Under this law, full recovery will be made from the rioters for causing damage to private and government property. ..reports Asian Lite News
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government has approved the country’s most stringent law (ordinance) to provide compensation for the entire loss caused during riots.
“The Cabinet has approved the formation of a special tribunal during the Cabinet meeting today with the aim of strictly curbing the cases of riots and unrest, Dhami said.
He said that the “damage caused to public property during the riots would be compensated by the rioters themselves”.
The Chief Minister said, “Those who disturb the peace of the state will have to pay a heavy price and will set an example that will be remembered for years by the generations of rioters who tarnished the sacred land of Devbhoomi”.
After implementing the country’s strictest anti-copying law and passing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s cabinet passed the Uttarakhand Public (Government) and Recovery of Damage to Private Property (Ordinance) Act 2024 on Monday to stop riots and deal with rioters.
Under this law, full recovery will be made from the rioters for causing damage to private and government property. Apart from this, a huge fine of up to Rs 8 lakh and expenses incurred on government staff and other work in riot control will also be compensated. The Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet on Monday approved this law and sent it to the Governor for approval.
With this law, those who cause damage to private and public property during disturbances like riots, strikes, bandhs in the state will be dealt with strictly. In addition to compensation for the loss of government and private property, if someone’s body is mutilated during the riot, the entire cost of treatment will be recovered from the rioter.
Apart from this, the entire expenses incurred during the riots by the police, administration or other agencies for riot control will also be recovered. The government has also decided to impose a fine of up to Rs 8 lakh on the rioters under this law along with other punishment and action.
The government has also approved setting up a formal Claims Tribunal so that strict action can be taken against the rioters through the tribunal. If the government registers a case against the rioters, action will be taken under the Uttarakhand Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance 2024.
The government has also duly approved the Claims Tribunal. Under this tribunal, the recovery will be made from the rioters and their family members as well as their property. An Additional District Magistrate (ADM) category officer has been given the responsibility of Claims Commissioner. The Claims Tribunal also includes members other than the retired judge.
After approving this law in the cabinet, the government has sent it to the Governor for approval. Since the State Legislature is not currently in session, the Governor has the authority to implement this law in the state by using the powers conferred by Clause 1 of Article 213 of the Constitution of India.
After the approval of the Governor, the “Uttarakhand Public and Private Property Recovery Ordinance 2024” will be implemented in the state.
Earlier on Sunday, Dhami distributed appointment letters to eight Assistant Accountants and 342 Gram Panchayat Development Officers of the Panchayati Raj department in the appointment letter distribution ceremony organised by the Panchayati Raj department at the Chief Sevak Sadan located at the Chief Minister’s residence.
While Assistant Accountants have been selected through the Public Service Commission, Gram Panchayat Development Officers have been selected through the Subordinate Services Selection Commission. (ANI)
The police have registered a case on behalf of the complaint given by Upendra Singh Rawat in this regard….reports Asian Lite News
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate Upendra Singh Rawat on Monday announced that he will not contest any elections until proven innocent in a case where an alleged ‘obscene’ video involving him went viral on social media platforms.
Upendra Singh Rawat, who is currently representing Barabanki in the Lok Sabha, was again fielded by the BJP to contest from the same constituency in the upcoming General elections.
In a post on X, Upendra Singh Rawat said, “An edited video of mine is being made viral, which is generated by DeepFake AI technology, for which I have lodged an FIR. In this regard, I have requested the party’s national president to get it investigated. I will not contest any election in public life until I am proven innocent.”
The police have registered a case on behalf of the complaint given by Upendra Singh Rawat in this regard.
Earlier, a popular Bhojpuri singer, Pawan Singh, withdrew from the race for the Lok Sabha. BJP had fielded him from Asansol seat.
Taking to his official handle on X, the singer confirmed that he was pulling out of the contest however he did not specifically mentioned any reason.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party. The party trusted me and declared me as the candidate from West Bengal’s Asansol but due to some reason, I will not be able to contest the elections from Asansol,” Singh posted from his X handle on Sunday.
Setting the pace ahead of its rivals, the BJP, on March 2, released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.The list included 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) faces, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class nominees.
Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
“Gathering sympathy for votes”: Congress leader jibes over BJP’s ‘Modi Ka Parivaar’ move…reports Asian Lite News
Reacting to BJP’s move against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘no family’ remark against PM Modi, Madhya Pradesh Congress leader and son of Digvijaya Singh, Jaivardhan Singh on Monday said that the BJP is trying to gather sympathy for votes adding that everyone knows about the Prime Minister’s family.
In a united move against Lalu Yadav’s ‘no family’ remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top BJP leaders including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, Jyotiraditya Scindia and others added ‘Modi ka Parivaar’ to their social media biodatas.
“BJP doesn’t have the report card for the last 10 years and so they are gathering sympathy for votes. We all know about PM Modi’s family. The videos of her late mother and brother used to come earlier,” he said.
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Jaivardhan Singh said, “The issues for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are of development. The price of petrol and diesel has doubled in this government”.
Lalu Yadav, while addressing the party’s ‘Jan Vishwas Maha Rally’ in Patna on Sunday, said that PM Modi just spreads hatred in the name of religion.
“These days he is talking about dynastic politics. You (PM Modi) don’t have a family. You are not even a Hindu. When your mother died, every Hindu, as per tradition, shaved his beard and head. Why did you not shave? You only spread hatred in society,” RJD Chief Lalu Yadav said.
Reacting to Lalu Prasad’s statement, in an address in Telangana’s Adilabad, PM Modi said, “The leaders of the INDI alliance, deeply engrossed in corruption, nepotism and appeasement, are becoming nervous. When I question their ‘Parivarvad’, they have started saying that Modi has no family.”
“My life is an open book, 140 crore people in the country are my family. Today, crores of daughters, mothers and sisters of the country are in Modi’s family. Every poor person in the country is my family. Those who have no one also belong to Modi and Modi belongs to them. They say ‘Nene Modi Kutumbam’ (I’m Modi family),” he added.
Union Minister Nityanand Rai said that 140 crore people in the country are family of PM Modi adding that comments made by the RJD supremo are highly objectionable and point towards his frustration as he has lost the mandate of the public in Bihar.
Speaking to ANI, Rai said,” Modi Parivar means the family of 140 crore people in the country. 140 crore people in the country are family of PM Modi. Lalu Yadav does not care for the people of the state, like his family. What can such people do whose grounds are based on corruption and family dynasty? Such personal remarks are highly objectionable. He has lost control after losing people’s mandate in the state. The country is watching everything.”
Previously, in 2019, following the Prime Minister’s “Chowkidar” slogan, BJP leaders, as well as members of the general public, had appended “Main Bhi Chowkidar” to their names.
Jairam Ramesh takes a jibe
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘My country is my family,’ remarks and said that escalating concerns over inflation, unemployment, and social polarization in last 10 years have been ‘anyaay kaal’ for his own family.
“Even our priority is the people of our country. We are raising their voice against inflation, unemployment, economic instabilities, and polarisation. If 140 crore Indians are his family, why has he broken their trust, why has he done injustice to them?. The last 10 years have been ‘anyaay kaal’ for his own family. He is a democratically elected person, but his personality and his way of working is absolutely unjust,” Jairam Ramesh told ANI on Tuesday.
“He sits there just for marketing, and rebranding, and is a self-proclaimed Vishwaguru. We respect the post of the Prime Minister but if a person demands respect, he needs to behave respectably,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the country’s “140 crore people” were his family and he was working day and night for their development.
“I have left home not for myself but for the country. My family is this country, 140 crore countrymen. Jiska koi nahi wo bhi Modi Ke hai aur Modi unka hai. Mere Bharat mera Parivaar and that’s why the entire country is saying today, “Main Hoon Modi ka a Parivaar…” he said. (ANI)
New Delhi, Feb 09 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal speaks in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)
The BJP released the names of 15 candidates from Rajasthan in its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections…reports Asian Lite News
The Bhartiya Janata party has once again nominated Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal for the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat, marking the fourth consecutive term.
The announcement was met with great enthusiasm as party supporters welcomed Meghwal upon his arrival in Bikaner, chanting slogans of “Fir ek baar Modi sarkar, ab ki baar 400 paar”.
In 2009, Meghwal was first elected as a Member of Parliament representing the BJP from Bikaner constituency. In the 2019, Lok Sabha elections, Arjun Ram Meghwal won the Bikaner seat by defeating his cousin and Congress leader Madan Gopal Meghwal.
Expressing gratitude, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal acknowledged the trust bestowed upon him by the BJP for the fourth time.
Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, “I would like to thank national and state leadership along with them I also want to thank the party workers for showing faith in me. Work has been done in many sectors like railway, roads and air connectivity to develop Bikaner but a few things are yet to be done. BJP is an organisation and cadre-based party, the party workers will support those candidates whom the party chooses and as we say, ‘Fir ek baar Modi sarkar, ab ki baar 400 paar’.”
The BJP released the names of 15 candidates from Rajasthan in its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections.
Among which, are Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, four Union ministers and a Paralympian.
Rajasthan has 25 parliamentary constituencies.
The BJP gave tickets to Mahendrajit Malviya and Jyoti Mirdha, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP. The party also gave tickets once again to former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s son and sitting MP Dushyant Singh from the Jhalawar Baran.
The first list of candidates includes 34 ministers from both the Union and state levels. The announced names included those for 51 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 20 in West Bengal and five in Delhi. (ANI)
BJP announces spokespersons, media panellists
In line with the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajasthan unit chief CP Joshi on Sunday announced new spokesperson and media panellist members in the state.
The list was released late at night on Sunday on the instructions of Rajasthan BJP President CP Joshi. The list included 23 new state spokespersons in Rajasthan BJP and 14 state media panellists. Senior leader Mukesh Pareek has been made state office in-charge.
The list of spokesperson of BJP in Rajasthan included Kuldeep Dhankad from Jaipur, Laxmikant Bhardwaj from Sikar, Ashok Saini from Hanumangarh, Pooja Kapil Mishra from Alwar, Madhoram Chaudhary from Nagaur, Himanshu Sharma from Ajmer.
State Panellists included Chetan Prakash from Bikaner, Hitendra Sharma from Kota, Vikas Barhat from Jaipur, Rajesh Chaudhary from Nagaur, and Atal Khandelwal from Sikar.
Earlier on Friday, Rajasthan unit president CP Joshi announced the formation of a new state team, bringing about significant changes.
Late on Friday night, the list of new state officials of the party was released. It includes 10 state vice presidents, 5 state secretaries, 13 state ministers, one treasurer, and one assistant treasurer.
The exclusion of some prominent leaders and the elevation of others by the BJP in Rajasthan suggest a calculated effort to bring in fresh perspectives and dynamics within the party ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha State President also announced a fresh list of office bearers. Seven state vice presidents were inducted into the new team, including Ramakrishna Verma, Omprakash Jediya, Shailendra Chauhan, BL Naval, Lalit Lakhwal, Bhajanlal Rolan and Anju Jatav were added.
Three general ministers including Mukesh Garg, Lalaram Berwa and Mukesh Kirad, while seven State Ministers including Sitaram Lugaria, Mukesh Sindal, Sube Singh Marodia, Dinesh Verma, Motandas Nayak, Madan Gopal Jhanjhot and Prakash Meghwal are part of the panel. (ANI)
The farmer leader said that the groups of farmes will remain at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders till the government opens the roads to Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that Centre has “left no stone unturned” to “break” the back of the farmers who are protesting to press for their demands including a MSP on their crops.
Alleging that Modi government was “anti-farmer” and treating farmers like “enemies”, for demanding their rights, the Congress chief said that the gurantee of MSP and double income “turn out to be fake”.
Kharge claimed in a series of tweets in Hindi, “To benefit its select capitalist friends, the Modi government has consistently sacrificed the interests of farmers. When the farmer who provides food to the country wants to produce a bumper crop and export it. Then Modi government bans the export of wheat, rice, sugar, onion, pulses etc.”
His post said that BJP has done the same throughout its tenure and added that the result of this is that agricultural exports which increased by 153 percent during Congress-UPA rule increased only by 64 per cent during BJP rule.
“Not only did the Modi government’s guarantee of MSP and double income turn out to be fake, the anti-farmer BJP left no stone unturned to break the backs of our 62 crore farmers,” he alleged.
“Now when farmers are demanding their rights, So Modi government is treating them like enemies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said on Monday that the decision to March towards Delhi has not changed.
The farmer leader said that the groups of farmes will remain at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders till the government opens the roads to Delhi.
“The farmers from Punjab and Haryana will remain here (Khanauri and Shambhu border), we will not move forward without our tractors and trolleys. We have not changed our decision to march towards Delhi, we will wait until the government reopens the roads,” Pandher said while speaking to ANI on Monday.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) national body has given a call for the Mahapanchayat in Delhi on March 14 to highlight issues of a legal guarantee of MSP, against the electricity amendment bill, freedom from debt, old age pension, rolling back of labour codes, and other pending issues. (ANI)
‘Scindia will lose 2024 in same way he did in 2019’
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh has taken a potshot at Jyotiraditya Scindia stating that the Union Minister will lose the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the same way he lost the 2019 general elections.
The Congress leader made the remark while speaking to ANI in Guna district on Monday, when he arrived in the state with the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
On being asked if a Congress candidate will be able to defeat Scindia from Guna constituency, Ramesh said, “The way Jyotiraditya Scindia lost elections in 2019, he will lose the same way in 2024 as well.”
Notably, the BJP on Saturday, released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls fielding Union Minister Scindia from Guna constituency.
Scindia had switched from the Congress to join the BJP in 2020.
Meanwhile, speaking about RJD’s Jan Vishwas Maha Rally in Patna on Sunday, Jairam Ramesh said that it was an important rally. Patna is the centre of politics and political earthquakes start from there.
Gwalior, Nov 17 (ANI): Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, in Gwalior on Friday. (ANI Photo)
“Main faces of the INDIA alliance were there and it (Jan Vishwas Maharally) had only one message that the INDIA alliance meant justice for the farmer and youth, freedom from unemployment, from economic disparities and freedom from social polarisation. It was an important rally. Patna is the centre of politics. ‘Rajnitik Bhookamp sab Patna se hi shuru hote hai (political earthquakes start from there). Kabhi kabhi palti bhi ho jata hai waha, waha palti ke bhi ustaad hai’ (referring to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar switching sides to BJP from RJD),” Jairam Ramesh said. (ANI)
This is the former South Carolina Governor’s first victory over the former president in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate…reports Asian Lite News
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has defeated former US President Donald Trump in Washington DC in the Republican primary on Monday.
Haley garnered 1,274 votes to former President Trump’s 676 with all precincts reporting. This is her first victory over the former president in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate.
With this, Haley has created history by becoming the first woman ever to win a Republican presidential primary. She is also the first Indian-American to have won either the Democratic or the Republican primaries. The three other previous Indian American presidential aspirants – Bobby Jindal in 2016, Kamala Harris in 2020 and Vivek Ramaswamy in 2024 – had failed to win even one primary.
Haley, the former US envoy to the UN, lost in South Carolina, her home state. But she is the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history.
The contest took place in a downtown hotel just steps away from the heart of Washington DC’s lobbying hub over the weekend. According to Republican party officials, Haley carried nearly 63 per cent of the vote.
Nikki Haley’s win in Washington, DC Republican primary came after Trump defeated her in caucuses in Missouri and Idaho and at a Republican convention in Michigan on Saturday. Trump is moving towards the GOP nomination and is favoured to secure win in primaries across 16 Super Tuesday states this week.
The GOP electorate in DC, where Republicans constitute just 5 per cent of registered voters is hardly representative of the conservative base found in majority of the other parts of the US.
Patrick Mara, chair of the DC Republican Party, said, “This universe is a little more sophisticated than just about any universe in any other state.” He further said, “I listen to the political podcasts in the morning. I read the newsletters throughout the day. That’s probably, like, half the people showing up at this.”
Dan Schuberth, who runs a trade association in downtown DC and backed Haley in the primary called his fellow DC Republicans as “a pretty unique electorate,” perhaps the only in the nation where many several voters personally know the people working on one or both of the campaigns.
Voting for the Washington, DC Republican primary took place at the Madison Hotel over three days. On Friday, Haley held a campaign rally there. Trump’s prospects to win the DC GOP primary were not high as he was at third spot behind Marco Rubio and John Kasich during the contest in 2016.
This year, Trump’s campaign warned lobbyists DC lobbyists that they will be blacklisted from any future Trump White House access if they did not cast vote in the weekend’s primary.
During her campaign in Massachusetts on Saturday, Haley criticised Trump for the move. She said, “You can’t threaten people. You can’t push them out, because that is not a winning combination.”
Despite her win in the primary on Sunday, Haley has not hinted that she plans to continue her campaign after the contests on Tuesday.
Speaking to a roundtable of DC political reporters on Friday, Haley maintained that she was only “thinking about Super Tuesday,” and not what she plans to do beyond that. She is scheduled to hold a campaign in Texas on Monday. However, she has no public events or election gathering scheduled for Tuesday.
Trump still has an early lead in delegates attained that will likely grow significantly on Tuesday with the additional states voting. Candidates need at least 1,215 delegates to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination.
All eyes now lie on 16 states that will cast ballots on March 5 which is Super Tuesday. These states are – Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa (caucus), Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Furthermore, American Samoa is also scheduled to hold a nominating contest on March 5.
The Democratic primary in DC will take place in June.
In the 2020 election against Trump, then candidate Joe Biden won 92 percent of the votes in Washington. The city has never produced a majority vote for a Republican presidential candidate.
The Haley campaign put out a statement saying “It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos.”
Trump’s campaign in turn released what it called a “statement on Nikki Haley Being Crowned Queen of The Swamp.” “Tonight’s results in Washington DC reaffirm the object of President Trump’s campaign — he will drain the swamp and put America first,” the statement said.
The Super Tuesday milestone is expected to leave Trump a hair’s breadth from securing the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. He has already swept all the early state primaries.
Super Tuesday is seen as the last real chance for Haley to upend the former president’s march towards becoming the party’s flagbearer once again, against Biden.
The Congress chief further appealed to the public to help the INDIA bloc fight in its quest to “save democracy”…reports Asian Lite News
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “Jhooton Ka Sardar”, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that the PM has become a master at spreading lies and no one in the country has benefited from the Centre’s policies in the last 10 years.
“PM Modi is destroying the country. Did Modi give 2 crore jobs? He also promised to bring black money from other countries. He also promised the construction of pucca houses by 2022. He also promised to double the farmer’s income. Did Modi fulfil all this? These all are lies which means Modiji is Jhooton ka sardar (king of lies). No one has benefited from his schemes in the last 10 years,” Kharge said while addressing the public at RJD’s ‘Jan Vishwas Maha Rally’.
The Congress chief further appealed to the public to help the INDIA bloc fight in its quest to “save democracy”.
“Tejashwi Yadav fulfilled his promises of giving jobs during his tenure. INDIA bloc fulfils its promises. Help us in our fight against the BJP. Your duty is to save democracy and its constitution,” he said.
Stating that through central agencies, the BJP is trying to instill fear in the minds of opposition parties, Kharge said that Congress and like-minded parties will not bow down before them. He also urged the RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav not to take Nitish Kumar back ever again.
“Today, the INDIA Alliance is facing the BJP on the battleground. Through agencies, the BJP is trying to instill fear in us. This is not possible, as we are not here to bow down before them. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, ‘main thode din ke liye bahar gaya tha, main phir wapas aaya hoon’.Those who are not strong ideologically, cannot fight and you (Tejashwi Yadav) should not take him into the party if he returns again,” he said.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday took a dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said that the Bihar government should get its insurance done as it runs the risk of JD-U supremo taking repeated U-turns.
Addressing the ‘Jan Vishwas Rally’ at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Tejashwi said that they (BJP) say ‘Modi ki Guarantee’, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar?”They call us nepotism but they have Samrat Choudhary, brother of Ram Vilas Paswan, Manjhi ji’s son has been made minister, it doesn’t look like any nepotism to them.”
“Due to the U-turn taken by Nitish Kumar, it seems that the state government should get its insurance done. They say Modi ki Guarantee, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar,” he said a day after PM Modi accused Congress-RJD of nepotism,” he added. (ANI)
‘India’s unemployment rate double that of Pak’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that the unemployment rate in India was double that of Pakistan, adding that this situation has been brought about by the poor financial policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which have resulted in the “destruction of small and medium enterprises in the country”.
Rahul Gandhi also said that India is even performing worse than Bhutan and Bangladesh on the economic and employment fronts.
Addressing the public in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said, “The country is facing injustice on many fronts. There is economic and social injustice. Farmers are facing injustice. Our country is facing the worst unemployment rate in the last 40 years. India’s unemployment rate is double that of Pakistan. 23 per cent of youth were unemployed in India and 12 per cent in Pakistan. Our unemployment rate is higher than in Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.”
“Our small and medium enterprises in the country have been destroyed due to due to PM Modi implementation of GST and demonetisation,” he added.
A World Bank report released in 2022 points out that the youth unemployment rate in India was at 23.22 per cent, which was higher than its neighbours Pakistan (11.3 per cent) and Bangladesh (12.9 per cent).
Slamming the BJP-led Centre for not taking immediate steps to carry out a caste census in the country, Rahul Gandhi said that ownership of businesses in many prominent sectors is not in the hands of backward classes and the government does not want this fact to come into the public domain.
“Caste census is the X-ray of India. No one should have a problem with it. They (BJP) don’t want the country to know the truth. In the private sector, look at the owners of hospitals and colleges. These owners will not be coming from backward classes. Look at the MGNREGA list and labourers’ data, there you will find adequate representation from backward classes,” he said. (ANI)
The organisation stated that the so-called development endeavours have “destroyed” the lives of local people and starkly exemplify the outcome of the state’s “Baloch Genocidal Policies.”…reports Asian Lite News
The multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stood ‘exposed’ as the relief aid could not reach the flood-affected people in Gwadar despite tall claims made for the project.
Baloch rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee in a social media post on X stated that while Gwadar is portrayed as a “beacon” of development and prosperity, it has instead become a symbol of “exploitation, despair, and suffering.”
“Today, BYC stands amidst the port city of #Gwadar, a central node in the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (#CPEC). While #Gwadar is portrayed as a beacon of development and prosperity, the stark reality is far grimmer. It has become a symbol of exploitation, despair, and suffering for its residents.
Furthermore, the organisation stated that the so-called development endeavours have “destroyed” the lives of local people and starkly exemplify the outcome of the state’s “Baloch Genocidal Policies.”
“For a decade now, purported developmental initiatives have unfolded here, yet the local populace continues to grapple with dire challenges. These apparent development endeavours have destroyed the lives of #Gwadar’s inhabitants. The recent devastating floods starkly exemplify the outcome of the state’s #BalochGenocidalPolicies, with these mega-projects serving as the principal catalysts exacerbating the flood,” it added.
In a video message shared along with the social media post, prominent Baloch leader Maharan Baloch said that billions worth of infrastructure is the reason for people’s sufferings.
“This is the so-called developed city of Pakistan, where the general public is harassed in the name of so-called development. This infrastructure which cost billions, is now the reason, for people’s suffering in floods. And because of these mega projects, we today witness major climate changes due to which the lives of people who have lived on this land for hundreds of years are now in danger,” Baloch said.
She further said that thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihoods and are suffering due to a shortage of food, clothes or any other necessary items.
“Instead of repairing what has been damaged already, they are exposing us to even more danger. We saw a lot of houses that were still submerged in water. If you look at the city, you may see the people helping each other willingly, but you will not see any of the authorities trying to help,” Baloch said.
She urged people to help the flood victims while slamming the authorities for not assisting them.
“We urge the people to support and help us as the people today here are living a shelter-less life. We ask people to reach out here and volunteer to help the ones in need. Additionally, we invite all the doctors and nurses of Balochistan to help us with treatment and help of these people,” Baloch said.
She added, “How long will you take to help us, the entire city has drowned and the people are now homeless. Is this the multibillion-dollar project that you had developed? No this city is destroyed because of your huge projects. You are the ones who have brought the people to live on roads, again.” (ANI)
The newly elected National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday issued the notification to summon the parliament session on March 9 at 10 am…reports Asian Lite News
After Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif was picked as the PM-designate, the joint session of the National Assembly was called on March 9 to elect the next president of the country, The Express Tribune reported on Sunday.
The newly elected National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday issued the notification to summon the parliament session on March 9 at 10 am, according to the report.
Earlier, former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, a joint candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as well as Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chief Mahmood Achakzai, filed their nomination papers for the top post, The News International reported.
The two leaders submitted their nomination papers to the Islamabad High Court. Zardari submitted two nomination papers–one from Islamabad and the second from Karachi, according to the daily.
Pakistan Senator Farooq H Naek submitted his nomination papers to the Islamabad High Court, with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as proposer for his father’s bid to run for President, while Senator Farooq H Naek filed his nomination as the seconder.
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq received all the nomination papers, according to the daily.
In Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Members of Pakistan National Assembly – Faryal Talpur, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nasir Hussain Shah, Sharjeel Inaam Memon and others, submitted their nomination papers as proposers and seconders to Zardari’s Presidential nomination to Sindh High Court Chief Justice Aqeel Abbassim, who is also the presiding officer for the presidential election.
Murad Ali Shah proposed and Nasir Hussain Shah seconded Zardari’s nomination papers.
Sunni Ittehad Council legislator Latif Khosa submitted the nomination papers of Mehmood Khan Achakzaito the Islamabad High Court. SIC legislators Omar Ayub Khan, Ali Muhammad Khan and others accompanied Khosa while submitting the nomination papers, The News International report.
Three Pakistani citizens – Asghar Ali Mubarak, Abdul Qadoos and Waheed Ahmed Kamal submitted nomination papers for president’s position as independent candidates. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be conducted on Monday.
Notably, the electoral college comprising members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies elect Pakistan’s President. The voting for the presidential election is held through a secret ballot, The News International reported.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Aimal Wali Khan held a meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari at the Zardari House on Saturday.
After the meeting, the PPP in a statement said that ANP has announced support for Zardari in the presidential elections. (ANI)
Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya said INDIA alliance is a necessity for the country….reports Asian Lite News
Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya on Sunday announced his unconditional support for the INDIA alliance ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He emphasised that whether his party gets participation in the INDIA Alliance or not, the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party will support the INDIA Alliance. This is because the INDIA alliance is a necessity for the country.
“I had decided to support the INDIA alliance on the day of the formation of the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party itself. I decided that in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, to save the country, to save democracy, to save the constitution, and to curb the rising inflation in the country, to provide employment to the youth, deliver justice to the farmers, free the traders from exploitation, and to demand a caste census, the INDIA alliance is the need of the country. Therefore, Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party will support the INDIA Alliance unconditionally. Whether we get participation in the INDIA Alliance or not, we will support the INDIA Alliance. Because the INDIA alliance is a necessity for the country,” he said.
Maurya also clarified that there is no question of joining the Samajwadi Party.
“I have stated before, I bear no ill will towards Akhilesh Yadav. Our differences were purely ideological. That’s why I engaged in a dialogue with him on February 12. I penned a letter to him on February 13, waited for a week, but received no reply. On February 18, I declared my intention to form my own party. On February 22, I founded my party at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium. So, there’s no turning back. I had no previous animosity or hostility towards Akhilesh Yadav, and I respected him then, I respect him now, and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
“If I am asked to campaign for the candidate of the India Alliance, I will do it,” he added.
Setting the pace ahead of its rivals, the BJP, on Saturday, released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The list included 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) faces, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class nominees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term in the Lower House from Varanasi while Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh.
Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list.
Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest Porbandar.
BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi while late BJP stalwart and former Union Minister, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, will contest from New Delhi.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will seek a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow while his colleague in the central cabinet, Smriti Irani, will again contest Amethi.
Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress’s Ajay Rai.
The BJP-led National Democratic Party (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
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Atishi Tears into BJP for Ticket to Bansuri Swaraj
Day after the BJP named her as its candidate for the prized New Delhi Lok Sabha seat, AAP leader and minister Atishi on Sunday launched a fierce attack on Bansuri Swaraj, saying she should tender an apology to the country for her ‘wrongdoings’.
In an unsparing takedown of the BJP leader, who draws her political lineage from her mother, late BJP stalwart and former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, Atishi said Bansuri, who is also a practising lawyer, represented disgraced cricket administrator and former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner, Lalit Modi, who is accused of financial irregularities in the country.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital on Sunday, the AAP leader said, “The BJP replaced (Union Minister) Meenakashi Lekhi (from New Delhi) with someone who is known to have argued in court for anti-nationals. Bansuri Swaraj, who is also a lawyer, fought in court for Lalit Modi, who is absconding and is alleged to have fled the country with crores. She represented Lalit Modi in this case, right from the lower court to the Supreme Court. Who defended Lalit Modi in the high court and Supreme Court and who did the latter thank in a social media post for fighting his case?”
She claimed further that Bansuri also represented the BJP government in Manipur in a case involving two tribal women, who were purportedly shown as being paraded in the nude in a viral video last year.
“When (ethnic) violence erupted in Manipur and a video went viral showing two girls being paraded naked, she represented the BJP government in the Supreme Court. How will she seek votes from women in the New Delhi constituency? She (Bansuri) should first apologise to the people of the country for her wrongdoings,” the Delhi Minister said.
Questioning the sitting BJP MPs from the national capital, she claimed they were hardly seen in their constituencies.
Invoking the passage of a draft legislation in Parliament last year outlining and reinforcing the discretionary powers of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), Atishi said, “What were the sitting BJP MPs doing when Delhi was stripped of its rights? None of their lawmakers, including (cricketer-turned-politician) Gautam Gambhir (who quit politics after being dropped from the BJP’s list of candidates) did anything for the people they represent over the last 5 years. They were happy sitting on the Centre’s lap, leaving the people of their constituencies to fend for themselves.”
Earlier, on Saturday, the BJP named candidates for 195 Lok Sabha seats across 16 states and Union Territories (UTs).
It announced candidates for 5 of the 7 Lok Sabha seats in the national capital, dropping four sitting MPs including Meenakashi Lekhi.
The BJP currently holds all seven Delhi Lok Sabha seats.
The party, however, fielded Bhojpuri superstar and current party MP Manoj Tiwari again from North-East Delhi, Kamaljeet Sehrawat from West Delhi, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi and Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk.
Of the five named candidates, only Manoj Tiwari has managed to get a renomination.
Reacting to the BJP’s first list of candidates for the Capital ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Atishi said the ruling party at the Centre brings puts people on the ticket, who neither visit their constituencies not work for the people.
Taking a swipe at the ruling party at the Centre for not repeating candidates in four seats, the AAP leader said, “It has been a pattern with the BJP to give tickets to people who don’t work. Once they complete their tenure, the party would axe them on grounds of non-performance while absolving itself of blame. They bring in new people, who fall into the old pattern.”
Earlier, the AAP and the Congress announced a seat-sharing deal for the national capital, after weeks of haggling and hard-balling from both sides.
As part of the agreement reached between the ruling party in Delhi and the grand old party, Congress will contest 3 of the 7 Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while the AAP will field candidates in the remaining 4 constituencies.
The AAP has since announced Somnath Bharti as its candidate from New Delhi, Sahi Ram Pehalwan from South Delhi and Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi. (ANI)
