Month: November 2024

Opposition MPs on Wednesday walked out of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting, citing concerns that the committee had left many state boards unheard and had announced its intention to table the draft report on November 29 in the Lok Sabha.

The Opposition leaders have demanded an extension of the JPC’s tenure.

Speaking to the media after leaving the meeting, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, “The mandate is that the report should be given on the 29th (of November). How can we give it? There is a procedure that must be followed, which has not been done. Most importantly, this committee hasn’t visited Bihar or West Bengal. There are many stakeholders we want to be heard. Why is this committee not allowing all the stakeholders to participate?”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh stated that submitting the report before hearing all stakeholders was inappropriate.

“Until the report is finalised, all stakeholders are heard, and the JPC tour is completed, submitting a draft report is wrong. The Speaker had assured us that he would extend the JPC’s timeline… Yet, side-lining all these issues, you claim the draft report is ready for submission. The Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh governments have not been heard,” Singh said.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee criticised the committee for not taking the process seriously.

“The fundamental issue is this: only those associated with or close to the BJP were brought in, and days have been wasted. States with the largest Waqf properties, including Delhi, were not called. Seven people have died in Sambhal over Waqf property issues, yet they are not taking these matters seriously,” he said.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the process was biased.

“We raised two important questions: the assurances given by the Speaker (Lok Sabha) are not being fulfilled by the (JPC) chairman. There seems to be no balance between the government and the Speaker. I believe some senior Union minister is directing the chairman (of the JPC). Secondly, the process is incomplete. The chairman claims the report is ready, but we do not wish to be part of a biased procedure,” Gogoi said.

YSRCP MP and JPC member Vijay Sai Reddy pointed out that the JPC would not be able to complete its proceedings by November 29.

“Before the agenda item was taken up for consideration, a significant number of members, particularly non-BJP members, requested the chairman (JPC) to extend the stipulated timeline. By the 29th (of November), the JPC will not be in a position to complete the proceedings. Many state Waqf boards and stakeholders have not been given the opportunity to present their views,” Reddy said.

Earlier, Opposition MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to demand an extension for the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

On November 21, JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal said their report was ready, and they would hold clause-by-clause discussions on it.

Pal added that the Speaker had referred the bill to the JPC, and the committee would act according to the Speaker’s decision.

“Our report is ready, and we will hold clause-by-clause discussions on it. The Opposition is also seeking an extension of the JPC’s tenure… Any member or Opposition MP is free to meet the Speaker. The Speaker has referred this bill to us, and we will follow his decision,” he said.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce sweeping reforms, including digitisation, stricter audits, greater transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. (ANI)

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) turncoat Kailash Gahlot resigned from the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after quitting the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Gahlot submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

In his resignation letter, he stated, “As you may be aware, I resigned as a Minister in the Delhi government (GNCTD) on November 17. On the same day, I also resigned from the primary membership of the Aam Aadmi Party. The main reason was the fact that AAP had begun to deviate from its moral and ethical values, thereby making it difficult for me to continue.”

“I hereby tender my resignation from the Legislative Assembly of Delhi,” he added.

Kailash Gahlot resigned as Delhi Transport Minister and left AAP on November 17, joining the BJP the following day.

On November 23, he was appointed as a member of the Delhi Assembly Election Coordination Committee by Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva, with approval from the party’s senior leadership.

Gahlot also met Union Health Minister and BJP president JP Nadda on Friday to discuss preparations for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, expected early next year.

After joining the BJP, Gahlot explained his decision to leave AAP, citing a gradual dilution of the party’s values and principles.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “It doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time to understand certain things. I’ve said repeatedly that we are connected to some values and principles. When I saw a dilution of those values, I mustered the courage to quit. There are several others like me who haven’t found the courage yet. I think they will continue.”

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of 11 candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections.

The list includes candidates for constituencies such as Chhatarpur, Kirari, Vishwas Nagar, Rohtash Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Badarpur, Seelampur, Seemapuri, Ghonda, Karawal Nagar, and Matiala.

In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP secured a resounding victory, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP won eight. (ANI)

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Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have fulfilled the dream of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray to make a common Shiv Sainik the Chief Minister of the state.

“I thank all the voters of Maharashtra for supporting Mahayuti and giving us a landslide victory. It’s unprecedented… Amit Shah and PM Modi have fulfilled the dream of Balasaheb Thackeray to make a common Shiv Sainik, the CM. They have always stood with me,” Shinde said in a press conference here.

He said that the decision on the Chief Minister’s post will be taken in a meeting of the alliance parties of the Mahayuti with Amit Shah on Wednesday.

“A meeting of all three parties (of Mahayuti) will be held with Amit Shah tomorrow (28th November). Detailed discussions will be held in that meeting. After that, a decision will be made,” he said.

He said that whatever decision Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes, he will abide by that.

“I have told the Prime Minister that if there is any problem in forming the government in Maharashtra because of me, then do not bring any doubt in your mind and whatever decision you take, that decision is acceptable to me,” Eknath Shinde said in a press conference in Mumbai.

The sources said that the Mahayuti government’s oath-taking ceremony may take place on December 2.

The Sena leader, said that he never considered himself a Chief Minister but as a common man whose job was to work for the citizens of the state.

“I have always worked as a worker. I never considered myself a Chief Minister. CM means Common Man, I worked by considering this… We should work for people. I have seen the pain of citizens, how they ran their households,” he said.

“Whoever is elected as the CM by Mahayuti, Shiv Sainiks will support him,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis headed to the national capital, New Delhi. He is expected to meet the BJP top brass in an effort to resolve the impasse over the decision of who will be Chieg Minister of the state.

On being asked about the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Fadnavis said that the answer would be given soon and a decision was being taken on the same.

“The answer to this will be given soon. All senior members of the three parties of Mahayuti are taking a decision on this together.,” Fadnavis said while speaking to the media.

Speaking on the decision for the posts of the other ministers, Fadnavis said that the decisions for the Chief Minister would be taken first after which the rest of the decisions would be taken.23.

The election results for Maharashtra were announced on November 23 but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is yet to decide on the Chief Minister. The BJP emerged as the biggest winner with 132 seats out of 280 member Maharashtra assembly, while its allies–the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar–won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November. (ANI)

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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday described Pakistani forces’ action against PTI protesters as a “massacre … under the brutal, fascist military regime.”

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party alleged that the government’s security forces assaulted the peaceful protesters in Islamabad during their rally.

In a post on X, the PTI said, “A massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the establishment and PMLN’s illegal government. The nation is drowning in blood.”

“Today, armed security forces launched a violent assault on peaceful PTI protesters in Islamabad, firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible. Snipers were also used in order to murder many civilians. With countless death and injured, the interior minister’s threat to kill and then the declaration of “victory” over slaughtered innocents is enough evidence of the regime’s inhumanity,” it further said.

“The world must condemn this atrocity and the erosion of democracy and humanity in Pakistan. The international community must take a strong stand against this brutal crackdown,” it added.

https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1861561493940248991

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party’s protests, demanding the release of its leader Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, the Dawn reported.

The PTI protestors were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad’s D-Chowk following which the clash between protestors and security forces broke out.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he said was an “attack by protesters,” while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the deaths of at least four security personnel in the clash, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, PTI alleged that the security personnel fired live ammunition at the protestors, killing two and injuring four others.

Condemning the attack on Rangers and police officers by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters in Islamabad, PM Sharif called for the immediate identification and accountability of those responsible for the incident.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need to provide the highest level of medical care to the Rangers and police officers injured in the attack and stated that assaults on law enforcement personnel, masked as peaceful protests, are entirely unacceptable, ARY News reported. (ANI)

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Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, who has been accused of ‘instigation’ in the Sambhal violence, criticised the police report of the incident and accused the administration of attempting to cover up their negligence by implicating his name.

“Police have mentioned my name in the report to hide the truth, to hide their negligence and so that I cannot help my people. I will keep raising my voice for my people to get them their rights and justice.” SP MP Barq told ANI.

The MP claimed that the authorities are trying to shift the focus away from their negligence and the failure to control the unrest.

Speaking to the media, Barq said, “The police have mentioned my name in the report to hide the truth, to hide their negligence and that I cannot help my people. I will keep raising my voice for my people to get them their rights and justice.”

He emphasised his commitment to the people of Sambhal and promised to pursue justice through legal means, saying, “Whatever legal battle will be there, it will be fought with full strength and we will fight this battle.”

The violence in Sambhal, which has led to tension and unrest in the area, remains under investigation.

Earlier, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh on Monday confirmed that those accused in the Sambhal incident include a Samajwadi Party (SP) MP and the son of a local MLA.

In a joint press conference earlier, Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi also said that two accused, identified as Zia Ur Rehman Barq and Sohail Iqbal, had been arrested for allegedly instigating the mob to the violence.

SP MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq had, however, denied the allegations of instigating violence in Sambhal over the mosque survey.

He denied the allegations and accused the Uttar Pradesh police administration of ‘conspiracy’ while claiming that the case registered against him was false, as he was not in the state when the violence erupted.

Meanwhile, the President of Azad Samaj Party-Kanshiram and MP, Chandrashekhar Azad, also spoke to ANI over the Sambhal incident and said, “It is not right to comment on what is the situation of people there, how many were injured or died, how many are innocent or guilty and what action the police is taking until permission is given to visit there. We can tell you about the situation there only after we visit. We are repeatedly demanding that we should be allowed to go there (Sambhal) to witness the situation and then talk about it.”

“The Internet is not working there; hence, we are not able to connect with people. The priority should be to restore peace there. FIR is very important for action. This could not have happened unless there was pre-planning. There should be an SC-monitored CBI inquiry into the incident. After this, we also want a discussion on the loot of votes (in UP bypolls),” said Azad.

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dimple Yadav attacked the BJP and said that the violence and ruckus in Sambhal that claimed the lives of four and left many injured right after the election results raises a ‘big question’ on the ‘neeyat and neeti’ (policy and intentions) of the government and the BJP.

Speaking to ANI here on Wednesday, Dimple Yadav said, “The administration did the work of booth-capturing and today when we are celebrating Constitution Day, we want our country to be run by the Constitution. The way the Sambhal incident happened immediately after the election results were announced, I think it raises a big question over the policy and intentions of the government and the BJP.”

Congress MP Imran Masood also responded to the incident in Sambhal and said that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is already aware of the situation in UP and will visit the district along with other party leaders post-violence.

“Priyanka Gandhi is already aware of the situation in UP. I have briefed her. We have planned to go there (Sambhal) and we will go. No one can equal the Gandhi family in understanding our pain,” said Imran Masood.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday also attacked the ruling administration in Uttar Pradesh over the recent ruckus and violence in Sambhal, claiming that the police in the state was ‘communalised’ and was acting like a ‘BJP wing.’

Speaking to ANI on the violence in UP’s Sambhal, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, “The Congress party is clear that police have been communalised. The way UP police are acting, like a BJP wing, is unacceptable. 5 innocent people have been murdered by the police. The administration is not allowing any delegation to visit the spot.”

In a development to the Sambhal violence, Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh on Wednesday confirmed the involvement of three minors in the incident that broke out over the Mughal-era mosque survey on November 24.

Security personnel were deployed in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal for the third consecutive day on Wednesday after violence and ruckus ensued over an ASI survey.

The stones-pelting incident that escalated into violence over the survey team on November 24 claimed the lives of 4 and injured many, including officials and locals.

The internet shutdown will continue in the region while all other restrictions have been lifted as the situation has returned to normalcy, Sambhal SP Krishan Kumar said.

So far, 27 people, including 25 men and 2 women, have been arrested, and 7 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, the police said.

The security team near the mosque is deployed with two-way radios for communication, security batons, flashlights, firearms, vehicle barriers, and metal detectors to maintain security for local regulations.

The said survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.

A similar survey was previously conducted on November 19, with local police and members of the mosque’s management committee present to oversee the process. (ANI)

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India welcomed the decision of ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday. In its statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the decision echoed India’s stance of de-escalation in the region.

“We welcome the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that has been announced. We have always called for de-escalation, restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. We hope these developments will lead to peace and stability in the wider region,” the statement said.

Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden announced that he spoke to the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel, who have accepted the US proposal to end the “devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah”.

US President Joe Biden announced the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Today, I have good news to report from the Middle East. I have spoken to the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel. And I am pleased to announce: They have accepted the United States’ proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah”, he wrote.

Backing the American President, in a statement issued by Israel, it was noted, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President Joe Biden and thanked him for the US involvement in achieving the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and for the understanding that Israel maintains freedom of action in enforcing it”.

Earlier on November 2, amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that Indian Embassy in Israel is in constant touch with Indian nationals, adding that necessary travel advisories and other advisories has been issued for them to ensure their safety.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “20,000-30,000 people of the Indian origin live in Israel. Our embassy there is in constant touch with them. We have issued necessary travel advisories and other advisories to ensure their safety.”

In a statement, the MEA had reiterated its call to return to dialogue and diplomacy. (ANI)

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The Adani Group has refuted the alleged bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Group’s founder and Chairman Gautam Adani his nephew Sagar Adani and MD CEO Adani Green Energy Vineet Jaain in a filing with the stock exchanges. In its filing, AGEL has cited the news reporting on the alleged bribery and corruption charges against Adani Officials as ‘Incorrect’.

“Media articles which state that certain of our directors namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet aain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment. Such statements are incorrect,” said the statement by Adani Green Energy Ltd.

“Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC,” it added.

In a legal indictment, count refers to individual charges against a defendant.

The filing states that, the DoJ Indictment, which has five counts, does not have any mention of and has excluded Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani or Vneet Jaain in Count One: ”Conspiracy to Violate the FCPA’; neither does it have mention of these three names in Count Five: “Conspiracy to obstruct justice”

The Count One of the indictment, which refers to the corruption and bribery charges, only involves Ranjit Gupta, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal of Azure Power and CDPQ (Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec – a Canadian institutional investor and Azure’s largest shareholder).

The statement says that, Adani officials are only charged for Count 2:” Alleged securities fraud conspiracy”, Count 3:” Alleged wire fraud conspiracy”, and Count “Alleged securities fraud.” The DoJ Indictment, offers no evidence that bribes were paid by Adani executives to Indian government officials, the indictment and the complaint solely rest on claims that bribes were promised or discussed.

The Adani Group is one of India’s largest infrastructure players with sizeable operations in the global energy and logistics space.

Over the past few years, the Indian conglomerate has been expanding its operations in international markets and directly competes with several US and Chinese entities in Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Australia, etc. Since the intimation of the US DoJ Indictment, the group has suffered a loss of near USD 55 Bn in its market capitalization across its 11 listed companies. (ANI)

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Air quality in the national capital remains in the ‘severe’ category on Wednesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

At 7 am on Wednesday, the CPCB recorded Delhi’s AQI at 301, which placed it in the ‘very poor’ category.

According to the CPCB data, the AQI measured at Lodhi Road till 7 am was 254, IGI Airport (T3) 298, Okhla Phase 298, DTU 250 and Pusa 281.

However, several places in Delhi are still in the ‘severe’ category for air pollution, with Ashok Vihar 316, Anand Vihar 311, ITO 316, Wazirpur 331, Vivek Vihar 318 and Shadipur 375.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is severe.

Nidhi gupta, a resident of Delhi said “In Delhi, pollution is not happening for the first time. It happens every year. It happens every month, every 20 days. When the weather changes and the weather settles in, then pollution does happen. And the people of Delhi who have medical issues, have a problem, but the rest of the people have only been blown out of proportion. We live in Delhi. I am running for six, or seven years now with a very famous running group in Delhi. Our coaches take all the precautions in this weather. But because of that, we sit at home and stop doing anything else. We stop our morning activities and sit at home. And then suddenly we leave home after 15 days. So that pollution and that weather will affect us more, instead, we should keep doing little activities. . .you drink water, keep your body hydrated, eat well, then pollution doesn’t affect anyone. No one has died of this pollution to date.

One Delhi resident said that vehicles should be reduced on the road given current weather conditions, and for children and elderly people, I would say that the online classes are going well. And they should continue. And for the elderly people, the weather is not good, it is polluted. So try to stay in areas where there are more trees and walking is needed. The stubble burning should also be stopped, like in thermal plants, blocks are used instead of coal for burning. The Haryana government has given subsidies to it our government should also bring provisions in such a way that people will stop burning stubble burning.

The area around India Gate also remained covered in smog with AQI in the severe category. High-rise buildings in the area were engulfed in smog, reducing their visibility to the bare eye.

Earlier on Monday, the Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government issued directions to all schools in the national capital to follow CAQM’s order.

“State governments in the NCR shall ensure that all classes up to 12th Standard are conducted in a ‘hybrid” mode, i.e., both in “physical” and also in “online” modes, wherever online mode is feasible in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the NCR,” said the CAQM order.

In compliance with the CAQM order, the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi, has issued instructions to the heads of all government, government-aided, and unaided recognised private schools under its jurisdiction, as well as the NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board regarding conducting classes in hybrid mode for students of all classes with immediate effect until further orders. (ANI)

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Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is set to honour the brave heroes of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in a special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, as the nation marks the 16th anniversary of the tragic day.

The episode, scheduled to air on Tuesday, will feature frontline warriors Shri Vishwas Nangre Patil, Additional Director General of Police, and Sanjay Govilkar, Additional Superintendent of Police, who will recount their harrowing experiences from that fateful night.

In a promo released by the show’s team on Tuesday, Shri Vishwas Nangre Patil, who served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for South Mumbai during the attacks, shared details of the intense operation at the Taj Hotel.

Recalling the night of the attacks, Vishwas said, “That night, I received a call reporting grenade blasts and AK-47 firing sounds at the Taj. Without waiting for a bulletproof vest, Amit and I went inside first. As we approached the staircase, we saw three terrorists carrying haversacks and armed with AK-47s. I took a battle-ready position and fired three rounds, sir. One of the bullets hit a terrorist named Abu Ali. Each of them had an AK-47, six double magazines, 50 bullets, and 20 to 25 grenades. Their plastic bag contained 8 kg of RDX bombs, sir, which they detonated.”

Describing the challenging conditions inside the Taj, he added, “The lights went out, the cameras were damaged, and we had to decide to step out. It was completely dark and filled with smoke, making it impossible to see each other. Then Rahul Shinde, a 21-year-old boy with me, came carrying a .303 rifle. My bodyguard, Amit Khetle, was shot in the stomach, and Rahul was also shot. I went to retrieve Rahul’s martyred body, sir.”

“I saw his eyes were open, sir–just a 21-year-old boy. The butt of his .303 rifle rested on his shoulder, the gun pointed upwards, and his finger was still on the trigger guard. Fighting until the very end, he became a martyr,” Vishwas added.

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks. One of the first places targeted was Leopold Cafe, followed by the Taj Hotel, Nariman House, Oberoi Trident Hotel, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, among others. The attacks were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.

Notably, at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, lost their lives, and over 300 were injured in the attacks. (ANI)

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