Author: LokMarg

A group of Congress leaders, including general secretary Ajay Maken, on Thursday, reached Delhi’s Jahangirpuri to meet the families affected by yesterday’s demolition drive in the area.

The delegation will submit a report to the party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi, said a member of the 16-member group.
“We have come to Jahangirpuri to meet the victims. Police have been cooperative. We have come here to tell the people that this should not be seen from the prism of religion,” Maken told media persons.

Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi, a delegation member, said, “We will meet the affected families. Later, we will submit a report to Sonia Gandhi.”

Former Congress MLA Hari Shankar Gupta, who arrived at the site before the delegation, said that permission for meeting the people was sought from the police. “We do not want to disturb the peace here but only meet the affected families,” he added.

Condemning the demolition drive carried out by Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled North Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Gupta said, “They (the civic body) did not obey the Supreme Court’s orders. They shouldn’t have dared to carry on with the demolition drive in contempt of the apex court. In the coming days, this can set a dangerous precedent.”

The 16-member group of Congress includes Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhry and AICC in-charge of Delhi Shakti Sinh Gohil among others.

Ajay Maken on Wednesday apologized for not being able to reach the area while the demolition drive was going on.

“Jahangirpuri demolition without notice/procedure is entirely illegal… Tomorrow morning, along with other senior leaders, I will visit the site. Sorry for not being there today,” said Maken in a tweet yesterday.

The visit of the Congress delegation comes after Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member Brinda Karat visited the demolition site on Wednesday and called the BJP-ruled civic body’s demolition drive unconstitutional.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi also visited Jahangirpuri on Wednesday and termed it a “targetted drive against a particular community”.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has also decided to send a fact-finding team to the national capital on Friday, as per party sources.

Violence broke out between two communities in Jahanagirpuri on April 16 during a Hanuman Jayanti procession. The incident left nine people injured, including eight police personnel and a civilian.

Following the incident, the BJP ruled North MCD had scheduled an “encroachment removal action drive against the illegal construction in the Jahangirpuri area”.

After the demolition drive started on Wednesday, Supreme Court ordered a “status-quo”.

The demolition drive was criticized by Opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi, Asaduddin Owaisi, Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai, Brinda Karat among others. (ANI)

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas who announced the arrival of their baby in January this year have chosen to name her Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, local media reported.

According to a birth certificate obtained by TMZ, Priyanka and Nick’s daughter – who was born via surrogate – arrived just after 8 p.m. on January 15 at a hospital in San Diego, California.

The birth certificate stated their daughter’s name as Malti, reported the outlet.

‘Malti’ is of Sanskrit origin and means a small fragrant flower or moonlight.

Nick and Priyanka had announced the child’s birth on January 22 in a post that read, “We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family. Thank you so much.”

However, the pair who tied the knot in 2018 in an extravagant three-day affair in India have not yet officially revealed the child’s gender and name yet. (ANI)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to India beginning Thursday is expected to give momentum to negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

The third round of negotiations will begin next week and the two sides are keen to double bilateral trade by 2030.

The two countries are also exploring the possibility of an interim agreement to provide quick gains for benefitting businesses on both sides.

The United Kingdom is also looking to increase its footprint in defence production in India.

India and UK launched Free Trade Agreement negotiations in January this year.

Sources said the two countries have cleared some of the issues in the first two rounds of negotiations and some major issues around market access are expected to figure in the third round of negotiations.

They said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Johnson would be keen to encourage and give momentum to those negotiations. While some big announcements are not expected, the two leaders are expected to give a strong signal.

The sources said the aim is to try and do the negotiation this year if possible and there is quite a bit of ambition on both sides.

India was the second biggest contributor to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the UK in 2020.

The two countries have strong links in the healthcare sector and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is manufactured in India as Covishield.

The issue concerning financial fugitives from India may come up during talks. The United Kingdom’s position is that executive processes have been followed but there are legal proceedings that continue and it is for the judiciary to take a view.

The UK is seeking an increase its presence in the defence manufacturing sector in India the issues related to the transfer of technology are expected to come up in talks. The cooperation between India and the UK in the maritime domain is expected to become stronger in the coming years.

PM Johnson has been absolutely determined to come to India with UK keen to turn the Compressive Strategic Partnership into something real and long-lasting.

The sources said the visit to India is a big deal for PM Johnson and the trip has been one of his top priorities. His visit to India was “cancelled” twice due to the situation created by COVID-19.

PM Johnson knows India well and it will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister

During the visit, PM Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra will review the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and set their vision for further intensifying cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral ties. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The sources said the UK looks at the next 25 years to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

Johnson’s two-day visit will begin with Gujarat, a state that is home to a large number of Indian diaspora in the UK including the family of UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The visit comes almost a year after the two countries held the India-UK Virtual Summit in early May last year in which PM Modi and PM Johnson adopted the India-UK Roadmap 2030 to steer cooperation for the next ten years.

The two leaders also launched an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP) to tap into the full trade potential between the two countries by the way of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to achieve the target of more than doubling the bilateral trade by 2030.

PM Johnson will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and he will hold bilateral consultations with PM Modi on April 22.

India and the United Kingdom have a long and historical relationship which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK Virtual Summit in 2021. (ANI)

Oleg Avdeev, Russia’s Consulate General to South India, said that the world is undergoing a great transformation, adding that a unilateral world order will cease to exist.

“The world is undergoing a great transformation. They are transformational changes underway. After the Ukraine situation settles down the world will see an entirely new place,” he said.

The official was speaking at the 75th anniversary of Russian-Indian diplomatic relations observed by the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, South India.

He also added that there are different opinions of different parties on the Russia and Ukraine conflict. “This is a unilateral world which has been in the last 30 years and it will seize to be in a very short time,” he added.

Notably, India has remained a reliable strategic partner of Russia traditionally and remembers the help Moscow extended to India in its toughest times in the past.

The development of India-Russia relations has been a key pillar of India’s foreign policy. Indo-Russian ties enjoy enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationships including political, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, and culture.

Russians and Indians, both value and share values like friendship and loyalty, and this is something that unites the people of the two countries and especially the members of their permanent bureaucracies in ways that outside observers rarely ever realize.

The particularly privileged strategic partnership between the two countries has become stronger and more diversified over a period of time. In the field of defence, India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia.

India-Russia military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. BrahMos Missile System as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks are examples of such flagship cooperation.

Both sides cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite launches, navigation systems, remote sensing and other societal applications of outer space. It is worth mentioning that Indian astronauts, who will fly into space in 2023 aboard an Indian spacecraft, have received basic training in Russia – another enduring symbol of India-Russia friendship. (ANI)

Two accused in the Jahangirpuri violence case in Delhi have been sent to 3-day police custody on Wednesday.

“Gulli and Dilshad have been sent to 3-day police custody. They were presented before a Delhi court for the first time today,” said Rakesh Kaushik, lawyer of one of the accused persons in the Jahangirpuri violence case.
Gulli was arrested on Tuesday by Delhi Police for allegedly giving a pistol to an accused in the Jahangirpuri violence.

Violent clashes broke out in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on April 16 between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession that left nine people injured, including eight police personnel and a civilian.

Notably, National Security Act (NSA) was on Tuesday imposed against five culprits involved in the clashes, top government officials said.

NSA has been imposed against Ansar, Salim, Imam Sheikh alias Sonu, Dilshad and Ahir for their involvement in the Jahangirpuri violence, officials said.

According to Delhi Police, 24 people have been arrested and two juveniles detained in connection with the incident so far.

Meanwhile, bulldozers rolled into Jahangirpuri for a demolition drive by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Wednesday morning.

Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled NDMC scheduled an “encroachment removal action programme”, wherein illegal construction in the Jahangirpuri area was to be removed. However, the demolition drive was halted after the Supreme Court order.

The apex court had asked the registry to communicate the status quo order to NDMC Mayor, North DMC Commissioner and Delhi Police commissioner and halted the demolition drive. (ANI)

Yami Gautam walked down memory lane as her Bollywood debut film ‘Vicky Donor’ completed 10 years today.

Yami took to her Twitter handle and shared a picture of herself which was from her recent visit to the studio where she had given the audition for Shoojit Sircar’s directorial ‘Vicky Donor’ that starred Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead role.

Sharing the picture, Yami wrote, “The place where it all began! Started my journey auditioning for Vicky Donor right here! Ye sofa bhi yahi tha ! A recent visit to this studio took me down the memory lane, reliving so many beautiful moments through the journey! Thank you, Shoojit da and our entire team #VickyDonor.”

The plot of the 2012 romantic-comedy ‘Vicky Donor’ was based on sperm donation and infertility. The unconventional film along with Ayushmann and Yami Gautam, also starred Annu Kapoor, and Dolly Ahluwalia, among others.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Yami was last seen in ‘Dasvi’ with Abhishek Bachchan and Nimrat Kaur. (ANI)

Wimbledon on Wednesday announced the ban on Russian and Belarusian players at this year’s Grand Slam following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A ban on Russian players means world number two Daniil Medvedev and world no. 8 Andrey Rublev will not compete in the men’s draw. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who is 15th in the women’s rankings will also suffer after this decision.

“Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible,” the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said in a statement.

“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships.”

“It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022,” it added.

Ian Hewitt, Chairman of the All England Club, commented: “We recognise that this is hard on the individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime.”

“We have very carefully considered the alternative measures that might be taken within the UK Government guidance but, given the high profile environment of The Championships, the importance of not allowing sport to be used to promote the Russian regime and our broader concerns for public and player (including family) safety, we do not believe it is viable to proceed on any other basis at The Championships.”

If circumstances change materially between now and June, organisers will consider and respond accordingly.

Later, ATP termed the decision by AELTC as unfair and added that it has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game.

“Our sport is proud to operate on the fundamental principles of merit and fairness, where players compete as individuals to earn their place in tournaments based on the ATP Rankings. We believe that today’s unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s British grass-court swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game,” ATP in a statement said.

“Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings. Any course of action in response to this decision will now be assessed in consultation with our Board and Member councils,” ATP added. (ANI)

Witnessing a steady rise in the number of new COVID infections, the national capital reported 1,009 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since February 10, as per the health bulletin by the Delhi government on Wednesday.

The city had reported 1,104 on February 10 this year.
The active cases in the city rose to 2,641 which marks the highest after February 18 when Delhi witnessed 2,775 active cases.

The case positivity rate in the national capital reached 5.70 per cent which was 4.42 per cent on Tuesday.

According to the bulletin, 314 COVID patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total number of recoveries in the city since the onset of the pandemic to 18,41,890.

One patient succumbed to the virus during this period. The death toll in the city climbed to 26,161.

As many as 17,701 COVID samples were tested in the last 24 hours. The total number of tests conducted in the city so far rose to 3,76,00,234.

Under the vaccination drive of the government, 34,056 beneficiaries were inoculated during this period taking the cumulative doses jabbed in the city till date to 3,29,87,480.

The city has administered 5,73,210 precaution doses so far.

Meanwhile, India continued to register an increase in its daily COVID-19 caseload as it reported 2,067 new infections during the last 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.

India reported a total of 820 more COVID-19 cases today in comparison to Tuesday. The country registered as many as 1,247 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. (ANI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday laid out an eight-pillar strategy for the development of the state and making it a global hub for business.

Addressing the Summit, the Chief Minister said, “We do not divide people on the basis of caste, creed and religion. We stay like family. Irrespective of one being from any part of the country, whenever one is in Bengal, he or she becomes part of our family and should be comfortable here.”

Banerjee’s statement comes contrary to her party’s “Bohiragoto” campaign against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whose major vote bank in West Bengal is believed to be from Hindi speaking population.

The ‘Bengal Global Business Summit’ started at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo emphasized infrastructure development and no-strike culture in order to instill an ‘ease of doing business’ ecosystem transforming West Bengal into a global hub for trade.

“West Bengal is the first state to organize a physical business summit since COVID pandemic struck. There are eight pillars on which our strategy lays. First is world-class infrastructure, second is education, third is social security for the unprivileged and the fourth is skill development,” said Banerjee.

She further said, “The fifth pillar is expanding capital infrastructure while the sixth is the ease of doing business, the seventh is digitalization and the eighth is no strike and no mandate loss.”

Industrialists from different countries attended the event. Gautam Adani, chairperson of Adani Group also graced the event.

Gautam Adani on Wednesday said the company’s investment in West Bengal would exceed Rs 10,000 crore over the next decade.

Addressing the inaugural session of Bengal Global Business Summit 2022 (BGBS 2022), Adani said, “Over the next decade, we expect our total investment in Bengal to exceed Rs 10,000 crore.”

The investment will help generate over 25,000 direct and indirect employments in the state.

“All in all, over the next decade, we expect our total investment in Bengal to exceed 10 thousand crore rupees. We anticipate that this investment will create 25,000 or more direct and indirect jobs for the people of Bengal,” Adani Group said in a tweet.

In a separate tweet, Gautam Adani said, “What an honour to be at #BGBS2022 and hear Hon’ble CM Mamata Didi lay out her bold vision for Bengal. This is the land that gave India some of its greatest Freedom Fighters. The Adani Group is committed to invest and make a difference to this great land of Bengal.” (ANI)