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“Whip”Lash For Akhilesh Yadav On Key Poll Day, Hours After Dinner Surprise

“Whip”Lash For Akhilesh Yadav On Key Poll Day, Hours After Dinner Surprise

by | Feb 27, 2024 | top-stories



Akhilesh Yadav’s party has fielded three candidates for the Rajya Sabha election

Lucknow:

In a major setback to Samajwadi Party ahead of the voting for 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, its chief whip in the Assembly resigned this morning. The resignation of Manoj Kumar Pandey, MLA from Unchahar, came hours after as many as 8 MLAs skipped a dinner hosted by party chief Akhilesh Yadav  – a cause for worry amid the cross-voting buzz in the election to the Upper House.   

Besides hitting the SP’s prospects in this key election, cross-voting will compound the party’s worries months ahead of the general election. The SP will be contesting 63 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the INDIA alliance and a mutiny months before the polls will be a massive blow.   

Earlier, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that the BJP is putting pressure on the party’s MLAs. “This is how they work. They instil fear, threaten people, use agencies or take up any old case and pressure them. All these will not work in this election,” he said yesterday.

This morning, however, he was less confident. “We hope all three candidates of Samajwadi Party win. BJP can use all the tactics to win elections. BJP will do everything possible for victory. Some of our leaders who want personal gains can go to the BJP,” he said.

A total of 56 Rajya Sabha seats became vacant this year. Forty-one candidates were elected unopposed. Of the remaining, 10 are in Uttar Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one in Himachal Pradesh.

For the 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 11 candidates are in the race — 8 from the ruling BJP and 3 from main Opposition Samajwadi Party.

The BJP is confident of the victory of all its candidates, especially after it recently secured the support of the Jayant Chaudhary-led Rastriya Lok Dal. “We have the support of Nishad Party, Suhel Dev Samaj Party, Apna Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Jansatta Dal. I am confident all 8 NDA candidates will win,” state BJP president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary has said.

Earlier, leaders of the BJP had claimed that a section of SP legislators were in touch with them. The Akhilesh Yadav-led party had denied this, but the absence of eight MLAs at last night’s dinner has left the main Opposition worried.

Speaking to news agency ANI, SP legislator Zahid Baig said, “Many people did not come. Maybe they are busy. But if they have taken money (to cross-vote), people will not forgive them.”

The BJP’s eight candidates are former Union Minister RPN Singh, former MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh, general secretary of BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit Amarpal Maurya, former state minister Sangeeta Balwant (Bind), party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, former MLA Sadhna Singh, former Agra mayor Naveen Jain and Sanjay Seth. The SP has fielded actor MP Jaya Bachchan, retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan and Ramji Lal Suman. The BJP has adequate numbers to get seven candidates elected, but its move to field an eighth has forced a contest. And it may succeed if cross-voting happens.

What’s Happening in Karnataka, Himachal

Five candidates are in the contest for four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka. The ruling Congress is confident of winning three seats, and the BJP-JDS combine has the numbers to win at least one. But the Opposition alliance’s naming of a second candidate has made it an exciting contest. Taking no changes, the ruling Congress has shifted its MLAs to a private hotel. State party chief and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has denied any possibility of cross-voting.

In Himachal, only one seat is going to polls. The Congress has a comfortable strength in the Assembly, but the BJP has forced a contest by fielding a candidate.



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Indian-Origin Writer Deported Over “Anti-India” Views; “All Lies,” She Says

Indian-Origin Writer Deported Over “Anti-India” Views; “All Lies,” She Says

by | Feb 26, 2024 | top-stories


New Delhi:

Nitasha Kaul – the Indian-origin British academic deported by the government over the weekend after landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport – has hit back at claims she was refused entry because she is “married to a Pakistani… a pawn of China… a puppet (of the) West…”

Ms Kaul – who government sources claim was deported because of her “anti-India, pro-separatist sentiments – said was not humiliated, and declared, “I am authoritarians fear… a thinking woman”.

“Re: all the lies, I am not married to a Pakistani, not a Muslim convert, not a pawn of China, not a puppet of (the) West, not a commie (Communist), not a jihadi, not a Pak sympathiser, not a terrorist supporter, not anti-India, and not part of a gang,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“My experience was harrowing… but the humiliation is not mine. It is that of a ridiculous, insecure regime. What I have termed ‘moral wound of colonialism’ in my work is very much on display.”

“Selective resurrections of past macro histories are used to manipulate present sentiment,” she said.

“I urge you to think beyond walls of hate against those different from you… and to read and understand what I say and think, before rushing to condemn. It is hard but it is possible.”

Nitasha Kaul, a Professor of Politics, International Relations, and Critical Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Westminster in London, also describes herself as a “Kashmiri novelist”.

According to her website, her focus areas include “right-wing politics, postcolonial neoliberal nationalism, the Hindutva project in India, and the history and politics of Kashmir”.

On Sunday evening Ms Kaul posted a detailed message on X, saying she had been “denied entry to India for speaking on democratic and constitutional values”.

“I was invited to a conference… by Government of Karnataka (a Congress-ruled state) but the centre refused me entry. All my documents (UK passport and Overseas Citizen of India card) were valid…”

“I was given no reason by immigration except, ‘We cannot do anything, orders from Delhi’.”

In a lengthy thread, she said spent nearly 48 hours, including 24 in a holding cell at Bengaluru airport, with “no easy access to food and water” and without a pillow or a blanket

“Officials informally made references to my criticism of RSS, a far-right Hindu nationalist paramilitary (the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is widely seen as the ruling BJP’s ideological mentor) years ago…”

She also said “rightwing Hindutva trolls have for years threatened me with death, rape, ban, etc…” and that those threats had extended to her mother, who lives in the United Kingdom.

Ms Kaul’s ejection is also snowballing into a political controversy after the BJP – the main opposition party in Karnataka – accused the Congress of inviting “a Pak sympathiser who wants India’s break-up”.

Karnataka Minister HC Mahadevappa, whose office invited Ms Kaul to Karnataka, said he had been left “deeply concerned” by the incident and urged the centre to respect the right to “freedom of speech”.

“As we all know, BJP is a party always against the spirit of the Constitution (and) because of their ignorance about our constitutional values, such things are taking place repeatedly. We highly condemn such act of dictatorship towards the values of the Indian Constitution,” he said on X.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.





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India Stops Ravi Water Flow To Pakistan With A Dam In Punjab: Explained

India Stops Ravi Water Flow To Pakistan With A Dam In Punjab: Explained

by | Feb 25, 2024 | top-stories


Shahpur Kandi barrage: In 1982, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid foundation for the project.

Srinagar:

India has stopped the flow of water from the Ravi river into Pakistan by building a dam that was waiting for completion for 45 years. India has exclusive rights to the water of Ravi under the 1960 Indus water treaty signed under the supervision of the World Bank.  

The Shahpur Kandi barrage — located in Punjab’s Pathankot district — was held up by a domestic dispute between Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.  But that led to substantial chunk of water that belongs to India, going to Pakistan all these years.

Under the Indus water treaty, India has full rights over the water of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas, while Pakistan has rights over the water of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

In 1979, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir governments signed an agreement to build Ranjit Sagar Dam and downstream Shahpur Kandi barrage to stop water to Pakistan.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, then chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal.

In 1982, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid foundation for the project, which was expected to be completed by 1998.

While construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam was completed in 2001, Shahpur Kandi barrage couldn’t materialise and water from Ravi river continued flow into Pakistan.

In 2008, Shahpur Kandi project was declared national project but construction work started in 2013.

Ironically, the project was again stalled due to disputes between Punjab and J&K in 2014.

Finally in 2018, the Centre mediated and brokered an agreement between the two states. The work, which started soon after, is finally over.

The water which was going to Pakistan will now be used to irrigate two key districts of Jammu and Kashmir — Kathua and Samba. 1150 cusecs of water will now irrigate 32,000 hectares of land in the Union Territory.

Jammu and Kashmir will also be able to get 20 per cent of the hydel power generated from dam.

The 55.5 meters high Shahpurkandi Dam is part of a multi-purpose river valley project that includes two hydel power projects with a total installed capacity of 206 MW. It is built on river Ravi, 11 km downstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam Project.

Besides Jammu and Kashmir, the waters from the dam will also help Punjab and Rajasthan.



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PM Modi Inaugurates India's Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge In Gujarat

PM Modi Inaugurates India's Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge In Gujarat

by | Feb 25, 2024 | top-stories


The bridge is called ‘Sudarshan Setu’ or Sudarshan Bridge.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated India’s longest cable-stayed bridge in Gujarat’s Dwarka.

The ‘Sudarshan Setu’, connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka island, has been constructed at the cost of Rs 979 crore. PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the 2.3 km-long bridge in October 2017, saying that it will serve as a link between old and new Dwarka.

“The four-lane 27.20 metre wide bridge has 2.50 metre wide footpaths on each side,” an official release said. Sudarshan Setu boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and images of Lord Krishna on both sides. 

The bridge, which was known as ‘Signature Bridge’, has been renamed as ‘Sudarshan Setu’ or Sudarshan Bridge. Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

PM Modi will also offer prayers at Dwarkadhish temple before addressing a large gathering nearby.

The Prime Minister this afternoon will also inaugurate Gujarat’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot.

Besides the Rajkot AIIMS, the prime minister will also virtually inaugurate four other newly-built AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The five super-speciality hospitals, including the one in Rajkot, have been built by the Centre at the cost of Rs 6,300 crore

PM Modi is also expected to take part in a mega roadshow in the city this evening.



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Lt Governor Writes To Arvind Kejriwal, Questions “Stalling Of Budget”

Lt Governor Writes To Arvind Kejriwal, Questions “Stalling Of Budget”

by | Feb 24, 2024 | top-stories


The budget session of the Assembly has been extended till the first week of March.

New Delhi:

Opening another front in his battle with the AAP, the Delhi lieutenant governor has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and questioned the delay in presenting the budget. Hitting out at the government, LG VK Saxena has accused it of “stalling the budget for no apparent reason” and said the people have a right to know how public funds are being used.

Friday’s letter by the LG comes a day after his missive to Mr Kejriwal regarding five Comptroller and Auditor General reports that, he said, have been “pending” with Delhi Finance Minister Atishi since August 2023.

On February 15, the budget session of the Assembly had been extended till the first week of March after Ms Atishi had said in the House that there had been some delays in the finalisation of the financial statement.

In Friday’s letter, Mr Saxena wrote, “I am constrained to bring to your notice that despite the Annual Financial Statement being ready and available with the Government, after due clearance of Government of India, since as long as 19.02.2024, it is yet to reach me for causing it to be laid in the House as per law established.”

Pointing out that the Centre had approved the budget on February 19, three days after the Delhi government had sent it, the LG said, “Thereafter, the process seems to have been stalled for no apparent reason at the level of GNCTD (Government of National Capital territory of Delhi)… it will be in the fitness of things that the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), be laid, discussed and passed in the Assembly at the earliest for the benefit of people of Delhi.”

Doing so, Mr Saxena wrote, will give the people of Delhi an opportunity to know the expenses and revenue of the government and also find out what the public funds, which “belong to the people themselves”, are being utilised for.”

“You are accordingly requested to get the process expedited and utilise the Budget Session for what it was summoned for in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance,” he signed off. 

Pending Reports

In his letter to the chief minister on Thursday, Mr Saxena had requested him to ask the Delhi finance minister to “expeditiously process” five reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) so they could be tabled in the ongoing budget session.

Stating that the reports of the CAG are a constitutionally mandated independent and impartial assessment of the performance of the government, Mr Saxena wrote, “It is an obligation of the government of the day to share with the people, through the House, an objective account of its performance – revenue and expenditure of public funds.” 

(With PTI inputs)



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Assam To Repeal Muslim Marriage Act In Big Push For Uniform Civil Code

Assam To Repeal Muslim Marriage Act In Big Push For Uniform Civil Code

by | Feb 23, 2024 | top-stories


Less than three weeks after Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to pass legislation on a Uniform Civil Code, Assam has taken its first step towards a similar law and decided to repeal the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act. 

Making the announcement on Friday, Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the decision has been taken by the cabinet. Sources said a bill is likely to be tabled in the Assam Assembly, which is scheduled to be in session till February 28.



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