accused Sanjay Raut is Executive Editor of Marathi Newspaper “SAAMNA” and is also the chief spokesman of Shivsena, a political party. I say that the accused around 16th April, 2022 and thereafter made malicious and unwarranted mischievous statements against me in the media, the same which was printed, published and circulated to the general public at large through electronic and print media. The said malicious statements were also viral on social media platforms,” she had said in her complaint. (ANI)

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Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda on Thursday hit out at the Congress party and said it has become the spokesperson of urban naxalism and it is speaking the language of disintegrative forces.

Lashing out at the Congress and National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, Nadda said that Congress is allying with the party that voices for restoring Article 370, in which there will be two constitutions in the same country.

These remarks came while he was addressing a BJP membership campaign program in Khordha district of Odisha.

“Congress has become the spokesperson of urban naxalism. Congress has been doing the work of putting forth the points of disintegrative forces. Where is nationalism? They are allying with the party who talks about bringing article 370 back. But this is BJP who in 1952, as, Bharatiya Jana Sangha said there should not be two constitutions in the same country. Even Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life. We started in 1952-53, and in 2019, with the dynamic leadership of PM Modi and the able skills of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, we could see that Article 370 was abrogated. J-K entirely and constitutionally became a part of India and Jammu and Kashmir became part of India constitutionally after this move…” Nadda said.

Citing examples of Manmohan Singh and Lal Krishna Advani, Nadda said the people who came to India from Pakistan held prominent posts in Indian politics but due to article 370, a refugee from Pakistan, couldn’t vote in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There were around 200 laws in the Indian constitution that were not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. SC & Valmiki did not get a reservation. Dr Manmohan Singh who came from West Pakistan became the Prime Minister, Lal Krishna Advani who came from Pakistan became Vice PM, but a refugee from Pakistan in J-K could not give his vote in Vidhan Sabha. It is this time that they voted for the first time on the land J-K. whatever we said in 1952, we did it in 2019, we remain consisted on our ideology,” JP Nadda said.

Highlighting the seriousness of the membership and elections at different levels within the party, Nadda asserted that BJP is the only party in India that is a national, democratic and ideological party.

Stepping up his attacks on the Congress party, Nadda asked why Congress have never conducted a membership drive campaign or given importance to the membership.

“There are total 5000 parties in India and around 50 active party, but BJP is the only party which is a national, democratic and ideological party. It has got a cadre base and maximum mass following. It is the only political party. Have you ever seen such memberships event of Congress? Have they given such importance to membership? This tells volumes about the seriousness of the membership. Its transparent in BJP…. It is the democratic party and the transparent party…. the process of electing different members on different levels happens only in BJP, that’s why a son of a prominent leader doesn’t become leader, rather a member becomes leader in our party and all hails from ordinary background, that’s why it’s a democratic party,” the BJP President said.

“When I say it is an ideological party, then which is the party that runs on ideology? Mahatma Gandhi had said to disband Congress as this was only for bringing independence and now it should be disbanded, but Nehru Ji didn’t’ agreed…. Where did our leftist party colleagues start from and where did they reach? We did not understand who they were friends with and who they were enemies of. Today they wrestle with each other in Kerala and make friends in Delhi. They fight in West Bengal and stand as allies in Delhi,” he added.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched BJP’s 2024 membership drive by renewing his membership on September 2. The new membership drive was launched in New Delhi with PM Modi getting the certificate for the renewal of his membership from BJP president JP Nadda. (ANI)

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New mommy, Yami Gautam shared a beautiful picture of hers amidst nature and sunshine after welcoming her son Vedavid.

The photo captures Yami sitting in a chair wearing a comfy outfit paired with a multi-colour shawl wrapped around.

She posed for the camera flaunting her big smile.

Sharing the photo, she wrote, “Lately life has been about colourful burp-cloths, some sunshine & trees.”

Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar welcomed their first child, a baby boy into their family in May. Along with the announcement, they also shared that they have named him Vedavid.

Yami and Aditya got married in a private ceremony on June 4, 2021, in Himachal Pradesh. The duo had previously worked together in the 2019 war-action drama ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’.

Speaking of Yami’s work projects, she is currently basking in the success of ‘Article 370’.

‘Article 370’, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Aditya Suhas Jambhale, delves into the pivotal event of the revocation of Article 370 by the Central government on August 5, 2019.

The decision, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, is depicted through lens of realism in the film.

Alongside Yami Gautam, the film features an ensemble cast including Priyamani, Arun Govil, and Kiran Karmarkar. Yami is next set to grace the screens in the upcoming film ‘Dhoom Dhaam’. (ANI)

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Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to hear the dispute over the use of election symbols between the Ajit Pawar faction of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sharad Pawar faction of NCP on October 1

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan posted the matter for hearing for October 1 after the counsel for Sharad Pawar NCP faction mentioned that urgent relief is being sought in view of upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections and court vacations.

Sharad Pawar’s counsel claimed that even yesterday Ajit Pawar said that Sharad Pawar is “his God” and they are “all together”.

The counsel said that Ajit Pawar’s faction is not complying with the court’s previous order and sought direction that Ajit Pawar’s faction be directed to apply for a fresh symbol for the Vidhan Sabha elections.

Earlier, Sharad Pawar group had filed a petition in the apex court challenging the February 6 decision of the Election Commission to officially recognise the Ajit Pawar group as the real NCP and allot the party symbol ‘clock’ to them.

On March 19, the top court allowed the Ajit Pawar faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol, with certain conditions, including that his party will public declaration that the use of the ‘clock’ symbol by it for the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly Elections is sub-judice and subject to the outcome of the challenge made by the Sharad Pawar group to the decision of the ECI.

It had also asked the Ajit Pawar faction to not use the name and images of Sharad Pawar in its campaign materials.

Maharashtra legislative assembly elections will be held in 288 constituencies. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the dates for the election.

The upcoming Maharashtra election will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the UBT Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, and the Maha Yuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). (ANI)

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a red alert warning for Mumbai, Maharashtra till September 26, 8:30 am.

IMD forecasted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Palghar, Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Solapur & Satara during the next few hours.

Earlier in the day, IMD issued a red alert for Thane, Palghar, Raigad districts while for Ratnagiri district on September 26.

On September 25, in its daily weather bulletin for the nation, IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Konkan & Goa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, East Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Marathwada, Coastal Karnataka, Bihar; Heavy rainfall at isolated places over Rayalaseema, Gujarat Region, Chhattisgarh, West Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Maharashtra, Interior Karnataka & Telangana.

On Tuesday, IMD predicted light to moderate rain at isolated places over Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Karaikal areas, which will occur from September 26 to September 30.

Strong surface winds with speed reaching 30-40 kmph are likely to prevail over Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Karaikal areas tomorrow, the weather agency predicted.

The IMD has predicted moderate rain with lightning likely to occur in North Tamil Nadu in the next seven days and temperature likely to soar 2-4°C above normal. Due to humid air and high temperatures, hot and discomforting weather is very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Tamilnadu. It also predicts that there will be hot and uncomfortable weather in isolated areas of Puducherry and Karaikal area. (ANI)

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Karnataka minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Wednesday defended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, calling the allegations against him in the alleged MUDA scam case a mere “political game.”

Khan said Siddaramaiah is not involved in the matter and expressed confidence that the facts would come out after an investigation. Khan also revealed that senior party leaders are supporting Siddaramaiah and urging him not to resign amid the controversy.

“The facts will come out when an inquiry is conducted…This is just a political game. Siddaramaiah has no involvement in the case. We all, including party high command, Venugopal ji and Surjewala ji are with the CM. We have told him not to resign…Siddharama has no involvement whatsoever,” Khan said.

Meanwhile CM Siddaramiah said that he was prepared for a legal fight on the issue.

“I am ready to face the investigation and continue the legal fight. As I said yesterday, I repeat today: there is no question of fearing an investigation; I am determined to face everything. After discussing with legal experts, I will decide the next course of action,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing Karnataka Lokyukta to conduct an investigation against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Karnataka Lokayukta’s Mysuru district police will have to conduct the investigation and will submit its report in three months. The Special Court’s order came after the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday vacated its interim stay order granted on August 19, directing the court to defer the decision on the complaints against Siddaramaiah.

The order came on the petition of social activist Snehamayi Krishna.

“FIR will have to be registered as per the order. Mysuru Lokayukta jurisdiction will register an FIR and do the investigation,” Advocate Vasant Kumar, representing petitioner activist Snehamayi Krishna, told reporters.

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s approval for an investigation into alleged illegalities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority’s (MUDA) allotting sites to his wife.

In his judgement, the single judge bench of Justice Nagaprasanna said that the order of sanction for prosecution does not suffer from non-application of mind by the Governor.

It is alleged that MUDA illegally allotted 14 sites to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife in the prime location of Mysuru city. The High Court, in its interim order, passed on August 19, had granted temporary relief to Siddaramaiah by directing a special court in Bengaluru to defer further proceedings and not to take any precipitative action pursuant to the sanction granted by the Governor. (ANI)

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