FRIDAY MARCH 8, 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: 10 WASHINGTON DC • Phone: 301-445-0200 /301-445-3543/301-917-4800 • email: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday March 8, 2024 “Whatever pain I have gone through...”: DK Shivakumar after SC grants relief in money laundering case Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 5 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that justice has been delivered after the Supreme Court quashed the proceedings initiated against him in a money laundering case. Recalling the events of his arrest in 2019, the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said, “It is a big relief for me. Justice has been shown to me. I am very happy that the court has given me relief. I thank all the leaders and friends from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Whatever pain I have gone through, I remember from day one of my arrest, the way they arrested me and all the other things.” A bench of Justices, Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan, allowed the appeal filed by DK Shivakumar. DK Shivakumar has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Karnataka High Court order in 2019 Senior Advocate Siddhartha Luthra with advocates S Nagamuthu, Mayank Jain, and Madhur Jain Remember: appeared for the petitioner. Karnataka High Court has rejected DK Shivakumar‘s plea seeking quashing of the summons issued to him by the Enforcement Directorate to appear before the agency for investigation. ED had issued a summons in February 2019 to Shivakumar to appear before it. Earlier, the Income Tax department in 2017 conducted a search action at various premises in Delhi. Following the Income Tax complaint, ED registered a case in the matter and initiated proceedings against the Karnataka minister among others. The petitioner claimed that he is facing illegal proceedings commenced without jurisdiction, erroneously registered for investigating offence punishable under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. On the growing water crisis in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar assured the people of Bengaluru that there would be no water issues. “We will resolve it,” he said. (ANI) “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” –Proverbs Nikki Haley quits Republican presidential candidate race, paves way for Donald Trump dent Donald Trump during her announcement ending her presidential campaign but didn’t endorse him. “In all likelihood, Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our party convention meets in July. I congratulate him and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be America’s president. Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us,” Haley said. Haley added, “it is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that.” Accord- South Carolina [US], March 6 (ANI): Republican presidential candidate, Nikki Haley formally announced on Wednesday to end her Republican presidential candidate campaign, CNN reported. “The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets,” she said Wednesday in South Carolina. “Although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in,” she said while speaking from Charleston, South Carolina. Nikki Haley congratulated former Presi- NIKKI HALEY SEE PAGE 6 PM Modi inaugurates under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata; new streches to augment urban mobility Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 6 (ANI): In a historic stride towards augmenting urban transportation, the inauguration of three pivotal metro sections by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a transformative chapter for the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. These new stretches, collectively costing Rs 6,098.20 crore, promise to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, and significantly reduce the environmental footprint of daily commutes, said officials. At the heart of this infrastructural leap is the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, an engineering feat with a project outlay of Rs 4,138 crore. Extending over 4.8 km, this corridor includes India’s first transportation tunnel under any mighty river, presenting a lifeline across the Hooghly. The Howrah Metro Station, now the deepest metro station in India, along with the deepest Escape cum Ventilation Shaft at Strand Road, Kolkata, underscores the technological and engineering marvels this project brings to the fore. This section is not just a conduit but a bridge connecting two major railway terminuses, Howrah and Sealdah. It will boost the mass transport scenario of the region by providing fast train communication across the Hooghly for the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata, officials added. Significantly, this initiative is a giant leap towards improving air quality and reducing sound pollution, enhancing the quality of life for the region’s denizens. Parallelly, the Kavi Subhas-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch, constructed with an investment of Rs 1,435 crore, extends over 5.4 km, weaving through West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas. This corridor is a testament to the government’s commitment to UNDER RIVER METRO SEE PAGE 6
March 8, 2024 INDIA THIS WEEK Friday Over 40 Years Of Experience 5 FAMILY HAIRCUT $ MEN • WOMEN • CHILDREN ROOT TOUCH-UP FOR MEN 20 & up $ SERVICES • BEARD TRIM $500 $ • SHAMPOO 1000 • BLOW DRY $1000 $ 00 • PERM FROM 20 $ 00 • COLOR FROM 20 • HIGHLIGHTS FROM $3500 • SPA PEDICURE FROM $1700 Beauty & Barber Shop 7311 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 info@csbarbernschool.com India, France hold dialogue on disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons New Delhi [India], March 4 (ANI): India and France held a bilateral dialogue to discuss disarmament and non-proliferation relating to the nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The two sides also discussed space security, conventional weapons, including AI in the military domain, lethal autonomous weapon systems, and multilateral export control regimes. “India-France Bilateral Dialogue on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation was held on 4 March 2024 in New Delhi. The two sides discussed developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to the nuclear, chemical, biological domains, as well as outer space security, conventional weapons including AI in the military domain and Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, and multilateral export control regimes,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. Meanwhile, disarmament is one of the priority areas for India in the 78th UNGA session. New Delhi aims to take forward its pragmatic and constructive approach at the First Committee and UN Disarmament Commission by engaging with all partners on issues related to outer space, cyberspace, etc. The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly was opened on September 5, 2023. The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is a multilateral disarmament forum established in 1979. It operates under the auspices of the United Nations and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The primary objective of the CD is to negotiate and promote arms control and disarmament agreements. The presidency of the Conference on Disarmament rotates among its member states, with each president serving a four- week term. The presidency rotates according to the English alphabetical order of the names of member states. During its presidency, a member state has the responsibility of facilitating discussions and negotiations on disarmament issues. India has been a strong supporter of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. India’s stance is influenced by a number of factors, including its historical experiences, strategic interests, and desire for international recognition. India is steadfast in its commitment to the goal of universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. As a responsible nuclear weapon state, India is committed, as per its nuclear doctrine, to maintaining credible minimum deterrence with the posture of no-first-use and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. (ANI)
FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024 3
March 8, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Montgomery County Council Denies Permit for Commercial Development on Church Property Silver Spring, Maryland: The Montgomery County Council ruled against any commercial construction on the property that belongs to the Southern Asian Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SASDAC) in Silver Spring, Maryland. After the ruling, the County Council President Andrew Friedson released a statement saying, “The South Asian SeventhDay Adventist Church is such an integral part of the County...As we carefully deliberated over the Fairland-Briggs Chaney Plan and the future of East County, I was pleased to work closely with community members to ensure their concerns were addressed while confirming our housing and public policy goals can be achieved.” Supporting the ruling, Montgomery County Council member Kristin Mink said, “I’m grateful for the engagement and advo- cacy of community members, including our partners in the faith community, throughout the planning process. I’m proud to say that the Council listened, and we now have an incredibly exciting Fairland Briggs Chaney Master Plan that will open up exciting opportunities that East County residents have demanded for years.” The ruling comes as a relief to the church community as majority of the members were not in favor of a commercial complex in their backyard. “We are profoundly impressed by the Montgomery County Council’s recent ruling, which voted against the commercial development, which demonstrates a remarkable dedication to upholding the constitution and delivering justice impartially to the property bought by the hard work of the South Asian Adventist Community. Montgomery County Council’s decisions which favors the community against commerical developers is truly commendable. We are currently seeking justice for SASDAC’s property for internal use and not for big development. It is essential to recognize and appreciate such principled actions, which serve as a beacon of hope for the integrity of our church members and the minority communities around us which includes the Sikh Temple, Gas station owners, and other housing communities who like to discourage commerical development which potentially can lead to traffic congestions, violence, crime and immoral trafficking, which will negatively impact our youth. The New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore in Chandikhole, Odisha, today. The projects relate to sectors including oil and gas, railways, roads, transport and highways and atomic energy. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that, with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Maa Birja, a new stream of development started flowing today in Jajpur and Odisha. Noting the Jayanti of Biju Patnaik, the Prime Minister remembered his incomparable contribution to the nation and Odisha. Highlighting the inauguration and foundation stone laying of mega development projects worth about Rs 20,000 crores in the sectors of petroleum, natural gas, atomic energy, roadways, railways and connectivity today, the Prime Minister said that it will boost industrial activities in the region and create new employment opportunities. He congratulated the people of Odisha for the development projects of today. The Prime Minis- ter put forward the government’s approach of taking care of the present needs of the nation while working for the resolution of Viksit Bharat. He mentioned the efforts to enhance the capabilities of the Eastern states in the energy sector. Under the Urja Ganga Yojana, in the five big states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, major projects are underway for the supply of natural gas. PM Modi inaugurated a 344-kilometrelong product pipeline from Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal. He also inaugurated the Indian Oil Corporation Limited Mono Ethylene Glycol Project in Paradip Refinery and the 0.6 MMTPA LPG Import Facility at Paradip, which will bring a revolutionary change to the polyester industry of eastern India. This will also provide raw materials for the textile parks in Bhadrak and Paradip. Underscoring that today’s occasion is a symbol of the changing work culture in the country, the Prime Minister drew comparisons between the previous government, which never took an interest in completing the develop- ment projects, and the present government, which inaugurates the very projects on time whose foundation stones were laid. Referring to the development projects that were completed after 2014, the Prime Minister mentioned the Paradip Refinery, which became a topic of discussion in 2002 but no work was accomplished until the present government came to power in 2014. He also mentioned inaugurating the Paradip – Hyderabad Pipeline in Sangareddy, Telangana, yesterday and the 500km-long crude oil pipeline from Haldia to Barauni in Arambagh, West Bengal, three days ago. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the central government making use of the abundance of natural resources in Eastern India for the development of Odisha and spoke about the desalination plant in Ganjam district that will treat almost 50 lakh litres of saline water every day and make it suitable for drinking. The Prime Minister said that the central government is focusing on modern connectivity in Odisha so that local resources increase the economy of the state. The Prime Minister said that in the last 10 years, with 3000 km of national highways, the railway budget has increased 12-fold. He stated that to improve rail-highway-Port connectivity, national highways are being expanded in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Khorda, Ganjam, Puri and Kendujhar. He said the new Angul Sukinda railway line will open up the development of the Kalinga Nagar industrial area. The Prime Minister concluded the address by paying tribute to Biju Patnaik on his birth anniversary and congratulating the citizens for the development projects of today. Governor of Odisha, Raghubar Das; Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik; and Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, were present on the occasion, among others. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Oil Corporation Limited Mono Ethylene Glycol Project in Paradip Refinery, which will further help in reducing India’s import dependency. He also inaugurated a 344-kilometre-long product pipeline Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson. Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink Church property should be dedicated for community center, elderly care and healthcare center.....” said one member who wish to remain anonymous. He further added that, “it is now imperative that we reach out to the diverse population by growing multilingual ministries opening doors for other Asian communities. It is not in the best interest of the church to promote commercial enterprises against its own mission. This property belongs to the members of this church. They are the second highest contributors to the Conference because of its highly educated members which includes professionals, entrepreneurs and business stalwarts. It is the fastest growing Adventist community in the region.” traversing from Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal. To augment the import infrastructure on the Eastern Coast of India, PM Modi inaugurated the 0.6 MMTPA LPG import facility at Paradip. In order to boost road infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation four lanings of the Singhara to Binjabahal Section of NH-49; four lanings of Binjabahal to Tileibani Section of NH-49; four landings of Balasore-Jharpokharia Section of NH-18; and four lanings of Tangi-Bhubaneswar Section of NH-16. He will also lay the foundation stone for the eight lanings of Chandikhole – Paradip Section at Chandikhole. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, 162 km Bansapani – Daitari – Tomka – Jakhapura Rail Line. It will not only enhance the existing traffic facility’s capacity but also facilitate efficient transportation of iron and manganese ore from Keonjhar District to the nearest ports and steel plants, significantly contributing to regional economic growth. The inauguration of the CONCOR Container Depot in Kalinga Nagar was also done to boost domestic and international trade. The foundation stone was laid for the Electric Loco Periodical Overhauling Workshop at Narla, the Waggon Periodical Overhauling Workshop at Kantabanji and the upgradation and augmentation of maintenance facilities at Baghuapal. Other railway projects include the flagging off of new train services. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 5 MLD capacity seawater desalination plant at Odisha Sands Complex of IREL (I) Ltd. This project has been built as part of the field applications of indigenous desalination technologies developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. (ANI) PM Modi unveils multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crores in Odisha
FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024 5
PM Modi inaugurates under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata; new streches to augment urban mobility UNDER RIVER METRO FROM PAGE 1 decongesting road traffic around the bustling Eastern Metropolitan Bypass Road. It will be a gift to the people of Kolkata. Commissioning of the stretch from Kavi Subhas (KKSO) to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (KHMD) will facilitate seamless movement of passengers from Canning, Diamond Harbour, and Namkhana (Suburban Railway-Sealedah South Section of Eastern Railway) to various important places, including passport offices, government offices, schools, colleges, universities, film institutes, stadiums, etc. located in Kolkata South regions, officials said. The inauguration of the Taratala-Majerhat stretch, a crucial part of the Joka-Esplanade line, with a budget of Rs 525.20 crore for Phase II covering 1.25 km, introduces an elevated metro station unique in its design over railway lines, platforms, and a canal. It will provide connectivity with the EMU service of the Sealdah-Budge Budge section and the Circular Railway of Eastern Railway at the Majerhat Station for the population of South Kolkata residing away from the main city but coming to the main city on mass every day for their livelihood, officials added. It will provide another means of passenger transportation for the congestion of traffic on Diamond Harbour Road in Joka-Majerhat. These projects collectively herald a new era in Kolkata’s urban transport narrative, promising a more connected, sustainable and livable urban environment. By facilitating efficient public transport options, the city is set on a path to reducing its carbon footprint while improving the daily lives of its citizens. (ANI) From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- March 8, 2024 INDIA THIS WEEK Nikki Haley quits Republican presidential candidate race, paves way for Donald Trump NIKKI HALEY FROM PAGE 1 ing to the report, Haley had emerged as former President Donald Trump’s sole rival in the Republican presidential primary campaign, and while he rolled to victory in 14 of the 15 GOP contests on Super Tuesday, she foiled a possible clean sweep by winning in Vermont. Soon after Nikki Haley suspended her campaign, former President Donald Trump posted on social media that the former South Carolina governor “trounced” on Super Tuesday and invited her supporters to join his political movement, CNN reported. “Nikki Haley got trounced last night, in record-setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries. Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50%, according to the polls,” Trump posted. He continued, “At this point, I hope she stays in the “race” and fights it out until the end! I’d like to thank my family, friends, and the Great Republican Party for helping me to produce, by far, the most successful Super Tuesday in history, and I would further like to invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our nation.” Across the Republican primaries on Super Tuesday, Haley won just 43 of the Republican delegates, while Trump won 764. Ahead of the South Carolina primary in February, Haley vowed to stay in the race through to Super Tuesday on March 5, saying she would continue to compete in the primary “until the last person votes, because I believe in a better America and a brighter future for our kids.” Earlier on Monday, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley defeated former US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, in the Republican primary, according to The Hill projections. Haley garnered 1,274 votes to former Pres- INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352, Bryans Road, MD 20616 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online 2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, 3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both. 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. 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 ident Trump’s 676 with all precincts reporting, according to the US-based news daily. This is her first victory over the former president in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate. The contest took place in a downtown hotel just steps away from the heart of Washington, DC’s lobbying hub, over the weekend. According to Republican Party officials, Haley carried nearly 63 per cent of the vote, Politico reported. Nikki Haley’s win in the Washington, DC Republican primary came after Trump defeated her in caucuses in Missouri and Idaho and at a Republican convention in Michigan on Saturday. Trump is moving towards the GOP nomination and is favoured to secure wins in primaries across 16 Super Tuesday states this week. Meanwhile, President Biden and former President Donald J Trump emerged from Super Tuesday having amassed huge delegate hauls in California, Texas, and beyond, moving closer to their parties’ nominations and setting up a rematch for the White House in November. (ANI) Agartala (Tripura) [India], March 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday said that under the Agartala Smart City Projects Limited, a total of 65 projects have been initiated, with 57 projects completed and 8 projects currently under implementation. Dr Saha highlighted that the Smart City Mission, a program of urban renewal and rehabilitation by the Central Government, aims to make 100 cities citizen-friendly and sustainable across the country. “Agartala Smart City became operational on November 18, 2016. It has undertaken a total of 65 projects under the Smart City Mission. Currently, 57 projects have been completed, and 8 projects are in progress. The Smart City Mission received a total allocation of Rs 490.00 crore as central share and Rs 51.02 crore as state share. As of March 4 this year, Rs 459.57 crores of the central share and Rs 49.36 crores of the state share have been spent,” stated Dr Saha on the last day of the Tripura Legislative Assembly session. He mentioned one of the ongoing projects, the ‘Howrah Riverfront Development Project‘ under the CITIIS project, with a total cost of Rs 99.00 crore. The work is currently in progress, and the expenditure till March 4, 2024, is Rs 53.54 crores. The central share received for this project is Rs 45.90 crore, and the state share is Rs 48.00 crore. The Chief Minister detailed various projects implemented under the Agartala Smart City Mission, such as flood management and monitoring systems, the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), and infrastructure development for flood-prone areas. “Completed projects under this scheme include Chatra Sangha Ponds, JN Bari Pond Park, development of three ponds near MBB College, Dimsagar, junction beautification, Queen’s Pond, and the development of Albert Eka War Memorial,” mentioned Dr Saha. Among 65 projects, 57 completed, 8 under progress: Dr Manik Saha on Agartala Smart City Projects 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
FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024 7
March 8, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Delhi High Court sets aside suspension of seven BJP MLAs New Delhi [India], March 6 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has set aside the suspension of seven BJP MLAs from the Delhi Legislative Assembly for an indefinite time. They had challenged their suspension before the High Court. These MLAs were suspended on February 16 over a disturbance caused during an address by the LG in the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly on February 15. Justice Subramonium Prasad allowed the three petitions moved by seven MLAs and set aside their suspension. A detailed judgement is yet to be uploaded. The Delhi High Court on February 27, reserved its order on the pleas of seven BJP MLAs who challenged their suspension from the Delhi legislative Assembly for an indefinite period. During the hearing, the High Court had asked the privilege committee to hold its hand from taking action. The matter was referred to the committee after the suspension. BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta, Ajay Kumar Mahavar, Abhay Verma, Anil Kumar Vajpayee, OP Sharma, Mohan Singh Bisht and Jitendra Mahajan challenged their suspension. These seven MLAs were suspended for allegedly disturbing the Delhi Assembly on February 15 during an address by the LG. The High Court reserved its order after hearing the arguments by Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta, Kirti Uppal and Pavan Narang for the MLAs. Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog and advocate Sameer Vasisht appeared for the respondent. It is contended that the motion for suspension of MLAs was unconstitutional and violative of their constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19 and 22 of the Constitution of India. The senior advocates submitted that they were punished for their alleged misconduct by being marshalled out by the Speaker. Then, how can a motion be passed in this regard. How can they be punished twice for a single act of violation, the counsel argued. It was further argued that in passing the motion, the procedures were not followed as it had mentioned MLAs against whom it was passed. The matter was also referred to the privilege committee. Secondly, the MLAs have been suspended until the disposal of the matter by the privilege committee. This is an indefinite period. The suspension can not be for an indefinite period. The Counsels further argued that MLAs represent a constituency and that the same cannot be left unrepresented for an indefinite period. It was also argued that the MLAs’ right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 of the Constitution of India has also been violated. They are representatives of people in their constituency and therefore the rights of the people are also violated. During the earlier hearing, the counsels for MLAs also submitted that there were some political comments made on the issue like What you did with Rajya Sabha members of AAP. This matter is being compared to that of Raaghav Chaddha to give it a political colour, the counsels said. It should not be done while the matter is before the court of law, the counsel had submitted. Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog had appeared for Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker and submitted. It was argued that an MLA can not be suspended for an indefinite period of time. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta submitted that Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 6 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday attended the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) meeting over seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “Seat sharing has been done well,” he said. He further gave an insight of the meeting stating that his (Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Prakash Ambedkar) proposal was also discussed, adding to which, he said, “If needed, we will have a meeting with him once again.” Congress leader and former Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat also attended the key meeting on seat sharing and said that the meeting was good, adding to which he said, “We are hopeful that the results will also be the same.” “The next meeting will be held soon,” he concluded. After the meeting, the President of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi, Prakash Ambedkar said that the discussion was positive and that further discussions would take place in the next meeting. seven out of eight MLSs have been suspended for an indefinite, undefined period of time for representing the true factual position before the LG during his address on February 15, 2024. He had also submitted that a motion for suspension of seven BJP MLs was passed with a voice vote for an indefinite period on February 16, 2024. The court asked how the rules were violated and whether a petition can be heard when a privilege committee is hearing the matter. Senior advocate Mehta submitted that the Supreme Court has already said that you can not suspend for an indefinite period. There is a graded punishment that has to be followed. The privilege committee is hearing the matter and the punishment has been given, he added. The maximum punishment can be given for three days in the first incident. This is the first punishment, Mehta submitted. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta submitted that it is punishment if I am not allowed to participate as an MLA. The motion for suspension of BJP MLAs was introduced by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey and passed by a voice vote. It was submitted on behalf of MLA Ajay Kumar Mahavar that the LG was addressing the House on February 15. Certain assertions were made in the speech of LG that were factually. It was objected to. My objection was factual and to ensure the sanctity of the house is maintained. Despite this, seven out of eight MLAs were marshalled out, senior advocate Mehta submitted. Interestingly, some of the MLAs of the ruling Alliance but of these, a party leader (Bihar CM Nitish Kumar) switched sides. His history is of ‘Palti’ (switching sides). He is a master of Palti. Out of 28 parties, 27 were left and later one more party left the INDIA bloc and joined the NDA. So we became 26. But I want to say that 26 parties are strong,” he added. The Congress leader further said, “Now out of 28 parties, 26 parties are with us and one or two more parties may join us in Maharashtra. We are strong and our seat-sharing formula in Jammu and Kashmir is being finalised. There has been some delay (referring to the seat-sharing issue) in West Bengal but the Congress Party has finalised the seat-sharing with all the other parties. Only two states left are West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir.” (ANI) Seat sharing has been done, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut after Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting On Tuesday, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress party has finalised its seat sharing with all other parties of the INDIA bloc except in West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir. The Congress leader remarked while addressing a press conference in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district, where he arrived with Rahul Gandhi leading Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. “There were a total of 28 parties in the INDIA To Place Advertisements Call: 301-917-4800 Email: indiathisweekads@gmail.com www.indiathisweek.online party were also disturbing the house, he added. It was also stated that they were allowed to attend the postlunch session. Out of nowhere and contrary to the rules, a motion was moved by a member of the ruling party and it was passed by a voice vote. Justice Prasad had said, “When you are marshalled out, according to you that is in compliance of Rule 44. Your principal argument is that you are now being punished twice for the same argument. Let’s assume a person is so disorderly that once you have been marshalled out does it take away the right of the privileges committee to examine if a stricter punishment is needed to be imposed?” The bench also said that there is a limitation to interference with the affairs of the house. Delhi BJP MLAs, who were suspended for the remainder of the Budget session of the Delhi Assembly, have moved to the Delhi High Court and challenged the decision of their suspension. The matter was mentioned before the bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, which allowed for a listing of the matter. Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta mentioned the matter before the bench on behalf of the BJP MLAs. It was submitted that the suspension of opposition MLAs is completely wrong and their right to participate in the proceedings is being affected. Mehta, while mentioning it, also submitted that the motion to suspend the MLAs is unconstitutional and contrary to the rules. The budget session of the Delhi assembly began on February 15, 2024, with the LG outlining the policies, programmes and work of the AAP-led Delhi government in the fields of education, health, transport, social welfare, infrastructure, etc. It was alleged that as LG Saxena began his speech mentioning AAP’s achievements, BJP MLA and former leader of opposition Vijender Gupta interrupted. Later, other BJP MLAs also continued interrupting LG’s speech while he highlighted various achievements of the government. (ANI)
FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024 9 Chief Election Commissioner Centre approves new weekly train service between Tanakreviews poll preparations in pur- Dehradun; CM Dhami exUttar Pradesh presses gratitude to PM Modi Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 3 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reviewed the preparations in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. After reviewing the preparedness for the forthcoming polls, Rajiv Kumar, addressed a press conference, where he said, that strict instructions have been given to the election officials to increase the voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh. “We have been reviewing here for three days, UP is the largest state in the state. Our endeavour is to provide the best election experience and be fair. All political parties should be given equal status so that there is no discrimination,” Rajiv Kumar said. He said that transparent elections will be ensured in the entire country, including Uttar Pradesh. He also said that the election schedule will be announced soon. “Seven political parties came to meet us here, including state and regional parties. The demand of those political parties was that there should be fair elections and a level playing field. And all officers and police should be ordered to conduct fair elections,” he said. He said that officers and police have been instructed to work impartially. All election expenses will be paid by cheque or through digital transactions. The Chief Election Commissioner said that there was apprehension among political parties regarding EVMs. All parties have demanded that the movement of EVMs be done in government vehicles only, he said. The Chief Election Commissioner said that this time there are 15.29 crore voters in UP. Some booths in the state will be made for Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], March 1 (ANI): The Central Government has approved a new weekly train service between Tanakpur and Dehradun, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday. “Accepting the women and disabled people. People over 85 years of age will have the facility to cast their vote from home. Along with this, separate booths will be made in multi-storey buildings. The Chief Election Commissioner said that this time, three apps are being launched. Through an app, voters can directly complain to the Election Commission about inducements, distribution of liquor and misuse of money during elections. Voter Helpline is another application from which voters can get infor- mation. Through the Know Your Candidate application, the voter will be able to get all the information about the candidates. He said that 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh share borders with nine states. Seven districts share a border with neighbouring Nepal. All the security agencies will work here on the border. He said that the RBI has been told that cash vans from banks will not operate after 5 pm. He said that the responsibility of conducting fair elections will be that of the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. (ANI) earlier request, the Central Government has approved a new weekly train service between Tanakpur-Dehradun,” the Chief Minister’s office said on Friday. CM Dhami earlier in April last year and urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to introduce Janshatabdi train service between Tanakpur and Dehradun and a Shatabdi Express train service between Delhi and Ramnagar. “At present Dehradun-Kathgodam Janshatabdi is the only train service connecting Kumaon and Garhwal. On The Nepal border, the traffic of the people there also happens from Tanakpur only, so the operation of the Janshatabdi train service between Tanakpur-Dehradun is necessary,” the CM had said. CM Dhami has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on behalf of all the people of the state for the approval of the train service. The Chief Minister said that the launch of this rail service will definitely provide better transportation facilities to the local people. (ANI)
Fleepit Digital © 2021