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  • Opposition unity a myth says Dilip Ghosh

    Opposition unity a myth says Dilip Ghosh

    In Kerala, however, we failed to win a seat but we made our presence felt across the state. And in West Bengal, the BJP is the biggest gainer. Our strength increased from three to 77…Dilip Ghosh speaks with Shashi Bhushan.

    Calling opposition unity a myth, BJP national vice president, Dilip Ghosh said that the opposition don’t have a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and there is a complete vacuum of leadership in the rival camp.

    In an exclusive interview, Ghosh said that ‘Koi nahi hai takkar me’ (no one is in contest with BJP). “Country and party is secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Country and party is moving ahead under Modi. BJP is the future and the country’s future is secured with the BJP,” Ghosh, former West Bengal BJP president, said.

    Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister’s national ambitions, Ghosh said that she is trying to make TMC presence in other states by inducting retired, tired and rejected leaders.

    Here are some excerpts from the interview:

    Next year, assembly elections will be held in seven states, what is the importance of these elections for the BJP?

    First of all let’s talk about the assembly elections held in five states this year. We formed the government for the second consecutive time in Assam, formed the government for the first time in Puducherry and we have four MLAs in the Tamil Nadu assembly. In Kerala, however, we failed to win a seat but we made our presence felt across the state. And in West Bengal, the BJP is the biggest gainer. Our strength increased from three to 77.

    Results show that people have immense faith in the BJP and we are the only party which is growing and expanding across India. We make inroads in new areas. We have leaders, policies and a strong force of workers and this is the reason good people from other parties are also joining us.

    ‘Koi nahi hai takkar me’ (no one is in the contest). Country and party are secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Country and party is moving ahead under him. BJP is the future and the country’s future is secured with the BJP.

    Polls

    You talked about assembly polls held this year, but did not mention recent bypolls where BJP had not done so well.

    It is true that we lost a few seats in some states but our overall performance was good and better than rivals. There are lots of factors that play a role in bypolls. In 2017, the BJP had lost bypolls of Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats represented by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    Local issues and other factors like candidate selection, coordination plays an important role in bypolls. However, things get changed in assembly and parliament polls. People start talking about policy and vision of a political party instead of local issues in bypolls. I am confident that, like this year, the BJP will form the government in all the states with a huge margin by winning more seats than last time.

    What would you say about much talked about opposition unity in 2022?

    Opposition unity is a myth and nothing exist like this in reality. There is a complete vacuum of leadership in opposition parties. And everyone is trying to become leader of all the opposition parties and interestingly no one is ready to accept another as the face of opposition.

    There is a complete lack of leadership, organisation and cadre in the opposition camp. They don’t have a leader with a vision to lead the country. ‘Modi jaisa neta nahi hai unke pass’ (they (opposition) don’t have a leader like Modi).

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  • Priyanka emerging as a troubleshooter in Congress?

    Priyanka emerging as a troubleshooter in Congress?

    Several Congress leaders are vocal on this issue. One such person is Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who has been saying that Priyanka be made party president…reports Asian Lite News.

    After passing away of Ahmed Patel, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has emerged troubleshooter within the party and all complainants are landing at her door with their grievances. Most recently, when Uttarakhand crisis loomed this week with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat targeting the party, Priyanka Gandhi stepped in to defuse the tension and placated the sulking leader.

    This is not the first time the Gandhi sibling has managed crisis in the party.

    She was instrumental in Punjab and was the main brain behind the removal of Amarinder Singh and installing Navjot Singh Sidhu in the party apparatus. She along with Rahul prevailed upon Ashok Gehlot to accommodate Sachin Pilot loyalists in the government.

    After UP polls, analysts feel that the Congress will have to offer Priyanka Gandhi a bigger role to reach out to leaders who are not in sync with Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, to win back the disgruntled leaders and the G-23 group, most of the lot praised her for the fight she took up in UP after the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

    While she has been credited with making party visible in UP by raising issues at a short span of time, the current survey shows that Congress may not gain electorally in the state.

    The party, however, is seeing her as star campaigner in future elections and her, ‘ladki hun lad sakti hun’ (I’m a girl and can fight) is attracting nationwide attention and the marathons conducted in getting massive registrations and the Congress sees it as a counter to religion and caste based politics.

    At the time when the Congress general secretary got into campaign mode, the country’s attention was consumed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet her active intervention in Hathras and Sonbhadra got her noticed. And at the peak of the migrant crisis, her offer of buses to transport the affected people to their homes, earned her kudos.
    During the farmers’ agitation, too, she was at the forefront, but then the second wave hit the nation.

    With Uttar Pradesh going to polls for the next Assembly early next year along with Uttarakhand and Punjab, the Congress leadership is debating whether Priyanka should be assigned a more prominent, perhaps pan-India role in the party.

    Several Congress leaders are vocal on this issue. One such person is Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who has been saying that Priyanka be made party president.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

    Others, who are not happy with the way Rahul Gandhi’s office functions, suggest that Sonia Gandhi should continue as party president and Priyanka be made vice-president in-charge of north India.

    When the leadership crisis hit the Congress, there was a collegium to assist Sonia Gandhi. In September last year, a committee was set up with A.K. Antony, the late Ahmad Patel, Ambika Soni, K.C. Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Randeep Singh Surjewala as members. After the death of Patel, however, the committee has been meeting occasionally. The Congress constitution has no provision for a vice-president, but in the past Rahul Gandhi, Arjun Singh and Jitendra Prasada had held this position.

    Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and A.K. Antony during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting (IANS)

    Some Congress leaders believe that Priyanka’s style of functioning is smoother. She’s an attentive listener and has been active in defusing crises in Rajasthan and Punjab.

    The Congress is mired in infighting in a number of states — Uttrakhand, Punjab, UP, Goa, Manipur and Gujarat, which are preparing to go to polls in 2022 while MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in 2023, so a bigger role for her means the party could bring more traction.

    A section of the Congress leadership points out that Rahul Gandhi can lead the party without holding any post. These leaders say he has been targeting the government on various issues. Even his critics accept his credentials for mounting attacks on the Prime Minister consistently on the pandemic and economic crisis.

    The party is facing crises in Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Karnataka, and the supporters of T.S. Singhdeo in Chhattisgarh will press the demand that he be made the chief minister after five state elections. His supporters, though, insist that the party must fulfil its assurance to the leader who was instrumental in winning seats in the tribal belt of the state, which was with the BJP at that time.

    Ashok Gehlot

    Similarly, Sachin Pilot is pushing for change in Rajasthan and the party cannot afford to lose him after Jyotiraditya Scindia walked out and was rewarded with a berth in the Modi Cabinet.

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  • Priyanka calls for strict action against hate spreaders

    Priyanka calls for strict action against hate spreaders

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is total Bakwaas as far as the Prime Minister and his drumbeaters are concerned. It’s only an empty slogan!…reports Asian Lite News.

    Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday sought action against those people who incited hatred and called for ‘unleashing violence against followers of a particular religion’.

    Priyanka said, “Strictest action should be taken against those who incite hatred and violence of this kind. It is despicable that they should get away with making an open call to murder our respected ex-PM and unleash violence against people of different communities.”

    “Such acts violate our constitution and the law of our land,” she added

    The incident was reported to have taken place in Haridwar during an event held from December 17 to 20. The video clips circulated on social media says that “Hindus should arm themselves like those seen in Myanmar, every Hindu must pick up weapons and conduct a Safayi Abhiyan.”

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas is total Bakwaas as far as the Prime Minister and his drumbeaters are concerned. It’s only an empty slogan! Why the thundering silence on the atrocious hate speech made in Haridwar? Why the paralysis from the Home Minister & Uttarakhand CM?”

    The three-day event was organised by Yati Narasimhanand, a controversial religious leader who has been accused in the past of inciting violence.

    The Uttrakhand Police have lodged an FIR in the case against Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, who was former Shia Waqf board chairman and recently converted to Hinduism.

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  • Bhagyanagar or Hyderabad? That’s the question

    Bhagyanagar or Hyderabad? That’s the question

    The tweet reignited the debate on the demand to rename Hyderabad. Several BJP leaders defended the demand and pointed out that they have been using Bhagyanagar for a long time…reports Asian Lite News.

    A fresh row has erupted over the demand for renaming Hyderabad as ‘Bhagyanagar’ after a Central minister said that there should be no objection to the move.

    Union Minister of State for Railways, Raosaheb Danve, said on Wednesday that there should be no objection to rechristening Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar.

    He justified the demand after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) referred Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar while announcing a three-day meeting here in the first week of January 2022. The meeting is planned to review the working of affiliated organisations and preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled to take place in five states early next year.

    “The Samanvay Baithak (coordination meeting) of the chief functionaries of various organisations inspired by the RSS working in different areas of social life will be held from January 5-7 at Bhagyanagar, Telangana,” the RSS had tweeted on December 21.

    The tweet reignited the debate on the demand to rename Hyderabad. Several BJP leaders defended the demand and pointed out that they have been using Bhagyanagar for a long time.

    Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders alleged that the BJP wants to do divisive politics by demanding the change of name of Hyderabad.

    “Hyderabad has Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, but BJP wants to disturb this by raking up such issues,” said TRS leader K. Krishan.

    He alleged that the BJP is not bothered about development and only talks of changing the name of cities, dress or eating habits to do politics.

    He recalled that BJP had also raised the demand during the elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) last year.

    While campaigning for GHMC polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had called for changing the name of Hyderabad.

    “Some people were asking me if Hyderabad can be renamed as Bhagyanagar. I said why not. I told them that we renamed Faizabad as Ayodhya and Allahabad as Prayagraj after the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh. Then why can’t Hyderabad be renamed as Bhagyanagar,” Yogi had asked.

    The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a key political force in Hyderabad, is strongly opposed to the demand.

    AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said that the entire generation of those who want to rename Hyderabad will end, but even then the city’s name will not change.

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  • Trouble brewing in Uttarakhand Congress, leaders called to Delhi

    Trouble brewing in Uttarakhand Congress, leaders called to Delhi

    Sources said that Harish Rawat is upset over the ticket distribution and that he wants more say in the party affairs….reports Asian lite News

    After the Congress Campaign committee chief in Uttarakhand Harish Rawat targeted leaders for not giving him a free hand in the party affairs, the Congress is now trying to resolve issues amicably. Sources said that the state leaders have been called to Delhi on Thursday and possibly a meeting would be held at Rahul Gandhi’s residence in a day or two in which Rawat will also be present.

    State President Ganesh Gondiyal will meet Devendra Yadav, the state in-charge to apprise him about the affairs of the party. Sources said that Harish Rawat is upset over the ticket distribution and that he wants more say in the party affairs. The Congress, which is going for the collective leadership into the polls, has not declared Rawat as the Chief Ministerial candidate, which is the prime demand of his supporters.

    In a series of tweets in Hindi on Wednesday, Rawat said: “It’s time to rest, it has been enough.

    “Is this not strange? When we have to swim in the sea of election, the party organisation should extend a supporting hand, but has rather turned its face the other way and is playing a negative role. I have to swim in the sea where the ruling party has released many crocodiles and my hands and legs are tied. Sometimes it feels that I have worked too much and now it’s time to rest. I am in a dilemma, the new year may show me a way, and Lord Kedarnath will show a path to me.”

    The new barb from the former Chief Minister will create trouble for the party in the state as it doesn’t have a face apart from Rawat who has a pan state presence, after the demise of Narayan Datt Tiwari and Indira Hridayesh.

    Rawat loyalists claim that he is upset with the party as the state in-charge is not listening to his suggestions. Rawat was Punjab in-charge when Amarinder Singh was removed from the state as the Chief Minister and now Rawat is facing the same problem in the state to adjust with the new team.

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  • BSP finalizes 100 candidates for UP assembly polls

    BSP finalizes 100 candidates for UP assembly polls

    Mayawati will launch the party’s campaign after the Election Commission announces the election schedule…reports Asian Lite News.

    Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has finalized candidates on 100 seats in Uttar Pradesh for the 2022 assembly elections.

    The names of the selected candidates are being announced in public meetings organised by the party leaders in various districts.

    The candidates have also been made in charge of the assembly segments from which they will be contesting the upcoming elections.

    According to party sources, the BSP plans to finalize the candidates on the remaining 300 seats by mid-January.

    Mayawati will launch the party’s campaign after the Election Commission announces the election schedule.

    The BSP president has been accused of staying away from the political arena and has been limiting her activities to press statements and tweets.

    According to party national general secretary, Satish Chandra Mishra, “The BJP, SP and Congress are luring leaders with tickets for the assembly elections.

    “The rival parties have promised tickets to 10 candidates on a single seat, but their tactics had been exposed as the prospective candidates are now being pressured to bring people to public meetings. The rival parties are apprehending a revolt in the party and are, therefore, delaying announcement of candidates,” he said.

    Mishra said that the BSP was working on social engineering formula of ‘sarvajan hitaye – sarvajan sukhaye’ to win the elections. The members of all communities were being given adequate representation in distribution of tickets, he said.

    Mayawati is also screening and finalizing the candidates for the 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand where the party will contest on its own as well as Punjab where the BSP is contesting assembly elections in alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

    Meanwhile, BSP district unit president Akhilesh Ambedkar said the party had finalized tickets on seven assembly seats out of the nine seats in Lucknow district.

    To enlist the support of the minority community, Mayawati has fielded Muslim candidates on four assembly seats — Lucknow North, Lucknow West, Bakshi Ka Talab and Sarojini Nagar.

    The BSP had managed to win only 19 seats in the 2017 assembly polls and is now left with merely six legislators since others have either left or have been expelled.

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  • Tit for tat murders shake Kerala

    Tit for tat murders shake Kerala

    BJP Alappuzha district president, Gopakumar said, “SDPI is into a killing spree and Ranjith Sreenivasan was a popular advocate and a senior leader of the BJP at Alappuzha district…reports Asian Lite News.

    The Islamist organisation, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the BJP have entered into political clashes in Alappuzha district of Kerala with state-level leaders of both getting killed within a spate of hours.

    The issues commenced when Nandu, an ABVP leader was killed a few months ago allegedly by the SDPI workers and on Saturday night the SDPI state secretary, Advocate K.S. Shan was hacked near his residence at Mannenchery in Alappuzha district while he was returning home. SDPI state president Muvattupuzha Ashraf Moulavi on Saturday night alleged that the BJP-RSS combine was behind the attack and the subsequent death of the SDPI state secretary. He has in a press statement warned that there would be strong retaliation if the RSS, BJP leaders don’t stop these attacks.

    On Sunday morning, a popular BJP leader, Ranjith Sreenivasan, state secretary of the OBC Morcha was killed after attackers barged into his residence at Alappuzha. His wife and mother were at the residence at the time of the killing of the advocate.

    Ranjith, who is a practicing advocate at Alappuzha bar was the BJP candidate at Alappuzha Assembly constituency.

    The Islamist organisation, SDPI, and Popular Front of India have been consistently attacking the RSS and the BJP leaders for several years, and recently in November at Palakkad, RSS local level leader Sanjith was hacked to death while he was travelling on a two-wheeler along with his wife.

    Senior Congress leader and former Kerala Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala condemned the attacks. While speaking to IANS the senior leader said, “Both BJP and SDPI must stop these retaliatory killings and this is not politics. Kerala Police under the CPI-M has turned into a major failure and the state home department and police did not take any precautions even after there were local-level issues pertaining to both the organisations. Senior leaders of both the organisations have been killed and police are watching the game from the gallery.”

    BJP Alappuzha district president, Gopakumar said, “SDPI is into a killing spree and Ranjith Sreenivasan was a popular advocate and a senior leader of the BJP at Alappuzha district. It is indeed shocking and the police have failed miserably in containing the violence. SDPI has been trying to play with the blood of innocent BJP, RSS workers and they started the killing by murdering ABVP leader Nandu a few months back. This has to be stopped otherwise Alappuzha district would turn into a battlefield.”

    Senior police officers are camping at Alappuzha district as the body of Shan will be brought from Ernakulam where he was admitted at a private hospital after being hacked at Mannanchery. The body of Ranjith Sreenivasan is kept at the Alappuzha general hospital and a strong police contingent is camping at Alappuzha town.

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  • BJP exploring replacing Home Minister Patton in Nagaland

    BJP exploring replacing Home Minister Patton in Nagaland

    The BJP could ask for the replacement of state Home Minister Y. Patton, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister in the Neiphiu Rio-led government…reports Nirendra Dev

    Left red-faced by the gory episode in Nagaland wherein native Konyak tribesmen and poor mineworkers were killed indiscriminately by the forces, the Centre is exploring certain knee-jerk actions politically.

    The BJP could ask for the replacement of state Home Minister Y. Patton, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister in the Neiphiu Rio-led government.

    “It will also send a positive signal to the people of Mon district, who are grievously hurt following the killing of locals on December 4 and 5,” a source explained.

    Patton is the BJP legislature party leader and is known for his flamboyant political style. A senior party legislator among Konyaks is being considered as of now, sources said.

    Rio is heading the ‘opposition-less’ NDPP-BJP-NPF regime wherein all 60 MLAs are backing his government.

    Outside the Assembly, of course, there is Congress and other smaller parties like JD(U) and NPP of Conrad Sangma.

    The Congress party has lost political steam in Nagaland over the years and it stayed away from the contest in many constituencies in the 2018 polls for what was said to be a fund crunch.

    Despite its organisational weaknesses, the Congress has a support base in the state — where it was in power for most years since 1963 when statehood was granted.

    However, ever since the S.C. Jamir government was voted out in 2003, and the present Chief Minister Rio quit Congress, the grand old party has been left weak and often directionless.

    If things go by set rules, Nagaland would go for the next round of Assembly elections by February 2023 along with two other northeastern states, Meghalaya and Tripura.

    Though the BJP made deep inroads and captured power in Tripura in 2018, its performance was dismal in Meghalaya.

    The saffron party won 12 out of 20 seats it contested in Nagaland in alliance with the NDPP of Rio –who fielded candidates in the remaining 40 Assembly segments.

    BJP’s strike rate was better than NDPP, which won only 18 seats. But since then, the NDPP-BJP alliance has seen ups and downs.

    Now, pressure is being mounted on Chief Minister Rio to do a minor reshuffle. The move is not opposed by Rio in principle, but he wants the BJP high command to take the call for the replacement of Deputy Chief Minister Patton.

    “With the peace process in an advanced stage, we are in a season of consensus building,” Chief Minister Rio told a few party confidants.

    So, NDPP sources suggest — replacing or dropping Patton should be BJP central leadership’s decision.

    There is a demand that senior legislator from the recent violent-hit Mon district and existing Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Paiwang Konyak be given the job.

    The BJP sources say, for state-level politics, Rio is generally given freehand.

    Konyaks share ethnicity with Hemi Nagas and other smaller native groups in Myanmar and hence there are possibilities now of a ‘revenge reciprocation’ to the December 4-5 massacre of Konyaks by the security forces.

    At one time, rebel NSCN leader S.S. Khaplang was also a Hemi Naga and he had “admirers” on the Indian side of the border.

    Sources in Delhi are, however, not happy that after the December 4 tragic incident, the violent protest was allowed on December 5 wherein the Assam Rifles camp was vandalised.

    This ‘protest’ led to the death of one civilian and also an Assam Rifles personnel in Mon town.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Parliament that six out of eight persons travelling in the ill-fated pick-up vehicle were killed initially.

    On the first day, total civilian casualties were 13. But the casualty figures later jumped to 15 Naga civilians and one security personnel.

    “These reflect law and order failure on December 5 and this has left both Nagaland Chief Minister Rio and Deputy CM Patton embarrassed,” a source maintained.

    The Centre is also not happy that a government-run by the BJP as a key component is making a continuous attack on the central forces in the insurgency-hit states.

    Nagaland Governor Jagdish Mukhi could be submitting his report to the Home Ministry soon.

    The central agencies have given inputs that Patton was camping in Mon district town since December 4 evening but yet the attack on Assam Rifles camp in Mon took place on December 5.

    The Oting village where the December 4 firing took place is quite a distance from Mon.

    Both Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in the meantime keen for faster progress to the pending Naga peace talks despite major hurdles thrown by the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) faction vis-a-vis Flag and Constitution.

    These two demands cannot be met by any Indian government worth it is salt and especially the one led by Narendra Modi — which took unprecedented and tough stand in Kashmir.

    The alliance politics has only added further complexity to the Nagaland peace process and hence the Christmas gift could still be alluding the ‘God-fearing’ Nagas.

    (Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also the author of books, ‘The Talking Guns: North East India’ and ‘Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth’.)

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  • Court rejects Trump bid to withhold Jan 6 records

    Court rejects Trump bid to withhold Jan 6 records

    The court said the transfer of the records could begin in 14 days, before which Trump is allowed to ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the case, reports Asian Lite News

    A US federal appeals court has ruled to reject former President Donald Trump’s bid to block the National Archives from turning over his administration’s records to a House panel investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

    On Thursday, the three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected the arguments by the former President’s lawyers that their client could assert executive privilege to prevent the current administration from sharing the Trump White House’s documents with the House Select Committee to Investigate the attack, reports Xinhua news agency.

    “The central question in this case is whether, despite the exceptional and imperative circumstances underlying the Committee’s request and President (Joe) Biden’s decision, a federal court can, at the former President’s behest, override President Biden’s decision not to invoke privilege and prevent his release to Congress of documents in his possession that he deems to be needed for a critical legislative inquiry,” Judge Patricia Millett wrote in a 68-page opinion for the panel.

    “On the record before us, former President Trump has provided no basis for this court to override President Biden’s judgment and the agreement and accommodations worked out between the Political Branches over these documents.

    “Both Branches agree that there is a unique legislative need for these documents and that they are directly relevant to the Committee’s inquiry into an attack on the Legislative Branch and its constitutional role in the peaceful transfer of power,” the opinion added.

    Trump
    Supporters of then U.S. President Donald Trump gather near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

    The court said the transfer of the records could begin in 14 days, before which Trump is allowed to ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the case.

    Immediately following the ruling, the Trump team vowed to appeal it.

    “Regardless of today’s decision by the appeals court, this case was always destined for the Supreme Court. President Trump’s duty to defend the Constitution and the Office of the Presidency continues, and he will keep fighting for every American and every future Administration,” said Liz Harrington, the former President’s spokesperson.

    Trump in October sued the House committee and the National Archives to stop the Biden administration from allowing the release of his White House’s documents related to the insurrection on Capitol Hill.

    Biden, in his capacity as the incumbent president, had denied Trump of his executive privilege covering the information requested, saying his predecessor’s effort to stonewall the congressional investigation was neither in the best interest of the US nor justified.

    Trump’s suit, however, was quickly tossed out by Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia (DDC). He then appealed the judge’s decision in the D.C. Circuit, which fast tracked the case.

    The National Archives, which is the custodian of the records at issue, said in an October filing in the DDC that the records Trump wanted to keep from lawmakers totalled over 770 pages, including files related to Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff; Stephen Miller, Trump’s former senior adviser; and Patrick Philbin, his former deputy counsel.

    Trump is also objecting to the release of the White House Daily Diary — which details a President’s movements, phone calls, trips, briefings, meetings and activities — as well as logs showing phone calls to Trump and to Vice President Mike Pence concerning events on January 6, according to the filing.

    Trump has also asserted executive privilege over records containing proposed talking points for Kayleigh McEnany, his former press secretary; a handwritten note concerning January 6; a draft text of a presidential speech for the “Save America” rally that preceded the mob attack; and a draft executive order on the topic of election integrity, the filing said.

    Resolute throughout the legal fight, Trump has instructed other key investigatees targeted by the select committee to cite the executive privilege and not cooperate with the probe.

    The former President’s one-time chief strategist, Steve Bannon, did accordingly and, as a result, is now being criminally prosecuted for contempt of Congress.

    Meadows also did what he was told by his former boss and is now facing the same criminal contempt referral from Congress to the Justice Department.

  • Lok Sabha begins discussion on climate change

    Lok Sabha begins discussion on climate change

    Trinamool Congress’ Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that this is an important issue for all human beings…reports Asian Lite News.

    The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up the discussion on climate change under Rule 193.

    Speaker On Birla said this is an important subject for all human beings, and it is a matter of great pride that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated the conservation of the climate on all international forums.

    Initiating the debate, DMK’s Kanimozhi cited the excessive flooding in recent weeks in south India and how Chennai has badly affected again, as she stressed that the government needs to act on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

    BJP’s Sanjay Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Modi has initiated a series of steps in this direction soon after he took over in 2014 and equally voiced his concerns on all international forums. Even in the Glasgow summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had widely praised him a lot for his pro-active role played for climate change, he added.

    However, Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the time has come when we need to think globally but act locally. India has the lowest rate of emission at five percent only compared to other countries of the world, but climate change was “the most under-reported failure of the Modi government”. “The assault on climate began as soon as Modi government took over in 2014,” he added.

    Trinamool Congress’ Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that this is an important issue for all human beings.

    “In India, we cannot put on a mask all the time. Some rich people use air fresheners in their rooms but poor people cannot and they are forced to inhale the polluted air,” she said.

    She also said that one should not plainly blame the farmers for burning the stubble as they have been doing it for ages. “We should teach them alternate ways first.”

    She noted that unplanned development, not in keeping with the sustainable development goals, is causing Climate Change.

    “The area of Sunderban in Bengal is under constant threat as the water level in the Ganga is rising and the sea level is also rising due to the melting ice in Antarctica.

    “We need to certainly think on the issues… We need to reduce the carbon emissions, we need electric vehicles. The frequency of the cyclone has increased substantially in recent times.

    “We need to have renewable energy as Denmark has 100 percent renewable energy. Solar energy could be a substantial replacement but 80 percent of the energy in India comes from fossil fuels,” she said.

    She also suggested that the MPLAD funds can be used for setting up solar panels in rural areas, hospitals and other places and the government should amend the law to allow this.

    Dileswar Kamait of the Janata Dal-United said that unplanned development of the cities, the impact of climate change can be seen in every part of the world but this is more seen in India. For infra projects, around 69 lakhs trees have been cut in recent years, he added.

    BSP member Ritesh Pandey said that we need to be serious about climate change and economic development and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

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