Central News Hub

Category: Politics

  • Who will design Queen Elizabeth II Memorial? 

    Who will design Queen Elizabeth II Memorial? 

    The final design will be announced to coincide with what would have been Her Late Majesty’s 100th birthday year in 2026, following approval from the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King  

    Leading artists, architects and engineers can express their interest in designing the masterplan for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. 

    The Queen Elizabeth Memorial will be one of the most significant design projects in recent British history and will provide the nation with a permanent memorial to the UK’s longest-serving monarch.  

    The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, chaired by The Late Queen’s former Private Secretary, Lord Janvrin, is working with competition specialists at Malcolm Reading Consultants to identify a team of inspired and dedicated artists, architects, engineers, and landscape architects and other specialists who would be interested in designing the project. 

    The Committee is urging creatives interested in designing the masterplan for the Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial Masterplan Design Competition to submit a twelve-page Expression of Interest via the online form.  

    Full details of the project and how to enter the competition are available on the dedicated competition website: https://competitions.malcolmreading.com/queenelizabethmemorial  Details of the Selection Panel can also be found in the Competition Conditions available on the website. 

    The first stage of the two-stage competition opens today 12 December 2024 and closes at 14:00 on 20 January 2025. Subsequently, there will be a ten-week design stage for a shortlist of five competitors. No design work is required at stage one. 

    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said, “Queen Elizabeth II was our longest reigning Monarch and Her Majesty dedicated her life to serving the people of the United Kingdom. This National Memorial will provide a permanent tribute to The Late Queen’s legacy, offering space for reflection as well as celebration. We want the very best architects and designers to come forward with their ideas for how this historic project should look.” 

    Committee Chair Lord Janvrin said, “We want to attract the finest teams of architects, artists, landscape architects, engineers and other specialists to work with us to create an outstanding design for the memorial site. We are looking for teams who thoroughly understand and connect with our ambitions for the project. The challenge at the second stage for the finalists will be to evoke memories of Queen Elizabeth II’s outstanding contribution to national life and to tell the story of Her Majesty’s long reign through an original masterplan that is sensitive to the unique setting. The memorial must be – simply – a beautiful place, somewhere to visit with family and friends, to enjoy and to reflect on an extraordinary life.” 

    The Memorial will be located in St James’s Park, the UK’s oldest Royal Park, and close to Buckingham Palace. The site includes the area of the Grade I listed Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, and the land surrounding the pathway down to the lake including the Blue Bridge and the land either side and across to Birdcage Walk.  

    The Committee is seeking a design that is beautiful, inclusive and sustainable. The competition brief sets out defining elements including a new bridge over the lake and opportunities for artistic interventions and enhanced  landscaping.  

    The new memorial will be of outstanding design quality and an emotionally powerful place, with celebratory spaces as well as areas to encourage reflection. Integral to the Committee’s vision is the intention to place a standalone monument including a figurative representation of the late Queen at the Marlborough Gate entrance.  

    Post-competition, an artist/sculptor for the figurative element will be appointed by the winning lead designer in consultation and agreement with the Committee, ensuring a strong creative match and an integrated scheme. 

    As a national memorial to the country’s longest-serving and much-respected Monarch, the Government has identified a provisional construction budget of £23m-46m excluding VAT for the project. The provisional construction budget is required at this stage as a guide for designers to develop their proposals. The final cost will depend on the winning design and will be shared in due course. The Committee will judge all submissions against a value for money criteria.   

    This provisional construction cost includes the replacement of the Blue Bridge – an important public amenity in St James’s Park. The shortlist is expected to be announced in spring 2025 and the winner in early summer 2025. 

    The final design will be announced to coincide with what would have been Her Late Majesty’s 100th birthday year in 2026, following approval from the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King. The Committee has visited the four nations of the United Kingdom and engaged widely to ensure ideas and suggestions from the public, experts and key stakeholder groups inform the project scope and competition brief. The winning team will be expected to work with the Committee on their public engagement strategy. 

    ALSO READ: FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS! 

  • Court indicts Imran Khan, wife in Toshakhana case 

    Court indicts Imran Khan, wife in Toshakhana case 

    Imran Khan continues to remain behind bars as he has other cases registered against him while Bushra Bibi remains out of prison…reports Asian Lite News

    A special court in Islamabad on Thursday indicted former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the new Toshakhana case, Geo News reported. 

    Special Court Central-I Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand, who presided over the hearing at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, framed the charges on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. 

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had initially filed the case. Considering the NAB Amendments, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) took over the case and filed its challan in September, according to Geo News report. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have received bail in the case. 

    Imran Khan continues to remain behind bars as he has other cases registered against him while Bushra Bibi remains out of prison. The couple, who is accused of causing loss to the national exchequer through illegal sale of gifts, was arrested in the said case on July 13, the same day when they were acquitted in the iddat case, Geo News reported. 

    Last week, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi indicted Imran Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in connection with the May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in 2023, The Express Tribune reported. 

    The attack took place during the protests that erupted in Pakistan after Imran Khan’s arrest. ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted a hearing for the GHQ attack case at a makeshift court setup in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.More than 100 individuals, including Omar Ayub, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Sheikh Rashid, Omar Ayub, Raja Basharat, Zartaj Gul have been indicted in the case, according to The Express Tribune report. 

    After the judge announced his decision, opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, was arrested, while Punjab’s former law minister Raja Basharat was taken into custody immediately after leaving the jail.Subsequently, the judge adjourned the case until December 10. 

    Earlier, several PTI leaders including Sadaqat Abbasi, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, Mohammad Ahmed Chatha, Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Rashid Shafiq, Sadaqat Abbasi, Waseem Qayyum Abbasi, Javed Kausar, Sajid Qureshi, and Usman Dar, reached Adiala Jail for the hearing. 

    The court had summoned all accused in the GHQ attack case, with charges expected to be formally brought against 120 individuals, including Imran Khan, The Express Tribune reported. Furthermore, the court has ordered Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is incarcerated in Lahore Jail, to appear before the court. 

    The court ordered that arrests be made for several PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Shibli Faraz, Shireen Mazari, Zartaj Gul, Zain Qureshi, and Taiba Raja.In addition, arrest warrants were issued for 45 absconding accused, with the court warning that legal proceedings would start to declare them fugitives if they did not appear before the court.  

    Vawda believes Imran Khan will not come out of prison 

    Pakistan’s Senator Faisal Vawda believes that former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will not come out of prison as too much time has passed, The Express Tribune reported. 

    He hoped that the matter involving former Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General (retd) Faiz Hameed and his associates would not result in the death penalty. 

    During a private TV programme, Vawda said that a charge sheet has been prepared against Hameed and now punishments will be determined. He said, “Faiz Hameed has provided evidence and proof,” The Express Tribune reported. 

    Vawda stressed the importance of the assassination attempt case against Imran Khan. He further said that another case will appear that will shake the position of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder. 

    He stated, “Space must be created and negotiated through dialogue.” He claimed that no one has addressed the theft of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

    Vawda said, “No one has addressed the theft of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Before the assassination attempt on the PTI founder, he was warned about the impending attack.” 

    He questioned who benefitted most due to the assassination attempt. He asked, “Who was supposed to gain? When evidence is provided, including laptops, and phones, everything will come to light.” 

    Claiming the involvement of another person in the assassination attempt, Faisal Vawda said, “It will also come forward. This person is currently very close to the PTI founder and was involved in the attack.” He said that blame could also be placed on Pakistan’s former chief of army staff, Qamar Bajwa. However, it becomes difficult when two powerful figures join forces. 

    Vawda said, “When the Prime Minister and DG ISI are aligned, what could the army chief have done?” He accused Imran Khan of using Faiz Hameed, The Express Tribune report. 

    He further said, “Credit should be given to the army chief, as no powerful figure can escape justice. Why are Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar hiding and not coming forward?” He also said that several respected Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) members were no longer in party. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill 

    ALSO READ: B’desh removes ‘barriers’ for Pakistani goods, nationals

  • Vijayan says Kerala-TN ties mode of cooperative federalism 

    Vijayan says Kerala-TN ties mode of cooperative federalism 

    Vijayan, who shares a special friendship with Stalin, said the collaboration between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is a testament to cooperative federalism..reports Asian Lite News

    Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the cooperation between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is based on the principles of cooperative federalism and called for its expansion to other states to curb frequent interventions in their rights. 

    He was delivering the keynote address at the public meeting held at Vaikom Beach in this district after his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin inaugurated the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Periyar Library, established in honour of Dravidar Kazhagam founder E V Ramasamy. 

    Vijayan, who shares a special friendship with Stalin, said the collaboration between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is a testament to cooperative federalism, highlighting the enduring bond between the two states. 

    “This cooperation cannot be described in mere words and is demonstrated through actions,” he added. In the current scenario, where there are frequent interventions on the rights of the states, especially economic autonomy, this cooperation should be extended to more states, he stated. 

    Recalling the spirit of unity during the Vaikom Satyagraha, the chief minister said that the cooperation between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as necessitated by the times, will continue to strengthen. 

    “If Periyar championed the self-respect of individuals, the present times demand that states stand for their self-respect,” he said, adding that the two states will continue to strengthen the cooperation required in today’s context. 

    Referring to the Vaikom Satyagraha, Vijayan said while the denial of access to roads around the Vaikom temple appeared to concern only Keralites, reformers like Periyar saw it as a national matter rather than a regional or Travancore-specific one. 

    The CM further stated the Vaikom Satyagraha received support from across the country, including from communities such as the Sikhs. 

    Vijayan said that Periyar took part in the Vaikom Satyagraha on April 13, 1924, following the request of social reformers Barrister George Joseph and K P Kesava Menon, drawing a massive crowd to the movement. 

    “Acting on orders from the Travancore rulers, he was arrested and imprisoned in Arookutty jail. Following his arrest, Periyar’s wife, Nagammai, arrived in Vaikom and mobilised women, campaigning tirelessly to highlight the importance of the Satyagraha,” he added. 

    After his release from Arookutty prison, Periyar rejoined the Satyagraha with renewed vigor, prompting the Travancore government to issue an exile order against him. Defying the order, he was arrested once again and eventually, Periyar and other Satyagrahis were released following the king’s death, the CM said. 

    Periyar’s intervention for progressive reforms, such as raising the marriage age for women, granting them the right to choose their own partners, and securing divorce, was historic, he stated. 

    Nagammai played an equal role in these efforts, and her contributions were evident in Vaikom as well, the CM further said, adding that the couple acted like reformers Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule in Maharashtra. 

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin felicitated Kannada writer and Vaikom Award recipient Devanur Mahadeva. Dravida Kazhagam president K Veeramani was the guest of honour. 

    Kerala Ministers V N Vasavan, Saji Cherian and Tamil Nadu Ministers Durai Murugan, A V Velu, M P Swaminathan; K Francis George MP, C K Asha MLA, Kerala Chief Secretary Saradha Muraleedharan, her Tamil Nadu counterpart N Murukanandam, District Collector John V Samuel, and Municipal Chairperson Preetha Rajesh were present on the occasion. 

    The Tamil Nadu government established the Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Library in Vaikom, Kottayam district, to commemorate the contributions of social reformer E V Ramaswamy, popularly known as “Thanthai Periyar,” to the Vaikom Satyagraha. 

    During his visit to Vaikom last year for the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha, CM Stalin allocated Rs 8.14 crore for the renovation of the memorial and library. 

    EV Ramasamy, the Dravidian stalwart fondly addressed as Periyar in Tamil Nadu, spearheaded the popular self respect movement in the state with a focus on rational thinking. 

    Most political parties in TN, including the Dravidian majors DMK and the AIADMK, swear by his principles. Born on September 17, 1879, Periyar fought for social equality and is a respected leader across political parties. He breathed his last on December 24, 1973. 

    Bonhomie 

    Ever since M.K. Stalin took over as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the state’s relations with Kerala have been very strong and on Thursday this fact was even more evident as Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan travelled together in one car to a meeting venue, near here.  

    CM Stalin, who arrived in Kerala after spending time in a houseboat at the picturesque Kumarakom tourist destination, on Thursday morning arrived with CM Vijayan to inaugurate the renovated memorial of social reformer and Dravidian ideologue E.V. Ramasamy Periyar at Vaikom. 

    The venue of the function houses the statue of Periyar, a museum and a library and the two leaders went around the renovated premises. 

    Speaking on the occasion CM Vijayan said the presence of CM Stalin at the event brought a lot of significance to it. 

    “Periyar stood in the forefront of uplifting the weak and downtrodden. According to Periyar the Congress leaders never stood for the downtrodden. He always had a strong sentiment for the Communists and was known for the closeness he had with Communist leaders in Tamil Nadu,” said Vijayan and added that the Dravidian icon’s thoughts and ideology continue to be relevant even today. 

    CM Stalin also paid glowing tributes to Periyar and the movement he led and also thanked the Vijayan government for organising the event. 

    The significance of the new-found brotherhood that starts at the highest level between the two CMs, should be seen in the presence of several dignitaries, including Kerala Ministers V.N. Vasavan and Saji Cheriyan, along with Tamil Nadu Ministers Durai Murugan, E.V. Velu and M.P. Saminathan besides top officials with the two states’ Chief Secretaries also present. 

    This is not the first time the two CMs are sharing a stage, as in the past Stalin was present at the 23rd CPI-M Party Congress held at Vijayan’s pocket borough in Kannur two years ago. 

    Vijayan has also visited Tamil Nadu in the past on quite a few occasions and has his routine medical checkups at a popular private hospital there. 

    ALSO READ: Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill 

  • Trinamool moves Privilege motion against Rijiju  

    Trinamool moves Privilege motion against Rijiju  

    Reportedly, 60 MPs from the opposition INDIA bloc have signed the motion. ..reports Asian Lite News

    The Trinamool Congress moved a privilege motion on Thursday against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha for calling opposition MPs “unworthy of the house”. The party accused Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju of “repeatedly insulting the Opposition members” instead of “doing his job of running Parliament smoothly”. 

    Reportedly, 60 MPs from the opposition INDIA bloc have signed the motion. 

    The privilege motion came after Rijiju said the Opposition is “not worthy” of being members of the House, while hitting out at opposition parties over their attacks on Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday. 

    Over Rijiju’s remarks, the party has called for an “unqualified apology”, adding his remarks against the Opposition should be expunged. 

    Meanwhile, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Rajya Sabha Chairman, accusing him of biased conduct and undermining the opposition in the upper house of Parliament. 

    Speaking to ANI, Ramesh expressed his dissatisfaction over the way opposition voices, particularly the Leader of the Opposition, have been treated during recent Parliamentary sessions. 

    “Even today we saw what was the need to bring a no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha chairman, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha was not allowed to speak in Parliament… This is an insult to the Leader of the Opposition and the Congress party,” Ramesh said. 

    The Congress leader specifically pointed to what he described as a blatant double standard in the chairmanship’s approach to proceedings. 

    ” When the opposition raises an issue in Parliament, the Rajya Sabha chairman says nothing will go on record, but when the ruling party raises an issue it goes on record,” Ramesh explained. 

    He “condemned” the lack of impartiality and said that the ruling party MPs are given a “chance to speak in Parliament”, while the opposition is silenced. Ramesh further accused the ruling party of trying to divert attention from the Adani issue, calling their actions “baseless” and “misleading.” 

    “They want to divert attention from the Adani issue… They are making baseless comments about George Soros… We want Parliament to function,” Ramesh said. 

    Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain claimed that Congress MPs were being prevented from raising peoples’ issues 

    “We are being prevented from raising people’s issues, our notices are being ignored and keeping all these things in mind, this motion has been brought and when the discussion will take place, we will put forward our views,” he said. 

    Meanwhile, leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda accused the Congress of hurting the democratic system by not letting the house function. 

    “Congress party wants to delay and divert the issues…The countrymen are very disturbed when they come to know that a person named George Soros wants to disturb the stability of the nation…The nation wants to know the relationship between Sonia Gandhi and George Soros…We will go amongst the public and raise this issue,” Nadda said.  

    LS to hold special discussion on Constitution 

    A special discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution will be held in Lok Sabha on Friday and Saturday with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh likely to initiate the debate. 

    The two-day debate is expected to begin at 12 noon on Friday. Over 12 leaders from the BJP are expected to take part in the debate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the discussion on December 14 evening. 

    Leaders and members of parties in the ruling National Democratic Alliance including HD Kumaraswamy, Srikant Shinde, Shambhavi Chaudhary, Rajkumar Sangwan, Jiten Ram Manjhi, Anupriya Patel and Rajiv Ranjan Singh are also likely to speak during the debate. 

    Sources said leaders of BJP and its allies are likely to refer to Emergency and speak about the “fake narratives being peddled” by the opposition. 

    DMK leaders TR Balu and A Raja and Trinamool Congress MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mohua Moitra are likely to take part in the debate. 

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party have issued a ‘three line whip’ to ensure the presence of their members. 

    According to the sources, Home Minister Amit Shah will initiate the debate in the Rajya Sabha on December 16. 

    Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the Opposition wants the House to run and have a debate on 75 years of adoption of Constitution on December 13-14.  

    XXX 

    LS passes Disaster Management Amendment Bill 

    XXX 

    Rajya Sabha continued to witness disruptions on Thursday with BJP leaders slamming Congress for submitting a no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and alleging links between Congress and American billionaire George Soros. 

    Lok Sabha passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 after a reply to the debate by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. 

    The minister said the Modi government has been providing all the necessary assistance to states which face any disaster. Rejecting criticism of the opposition parties, he said the impact of bill will be positive. 

    The bill seeks to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities. 

    It seeks to amend Disaster Management Act, 2005 and bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management besides providing statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level Committee. 

    The bill seeks to empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. 

    It provides for creation of disaster database at national and state level and make provision for constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State Capital and large cities having Municipal Corporation. 

    The bill seeks to make provision for constitution of “State Disaster Response Force” by the State Government. 

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the game-changing provisions of the law will serve as a fresh impetus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to build a disaster-resilient India. 

    “Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji, Bharat is advancing on the path of achieving zero casualties during disasters. In this direction, the Lok Sabha today passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Modi Ji for this landmark move,” he said in a post on X. 

    “The game-changing provisions of the law will serve as a fresh impetus to Modi Ji’s vision to build a disaster-resilient Bharat by empowering our response forces to shield our citizens from any kind of calamity. The bill makes way for the security of every citizen by prioritizing a proactive approach to disaster management over a reactive one,” he added. 

    ALSO READ: At UN, India votes for Gaza ceasefire 

    ALSO READ: Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill 

  • SC pauses surveys of places of worship  

    SC pauses surveys of places of worship  

    The apex court was informed that at present 18 suits are pending in the country against 10 mosques or shrines. ..reports Asian Lite News

    The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained all courts across the country from passing any effective interim or final order including orders of survey in pending suits against existing religious structures. 

    A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan also ordered that no fresh suits can be registered over such claims while the court is hearing pleas challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. 

    “As the matter is sub-judice before this court, we deem it fit to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this court. In the pending suits, courts would not pass any effective interim order or final orders, including orders of survey,” the bench ordered. 

    The apex court was informed that at present 18 suits are pending in the country against 10 mosques or shrines. 

    The bench also granted four weeks to Centre to file an affidavit in a batch of petitions challenging certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991, that prohibit the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947. 

    The pleas challenged the Places of Worship Act saying that the Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to restore their ‘places of worship and pilgrimages’, destroyed by invaders. 

    Daughter of the Kashi Royal Family, Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya; BJP leader Subramanian Swamy; Chintamani Malviya, former Member of Parliament; Anil Kabotra, a retired army officer; advocates Chandra Shekhar; Rudra Vikram Singh, resident of Varanasi; Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, a religious leader; Devkinandan Thakur Ji, resident of Mathura and a religious guru and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay among others have filed the pleas in the apex court against the 1991 Act. 

    The 1991 provision is an Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 

    Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, India Muslim Personal Law Board, Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages the mosque in the Gyanvapi complex, Shahi Idgah mosque committee of Mathura, among others, also filed applications in the top court against the petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 law. 

    They challenged the petitions filed by some Hindu petitioners saying that entertaining the pleas against the Act will open floodgates of litigations against countless mosques across India. 

    Filing intervention application in the case they sought dismissal of pleas challenging the Places of Worship Act. 

    One of the pleas challenging the 1991 Act stated, “The Act excludes the birthplace of Lord Rama but includes the birthplace of Lord Krishna, though both are the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the creator and equally worshipped all over the world.” 

    The pleas further stated that the Act blatantly offends the right of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to restore, manage, maintain and administer the places of worship and pilgrimage guaranteed under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution. 

    The petitions filed have challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, which it said violates the principles of secularism and the rule of law, which is an integral part of the Preamble and the basic structure of the Constitution. 

    The pleas said that the Act has taken away the right to approach the Court and thus right to judicial remedy has been closed. 

    Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion of places of worship. It states, “No person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any section thereof.” 

    Section 4 bars filing of any suit or initiating any other legal proceeding for a conversion of the religious character of any place of worship, as existing on August 15, 1947. 

    “The Places of Worship Act 1991 is void and unconstitutional for many reasons,” the plea said, adding that it offends the right of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to pray, profess, practice and prorogate religion (Article 25), the petitions said. 

    “It also infringes on their right to manage, maintain and administer the places of worship and pilgrimage (Article 26),” Pleas added. 

    “The Act deprives these communities from owning/acquiring religious properties belonging to deity (misappropriated by other communities) And also takes away the right to take back their places of worship and pilgrimage and the property which belong to deity,” stated the pleas. 

    It also mentioned that the Act further deprives Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs to take back their places of worship and pilgrimage connected with cultural heritage (Article 29) and it also restricts them to restore the possession of places of worship and pilgrimage but allows Muslims to claim under Section 107, Waqf Act. 

    “It is respectfully submitted that the Central Government by making impugned provision (Places of Worship Act 1991) in the year of 1991 has created arbitrary irrational retrospective cutoff date, declared that character of places of worship and pilgrimage shall be maintained as it was on August 15, 1947 and no suit or proceeding shall lie in the court in respect of the dispute against encroachment done by barbaric fundamentalist invaders and such proceeding shall stand abated,” the PILs stated. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: India’s Balanced Middle East Stance 

  • Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill 

    Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill 

    The Centre has stressed that the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ envisions to synchronise the electoral cycles of the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies…reports Asian Lite News

    The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, aimed at improving electoral processes. The Bill is likely to be tabled in this Winter Session of Parliament.  

    According to the Centre this legislation will not only streamline the electoral process, but will also foster greater efficiency, and reduce the financial and administrative burden associated with conducting multiple elections at different times. 

    The Centre has stressed that the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ envisions to synchronise the electoral cycles of the Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies, allowing voters to cast their ballots for both polls simultaneously. 

    By doing so, the government aims to address several challenges posed by the current system of staggered elections, which often lead to prolonged periods of electioneering, disruption in governance, and heightened expenditure. 

    Earlier in September, the Union Cabinet had approved the proposal for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill. 

    Congress leader Tariq Anwar said, “This is a controversial issue. Ours is a federal structure in which it is not possible to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’. The Opposition has not been taken into confidence on the issue. All stakeholders must be taken into confidence before taking such a big decision.” 

    Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed the proposal, saying that the Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. 

    The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind had recommended holding concurrent elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days. 

    However, critics have argued that implementing synchronised elections could pose logistical and constitutional challenges. They highlight potential difficulties in dissolving Assemblies mid-way or addressing situations where a state government falls before completing its tenure. 

    Proponents of the Bill on the other hand argue that it will usher in a new era of stability and continuity in policymaking, as governments will no longer have to operate in a perpetual election mode. 

    Opposition calls bill anti-democratic 

    Opposition leaders on Thursday raised concerns over the Narendra Modi government’s plans to introduce the ‘one nation, one election bill’ to implement simultaneous polls across India in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. 

    While members of the ruling government and its allies welcomed the move, several leaders and MPs of the Opposition questioned the move. 

    Congress Lok Sabha member K Suresh said his party has already made its stand clear, and it is opposed to simultaneous polls. 

    “Our party has already cleared our stand from the beginning, our stand has not changed. We are opposing it. Entire opposition is opposing it,” he said. 

    Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that the party would want the bill to be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). 

    “The bill will be presented in the Parliament and we want it to be sent to the JPC. The INC’s stand was made clear last year itself by party president Mallikarjun Kharge when he sent a four-page letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee on One Nation One Election…” 

    Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief dubbed the proposed bill as “draconian”. 

    “The Union Cabinet has approved introducing the draconian ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ in Parliament. This impractical and anti-democratic move will erase regional voices, erode federalism, and disrupt governance. Rise up INDIA! Let us resist this attack on Indian Democracy with all our strength!” he wrote on X. 

    CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas said that move is against the federal spirit of the country. 

    “One nation, one election, is part of their slogan ‘one leader, one country, one ideology, one language…’ It’s against the federal spirit of the country,” Brittas said. 

    “If they are keen on reform in the electoral scene, they should understand what are the issues plaguing the electoral system. If they were so keen about one election, why did they segregate the election of Maharashtra and Haryana, they could not even hold four elections together,” he added. 

    DMK leader Tiruchi Siva also said his party opposes the bill and also sought to know what would happen if any government loses its majority after elections. 

    “Let them bring it, my party is totally against it, we have too many questions to raise, and they have to be replied in a comprehensive manner,” he said. Siva questioned what would happen if a government comes into minority. 

    “Suppose if Lok Sabha gets dissolved earlier, would they dissolve all state assemblies and hold elections?” Siva questioned. 

    BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra said greater consultations need to be held. 

    “Greater consultation has to be done. What happens when there is a lack of majority, hung assembly or Parliament, or a government loses confidence mid-way… ” he asked. 

    Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary, however, welcomed the move and said that it will be good for the country. “One nation, one election will be good for the nation. It will help in saving people’s money,” Chaudhary said. 

    He also dismissed the reservations expressed by opposition, and said, “they are in a habit to oppose everything.” BJP’s ally Lok Janshakti Party (RV) MP Shambhavi Choudhary also welcomed the move. 

    “This is an ambitious bill, LJP has supported it… Every six month there is election in some state and leaders focus on that. Many times representatives are also not able to give time in Parliament, resources are wasted,” she said. 

    BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said that holding elections every six months costs the government. “One Nation One Election is very important because conducting elections every 6 months costs the government treasury a great deal… The biggest challenge is to ask people to come out and vote time and again. The percentage of voters is going down every year. This is the need of the hour and everyone is in favour of this…” she said. 

    ALSO READ: India Seeks Better Ties With Bangladesh 

    ALSO READ: India’s Balanced Middle East Stance 

  • PoJK Scraps Protest Law 

    PoJK Scraps Protest Law 

    PoJK Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq cited security concerns to be the only reason the prior permission clause was put in the ordinance. ..reports Asian Lite News

    After days of unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the government on Sunday withdrew a controversial Presidential Ordinance, which mandated prior government permission for public protests. 

    Sensing growing public resentment amid a shutter-down strike and massive demonstrations, President Barrister Sultan Mahmood announced withdrawal of the ordinance and government officials held formal negotiations, resulting in a written agreement. 

    “The public deserves congratulations, which came out to protest and gave an answer to the government and bureaucrats. You have proved that PoJK has its own law and system,” one of the protesters said after the government’s decision. 

    PoJK Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq cited security concerns to be the only reason the prior permission clause was put in the ordinance. Reports suggest the agreement included a commitment to withdrawing all cases against activists and compensation for victims of the May 13 firing incidents. 

    Despite the region’s strategic importance, the people of PoJK have long suffered under an oppressive regime, where their rights, basic needs, and aspirations are consistently overlooked. The region of PoJK has increasingly faced concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly regarding political and social dissent. 

    In recent years, individuals, media outlets, and political activists who criticise the government or ruling authorities have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, and even legal action. These crackdowns typically involve heightened surveillance, arrests, and censorship of media that challenge the government’s stance on key issues such as governance, human rights, and the political status of the region. 

    Political activists and opposition groups, particularly those advocating for greater autonomy or highlighting human rights violations, often find themselves under significant pressure. Their activities are closely monitored, and they may face legal or extrajudicial repercussions. Furthermore, this suppression extends to curbing the freedom of speech and limiting the activities of civil society organisations, which play a critical role in holding the government accountable. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Bangladesh Interim Govt Targets Hasina’s Party

  • Baloch Rights Groups Slam Global Silence 

    Baloch Rights Groups Slam Global Silence 

    Human rights violations in Balochistan have been a longstanding issue, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s control over the region….reports Asian Lite News

    The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) issued a powerful statement highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the Baloch people amidst global calls for human rights. 

    In a post on X, BYC stated that while the world commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and champions slogans of equality and justice, the Baloch nation continues to be denied its most fundamental right–the right to life. 

    “Mothers and sisters yearn for their sons and brothers for years, knock on every door of justice, organise protests and sit-ins, but their loved ones are nowhere to be seen or heard of. Fathers and brothers run from one place to another to search for a decent livelihood to sustain their families; that too has become hard now, as the state controls everything, even the means of income of the Baloch,” the BYC stated. 

    It added, “Resources are being exploited at will by the elite, and Baloch children still die of malnutrition and mothers from lack of basic labour and health facilities. Millions of children are out of school and do labour to support their families. As the world commemorates the International Human Rights Day this year, Balochistan has become a human rights free zone long ago.” 

    Human rights violations in Balochistan have been a longstanding issue, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s control over the region. Balochistan, the largest province in Pakistan, is rich in natural resources, but its ethnic Baloch population has often faced marginalisation, political repression, and violence. 

    The human rights violations in Balochistan can be categorised into several key aspects, including political repression, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and the suppression of freedom of expression. These violations have been documented by various human rights organisations and are central to the ongoing conflict between the Baloch nationalist movement and the Pakistani state. 

    One of the most significant human rights violations in Balochistan is the large number of enforced disappearances. Individuals, including political activists, students, journalists, and members of Baloch nationalist groups, have been abducted by state security forces. These people are often detained without charge, and their whereabouts remain unknown for long periods. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Speech Ban Targets Hasina

  • INDIA Bloc Demands Immediate Central Intervention in Manipur Crisis

    INDIA Bloc Demands Immediate Central Intervention in Manipur Crisis

    The INDIA Bloc, Manipur, resolves to press for the four demands to the President of India and the Prime Minister, he said in a post on the X…reports Asian Lite News

    The INDIA Bloc parties from Manipur on Monday held a sit-in protest in Delhi demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the violence-hit-state and resolve the 19-month-long ethnic hostilities at the earliest.

    The leaders of the 10-party INDIA bloc while addressing the gathering at Jantar Mantar in the national capital claimed that both the Centre and the state government failed to resolve the ethnic crisis even as the lives of the people were devastated due to the uninterrupted violence.

    The INDIA bloc leader also demanded to sack Chief Minister N Biren Singh for his “complete failure” to deal with the riots between Meitei and the Koki-Zo-Hmar community.

    Many opposition leaders, including Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Congress’ deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and CPI General Secretary D Raja among others participated in the protest.

    Ramesh said that Manipur has been inflicted with unprecedented turmoil, continuous curfew, internet ban, high price rise of all commodities, unavailability of medicines, continuous violence, highways blockade, rising extortion, all forms of violent threats and disturbances, complete lawlessness and chaos, complete violation of right to life and right to properties, loss of life, and complete disarray of hope for the youth and total obstruction to the smooth functioning of schools, colleges, universities, and professional institutions in Manipur.

    The INDIA Bloc, Manipur, resolves to press for the four demands to the President of India and the Prime Minister, he said in a post on the X.

    The demands include the Prime Minister visiting Manipur urgently for an immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in the state without affecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.

    “Chief Minister of Manipur should be immediately sacked for allowing Manipur to keep burning for the last 19 months. Further, until peace and normalcy are restored, the INDIA Bloc, Manipur will continue the democratic struggle to bring peace and normalcy to the state. We solemnly declare that we will work together hand in hand irrespective of caste, creed, community, and ethnicity to strengthen the bond of love, unity, and integrity in Manipur,” the Congress leader said.

    Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh, state CLP leader Okram Ibobi, K. Ranjit, Lokeshwar Singh, Surjakumar Singh, all Congress MLAs of the state, Manipur CPI (M) leader Kshetrimayum Shanta among others attended the protest.

    CPI leader D. Raja questioned the Central government’s commitment to national unity, highlighting the silence of PM Modi on the Manipur crisis.

    The 10-party INDIA bloc in Manipur on December 6 also urged the Prime Minister to visit Manipur, at the earliest convenience or hold talks with political parties from the state in New Delhi.

    The bloc, led by the Congress, submitted a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on December 6, requesting Modi to visit Manipur to resolve the 19-month-long ethnic conflict.

    Meanwhile, around 20 civil society organisations and student bodies from Imphal Valley have announced plans to hold a rally in Delhi on December 22.

    ALSO READ-Both houses adjourned over Adani, Manipur 

  • Congress Seeks Equal Footing in INDIA Bloc

    Congress Seeks Equal Footing in INDIA Bloc

    This formula, if implemented, could lead to renegotiations within the alliance, potentially unsettling the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Tejashwi Yadav, which has traditionally been the dominant partner in the state…reports Asian Lite News

    Congress’s national secretary and Bihar in-charge Shahnawaz Alam said on Monday that there are no big or small players in the INDIA Bloc.

    “We must reinforce the ideological foundation of the coalition, rather than a hierarchy of power. Congress workers should not view themselves as subordinate to other alliance partners. Any decisions within the alliance would incorporate the input of Congress workers,” he said.

    He said that the distribution of seats should be based on the strike rate—a metric reflecting the performance of parties in recent elections, particularly the Lok Sabha polls.

    This formula, if implemented, could lead to renegotiations within the alliance, potentially unsettling the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Tejashwi Yadav, which has traditionally been the dominant partner in the state.

    The Congress’s proposition to base seat-sharing for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on the strike rate from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has introduced a significant challenge for the RJD.

    RJD contested 23 seats and won four, yielding a strike rate of 17 per cent. Congress contested nine seats and won three, achieving a strike rate of 33 per cent.

    CPI (ML), with the highest strike rate, contested three seats and won two, marking 67 per cent success.

    The RJD, traditionally the dominant player in Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan, finds itself with the weakest strike rate. If Congress’s formula is accepted, RJD would lose a significant portion of its negotiating power in seat-sharing arrangements. This could disrupt the established hierarchy within the alliance, wherein RJD has historically been the “big brother.”

    ALSO READ-Congress Attacks Govt Over Rajya Sabha Ruckus