Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has questioned Maharashtra government’s “delay” in declaring drought in the state following scanty rainfall.
At a rally on Tuesday, Thackeray wondered if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would declare drought only after consulting the “panchang” (astrological daily calendar).
Fadnavis had said on Tuesday that around 180 talukas in the state are facing a drought-like situation, as the state received only 77 per cent of its average rainfall this year.
Thackeray accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of wasting time in discussions, adding the water scarcity situation has worsened in Maharashtra and there is an urgent need to declare the state as drought-hit.
“Karnataka government has declared drought without any condition but Maharashtra government has not done so despite water and crop conditions getting worse. Will Fadanvis declare drought only after seeing the panchang,” he said.
Referring to the farmers’ recent protest march to Delhi, Thackeray said cultivators had gone to the national capital to get their demands fulfilled but they were lobbed with teargas shells and beaten up.
“We were hopeful that our wishes will be fulfilled after this government came to power, but it vain,” said Thackeray, whose party is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
On the Ram temple issue, he said no one knows when it will be resolved. “I am not against court. But there is a need to formulate a law for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya,” he added.
The (BJP-led) government took “sudden” decisions like demonetisation and criminalisation of instant triple talaq, but hasn’t taken a decision on the Ram temple construction, he said.
Thackeray also exuded confidence that the Sena will win in the next year’s state Assembly elections and that the chief minister will be from his party.
It is unfortunate that India’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is mired in controversy. Allegations of corruption have been made against its top official and his immediate junior. The CBI has booked Special Director Rakesh Asthana over allegedly receiving a bribe from an accused probed by a hint. Apparently, the FIR was filed against Asthana almost two months after he had shot off a letter to the Cabinet Secretary, accusing his boss, CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, of indulging in a series of corruption acts. The allegations and counter-allegations are of a very serious nature. It is expected that the Central Vigilance Commission, the statutory body that exercises superintendence over the functioning of the CBI for investigation of offences related to the prevention of corruption, will probe them thoroughly. Meanwhile, the agency’s other supervisor — Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) — must take the necessary steps to purge the system, which is possible as the Prime Minister is the head of the DoPT. Every government says that the CBI enjoys full autonomy. It is, however, difficult for the agency officials to completely sanitise itself from the country’s overwhelming political system. That could be the reason why the Supreme Court criticised the agency as a ‘caged parrot’ and ‘its master’s voice’ in 2013. Ever since the credibility of the CBI has been on the decline. Today, it has reached its nadir. This is the time for CBI officials to remember the founding director DP Kohli — ‘The public expects the highest standard from you, both in efficiency and integrity. That faith has to be sustained’. Its glory must be restored. This is not possible without flushing out rogue officials and creating a firewall to prevent political interference. The Manmohan Singh government did take an initiative about five years ago by forming a Group of Ministers to suggest ways to ensure the independence of the CBI and its functional autonomy. The task remained incomplete due to the lack of political will. The Modi government has the opportunity to take it to its logical conclusion.
– Divyesh Chovatiya
2) Balanced SC verdict on crackers
It is good that Supreme Court this time gave a balanced verdict on cracker-bursting in Delhi and NCR, unlike verdict of last year which had hurt feelings of majority Hindus since that order imposing a complete ban on the sale of crackers was only for most-celebrated festival Diwali of majority Hindus. the verdict this year also imposes similar restrictions on celebrations made for Christmas and New Year eve.
Practically speaking, the verdict this year will gradually pave way for green crackers at least from next year if not in present year, because cracker-dealers this year will try to finish their old stocks and will make fresh purchases in future only as per guidelines set by the Supreme Court so that people may continue with tradition of cracker-bursting on happy occasion of Diwali.
– Madhu Agrawal
3) Woman brutally raped in West Bengal
It seems that the cruelty has occupied on humanity. Instead of giving respect to each other, we are so interested to insult each other. The latest spine-chilling and horrific incident occurred with a woman in West Bengal. According to the news, a woman was raped and an iron rod inserted in her private parts allegedly by a relative angry over a land dispute with her family in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. The accused called the woman out of her home on the pretext of resolving the land dispute and raped her. The woman who was admitted to hospital and is in a critical condition and she said another person accompanied the accused but he did not rape her. The accused and his companion have been detained by the police and interrogation is on. The incident brings back the memories of the 2012 Jyoti Singh rape case in New Delhi in which a woman was gang-raped inside a moving bus and one of the accused inserted a rod in her private parts. We condemn completely and we need to stand up against such barbaric incidents. The government must take immediate steps to prevent this kind of shameful incidents and they must be punished inexorably.
– A.S. Qasmi
4) CBI must be placed out of politics
The most trustworthy agency of the country, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken a turn which shocked every Indian citizen. The CBI is considered as an institute of trust and faith, but now it has become a weapon of political vendetta which is indeed very dangerous for the country itself. I request all political parties not to politicise the matter further, rather they should make efforts to settle down all the internal quarrels and differences soon. The ruling BJP and its Prime Minister Modi should take things seriously, otherwise, it will bring miserable consequences in the country. How the agency can stand to fight against external conflicts until it will not solve its own differences?
– MFU Tandvi
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on October 26 the plea of CBI Director Alok Verma challenging the Centre’s decision to divest him of powers and send him on leave in view of the internal feud between him and Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submissions of lawyer Gopal Shankarnarayan, appearing for Verma, that his plea needed urgent hearing.
The bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, agreed to the submissions and said the petition would be heard on October 26.
The CBI chief has also assailed the decision of the government by which Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao has been given charge as head of the probe agency
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday had ordered the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations.
The feud between Verma and Asthana escalated recently and led to registration of an FIR by CBI against the Special Director in a alleged bribery case.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar was arrested by CBI in connection with the case.
A Delhi court on Tuesday had allowed CBI to quiz Kumar in custody for seven days.
Besides Asthana, the arrested DSP had also approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIR against him.
There are 10 basic needs for achieving the yardstick and Citizens expect those basic amenities. The main and the major ones are commented upon here:-
We need to have a better public transport system to be at par with the world’s best cities. The growing urbanisation has increased the number of private vehicles thereby creating traffic congestion in almost all cities of India. In Mumbai, we look upon local trains as our lifeline and if it stops on a day, everything goes awry.
In our roads, the pedestrians should be given a pride of place. We need to have a better planning to make our dream come true. Citizens will enjoy wide pathways with street furniture at regular intervals with easy mobility to differently-abled. Car-free Sunday that will make streets available for citizens to interact and do a lot of activities on streets.
Availability of adequate parking is the need of the hour as the number of vehicles are plying on the roads. With more and more heavy vehicles on the street, manoeuvring through the heavy vehicular traffic is a tough task. On-street parking management is a reliable revenue for the cities, which can be used to further strengthen the public transportation system in cities. Managing the on-street parking will reduce traffic congestion, increase effective carriageway width available for the vehicles to commute, reduce fuel, reduces proposition in the smart city race. Thus, we would like to have less traffic congestion.
As we propose to have a safe and sound living with hassle-free civic services. Initiatives such as LED lights to ensure pedestrian safety, video surveillance to monitor crime in the city with an effective common control centre to monitor the traffic violations and to ensure efficient on-street parking management. Most importantly, this will enable citizen’s engagement in all aspects of city functioning as the data sharing or transparency between government and citizens will be a forum for citizens to understand the know-how of their city.
The major and foremost is the need for disaster management cell. Disasters are inevitable, however, human interventions in taking up precautionary measures will help in minimising the loss to a great extent. A clean and healthy neighbourhood is a blessing in disguise. Solid waste management through smart solutions to make roads clean and to ensure a healthy environment is considered as an important factor for smart cities. Recycling of waste will produce renewable energy, ensures safe disposal of solid waste, prevents soil and environmental pollution and reduces the depletion of resources.
There is a need for easy access to all basic infrastructure with best quality cent per cent efficiency. The efficiency of the utilities in one that is not achieved till date due to inadequate monitoring. Making the city beautiful is of foremost importance. Cities are focusing on developing more lung spaces in the city. As a part of smart city initiatives, smart components like cycling, street furniture, jogging track, space for hawkers etc., will contribute a lot in enhancing the aesthetic of the city. Green spaces will get a new dimension with new soft and hard landscape with Wi-fi hot spots, which will be an interesting sport for citizens to relax, exercise and interact. It also plays a major role in creating a healthy and sustained environment.
Now it is time to make sure that the city is clean and green to give the much-needed ambience required for setting up a smart city. The city will have to take up the additional responding of providing quality education, dependable power supply, health consciousness, e-governance, affordable housing for poor, water supply and several other sectors would be the centre of focus under the project. Smart city tag will bring cheers to the citizens of the country and we dream of becoming a place to behold in the world.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
The UK will find India a “willing partner” to increase trade and cooperation as it leaves the European Union, India’s High Commissioner to the UK Y K Sinha has said.
Speaking at a farewell reception hosted in his honour by the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) on Tuesday, Sinha described his 23-month tenure here as “really exciting stint”.
“The year of Culture (of India) held here was fantastic,” he said.
“As the future is uncertain, the UK will find India a willing partner as it leaves the European Union,” he said.
Britain is set to formally leave the EU on March 29 next year after a 2016 referendum in favour of Brexit.
At the bilateral level, he noted there are a host of issues including visa issue to be tackled and “we are constantly in dialogue to resolve these issues.”
Valerie Vaz, Labour MP in her brief speech described India as an incredible country and “India has a special place in our hearts.”
Keith Vaz, Labour MP wanted the British government to restore the post-study visa scheme to attract more Indian students. He said that at present Australia has more Indian students than the UK.
IJA President Ashis Ray said, “High Commissioner Sinha has done extremely well during his brief tenure.” He said that the High Commission should be credited for the success of hosting the “Year of Culture” during this period.
Train 18, the country’s first engine-less train which is being regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express, is set to hit the tracks for trials on October 29.
Driven by a self-propulsion module sans a separate locomotive, the train, capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph, comes with technical features for enhanced quick acceleration.
The swanky 16-coach prototype without a locomotive (engine) will cut travel time by 15 per cent compared to the Shatabdi.
Developed by the city-based Integral Coach Factory in 18 months, the full AC train is designed in such a way that passengers can have a look at the driver’s cabin.
ICF General Manager Sudhanshu Mani told agencies that it cost nearly Rs 100 crore to build the prototype and subsequent production would bring down the cost.
“It will be unveiled on October 29, then it will do three to four days of trial outside the factory and then will be handed over to Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for further trials,” he said.
The self-propelled train, fitted with CCTV cameras, would have two executive compartments in the middle with 52 seats each, whereas trailer coaches would have 78 seats each.
It has a potential to travel up to the speed at 160 kmph as against 130 kmph of Shatabdi and would result in the travel time being reduced by around 15 per cent once the tracks are fit to suit Train 18’s speed.
Train 18 has diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps besides GPS-based Passenger Information System.
The footstep in a coach’s doorway slides outward when the train stops at a station enabling passengers to alight safely with comfort in view of the variation in height between a train’s floor and the platform.
Shatabdi was introduced in 1988 and is presently running on over 20 routes connecting metros with other important cities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be honoured with this year’s Seoul Peace Prize for his contribution to world peace through his economic vision.
Prime Minister Modi will become the 14th recipient of this coveted award.
“The Seoul Peace Prize Committee has decided to confer the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in recognition of his dedication to improving international cooperation, raising global economic growth, accelerating the Human Development of the people of India by fostering economic growth in the world’s fastest growing large economy and furthering the development of democracy through anti-corruption and social integration efforts,” read a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Award Committee recognised Prime Minister Modi’s contributions to the growth of the Indian and global economies, crediting ‘Modinomics’ for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor.
“The Committee lauded the Prime Minister’s initiatives to make the government cleaner through anti-corruption measures and demonetisation. The Committee also credited the Prime Minister for his contribution towards regional and global peace through a proactive foreign policy with countries around the world under the ‘Modi Doctrine’ and the ‘Act East Policy’,” the statement added.
Expressing his gratitude for the prestigious honour and in light of India’s deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Modi has accepted the award.
The award will be presented by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation at a mutually convenient time.
The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul. Former chairman of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch was its first recipient. Other winners include former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former United States Secretary of State George Pratt Shultz.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has become the BJP’s policing agency.
The Trinamool Congress chief’s remarks come amid the ongoing spat between two top officers of the agency.
“CBI has now become so called BBI (BJP Bureau of Investigation) – very unfortunate!” Banerjee tweeted.
The government has divested CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana of all powers amid the ongoing spat between them, sources said, calling it the first such case in the history of the agency.
The Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee on Tuesday night gave charge of the director to Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao with immediate effect, a government order said.
According to the law, the CBI director is appointed for a fixed tenure of two years.
Earlier, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala wondered if Verma was “sacked” for his keenness to probe the “layers of corruption” in the Rafale scam and sought an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
There was no immediate comment either from the government or the ruling BJP on the allegations levelled by opposition parties.
CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have been “divested of all powers” amid an ongoing spat between them, sources said, calling it the first such case in the history of the agency.
As an interim measure, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given charge of the CBI to Joint Director M Nageswar Rao, an Odisha-cadre officer, with immediate effect, a government order said.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure…M Nageshwar (sic) Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI, shall look after duties and functions of Director, CBI, and shall take over duties and functions with immediate effect,” it read.
After taking over last night, Rao overhauled the team probing allegations of corruption against Asthana, bringing in completely new faces, officials said.
There have been changes from the investigation officer to supervisory levels, they said.
Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre IPS officer, who took over the duties and functions of CBI director late last night, appointed Satish Dagar as Superintendent of Police to probe the case, they said.
The previous investigating officer, Deputy SP A K Bassi, has been shunted to Port Blair in “public interest” with “immediate effect”.
Rao, was also holding the charge of Additional Director along with A K Sharma and Praveen Sinha, who are Gujarat-cadre officers.
In an unprecedented move, the CBI on October 15 registered an FIR against Special Director Rakesh Asthana for allegedly taking a bribe from an accused probed by him in lieu of ensuring relief and a clean chit in the case.
The case was registered on a statement of the alleged bribe giver, Sathish Sana, who was facing probe in a separate case of bribery involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana in his complaint against the director two months ago had alleged that it was Sana who paid Verma Rs 2 crore to get relief.
The CBI also arrested Devender Kumar, a deputy SP in Asthana’s team.
The agency told a Delhi court Tuesday that an “extortion racket” was being run in the CBI in the garb of high-profile cases.
The spat between the two top officer is the first of its kind in the history of the agency.
It became public when Verma objected to the elevation of the then Additional Director Rakesh Asthana as Special Director before the Central Vigilance Commission.
The objections were noted, but the commission in a unanimous decision cleared Asthana as Special Director, making him the second-in- command in the agency.
A PIL filed by NGO Common Cause against the decision was also rejected by the Supreme Court.
Asthana, who was in-charge of the Special Investigation Team handling sensitive cases, including those related to Vijay Mallya, Agusta Westland and land acquisition in Haryana, filed an explosive complaint against Verma on August 24, alleging that he took a bribe of Rs 2 crore from an accused probed by him.
Asthana had also complained about 10 more cases of alleged corruption and irregularities against the director. He had alleged that Verma had tried to stop raids on Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The matter was referred by the government to the Central Vigilance Commission which then sought files of cases mentioned in Asthana’s complaint.
In his response, Verma told the commission that Asthana’s role was under probe in at-least six cases, including one related to the loan default by Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech.
He also told the commission that in his absence, his second-in -command Asthana cannot represent in panel meetings.
Asthana urged the government to intervene, seeking an independent probe into the allegations levelled by Verma and the cases in which his role was being alleged.
While communications were being exchanged, they were being leaked to the media which duly reported the developments bringing the first-of-its kind spat in the top brass of the agency in public glare.
Former officers of the agency on condition of anonymity have said the situation is “unfortunate” and may affect cases related to the extradition of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.
In the wake of corruption allegations against the top officials of the agency,the accused may also plead that charges against them could be motivated, they said.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena said on Tuesday that he has “broken all previous records” of going on international tours, and asked what has the nation gained out of it.
Taking a dim view of India’s defence deals with France and Russia, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party claimed that US President Donald Trump was “threatening” India with trade sanctions, if Delhi does not agree to F-16 fighter jets deal.
The Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, took a swipe at Modi, saying he is a “reincarnation of Lord Vishnu which is probably why he has been travelling across the world to give a darshan to his devotees”.
Though Sena is part of the ruling BJP-led alliance at the Centre and in Maharashtra, the two parties have had strained ties ever since the BJP decided to go it alone in the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Asked about comments made in the ‘Saamana’ editorial, Mumbai BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty said his party does not react to observations made in the mouthpiece of any political party.
The Sena said there are several countries with which India does not have good relations. “May be the PM goes on foreign tours to improve them,” it said adding crores of rupees have been spent on his visit.
“What did India gain in return?”
“First the Rafale jet deal was signed with France in which allegations of corruption have sprung up. Then, America objected to India signing a deal with Russia for its S-400 air defence missile system. When India signed the deal, America (now) wants India to buy F-16 fighter jets to placate itself after the India-Russia pact,” the Sena said.
It alleged that America is “threatening” India with the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions for signing the deal for the Russian S-400 air defence system.
It said the US has already sold F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, so the neighbouring country has all the “secret details” of the aircraft, yet the Trump administration wants to sell them to India.
“The day there is peace between India and Pakistan, several countries with large economies will be forced to beg for money, so they do not want peace. These nations always want instability in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India,” the editorial in the Marathi daily said.
He said India’s neighbours are also “not friends from heart”, it said.
“Even Nepal, which is known to be a Hindu country, is dancing to the tunes of China and Pakistan. So, the question is what did India gain by spending… on Modi’s foreign tours,” the Sena said.
