Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming the appointment of M. Nageswara Rao as the CBI’s interim director “illegal” and demanded that a meeting of the selection committee be convened immediately to appoint a new chief of the probe agency.
Kharge, who is part of the prime minister, headed three member panel that removed Alok Verma as CBI chief, alleged that the government is scared of CBI led by an “independent” director. He also demanded that the government come clean on the issues and make the CVC report public, Justice A.K. Patnaik’s report and minutes of the January 10 meeting.
Rao’s appointment as CBI interim chief is “illegal”, the Congress leader wrote in the letter. Barely two days after the Supreme Court reinstated him; Verma was removed as CBI director on last Thursday by the high powered committee headed by PM Modi on charges of the corruption and dereliction of duty, in an unprecedented action in the 55 years history of central probe agency.
There were eight charges against Verma in the CVC report presented before the committee that also comprised Kharge and Justice A.K. Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee.
The Kerala Lokayukta has admitted that a complaint alleging misuse of Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) issued a notice to Pinarayi Vijayan and the other state ministers on it. A full bench comprising Lokayukta Justice Pius C. Kuriakose, and Upa-lokayuktas Justices K.P. Balachandran and A.K. Basheer on Tuesday decided to admit a complaint filed by R.S. Sashi Kumar.
The bench was constituted after there was a difference of opinion among the Lokayukta and one of the Upa-lokayuktas regarding the jurisdiction of the agency to probe disbursement of assistance from CMDRF, an official statement said.
The bench decided that the complaint was maintainable before the Lokayukta and ordered notice to the respondents – Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other state ministers.
While admitting the complaint, the Lokayukta clarified in the order that he had not found any of the party to be guilty of the allegations levelled against them. He said that it was only found that there was warrant for admitting the complaint and conducting an investigation whether anybody is guilty or whether any declaration under relevant section of the law is liable to be issued in respect of any of the respondents.
Justice K.P. Balachandran was of the view that the complaint was liable to be inquired into and the Kerala Lokayukta cannot avoid conducting a probe while accepting the contention that it was a cabinet decision and all the decisions of the government were liable to be inquired into. However, Justice A.K. Basheer, who dissented with the majority decision, was of the opinion that the chief minister, on his own, had wide discretionary powers to allot funds to deserving families. The actions assailed were not taken by the chief minister alone but by the entire Cabinet and those administrative decisions taken by the state Cabinet cannot be subjected to judicial scrutiny.
The complaint alleged “favouritism” in sanctioning financial aid from the fund to the NCP leader late Uzhavoor Vijayan, former CPI(M) MLA late K.K. Ramachandran Nair and to the family of Praveen, a civil police officer who died in an accident while undertaking escort duty for ruling CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The complainant sought disqualification of the chief minister and the other ministers for misusing the fund. The case has been posted for a detailed hearing on February 15, the statement said.
It refers to the media-reports about fresh controversy erupted in appointment of judges at the Supreme Court where new collegiums formed with induction of Justice Arun Mishra subsequent to retirement of Justice Madan Lokur from Supreme Court on December 30, 2018, is said to have changed earlier recommendation for elevating Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Rajendra Menon now for elevating Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Sanjeev Khanna to Supreme Court Report further suggests about now-retired Justice J Chalmeshwar having written on March 21, 2018, some letter to the then Chief Justice Deepak Mishra and other judges about alleged impropriety of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari having made direct communication with the central government.
All such happenings tend to create wrong image amongst members of public about happenings at the Supreme Court, which can and should be effectively checked by inducing transparency in appointment of judges of higher courts and about correspondence made involving Chief Justice of India and other judges which are subject-matters of long-pending stay-orders by Supreme Court on CIC-verdicts in WPC 32855 and 32856 of the year 2009. The Chief Justice of India should in larger interest of all concerned ensure finality on these two long-pending matters.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
The win of Congress in three big states has increased the reputation and significance of Congress is also big, that even in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BSP alliance is formed with the Congress in the two states If there is unity in Congress in Uttar Pradesh, even political analyst says that if Congress is successful in the states, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will not be able to ignore the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, which became the fourth largest power in the Uttar Pradesh, they can become a factor and in Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati and Akhilesh can force the Congress to join this alliance for the kind of union that Congress and Rahul Gandhi played an important role in Bihar; this alliance was defeated by Modi and Amit Shah’s pair and now in the same year in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. Now only we can say that unity We stand divided We fall.
Hafiz Muhammad Ilyas
Mid-term Parliamentary polls in 2020?
The 2019 looks dicey for Indian politics with no single party heading towards a majority in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. The UP gathbandhan between SP-BSP has spoilt all maths and similar alliances minus Congress-BJP cannot be ruled out in other States as well. The NDA led by BJP could still emerge as the single largest alliance but will still be way short of the majority to form a govt. The UPA led by Congress could be close second after decisive wins in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh but would still struggle to cross 200 which means the 3rd front named as ‘Mahagathbandhan’ would call the shots that would be a disaster.
A coalition alliance between Mamta, Mayawatti, Mulayam, Lalu, and their tribe would be a disaster for not just Indian politics but economy as well. A hung Parliament cannot be ruled out and I would go to the extent of predicting a mid-term parliamentary poll in 2020 as well which would be harakari on the nation. Looks impossible but Congress should give outside support to the NDA led by BJP to dissuade Mahagathbandhan from forming the government if the need arises!
S.N.Kabra
Flight delays
The Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru is witnessing consistent early morning flight delays owing to prevailing weather conditions. Fog has played havoc causing unscheduled delays, disruptions in runways and thus leading to cascading delays across the check-in counters and at the airport. At a time when the airport is rejoicing with many milestones related to notable infrastructural improvements and passenger traffic achievements, it is high time that the present runway be equipped with advanced technology to enable landing and take offs during the early morning fog.
Many passengers get affected owing to unscheduled delays daily. Also most of people use the airport mainly for the purpose of business and official travel visits, which happens normally in the mornings after 10 am upon landing at the destination from Bengaluru and hence catching an early morning flight is highly essential. The otherwise ‘safety’ trade-off factor owing to fog delayed flights will cost the passengers time and money spent who invest heavily on flight travel to cut travel time.
As also it is known that the upcoming Runway 2 at KIA will be equipped with the advanced CAT IIIB ILS technology that will enable seamless landing during the foggy conditions, it is also high time to look into upgrading the existing runway infrastructure with necessary advanced technology. Further the Hon’ble Ministry of Civil Aviation and AAI should also look into formulating a strategy to equip all the important domestic and international airports with advanced technology to enable smooth landing. Such a move will avoid disruption in flight operations owing to the rapidly changing climate change conditions as witnessed over past few years across India.
Varun S D
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Harry Potter fans are getting a Muggle-created pensive as a range of limited edition memorable moments from the beloved book series are set to be released in the first ever fine art collection from the franchise. According to Digital Spy, Universal Studios and Classic Stills have joined hands to announce the new range of prints from the first book, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”.
This will be later followed up by the collections for all eight of the Harry Potter films over the next few years. Subsequent collections will be released from the other films in chronological order. Potter maniacs will also get a chance to help participate in curating the collections by pointing out the scenes or the moments they would most like to display.
A “Doctor Who” collection is also on the horizon, with Classic Stills also teaming up with the BBC. The line-up will comprise 20 pieces spanning the show’s history which will include all 13 actors to have played a main incarnation of the Time Lord. A date is yet to be announced.
Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul’s recent controversy at a television show named Koffe with Karan that had grabbed the spotlight soon after the Indian cricket players were suspened. Now, a Mumbai-based Khar Gymkhana has revoked all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s honorary membership of the club.
The cricketer, along with opener KL Rahul, was earlier suspended pending inquiry by the BCCI for making sexist comments on a television show.
“The three-year honorary membership was given to Hardik Pandya in October 2018. But the club’s Managing Committee on Monday evening decided to revoke the membership,” Khar Gymkhana’s honorary general secretary Gaurav Kapadia told agencies.
Kapadia informed that such honorary memberships were given to sports persons by the club.
Another club official said the committee took up the issue following the backlash over the comments.
Khar Gymkhana is one of the better known clubs in Mumbai.
A BCCI official had on Monday said that the two suspended cricketers had tendered apologies.
Pandya and Rahul, during an appearance on the ‘Koffee with Karan’ show, spoke about hookups with multiple women and being casual about it even with their parents.
January 14, the Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan) day heralded the change of season. An event is best experienced at the heart of all the action. Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan – the kite flying festival in Ahmedabad – the world heritage city is synonymous with kite flying. It is celebrated across the country in different ways and the cultural significance of the festival varies geographically.
Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervor, and gaiety. The word ‘Makar’ means Capricorn and ‘Sankranti’ is a transition. The term Uttarayana is derived from two different Sanskrit words “Uttara” (North) and “Ayana” (movement), thus indicating a northward movement of the Sun on the celestial sphere.
Kite flyers from across the country and the world join the international kite festival in Ahmedabad every year. Kite enthusiasts from across India and also foreign countries are participating in the week-long festival that is being celebrated across cities in Gujarat. The festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. The days become longer, the skies cleared and the breeze cooler. A feeling of anticipation, joy and jubilation grips all who celebrate the occasion of thanksgiving and merry-making. Being popular as the Kite festival in Gujarat, it is also famous as the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated on the same day of the English Calendar every year.
Kite flying during Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan is an important part of the celebrations. One of the reasons is that as it is a time of thanksgiving, it is also a time to be happy. Though Kite festival is celebrated all over Gujarat, it is the most exciting in the capital city of Ahmedabad. The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) in Ahmedabad is regarded as one of the biggest festivals celebrated. Months before the festival, homes in Gujarat begin to manufacture kites for the festival.
Today, manufacturing of kites is a serious business. It attracts big names of the corporate world as kites provide for the most cost-effective opportunity for branding. Kites for Uttarayan are made of special light-weight paper and bamboo and are mostly rhombus shaped with a central spine and a single bow. The festival gives a boost to the kite industry which employs around 3 lakh people. A visit to the Patang (Kite) Bazaar in the middle of the night proves beyond all doubt that the entire population of Ahmedabad city is obsessed with kites and they crowd the streets and buy the stocks while negotiating and enjoying through the night. The Patang Bazaar is open 24 hours a day during the Uttarayan week.
All sorts of colourful shiny toys act as accompaniments to the kites. On Uttarayan, in Ahmedabad, the sky is full of colourful kites of all sizes and shapes. One finds an unequalled experience. In the major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Jamnagar the skies appear filled with thousands upon thousands of kites as people enjoy two full days of Uttarayan on their terraces. Wonderful and appealing kites in various shapes and hues decorate the sky like a thousand fowls.
On this day, locals are hardly seen on the streets as everybody takes to the rooftop of their respective houses to fly kites. In Gujarat, a special winter vegetable called undhiyo is the specialty of the day. It’s a preparation of several beans, roots, and other local seasonal vegetables. It does not matter what your background or beliefs are but if you are in Gujarat on January 15, you will doubt find yourself flying kites with everyone sharing fun and pleasure.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for receiving the Philip Kotler Presidential award, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he wants to “congratulate” him on winning “the world famous” prize that has no jury and has never been given out before.
Gandhi’s jibe comes a day after Modi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award here. The award focuses on the triple bottom line of ‘people, profit and planet’. It will be offered annually to the leader of a nation, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
I want to congratulate our PM on winning the world famous ‘Kotler Presidential Award’. In fact it’s so famous that neither it has jury nor it has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company. Event Partners: Patanjali & Republic TV :), Gandhi said on Twitter
According to the award citation, Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership for the nation”.
I want to congratulate our PM, on winning the world famous “Kotler Presidential Award”!
In fact it’s so famous it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said Justice Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the five-judge constitution bench which delivered the verdict allowing all women inside the Sabarimala temple, is on leave “due to some medical reasons”. The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it may not start hearing pleas seeking a review of the Sabarimala verdict from January 22 as one of the judges is on medical leave.
The bench, which also comprised Justices L Nageswara Rao and SK Kaul, said the hearing, which is scheduled to start from January 22, may not take place.
The observation came after lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara mentioned the petition filed by the National Ayyappa Devotees’ Association (NADA) and sought live streaming of the hearing on the petitions seeking review of the apex court’s verdict on January 22.
NADA asked for live streaming and video recording of the court proceedings during the hearing of the review petitions so “justice is made accessible to common man”.
If the proceedings are allowed to be telecast, millions of devotees of Lord Ayyappa, not merely in Kerala, but all over the world, will have the opportunity to hear and watch what transpired in the court, it said.
“There cannot be an issue of greater importance of public interest or concern than the Sabarimala case. Video recording of the said case would mean the entire proceeding thereof being perpetually available for posterity,” the petition said.
On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by the then chief justice Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 verdict paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the temple, saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination.
The temple in Kerala has been witnessing violent protests since the verdict.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would hear after four weeks a plea by Zakia Jafri challenging the clean chit by the SIT to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots.
Zakia, the wife of Ehsan Jafri, an ex-MP who was killed in one of the worst incidents during the riots, has challenged the Gujarat High Court’s October 5, 2017, order rejecting her plea against the SIT’s decision.
The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi, and the counsel appearing for the petitioner said they have circulated a letter seeking adjournment of the hearing.
“You are asking for four weeks and we are giving your four weeks. List the matter after four weeks,” the bench said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the past governments at the Centre for ruling like “sultanates” and neglecting the country’s rich heritage.
He said that the government led by him is committed not only to conserving and preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage but also to clubbing ancient identities with modernity.
“Past governments ruled like Sultanates and neglected our rich heritage. They ignored our glorious civilisation and failed to pay attention to their preservation,” Modi said at a BJP rally in this western Odisha town.
The Prime Minister said that some people are even opposing celebration of International Yoga Day without understanding that yoga is India’s ancient asset.
Claiming that priceless antique pieces and ancient idols were stolen and moved out of the country in the past, he said that the NDA government has taken concrete steps to bring back the precious idols from abroad.
“In the last four years, many such idols have already been brought back,” Modi said.
Before addressing the rally, the Prime Minister unveiled a slew of projects worth Rs 1,550 crore for Odisha.
Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming the appointment of M. Nageswara Rao as the CBI’s interim director “illegal” and demanded that a meeting of the selection committee be convened immediately to appoint a new chief of the probe agency.
January 14, the Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan) day heralded the change of season. An event is best experienced at the heart of all the action. Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan – the kite flying festival in Ahmedabad – the world heritage city is synonymous with kite flying. It is celebrated across the country in different ways and the cultural significance of the festival varies geographically.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said Justice Indu Malhotra, the lone woman judge of the five-judge constitution bench which delivered the verdict allowing all women inside the Sabarimala temple, is on leave “due to some medical reasons”. The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it may not start hearing pleas seeking a review of the Sabarimala verdict from January 22 as one of the judges is on medical leave.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the past governments at the Centre for ruling like “sultanates” and neglecting the country’s rich heritage.