The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the green tribunal’s order of setting aside the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to close Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin.
A bench, headed by Justice R.F. Nariman, sought response from Vedanta on the state government’s appeal against the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) order to reopen the plant.
The state had moved to the top court, saying that the NGT has erroneously set aside various orders regarding Sterlite plant which were passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) last year. It had said that the tribunal had consequentially directed the TNPCB to pass afresh orders of renewal of consent and issue authorisation to handle hazardous substances to the Vedanta Limited.
On December 15, the NGT had set aside the state government’s order for closure of the Sterlite copper plant, saying that it was “non sustainable” and “unjustified”.
Sony is all set to bring out a sequel of the the 2018 science-ficton thriller “Venom”.
As The Hollywood Reporter reported, Kelly Marcel, the writer of the original film, is penning the sequel while its plot details remain undisclosed.
The first film had Eddie Brock, a journalist who “follows people who don’t want to be followed”, attempts to pull down Carlton Drake, the notoriously brilliant founder of “Life Foundation”. While investigating one of Drake’s projects, Eddie comes into contact with an alien venom that shares his body and in return gives him superpowers.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film is based on the famous Marvel character. The cast list of the 2018 movie included Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson and Jenny Slate.
The fans were treated to the Marvel feature in October last year. While the reviews were disappointing, the film ended up with a pretty decent box office collection of $855 million globally.
BSP chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that the Union Cabinet’s decision to give a 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to the economically backward general section was an election stunt and political gimmick for upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, she said that her party welcomes the immature move by the government. “It would have been better if the BJP party had taken the decision much earlier, while, now it’s evident that the party is on its way out,” she added.
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the quota for economically weaker sections. The move came as the upper castes, a staunch support base of the BJP, have shown signs of drifting away from the ruling party ahead of Lok Sabha polls which is likely to be held in April-May.
Mayawati said her party has demanded reservation for economically weak Muslims and other minority communities but BJP did not do “justice” to them and that is condemnable. Her reaction came a day after other opposition parties too questioned the timing of the Cabinet decision. But they have also extended support, reflecting the decision’s political significance whereas the BJP has termed the government decision “historic”.
“The party had written a letter in this regard to the government but Centre took a narrow and communal stand and provided the benefit to only a particular section (upper caste), which is injustice for other sections,” Said Mayawati.
“In reality, there should be review of reservation provided to SC/ST and OBC and these sections should be provided reservation as per their population by increasing their quota by amending the Constitution,” Mayawati said, demanding the implementation of quota in promotions.
The Union government is likely to bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament to provide the quota over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation.
Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision. The benefit of the reservation, when implemented, is likely to be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs eight lakh and have up to five acres of land.
The hit medical series – “Grey’s Anatomy” has bagged three extra additional episodes as ABC has ordered, bringing the total count up to 25.
The show, fronted by Ellen Pompeo, currently ranks as No 1 series in the network from the 2018-19 broadcast season.The showrunner of the series created by Shonda Rhimes is Krista Vernoff.
As the Hollywood Reporter reported, this certain development has the series closing in to become the longest-running primetime medical drama on television ever.
Pompeo, now earning $575,000 per episode, inked a new two-year contract with the ABC Studios for seasons 15 and the potential 16 instalment of the show last January. The deal also gives her a producer tag on the long-running medical drama, along with a co-executive producer credit on its upcoming spin-off.
“Grey’s Anatomy” returns for the second half of season 15 on January 17.
The government on Tuesday introduced a quota bill in Lok Sabha for 10% reservation in educational institutions and job sectors for the economically backward section in the general category.
The Bill, approved by the Union Cabinet on last Monday was brought into Lok Sabha on the last day of the winter session.
Union Minister: Thawar Chand Gahlot introducd the bill in the house amid protests by Samajwadi Party. The deavte regarding the bill is expected to start by 2 pm.
A new government in Bangladesh sworn-in on January 7, 2019, with Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister. This is in fact the third consecutive term for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has very successfully transformed Bangladesh into the fastest growing economy in the world. A number of countries already have greeted the newly elected government and renewed their commitment of working with Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
The United States has commended the tens of millions of Bangladeshis who voted in Bangladesh’s 11th parliamentary elections on December 30, as well as the decision of all major opposition political parties to participate.
The United States also described it as a positive development after the boycotted election of 2014 and strongly encouraged all parties to refrain from violence and requested the Election Commission to work constructively with all sides to address claims of irregularities.
Robert Palladino, Deputy Spokesperson at the US State Department in a message said, “The United States remains deeply invested in the future of Bangladesh and its democratic development.”
He further applauded Bangladesh’s impressive record of economic development and respect for democracy and human rights are mutually reinforcing.
In its message, the United Kingdom has pledged to continue to support the people of Bangladesh in their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic future.
It said, “We’ve a broad and important partnership with Bangladesh, and a significant Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK.”
Mark Field, British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific further said, “It’s vital for the government and all political parties now to work together to address differences and find a way forward in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh.”
While the United States, United Kingdom, China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar have already conveyed their renewed support towards the newly elected government in Bangladesh, Russia’s silence in this regard is of greatest dismay. The statement from the United Nations and the European Union are disturbing as well.
It may be mentioned here that, ruling Awami League alone secured 259 out of 299 parliamentary seats that went to polls. Due to its alliance with militancy-linked JIB, Bangladesh Nationalist Party was greatly rejected by the people of Bangladesh during the just concluded election and the party already has been decimated to just five seats. Following this humiliating result, BNP needs to go for immediate soul-searching and disassociate from Jamaat-e-Islami forthwith if it really wants to survive as a major political force in Bangladesh.
Misleading propaganda against Bangladesh:
Michael Kugelman is the deputy director and senior associate for South Asia with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC in an opinion piece in a renowned media house has made some objectionable remarks about Bangladesh stating, “The disputed election outcome could plunge Bangladeshi politics, already poisoned by bitter and often violently expressed partisanship, into a new and dangerous era.”
He also wrote, “The opposition has every reason to be furious. For several years, the AL has engaged in a systematic campaign to undercut the opposition, if not dismantle it altogether. The crackdown has included scores of arrests. Several top figures, including opposition leader Khaleda Zia, are in jail. A weakened Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party, has become a shadow of its former self. The AL’s unrelenting campaign of political repression made any idea of a level electoral playing field a farce.”
One may find a clear sense of instigation in the aforementioned opinion piece. It is definitely unacceptable to Bangladeshi people, when any foreign news outlet makes such undue remarks on own internal affairs, particularly by twisting the fact. It is surprising that the CNN contributor is seeing “new and dangerous era” in Bangladesh, when the people of the country are in favour of development and prosperity and very much against religious extremism and radical Islam.
Here of course, Michael Kugelman has brought one valid point when he wrote, “To be sure, one could easily take issue with such characterisations. In order to expand its vote bank, for example, the AL has increasingly aligned itself with the positions of several religious parties, including Hefazat-e-Islam, one of the country’s largest Islamist organisations. Additionally, beneath the veneer of strong GDP growth lie several worsening economic indicators, including inequality. But such critiques of the AL’s track record don’t daunt or deter the AL’s rank and file.”
Awami League’s alliance or affiliations with pro-Caliphate groups like Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI) does not go with the secularist ideology of the ruling party. If Awami League wants to appease pro-Caliphate groups such as HeI, it may greatly tarnish the image of the party and spoil its vote bank within the religious minorities in Bangladesh. Group like Hefazat-e-Islam is no better than Jamaat-e-Islami. In some considerations, Hefazat even is much worse than Jamaat. Hopefully, the policymakers in the government will take this matter into consideration and refrain from romancing with notorious pro-Caliphate groups like Hefazat. Moreover, Awami League’s perception of Hefazat-e-Islam having its own vote bank is factually wrong. In each of the elections in Bangladesh, we have clearly witnessed, Islamist parties or groups actually do not enjoy the confidence of the voters. A notorious pro-Caliphate group like Hefazat most certainly does not enjoy minimum confidence of the Bangladeshi voters. Instead, Awami League’s romance with Hefazat would simply annoy the younger generation of this country and would ultimately distract the young voters from supporting Awami League.
Why Sheikh Hasina is the most popular leader in Bangladesh?
Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. She has been dedicatedly working for Bangladesh even since she became the Prime Minister in 2008. She had to accept the challenge of improving the economic status of the country, which was left almost in a wrecked condition by the previous BNP-Jamaat’s Islamist coalition government. While Jamaat-e-Islami was busy in promoting and establishing radical Islam in the country, BNP was rather acting like a supporting force to such notoriety. The BNP-Jamaat government had even brought sedition, treason and blasphemy charges against me in 2004 for the “crime” of terming Osama Bin Laden and Yasser Arafat as terrorists. From this specific evidence of spurious case brought against me, BNP and Jamaat have clearly proved – it does not consider Osama Bin Laden as a terrorist. Here my question is how the Western nations can have any sympathy for parties who consider Bin Laden as a hero? It was also documentarily proved that BNP considers Hezbollah and Hamas as their allies and are supportive of these terrorist entities just because, Hezbollah and Hamas talk about the elimination of Israel from the world map.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clearly is against radical Islam. She wholeheartedly denounces and confronts radical Islamic militancy. For this particular reason, Sheikh Hasina is the most dependable ally of the West. At the same time, Sheikh Hasina has been vigorously fighting against terrorism and has repeatedly pledged of not allowing any terrorist entities in using the soil of Bangladesh for any subversive activities.
Huge economic growth of Bangladesh during the past ten years has already made the people of this country eternally indebted to Sheikh Hasina. In their eyes, Sheikh Hasina is a real statesman and the leader who can really transform Bangladesh into a prosperous and powerful nation in Asia.
World needs to support Sheikh Hasina:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina deserves the support from the international community in multiple ways. She needs support for resolving the existing Rohingya refugee crisis, which already is a huge burden to Bangladesh. Unless there is huge pressure on Myanmar in taking-back almost one million of their citizen, who currently are in Bangladesh, the Rohingya issue may hang unresolved for decades.
At the same time, the international community must extend the fullest support to Sheikh Hasina in her ongoing drive against radical Islamic militancy. Bangladesh may also need the support from the United States and the United Kingdom, in case the Indian government takes the wrong steps of pushing over four million Bangla-speaking Muslims and Hindus into Bangladesh during the next few months.
Bangladesh needs to reshuffle its Middle East policy:
Accepting the global realities, Bangladesh needs to reshuffle its Middle East policy soon and abandon the decade-old rhetoric of unnecessarily having enmity with Israel. It is essential for Bangladesh to note; several Muslim majority nations including Saudi Arabia are now shifting from their previous policies and most possibly going to embrace the Jewish State as their newest ally. For a leader like Sheikh Hasina, who has been fighting radical Islamic militancy, Bangladesh’s blind support towards the Palestinians particularly a mega-terrorist outfit like Hamas is suicidal. Bangladesh also needs to distance itself from countries like Iran.
(The author of the article is a senior journalist and Editor of Blitz.)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Many protesters got arrested as sporadic incidents of vandalism were reported in some parts of West Bengal during the two day nationwide strike called by the central unions on Tuesday protesting against the “anti-people” policies by the centre.
A school bus was stone pelted in Champadali area of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district and later the students from the bus were deboarted, said the police.
Strike supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they also burnt tyres in so many parts of the state which include Kolkata. In Howrah, Siliguri, Bardhaman, Birbhum, North and South 24 Paraganas, clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress workers and strike supporters as TMC activists tried to stop them from forcibly imposing the strike.
Despite the incidents of violence, normal life in an around Kolkata and other parts of the state remained more or less unaffected by the strike call till 12 noon, except a few pockets. Buses and other modes of transportation were seen on the roads although the number of passengers was much less than in other week days.
Tyres were burnt in Central Avenue of Kolkata to stop buses from running on the roads. The protesters had a scuffle with the police when they tried to stop them from squatting on the roads. A government bus was damaged by strike supporters at Champadali. Protesters also vandalised a bus at Jamuria in Paschim Bardhaman district.
Scuffles were witnessed between police and strike supporters in some areas of the state. CPI (M) leaders have come out on the streets in support of the strike. At Jadavpur area in south Kolkata, senior CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty along with several other strike supporters were detained by the police.
Later on the protesters squatted on tracks in some of the places to stop the trains and burnt tyres on the road too whereas The Trinamool Congress Government of the state has opposed the strike call.
The ten central trade unions who called the strike have placed a long list of demands which include minimum wage, universal social security, and workers status including pay and facilities for the scheme workers against the privatisation of the public and government organisations.
The state government had announced that its employees would be barred from availing casual leave or half day leave on Tuesday and Wednesday and no leave will also be allowed on the proceedings of two days strike, said the government notification on Friday.
Swami Vivekananda, born as Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Swami Vivekananda was one of the greatest spiritual leaders from India. He is seen as a key figure to have introduced Indian philosophies of Vedanta and yoga to the western world. It was his 1893 speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago that made him popular as “Messenger of Indian wisdom to the western world”.
He was the chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna and founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He was considered a major force in bringing Hinduism to the status of major world religion in the late 19th century. His 156th birth anniversary on January 12, 2019, will be observed with much glory. Swami Vivekananda Jayanti from the year 1985 is also celebrated as National Youth Day.
The various forms and ceremonies, prayers, pilgrimages, and holy books are the preparations which take of the impurities of the soul. When the latter is cleansed, it will naturally want to get to the mine of purity — God Himself. Every religion insists on people having faith. No doubt, blind belief is not advocated but on deep analysis, one can find a very great truth behind it.
The mercy of God is eternal and unchangeable, but how then can we reckon with the difference among humanity? The explanation offered is that the present life depends on the acts carried out previously. So, for a purposeful life, we are asked to carry out pious deeds now to ensure that our future shall be smooth and prosperous.
The man has been provided with three gifts — a body, the desire to be free and a noble soul. Using them, he has to reach the goal. From Whom all beings are projected, in Whom all life and unto Whom all return can be called God. The concept of God is a fundamental element in the human constitution. Not withstanding the differences and controversies existing among various sects, there are several grounds of unitize. Almost all agree on the Existence of God… who creates, sustains and destroys. Second, of the soul and its re-appearance and third, of the universe. Our scriptures state that every duty is hold and devotion to it is the highest form of worship of God. Faith in themselves was the motive power which pushed our ancestors forward in the march of civilisation. These are some of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
On Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, also called Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, political leaders, sportsmen, citizens across the world took to micro-blogging site Twitter to pay homage to one of the worlds greatest spiritual leaders.
The various forms and ceremonies, prayers, pilgrimages, and holy books are the preparations which take of the impurities of the soul. When the latter is cleansed, it will naturally want to get to the mine of purity – God Himself. Every religion insists on people having faith. No doubt, blind belief is not advocated but on deep analysis, one can find a very great truth behind it.
The mercy of God is eternal and unchangeable, but how then can we reckon with the difference among humanity? The explanation offered is that the present life depends on the acts carried out previously. So, for a purposeful life, we are asked to carry out pious deeds now to ensure that our future shall be smooth and prosperous
The man has been provided with three gifts; a body, the desire to be free, and a noble soul. Using them, he has to reach the goal. From Whom all beings are projected, in Whom all life and unto Whom all return can be called God. The concept of God is a fundamental element in the human constitution. Notwithstanding the differences and controversies existing among various sects, there are several grounds of unitz. Almost all agree on the Existence of God… who creates, sustains and destroys. Second is of the soul and its reappearance and third is of the universe. Our scriptures state that every duty is hold and devotion to it is the highest form of worship of God. Faith in themselves was the motive power which pushed our ancestors forward in the march of civilisation. These are some of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
C.K. Subramaniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
It refers to government decision favoured generally by the opposition parties but only in principle regarding 10 per cent reservation for the Poor Upper Caste covering roughly 90 per cent of people from the General category with the parameters defined for getting reservation benefits being as high as household income above Rs 8 lakhs per annum, agricultural land less than 5 acres, residences less than 1000 sq ft and residential plot less than 100 sq yards in a notified municipal area and 200 sq yards in a non-notified municipal area. If the Central government is really sincere about economically weaker section (EWS) of the society, these parameters need to be made realistic. Otherwise, proposed 10 per cent quota should be doubled to at least 20 per cent.
However proposed policy is not likely to be struck down by Apex Court which has fixed maximum 50 per cent reservation quota only for backward classes made under article 16(4) of Constitution as per 1992 clarification by the Supreme Court. Simultaneously, Central Government should implement verdict dated September 26, 2018, by a five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court for exclusion of creamy layer from reserved categories under scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Reservation-benefits must be given to families with up to two children.
Complete policy of Reservation incorporated in the Constitution for a limited period of just fifteen years to create a homogeneous casteless society is in itself a big failure whereas this policy has instead made people of reserved categories separately identified from others.
Madhu Agrawal
Nepal Rashtra Bank querying about legality of Indian currency notes
It refers to the Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) on January 4, 2019, asking Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to declare Indian currency notes of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2000 as legal tender in Nepal. Presently, Indian currencies of upto Rs 100 denomination are allowed in normal circulation in Nepal where Indian currency is allowed to be used in normal circulation like the Nepalese currency.
RBI should allow only currency notes of up to Rs 500 as legal tender. Indian currency notes of Rs 2000 may not be allowed as legal tender in Nepal. Such a decision is necessary because there are still takers of demonetised currency notes such as the earlier Rs 500 and Rs 1000 at a discounted value because of hope to get these legalised through the Nepal route. Decision of not allowing Rs 2000 Indian currency notes as legal tender in Nepal will prevent any such situation in case Indian government decides to demonetise Rs 2000 currency notes.
Such a decision will give a signal to hoarders of black money in form of Rs 2000 currency notes in India to deposit such black money in banks fearing a further demonetisation, thus negating need of any further demonetisation of currency. People in India will themselves avoid accepting Rs 2000 notes in normal circulation. A stricter control on currency circulation thereafter will undo the effects of poor implementation of earlier demonetisation done on November 8, 2016.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Power (Shakti) and discipline
Afternoon Voice cherishes, follows and propagates values engrained in Mahaveer Hanumanji. There is lot of indiscipline and loose talk in our country. PM Modi, Amit Shah and RSS must do utmost to eradicate such bad habits growing among the masses.
Mahendra Singh
Runway should be upgraded
The Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru is witnessing consistent early morning flight delays owing to the 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 an advanced technology in place to enable landing and take offs during the early morning fog.
Many passengers get affected owing to unscheduled flight delays daily. Also, most of the people use the airport mainly for the purpose of business and official travel visits, which happens normally in the mornings after 10am upon landing at the destination from Bengaluru. Hence catching an early morning flight from KIA is highly essential. The otherwise ‘safety’ trade-off factor owing to fog delayed flights will cost the passengers time and money and who also invest heavily on flight tickets 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 now to look into upgrading the existing runway infrastructure with necessary advanced technology. Such a move will enable the airport to handle seamless flight operations and ensure completion of timely boarding formalities during foggy weather conditions.
Varun
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Giving a big relief to CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, the Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated and quashed the Centre’s decision divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave.
Verma’s two year tenure comes to an end on January 31. The CBI director had challenged the government’s decision to send him on leave and divest him of his duties.
Pronouncing the unanimous judgement authored by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi but read by Justice S K Kaul as CJI was unavailable during the preceedings said, “There is no provision in law which permit the government to divest the CBI director of his powers and functions without prior consent from the high powered select committee.”
However, the top court, restrained Verma from taking any major policy decision till the Central Vigilance Commission inquiry is over.
The apex court also said that any further decision against Verma would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints CBI Director.
CBI Director Verma has been accused by CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana of taking bribe from a Hyderabad-based businessman being investigated by the agency. Verma has accused Asthana of the same crime.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the green tribunal’s order of setting aside the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to close Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin.
BSP chief Mayawati said on Tuesday that the Union Cabinet’s decision to give a 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to the economically backward general section was an election stunt and political gimmick for upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, she said that her party welcomes the immature move by the government. “It would have been better if the BJP party had taken the decision much earlier, while, now it’s evident that the party is on its way out,” she added.
A new government in Bangladesh sworn-in on January 7, 2019, with Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister. This is in fact the third consecutive term for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has very successfully transformed Bangladesh into the fastest growing economy in the world. A number of countries already have greeted the newly elected government and renewed their commitment of working with Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
