Archives for June 2022

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday said he will “step aside” from the TMC to work for the larger national cause of Opposition unity, amid indications that he is being considered as the Opposition’s joint candidate for the presidential elections.javascript:false

“I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step,” Sinha said in a tweet.

Opposition parties are set to meet in Delhi on Tuesday to decide on their joint candidate for the presidential polls scheduled on July 18.

A big political storm awaits in Maharashtra after the MLC elections results. Senior Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde is in touch with senior BJP leaders and he is likely to break a major chunk of Sena MLAs with him to topple the Uddhav Thackeray government. javascript:false

Shinde and his loyals, 20 to 25 Shiv Sena MLAs, are camped at Hotel Le Meridian in Surat in Gujarat. He was very close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The Gujarat police have deployed heavy security around the hotel. However, the number has not yet been confirmed

Shinde is likely to address a press conference to clear his stand. In MLC elections, BJP secured 134 votes while Maha Vikas Aghadi got 151 votes.

After the MLC elections, Thackeray along with his few key leaders called for a meeting at Varsha bungalow on Monday late night, where he was very upset with Shinde for not keeping its flock together and for not securing the votes of smaller parties and independent MLAs in the election. Thackeray told Shinde that the party had given him free hand in the government but he still failed to manage the requisite numbers in Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

In the Maharashtra state legislative council, both Shiv Sena candidates Sachin Ahir and Ameshya Padvi won the elections but these candidates failed to get all the votes of the Shiv Sena and smaller parties and independent MLAs. In this election, 12 Shiv Sena MLAs and supported MLAs cross-voted to BJP. While the Congress party’s three MLAs also cross-voted. 

Sources said after the meeting with the Chief Minister, Shinde left directly to Surat with his supporting MLAs. “Shinde has been in touch with senior BJP leader. Gujarat BJP president CR Patil has been playing a major role to bring Shinde closer to BJP. Shinde loyalists MLAs are from Marathwada. He was not happy with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. His loyalties were not filled in the Rajya Sabha elections and MLC elections. Besides, Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray was getting prominence despite being junior in government and party. That widened the gap between Thackeray and Shinde,” said a source requesting anonymity.

Shinde was the person who wanted to tie up with the BJP in 2019 and form a government. Shinde also had a good relationship with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

Nilam Gore, senior Shiv Sena leader said that Shinde is a very senior and loyal Shiv Sainik, he will not take a different step. She said the media should not spread rumours about Eknath Shinde. 

MUMBAI: Major set back to Maha Vikas Aghadi in the biennial elections of the Maharashtra state legislative council on Monday.javascript:false

The BJP won all five seats while Maha Vikas Aghadi won the five seats and lost one against the BJP in this election in Maharashtra.

In this MLC election, the BJP secured 134 first preference votes against 123 votes in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. This is inch closure to house majority of 145 votes in Maharashtra state assembly. The election result also shows that there is a massive shift in the votes of Maha Vikas Aghadi to the BJP. The 20 votes of Maha Vikas Aghadi cross-voted to the BJP in MLC elections that includes three votes of the Congress, three Shiv Sena MLAs, a smaller and independent MLAs that were earlier part of Maha Vikas Aghadi.

“This is a big victory for the BJP,” said the leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis.

In this election, BJP’s five candidates including Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Uma Khapre, Shrikant Bhartiya and Prasad Lad won the MLC elections while NCPs two candidates Eknath Khadse and Ramraje Nimbalkar won. Congress candidate Bhai Jagtap won the elections in the third round on third preference votes but another Congress candidate Chandrakant Handore lost it against Bhai Jagtap in the third round. BJP’s candidate Prasad Lad won in the second round of counting late Monday night.

Interestingly, the Congress party’s three votes were cross-voted in this election. Out of a total of 44 votes, both Congress candidates for 41 votes as first preference. These votes include 22 votes for Chandrakant Handore and 20 votes for Bhai Jagtap. NCP had 51 total votes but secured 57 in MLC elections. It’s one vote that got disqualified during counting due to overwriting the reference numbers. Shiv Sena supported four votes and was also cross-voted in this election. Shiv Sena had 56 MLAs plus the support of six independent MLAs, despite its candidate Sachin Ahir and Ameshya Padvi getting 26 each vote only. 

Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the results are very shocking for them. He said that they will not blame Maha Vikas Aghadi for the loss of its candidate Chandrakant Handore. He said it was Congress’s responsibility only to keep all MLAs together and get their votes. “If we could not get all 44 votes, then there is no point in blaming others. But as Maha Vikas Aghadi, we also need to think why we lost the one seat in Rajya Sabha elections and one seat MLC elections also,” Thorat said.

After unexpected results, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray asked all MLAs not to leave Mumbai and called an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the MLC elections result. 

Earlier in the day, the counting was delayed twice — once by Congress demanding disqualification of two BJP MLAs votes Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap for taking help to cast the votes and dropping the ballot paper in the ballot drop box. Congress alleged violations of the elections code of conduct.

After the voting, in the scrutiny process, BJP leader Ashish Shelar demanded disqualification of one NCP vote citing overwriting of preference numbers. NCP also demanded disqualification of BJP’s one vote for the same reasons. Later returning officer disqualified both the votes.

NEW DELHI: India’s COVID-19 tally climbed to 4,33,19,396 on Tuesday with 9,923 fresh cases, while the number of active cases increased to 79,313, according to Union health ministry data.javascript:false

The death toll climbed to 5,24,890 with 17 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.18 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 2,613 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.55 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.67 per cent, the ministry said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,15,193, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.21 per cent, it said.

So far, 196.32 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the country under the nationwide inoculation drive, according to the ministry.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the 1-crore mark on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore on May 4, 3 crore on June 23 and 4 crore on January 25 this year.

The 17 new fatalities include six from Delhi, five from Kerala, two from Maharashtra, and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Of the total 5,24,890 deaths reported so far in the country, 1,47,888 were from Maharashtra, 69,889 from Kerala, 40,113 from Karnataka, 38,026 from Tamil Nadu, 26,238 from Delhi, 23,527 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,209 from West Bengal. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that the state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

MYSURU:  The defeat in South Graduates constituency, considered the stronghold of the saffron party, has not gone down well with the BJP’s rank and file. The cadre, working tirelessly to strengthen the BJP’s base in Old Mysuru region — a bastion of the Congress and JDS — are a worried lot.

The knives are out, with many from the RSS and loyal BJP cadres accusing elected representatives and leaders from the Vokkaliga community of failing to stop the polarisation of votes. A veteran BJP leader alleged that many were confined to customary press conferences and stage functions, instead of charting out strategies to reach out to community leaders. Their focus was more on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the city on Monday.

A few leaders have also written to the party high command and BJP National General Secretary B L Santhosh, pointing out the reasons for the defeat. “We lost both the Legislative Council elections due to polarisation of castes and leaders’ failure to counter it with united efforts,” a party leader said, pleading anonymity.

The report on those indulging in anti-party activities and those not showing interest has also reached the Delhi bosses. There are also allegations that a few BJP leaders had an understanding with rivals leaders, as in the previous election, that made a microscopic community man Raghu lose the election with just 13 votes, in the previous MLC elections.

There is also a request to act tough on those indulging in anti-party activities and put an end to factionalism in the district BJP unit, which may mar the chances of the party in the upcoming Assembly polls. Meanwhile, defeated candidate M V Ravishankar and his supporters have also sought time with Santhosh, who will be in Bengaluru. They want to apprise him about the situation and also submit a report to him.

GUWAHATI:  Giving an example of service before self, Captain Rupam Das is conducting rescue operations in the flooded areas in Assam even as his stranded family members are battling the devastating situation themselves. The young Assamese Army officer has saved over a hundred lives so far.

Recognising the efforts of Das, who hails from Pathshala in Assam, the Army said on Sunday: “During flood rescue operations by the Army, the dedicated officer saved over a hundred lives in spite of his family members being stranded.” 

The Army joined the Assam rescue operations four days ago. Fourteen composite columns have rescued over 4,500 people in seven districts. Nine more persons died – six in floods and three in landslides – on Sunday, taking the death toll to 71. Over 42.28 lakh people in 33 districts have been affected. The Railways has cancelled many trains. At the Kaziranga National Park, 44 of its 223 camps are under water, sources said.

In Dibrugarh, four persons were reported missing on Sunday after a boat capsized on the Brahmaputra. 
Besides Assam, Meghalaya has been badly affected by floods and landslides.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear on Monday before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the National Herald case. 

The ED had questioned him for three consecutive days in the last week. Rahul had requested the Central agency to defer further questioning to Monday, citing that he has to tend his ailing mother Soina Gandhi who is in hospital over Covid-related issues.

The agency is questioning Gandhi over a loan of Rs 1 crore received by the Young Indian Private Limited through cheque from a Kolkata-based company Dotex Merchandise Pvt. Ltd.

Sonia Gandhi is admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital following post Covid issues. Insiders claim that she is stable but under observation. The 75-year-old had tested positive on June 2. Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned for questioning but as she turned Covid positive her questioning has been postponed.

The questioning of the Gandhis pertains to alleged financial irregularities in Young Indian Private Limited, promoted by the Congress.

In view of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations as a protest against the security has been beefed up in several states on Monday.

The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three services of the Armed Forces called Agnipath and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

After the policy, which allows Indian youths to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for a period of four years protests erupted in various states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam. As the agitation intensified in some places, protestors went on the rampage setting trains on fire, torching vehicles and damaging both private and public properties.

Over 181 trains cancelled

“Due to agitation over Agnipath, 181 Mail Express trains and 348 passenger trains were cancelled. Four Mail Express and 6 passenger trains were partially cancelled,” said the Ministry of Railways.

Congress to meet President and demand withdrawal of Scheme

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said that the Congress will hold Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar on Monday and demand the President to withdraw the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

Traffic affected in parts of Delhi due to road closures ahead of Congress protest

Parts of Delhi witnessed traffic jams as the traffic police closed off several roads ahead of the Congress’ protest against the Agnipath and “vendetta politics” in targeting Rahul Gandhi.

Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday, “Tomorrow lakhs of Congress workers across the country will continue peaceful protests against the anti-youth Agnipath scheme and against Modi government’s vendetta politics targeting its MP Rahul Gandhi”.

Schools closed in Jharkhand

All schools in Jharkhand will remain closed on Monday. Security personnel have been deployed at various locations in Ranchi amid protests against the Army recruitment scheme.

A total of 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited this year but a top military officer said it will go up to 1.25 lakhs in near future. The entry age for all new recruits in the Armed Forces has been fixed as 17.5 to 21 years of age.

However, following protests, the Central government announced an the recruitment of Agniveers from 21 years to 23 years for the recruitment cycle of 2022 as it has not been possible to undertake the recruitment during the last two years.

Meanwhile, police in several states have announced measures and tightened security for June 20 protest. In Delhi’s neighbouring areas Faridabad and Noida, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits the assembly of four or more persons, has been imposed.

Uttar Pradesh Police said that strict action will be taken against those found involved in jeopardising peace.”Amid protests against Agnipath Scheme, anti-social elements may jeopardise peace. Section 144 imposed in Gautam Buddha Nagar and strict action will be taken against those found involved in such incidents,” said Ashutosh Dwivedi, ADCP, Law and Order, Noida.

Punjab Police’s ADGP Law and Order has directed the CPs and SSPs across the state to be on alert and asked them to monitor the activities of social media groups which are actively mobilizing or spreading instigating information about the scheme.

As a precautionary measure, all schools in Jharkhand will remain closed today in the wake of the protests called by certain organisations, the state education official informed on Sunday.

All schools in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur will also remain shut, as per the order by the district administration.

While the government points out that the ‘Agnipath’ scheme gives a golden opportunity to the youth to join the defence system and serve the country, Congress had said the recruitment policy is controversial, carries multiple risks, subverts the long-standing traditions and ethos of the armed forces and there is no guarantee that the soldiers recruited under the scheme will be better trained and motivated to defend the country.

ALSO WATCH:

Agniveers will be enrolled for a service duration of 4 years including the training period. After four years, only 25 per cent of the Agniveers will be retained or re-enlisted in the regular cadre based on merit, willingness and medical fitness. These 25 per cent Agniveers will then serve for a full term of another 15 years.

As the protests continue, a senior Army officer on Sunday clarified that the scheme will not be rolled back and said that it is the “only progressive step to make the country young”.

Meanwhile, the registration process for the first batch of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme will begin on June 24 and the online examination would be held on July 24.

Congress has urged the government to keep the Agnipath scheme in abeyance, hold wide consultations with serving and retired officers, and address the issues of quality, efficiency and economy without compromising on any of the three considerations.

Addressing the concerns over the future of Agniveers and their job security, the Centre approved a proposal to reserve 10 per cent of the job vacancies in the Ministry of Defence for Agniveers meeting requisite eligibility criteria and also decided to give priority to them in the recruitment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles.

Several state governments like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka have announced to give Agniveers priority in state government jobs.

Protests have disrupted rail services in several parts of the country. A total of 491 train services have been affected throughout the country due to the ongoing agitation, informed railway officials on Sunday.

In view of the Bharat Bandh called by some organisations as a protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme, security has been beefed up in several states on Monday.

The Union Cabinet on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three services of the Armed Forces called Agnipath and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

After the policy, which allows Indian youths to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for a period of four years protests erupted in various states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam. As the agitation intensified in some places, protestors went on the rampage setting trains on fire, torching vehicles and damaging both private and public properties.

Over 181 trains cancelled

“Due to agitation over Agnipath, 181 Mail Express trains and 348 passenger trains were cancelled. Four Mail Express and 6 passenger trains were partially cancelled,” said the Ministry of Railways.

Congress to meet President and demand withdrawal of Scheme

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said that the Congress will hold Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar on Monday and demand the President to withdraw the Agnipath recruitment scheme.

Traffic affected in parts of Delhi due to road closures ahead of Congress protest

Parts of Delhi witnessed traffic jams as the traffic police closed off several roads ahead of the Congress’ protest against the Agnipath and “vendetta politics” in targeting Rahul Gandhi.

Taking to Twitter, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday, “Tomorrow lakhs of Congress workers across the country will continue peaceful protests against the anti-youth Agnipath scheme and against Modi government’s vendetta politics targeting its MP Rahul Gandhi”.

Schools closed in Jharkhand

All schools in Jharkhand will remain closed on Monday. Security personnel have been deployed at various locations in Ranchi amid protests against the Army recruitment scheme.

A total of 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited this year but a top military officer said it will go up to 1.25 lakhs in near future. The entry age for all new recruits in the Armed Forces has been fixed as 17.5 to 21 years of age.\

However, following protests, the Central government announced an increase in the upper age limit for the recruitment of Agniveers from 21 years to 23 years for the recruitment cycle of 2022 as it has not been possible to undertake the recruitment during the last two years.

Meanwhile, police in several states have announced measures and tightened security for June 20 protest. In Delhi’s neighbouring areas Faridabad and Noida, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which prohibits the assembly of four or more persons, has been imposed.

Uttar Pradesh Police said that strict action will be taken against those found involved in jeopardising peace.”Amid protests against Agnipath Scheme, anti-social elements may jeopardise peace. Section 144 imposed in Gautam Buddha Nagar and strict action will be taken against those found involved in such incidents,” said Ashutosh Dwivedi, ADCP, Law and Order, Noida.

Punjab Police’s ADGP Law and Order has directed the CPs and SSPs across the state to be on alert and asked them to monitor the activities of social media groups which are actively mobilizing or spreading instigating information about the scheme.

As a precautionary measure, all schools in Jharkhand will remain closed today in the wake of the protests called by certain organisations, the state education official informed on Sunday.

All schools in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur will also remain shut, as per the order by the district administration.

While the government points out that the ‘Agnipath’ scheme gives a golden opportunity to the youth to join the defence system and serve the country, Congress had said the recruitment policy is controversial, carries multiple risks, subverts the long-standing traditions and ethos of the armed forces and there is no guarantee that the soldiers recruited under the scheme will be better trained and motivated to defend the country.

ALSO WATCH:

Agniveers will be enrolled for a service duration of 4 years including the training period. After four years, only 25 per cent of the Agniveers will be retained or re-enlisted in the regular cadre based on merit, willingness and medical fitness. These 25 per cent Agniveers will then serve for a full term of another 15 years.

As the protests continue, a senior Army officer on Sunday clarified that the scheme will not be rolled back and said that it is the “only progressive step to make the country young”.

Meanwhile, the registration process for the first batch of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme will begin on June 24 and the online examination would be held on July 24.

Congress has urged the government to keep the Agnipath scheme in abeyance, hold wide consultations with serving and retired officers, and address the issues of quality, efficiency and economy without compromising on any of the three considerations.

Addressing the concerns over the future of Agniveers and their job security, the Centre approved a proposal to reserve 10 per cent of the job vacancies in the Ministry of Defence for Agniveers meeting requisite eligibility criteria and also decided to give priority to them in the recruitment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles.

Several state governments like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka have announced to give Agniveers priority in state government jobs.

Protests have disrupted rail services in several parts of the country. A total of 491 train services have been affected throughout the country due to the ongoing agitation, informed railway officials on Sunday.