Tag: India

India ODI

India Replaces Pakistan As Top ODI Team In ICC Ranking

By LokMarg

India climbed to No.1 in the Men’s ODI Team Rankings after registering a win against Australia by five wickets in Mohali on Friday. With the win, India also accomplished a rare feat by becoming the top team in all three formats. 

According to ICC, India (116 rating points) displaced their arch-rivals Pakistan (115) at the top of the rankings after the win in the first ODI. Australia remain third with 111 points.

As a result of the win, India now reigns supreme across all formats as the No.1 team, having already occupied the top spot in Tests and T20Is.

India cruised to a five-wicket victory over Australia in the first ODI to achieve the feat. Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul was the highlight of their bowling innings after stand-in skipper KL Rahul opted to field first.

In reply, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a fifty each and stitched a 142-run opening stand. Despite losing a few quick wickets, the fifties from Rahul and Surykumar Yadav held the fort and guided the hosts to victory.

It has been a scramble at the top of the ODI Team Rankings lately with India, Pakistan and Australia all in contention for the top spot during the recently-concluded Asia Cup and Australia’s ODI series against South Africa.

Pakistan held on to their No.1 spot despite not making it to the Asia Cup Final. Both India and Australia had opportunities to reach the ODI summit during the Asia Cup and the South Africa series but lost games when it mattered.

As a result of the defeat, Australia no longer stands a chance to be the No.1 team heading into the World Cup. However, Pakistan could still go to the top if Australia win the remaining two matches.

India remain in the box seat now, with a series win guaranteeing them the top spot heading into the marquee event at home.

India’s dominance now extends across all formats with them already occupying the No.1 spot in Tests and T20Is. This is only the second time in men’s cricketing history that a side has achieved the No.1 ranking across the formats. Prior to this, only South Africa had achieved the feat back in August 2012.

In the longer format, India have displayed remarkable consistency as a result of which they made their second consecutive World Test Championship Final in June, though they failed to conquer the final frontier again. Their recent record in bilateral series is almost spotless, with the series loss against South Africa in 2021-22 being the only blemish.

In T20Is, India reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2022. Their run in bilateral T20I series has been all the more impressive, having lost just one series out of 14 since the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. (ANI)

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India Canada US

Both India And Canada Our Important Partners: US

By LokMarg

Amid the rising tensions between India and Canada, US State Department’s Hindustani Spokesperson Margaret MacLeod on Thursday emphasized that the US has their own relations with India and Canada, noting that both are important for the United States.   

Macleod further said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations are concerning. 

‘The allegations levied by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau are very concerning. We are keeping in touch with our Canadian allies. We urge the Indian govt to cooperate in this investigation,” she added. 

Notably, she said, “US and Canada have their own relation and US and India have their own relation, both are important partners for us. But most importantly, the guilty should be brought to justice.” 

Earlier today, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson rejected reports of the US rebuffing Canada after the latter accused the Indian government of being behind the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Watson said they are “coordinating and consulting” with Canada and also “engaging” with the Indian government.

Watson made the statement in response to reports in the American media that Washington has distanced itself from Canada’s allegation about New Delhi’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar, a wanted Khalistani leader in India. The report highlighted the diplomatic challenges faced by the Biden administration as it seeks to maintain strong relations with both India and Canada.

Earlier, US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said “serious allegations” were levelled by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau against India in the killing of Nijjar, adding that the US wanted the matter handled in a “transparent” way.

In an interview with CBS News, an American television news channel, Kirby urged India to cooperate in the investigation. “These allegations are serious and we know that Canadians are investigating and we certainly don’t want to get ahead of that investigation. We urge India to cooperate in that investigation as well,” Kirby said in the interview.

Moreover, on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the allegations made by Canada regarding the “potential links” of India being behind the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are “politically driven”.

“Yes, I do think there is a degree of prejudice here. They have made allegations and taken action against them. To us, it seems that these allegations by the government of Canada are primarily politically driven,” Bagchi said. 

Bilateral relations between India and Canada have hit a sharp downward spiral after Prime Minister Trudeau on Monday alleged that “Indian agents” were behind the shooting of Hardeep Nijjar.

Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) — a Sikh extremist organisation banned by India and a “designated terrorist” was killed in a targeted shooting at British Columbia in Canada’s Surrey in June 2018.

India, however, rejected the allegations by the Trudeau administration, terming them “absurd” and “motivated”.

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. (ANI)

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Manoj Jha on Women reservation

RJD Demands Reservation For OBC Women In Quota Bill

By LokMarg

Rashtriya Janata Dal member Manoj Jha taking part in the discussion on the women’s reservation Bill on Thursday on behalf of his party in the Rajya Sabha demanded that women belonging to Other Backward Classes be incorporated in the legislation.

“There is still time available and I request the Bill is sent to a select committee and incorporate OBCs, along with SC and STs,” Jha said.

“Nobody is discussing the Bill being passed in the Lok Sabha but are talking about the injustices done to OBC women.”

Citing late political leader Sarojini Naidu and her demand for an “equal representation” in legislatures, Jha asked why the Bill intends to give reservation to only 33 per cent and why not 50 per cent or 55 per cent.

Speaking before Jha, YSRCP member V Vijayasai Reddy demanded reservation of women in the Upper House and the state legislative councils.

“Law Minister, please take note of it,” Reddy told Arjun Ram Meghwal.

YSRCP has often supported in passing of various bills brought by the BJP-led government.

Reddy also suggested that the month of September be announced as “women’s history month”.

“I strongly suggest and request September be declared as women’s history month,” he said.

As tabled in the Parliament, the new women’s reservation Bill in its current form says it will be effective once the decennial census and delimitation of constituencies are done.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had on Tuesday introduced the new Bill — Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, in its very first sitting of the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament complex, which was passed on Wednesday in the Lower House.

The Women Reservation Bill seeks to guarantee 33 per quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative assemblies has been a promise of many parties, including the BJP for years. (ANI)

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Indian Canada

Indian Visa Services In Canada Suspended Till Further Notice

By LokMarg

The Indian Mission in Canada on Thursday suspended visa services till further notice citing operational reasons, according to BLS International.

BLS International Services Limited is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide. The company manages visa, passport, consular, attestation and citizen services.

As per BLS International , interested visa applicants have been advised to keep checking the BLS website for further updates on the issue.

“Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates,” the BLS website said.

This comes amid strain in India-Canada relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Najjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Trudeau during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

The allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and foreign minister were rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs in India which dubbed the statements as absurd. 

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated” the statement said. 

On Wednesday, Indian nationals, students in Canada and those planning on travelling to the country were advised to exercise caution. Indian nationals and Indian students in Canada were advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen growing anti-India activities, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Indian students in Canada have been particularly advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. (ANI)

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Women's Reservation Bill

Supriya Sule Calls Women Reservation Bill A Post-Dated Cheque

By LokMarg

Terming the bill as a “post-dated cheque”, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule slammed the Bharatiya Janta Party for calling a special session for parliament for passing the Women’s Reservation Bill. 

Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Women’s Reservation Bill for discussion in Rajya Sabha.

Stating that neither census and delimitation has been done, the NCP MP also said that the Centre could have introduced the bill during the upcoming winter session.

Speaking to ANI ahead of the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Supriya Sule said “They did this in such a haste, in a special session. There was so much haste that it seemed that they could have done it in December (Winter Session). Even if they did it then, the outcome would have been the same…”

“We are supporting it strongly. But it is a post-dated cheque because neither census nor delimitation has been done. Unless both of them are done it can’t be implemented. It will perhaps be implemented in 2029, who knows?”

BJP MP, Hema Malini congratulated PM Modi for his “vision” following the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

 “The people who question will only question. But PM Narendra Modi has done it. He has done what has never happened before. We all should thank him, and congratulate him. He has a vision…” the Mathura MP told ANI.

The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ is the first bill passed by Lok Sabha during the special session after it shifted to the new Parliament building on Tuesday.

The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ is a “historic legislation” that will further boost women’s empowerment and will enable “greater participation of women in our political process,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday after the passage of the bill in Lok Sabha.

The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the first sitting of the House in the new Parliament building.

The five-day Special Session of Parliament began on Monday and will conclude on Friday. (ANI)

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Sukha Duneke

Punjab Gangster, Khalistan Supporter Sukha Killed In Canada

By LokMarg

Multiple Indian agencies on Thursday have corroborated reports of the death of wanted gangster Sukhdool Singh, alias Sukha Duneke, in Winnipeg, Canada. 

Winnipeg Police have confirmed the incident of shooting in the area of Aldgate Road on September 18, but have not confirmed it as being fatal. The Winnipeg Police have also not named Sukhdool Singh as the victim.

In a statement posted on X the Winnipeg Police said “On September 18, 2023, at approximately 6:20 p.m., General Patrol officers responded to the report of a shooting incident in the area of Aldgate Road and Gobert Crescent. The Major Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation.”

https://x.com/wpgpolice/status/1704214844105457724?s=20

Sources in Indian intelligence agencies say Sukha Duneke was shot dead by an unidentified assailant. Sources confirmed that his murder was a fall out of inter-gang rivalry. However, no gang has taken responsibility of his murder as of now.

Duneke was part of the Davinder Bambiha gang from Moga district. He fled Punjab in 2017 allegedly with the help of local policemen. Sukha Duneke obtained a passport and police clearance certificate on forged documents with the help of these policemen to flee to Canada, even as seven criminal cases were registered against him.

In year 2022, Duneke allegedly conspired to kill kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Nangal with the help of his associates during a kabaddi match at Mallian village in Jalandhar.

He was allegdly associated with the pro-Khalistan outfits and was said to be linked to Canada based Khalistan operative Arshdeep Singh aka Arsh Dala a designated terrorist in India.

Duneke mostly made calls for extortion and indulged in contracted killings. More than 20 criminal cases of murder and other heinous crimes have been registered against him in Punjab and nearby states.

Duneke was on the NIA’s list of most wanted which was released on Wednesday. As per the NIA the persons shown in photograohs are wanted in the investigation of RC-38/2022/NIA/DLI & RC-39/2022/NIA/DLI.

Investigations had shown that these gangs had carried out targeted killing to terrorise the public and extort money.

On June 19, dsignated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in inter-gang warfare in Surrey, British Columbia. (ANI)

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modi

Modi Has Invited Biden To Be Republic Day Chief Guest: US Envoy

By LokMarg

US President Joe Biden has been invited to India’s January 26-Republic Day celebrations here in the national capital, the Ambassador of US to India, Eric Garcetti revealed on Wednesday.

Garcetti said the invitation was extended to Biden by PM Modi on the sidelines of the bilateral that took place between the two leaders at the recently concluded G20 Summit.

During this, India and the US also settled the seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute. 

Notably, the six previous disputes were resolved during PM Modi’s state visit to the US. 

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed United States President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to India today, reaffirming the close and enduring partnership between India and the United States. The leaders expressed their appreciation for the substantial progress underway to implement the ground breaking achievements of Prime Minister Modi’s historic, June 2023, visit to Washington,” the India-US joint statement read.

The two leaders called on their governments to continue the work of transforming the India-US Strategic Partnership across all dimensions of our multifaceted global agenda, based on trust and mutual understanding. 

After the meeting, both the leaders lauded the India-US relations and said that the friendship between the two nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good.

The G20 Summit took place in New Delhi from September 9-10 under India’s Presidency.

Notably, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day parade. In 2015, Barack Obama became the first US President to attend India’s Republic Day parade as the chief guest. (ANI)

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Amit shah on Left Wing Extremism

Women Empowerment a Matter of Principle For BJP: Amit Shah

By LokMarg

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), other parties see women’s empowerment as a “political issue and a tool for vote bank politics”.

During the discussion over the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, Shah further said that for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women’s empowerment is an issue of “principles and beliefs.”

“For some parties, the issue of women empowerment can be a political agenda or a slogan to win elections. However, for my party and my leader Narendra Modi, women empowerment is not a political issue, but it is a matter of principles and beliefs,” Shah said.

He further said that yesterday will be marked in history.

“Yesterday was Ganesh Chaturthi, it was the inauguration of the new Parliament and we introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament,” he added.

“The Women’s Reservation Bill is a mark of respect and the beginning of a new era,” the Minister added.

He added that Prime Minister Modi presented a vision of women-led progress at the recently concluded G-20 session.

Notably, Day 3 of the Parliament special session witnessed a debate on the women’s reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, while the Rajya Sabha discussed India’s space journey focusing on Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing on the moon.

The Women’s Reservation Bill that seeks to provide a 33 percent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies was introduced in the Lok Sabha today in the ongoing special session of Parliament and will be taken up for discussion on Wednesday when the House will meet at 11 am.

The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Women Reservation Bill.

On Tuesday, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building. The bill has been named ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’.

In 2008, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government tabled the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, and it was passed in 2010. However, the Bill was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha.

The Bill will be taken up in Rajya Sabha on September 21 government sources said.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to introduce three new articles and one new clause in the Constitution.

However, prior to Shah, Congress MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP was trying to distract people from the caste census and the Adani issue.

“Every time the Opposition raises the issue of caste census, the BJP tries to create a distraction, or to a new event so that the OBC community and the people of India look the other way,” he said while slamming the Centre for employing diversionary tactics.

Gandhi further asked the government to release the data of the Caste census done by us or “we will release it”.

Rahul Gandhi also said that the caste census is the only way to ensure representation for OBCs. He said that despite forming a huge chunk of the population, they control and define only 5 per cent of India’s budget. “This is an insult and a shame to the OBC community,” he added. (ANI)

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INDIA bloc Parliamentary meet

INDIA Bloc Assures Support For Women Reservation Bill

By LokMarg

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday expressing his concern over the implementation of Women’s Reservation Bill and urged the centre to implement the bill in 2024 if their intentions were clear. The AAP MP also assured the support of the INDIA bloc to the bill. 

AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, “This is definitely not a Women’s Reservation Bill, this is ‘Mahila Bewakoof Banao’ Bill. We have been saying this because none of the promises made by them have been fulfilled ever since PM Modi came to power. This is another ‘jumla’ brought by them…If you want to implement the Bill, AAP stands with you completely but implement it in 2024. Do you think the women of the country are fools? Anti-women BJP has brought one more ‘jumla’ in the name of the Bill. Women of the country, political parties understand these election tactics. So, we say that if their intentions are clear, implement it in 2024…”

MP Sanjay Singh said that in the Women’s Reservation Bill introduced by the UPA in 2010 there was no such conditions that the bill would be implemented in 15 years or 20 years and delimitation would be conducted.

Sanjay Singh said, “If the centre is serious about the Women’s Reservation Bill then the time limit clause should be removed and it should be implemented in 2024. INDIA alliance meeting is going to be held and we will discuss the details soon.”

However, the AAP MP has assured that the INDIA alliance members will vote in favour of the bill after voicing their opposition to certain clauses.

“The INDIA alliance members have agreed to question the Government’s intent on the bill in the house, we will also oppose the fact that the implementation of the bill is being delayed. However, during the voting on the bill we will vote in favour of the bill” said Sanjay Singh. 

Earlier ahead of the discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha today, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that discussion on the bill will be held throughout the day and it has nothing to do with politics.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building on Tuesday. Arjun Ram Meghwal said that once the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is passed, the number of seats for women in Lok Sabha will increase to 181. (ANI)

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Sonia Gandhi Rajya Sabha Nomination

Sonia Seeks Immediate Implementation Of Women Quota Bill

By LokMarg

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday began the discussion on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha on the third day of the special session of Parliament.

Extending her support to the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023’ Bill, Sonia Gandhi demanded its immediate implementation.

She said that a delay in implementing the bill is a gross unfairness to the women of the country.

“I stand in support of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhinyam 2023. Women are being told that they will have to wait more for this bill to become law. we demand that the bill be made a law immediately. As a delay in implementing the bill is a gross unfairness to women in the country. I appeal to the Government to do this immediately,” Sonia Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.

She also demanded the conducting of a caste census to ensure the participation of women belonging to Other Backward Class/Scheduled Caste (OBC/SC) communities.

Ahead of her speech in Lok Sabha Sonia Gandhi said, “It was Rajiv ji’s (Gandhi’s) dream (Bill).”

“This is an emotional moment of my own life as well. For the first time, Constitutional amendment to decide women’s representation in local body election was brought by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi. It was defeated in Rajya Sabha by seven votes. Later, Congress Government, under the leadership of PM PV Narasimha Rao, passed it in Rajya Sabha. As a result, we have 15 lakh elected women leaders across the country through local bodies. Rajiv Gandhi’s dream is only partially complete. It will complete with the passing of this Bill,” Sonia Gandhi said in Lok Sabha. 

She said the Congress party supports this Bill and is happy regarding the passage of the Bill but said there were concerns.

“I would like to ask a question. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibilities for the last 13 years. Now they are being asked to wait for a few more years. How many years? Is this behaviour with Indian women appropriate? INC demands that the Bill be implemented with immediate effect but Caste census should also be done and arrangement for reservation of SC, ST and OBC women should be made…” Sonia Gandhi said.

Discussion for passing of the Bill in the House began today at 11 with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introducing the amendments in the Bill.

The Bill will be taken up in Rajya Sabha on September 21, government sources said. (ANI)

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