Top News

Sunday, 17 September 2023

Greater Noida lift accident: Toll rises to 8; one held for negligence

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/PfT5OVs

Saturday, 16 September 2023

Hyderabad: Govt apathy leaves 141-year-old school crying for attention

Hyderabad: Reduced to a mere shadow of its glorious past, the 141-year-old Islamia High School, situated in Secunderabad is on the brink of collapse due to its dilapidated condition. The building needs immediate attention from the state government.

Today, Islamia High Schools is an all-boys institution that offers classes in Urdu, English and Telugu for classes VI to X. According to reports, the total number of current students is around 125. Boys from the surrounding areas of Parsigutta, Bhoiguda, Rasoolpura attend the school.

The Islamia High School was founded in 1882 by Mir Turab Ali Khan (Salar Jung I), during Mir Mahboob Ali Khan’s reign. This school was one of the many educational institutions founded in Hyderabad during the 1800s marked by several educational reforms.

Located in Secunderabad, across the Monda Market, Islamia High School was built in the British Army Cantonment area. The school has a plaque on display bears the names of British Resident along with the names of benefactors that contributed to the construction of the school.

Known for its colonial style architecture, the entrance is marked by an elliptical arch, an inscription that reads “Islamia High School Sec-Bad”. On top of the entrance is a crescent and a star, blackened and crusty.

Historian Mohammed Haseeb Ahmed, who recently visited the school, expressing deep shock at the state of the institution said, “Recently, I went to the Islamia High school and I was surprised to see the heritage building lying in a dilapidated condition. Lack of repair and timely restoration has led to cracks in the structure with stone chunks falling off. Any time any serious mishap can occur.” He asked, “Why is this edifice being neglected when other heritage structures are going through renovations?”

It is a shock that a school is run in an unsafe building, threatening the safety of students. Several parts of the school are unfit for use. If the archaeological department and the state government have not taken any measures to preserve the building.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/nhc2sJa

Special Parliamentary Session: Here’s what Centre has on agenda

New Delhi: The Central government has released the agenda for the first day of the five-day Special Parliamentary Session beginning September 18, amid allegations by the Opposition over hidden motives “up their sleeves.”

The government has also convened a meeting of the floor leaders of all political parties on September 17, a day before the start of the session where it is likely to discuss its agenda in detail.

During the session, the government has also listed the bill on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners to be taken up for consideration and passage. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha during the last Monsoon session.

“Discussion on ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings'” will be held on September 18 besides other formal business like laying of papers.

The session is likely to see the proceedings of Parliament moving from the old building to the new Parliament building.

The other listed business for Lok Sabha includes ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’, already passed by Rajya Sabha on 3 August 2023.

Besides, ‘The Post Office Bill, 2023’ has also been listed in the Lok Sabha business, according to an official bulletin. The bill was earlier introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August 2023.

The list of businesses is tentative and more items can be added.

Also Read

Govt issues whip for all ministers to be present in Parliament

Sharing the agenda for the special Parliament session on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it “is much ado about nothing” and all this could have waited till the Winter session in November, but added that the government could be having “legislative grenades” up its sleeves.

The Opposition has alleged that the Central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is attempting to bring the ‘One Election, One Election’ law into place ahead of upcoming elections in five states – Telangana, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan.

They have also stated that the Narendra Modi-led government is attempting to officially change the name of the country from India to Bharat after the grand opposition bloc named itself INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).

It has also been speculated that it could be about women’s reservation bills, the Uniform Civil Code, or other subjects.

Advocates Amendment Bill

The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which attempts to regulate the legal profession through a single Act and intends to combat “touts,” was approved by the Rajya Sabha. The amendment’s objective is to assist in regulating the legal profession under a single Act, the Advocates Act of 1961.

The Bill stipulates that each district judge and high court judge may compile and publish a list of ‘touts’ (those who find customers for attorneys in exchange for cash or other benefits).

According to the rules, the touts won’t be allowed inside the court premises and any breach of this clause will result in a fine and a sentence of up to three months in jail.

The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023

The PRB Act, of 1867, which now oversees the registration of the print and publishing industries in the nation, will be replaced by this Bill.

The new Bill eliminates the provision for prosecuting and imprisoning publishers and tries to streamline the registration procedure for periodicals.

According to the new Bill, no one who has been found guilty by any court of a crime involving terrorism, illegal conduct, or anything else that compromises the security of the court will be allowed to publish a periodical.

The Act of 1867 stated that publishers and printers were obliged to submit a declaration before the DM which made providing false information a crime punishable by up to six months in jail, however, the new Bill will weaken this clause.

The Post Office Bill, 2023

The bill introduced by the Union government to revamp the Indian Post Office Act will permit employees to open parcels in the name of national or public security.

The officers will also have the power to divert the parcels to authorities over the suspicion of duty evasion.

The Bill also states that the Post Office and its employees shall not be liable by reason for any loss, misdelivery, delay, or damage that occurs while the services are being rendered.

The officers of the post office will also not be liable with respect to a service provided by the Post Office unless they have “acted fraudulently or wilfully caused loss, delay, or misdelivery of service.”

Appointment of election officers bill

The government had in the last session tabled in Rajya Sabha the contentious Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill that seeks to replace the Chief Justice of India with a cabinet minister in the panel for selection of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.

The move will allow the government to have more control over the appointments of members of the poll panel.

The Bill was moved by the Law Minister amid an uproar by the opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool, AAP and the Left, that accused the government of “diluting and overturning” a Supreme Court Constitution bench order.

The Supreme Court in March ruled that a three-member panel, headed by the prime minister and comprising the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India, will select the CEC and ECs till a law is framed by Parliament on the appointment of these commissioners.

The prime minister-led panel for the selection of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners will have the power to consider even those not short-listed by the cabinet secretary-led Search Committee, according to the bill introduced in Parliament.

According to Section 6 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, a Search Committee headed by the cabinet secretary and comprising two other members not below the rank of secretary, having knowledge and experience in matters relating to elections, shall prepare a panel of five persons for consideration of the Selection Committee for appointment as the CEC and ECs.

According to Section 8 (2) of the proposed law, the Selection Committee may also consider any other person than those included in the panel by the Search Committee.

Section 7 (1) of the bill states that the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the president on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the prime minister, who will be the chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the prime minister as members.

Where the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha has not been recognised as such, the leader of the single largest party in opposition will be deemed to be the Leader of Opposition, the bill clarifies.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/cAKEoOe

ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure ends, Rahul Navin appointed in-charge chief

SC agrees to extend tenure of ED chief Sanjay Mishra till September 15

New Delhi: IRS officer Rahul Navin was appointed as in-charge director of the Enforcement Directorate on Friday on the completion of tenure of the incumbent Sanjay Kumar Mishra, officials said.

According to an official order, Navin, a 1993-batch IRS officer, will hold the charge till the appointment of a regular director or until further orders. Navin is currently the ED’s special director.

The order stated that the President “is pleased to order the cessation of tenure of Sanjay Kumar Mishra…as Director of Enforcement in the Enforcement Directorate on 15.09.2023.”

Also Read

Bilkis Bano case: SC to examine if convicts were given preferential treatment

In July, the Supreme Court granted an extension of tenure to ED chief Mishra till September 15 but made it clear there will be no further extension.

The SC order came days after it had held as “illegal” two notifications by the Centre granting extension of service, for one year each time, Mishra as the chief of the Enforcement Directorate.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/nZEgeQc

Wrong to say collegium has no factual data to evaluate judges for appointment in SC: CJI

'They've made entire nation proud': CJI on Chandrayaan-3 mission's success

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud Friday asserted it was wrong to say that the Supreme Court collegium has no factual data to evaluate the candidates being considered for appointment as judges of the top court and high courts.

Delivering the Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture, the CJI said the collegium has prepared a broad platform where it has assessed top 50 judges of country for consideration as apex court judges.

“Our aim is to lay down objective parameters for selection of judges for SC, HCs,” Chandrachud said.

Also Read

CJI D.Y. Chandrachud inks MoU with Singapore’s Supreme Court

The CJI said his goal has been to institutionalise courts and move away from an ad hoc model of operation.

“Too often individuals come and lay down ideas only to be forgotten when they pass on the baton to the next person. Institutionalising courts enhances transparency and accountability,” he said.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/QROc9we

Davis Cup: Heat, unpredictable weather could negate home advantage for India

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/xZeG5gs

Asia Cup 2023: Shubman Gill notches fifth ODI hundred to keep India in the chase against Bangladesh

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/EnVZTWk

Team including Indian researcher wins 2023 Ig Nobel prize

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/Zw6L4mb

In relief to law students, Mumbai University extends LLM admission deadline till Sept 30

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/WKxGHFd

Pradyot plays down dissent in TIPRA Motha, says those who left were denied Assembly tickets

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/rcHCd4y

Friday, 15 September 2023

Submit pending cases against accused employees timely before their superannuation: GVC to govt depts

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/42ZiGdt

‘Will do everything to amplify voice of Ladakh’: In video of his bike ride through UT, Rahul Gandhi makes a promise

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/lnXqNKP

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Pawan Kalyan, Balakrishna to meet Chandrababu Naidu in jail

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA N. Balakrishna and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Pawan Kalyan

Amaravati: Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Pawan Kalyan and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA N. Balakrishna will meet former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Rajahmundry Central Jail on Thursday.

Pawan Kalyan and Balakrishna, both popular Tollywood actors, will call on Naidu at 12 noon. They will be accompanied by TDP general secretary and Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh.

Also Read

Andhra Pradesh: Arrests will not end with Chandrababu Naidu, says TDP

Balakrishna is also the brother-in-law of Naidu and father-in-law of Lokesh.

Lokesh along with his mother Bhuvaneswari and wife Brahmini had met Naidu in the jail on Tuesday.

Naidu was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Nandyal on September 9 in alleged Skill Development Corporation scam. The next day, a Vijayawada court had sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. The TDP supremo was subsequently shifted to Rajahmundry Jail.

Pawan Kalyan wanted to meet Naidu in Vijayawada on September 9 to express his solidarity. However, the authorities did not allow his chartered flight to take off from Hyderabad. He tried to reach Vijayawada by road but police had detained him.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/GZTAMdn

Novak Djokovic: International acknowledgment of his greatness may be grudging, but Serbian legend is intent on making more history

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/MdUCAJ7

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

Apple announces Watch Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 with faster S9 chip

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/ws0XV6e

Russia shows interest to develop maritime route between Russia’s far east and Chennai

Russia shows interest to develop maritime route between Russia's far east and Chennai

Vladivostok: Russia has shown keenness to send a business delegation to Chennai to explore business oportunities, including developing an alternative maritime route between Vladivostok and the southern metropolis.

This was conveyed to Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal here during a meeting with a Russian delegation led by Sergey Mochalnikov, Deputy Minister of Energy Minister, Russian Federation and Maxim Reshetnikov from the Ministry of Economic Development of Russian Federation, according to an official statement.

Sonowal also extended an invitation for an Indo-Russian workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor in Chennai to provide a common meeting ground among the port authorities of Russian far east and India, Russian railways, logistics and shipping companies of both the countries, coking coal trade transporters of India and Russia among others.

Sonowal is in Vladivostok leading an Indian delegation to take part in the 8th Eastern Economic Forum meeting.

The Russian government expressed their desire to visit the Chennai port with a large business delegation to explore opportunities and possibilities through bilateral discussions, the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, the union minister said the operationalisation of Eastern the Maritime Corridor (EMC) will usher a new era of trade relationship between India and Russia.

“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India remains firmly committed towards making innovative solutions that will enhance and further foster the strong bilateral relationship between our two great nations.

Also Read

22 years on, over 1,000 victims of 9/11 attacks remain unidentified

“As our teams hedged their effort for an early operationalisation of EMC, the visit to Vladivostok, Vostochny, Nakhodka and Kozmino was particularly helpful. Taking this forward, I propose for a workshop of all stakeholders at Chennai in India and extend our invitation to this workshop where we can meet, interact and discuss for smooth and swift operationalisation of EMC,” he said.

Sonowal was addressing at the session aimed at forging possibilities on early operationalisation of EMC as an alternative trade route between Russian port city of Vladivostok and Indian port city of Chennai.

The workshop is proposed to take place from October 30 to November 1, 2023 in Chennai.

Referring to India’s maritime programme and its flagship programme Sagarmala, Sonowal said in 2015, the transformative flagship initiative of Sagarmala was launched with the objective to boost India’s logistics sector performance, by unlocking the full potential of India’s coastline and waterways.

The vision of Sagarmala is to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimised infrastructure investment through port-led development, he said.

Currently, there are 802 projects worth investment of more than USD 65 billion for implementation under the Sagarmala project by 2035. Out of which, 228 projects worth USD 14.6 billion have been completed and 260 projects worth USD 27 billion are under implementation.

Further, 314 projects worth USD 24 billion are under various stages of development. Further, under holistic development of coastal districts, a total of 567 projects with an estimated cost of around USD 7 billion have been identified.

The Eastern Maritime Corridor is estimated to reduce the time required to transport cargo between Indian and Russian Ports of far east region by up to 16 days, i.e., 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe.

Present trade route between Mumbai in India and St Petersburg in Russia covers a distance of 8,675 nautical miles which takes approximately 35 to 40 days. The Chennai-Vladivostok sea route (EMC) will be covering a distance of about 5,600 nautical miles.

A large container ship which travels at the normal cruising speed of 20-25 knots (37-46 km/hour), will be able to cover this distance in approximately 10 to 12 days.

This corridor holds immense potential to unlock new opportunities for trade and cooperation, the statement said.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/FMkmPTQ

CM Manohar Lal Khattar visits family of Panipat youth killed in Nuh violence

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/oxc3FJM

Asia Cup: Unintimidated by big names or big occasion, Dunith Wellalage rummages through India’s batting lineup

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/WfuprAq

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

China says it welcomes India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor so long it doesn’t become a geopolitical tool

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/ORPBdIw

Monday, 11 September 2023

Canadian PM’s aircraft faces technical issues at Delhi airport

Trudeau overhauls Canadian cabinet, gives women top roles

New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s aircraft is facing technical issues at the Delhi airport due to which his departure has been delayed, according to a source.

The source said the flight was scheduled to take off at 8 pm on Sunday, and due to technical issues, the departure of the prime minister has been delayed.

Also Read

PM Modi conveys India’s strong concerns on anti-India activities in Canada

Specific details could not be immediately ascertained.

Quoting a statement from Trudeau’s office, Canada’s CTV News channel said the aircraft was experiencing technical issues.

“Upon our departure for the airport, we were made aware by the Canadian Armed Forces that CFC001 was experiencing technical issues,” the channel quoted the statement from the prime minister’s office as saying.

“These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made,” it added.

Trudeau arrived in the national capital on Friday to attend the G20 Summit that concluded on Sunday.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/fsb2gTS

Time to support fresh faces within NCP: Sharad Pawar hints at shutting door on rebels

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/V68Xank

Sunday, 10 September 2023

Sleeping pod facility to be set up in Matheran railway station

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/a7oC6tE

G20 commits to halve digital gender gap by 2030

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/dxURgky

Morocco earthquake death toll mounts to 1,037

4.6 magnitude earthquake hits area near Islamabad in Pakistan

Rabat: The death toll from a strong earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night has risen to 1,037, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Saturday. The earthquake has also injured at least 1,204 people, according to the latest update from the ministry.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco on Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km, said the US Geological Survey.

Also Read

India reaches out to assist nationals in quake-hit Morocco

The epicentre of the earthquake was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, some 70 km southwest of Marrakesh, Xinhua news agency reported.

The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca. Many houses collapsed in the cities of Taroudant and Marrakesh, local media reported.

The earthquake damaged many buildings in the old city of Marrakesh, the nearest big city to the epicenter, and many residents had to spend the night in the open space for fear of potential aftershocks, said Zhang Kai, an overseas Chinese living in Marrakesh.

Xinhua correspondents at Ouarzazate, about 190 km southeast of Marrakesh, saw residents taking shelter in an open space after the earthquake.

“There have been earthquakes before, but none of them were as strong as this one,” said a resident in Ouarzazate who requires anonymity.

On the way from Ouarzazate to the epicenter, rocks and rubbles from the mountains and buildings were seen scattered along the road.

Rescuers have been sent to the quake-hit areas to search for survivors, local media reported.

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) announced on Saturday that it would provide the Moroccan Red Crescent with 200,000 U.S. dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance to assist in its rescue operations.

The RCSC said it would keep abreast of the relief needs in Morocco and pledged to offer assistance to the best of its ability.

Arab countries and organizations, including Arab League (AL), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tunisia, Algeria and Lebanon, on Saturday sent condolences to Morocco over the devastating earthquake.

Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the Cairo-based AL, said he hoped Morocco would quickly overcome the crisis.

Hours after the strong earthquake hit the North African country, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday instructed his government to prepare assistance for Morocco, including planning to send an aid delegation to the area.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/MgvdnpY

Saturday, 9 September 2023

‘Must guard against initiatives parallel to pandemic treaty’: WHO official flags concern on interim medical countermeasures platform

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/vd71LWn

May it rain harder on second day and these malicious plans not succeed: Venkatesh Prasad blasts ACC for adding reserve day only for IND-PAK

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/q0RISOj

The man who beat death, a Datsun that has become an F1 car, snooping row, health concerns: Rugby World Cup begins in France

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/WLa4O1w

Friday, 8 September 2023

DU extends last date to file nominations for students’ union elections to September 14

Open Book Exam

New Delhi: The Delhi University has extended the last date to file nomination papers for the students’ union elections by two days, it said in a circular.

The last date to file nomination papers has been extended to September 14 from the earlier deadline of September 12, it said.

The last date to withdraw nominations and the publication of the final list of candidates is September 15.

Also Read

Manish Sisodia leader of team education: Delhi minister Atishi

The Delhi University Students’ Union will go to the polls on September 22, after a gap of four years. The elections were last held in 2019.

The students’ union elections could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 while possible disruptions to the academic calendar prevented their conduct in 2022.

The Delhi University Students’ Union is the main representative body of the students from most colleges and faculties. Besides, each college has its own students’ union, elections to which are held annually.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/Eorcnh4

D Gukesh: ‘Used to handling expectations… have high expectations off myself’

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/oI6yGFl

Thursday, 7 September 2023

Apex Naga body of Manipur seeks lifting of economic blockade

United Naga Council Protest Against Kuki's Demand

Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex civic body of the Naga tribes in Manipur, on Wednesday requested a Kangpokpi district-based tribal body to lift the economic blockade on the highways “in the interest of all communities living in the state”.

The UNC also called for an immediate halt to “illegal tax collection” on national highways and inter-district highways of the state.

Also Read

Manipur: SC seeks report on arms recovery from all sources

The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), on August 21 imposed an indefinite blockade on two national highways, NH-2 and NH-37, in Kangpokpi district, demanding adequate supplies of essential commodities to Kuki-Zo communities in hill areas of the state.

While NH 2 connects Imphal with Nagaland’s Dimapur, NH 37 links Imphal with Assam’s Silchar.

Asking COTU to immediately lift the economic blockade, the UNC urged the Manipur “and central governments to initiate necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities through the length and breadth of the state.”

The civic body also said, “Unwarranted checking/ frisking/detentions/ unloading of essential commodities and various strictures imposing on Naga people in sporadic areas” should be stopped.

The statement came a day after a driver, who is a member of the Naga community, was assaulted by two men who demanded Rs 300 from him.

The UNC asserted that Nagas have been “suffering untold miseries in every sphere” due to the clashes between two other communities in the northeastern state.

More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds have been injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in the state on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Nagas and Kukis constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/ZuNzPGk

I want to be player of the series in this Asia Cup: Haris Rauf

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/2OYA0ef

Wednesday, 6 September 2023

We will return with best medal count from Asian Games: Anurag Thakur

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/J20H81T

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

Manipur: Meitei diaspora writes open letter to PM Modi, urges him to restore peace

New Delhi: With Manipur gripped by ethnic violence since May, hundreds of Meiteis from around the world have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.

In their letter titled ‘Urgent Plea for Immediate Intervention to Restore Normalcy and Harmony in Manipur’, Meitei NRIs and Meiteis of Indian origin urged Modi to visit Manipur and meet the people affected by this “senseless violence and ongoing turmoil”.

Also Read

UN experts ‘appalled’ by reports, images of gender-based violence in Manipur

As India prepares to host the G20 summit, the “persistence of violence” in Manipur threatens to undermine these achievements, they said.

Over 1,300 people signed the open letter within 48 hours, which was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.

“As India makes significant strides in development and prepares to host the G20 summit, the persistence of violence in Manipur threatens to undermine these achievements. The ongoing violence in Manipur has fractured the social fabric of the state,” the letter said.

“As custodians of the aspirations for a united and harmonious Manipur and India, we earnestly implore you to take resolute measures to prevent further escalation of the situation. The people of Manipur deserve lives free from fear, where they can thrive in an atmosphere marked by peace, stability and safety,” it said.

The Meiteis urged Modi to personally engage with the chief minister of Manipur and the authorities concerned to restore normalcy in the state.

“The innocent people of Manipur have borne the burden of suffering beyond imagination and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being,” the letter said.

“As the leader of our great nation, you have the power to shape the destiny of our Manipur and illuminate the path of effective governance, empathy and bring in the much-needed unity of the people of Manipur. We humbly request you to visit Manipur and meet the people affected by this senseless violence and ongoing turmoil,” it said.

Modi’s presence in Manipur, the letter said, will bring hope and a sense of security to those affected by the violence.

The turmoil has also put Manipur’s farmers, the backbone of the society, in grave jeopardy, it said.

“The tragic incidents of farmers being attacked highlight their predicaments. For instance, on 29 August 2023, Salam Jotin, a 37-year-old farmer was shot by a long-range sniper gun while working in his field at Naranseina, Bishnupur district.

“The situation has been exacerbated by the displacement of many farmers currently forced to live in relief camps. Manipur is on the verge of a conflict-induced famine and starvation as farmers are not able to work in their fields despite the presence of security forces for their protection,” it said.

Thousands of students have also been forced to discontinue their education due to the violence, depriving them of opportunities to realise their aspirations. The repercussions of this reverberate beyond individual lives, impeding the progress and prosperity of society, it said.

“Putting an end to senseless violence becomes paramount in preserving the dreams and ambitions of our youth,” it added.

The letter said there are “intricate complexities inherent to the Manipur society – the Meiteis, the Nagas, and the Kuki communities, each with their own unique identities and aspirations”.

“However, the pivotal role of your esteemed office is to serve as a binding force that ensures the protection and progress of every Indian citizen. By initiating meaningful dialogues among these communities, you hold the key to nurturing understanding and collaboration, paving the way for peaceful coexistence,” it said.

Copies of the letter have also been sent to Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

More than 160 people have been killed and several hundreds injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/9vt0jQE

Kane Williamson set to captain NZ in World Cup after progress in injury recovery

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/swvy1ge

Monday, 4 September 2023

Rishi Sunak rules out a quick-fix trade deal with India

London: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ruled out a quick-fix trade deal with India, making it impossible to get an agreement over the line in time for this week’s G20 summit in Delhi – and possibly even by next year’s elections, the media reported.

Multiple sources close to the negotiations have told The Guardian the UK prime minister has rejected the idea of an “early harvest” deal, which could have lowered tariffs on goods such as whisky but would not have dealt with trickier subjects such as professional services.

The decision has scuppered any chance of an agreement being struck this week, before the prime minister meets his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in the Indian capital this weekend.

Many now believe a deal is impossible before both countries hold elections in 2024, although some in government still believe it could be reached later this year, The Guardian reported.

It means the prospect of a UK-India free trade agreement, long held up as one of the biggest possible opportunities for Britain after Brexit, remains distant.

Also Read

UK PM Sunak to make whole-life sentences mandatory for heinous murderers

One government source said: “There was talk last year of a deal by last Diwali, but that was only going to happen if it was a shallow deal based around a limited number of goods. Kemi Badenoch (the trade secretary) and Rishi Sunak have decided they don’t want to go down that route and so have taken a deadline off the table.”

Another person close to the negotiations added: “India wants to do an early agreement on goods, but the risk is that instead of being the start of a wider trade agreement, that becomes the end point and the UK doesn’t get any of the more fundamental things it wants.”

Those close to the talks say agreements have been reached in some key areas, such as the need for India to cut tariffs on whisky and cars and for the UK to remove those on textiles and other goods.

The Sunday Times reported earlier this month that India was prepared to reduce tariffs on scotch whisky by a third to 100 per cent in return for tax breaks for Indian workers in the UK – though British officials say exact figures have not yet been agreed.

This might have been enough to sign a slimmed-down trade agreement this week, according to sources, but Sunak and Badenoch have rejected such an idea for fear it will make the goal of a more wide-ranging deal impossible, The Guardian reported.

There are still significant areas of disagreement when it comes to the comprehensive deal under negotiation.

India has long pushed for more visas for Indian students and for employees of Indian companies. The Home Office does not want such terms being placed within the trade agreement itself, although sources indicate a separate deal could be reached on immigration.

The UK says it has already shown flexibility on visas, more than doubling the number of work visas it gives to India each year since the country left the EU.

But the government is reluctant to change the rules on who can enter, especially in the case of students, The Guardian reported.

However, there are also more fundamental issues facing reaching an agreement.

The UK is pushing for greater intellectual property protections for companies trading in India, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, where western companies fret about their drugs being produced much more cheaply by Indian laboratories.

Meanwhile, India wants to limit the proportion of UK goods that can be produced outside the UK, as a way of preventing other countries benefiting from the agreement indirectly, The Guardian reported.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/dqn1kSQ

If Trump is the nominee, I will support him: Ramaswamy

Washington: Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy said on Sunday that while he expects to become the party’s nominee for the November 2024 US elections, but will vote for Donald Trump if the former president secures the nomination.

Appearing on a Sunday talk show, the 38-year-old Indian American entrepreneur also expressed his intention to pardon Trump, who currently faces an array of legal challenges, should he be elected as President of the United States.

“If Donald Trump’s the nominee — yes, I will support him, and if I’m the president, yes, I will pardon him because that will help reunite the country. But it’s not the most important thing I’m going to do as the next president. It is the table stakes for moving this country forward,” Ramaswamy told ABC news.

Following his impressive performance in the inaugural Republican primary presidential debate last month, Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, has experienced a surge in popularity, competing alongside fellow Indian American rival Nikki Haley, the former Governor of South Carolina.

Also Read

US: Republican Prez candidate Vivek Ramaswamy gets praise from Trump

Ramaswamy is notably the sole Republican presidential hopeful to openly endorse Trump, who is facing multiple charges and is currently out on bail, and his ‘America First’ policies, including stances on issues like climate change.

“My bottom line is that I will vote for the person who I think is best positioned to move this country forward. I do not think that’s Joe Biden. I do not think that is whichever other puppet, Kamala Harris or anybody else, that they roll out after Joe Biden,” he said.

Ramaswamy said while he may have disagreements with several of his Republican counterparts on various issues, he firmly believes that any of them would be more effective than Biden or Harris in steering the US towards progress.

“That is my arbitrator when I cast my vote for who the next president is — who’s going to serve the interests of the American people? That’s not some sort of commitment driven by vengeance or grievance. It is driven by a commitment to our purpose as citizens of this country.

“That’s what we need to revive in the United States, our civic spirit, remembering that even the ‘America First’ movement is bigger than Donald Trump. It is bigger than me. It is bigger than one political candidate,” he said.

Ramaswamy said the ‘America First’ movement belongs to the people of the US, the same people who still retain the power to elect their next president, and he aims to preserve this system rather than see it replaced by a federal police state determining the nation’s leadership, “and I stand by that without apology”.

Ramaswamy said he is in the US presidential race because he expects to be the Republican nominee and lead the country forward.

The Indian American candidate reiterated his opinion that many of the charges against Trump are politically motivated that set a detrimental precedent for the United States.

“I do not want to see us become a banana republic where the administrative police state uses police force to eliminate opponents from competition. That’s not the way it works,” he said.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/Oc0dkHj

Centre approves 30 railway projects for Telangana: Kishan Reddy

Telangana: Kishan Reddy dares KCR for debate on Indian economy

Hyderabad: The Central government has decided to take up 30 railway projects including 15 new railway lines in Telangana with a total outlay of Rs 83,543 crore, Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister alleged that due to the “non-cooperation” of the ruling BRS government, works on laying over 700 km railway tracks have been stalled.

“We (the Centre) have asked the state government to speed up the land acquisition for railway projects. We seek the state government’s support for projects such as Phase II of Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) in Hyderabad. The state government has been non-cooperative,” Reddy, who is also Telangana BJP president, alleged.

Also Read

Telangana BJP will address farmer issues in Khammam meeting: Kishan Reddy

Despite the “non-cooperation” from the state administration, the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for development of Telangana and welfare of the people, he said.

Recently, the Railways gave approval for modernisation and redeveloping 40 railway stations in Telangana and the Prime Minister virtually laid foundation for 21 of them, Reddy said.

The Central government has released Rs 2,300 crore towards redevelopment of 40 stations, he added.

The Union Minister said between 2004 and 2014, the UPA government approved only five projects and a total of Rs 10,192 crore was sanctioned for laying only 714 km of new railway lines, whereas the Modi government approved 30 projects that includes laying of 5,239 km of new railway lines in Telangana.

He further said before 2014, only 17 km new railway line was laid every year and now under Modi government it has gone up to 55 km.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/QUFIdB4

Rajnath Singh to flag off third phase of BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ from Jodhpur on Monday

Jodhpur: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will flag off the third phase of the BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ from poll-bound Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district on September 4, the party said on Sunday.

The yatra will pass through 51 constituencies of the Jodhpur division, Nagaur and Ajmer, covering a distance of 2,574 km in 18 days. It will culminate in Jodhpur on September 21, the BJP’s Jodhpur unit said in a release.

The yatra will cover 33 constituencies in six districts of the Jodhpur division — Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sirohi, Jalore, Pali and Jodhpur. It will also pass through 10 constituencies of Nagaur district and eight constituencies of Ajmer district.

Also Read

Co-operative sector to play key role in India becoming 3rd largest world economy: Rajnath

During the yatra, 45 public meetings will be held and the final one will be held here on September 21, the BJP said.

BJP national secretary and Rajasthan co-incharge Amrita Rahatkar and Jodhpur division incharge Jagveer Chhaba had recently visited Jodhpur to oversee the preparations for the yatra.

The party has asked its workers and leaders to arrange transport for the public meetings and bring people from their constituencies to attend them.

Assembly elections are due in Rajasthan later this year.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/OX1Y7xr

Rohini panel report on OBCs likely to be major trump card for BJP in election year

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is expected to consider a report by the Justice Rohini Commission regarding the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

This report was submitted to President Draupadi Murmu in July.

If the government decides to implement its recommendations, it could be a trump card towards a major OBC outreach by the ruling BJP with Lok Sabha elections just months away.

The issue is connected to the future of over 40 per cent of the country’s total voters, namely the OBC voters, and it’s poised to become a hotly debated political matter.

Also Read

Jalna violence: Uddhav demands quota for Marathas, OBCs during spl Parl session

In 2017, the Centre had set up a commission under the leadership of Delhi High Court’s retired Chief Justice G. Rohini with the main objective to identify all Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and categorise them into sub-categories.

According to reports, the recommendations in the report are compartmentalised into two parts. The first part of the report deals with the equitable and inclusive distribution of the OBC reservation quota. The second part of the report focusses on data pertaining to the identification of 2,633 backward castes currently listed in the country, their proportional representation in the population, and the benefits they have received from reservation policies thus far.

It is likely to effect changes in the conceptual framework and practical implementation of the OBC reservation policy that has been in place for the past 40 years. As per reports, the panel says that the intention behind categorising different castes and sub-castes is not to establish a new hierarchy among OBCs, but to ensure equal opportunities for all by placing them on a level playing field. Basically it focusses on equality of all castes and sub-castes.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/n4V5k9Y

US Open: Carlos Alcaraz’s unique brand of talent is evident in his abilities at the net

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/9lFq0jM

Sunday, 3 September 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip G20 summit in Delhi

Future of technology can’t be shaped by few countries & companies: MoS IT

New Delhi: It is almost certain that Chinese President Xi Jinping is going to skip the G-20 Summit in India next week and Premier Li Qiang is set to represent China at the conclave, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi his decision not to attend the Summit in-person as he has to focus on the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Also Read

Don’t indulge in blame game, lets work as team: Kejriwal on LG’s G20 remarks

The Russian President had skipped the Bali summit of G20 in November last year as well.

Many leaders in the past skipped the G20 summits for various reasons and it does not reflect anything about the host country, they said.

In its capacity as the current president of G20, India is hosting the annual summit of the influential grouping in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.

“The Chinese President is not travelling to India for the G-20 Summit,” said one of the people cited above, adding that Premier Li is likely to represent China at the Summit.

President Xi is also skipping the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia summits in Jakarta next week.

Li is likely to travel to India after attending the East Asia summit in Jakarta. In 2021, Chinese President Xi did not travel to Italy to participate in the G20 summit due to China’s COVIND-19 restrictions.

There is no official word either from China or from India on who will represent Beijing at the upcoming G20 summit.

From 2008, there were 16 physical summits of the G20, and one virtual summit (Saudi Arabia, 2020). There were two summits each in 2009 and 2010.

Out of these 16 physical summits, except the first three summits in 2008 and 2009, there has never been a single occasion from 2010 till now when every country has attended at the Heads of State (HOS) or Heads of Government (HOG) level, the people cited above said.

“The level of attendance at global summits varies from year to year. In today’s world with so many demands on the leaders’ time, it is not always possible for every leader to attend every summit,” said one of the sources.

The people cited above said there have been six occasions – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017 – in G-20 summits when the representation was below HOS/HOG-level from any one member country.

There were five occasions when the representation was below HOS/HOG-level by two countries, they said.

The G20 member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/haNUZgL

One nation, one election panel: N K Singh’s journey from IAS to RS, BJP to Finance Commission

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/RZWsFjx

Saturday, 2 September 2023

SC denies PIL allegations of Congress leaders’ corrupt practices in Karnataka polls

Observing that there has to be harmony and comity between communities, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to constitute a committee to look into the cases of hate speech.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea alleging that Karnataka Congress party leaders and their agents distributed gift cards to voters in several constituencies ahead of the 2023 assembly polls in the state.

The PIL was filed by Gautham Gowda and Prasad K R who unsuccessfully contested the elections on BJP ticket.

Also Read

DMRC starts special drive to stop entry of male passengers in women coach

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala asked their counsel to approach the Karnataka High Court instead.

The CJI said the apex court cannot investigate the claim that money was distributed in the elections.

“Do you expect us to now go there and investigate? There are already enough laws and guidelines on this subject. You can go to the high court..,” the bench said.

The duo alleged in their petition that Congres leaders indulged in “corrupt practices” during the elections in as many as 42 constituencies.

They claimed plastic gift cards were distributed to voters with a promise that they can encash a certain amount if Congress candidates win the election.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/L1ynTvK

Neeraj Chopra reveals he was under the weather and fatigued while competing at Zurich Diamond League

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/MRnSulp

Friday, 1 September 2023

Mumbai’s real estate market surges; 10,990 properties registered in August

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/phrGxnY

AIIMS director directs to provide seamless services to beneficiaries under AB-PMJAY

New Delhi: The Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), M. Srinivas, has taken note of the issues being faced in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) at the premier institute in Delhi and directed to provide seamless health services to the beneficiaries.

Srinivas issued the direction during a meeting convened to discuss and tackle the issues hampering the effective execution of the AB-PMJAY at AIIMS.

The issues Srinivas discussed with the key stakeholders and experts included biometric authentication at discharge, reducing local purchases and
reimbursement process optimisation, among others.

“The need for mandatory biometric authentication at the time of patient discharge was stressed. Nursing staff have been directed to ensure that PMAMs (Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras) at the Ayushman Kendra are informed, and authentication is carried out before patients are discharged. Accountability measures for non-compliance were emphasised,” AIIMS authorities said on Thursday.

Also Read

AIIMS doctors save infant mid-air

On reducing local purchases, the hospital said, “Efforts were focused on minimising local purchases for PMJAY beneficiaries through in-house mechanisms and rate contracts.”

The AIIMS Ddirector urged all the stakeholders to collaborate and resolve the challenges faced in AB-PMJAY implementation to provide seamless healthcare services to the deserving beneficiaries.

AB-PMJAY provides a health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation services. It provides cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiaries at the point of service.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/3pFen80

Student’s death sparks rampage during exam in Bihar’s Samastipur.

Student dies during examination in Bihar's Samastipur, fellow examinees go on rampage

Patna: Students of a college in Bihar’s Samastipur went on a rampage after a student died in an examination hall on Thursday.

The students of Sant Kabir College claimed that victim Amit Kumar collapsed inside the examination hall due to excessive heats and humid conditions.

He might have become a victim of dehydration as there was no drinking water and fans in the examination centre.

Amit Kumar, a student of BA first year, and was giving the examination of Hindi.

Also Read

Bihar: Five children drown in pond; CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh

Following the incident, students vandalised college properties as they protested against the ill-equipped college administration.

Local police reached the venue and managed to restore normalcy after long negotiations.

Sant Kabir College is affiliated to the Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhaga.

Following the student’s death, the university has cancelled the first and second paper of examination.

Local police sent the dead body for a post-mortem examination to find out the actual reason of death. “Dehydration could be the reason for his death but cardiac arrest cannot be ruled out,” said an officer of Samastipur district.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/2HteAE8

Bihar: Five children drown in pond; CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh

Aurangabad: Five children drowned in a pond in Bihar’s Aurangabad district on Thursday, officials said.

The incident took place on Thursday afternoon when they went to take a bath in the pond in Sonarchak village in Salaiya police station area after celebrating Raksha Bandhan.

The deceased have been identified as Shubham (11), Neeraj Kumar (12), Dheeraj (10), Prince (12) and Amit (12). All of them were residents of Sonarchak village.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.

Also Read

Bihar cancels 15 days leave in govt schools, BJP taunts Nitish

Aurangabad Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vijayant said, “According to the villagers, after getting ‘rakhi’ tied by their sisters, the five children went to take a bath in the pond. Some people heard some noise from the side of the pond. When they went there, they found that the five children had drowned. By the time the children were pulled out, they were already dead.”

Alleging that the police reached the spot very late, angry locals blocked the main road of the village. Later, they were dispersed by the law enforcers.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/0JiPCMl

BJP dubs INDIA meet ‘fight for survival’, TMC says saffron party ‘nervous”

BJP

Kolkata: The BJP on Thursday dubbed the third meeting of the INDIA opposition bloc as a “desperate attempt” for survival and asserted that there is no vacancy for the PM’s post in 2024.

The remarks drew sharp reactions from the TMC, an important ally of the opposition bloc, which said the comments reflect the “panic that has set in the opposition camp.”

The third meeting of INDIA began in Mumbai on Thursday to discuss its strategy to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections due next year and inclusion of new allies.

A two-day meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is being held in the financial capital of the country.

Senior BJP leader and MP Dilip Ghosh said the opposition bloc of parties with divergent views and interests reflect their desperate attempt to protect their identities.

Also Read

Third INDIA meeting today; seat-sharing on agenda, logo likely to be unveiled

“This is a desperate attempt by the opposition parties to protect their identities. We have seen such opportunistic attempts in 2014 and 2019 and also the results. The CPI(M) and Congress should first explain whether they support the corruption of TMC in Bengal. The people of this country trust BJP regarding good governance and national security, and there is no vacancy for the PM’s post,” he said.

The BJP leader said the meeting of opposition parties is more of a “fight for their own survival” than fighting against the BJP.

Reacting to BJP’s remarks, senior TMC leader Santanu Sen said the saffron camp is perplexed by the opposition parties coming together.

“The saffron party is nervous after seeing that the opposition bloc going from strength to strength. The days of BJP’s misrule in the country are numbered,” he said.

Meanwhile, the TMC shared a post on social media platform X, saying the country is marching towards a brighter future with the INDIA opposition alliance.

“Marching towards a brighter future! #INDIA leaders have come together to discuss ideas for our nation’s betterment,” the AITC posted on X with a collage of pictures of party supremo Mamata Banerjee with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Abhishek Banerjee and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.

from The Siasat Daily https://ift.tt/QnC6ate

BIAL postpones terminal 2 international operations to September 12

from The Indian Express https://ift.tt/gecuFdz

Top News

Sunday, 17 September 2023

Saturday, 16 September 2023

Advocates Amendment Bill

The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023

The Post Office Bill, 2023

Appointment of election officers bill

Friday, 15 September 2023

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

Monday, 11 September 2023

Sunday, 10 September 2023

Saturday, 9 September 2023

Friday, 8 September 2023

Thursday, 7 September 2023

Wednesday, 6 September 2023

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

Monday, 4 September 2023

Sunday, 3 September 2023

Saturday, 2 September 2023

Friday, 1 September 2023

Current job

Click Here