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Archives for February 2019

Karnataka Congress to take legal action against 4 rebel MLAs

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Nasheman News : The ruling Congress in Karnataka on Friday decided to take legal action against its four ‘rebel’ legislators for defying the party whip to attend the 10-day Budget Session of the Assembly and skipping its legislature party meeting here.

“We have decided to take legal action against the four MLAs who defied the party whip to attend the Budget Session of the Assembly and remained away from Friday’s special legislature party meeting here,” Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

The four legislators are Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani), Umesh Jadhav (Chincholi) and B. Nagendra (Ballari).

Though the four responded to the second notice Siddaramaiah served on them on Thursday for skipping the first two days of the ongoing Budget Session since Wednesday, the former Congress Chief Minister said the unanimous opinion of the CLP was for legal action against them under the anti-defection law, as sufficient opportunity was given to them to fall in line.

“All the four legislators have written to me informing their inability to attend the ongoing session till February 15. 

“Jharkiholi replied that he had a wedding to attend, Kumathalli said he was unwell, Jadhav explained he was pre-occupied and Nagendra that he was held up with personal work,” Siddaramaiah said.

In response to the first notice served on them on January 18 for skipping the CLP meeting on that day, the four members, however, claimed they were loyal to the Congress and would not leave the party.

“But when I wrote back to them asking to meet me personally and explain their stand for staying away from the CLP meeting, they remained defiant and did not meet me so far,” said Siddaramaiah.

In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated from the Anglo-India community, the Congress has 80 MLAs, including the Speaker, JD-S 37, BJP 104 and the remaining are an Independent and one each from the BSP and the KPJP, a regional outfit.


DMK requests EC to hold by-elections along with LS polls

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Nasheman News :  DMK President M.K. Stalin has requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold the by-elections to the 21 vacant Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu along with the Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa on Thursday, Stalin said as per media reports the poll body plans to notify the general elections in seven stages sometime in April.

“We, therefore, request the ECI to hold elections to the 21 Assembly seats along with election to the 39 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu, since it would save valuable time of the voters, the ECI and government staff and also ease the burden on the public exchequer,” Stalin said in his letter.

“Since the 21 Assembly seats form part of some of the 39 parliamentary constituencies, it would be easy to enforce election related guidelines including the model code of conduct and staff deployed for the parliamentary elections can be utilised without wastage of resources,” he added.

In another letter to Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal and Chief Election Commissioner Arora, the DMK leader urged them to declare the Hosur Assembly constituency as vacant.

Stalin said P.Balakrishna Reddy who was elected to the Assembly from Hosur was convicted by a special court in an arson and causing damage to public property case. 

Reddy was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The DMK President added that the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker has not taken any steps to formally notify the Hosur constituency as vacant and intimate the ECI.


Jaitley slams Congress over Triple Talaq Bill

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Nasheman News : Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday slammed the Congress for its promise to withdraw the Triple Talaq Bill, saying that 32 years after legislatively overturning the Supreme Court’s Shah Bano judgment, the party has taken another step to drive Muslim women to live a life which is an “antithesis of human existence”.

“History has repeated itself, neither as a satire nor as a tragedy. It has repeated itself with a mindset of cruelty. The late Rajiv Gandhi committed a monumental mistake in legislatively overturning the Shah Bano judgement of the Supreme Court which guaranteed maintenance to all Muslim women. He allowed deserted women to be driven to poverty and destitution,” the Minister said in a blog.

“Thirty-two years later, his son has taken another retrograde step to drive them not merely into destitution but also to live a life which is an antithesis of human existence. The Muslim woman in Bareilly has been forced into animal existence.”

He was referring to a case in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where a Muslim woman was twice divorced by her husband through Triple Talaq.

“It has shocked my conscience. Unfortunately, when human conscience should have been repelled while reading this news in the morning newspapers, the AICC President Rahul Gandhi and his coterie, while addressing a minority convention promised to withdraw the Bill pending in the Parliament, penalising Triple Talaq,” he said.

He said some incidents are so unconscionable and repulsive that they shake the conscience of the society and compel it to take remedial measures.

“Injustice perpetuated by personal laws is a glaring example of this.”

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that many communities, over the last several decades, have brought incremental but significant changes in their personal laws.

“The object and direction of these changes has been that gender equality is ensured, rights of women and children are protected and the right to live with dignity is ensured. Some practices which survived for centuries were so obnoxious (as Sati and untouchability) are now considered as unconstitutional,” he said.

Hitting out at the Opposition party, Jaitley said: “Votes are important, so is fairness. Political opportunists only look at the next day’s headlines. Nation-builders look at the next century.”

Jaitley’s remarks come a day after the Congress women wing chief Sushmita Dev promised to scrap the law banning Triple Talaq if the party comes to power in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the party’s Minority Department convention, she also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created an atmosphere pitting Muslim women against Muslim men through the law. 

Modi slams grand alliance as ‘mahamilawat’, calls Rahul ‘thief’to Draft

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Nasheman News :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed the opposition alliance as “mahamilawat” (grand adulteration) and said that those believing in healthy democracy will stay away from it just like healthy people keep off “milawat” (food adulteration).

In a veiled attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister called him a “thief” who has been scolding the “watchman” and rebutted his charges on Rafale fighter jet deal, saying the opposition party was bidding for another company, and that is why, they want the deal cancelled.

“The people of India have seen the work a government with a full majority can do. They have seen the work of NDA (National Democratic Alliance). And now, they (the opposition) are trying to form a government of ‘mahamilawat’. People do not want a ‘mahamilawat’ government of those who assembled in Kolkata. 

“The way people keep distance from adulterated food, those who believe in healthy democracy will also stay away from them,” Modi said while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to President’s address.

Modi invoked Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar to say that he had said joining the Congress is like committing suicide.

“They all follow dynasty politics. All are dynasts and out on bail,” he said.

He said that “Congress-mukt Bharat” is not his slogan, he is just fulfilling the wish of Mahatma Gandhi, who had recommended the dissolution of Congress.

“To pay him tribute on his 150th anniversary, I have to do it. You try as much ‘milawat’ as you can, but you will not be spared,” he said.

The Prime Minister also came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi for targeting his government over the Rafale deal and asserted that his government is strengthening the Air Force with transparency and honesty.

“The Congress made our armed forces weapon-less. They never fulfilled the demand for bullet-proof jackets. They never thought of strengthening our armed forces. I want to say it on the floor of Parliament that the Congress does not want our armed forces to be strong, they do not want our security apparatus to be strong… You want the Rafale deal to be cancelled. For which companies they (Congress) are bidding that they are acting so shamefully?” he said.

On opposition charges of destroying institutions, Modi said it was the Congress which imposed Emergency, insulted Army, called the Army chief a “goonda”, their leaders created stories that the Indian Army is doing a coup, and now they allege that Modi is destroying institutions.

“The Congress questioned the Election Commission, Electronic Voting Machines, bullied the judiciary, called the Planning Commission a bunch of jokers and misused Article 356 around 100 times, but now it’s alleging that Modi is destroying the institutions. ‘Ulta chor chowkidar ko daante’ (the thief is scolding the watchman),” he said.

Referring to the arrest of AgustaWestland chopper deal case accused Christian Michel, he also took a jibe at UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. 

“This is the reason they are upset…’Razdar’ (those sharing secrets). They have been given letters… I can understand your problem,” he said.

Modi said that in hating him, the opposition has started hating the nation. “That is why their leaders go to London and do press conferences to show India in bad light.”

He said his government works for the people and is sensitive to their aspirations and following zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

“It is trust and optimism that will take our nation forward. We are not those who run away from challenges. We face the challenges and work to fulfil people’s aspirations.” 

The Prime Minister compared the works done in the 55 years of Congress rule against 55 months of his government and said India has seen remarkable progress in the last four years.

“In all spheres — investment, steel sector, startups, milk and agriculture and aviation — India’s progress is outstanding. Our friends in the Congress see things in two time periods. BC – before Congress, when nothing happened, and AD – after dynasty, where everything happened,” he said.

Pm Modi said that in their 55 years, sanitation coverage was around 38 per cent and in the 55 months of NDA rule, it is nearly 98 per cent. Similarly, gas connections in their 55 years was 12 crore, which is 13 crore in 55 months. 

“We have worked at greater speed in our five years (than the Congress governments).” 

He said that thousands of organisations were getting funds from overseas and were shut down by the NDA government. “Why was such money was allowed to come in without accountability?” he asked.

Recalling two songs of Bollywood on inflation, he said price rise and Congress are synonymous.

“When Congress comes, so does price rise. The NDA government has worked to keep prices in check,” he added.

Kolkata man accuses TV actress of raping him, moves court

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Nasheman News : In a bizarre incident, a middle-aged man from Kolkata has moved court against a popular television actress accusing her of raping him for nearly three years on the false promise of marriage.

Abhishek Talukdar, an employee of a city-based multinational company, moved Alipore Court on Wednesday, claiming that the actress had promised to marry him after their relationship started in 2016.

“I had a relationship with that woman in spite of her being married. I was also married at that time but later I divorced my wife to get married to her. She also promised to do the same but that did not happen,” Talukdar said.

“Our relationship deteriorated as she did not divorce her husband as promised. Later she dumped me without citing any specific reasons,” he alleged.

When he went to talk to the TV star to sort out the disputes between them, she lodged fake cases against him with the police, the complainant further claimed, adding that he felt cheated as the two had physical relationship.

“I am in a disbalanced state, both physically and mentally. I invested a lot for her acting career and painting exhibitions. I invested a lot of my money and time for her. Hence, I have come to seek justice from the court,” he added.

RBI shifts to a more sanguine framework

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The RBI cut policy rates by 25 bps to 6.25 per cent (voted 4-2) and changed the monetary policy stance from ‘calibrated tightening to ‘neutral (unanimous vote). Some key points from the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet are as follows:

* The MPC cut its CPI forecasts, with Q4 FY19 now being forecast at 2.8 per cent year-on-year (versus the lower-than-expected actual print of 2.6 per cent in third quarter (Q3) financial year 2019 (FY19) and previous forecast of 2.7-3.2 per cent for second half or H2 FY19) and first half or H1 financial year 2020 (FY20) at 3.2-3.4 per cent (previously 3.8-4.2 per cent).

* Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Q3 FY20 is forecast at 3.9 per cent. It assessed the risks to be broadly balanced around the central trajectory versus ‘tilted to the upside’ earlier. The MPC noted its benign food inflation outlook, softer prices of items in the fuel-group, complete dissipation of the recent HRA hike and its current judgment of the recent jump in health and education CPI components to be a one-off phenomenon. 

* However, it highlighted the reversal in vegetable prices, unclear oil price outlook, rising trade tensions, volatility in financial markets and the impact of various budget announcements, although only over a period of time, on increasing disposable incomes as upside risks.

* On GDP growth, it noted slowing global growth/demand, rising trade tensions and the recent pickup in bank credit growth not being broad-based as headwinds. 

* It projected FY20 real GDP growth at 7.4 per cent (7.2-7.4 per cent in H1 and 7.5 per cent in Q3), with risks evenly balanced. Further, it mentioned the output gap has inched lower than potential — the earlier assessment was that it had closed — and the need to step up private investments and support consumption. On the global front, it acknowledged the recent moderation in economic activity in the US, Euro Area and China.

There are some significant takeaways. The rate cut decision taken by the MPC is understandable, although the market, including ourselves, had assigned a less-than-even chance of that happening today. 

This is largely owing to the context provided by the Budget and the expectation that the recent jump in core CPI, although owing largely to rural health and education, may cause RBI to take more time in its assessment. 

However, the cut can be justified owing to the persistent undershoot in headline CPI as well as more sanguine global environment, including worries on global growth. Indeed, that has been our framework for sometime now. 

What stands out, however, is that the assessment is considerably more sanguine on almost all aspects. As an example, the RBI Governor actually stepped in to defend the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection targets set by the government in the new budget; one which has been viewed with suspicion by most. 

Also, the impression given is that the new revised CPI targets take into account the possible impact from the consumption stimulus offered by the government in the Budget.

The policy clearly has the stamp of the new Governor. Assessments are bolder and interpretations are more sanguine. There is clear benefit of the doubt for the Government. 

Also, the focus seems conclusively back on headline CPI. All this means that the market may look forward to at least one more rate cut, given that the near forecast for CPI remains sanguine.

Against this tailwind, however, the government is slated to borrow Rs 36,000 crore extra in this financial year and a higher than expected Rs 7,10,000 crore in the next financial year. The obvious implication is for the yield curve to steepen as the market is called upon to take higher supply at the duration part of the curve. 

In duration, our preference would be for quasi like SDL and corporate bonds rather than Government bonds. While in supply there is a near-term problem, it typically dissipates into the new financial year. Also, starting spreads there are already reflecting higher supply. The most sustainable trade, however, is in 2-5-year AAA corporate bonds.

16 Bihar school kids fall ill after severe beating by teacher

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Nasheman News : Sixteen minor students of a government-run middle school in Bihar fell ill on Thursday after they were mercilessly beaten up by the school Principal for not sweeping the school floor, the police said.

The incident took place at Pakdi Middle School under Mahua Police Station of Vaishali district in the state.

Enraged over the incident, villagers ransacked the school and demanded action against the accused school Principal, Rajesh Kumar.

A police officer posted in Mahua, Sunil Kumar Singh, told IANS that about 16 children of the school had to be admitted to a local hospital after they were mercilessly beaten up by the Principal. 

“Following the beating by Rajesh Kumar, they fell ill and were taken to the hospital.”

Singh said that villagers, mostly parents and guardians of school children, staged protest at the school on hearing about the incident.

“Others teachers fled the school fearing reprisal from villagers. Rajesh Kumar managed to escape,” he added.

Agencies

Congress backs triple talaq, says will scrap law after winning Lok Sabha polls

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The triple talaq bill continues to face resistance in Rajya Sabha.

The Congress will scrap the triple talaq law if it forms the government in 2019, the party’s women’s wing chief Sushmita Dev said on Thursday.

Addressing the Congress’ Minority Department convention here, Dev alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created an atmosphere pitting Muslim women against Muslim men through the triple talaq law.

“A lot of people told us that women will be empowered if the triple talaq bill is passed. But we opposed that law because it is a weapon that Narendra Modi ji has prepared to put Muslim men in jail and make them stand in police stations,” the All India Mahila Congress chief said.

She hailed Muslim women from all parts of the country for writing “crores of letters, carrying out signature campaigns and rebelling against” the law.

“The Congress party stood up and opposed it in Parliament. I promise you people that the Congress government will come in 2019 and we will scrap this law. But it is also certain that whatever law is brought for women’s empowerment, by whichever government, the Congress will support it,” Dev said.

In December last year, a fresh bill to make the practice of triple talaq among Muslims a penal offence was introduced in Lok Sabha to replace an ordinance issued in September.

Under the proposed law, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 superseded an earlier bill passed in the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha.

The earlier bill was approved by the Lower House. Amid opposition by some parties in the Upper House, the government cleared some amendments, including introduction of a provision of bail, to make it more palatable.

As the bill continued to face resistance in Rajya Sabha, the government issued an ordinance in September, incorporating amendments.

The ordinance was re-promulgated recently as the first one was about to expire.

The government has maintained that despite the Supreme Court striking down the practice of talaq-e-biddat (instant triple talaq) as unconstitutional, men were divorcing their wives on flimsy grounds and even via WhatsApp.

The opposition has said divorce cannot be made a penal offence and the provisions of the bill are against basic principles of the Constitution.

Agencies

At AICC meet, Priyanka seated away from Rahul

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Nasheman News : Newly appointed AICC General Secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi, was on Thursday allotted a seat away from Congress President Rahul Gandhi during an important party meet here.

Priyanka was given a seat next to Jyotiraditya Scindia, General Secretary in charge of western Uttar Pradesh, in the middle of the right side row.

Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge were seated on the front.

Political observers say Priyanka was deliberately not seated next to Rahul but away from him to give a message to senior party leaders that as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretaries, they are as important as Priyanka Gandhi who is also a General Secretary.

Earlier, soon after her appointment at the General Secretary, Priyanka was allotted a room next to that of Rahul Gandhi’s at the AICC headquarters. The room was earlier used by Rahul when he was the party Vice President.

However, Jyotiraditya Scindia was also allotted an office in the same room, in a way to show that as Uttar Pradesh in-charges, both he and Priyanka are on the same pedestal.

In another gesture, when Rahul Gandhi arrived from the meet, the SPG personnel tried to hold an umbrella over Rahul as it was raining, but he ignored it and walked in the rain to show respect towards hundreds of party workers who had gathered here to greet him and Priyanka.

Rahul is holding a meeting with all the AICC General Secretaries in charge of all the states in preparation of the coming Lok Sabha polls.


Contempt notice to Nageswara Rao, Subha Ram

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Nasheman News :The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on CBI Joint Director M. Nageswara Rao and prosecution in-charge S. Bhasuram Subha Ram for transferring a CBI officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home case despite the courts embargo against the transfer of investigating officials.

In a sudden turn of events, the apex court initiated contempt proceedings against the two officials for processing a file relating to the transfer of then Additional Director A.K. Sharma who was heading the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Misra, and Justice Sanjiv Johanna slammed both officials for transferring Sharma without notifying the court or informing the Appointments Cabinet Committee (CCA).

Taking a “very very serious view” of the transfer, the bench sought their response by Monday and their personal presence in the court on Tuesday. 

The court also sought the presence of all CBI officials who dealt with the file relating to the transfer of Sharma from CBI to the Central Reserve Police Force as its Additional Director.


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