Central News Hub

Category: Politics

  • Sitharaman targets Nehru, Indira during debate   

    Sitharaman targets Nehru, Indira during debate   

    There was also sparring in Lok Sabha during the debate on the supplementary demands for grants for 2024-25. …reports Asian Lit News

    Rajya Sabha saw a lively debate on Monday on 75 years of the Constitution with opposition members accusing the BJP-led government of eroding constitutional values and the BJP leaders attacking Congress over decisions of its government starting from first Prime Minsiter Jawaharlal Nehru. 

    There was also sparring in Lok Sabha during the debate on the supplementary demands for grants for 2024-25. 

    Initiating the debate in Rajya Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a scathing attack on former Congress leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and said that many of the Constitutional amendments that they brought were not about strengthening democracy but protecting their power 

    Sitharaman asserted that post Second World War, over 50 countries had become independent and had their constitution written but many have changed their entire feature but India’s Constitution stood the test of times. 

    “India’s experience has shown that a constitution remains robust yielding to several amendments which were the need of the hour. I would like to talk about the first Constitutional Amendment Act of 1951. There was an interim government between August 15, 1947, and it lasted till April 1952, post which an elected government took over the charge. But during 1951, when the first constitutional amendment was passed it was an interim government and not an elected government. The amendment added three more heads to Article 19 (2) saying public order could be a cause to restrict freedom of speech, friendly relations with foreign could be a cause to freedom of speech or an incitement to an offence could also be a cause. These were the amendments brought at that time,” she said. 

    She highlighted the Supreme Court’s two “landmark” judgements in 1950, one year back from this amendment that paved the way for freedom of press under Article 19 (1) (A). 

    “Many High Courts also upheld the freedom of expression of our citizens but the interim government in response thought that there was a need for the first Amendment that was brought by the Indian National Congress (INC) and it was essentially to curb the freedom,” Sitharaman said. 

    The Finance Minister also added that India, a democratic country which prides itself even today on freedom of expression saw the first interim government coming up with a constitutional amendment which was to curb the freedom of speech of Indians and that was within one year of adoption of the Constitution. 

    Kharge attacks RSS, BJP during debate on Constitution 

    In his remarks, Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of “untruth” and sought an apology him for “distorting facts” about Nehru. 

    “PM Modi distorted facts about Nehru’s letters to CMs for which he should apologise to the people of the country. This is my demand,” Kharge said. 

    Taking a jibe at Sitharaman, Kharge said on Monday that she studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the students there are so progressive and contributive to nations development whether it is in Economics, Political Science but here today, there’s talk of dismantling democratic values. 

    “They studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University but I do not know what they studied because the students who studied there are so progressive and they have a big hand in building the country whether it is in Economics, Political Science or History but here the talk is about eliminating the democratic things,” Kharge said. 

    Kharge emphasized that all must adhere to the Constitution and its Preamble. 

    “Merely pointing fingers at each other won’t help. The Jan Sangh had once aimed to structure the Constitution based on the laws of Manusmriti. This was the intent of the RSS. Those who despise the tricolor, the Ashoka Chakra, and the Constitution are now lecturing us. On the day the Constitution was implemented, these people burned effigies of Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru at Ramlila Maidan. They insult the Nehru-Gandhi family without shame,” he said. 

    “In 1949, RSS leaders opposed the Constitution of India because it was not based on Manusmriti… Neither did they accept the Constitution nor the tricolour. On 26 January 2002, for the first time, the tricolour was hoisted at the RSS headquarters under compulsion. Because there was a court order,” he added. 

    He recalled that in 1931, during the Karachi Congress session presided over by Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru proposed a resolution on fundamental rights and economic policies, which was passed. 

    “The Constitution didn’t emerge out of nowhere but was shaped by pivotal movements, the freedom struggle, and even earlier events. Nehru made the demand for a Constituent Assembly a central issue in the 1937 elections. These people neither respect Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, nor Ambedkar.,” Kharge added. 

    The LoP also mentioned that that in 1949, RSS leaders opposed the Indian Constitution because it wasn’t based on Manusmriti.  (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Energy to bind India, Lanka, UAE   

  • Trump picks Nunes to head Intelligence Advisory Board 

    Trump picks Nunes to head Intelligence Advisory Board 

    Nunes was first elected to public office as one of California’s youngest community college trustees in state history at the age of 23….reports Asian Lite News

    President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. 

    Trump emphasised Nunes’ experience as the former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and his pivotal role in exposing the Russian interference in the 2016 US elections as key qualifications for the role. 

    Sharing a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that I will appoint Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which consists of distinguished citizens from outside of the Federal Government.” 

    “While continuing his leadership of Trump Media & Technology Group, Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the US Intelligence Community’s activities. Congratulations Devin,” the post added. 

    Born on October 1, 1973 in Tulare, California, his family is of Portuguese descent, having emigrated from the Azores to California. Nunes graduated from Tulare Union High School and was the second Member of Congress to attend Tulare Union, following Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias, who served in the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1975. 

    After associate’s work at College of the Sequoias, Nunes graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and a master’s degree in agriculture. 

    Nunes was first elected to public office as one of California’s youngest community college trustees in state history at the age of 23. As a member of the College of the Sequoias Board from 1996 to 2002, he was an advocate for distance learning and the expansion of programs available to high school students. 

    In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as California State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development section. He left this post to run for California’s 21st congressional district and now serves in the 22nd district as a result of redistricting in 2010. 

    Notably, the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), with its component Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB), is an independent element within the Executive Office of the President. 

    The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board assists the President by providing the President with an independent source of advice on the effectiveness with which the Intelligence Community is meeting the nation’s intelligence needs, and the vigor and insight with which the community plans for the future. The Board has access to all information needed to perform its functions and has direct access to the President. 

    Grenell named Presidential Envoy for Special Missions 

    Trump announced the appointment of Richard Grenell as the Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. 

    Trump also said that Grenell will work in some of the “hottest spots,” including Venezuela and North Korea. 

    In a statement, Trump said, “I am pleased to announce Richard Allen Grenell as our Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea.” 

    Trump also highlighted Grenell’s extensive work experience, noting his previous roles as the US Ambassador to Germany, Acting Director of National Intelligence, and Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations and said that Grenell will continue his fight for “Peace through Strength.” 

    “In my first term, Ric was the United States Ambassador to Germany, Acting Director of National Intelligence, and Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia Negotiations. Previously, he spent eight years in the United Nations Security Council, working with North Korea, and developments in numerous other countries. Ric will continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put AMERICA FIRST,” the statement added. 

    Notably, Grenell earned a BA from Evangel College and a MPA from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. 

    He has served as the primary communications adviser for public officials at the local, state, federal, and international levels, as well as for a Fortune 300-ranked company. Grenell has also worked extensively with clients based in the US as well as around the world and throughout Europe, according to the US Department of State. 

    Grenell was also the longest-serving US spokesman in history at the United Nations in New York (2001-2008), where he was part of the negotiation team with the German delegation on a myriad of global issues, including Iran and North Korea sanctions, UN reform and peacekeeping operations. 

    Previously, Grenell served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for DaVita, El Segundo, California (2008-2009), Press Secretary, Mayor of San Diego, California (1998-2000), Press Secretary, State of New York Division of Lottery, Albany, New York (1995-1997), Press Secretary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC (1993-1995), Assistant, Campaign Division, National Republican Congressional Committee, Washington, D.C. (1993), Coalitions Coordinator for the Bush-Quayle Re-election campaign, Washington, DC (1992) and Administrator, American Arbitration Association (1989-1991). 

    ALSO READ: Xi may skip Trump’s inauguration ceremony

    ALSO READ: Trump’s Bold Diplomacy with Xi

  • BNM holds debate on Balochistan’s Human rights crisis in Parliament  

    BNM holds debate on Balochistan’s Human rights crisis in Parliament  

    The debate focused on the severe repression faced by the Baloch people at the hands of the Pakistani state…reports Asian Lite News

    The Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a debate in the Parliament, highlighting the ongoing human rights abuse in Balochistan. The Member of Parliament John McDonnell hosted the debate on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. 

    The debate focused on the severe repression faced by the Baloch people at the hands of the Pakistani state. 

    Speakers at the event called for immediate international action to address the widespread human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other forms of state repression. 

    The participants emphasized the urgent need for global intervention to end these atrocities and ensure justice for the Baloch nation. 

    The debate featured prominent figures, including John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Richard Burgon MP, BNM Chairman Naseem Baloch, Sami Deen Baloch, Sabiha Baloch, Naseer Dashti, Faheem Baloch, and Saleem Elahi Baloch. 

    John McDonnell, who hosted the event, stressed that despite the UK’s close ties with Pakistan, the government must not remain silent in the face of the ongoing violations in Balochistan. He urged fellow MPs to advocate for justice on behalf of the Baloch people. 

    Naseem Baloch, Chairman of the BNM and a two-time victim of enforced disappearance by the Pakistani military shared his personal account of survival in Pakistani torture cells. He revealed that his belief in the independence of Balochistan was the only thing that kept him alive. He also highlighted the scale of the oppression, noting that thousands of Baloch men and women have faced similar atrocities. 

    BNM Foreign Secretary Faheem Baloch spoke about the deep and lasting impact of enforced disappearances on the families of victims, reaffirming the Baloch people’s unyielding determination to pursue freedom despite the ongoing violence. 

    Naseer Dashti, a BNM leader, focused on the illegal annexation of Balochistan and the role of China in the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He called for global accountability for both Pakistan and China’s actions in Balochistan. 

    Sami Deen Baloch, a key figure in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), recounted his family’s struggles following his father’s disappearance and the dangers that families face when seeking justice. He underscored the need for international solidarity to combat the ongoing atrocities against the Baloch nation. 

    Sabiha Baloch, a leader of the BYC, discussed the severe deprivation of basic rights in Balochistan and the brutal suppression of peaceful activists, aided by Chinese financial involvement. She called for an international fact-finding mission to investigate and address the region’s human rights violations. 

    Saleem Elahi Baloch shared the heartbreaking story of his brother, Zahid Baloch, a student leader who was forcibly disappeared. He made an emotional appeal to the international community to help end the widespread practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. 

    Jeremy Corbyn MP emphasized the importance of raising global awareness about the atrocities in Balochistan and fostering solidarity with oppressed communities worldwide. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: UK has ‘unique opportunity’ to bolster Gulf relations, forum told 

    ALSO READ: UK to Play Greater Role in The Middle East Stability

  • Section 144 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of anti-polio campaign   

    Section 144 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of anti-polio campaign   

    Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed announced that the restrictions will be in effect immediately across the district for the next week…reports Asian Lite News

    In preparation for the anti-polio campaign set to be launched on December 16, Section 144 has been imposed in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for seven days, as reported by ARY News on Sunday. 

    Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed announced that the restrictions will be in effect immediately across the district for the next week. The measures include a ban on carrying firearms, prohibiting two people from riding on a motorcycle together and restricting the use of tinted windows in vehicles. 

    Hameed further explained that these steps have been taken in preparation for the anti-polio campaign, which is set to begin tomorrow. He also warned that anyone found violating the restrictions would face strict legal consequences. 

    Notably, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is launching the anti-polio campaign on December 16, addressing ongoing challenges such as vaccination refusals, missed targets, fake finger marking, and lack of cooperation from local health authorities and district administrations, ARY News reported. 

    Earlier on December 13, Pakistan reported four new polio cases, raising the total for 2024 to 63, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The new cases were detected in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Jacobabad, and Sukkur, with the case in Sukkur being the area’s first, The News International reported. 

    The EOC noted that the latest case marks the ninth in Dera Ismail Khan and the third in Jacobabad, while the affected child in Sukkur is a boy. This year, polio cases have been distributed across provinces as follows: 26 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. 

    Polio, a highly contagious viral disease, primarily impacts children under five, especially those with weak immunity or insufficient vaccination. 

    With over 60 per cent of children affected by polio in 2024 having not received routine immunizations, health authorities have formed a high-level committee to enhance coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Sri Lanka ratifies $14.2b debt restructuring pact

  • Stop whining about EVMs, ally Omar advises Congress 

    Stop whining about EVMs, ally Omar advises Congress 

    Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Sunday advised the grand old party to not keep whining about the EVMs and at the same time, continue fighting elections….reports Asian Lite News

    Congress party seems to be finding itself isolated within the INDIA bloc over its obstinacy and ‘big brother’ attitude in cornering the Centre. First, the party failed to garner allies’ support on raising issues in Parliament and now its claims of ‘biased and fixed’ Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) has been junked by its own ally – National Conference (NC).  

    Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Sunday advised the grand old party to not keep whining about the EVMs and at the same time, continue fighting elections. 

    “The same EVMs gave you 99 seats. You celebrated that victory, but then you go on complaining about the same when you lose elections. You can’t be selective in blaming the EVMs,” he said. 

    Omar’s rejection of Congress’ claims comes on the backdrop of the latter’s demand for reversal from EVM voting to ballot papers. The Congress president has already given a call for a bigger movement for shifting from EVMs to ballot papers. 

    Dismissing the claims as ‘opportunism’, Omar said that the party should take a consistent stand and if it has a problem with the EVMs, it should either boycott or stay away from the elections. 

    “Merely blaming the EVMs for losing elections is not the right approach,” he said. 

    The BJP was quick to react to Omar’s criticism of the Congress leadership. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to X and said that Rahul Gandhi was increasingly looking like a loser, with whom nobody wants to associate with. 

    “Now, Omar Abdullah throws the Congress and Rahul Gandhi under the bus, on the EVM issue… EVMs can’t be good when Congress wins and bad when they lose… Rahul Gandhi is increasingly looking like a loser no one wants to stand with,” he wrote on X. 

    NC’s distancing with the Congress began soon after the Jammu and Kashmir elections. After winning the elections by a decisive margin, Omar had expressed the party’s displeasure with top Congress brass over leaving the canvassing to NC alone. 

    Notably, the increasing divide within the INDIA bloc has been visible over the past few days. TMC supremo recently endorsed demands of ‘leadership change’ at the top and also didn’t hesitate in giving her consent to lead the Opposition alliance. 

    The rumblings within the INDIA bloc got bigger as it also got support from other allies like RJD and a few others. 

    ALSO READ: India Joins Top 3 in Aviation Boom 

  • Post-poll loss, Hindutva back in focus for Thackeray’s Shiv Sena 

    Post-poll loss, Hindutva back in focus for Thackeray’s Shiv Sena 

    Uddhav Thackeray recounted how a delegation of SS (UBT) members of Parliament had sought an appointment on Thursday to meet with the PM and discuss Bangladesh Hindus issue, but they were not given time…reports Asian Lite News

     

    Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take note of the severe atrocities being perpetrated on the Hindus in Bangladesh and immediately intervene in the matter.   

    “Why is the government silent on the atrocities on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh? The Opposition has been raising the issue in Parliament for the past few days on the injustice being meted out to the minority Hindus there, but nothing is being done by India,” Thackeray said on Friday. 

    Speaking to media persons, he said that a couple of months ago, when the Bangladesh cricket team had come to India (Sep-Oct), Aditya Thackeray had demanded that we shouldn’t play with them, but the government kept mum and did nothing about it. 

    “We want to know why the PM is not saying anything on this. Hindus are being targeted daily, the ISKCON Temple was burnt, their leaders were arrested and subjected to action, but we are silent,” Thackeray pointed out. 

    Taking a jibe, Thackeray said that “on behalf of all the Hindus in the country”, he was appealing to the PM that just as he ((Modi) had taken action in the Ukraine crisis, he should do the same in Bangladesh to ensure that the attacks on Hindus stop there. 

    “There is no point in making slogans like ‘batenge to katenge, fatenge, marenge,’ etc here. There’s no need to indulge in showing off such bravado where there are no problems, but act decisively where Hindus are undergoing tortures (Bangladesh),” said Thackeray. 

    He recounted how a delegation of SS (UBT) members of Parliament had sought an appointment on Thursday to meet with the PM and discuss Bangladesh Hindus issue, but they were not given time. Now, Thackeray has said that the SS (UBT) will submit a letter to PM Modi as he may be very busy, he has to travel around the world and make speeches and probably may not have noticed the problems of Hindus in Bangladesh. 

    “The ex-PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina came to India where she is safe. But what about the fate and future of poor Hindus in Bangladesh facing violence? Hindutva is not just about seeking votes by instilling fear among the Hindus, but to speak up for their cause and the PM must look into it now,” demanded Thackeray. 

    He reiterated that the Bharatiya Janata Party government did not care for the injustices done to our own people in Manipur state, so it has not really understood the sufferings of the Hindus in Bangladesh, but now the Centre must spell out its role. 

    ALSO READ: India Joins Top 3 in Aviation Boom  

    ALSO READ: Campus, hostel built with Indian aid handed over in Nepal 

  • Govt to table One Nation One Election bill in LS 

    Govt to table One Nation One Election bill in LS 

    Based on the recommendations of a committee chaired by former president Ram Nath Kovind, the Bills set out the process for moving towards simultaneous elections to Parliament and state legislatures..reports Asian Lite News 

    After listing two Bills that would enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies of states and Union Territories for Monday, the Government has postponed their introduction in the Lok Sabha until later this week. 

    The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill) 2024 were included in the list of business for Monday in the Lok Sabha. However, the two Bills were off the revised list of business. 

    The Government has decided to introduce the Bills later this week, perhaps on Tuesday, sources aware of the development said. Discussion and voting on the supplementary demands for grants for 2024-2025 and the introduction and passing of the appropriation Bills by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are included in the revised list of business in the Lok Sabha for Monday. 

    The Rajya Sabha is also scheduled to start a discussion on 75 years of the Constitution on Monday, a source said. 

    The cabinet approved the two Bills last week. Based on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on ONE NATION ONE ELECTION chaired by former president Ram Nath Kovind, the Bills set out the process for moving towards simultaneous elections. 

    The President would have to notify an “appointed date” on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election and any Legislative Assembly elected after that date would have its term curtailed to end with that of the Lok Sabha. 

    Meanwhile, Arjun Ram Meghwal will also move the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Also to introduce to Bill. 

    Several opposition leaders have questioned the One Nation One election proposal saying it was impractical and an attack on federalism 

    Senior Congress leader and RS MP Digvijay Singh said, ‘One Nation, One Election’ said that if a state government falls in six months or loses its majority, will the state have to remain without a government for the rest of the 4.5 years.”Elections cannot be postponed for more than 6 months in any state. If the One Nation One Election is being introduced and the government in a state falls in 6 months, the no-confidence motion is passed, will we remain without a government for 4.5 years? This is not possible in this country… Earlier, governments used to complete their full term of 5 years, but today some governments fall in 2.5 years and somewhere they fall in 3 years.” 

    Congress MP Jairam Ramesh demanded that the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, asserting that the bill undermines democracy. 

    “The bill will be presented in Parliament, and we want it to be referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which will hold discussions on it. The Indian National Congress’s position was clarified last year by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who sent a four-page letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee on One Nation, One Election, stating that we oppose the bill,” Ramesh told ANI. 

    On December 12, the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill was approved by the Union Cabinet paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. However, before its introduction in the Parliament, the bill initiated debate between the ruling and opposition parties. 

    Several parties of the INDIA bloc opposed the bill while the BJP-led NDA alliance parties welcomed this bill, saying, it would save time and lay the groundwork for unified elections across the country. 

    Notably, in September this year, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days. 

    The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind. 

    Following the Cabinet’s approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the decision, calling it a significant step towards enhancing India’s democracy.   

    ALSO READ: ‘Kerala open to discuss new projects with Adani group’ 

  • Modi targets Nehru-Gandhi family in Parliament 

    Modi targets Nehru-Gandhi family in Parliament 

    Modi accused Congress of repeatedly amending the Constitution and said many times the changes were “self-serving”…reports Asian Lite News

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of manipulating reservations for appeasement, harming SC, ST, and OBC communities and said Dr BR Ambedkar had introduced the reservation system to ensure equality and rights for the underprivileged. 

    “Baba Saheb Ambedkar dedicated his life to uplift marginalised communities for India’s progress. He believed that to make our country developed in a true sense, no section should remain weak. For this, he introduced the reservation system to ensure equality and rights for the underprivileged. However, vote-bank politics by them (Congress) hijacked this system, manipulating reservations for appeasement, harming SC, ST, and OBC communities,” PM Modi said in his speech during discussion on the 150 years of adoption of Constitution. 

    He accused Congress of repeatedly amending the Constitution and said many times the changes were “self-serving”. 

    “In almost six decades, the Constitution was amended 75 times. The poison that was sowed by the first Prime Minister of the country was nurtured by another Prime Minister – Indira Gandhi…,” PM Modi said. 

    “Congress has constantly disrespected the Constitution, reduced the importance of the Constitution. Congress is full of many examples of this… Everyone knows about 370 but very few know about 35-A… If there is any first son of the Constitution of India, then it is the Parliament but they have strangled it too. They imposed 35-A on the country without bringing it to the Parliament… This work was done on the orders of the President and the Parliament of the country was kept in the dark,” he alleged 

    PM Modi said that Congress violated its own constitution and there was little hope of it respecting the country’s Constitution. 

    He said Congress committees favoured Sardar Patel for the role of Prime Minister but Jawaharlal Nehru was chosen. 

    “Twelve state Congress committees of Congress had agreed on the name of Sardar Patel. There was not a single committee with Nehru ji… As per the Constitution, Sardar Sahib would have become the Prime Minister of the country… How can those who do not believe in the Constitution of their party accept the Constitution of the country?” 

    The two-day debate on 75 years of the Constitution started in Lok Sabha on Friday.  

    Opposition criticises Modi’s address 

    Meanwhile, the Opposition leaders critically responded to Modi’s speech in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, describing it as a ‘mixed’ kind of speech and further questioned the government’s record on past promises. 

    TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said there was “nothing to bite” in the Prime Minister’s address and defended the Congress party’s role in India’s freedom struggle. He asserted that the PM had to accept Congress’s role as the main strength in the fight against the British Raj. 

    “There was nothing to bite in this speech…PM had to accept that he could speak about the dynasty, but Congress was the main strength to fight against the British government. Every Indian recognises their role in the freedom struggle. So, we are sure that the angle PM took today is not up to the mark,” the TMC MP said. 

    “If a person speaks for two hours, many issues will come out. So, there may be a few good issues. There may be a few bad issues also. So, it was a mixed kind of speech,” he added. 

    In a similar vein, Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav critiqued the Prime Minister’s address, focusing on the government’s record of fulfilling past promises. 

    “If the prime minister’s old resolutions had been fulfilled, then new resolutions could also have been discussed,” Yadav said, emphasising that the government should address its previous commitments before making new pledges. 

    “The Prime Minister has been saying many things since 2014. Until the old promises are not fulfilled, it is useless to have expectations for new things,” the SP MP added. 

    Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised PM Modi’s speech, calling it “absolutely boring” and devoid of anything new or constructive. 

    “PM Narendra Modi did not say anything new or constructive. He absolutely bored me. I thought he would say something significant, but he spoke about 11 hollow promises. If he has zero tolerance towards corruption, he should at least hold a debate on Adani,” Priyanka Gandhi said. 

    Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav commented that the speech was a reiteration of “11 jumlas.” 

    “It was a very long speech. We got to hear the pledge of 11 jumlas today. Those who criticise dynastic politics have a party full of dynasties. The truth is that the reservation for SC/ST, OBC, and Dalits has been taken away. A day will soon come when a caste census will be conducted, and people will receive their rights and respect according to their population,” he said. 

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress on Saturday, accusing it of constantly disrespecting the Constitution and presented eleven pledges for India’s bright future, noting that the government and people should follow their duties and the country’s politics should be free of “parivarvad”. 

    Responding to the two-day discussion in Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution, PM Modi made repeated reference to the Nehru-Gandhi family, accusing every generation of its leaders of disrespecting the Constitution. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: France flies out 2 Mirage fighter jets from Chad 

  • Rights groups condemn Baloch leader Kamber’s abduction 

    Rights groups condemn Baloch leader Kamber’s abduction 

    Kamber’s abduction has sparked widespread outrage, with many decrying it as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity….reports Asian Lite News

    The family of Wahid Kamber Baloch, a respected Baloch leader and elder, is urgently calling for his immediate and safe release from Pakistani custody. Kamber, who was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani intelligence agencies on July 19, 2024, while in Iran, has been held in secret, and his family and supporters are demanding justice. 

    Kamber’s abduction has sparked widespread outrage, with many decrying it as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. As a steadfast advocate for Baloch rights and freedom, his disappearance has become a symbol of the broader issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a region long plagued by military operations and human rights abuses. 

    The human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Paank, posted on X, stating, “We stand firmly with Wahid Kamber’s family in their courageous fight for his release. This is not just the disappearance of one man, but an attack on justice, dignity, and the Baloch people’s struggle for freedom. To the international community, your silence enables oppression. Join us in amplifying the call for justice. Wahid Kamber Baloch must be brought back. His voice will never be silenced, and neither will ours.” 

    Paank Media Coordinator Jamal Baloch also shared a video, declaring, “Wahid Kamber Baloch, a dedicated Baloch leader and elder, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani intelligence agencies from Iran on July 19th. This is not merely the disappearance of a single man; it is an assault on justice, dignity, and the Baloch people’s fight for freedom. We stand firmly with his family, who are bravely demanding his immediate and safe release from Pakistani detention.” 

    The family of Wahid Kamber, alongside human rights organizations, has repeatedly condemned the Pakistani government’s actions and called for his immediate release. 

    They emphasize that enforced disappearances violate international law, and those responsible must be held accountable. “This enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity, and those responsible must be held accountable. To the international community, your silence has perpetuated oppression in Balochistan. It is crucial that you join us in amplifying the call for justice and ending enforced disappearances in Balochistan,” they said. 

    Kamber’s case has become a rallying cry for human rights in Balochistan, a region where the fight for freedom and dignity is met with state violence. His family and supporters remain hopeful that international pressure will end this injustice and ensure that his voice is heard once again. 

    The ongoing unrest in Balochistan is characterized by a disturbing pattern of abductions and killings, with a wide range of individuals including activists, politicians, journalists, and ordinary civilians falling victim to enforced disappearances by security forces. 

    The Pakistani military is frequently accused of using enforced disappearances as part of a broader strategy to target insurgents or separatist groups. However, human rights organizations and Baloch nationalist groups contend that these abductions are primarily intended to suppress dissent. Enforced disappearances are often followed by torture and extrajudicial killings, further exacerbating the human rights crisis in the region. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Tower Hamlets rejects China’s ‘Super-Embassy’ 

  • Nationwide Rallies For Impeachment Of South Korea’s Yoon

    Nationwide Rallies For Impeachment Of South Korea’s Yoon

    A second motion to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration has been reported to the National Assembly on Friday, with the nation reeling from Yoon’s December 3 invocation of martial law that triggered unprecedented political turmoil, reports Asian Lite News

    Nationwide rallies took place Friday, a day before South Korea’s National Assembly votes on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a botched martial law attempt.

    Civic groups organised the candlelight vigil in front of the National Assembly in western Seoul, while smaller groups gathered in other parts of the country to continue their demonstrations calling for Yoon’s removal from office, reports Yonhap news agency.

    “Oust him,” read one picket sign, while another called to “Disperse the People Power Party,” referring to the ruling party.

    The rallies featured a cultural festival-like atmosphere, with booths offering warm beverages to help attendees endure the cold.

    A second motion to impeach South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law declaration has been reported to the National Assembly on Friday, with the nation reeling from Yoon’s December 3 invocation of martial law that triggered unprecedented political turmoil.

    Yoon has remained defiant, saying on Thursday that declaring martial law was “within the realm of executive authority, which is not subject to judicial review” and he would fight “until the last moment.”

    The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and other opposition parties had originally planned to begin voting on the motion as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, but the office of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik brought forward the timing to 4 p.m.

    DP leader Lee Jae-myung urged ruling party lawmakers to vote in favour of the motion, stressing that impeachment is the “fastest and surest way to end this chaos.”

    If the motion is passed, the Constitutional Court will decide whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office. If upheld by the court, Yoon would be the second president in South Korea’s history to be removed from office through impeachment after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017.

    The country remains deeply unsettled following Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3, which was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly.