Archives for March 2024

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Union minister Nitin Gadkari

Yavatmal: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday once again asked Union minister Nitin Gadkari to leave the BJP if he was being “insulted”, saying that the opposition in Maharashtra would ensure his victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking at a rally at Pusad in eastern Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, Thackeray said people like (former Congress leader) Kripashankar Singh, whom the BJP once targeted (over alleged corruption), figured in the saffron party’s first list of candidates along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Gadkari’s name was missing.

“I had told Gadkari this two days ago, and I am repeating it again. If you are being insulted, leave the BJP and join the Maha Vikas Aghadi (alliance of Sena(UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress). We will ensure your victory. We will make you a minister when our government comes to power, and it will be a post with powers,” he said.

Last week, responding to Thackeray’s offer to Gadkari to contest as a candidate of the opposition, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had mocked the Sena (UBT) chief, saying it was like a man in the street offering someone to make US president.

Gadkari was a prominent leader of the BJP, but the first list did not have names from Maharashtra as seat-sharing discussions between the BJP and its allies were not complete, Fadnavis had said.

Thackeray, meanwhile, termed the notification of the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as an “election jumla (slogan).”

Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and others coming to India (from neighbouring countries) are welcome but the timing of the notification was suspect as elections would be soon announced, Thackeray said.

It had been more than four years since the abrogation of Article 370, but no elections have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits have not yet returned to their homes in Kashmir, he said.

The BJP should first bring Kashmiri pandits back to Kashmir and then implement the CAA, Thackeray said.

In the coming elections, there is the BJP which is creating enmity between religions and wants to change the Constitution, and on the other hand there is the INDIA bloc which is an alliance of patriots, he said, adding, “This election will be between `desh-bhakt’ (those who love their country) and `dvesh bhakt’ (those who preach hatred).”

Prime minister Modi had not yet found time to visit the restive Manipur, he said.

Tokyo: A rocket touted as Japan’s first from the private sector to go into orbit exploded shortly after takeoff Wednesday, livestreamed video showed.

Online video showed the rocket called Kairos blasting off from Wakayama Prefecture, central Japan, a mountainous area filled with trees, but exploding midair within seconds

A huge plume of smoke engulfed the area, and flames shot up in some spots. The video then showed spurts of water shot toward that spot in an effort to put out the blaze.

Tokyo-based startup Space One, behind the rocket launch, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The launch was already delayed several times, with the last postponement coming Saturday, after a ship was spotted in a risk area, according to Japanese media reports.

If it had succeeded, Space One would have been the first private company to put a rocket into orbit.

Tokyo-based Space One was set up in 2018, with investments from major Japanese companies, including Canon Electronics, IHI, Shimizu and major banks

There was no immediate reports of injuries or other damage.

Japan’s main space exploration effort is led by the government’s NASDA, which stands for The National Space Development Agency of Japan, this nation’s equivalent of NASA of the US.

Raipur: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said the Congress is fighting a “lost battle” and its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections does not have any prominent nominees for seats in MP.

Yadav, a senior BJP leader, was talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur on Tuesday before returning to Madhya Pradesh after concluding his day-long tour of Chhattisgarh, which is also under the saffron rule.

The Congress on Tuesday evening announced its second list of 43 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, likely to be held in April-May. Of the 43 candidates, 10 are from Madhya Pradesh, where the the grand old party managed to win just one seat (Chhindwara) out of total 29 in 2019.

The first Congress list released last week had 39 candidates, including party MP Rahul Gandhi, who represents Kerala’s Wayanad in the Lower House of Parliament, but it did not cover any seat in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

Asked about the Congress list of Lok Sabha candidates for Madhya Pradesh, Yadav said, “The Congress is fighting a lost battle. No prominent names featured in this list. On the contrary, the BJP’s first list of candidates carried the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and several other leaders.”

The BJP leader claimed prominent Congress politicians are reluctant to contest the upcoming polls.

“We all can understand that the upcoming time is going to be very bad for the Congress as its big leaders have already left the ground and its results are visible,” Yadav said.

Pokhran: Homegrown aircraft roared in the air while indigenously built battle tanks and artillery guns spewed fire dominating the arid terrain of Pokhran during a mega exercise on Tuesday, but perhaps the loudest roar was of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ marching ahead on the path of self-reliance in defence.

As awestruck spectators watched the ‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise in Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pokhran has become witness to the trinity of India’s ‘aatmanirbharta’, belief and self-pride.

Roars of LCA Tejas and ALH Mk-IV filled the air while Main Battle Tank Arjun, K-9 Vajra, and T-90 Bhishma tanks, and Dhanush and Sharang artillery gun systems ruled the firing ranges on the ground. Pinaka rocket system in action drew huge cheers from the crowd.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also attended the nearly 50-minute tri-services firepower and manoeuvre exercise, a first-of-its-kind on such a scale.

The spectators also included several foreign service attaches from different countries, local civilians and defence personnel and some lawmakers of the region.

The exercise showcased India’s military prowess and integrated multi-domain operations of the three services and the “shock and awe” impact that the armed forces seek to achieve in an operational situation with manoeuvre and fighting capabilities.

However, a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force crashed near a residential colony in Jaisalmer while returning from the exercise in the first accident involving the indigenously-built single-engine jet since it began flying in 2001. There was no casualty.

The pilot ejected safely and a court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, the IAF said in a brief statement.

The crash took place around 100 km from the Pokhran desert where the exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ witnessed by Modi and top military brass was underway.

LCH Prachand, mobile anti-drone system, BMP-II and its variants, a swarm of drones also wowed the audience with their precision striking capabilities during the exercise.

In his address on the occasion, Modi said, “The roar of aircraft mid-air, and valour displayed on ground during Bharat Shakti exercise is the call of a ‘new India’ (naye Bharat ka aavhan hai)”.

He recalled that it was at Pokhran that India’s nuclear test was conducted in the past.

“This is Pokhran, which witnessed India’s nuclear power, and today here we are also seeing the strength of ‘Swadeshikaran se Sashaktikaran’ (from indigenisation to empowerment).

“Today, this celebration of Bharat Shakti is taking place in Rajasthan, the land of bravery, but its echo is being heard not only in India but in the whole world,” he said.

The prime minister also visited the area where a static display of equipment and platforms was kept near the site of the live demonstration.

A tethered drone system and robotic mule system, among other cutting-edge platforms, were also displayed in the exhibition area.

The prime minister highlighted India’s “twin messages of peace and power through his avatar as a ‘Shantidoot’ during his visit to Sabarmati Ashram at Ahmedabad in the morning and thereafter his transformation as a ‘Shaktidoot’ in Pokhran”, a senior official said.

Besides firepower and ammunition, logistic capabilities for transporting equipment and evacuation of injured and casualties using the latest technologies were also demonstrated as a Chetak helicopter performed the manoeuvre drawing applause from the crowd.

Gen Pande, in his brief address, said, “For capable armed forces to be ‘atmanirbhar’, it is not only limited to equipment or platforms, but it is also important for self-sufficiency in a war and its preparations, other resources and critical technology”.

This first-of-its-kind exercise on such a scale is “not tailored towards any direction (northern or western border) or any adversaries”, sources in the defence establishment said.

“In a clear indication of India’s readiness to confront and overcome contemporary and future challenges with home-grown solutions, ‘Bharat Shakti’ highlights resilience, innovation and strength of India’s domestic defence capabilities on the global stage,” the Prime Minister’s Office had said on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Katie L Thomen, assistant army attache at the US Embassy in New Delhi also attended the exercise.

“I thought it was great, it shows where the defence industry has come in India in the last few years, and it is a good thing. I think India is one of the most important relationships for the US in the Indo-Pacific region, which is one of the most influential regions in the world,” she told PTI after the end of the exercise.

The exercise at Pokhran also showcased systems and platforms integrated with artificial intelligence (AI).

Maal Singh (48), a local resident of Pokhran attended the event dressed in a traditional Rajasthani costume.

“I earlier served in an infantry unit of the Army but took voluntary retirement. In our times, we had to get so many military assets imported. But today I saw so many Indian aircraft and platforms on display. It was a great experience,” he told PTI.

New Delhi: The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over the electoral bonds issue, alleging that his government, through the SBI, has consistently tried to halt or delay the revelation of who donated how much to which political party.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said “surprisingly” the prime minister is grounded in New Delhi on Wednesday and not travelling around the country for new “inaugurations”, for rebranding, or for claiming credit for past work.

In a post on X, Ramesh put forward some questions for the PM, saying he should answer about the most basic responsibilities of his government.

“Since the Supreme Court Verdict which declared Electoral Bonds as unconstitutional on February 15, 2024, the Modi Government ‘? through the SBI ‘? has consistently tried to halt or delay the revelation of who donated how much ‘chanda’ to which political party,” Ramesh alleged.

What is the prime minister so scared of and what new scam will the electoral bonds data reveal, he asked.

“On February 20, 2024, it was revealed that the BJP got a bonanza of Rs. 335 crore in donations from 30 companies, immediately after they had been raided or investigated by the ED, CBI, or IT department. Why did these firms donate to the BJP immediately after being raided?” Ramesh said.

Is the BJP intimidating these firms through the threat of ED-CBI-IT investigations to extort donations from them, he asked.

Ramesh’s attack on the government came a day after the State Bank of India (SBI) submitted to the Election Commission the details of entities which had purchased the now-scrapped electoral bonds and political parties which received them, as it complied with the Supreme Court order to furnish information.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered SBI to disclose the details of electoral bonds to the Election Commission by close of business hours on March 12.

As per the order, the Election Commission will have to publish the details shared by the bank on its official website by 5 pm on March 15. The SBI had sought time till June 30 for disclosure of the details. Its plea, however, was rejected by the apex court.

In his post, Ramesh also asked why did the BJP “accept Rs 4.9 crore in donations from four SEBI-designated shell companies”.

“Whose black money was routed to the BJP through these companies?” he said.

Attacking the BJP over the the government notifying the rules four years after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, was passed by Parliament, Ramesh said that according to the manual of Parliamentary Affairs, and all established norms of government, rules to any Act are to be framed within six months of its passage.

“Why has it taken four years and three months for the Modi Sarkar to frame rules to the Citizenship Amendment Act? Why have the rules conveniently come out just on the eve of a Lok Sabha election?” Ramesh said.

Noting that the smooth functioning of the institutions of democracy is the first and most important priority of a Government, Ramesh asked how did things get to a point where, on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, India has only one serving Election Commissioner rather than three.

Why did Election Commissioner Arun Goel resign so abruptly, he asked.

Why is the Modi government so afraid of the Congress Party, that it has to resort to “Khata Bandi and tax terrorism”, he asked.

“Why have the Congress Party’s bank accounts – with funds donated by ordinary Indians – been frozen, while over Rs. 6,000 crore in anonymous corporate money given to the BJP through the unconstitutional electoral bonds scam is freely usable?” Ramesh said, asking Prime Minister Modi to break his “silence” on these issues.

Chandigarh: The Jannayak Janata Party on Wednesday issued a whip, asking its 10 legislators to remain absent from the House during voting on the confidence motion to be brought by the Nayab Singh Saini government in the Haryana Assembly.

The BJP named Nayab Singh Saini as Haryana’s new chief minister on Tuesday, hours after the surprise resignation of Manohar Lal Khattar from the post along with his cabinet ministers.

After taking oath in the evening, Saini said they had presented a letter of support of 48 MLAs to the governor and asked him to convene an assembly session on Wednesday for the BJP government to prove its majority in the House.

The floor-test suggestion was made amid signs that the BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) alliance in the state might have ended, though there has been no formal announcement yet.

On Wednesday, the JJP issued a whip saying, “All JJP members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly are hereby informed that Confidence Motion in the council of ministers proposed by the government will be brought in the Haryana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the 13, March, 2024.”

“All members of JJP in the Haryana Legislative Assembly are therefore requested to remain absent positively from the House at the time of voting on a confidence motion on Wednesday,” it stated.

In the 90-member state assembly, the BJP has 41 members, and it also enjoys the support of six of the seven independents as well as of lone Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda. The JJP has 10 MLAs in the House. The main opposition Congress has 30 MLAs while the Indian National Lok Dal has one.

The BJP appears to be comfortably placed in Haryana even without the JJP support.

New Delhi: Former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba demanded that he be reinstated by the varsity and compensated for the lost years of service following his acquittal by the Bombay High Court in a Maoist links case.

The Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr GN Saibaba comprising academicians, lawyers and Left politicians demanded his reinstatement and compensation for all the six people who were released from the Nagpur Central Jail after the court declared in its judgement that the prosecution failed to establish charges against them.

Addressing a press conference here, the 58-year-old said he can’t live without teaching and wants to resume his job as a professor. Saibaba was terminated from his service from DU’s Ram Lal Anand College in 2021 after being implicated in the case.

He said he still feels as if he is in a jail cell after spending seven years in prison.

He was released from the Nagpur Central Jail on Thursday, two days after his acquittal.

Talking about his family, he said they survived only on hope but regretted not being able to meet his mother on her deathbed and claimed he was denied bail to perform her last rites.

“Instead of going to the hospital, I chose to speak to the press because you supported me. My family faced stigma and I was called a terrorist,” he said with tears in his eyes.

Recalling his “jail ordeal” Saibaba claimed he was forced to live in cramped conditions and was denied medicines and treatment prescribed by doctors for his ailing health.

“I was imprisoned in a jail which has a capacity of 1,500 inmates but 3,000 people were lodged there in cramped conditions. There was no space to even sleep. Without a wheelchair I use to struggle to use toilet, take bath or even fetch myself a class of water. There was not even a single ramp in the prison for people like me,” he said in a chocked voice.

“Today I am alive in front of you. But every organ of my body is failing. I faced many medical emergencies in the jail but they only gave me painkillers and did a few tests,” he added.

Saibaba said that his family faced stigma because he was framed in a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Saibaba was lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail since 2017 after his conviction by a trial court in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. Before that, he was in prison from 2014 to 2016 and was subsequently granted bail.

“I am still not able to register that I am free. I feel I am still lodged in the notorious jail cell. It was like an ‘agni pariksha’ for me. I had to go through a test by fire twice,” he said.

Thanking his lawyers, friends, and activists, he said one his lawyers fought his case without any fees.

“Another lawyer got jailed because of supporting me. During the trial, certain police officers threatened my lawyers,” he alleged.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Government has banned operation of electric bike taxi services in the state after they were found to be “unsafe for women” and being carried out in violation of Motor Vehicles Act.

A government order notified that the 2021 Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme has now been withdrawn.

“It has come to our notice that certain private app-based firms are violating the Motor Vehicles Act and its rules and running illegal non-transport two-wheelers as the transport vehicles,” it said.

It also said there were often clashes between the owners and drivers of auto rickshaws and “maxi cabs” with the bike riders and cases were also registered. The scheme also made it difficult for the transport department to collect taxes.

Further, to maintain law and order and keeping in mind the safety of women travelling on two-wheeler bike taxis, the government has cancelled the scheme, the notification stated.

President of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association, Tanveer Pasha, welcomed the decision and said the then BJP government had in 2021 given permission to electric bike taxis in Bengaluru.

“In spite of our opposition, the permission was not withdrawn. We had been agitating against this and even tried to explain to the government about the impact of this permission on auto and taxi drivers’ life,” he said.