India This Week~November 15, 2024

INDIA THIS WEEK




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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2024 INDIA THIS WEEK 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol 33 No: 46 WASHINGTON DC • Phone: 301-445-0200 /301-445-3543/301-917-4800 • email: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday NOVEMBER 15, 2024 President-elect Trump forms Inagural Committee, Begins Rolling out his Cabinet picks Washington DC [US], November 12 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump has begun rolling out his cabinet picks to fulfill his America Fist agenda, he has promised the voters during the just completed election cycle. US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday (local time) the formation of an inaugural committee, which would plan and celebrate his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Trump secured a second term in the White House after winning the US presidential election on November 5, marking a significant comeback following his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. “President Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, today announced the Washington, DC [US], November 13 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and ‘X’ along with Indian-origin Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”),” Trump said in an official statement on Tuesday. “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the “Save America” Movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!,” he added. The DOGE will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to government. “It will become, potentially, “The Manhattan Project” of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of “DOGE” for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government formation of Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, Inc., a 501(c)(4) organization that will plan inaugural events. The work done by this official entity will be Co-Chaired by longtime friends and supporters of President Trump, Steve Witkoff and Senator Kelly Loeffler,” Trump said in a statement. “On Election Night, we made history and I have the extraordinary honour of having been elected the 47th President of the United States thanks to tens millions of hardworking Americans across the nation who supported our America First agenda,” he said. “The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee will honour this magnificent victory in a celebration of the American People and our nation,” he added. Trump said the committee would be a kickoff to his administration. “This will be the kickoff to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again. Together, we Trump Cabinet see Page 16 Trump announces Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new US Department of Government Efficiency Remember: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in –Jesus Christ heaven.” and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” he said. “I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual USD 6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending. They will work together to liberate our Economy, and make the U.S. Government accountable to “WE THE PEOPLE.” Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 – A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!,” he added. Ramaswamy, who had also been a presidential candidate before halting his candidacy in January this year to back Trump also shared a post on X, tagging Musk and wrote, “We will not go gently, @elonmusk.” Ramaswamy separately responded on X with a slogan he often used during his presidential campaign to call for the elimination of federal agencies, writing: “SHUT IT DOWN.” “Americans gave President Trump a decisive mandate to end illegal immigration. He’s going to do it” he said. Further, he said that he is withdrawing himself from consideration of the pending Senate appointment in Ohio. ” And yes, this means I’m withdrawing myself from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio. Whoever Governor DeWine appoints to JD’s seat has some big shoes to fill. I will help them however I can,” he posted on X. Earlier in the day, Trump made some major announcements as well, including the nomination of former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel, Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA), and Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense. Following his victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump is moving swiftly with finalizing his foreign policy and national security team ahead of his formal inauguration in January 2025. (ANI)

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NOVEMBER 15, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK MORE Get from your retirement. 1. More for your money with our inclusive “Moving was a great decision for me! I feel confident in my future, and Monthly Service Package. 2. More amenities, including a pool, fitness I know that my needs will be taken care of.” center, and restaurants. 3. More peace of mind with additional —Marge V., A community resident on-site care should you need it. Discover more great reasons to choose an Erickson Senior Living®-managed community. 1420300 Call 1-888-718-7402 or visit DMVSeniorLiving.com for your free brochure. Maharashtra polls: CEC Delhi LG direct for holds review meetings with immediate appointment of central observers, directs 2,346 Home Guards them to ensure fair play M u m b a i (Maharashtra) [India], November 12 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar held a review meeting on Tuesday with central observers deployed for the Maharashtra Assembly elections and directed them to be accessible to all candidates and parties without any favouritism. Any complaints in this regard shall be viewed seriously. According to the sources, CEC directed observers to maintain strict vigilance over law and order situations and the flow of any inducements like drugs, liquor, freebies and cash that can be used to vitiate election space. Checking and screening by enforcement agencies shall be done as per established protocol and in a completely impartial manner maintaining a level playing field. Observers should see that central and state police forces are maintaining neutrality and their deployment is not favouring any political parties or candidates. Kumar directed observers to ensure that the whole election process, specifically the campaign discourse, does not in any manner affect the dignity of women. During polling hours, observers should visit as many polling stations as possible, take an assessment of the situation inside polling stations regularly and ensure polling is going on in a free and fair manner. Ensure all arrangements and ensure minimum facilities are in place at polling stations for ease of voting. Observers should conduct themselves in consonance with the highest standards of professional, personal, and ethical conduct and shall abide by the Commission’s guidelines strictly. In 288 ACs in Maharashtra, a total of 142 general observers, 41 police observers and 72 expenditure observers are deployed. According to the polling schedule, the voters from Maharashtra will be casting their ballots on November 20 in a single phase and the counting of votes and results will be declared on November 23. (ANI) New Delhi [India], November 12 (ANI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed for the immediate appointment of 2,346 Home Guards, who have qualified for their Physical Measurement and Efficiency Test (PMET) and written test, even as other vacancies amounting to 7,939 await outcome of two pending court cases, said an official statement from Lieutenant Governor office on Tuesday. With this, the above-mentioned 2,346 candidates, who have qualified, will not have to wait unduly. The LG has also directed that a dedicated medical camp be organized within one week for the medical tests of the qualified candidates and subsequently hand over their appointment letters at the earliest. It may be recalled that the LG had earlier approved the enrolment of 10,285 Home Guard Volunteers in January 2024 with provisions of 33.33 per cent reservation for women. Subsequently, an advertisement was issued for filling up these 10,285 vacancies on 23.01.2024 wherein 1,09,001 applicants had applied but only 32,511 reported for the PMET. In the interim, certain applicants moved the High Court on various issues whereby the Court ordered maintenance of the status quo while a decision was taken. However, 2346 candidates were free from encumbrance arising out of these court cases and the LG has approved their appointment after medical tests so as to ensure that they do not face any undue delay in their appointments. Saxena has also directed the DG Home Guards to ensure that the remaining 7,939 vacancies are also filled at the earliest after taking cognisance of the decisions of the High Court in related matters. (ANI)

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NOVEMBER 15, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Supreme Court takes AIADMK leaders meet doctor strong exception over stabbed in Chennai hospital, selective demolition drives say law and order situation deteriorating in Tamil Nadu New Delhi [India], November 13 (ANI): India’s Supreme Court on Thursday expressed strong concerns over selective demolition drives, stating that targeting specific structures while ignoring similarly situated ones may indicate malice. “In such cases, where the authorities indulge in an arbitrary pick and choose of the structures and it is established that soon before initiation of such an action an occupant of the structure was found to be involved in a criminal case, a presumption could be drawn that the real motive for such demolition proceedings was not the illegal structure but an action of penalizing the accused without even trying him before the court of law,” the top court said. The observation was made in a judgment delivered by a bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan whereby it laid down guidelines for the demolition of properties. However, the top court took note of the Solicitor General’s submission that he may be right in submitting that in some cases it may be by sheer coincidence that the properties that were in breach of local municipal laws governing them also happen to belong to the accused persons. The court emphasized that demolishing homes as punishment for alleged crimes violates constitutional rights and underlined the settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that a person is presumed to be innocent till he is held guilty. “In our view, if demolition of a house is permitted wherein a number of persons of a family or a few families reside only on the ground that one person residing in such a house is either an accused or convicted in the crime, it will amount to inflicting collective punishment on the entire family or the families residing in such structure. In our considered view, our constitutional scheme and the criminal jurisprudence would never permit the same,” the top court said. The top court said that the action by the executive would be wholly arbitrary and would amount to an abuse of the process of law and the executive in such a case would be guilty of taking the law in his hand and giving a go-bye to the principle of the rule of law. “It is to be noted that even in the cases consisting of imposition of a death sentence, it is always a discretion available to the courts as to whether to award such an extreme punishment or not. There is even an institutional safeguard in the cases of such punishment to the effect that the decision of the trial court inflicting the death penalty cannot be executed unless it is confirmed by the High Court. Even in the cases of convicts for the commission of the most extreme and heinous offences, the punishment cannot be imposed without following the mandatory requirements under the statute. In that light, can it be said that a person who is only accused of committing some crime or even convicted can be inflicted with the punishment of demolition of his property/ properties? The answer is an emphatic ‘No’,” the top court said.2 The top court also underlined the right to shelter and said that it is not only the accused who lives in such property or owns such property. “If his spouse, children, and parents live in the same house or co-own the same property, can they be penalized by demolishing the property without them even being involved in any crime only on the basis of them being related to an alleged accused person? What is their mistake if their relative is arrayed as an accused in some complaint or F.I.R.? As is well known, a pious father may have a recalcitrant son and vice versa. Punishing such persons who have no connection with the crime by demolishing the house where they live in or properties owned by them is nothing but anarchy and would amount to a violation of the right to life guaranteed under the Constitution,” the top court said. The top court said that the right to shelter is one of the facets of Article 21. “Depriving such innocent people of their right to life by removing shelter from their heads, in our considered view, would be wholly unconstitutional. While considering the issue with regard to the demolition of the houses that are required to be demolished for breach of the local laws, we find that the principle of the rule of law needs to be considered even in the municipal laws. There may be certain unauthorized constructions that could be compoundable. There may be certain constructions wherein only part of the construction is required to be removed. In such cases, the extreme step of demolition of the property/ house property would, in our view, be disproportionate,” the top court said. (ANI) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], November 13 (ANI): AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister C Vijayabaskar hit out at the DMK-led state government over stabbing of a doctor in a Chennai hospital and alleged that law and order has crumbled in the state. The AIADMK leader also visited the doctor who was stabbed in Chennai‘s Kalaignar Centenary Hospital on Wednesday and said it was a “well-planned” assault. Dr Balaji, an oncologist, was “stabbed by the son of a cancer patient” and is undergoing treatment. “I have seen the admitted doctor. He is a senior doctor. I interacted with him also. It was a wellplanned assault. The person who attacked the senior oncologist was hiding the knife and he came to the room and he locked it. There were multiple injuries...We strongly condemn this,” the AIADMK leader said Vi j a y a b a s k a r said that the party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has been telling the Chief Minister and the Health Minister that “there is no law and order in Tamil Nadu“. AIADMK leader D Jayakumar also condemned the attack, saying that the state is “facing the worst law and order situation.” “Every day murder and robbery are happening. Even doctors who save lives have no safety in this state. Our leader has advised us to inquire about Balaji’s (the injured doctor) health and we have come here. How come an outsider comes with a knife inside a hospital? It’s the government’s duty to safeguard people’s lives,” he said during a press conference According to police officials, the accused had been coming to the hospital for treatment of his mother and was told about the condition of his mother. “He is not a new person. His mother has been here for six months for treatment,” a police official said. Chennai Police reviewed the security arrangements at the hospital, with a senior police official stating that they will discuss what measures need to be taken for safety of doctors. “We have come to review the security arrangements. We will instruct and discuss (with officials) to see what measures will be taken to ensure their (doctors’) safety. This is the first incident, we will review the incident and let you know further updates,” Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun told reporters. Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) condemned the attack and demanded additional security arrangements, including increased police protection, controlled access of attendees and implementation of past safety recommendations. (ANI) The vessel Vibhuti was part of the steam past given to President Draupadi Murmu off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea. Both the brother and sister duo are commanding their warships under the Western Command. The President Droupadi Murmu on November 7 visited the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant along with the Chief of Navy Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and witnessed an operational demonstration by the Indian Navy . In her address, President Murmu praised the Indian Navy‘s capabilities and strategic reach. “The Indian Navy units are deployed across vast areas for extended durations, showcasing their capabilities and strategic influence. Your positive, proactive, and swift actions have saved countless lives at sea. It was a special moment for me when the President of Bulgaria called to express gratitude for rescuing the Bulgarian crew from a hijacked vessel earlier this year.” (ANI) In a first, sister and brother duo commands warships in Indian Navy

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NOVEMBER 15, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India to refit Maldivian Coast Guard ship in strategic partnership move Male [Maldives], November 13 (ANI): In a significant step reinforcing defense and diplomatic ties, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard Ship (CGS) Huravee arrived at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard, for a scheduled refit. The Huravee’s journey from Male was escorted by the Indian Naval Ship Talwan. “The refit, which is the first since the ship was handed over to MNDF in May 2023, will involve routine maintenance work as well as upgrades to extend the ship’s operational life and enhance its capabilities”, said a press statement by High Commission of India, Maldives. The refit, estimated to cost over USD 4 million, will be financed by the Government of India, underlining India’s commitment to supporting its maritime neighbours. The decision was announced during the recent visit of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to India from October 6-10. This initiative underscores the deeprooted friendship and multi-dimensional defense cooperation between India and the Maldives. India’s support for the refit of CGS Huravee is seen as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the broader Vision SAGAR, which stands for “Security and Growth for All in the Region.” This policy aims to strengthen regional security From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- November 15, 2024 Arrogance and development through strategic partnerships. The refit and upgrades to the Huravee are expected to boost the operational capabilities of the Maldivian Coast Guard, enhancing the Maldives’ maritime security infrastructure. The collaboration reflects India’s dedication to capacity building in the Maldives, furthering its role as a key partner in the region. Notably, Muizzu on October 20 decided to take the necessary steps to introduce the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in the island nation, following the recommendation of the Cabinet. This move came following India agreeing to share its expertise in the implementation of digital and financial services and to work in the development of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) through the launch of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Unique Digital Identity, during Muizzu’s State Visit earlier this month. (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Author Unknown In the mirror’s gleam, it stands so tall, A shadow’s pride, it casts a pall. With every glance, it soars above, A heart unmoved by praise or love. It struts in halls of echoing praise, A king in an unending daze. Yet in its chest, a hollow sound, For arrogance knows no solid ground. It speaks of skies it’s never seen, And wears a crown that’s always green. But pride, though loud, is fickle, thin, And vanity’s a brittle skin. So when you meet that towering guise, Remember, pride’s a blind disguise. For true strength lies in humble heart, Where wisdom’s quiet, not a part. 11/15/2024 Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online Himachal HC nullifies appointment of 6 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, orders immediate withdrawal of facilities Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], November 13 (ANI): The High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries of the state government with all benefits and facilities. The division bench of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Bipin Singh Negi ordered the withdrawal of all facilities from all CPS including salaries, allowances, and power privileges. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the order will be discussed with the ministers of the cabinet. “I haven’t read the order till now, but if the HC has ordered this then it will be discussed. A discussion will be held with the ministers of the cabinet,” he said. BJP lawyer Advocate Veerbahadur Verma said that the court has admitted that the 2006 act was unconstitutional and has ordered the withdrawal of the CPS facilities immediately. “10 BJP MLAs under the leadership of Satpal Sati had challenged the recruitment of CPSs, which was done according to an act of 2006, in the court. The court has admitted that the 2006 act was unconstitutional. The HC has also ordered the withdrawal of the CPS facilities immediately... If the other side decides to go to the SC, they will not get any relief there also... The act has been repealed,” Verma told ANI. Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan said that the state assembly had no power to bring the 2006 act. “The petition challenging CPS has been accepted by the HC and ordered the removal of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries from their posts. All their facilities have also been repealed... The state assembly had no power to bring this act... Individually as well, CPS and PS will challenge this order of the High Court in the Supreme Court,” he said. The Himachal government appointed six Congress MLAs in January 2023, to serve as chief parliamentary secretaries. The appointees included Sunder Singh Thakur representing Kullu Assembly Constituency, Mohan Lal Brakta from Rohru Assembly Constituency in Shimla district, Ram Kumar Chaudhary from Doon Assembly Constituency in Solan district, Ashish Butail from Palampur Assembly Constituency, Kishori Lal from Baijnath Assembly Constituency in Kangra district, and Sanjay Awasthi from Arki Assembly Constituency in Solan district. The appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries was challenged in the High Court by 10 BJP MLAs and one individual petitioner Kalpana Devi. (ANI) Remember: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” JESUS CHRIST

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NOVEMBER 15, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Jharkhand: 64.86 pc voter turnout at 5 pm; surpasses 63.9 pc voting in 2019 assembly elections R a n c h i (Jharkhand) [India], November 13 (ANI): The first phase of Jharkhand’s assembly elections, which kickstarted on Wednesday, recorded 64.86 per cent voter turnout at 5 pm across the 43 assembly constituencies, surpassing 63.9 per cent voting in the 2019 assembly elections, said the Election Commission of India (ECI). Voting which commenced at 7 am today, was held peacefully without any incidents of violence and surpassed 63.9 per cent voting in these 43 ACs in the 2019 Assembly Elections. The Election Commission said that the polling for 43 ACs in phase I of the Jharkhand Assembly elections concluded peacefully today with an impressive turnout of voters. Polling was marked by a festive mood and enthusiastic participation across all districts, with large tribal populations, including areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Voters from diverse groups including first-time voters, the elderly, women, PwD, and tribals among others were seen exercising their franchise at polling stations across the 15 districts that went to polls today, undeterred by threats and boycott calls. In the Budha Pahad area in the Garhwa district, once considered a stronghold of extremists, long queues, and peaceful polling at the Hesatu Polling station signaled the deep penetration of democratic ethos. For the first time, this polling station was set up in the Budha Pahad area for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, allowing residents to vote in their own village, they stated. Simultaneously, bye-polls were also held today in 31 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in 10 states and in the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala. 2 ACs in Sikkim were uncontested, the poll body stated. CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu constantly monitored the situation across over 15,000 polling stations. Meticulous planning and constant vigil by the Commission have ensured that the Jharkhand elections this time have been smooth and streamlined, with no repolls recorded so far. Webcasting was in place in 100 per cent polling stations to ensure transparency of the voting process. In the Manoharpur and Jaganathpur Assembly constituency of West Singhbhum district, voters chose to cast their vote in spite of boycott posters and threat calls by extremists. At polling stations in Sonapi in Jaganathpur AC and Rabangada in Manoharpur AC, security forces thwarted attempts to prevent voters from voting through boycott posters and blockades on the way. The Election Commission said that Tribal voters participated enthusiastically and cast their votes at the polling stations. For the first time, voters of Lakhaidih village in Potka AC (East Singhbhum district) having a 100 per cent tribal population voted at a polling station set up in their own village. Earlier, they had to travel to a nearby village to cast their vote which is nearly 25 km from the main road and 4 km away through dense forest and hilly route. Ahead of the elections, 100 per cent enrollment of the 1.78 lakh members from 8 PVTGs in the state was ensured in the electoral roll. Polling Stations were adorned with local themes and elements reflecting the culture of Jharkhand and offered a welcoming atmosphere to the voters. Basic facilities including first aid, drinking water, toilets, shed, ramps, wheelchairs and volunteers were ensured at all polling stations. Vigilance and seizures have been fortified by the coordinated efforts of Enforcement agencies resulting in seizures worth over Rs 183 crores in Jharkhand since the announcement of elections including over Rs 145 crores worth of freebies and Rs. 13 crores in drugs. Polling officials were airlifted for 225 booths in five districts which were inaccessible due to dense forests, tough terrains and LWE, the poll body said. The provisional voter turnout figures of 64.86 per cent as of 5 pm will continue to be updated AC wise on the Voter Turnout App by the ROs, as and when the polling parties formally close the poll and return from the polling stations based on the geographical/ logistical conditions and after scrutiny of statutory papers and consideration of repolls, if any. Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said that the first phase of polling across 43 assembly constituencies has concluded peacefully. “All complaints were addressed in time... As of 5 pm, the voter turnout was 64.86 per cent. Close of poll data is being collected across constituencies and will be released around midnight,” Kumar said. Former Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur said that the BJP does not focus on the rural areas, but the INDIA bloc focuses on the development of rural areas. “Wherever PM Narendra Modi visited or held a road show, the polling percentage is very low... People from rural areas came out in large numbers to vote for the INDIA bloc... BJP does not focus on the rural areas. Their only focus lies on urban areas,” Thakur said. Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections concluded, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state’s 81 seats. The BJPled NDA is aiming to unseat the JMM-led coalition, with key candidates such as CM Hemant Soren, former CM Champai Soren, JMM leader Mahua Maji and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray. Elections on the remaining 38 seats will be conducted on November 20. The counting of the votes will take place on November 23. (ANI) Tehran [Iran], November 13 (ANI): Iran on Wednesday executed for the second time 26-year-old Ahmad Alizadeh, a man on death row for murder who was previously hanged for 28 seconds before being resuscitated as per a rights organisation. Alizadeh, who was sentenced to ‘qisas’ (retribution-in-kind) for murder after his arrest in October 2018, was taken to the gallows in April and hanged but pulled down after 28 seconds at the request of the plaintiffs and transferred back to his cell after being resuscitated, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) said. The organisation which tracks executions in Iran, said in a statement said that the family of the accused shouted “forgiveness, forgiveness” while Alizadeh was on the gallows after which “he was and brought back to life with CPR.” Under Iran’s sharia law, a victim’s family can ask for blood money to spare the life of the perpetrator or also decide to forgive. However, in many cases, the family of the condemned person cannot afford the sum set and the execution goes ahead, according to activists. A relative of Alizadeh said that he “was an elite student who never accepted the charges as he had confessed under torture but they want to execute him again,” the relative said as per the NGO. So far none of Iranian media has reported the execution, the organization said. The first time his death sentence was carried out was on April 27 in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran. Alizadeh remained under the threat of the death penalty in the absence of any deal with the victim’s family for blood money. He was executed again in the Ghezel Hesar prison on Wednesday morning, IHR said. “Ahmad Alizadeh, a talented student, was hanged for the second time on charges of murder, which he denied and claimed he confessed to under torture,” said IHR director Mahmood AmiryMoghaddam, denouncing the “execution machine of the Iranian regime”. Activists accuse Iran of using the death penalty to instill fear throughout society, particularly in the wake of 2022-2023 nationwide protests which shook the Islamic authorities. According to IHR, 2024 is seeing a new surge in executions, with at least 166 executions recorded in October alone, the highest number recorded in a single month since the group began documenting executions in 2007. As, per Amnesty International Iran carries out more annual executions than any country other than China, for which no reliable figures are available, the IHR said. (ANI) Iranian man, resuscitated once from gallows, hanged again after victim’s family revokes forgiveness

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2024 9 India calls for urgent UN Security Council reform, stresses need for representation and change New York [US], November 12 (ANI): India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Parvathaneni Harish, on Monday stressed the need for UN Security Council reform, noting that despite decades of discussions, there have been no significant changes since 1965. Addressing the Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly in New York, Harish said, “As we begin this year’s deliberations, we note that the reform of the UN Security Council was once again identified as a critical and immediate priority at the summit of the future discussions by our leaders. However, in spite of several decades of collective reiteration of this sentiment, it is disheartening that we have had no results to show in this regard since 1965 when the Council was last expanded in the nonpermanent category alone.” Harish pointed to three key factors hindering progress: the ineffective intergovernmental negotiation process, the insistence on consensus by some countries, and the lack of representation for the Global South. “First, the nature of the process of the intergovernmental negotiations itself. Sixteen years since its inception, the IGN remains largely confined to exchanging statements, speaking at rather than with each other. No negotiating text, no time frame and no defined end goal. Second, there is the argument pushed by a select few countries who favour the status quo of consensus. They argue that even before we begin text-based negotiations, we must all agree on everything. Surely we cannot have a more extreme case of putting the cart before the horse. Third, As a member of the Global South, we believe that representation stands as the unassailable prerequisite for both the legitimacy and effectiveness of not just the Council, but the United Nations as a whole. Younger multilateral frameworks have been much more adaptive and nimbler on their feet,” Harish said. He highlighted India’s commitment to cooperative and inclusive international relations, stressing that reform is essential for the UN’s legitimacy and credibility. He pointed to the example of the G20, where India’s presidency last year welcomed the African Union as a member, demonstrating that with political will, change is possible. “An example is the G20, which under India’s presidency last year, welcomed the African Union as its member. This is proof that with political will, change is indeed possible. The UN turns 80 next year. Tasked with the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council has too often find itself paralyzed by the geopolitical realities of today, which have evolved far beyond the realm of that of 1945,” he added. As the UN approaches its 80th anniversary, Harish urged member states to work constructively towards concrete outcomes on Security Council reforms, respecting the sentiments of the majority. He emphasized that convergences are not consensus and should not be used to delay meaningful change. “The world of today is vastly different from the world of 1945. We cannot go on with the relics of the past for the demands of the future. India has consistently championed a cooperative, inclusive, and consultative approach to international relations. We firmly believe that the calls for reform multilateralism, with Security Council reforms at its core, is supported by the overwhelming majority of the membership,” he said. “While we seek real, tangible progress in the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN), including with regard to development of a new model of reform of the Security Council, as a precursor to text-based negotiations, we urge caution on two counts. First, the search for a minimum threshold of input from member states should not lead to indeterminate period of waiting for them to present their model. Second, the development of a consolidated model based on convergences should not lead to a race to the bottom to trace the lowest common denominator. Convergences are not consensus. There is every danger that the search for such a lowest common denominator might be used as a smokescreen to attempt a mere tinkering of the existing framework of the UN Security Council and terming it as a major reform. This would indefinitely postpone significant elements such as the expansion in the permanent category and addressing the underrepresentation of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to a very distant future,” he added. In conclusion, Harish stated, “India is hopeful that the member states will work constructively to ensure a concrete outcome on UN Security Council reforms. An outcome that respects the sentiments of the major through the time-tested manner of negotiations. The legitimacy and credibility of the UN must be preserved by updating it. That indeed should be our resolution for the UN’s 80th anniversary.” (ANI)

INDIA THIS WEEK



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