India Archives - Page 45 of 53 - Lokmarg

Cannot Miss 4th Industrial Revolution: Modi

By LokMarg 11th December 2022

India cannot afford to miss the fourth industrial revolution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, while stressing that such “repeated opportunities” would not come again.

Addressing a gathering after launching developmental projects in Maharashtra, PM Modi said India had already missed out on making the most out of the industrial revolutions in the past.
“When the first industrial revolution came, India could not take benefit from it. We lagged behind in the second and third industrial revolutions, but today when it’s time for the fourth industrial revolution, India cannot miss it. A long-term vision is pivotal for stable growth and development. India cannot miss the fourth industrial revolution, opportunity won’t come again,” PM Modi said.

Mentioning the need for permanent solutions to problems, the Prime Minister stated that the country cannot move ahead with shortcuts and highlighted that the “base of permanent development is infrastructure”.

“No country can run with shortcuts. A long-term vision is necessary for permanent development and solution. The base of permanent development is infrastructure. South Korea was a poor country once, but it changed its fate through infrastructure. Today the Gulf countries are so progressed also because they have also modernized their infrastructure and future-ready in the last 3-4 decades,” he said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned Singapore’s infrastructure and said that the country made investments in infrastructure and made the right economic policies, and consequently it has become a “big center of the economy” for the world.

“A few decades ago, Singapore was also a normal island country. Singapore invested in infrastructure and made the right economic policies and today it has become a big center of the economy of world. These countries would not have been able to reach the height which they have achieved now if they had followed shortcut politics and looted the taxpayers money,” he said.

“But India has got this opportunity. In the earlier governments, the tax-payers who paid taxes, either it was used for corruption by the earlier governments or for strengthening the vote bank,” PM added. (ANI)

Changing Face Of MP Will Fulfil Dream Of Self-Reliant India: Gadkari

By LokMarg 10th December 2022

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said the changing picture of Madhya Pradesh will fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a self-reliant India.

He said the people were experiencing all-around development under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Gadkari was speaking at a programme at Barsaita in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district on Saturday. The Union minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for seven road projects, to be laid over 204.81 km at a combined cost of Rs 2443.89 crore.

The Union minister also inaugurated the four-lane Churhat bypass, a six-lane tunnel, a four-lane road from Satna to Bela (with paved shoulder), a concrete-cement road in Rewa city under CRIF, a two-lane road to Gajan, Magarwar, Itour, Khamhariya Goraiya and Sajjanpur.

He also inaugurated the two-lane road on the Chhibora-Gajan section and laid the foundation stone for the construction of the New Sapta Marg connecting Beohari to Adarsh Village and Devtalab-Naigarhi road under CRIF.

Gadkari also visited the Rewa-Sidhi six-lane tunnel and appreciated the work done on the project. He said, “The Rewa-Sidhi Tunnel is India’s first ‘Aqua Duct’. The Bansagar canal and road have been built over it. This will go down as an important tunnel in the country and will give a new dimension to the development of the region. This tunnel connects the second tunnel after 300 metres, has 46 exhaust fans, an optical fibre lane, as well as an LXBC and fire fighting systems.”

Gadkari thanked and congratulated the engineers concerned for the work, adding that five greenfield expressways/highways of high quality are also being constructed in Madhya Pradesh.

The Union minister said, “A logistics park and an industrial area should be developed near these highways. A 245 km portion of the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway will be built in Madhya Pradesh. Atal Progress-Way, Indore-Hyderabad 6-lane, Ujjain-Garoth 4-lane and Agra-Gwalior Green Field Highway are also under construction.”

He also announced the completion of all missing links of the Narmada Parikrama Path at the request of CM Chouhan, saying that all road transport-related proposals of the state would be cleared without delay.

“Madhya Pradesh has all that it takes for setting up industries. There are ready water supply sources, energy, transport and communication. The state’s agricultural production has increased due to improved irrigation facilities. Today, Madhya Pradesh is leading the country in agriculture. CM Chouhan deserves congratulations for this,” Gadkar added.

The CM said, “PM Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari are developing the country at a fast pace. Today is a historic day for the land of Vindhya. A wonderful tunnel has been made in the area. Gadkari-ji has laid a network of roads across the entire state. There has been no shortage of funds in this development pursuit. The roads of Madhya Pradesh have become so good that today our minister Gopal Bhargava reached Rewa from Sagar in three-and-a-half hours.” (ANI)

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India-Russia Summit Not To Take Place This Year

By LokMarg 10th December 2022

The annual India-Russia summit in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slated to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to take place this year due to “scheduling issues” sources said.

“Reports of PM Modi not meeting Putin due to nuclear threat is baseless. The meeting is not taking place due to scheduling issues,” sources told ANI.
The annual summit between the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Several media reports speculated that the annual in-person summit had been cancelled due to the Russian President alleged threats to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war.

“The meeting between New Delhi and Moscow is not taking place due to scheduling issues,” the sources said adding that the decision has nothing to do with the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Since 2000, India and Russia have maintained an annual summit mechanism. The last annual summit was held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi in December 2021 which Putin attended in person and this year PM Modi was slated to travel to Moscow for the summit.

Due to COVID-19, in-person summits were not held in 2020.

In 2021 PM Modi and Putin held their first 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and also signed an agreement for the procurement of 6,01,427 assault rifles AK-203 through Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd, under the military-technical cooperation arrangement for 2021-31. The India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue marked the first 2+2 meeting between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries.

In September this year on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand when the two leaders met for a bilateral meeting, PM Modi told President Putin that this was “not an era of war.” This statement by PM Modi also was cited at the G20 Summit in Indonesia’s Bali.

In November this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Moscow and held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in which Jaishankar raised concern about the consequences emanating from the Ukraine conflict that have affected energy and food security around the world.

Holding the press briefing with Lavrov, Jaishankar said he exchanged views on international issues with the Russian side, in which the Ukraine conflict was the dominant feature.

On November 17, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin was received in New Delhi by Vinay Kwatra, India’s Foreign Secretary, and held extensive foreign policy consultations with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West). Following the talks, India and Russia agreed to “deepen cooperation” on counter-terrorism issues and “enhance bilateral coordination” at the United Nations.

India and Russia have also held wide-ranging discussions on issues on the United Nations Security Council agenda and recent developments, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Vershinin congratulated India on its upcoming Presidency of the UN Security Council in December 2022. (ANI)

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Foes In Kerala But Friends Here: Modi’s Dig At Left-Cong Alliance In Tripura

PM Chairs Meet Of Governors, CMs, L-Gs to Discuss India’s G20 Presidency

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting of the Governors and chief ministers of states and Lt Governors of Union Territories over video-conferencing to discuss aspects relating to India’s G20 Presidency, said an official press release.

The Prime Minister stated that India’s G20 Presidency belongs to the entire nation, and is a unique opportunity to showcase the country’s strengths.
The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of teamwork and sought the cooperation of the states/UTs in the organization of various G20 events.

According to the official press release, PM Modi pointed out that the G20 Presidency would help showcase parts of India beyond the conventional big metros, thus bringing out the uniqueness of each part of our country.

Highlighting a large number of visitors coming to India during India’s G20 Presidency and the international media focus on various events, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of States and UTs utilizing this opportunity to rebrand themselves as attractive business, investments, and tourism destinations.

He also reiterated the need to ensure people’s participation in the G20 events by a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach.

A number of Governors, chief ministers, and Lt. Governors shared their thoughts during the meeting, emphasizing the preparations being done by the states to host the G20 meetings.

The meeting was also addressed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and a presentation was made by India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. (ANI)

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SC Notice To Govt On Uniform Age Of Marriage For Muslim Girls

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a petition filed by the National Commission for Women (NCW) to make the minimum age of marriage for Muslim girls the same as that of persons belonging to other religions.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha sought a response from the Centre within four weeks.
The minimum age for marriage in India is currently 18 for women and 21 for men. However, the minimum marriage age for Muslim women is when they attain puberty and 15 years is presumed to be that age.

The NCW said that allowing Muslims to marry at the age of puberty (around 15) is arbitrary, irrational, discriminatory and violative of penal laws.

The plea said even the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) does not provide for those under 18 to consent to sex.

It said the PIL was filed for enforcement of the fundamental rights of minor Muslim women to bring Islamic personal law in consonance with the penal laws applicable to other religions.

Earlier, the apex court agreed to examine the plea of the National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which said a Muslim girl of 15-years-old is competent to enter into a contract of marriage with a person of her choice under the Muslim Personal Law.

It had issued notice to the Punjab government and appointed senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.

The High Court in June in its order had cited the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law on marriage to rule that a 15-year-old Muslim girl was competent to enter into a contract of marriage with a person of her choice.

The NCPCR sought to ensure the proper implementation of statutory laws that are specifically in place to protect children below the age of 18 years.

The Commission highlighted the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) 2006 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) to put forth its reasons for challenging the High Court ruling.

NCPCR said that the order is violative of PCMA which, the petition said, is a secular law that is applicable to all.

“The provisions of POCSO say no child below the age of 18 years can give valid consent,” it said.

The high court order had come on a plea by a Pathankot-based Muslim couple that had approached the court seeking protection after allegedly being threatened by their families for marrying without their permission.

The girl and a 21-year-old man had said that they got married as per Muslim rites and ceremonies.

The High Court had granted protection to the Muslim couple noting that the law is clear that the marriage of a Muslim girl is governed by Muslim Personal Law. (ANI)

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Don’t Portray Religious Processions As Source Of Riots: SC

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

Don’t portray as if all religious processions are a source of riots, said the Supreme Court on Friday while dismissing a PILs seeking strict regulation of religious processions across the country.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha declined the plea saying it is a law and order issue and can be taken care of by the State police and the District Magistrates.
The PIL filed by NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace demands guidelines to regulate religious processions across the country where people brandish weapons.

CJI Chandrachud said India’s cultural diversity varies from district to district and there can’t be uniform guidelines to regulate religious processions as he dismissed the PIL.

Senior advocate CU Singh appearing for the NGO told the bench that processions are taken out brandishing swords, and firearms during religious festivals.

He contended that riots have become common during such processions taken out during religious festivals.

Why do we want to portray it that riots take place during festival sessions, asked the bench.

The apex court said religious processions are taken out during the Ganpati festival in Maharashtra, but no riots occur.

“Why do you pick up some stray incidents of riots during a religious festival to paint everything with the same brush? Try to see the positive…,” said the bench.

The plea has sought strict prohibition of the display of arms and ammunition during such processions. (ANI)

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Over 8,000 Indians Lodged In Foreign Jails: MEA

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

Over 8,000 Indians are currently imprisoned in foreign jails and out of these 4,389 are lodged in Gulf countries, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Friday.

“As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian prisoners, including under-trials, in foreign jails at present is 8441, out of which 4,389 are lodged in jails of Gulf countries (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman),” MoS Muraleedharan said in response to a question in Lok Sabha.
While responding to a query on whether the inmates lodged in UAE jails can serve the rest of their sentence in Indian jails, MoS said that under the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TSP), which was signed on November 23, 2011, Indian nationals lodged in UAE prisons can be transferred to India to serve the remainder of their sentence and vice-versa.

“The transfer of a sentenced person to his country of nationality under the TSP Agreement is dependent on completion of various formalities such as prisoner’s willingness to be transferred, consent of the transferring and receiving country, availability of complete documentation necessary for processing the request, clearance from appropriate agencies, etc. Requests for requisite documents for processing the transfer of sentenced persons have been sent to the UAE side,” he added.

This comes after the case of eight former naval officers who were detained in Doha again came into the spotlight.

On December 1, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India is regularly responding to the case of ex-Indian Navy officers arrested in Qatar as the embassy is actively pursuing the issue.

He said that the detained Indians are in touch with family members in India.

“We’ve been responding to this regularly. Our embassy is actively pursuing the case. We understand that detained Indians are able to speak to their families in India over the telephone now, some of them have families staying in Doha,” MEA spokesperson said.

The MEA spokesperson further added that some detainees have families in Doha and are being allowed to have physical meetings on a weekly basis.

“Those families are being allowed to have physical meetings, at least on a weekly basis. We will continue to extend all possible consular assistance and seek further consular access to these people. As soon as we have some more updates, we’ll bring that to you,” Bagchi said. (ANI)

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BJP MP Meena Introduces UCC Bill In RS

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena on Friday introduced the ‘Uniform Civil Code in India Bill, 2020’ in the Upper House.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP presented the highly discussed Bill during private members’ business, while Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was ex-officio chairman, with an aim to carry forward the BJP’s promise to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the country.
The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal in India to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply to all citizens equally regardless of their religion, sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

Currently, the personal laws of various communities are governed by their religious scriptures.

The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution which lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for the citizens throughout the territory of India.

Notably, in BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the party promised the implementation of UCC if it came to power.

The Winter Session of the Parliament began on December 7 and will have 17 working days.

The government plans to introduce a total of 16 new Bills during the session according to the notified schedules. (ANI)

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SC Criticise UPSC Over Issues Relating To Nagaland DGP

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday criticized the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) over the process of appointment of Nagaland DGP and refused to give 60 days time for convening the Empanelment Committee Meeting for preparation of a panel of officers for making appointments to the post.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that UPSC is duty-bound to comply with the order of the Court.
The court also set December 19, 2022, as a deadline for taking a decision. The court said that the formalities are to be undertaken by the UPSC, MHA, and the State.

UPSC has urged the court to grant at least 60 days time for convening the Empanelment Committee Meeting for the preparation of a panel of officers for appointment to the post of DGP (HOPF), Nagaland, as the consultation with the MHA on the matter is still under process.

UPSC submitted that this would not result in any administrative dislocation in so far as the Government of Nagaland is concerned because the incumbent DGP’s extended tenure will be over only on February 28, 2023, and the process of recommending the panel of DGP (HOPF) can be completed before that date.

“We are of the view that UPSC has no justification that no administrative dislocation would be caused as the incumbent DGP has an extension till February 2023,” the bench said and clarified that if this order is not complied with, the court would be constrained to take the coercive arm of the law.

On August 31, 2022, the Union Government in the Ministry of Home Affairs conveyed the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the extension of service and extension of inter cadre deputation tenure of T John Longkumer, IPS from Chhattisgarh cadre to Nagaland cadre for a period of six months from the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2022.

The court, in the last hearing, had said that they are of the considered view that in view of the communication which has been issued by the UPSC on 1 April 2022, the State of Nagaland must immediately send the list of impaneled officers for appointment to the post of DGP.

The court said that the list of impaneled officers shall be drawn up in accordance with law after duly rectifying the deficiencies which were pointed out by the UPSC in its communication dated April 1, 2022.

The list of eligible officers who are impaneled shall be communicated to the UPSC no later than by October 31, 2022. The UPSC shall take a decision thereon on or before 30 November 2022, the court said in its October 17’s order.

Nagaland Law Students’ Federation, an intervenor in the matter, has alleged that Nagaland state has acted in an arbitrary and illegal manner, to appoint an officer at the highest post in the State Police, who first does not belong to the State Cadre, who already served his tenure, whose name has been rejected by the UPSC for a further extension, and who is today continuing on the said post.

The Federation also alleged that it indicates the malafide intent of the State Government. The Federation also said that Nagaland state has flouted the directions of the top Court, by removing Shri Rupin Sharma, before the expiry of the mandated “two years” tenure.

The intervenor has sought to recall the Order dated August 31, 2022, granting a six-month extension to T. John Longkumer, IPS after his superannuation.

On June 20, 2018, Rupin Sharma was removed from the post of DGP and On June 27, 2018, T John Longkumer, a 1991 Batch IPS Officer from the Chhattisgarh Cadre was appointed to the post of DGP of the Nagaland State. (ANI)

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SC Rejects Plea Seeking Details Of 2018 Collegium Meet

By LokMarg 9th December 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking a copy of the agenda, a copy of the decisions, and a copy of the resolution of a 2018 Collegium meeting and clarified that only a resolution drawn and signed by all the Collegium members could be said to be the final decision.

A bench of justice MR Shah and CT Ravikumar rejected RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court order. The top court said that there was no substance in the plea challenging the Delhi High Court order and the same deserves to be dismissed.
SC clarified whatever is discussed in the Collegium meeting shall not be in the public domain and “only final decision required to be uploaded,”

SC also clarified that the consultation of December 12, 2018, was not concluded and was, therefore, adjourned.

The petitioner Anjali Bhardwaj, in the RTI application, had sought a copy of the agenda, a copy of the decisions, and a copy of the Resolution of the meeting of the Collegium of the Supreme Court held on December 12, 2018.

The court said that only after the final resolution drawn and signed by the Collegium, which is always after completing the due procedure and process of discussion, deliberation, and consultation, is the same required to be published on the Supreme Court website.

The court noted that no final decision was taken in the December 2018 Collegium meeting which was required to be drawn and signed by all members of the Collegium.

The court also said that the 2019 resolution is very clear which specifies that the process of consultation in the earlier meeting was not over and remained unconcluded.

The petitioner Anjali Bhardwaj, who was represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan and Ria Yadav, challenged the order dated July 27 2022 of the High Court of Delhi, which dismissed his plea for information under the Right to Information Act.

The appellant in the RTI Application had sought a copy of the agenda, a copy of the decisions, and a copy of the Resolution of the meeting of the Collegium of the Supreme Court held on December 12, 2018.

According to the petition, the resolution of the subsequent meeting affirms that there was indeed an agenda of the previous collegium meeting of 12.12.2018 and further that certain decisions were indeed taken and this was also affirmed through the public statements of Justice (Retd.) Madan Lokur and the statements made in the autobiography written by former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi (who were both members of the collegium as of 12.12.2018). In such circumstances, it cannot be held that the information does not exist, the petitioner said. (ANI)

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