Month: January 2025

AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday came in support of Chief Minister Atishi amid a row on the CM’s official residence, saying that the BJP is losing the Delhi elections and that is why they have resorted to such “dirty politics”.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “Within three months, BJP again expelled Chief Minister Atishi ji from the Chief Minister’s residence. These people are showing their frustration by abusing Atishi ji and throwing her out of the house. BJP is losing the Delhi elections badly and hence these people have resorted to such dirty politics.”

Earlier, CM Atishi, addressing a press conference, claimed that the Centre has “thrown” her out of the CM’s residence for the second time in three months.

“Today, the dates for the upcoming assembly elections have been announced…The BJP-led central government has thrown me out of the Chief Minister’s residence for the second time in three months…The BJP thinks that they will stop us from working by snatching our houses, abusing us and speaking ill about my family. They can snatch our houses, and stop our work but cannot stop our passion for working for the people of Delhi,” she said.

“If needed, I will come and stay at the homes of the people of Delhi and keep working for the people of Delhi…Three months ago also my belongings were thrown on the road…The BJP should remember, today when they have again thrown me out of the Chief Minister’s residence, I take an oath that I will ensure that every woman in Delhi gets Rs 2100, every priest gets Rs 18,000 honorarium and every elderly person gets a free treatment under the Sanjeevani Yojana,” CM Atishi added.

However, the Public Works Department (PWD) refuted the claims of Delhi CM Atishi over her official residence and said that she did not take physical possession of 6-Flagstaff Road (CM residence) despite multiple requests.

In the letter, the PWD also said that they had made the offer of two new residences to the Delhi CM, one at Raj Niwas Lane and the other at Daryaganj.

The letter from the PWD read, “The allottee had failed to take physical possession of the bungalow at 6, Flag Staff Road, despite multiple requests. As per the provision, if the allottee fails to take physical occupation of the house within five working days from the date of issue of ‘Habitability Certificate’, the allotment shall be cancelled automatically.”

The letter also mentions the CAG audit related to 6-Flagstaff Road.

“An inquiry by CBI is also underway. The Directorate of Vigilance (DOV), had also recently sought a factual note on certain allegations related to the construction and renovation of the bungalow and PWD is in the process of verifying the inventory,” the PWD said in its letter. (ANI)

The Centre has sanctioned a dedicated site within the Rashtriya Smriti complex, located in the Rajghat precinct, to establish a memorial honouring former President Pranab Mukherjee.

Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee posted on X about her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Called on PM Narendra Modi ji to express thanks and gratitude from the core of my heart for his government’s decision to create a memorial for Baba. It’s more cherished considering that we didn’t ask for it. Immensely touched by this unexpected but truly gracious gesture by PM,” she said.

“Baba used to say that State honours shouldn’t be asked for, it should be offered. I’m so grateful that PM Modi did this to honour Baba’s memory. It doesn’t affect Baba where he is now- beyond applause or criticism. But for his daughter, words are not sufficient to express my joy,” Mukherjee added.

Earlier in December 2024, reacting to the issue of allocating space for a memorial for former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Author and daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, Sharmistha Mukherjee said that the issue must not be politicised.

“There should be no politics on this issue because it has been our tradition that memorials are built for former Prime Ministers, PV Narasimha Rao was an exception and seeing the stellar contribution of Dr Manmohan Singh, I completely believe that there should be no controversy on his memorial and he should also be given Bharat Ratna,” said Sharmistha Mukherjee.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS at the age of 92 due to age-related ailments. He was cremated with full state honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat in Delhi’s Kashmere Gate in the presence of his family, friends, colleagues and government dignitaries. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea raising allegations of widespread malpractices during the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Preliminary Exam held on December 13, 2024.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan asked the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court with the grievances.

As the bench was not inclined to examine the case, counsel appearing for the petitioner, Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, said the entire country witnessed Bihar police’s brutality on peaceful protesters who sought cancellation of the contentious BPSC exam.

The council said, “Now this has become a routine, how paper leaks are happening”

To this, the bench said, “We understand your sentiments attached… but we cannot be the court of first instance. We feel it will be appropriate and more expeditious that the petitioner approached the Patna High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.”

The petitioner challenged the BPSC Preliminary Exam on grounds of an alleged paper leak.

Bihar police allegedly used force to control civil service aspirants who demanded the cancellation of the BPSC.

Earlier on Monday, Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor on Monday was granted ‘unconditional bail’ by a court in Patna, hours after he was sent to Beur jail for refusing to pay the bail bond.

Kishor, immediately after being released from the jail, addressed the protesting Bihar Public Service Commission aspirants and said, “There is no strength bigger than people’s strength.”

He further informed me about the whole incident and said that the Police took him to Beur jail but they had no documents to keep him there.

Kishor was observing a fast-unto-death over BPSC irregularities, launched on January 2 in support of the protesting students, who are demanding a cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission exam.

The students are calling for the cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by the BPSC on December 13, due to alleged question paper leaks. (ANI)

Microsoft will make a USD 3 billion investment in India for cloud and AI infrastructure over the next two years, chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, informed from the stage at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru.

It will include the establishment of new data centers, and accelerating AI innovation in India.

Microsoft shared a comprehensive plan to train and skill 10 million people by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to partnering with India on the technology.

“Microsoft will also support the country’s long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills, as part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program,” the multinational technology company said in a statement.

Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, of Microsoft said the investments in infrastructure and skilling it announced today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and “will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly.”

“India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities across the country,” Nadella added.

Microsoft will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure across data centre campuses in the country.

Microsoft already has three data centre regions in the market, and the fourth ready to go live in 2026. Today’s investment announcement aims to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to meet the growing demands of India’s rapidly expanding AI start-ups and research community.

As the nature of jobs evolves, AI is becoming an essential skill for professionals.

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella in the national capital and discussed various aspects of technology, innovation and AI.

Microsoft has been operating in India for more than 30 years now.

Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia said, “In the last 12 months Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers. Today’s announcement strengthens our belief in India’s potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace. We will continue to use AI to unlock possibilities for the next few decades and ensure communities across the country have access to the compute they need to prosper in the AI era.” (ANI)

The Election Commission of India has announced the dates for polls to the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, while the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date of filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

With the announcement of the election dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force in the national capital and will remain in force till the completion of the election process.

The final voter list published on January 6, 2025 for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections recorded a total of 1,55,24,858 registered voters in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, showing a net increase of 1.09 per cent.

As the elections approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its campaign. The BJP candidates have targeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy case and expressed confidence in forming the next government with a “double engine” administration.

The BJP has accused the AAP leaders of corruption and misgovernance while the AAP, which is aiming to come to power for the third consecutive time, is focusing on highlighting its achievements in the education and health sector.

In the race for the New Delhi seat, the BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma, former MP and son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, to challenge Arvind Kejriwal. The Congress has also entered the fray with Sandeep Dixit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, from the same seat.

The BJP has fielded former MP Ramesh Bidhuri against Delhi CM Atishi in the Kalkaji seat while the Congress has fielded former MLA Alka Lamba.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI)

The Election Commission on India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the Assembly bypolls for Uttar Pradesh’s Milkipur and Tamil Nadu’s Erode.

As per the Election Commission, both Milkipur and Erode will be voting on February 5 and the result will be announced on February 8.

The election on the Milkipur seat was necessitated after the resignation of Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad while the Erode seat became vacant after the death of Congress leader EVKS Elangovan.

The last date for filing the nomination is January 17 while the date of scrutiny of nomination is January 18.

The last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is January 20.

Earlier, the Election Commission postponed the election for the Milkipur seat in October due to a pending election petition.

Afterwards, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court on November 25, dismissed a writ petition concerning the Milkipur Assembly seat, paving the way for the election to proceed.

Meanwhile, the ECI also announced the dates for polls to the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, while the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

With the announcement of the election dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force in the national capital and will remain in force till the completion of the election process.

The final voter list published on January 6 for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections recorded a total of 1,55,24,858 registered voters in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, showing a net increase of 1.09 per cent.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI)

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially settled the terms of their divorce, bringing an end to their brief two-year marriage.

The announcement, confirmed through court documents obtained by E! News on January 6, reveals that both parties have agreed on the terms of the divorce, and the split appears to be amicable.

The divorce filing, which was submitted by Lopez in August 2024, marks the culmination of their marriage, which began in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2022.

According to the settlement, both Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck will retain the earnings they individually acquired during their time together.

Neither party will be required to pay spousal support, and Lopez will revert to using her maiden name, “Lopez,” after having changed it to “Affleck” following their wedding, as per E! News.

Lopez had filed for divorce on August 20, 2024, citing the couple’s separation as having occurred on April 26, 2024.

Speculation about their relationship had been mounting in the months leading up to the filing.

Lopez’s solo appearance at the 2024 Met Gala and various promotional events added fuel to the fire.

As per E! News, in a candid interview with comedian Nikki Glaser, Lopez opened up about the emotional toll the breakup took on her, describing how her “whole f–king world exploded” after the separation, adding, “You have to be complete if you want something that’s more complete.”

“You have to be good on your own. I thought I learned that, but I didn’t,” she said.

Following the divorce, Lopez has embraced the opportunity to focus on herself. She admitted that she was not actively seeking a new relationship, telling Glaser, “There’s no new bar because I’m not looking for anybody…What if I’m just free?”

Lopez also shared that cancelling her tour and spending time away from the public eye allowed her to reconnect with herself and her family.

Despite their split, Lopez and Affleck have maintained a cordial relationship, often seen attending family events together.

In September, Lopez and Affleck were spotted at a family gathering with their children, including Affleck’s kids from his previous marriage to Jennifer Garner: Seraphina, and Samuel, and Lopez’s twins, Max and Emme.

The former couple also reunited for a holiday meal in Los Angeles just before Christmas, sharing a meal with family members at Soho House, as per E! News.

In the same interview, Lopez spoke about the value of focusing on her personal growth during this tumultuous period.

“I just needed to be with my kids and myself and really dig down deep into things that were happening in my life,” she shared, adding, “It was probably the hardest time of my life, but it was also the best time because I got to do that work on myself.” (ANI)

Debutants Aaman Devgn, Ajay Devgn’s nephew, and Rasha Thadani who is Raveena Tandon’s daughter, are all set to make their big-screen debut with the upcoming period drama ‘Azaad’.

The makers of the film have unveiled the trailer of the period drama. Following this, Aaman’s aunt and actor Kajol posted a heartfelt shoutout for the actor.

Kajol shared a link of the trailer on her Instagram Story and wrote, “If wishes were horses, I would wish for this one! So proud of you @aamandevgan! And so many more congratulations to come!”

The week started with the makers releasing the trailer, giving fans a glimpse into the action-packed story.

The trailer introduces Ajay Devgn as a rebel (baaghi) and a skilled horse rider deeply connected to his loyal horse. A dramatic turn in the story shows the horse going missing during a battle against the British forces, and Aaman Devgn’s character steps in to help find it. The clip also hints at the bond between Ajay and Aaman’s characters, with the younger one looking up to his mentor. Meanwhile, Rasha Thadani plays a character from a royal family.

A couple of days ago, a new song from the film titled ‘Uyi Amma’ was unveiled, where Rasha was seen showcasing her dancing skills. Madhubanti Bagchi lent her vocals to the song, which is composed by Amit Trivedi. The lyrics were penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Earlier, while speaking to ANI, Ajay had praised his nephew Aaman’s dedication to the film. He said, “I have a significant role in his film as well. The trailer has been released, and people are liking it. Fingers crossed. He is a very hardworking boy.”

Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, the film is set in pre-independence India and will hit theatres on January 17, 2025. (ANI)

BJP candidate from Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency, Satish Upadhyay asserted that the Election Commission of India would hold fair elections in the National Capital

“It is welcome. The Election Commission is working very well in Delhi. We are sure there will be fair elections in Delhi. After the dates are announced, the candidates will contact the voters and the BJP government will be formed for sure…,” he told ANI.

Replying to the query, regarding alleged voter deletion, he said, “It is a part of their (AAP) politics to put pressure on the Election Commission.”

The schedule for the Delhi assembly polls will be announced on Tuesday afternoon, as per the Election Commission of India.

AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats.

Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed that “Large-Scale” fraud in voter addition and deletions in the New Delhi Assembly seat is taking place.

In a post on X, Kejriwal cited a letter from Chief Minister Atishi sent to Delhi Chief Electoral Officer. “Large-scale fraud taking place in voter additions and deletions in the New Delhi assembly. Delhi CM Atishi ji writes this letter to CEC presenting evidence and seeking time to meet,” he said.

CM Atishi, in her letter to the Delhi CEO, said, “I am writing to urgently draw your attention towards a significant surge in voter addition and deletion applications in the New Delhi Assembly Constituency over the past few days. “She mentioned that from October 29, 2024, to January 2, 2025, a total of 13,276 Form-6 were received. “From October 29 to January 2, 6,166 Form-7 were received,” CM Atishi said.

“Total no of votes, as per draft electoral rolls published after summary revision on 29 October 2024, is 1,06,873. Number of votes sought to be deleted is 6,166, which is 5.77 per cent of total votes,” She added.

The Delhi CM, in her letter, said that as per various rules, if the number of deletions sought is more than 2 per cent of total votes, then the Election Registration Officer (ERO) will personally verify each deletion request.

In its counter-response, BJP Delhi president Virendraa Sachdeva accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh of threatening the election officer and called for action against them. This came after the New Delhi District Election Officer wrote a letter to Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer on the issue of AAP leaders’ allegations related to voter deletion in the New Delhi Assembly Constituency area. Sachdeva further alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha are involved in the conspiracy to murder democracy. (ANI)