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Want BJP To Become Zero: Mamata After Meeting Nitish, Tejashwi

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

Proceeding ahead to achieve the mission of uniting the entire Opposition to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday.

After the meeting, the three leaders held a joint press conference.
Nitish Kumar said, “We have held talks, especially about the coming together of all parties and making all preparations ahead of the upcoming Parliament elections. Whatever will be done next, will be done in the nation’s interest. Those who are ruling now, have nothing to do. They are just doing their own publicity. Nothing is being done for the nation’s development.”

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee also pitched for opposition unity while calling for an opposition meeting in Bihar, the land of the JP movement.

“We will go ahead together. We have no personal ego, we want to work together collectively. I have made just one request to Nitish Kumar. Jayaprakash (Narayan ) ji’s movement started from Bihar,”Mamata said.

If we have an all-party meeting in Bihar, we can decide where to go next. But first of all, we must convey that we are united. I have said earlier too that I have no objections. I want BJP to become zero. They have become a big hero with media’s support and lies,” Mamata added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has taken upon himself the task of uniting Opposition forces against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, will also meet with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday evening.

Earlier on April 12, Nitish Kumar had met with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and former MP Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said it was a “historic step” towards Opposition unity and for an “ideological fight”.

Rahul Gandhi, who posted a picture of himself with Kharge and JDU and RJD leaders, said they are “standing together, will fight together for India”.

“In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards Opposition unity. (We are) standing together will fight together – for India!” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet after the meeting with the Bihar chief minister.

CM Mamata Banerjee is also leaving no stone unturned in closing in ranks with other parties ahead of the 2024 polls, as she met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at her residence in Kolkata last month. (ANI)

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Lalit Modi Contempt Case Closed, SC Warns Him Against Any Future Remarks

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday closed the contempt proceedings against former IPL chairman Lalit Modi for making contemptuous remarks against the Indian judiciary after he tendered an unconditional apology.

A bench of Justice MR Shah and CR Ravikumar directed Modi to desist from any such activity to tarnish the image of the judiciary.
Court always believes in forgiveness when an apology is tendered unconditionally and with a broad heart, Justice Shah said while accepting his apology.

The apex court warned Modi that any such attempt to tarnish the judiciary would be taken “very seriously”.

“We accept the unconditional apology. We remind the respondent (Modi) that any such attempt on his part in future, which would be tantamount to remotely tarnishing the image of the Indian judiciary and courts, will be seen very seriously. We accept the unconditional apology with a broad heart because the court always believes in forgiveness more particularly when an apology is tendered unconditionally and from the bottom of the heart. Accepting the apology we close the present proceedings,” the bench stated in its order.

It further said that its only concern was that everybody should respect the institution as a whole.

Last week, the bench directed Modi to tender an unconditional apology on social media platforms and national newspapers for his remarks against the judiciary and slammed him for his remarks.

The bench had observed that Modi is not above the law and the institution and also directed him to file an affidavit before it tendering an apology.

The affidavit has to state that no such posts will be made in future which would be tantamount, even remotely, to tarnish the image of the Indian judiciary, the apex court had said.

Senior advocate CU Singh had filed the contempt plea against Modi saying he made a tweet on March 30, 2023 which tarnished the image of judiciary and made scandalous remarks against judges.

Earlier, the apex court while hearing an application in connection with remarks made by Modi against senior advocate and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had orally observed that lawyers should not be involved in a family outburst.

It had orally instructed Modi’s counsel senior advocate Harish Salve to use his ‘good office’ and advise his client to take ‘remedial measures’.

Salve had told the bench that the post made against Rohatgi has been taken down.

Modi had made some comments on the Instagram post about Rohatgi. Later, through another post, he reportedly apologised to the senior advocate.

Former Attorney General and senior advocate Rohatgi is one of the counsels representing Bina Modi, mother of Modi, in the vexatious property dispute.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Bina Modi, had submitted that there was an undertaking that there would be no posts while mediation was going on.

On January 19, the apex court had agreed to examine a plea alleging Modi made some “scurrilous” remarks in a social media post against Rohatgi and the judiciary.

In August 2022, the apex court appointed former top court judge Justice RV Raveendran as a mediator to settle the family property dispute involving the former IPL head and his mother Bina Modi, wife of late industrialist KK Modi. (ANI)

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K’taka Elections: Shah Holds Roadshow In Gundlupete

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

People of Gundlupete in the poll-bound Karnataka were filled with euphoria as Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a roadshow in the Chamarajanagar district.

Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Karnataka that started on Sunday. Earlier in the day, he offered prayers at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple in Karnataka’s Mysuru.
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party which is in power in the only southern state, seems to throw all its efforts into the poll campaign aiming for the second consecutive term.

BJP president JP Nadda will embark on a three-day visit to Karnataka starting today. He will participate in a roadshow in Sidlaghatta, Chikkaballapur district. He will also visit a temple at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district and will address several public meetings.

The party’s mega election campaign is likely to get a boost with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the State on April 29.

According to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, PM Modi will start his campaign from Belgavi. He will visit Chikodi, Kittur, and Kudachi in Belagavi, one of the biggest districts of Karnataka. Prime Miniter will also visit Uttara Kannada district. The PM will also visit the poll-bound State on May 3.

According to BJP sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address four election rallies on April 26 and 29 and on May 5 and 7. Union Minister Smriti Irani will address eight rallies between April 25 and May 6.

The 224-seat Assembly will go to polls on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13. (ANI)

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UP: Bloodstains, Knife Found At Atiq’s Office In Prayagraj

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday found bloodstains inside the partially demolished office of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj who was shot dead earlier this month.

“I have examined myself, bloodstains, the knife was found near the staircase and next to the kitchen Atiq’s office,” Satyendra Prasad Tiwari, Prayagraj Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP).

“The FSL team is about to reach, and the investigation will be done. CCTV footage will also be examined,” he added.

Further investigation is underway.

Moreover, on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a two-member judicial commission to probe the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad in an encounter in the State.

The State government on Sunday announced the formation of a two-member judicial enquiry committee to probe the encounter in Jhansi.

Asad along with his aide Ghulam in the Umesh Pal murder case was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on April 13 in Jhansi.

The committee will be headed by Retired High Court judge Rajeev Lochan Mehrotra and retired DG Vijay Kumar Gupta.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by men posing as media persons on April 15 night while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after they were shot at nearly point-blank range.

Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal murder case and also in the murder case of Umesh Pal which happened in February this year. (ANI)

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Plea Seeking Inquiry Into Atiq Killing On April 28

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list on April 28 the plea seeking to constitute an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf in police presence in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing of his plea and apprised the court that the matter was scheduled to be listed today.
CJI Chandrachud said that many matters could not get listed as five judges were not available as they were unwell.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari mentioned in SC that his plea sought a probe into the extra-judicial killings in Uttar Pradesh.

In his plea, Tiwari sought to constitute an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killing of Atiq and Ashraf.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari has also moved a plea in Supreme Court seeking to constitute an independent expert committee to inquire into the 183 encounters which had occurred since 2017 as stated by the Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) and also to inquire into the police custody murder of Atiq and Ashraf, gangster-turned-politicians.

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead while they were being taken to a hospital in Prayagraj on April 15 night amid police presence.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari, in his public interest litigation, has also sought to issue direction to unearth the fake encounters by directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate, collect and record the evidence in the Kanpur Bikru Encounter case 2020 in which Vikas Dubey and his aides were killed by police in the encounter as the inquiry commission could not record the evidence in rebuttal of police version and has filed the inquiry report in absence of that.

“The DARE DEVILS which Uttar Pradesh police has tried to become,” the petition said

The petitioner said that the his public Interest Litigation is against the violation of rule of law and oppressive police brutality being perpetrated by Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioner has apprised the court that he has approached the court in a matter pertaining to the Kanpur encounter with Vikas Dubey and said that a similar incident was repeated by Uttar Pradesh police that is encounter killing of Asad son of Atiq Ahmad gangster turned politician and the killing of Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf by private assailants when they were in police custody and were taken for medical examination.

The petitioner said that such incidents are a severe threat to the democracy and rule of law, and such acts are establishments of anarchy and prima facie development of the police state.

He also mentioned that extra-judicial killings or fake police encounters have been very badly condemned under the law and such things can not exist in a democratic society the police cannot be allowed to become a mode of delivering final justice or to become a punishing Authority.

“The power of punishment is only vested in the Judiciary. The police when becomes DARE DEVILS then the entire Rule of law collapses and generates fear in the mind of people (ANI)

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Wrestlers Demand Action Against WFI Chief

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

As top wrestlers resumed their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia on Monday said that this time “all parties are welcome” to join them and they won’t back down till action is taken against the BJP MP.

This January, the wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshee Malikkh among others had called off their protest at Jantar Mantar after being assured that a committee would probe allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against the WFI chief.
The star wrestlers said that they had filed a complaint at the Connaught Place police station on Friday (April 21) stating that seven female wrestlers, including one minor, were harassed and exploited by Brij Bhushan in his capacity as WFI chief.

“It’s been more than 48 hours since the complaint was made, but an FIR has not been filed yet,” Punia told ANI.

The ace wrestler said that this time they will not turn down anyone, and whoever wants to support their protest could come and join them.

“…This time, all parties are welcome to join our protest whether it is BJP, Congress, AAP or any other party…..we’re not affiliated with any party…,” he said.

Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) has issued a notice to Delhi Police to register an FIR on the issue

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat also shared a photograph on her social media that indicated that the wrestlers had spent the night on the footpath. “Podium se footpath tak,” tweeted Phogat.

During their protest in January, Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat who had arrived to express her solidarity and join the protest of wrestlers was asked to leave the stage as protestors said they did not want to politicize the issue.

After holding talks with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers were persuaded to call off their protest in January. The sports ministry formed a five-member committee headed by Olympic medallist boxer MC Mary Kom to probe the complaints of the wrestlers.

However, ace wrestler Sakshee Malikkh alleged that even after multiple assurances, not a single demand was fulfilled by the Committee.

“A committee was formed 2.5 months ago and we were given multiple assurances. We waited for months for the report and not a single demand was fulfilled. Seven girls have a sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan still no action has been taken,” said Malikkh.

Malikkh further asserted that this time they would not deny any support from any political party.

“It was our mistake that last time when people wanted to support us we did not let them, we will not repeat the same mistake. This time everyone is welcome, any party can come and support us,” she said.

On Sunday, wrestler Vinesh Phogat broke down and asserted that the wrestling community will continue their protest “till we don’t get justice”.

“We will sit here day and night. Till the time we don’t get justice. We will sit here,” Vinesh Phogat said breaking down while speaking to media persons.

“It is about our safety and if we international medal-winning female wrestlers are not safe then who is safe? We are from a wrestling family and we are trying to save it till our last breath,” Vinesh said.

When asked about the working of the committee, Vinesh said that she is unaware of the working of the committee.

“We don’t know what the committee is doing. We are asking for justice and we came in front of the entire public to ask for justice and here we are again.”

On DCW’s notice to Delhi Police for reportedly failing to register an FIR in sexual harassment case of women wrestlers Vinesh said, “It’s been three months, and we haven’t got justice, that’s why we are protesting again. We demand justice, FIR has not been registered yet. We are grateful that DCW is supporting us.”

Top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar in January this year, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from the head office and the Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.

They had accused the WFI body and its chief of sexual harassment and mistreatment of wrestlers. (ANI)

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413 Dead In Sudan Fighting: WHO

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that 413 people have died in the current Sudan conflict, while the UN children’s agency said children are paying a high price, with at least nine reportedly killed in the fighting and more than 50 badly injured, Turkish News Agency Anadolu reported.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told in a UN press conference that according to figures from the government in Sudan, 413 people have died and 3,551 injured in the conflict.
The fighting is part of ongoing clashes between the country’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

She said there had been 11 verified attacks on health facilities, including 10 since April 15.

“According to the Ministry of Health in Sudan, the number of health facilities that have stopped working is 20. And also, according to Ministry of Health numbers, the number of health facilities at risk of stopping is 12,” said Harris.

“So this means that all those people who need care, and this is not only the people who’ve been injured hearings, terrible fighting, but that the people who were needing treatment before and continuing treatment,” are impacted, said the WHO spokesperson, Anadolu reported.

At the same press conference, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said, “Clearly, as ever, the fighting takes a devastating toll on children.

“We now have reports of at least nine children killed and at least 50 injured. Those numbers will continue to rise as long as fighting continues,” he added.

Elder said large numbers of people are trapped and do not have access to electricity, Anadolu reported.

“They’re terrified of running out of food, water, and medicines,” he said, adding, “One of our grave concerns is around hospitals that have come under fire.”

Elder said Sudan already had one of the world’s highest malnutrition rates among children.

“And we’ve now got a situation where critical life-saving support for around 50,000 children is at risk,” said the UNICEF spokesperson.

The fighting also puts at risk “the cold chain” in Sudan, including over USD 40 million worth of vaccines and insulin, due to breaks in the power supply and the inability to restock generators with fuel, said Elder.

UNICEF also has reports of children sheltering in schools and care centres while fighting rages around them and of children’s hospitals forced to evacuate as shelling moves closer, Anadolu reported.

Elder said before the escalation in violence in Sudan, the humanitarian needs of children in the country were high, with three-quarters of children estimated to live in extreme poverty.

At the same time, 11.5 million children and community members needed emergency water and sanitation services, 7 million children were out of school, and more than 600,000 children suffered from severe acute malnutrition.

Fighting erupted last Saturday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum and its surroundings, Anadolu reported.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency in what political forces called a “coup.” (ANI)

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We Are Prepared For Elections: Uddhav

By LokMarg 24th April 2023

With the Uddhav Thackeray faction’s plea, challenging last year’s change of guard in Maharashtra, pending arbitration in the Supreme Court, the former Maharashtra chief minister on Sunday said elections can happen any time and they were “prepared”.

Addressing a public meeting in Jalgaon on Sunday, Uddhav, who now heads the Shiv Sena (UBT), said, “Elections [in Maharashtra] can happen at any time and we are prepared. The matter is in Supreme Court and we are hopeful that the eventual verdict will be in our favour. After that, anything can happen any time.”
The rift in undivided Shiv Sena led to present Chief Minister Eknath Shinde forming a breakaway front with over 40 loyalists.

After camping in a hotel in BJP-ruled Assam over days, the breakaway camp eventually joined hands with the BJP to bring about the demise of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — an alliance of Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena — government in Maharashtra.

The BJP and the rival Sena camp later formed the government and Eknath Shinde took oath as the chief minister, with former CM Devendra Fadnavis taking over as his deputy.

While the Election Commission (EC), earlier this year, decided to allot the official ‘bow and arrow’ symbol of the Shiv Sena to the Shinde camp along with the original party name, the plea by the Uddhav camp challenging the change of guard and re-allotment of the party symbol is still sub judice at the apex court.

Uddhav claimed he did not allow injustice to any religion during his term in office.

“Today, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has completed three years of its existence. They (BJP and the Shinde camp) accuse me of abandoning Hindutva but the truth is that I did not allow injustice to any religion, bearing true allegiance to the oath of office that I took. All places of worship were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, without any discrimination,” he said.

Uddhav also dared the BJP’s state unit to declare that it would contest the next Maharashtra elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde.

Hitting out at the Shinde camp, Uddhav said, “You do not have any ideal of your own and neither do you have any leader. So, you steal others’ ideals and the names of someone’s father and mother to contest elections. I challenged the BJP earlier and will do so again. I dare them to declare that they will contest the coming elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde,” he said. (ANI)

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Kriti Travels Economy, Plays With A Kid In Plane

By LokMarg 23rd April 2023

The ‘Mimi’ actor Kriti Sanon recently travelled by economy class and played with a kid in the plane. A paparazzo captured the scene and posted the video on his Instagram account which is winning the hearts of netizens.

In the first video, Kriti was seen in a white dress and she wrapped a pink shawl over her. Wearing a black mask, the ‘Bhediya’ actor made her way amid people inside the plane.
In another video, Kriti seemed to enjoy the company of a little one. She was holding the little munchkin’s hands, throwing a flying kiss towards her. Her genuine gestures are winning the hearts of the netizens.

Before Kriti, Deepika Padukone, Kartik Aaryan, Aamir Khan were also spotted in the economy class at various points of time.

Kriti has an interesting line-up of movies in her kitty. Kriti teamed up with Tabu and Kareena Kapoor Khan for ‘The Crew’. Diljit Dosanjh is also a part of the film. She has wrapped the shoot of a Maddock film, in which she has been cast opposite Shahid Kapoor.

Kriti will also be seen in Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’, where she will portray the role of Sita. (ANI)

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Shilpa Relives Mangalorean Roots With Kids

By LokMarg 23rd April 2023

Shilpa Shetty introduced her kids to her cultural roots in Mangalore!

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Shilpa shared a video where she was accompanied by her sister Shamita Shetty and her kids. Shilpa shared glimpses of local culture, dance performances and other associated rituals which are part of the Mangalorean tradition.
Sharing the video, she captioned it, “Back to my native roots Mangalore. Paying my obeisance to our Kuldevi #Kateeldurgaparmeshwari and Introducing my Mangalorean heritage and culture to my children , that I am so proud of.” Shilpa is seen in a traditional saree, sporting gajra and nathni.

Fans also loved the post of Shilpa. One wrote, “Mashallah”. Another one wrote, “Jai mata Rani.”

Shilpa was last seen in an action comedy film ‘Nikamma’ alongside Abhimanyu Dasani and Shirley Setia. The actor is a part of Rohit Shetty’s OTT debut ‘Indian Police Force’, which also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. The series will stream on the OTT platform Amazon Prime.

Directed by Prem, Shilpa will act in ‘KD-The Devil’ as Satyavati alongside V Ravichandran, and Sanjay Dutt.

“A war is fought between kingdoms and every kingdom needs a ‘Satyavati’. I’m so excited and pumped to join the ‘KD’ battlefield and step into this powerful role,” said Shilpa Shetty Kundra.

The Pan-India multilingual is set to release in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. (ANI)

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