Trinamool MPs With NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) Leaders Meet SEBI Officials, Demand Probe Into Stock Market ‘Manipulation’

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June 18, 2024

tmc, trinamool congress, stock market, sebi, sebi officers, shiv sena ubt, ncp — Trinamool MPs With NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) Leaders Meet SEBI Officials, Demand Probe Into Stock Market 'Manipulation' 2

A delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) leaders met with officials of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Tuesday and demanded a probe into the alleged stock market manipulation ahead of the declaration of Lok Sabha election results. The leaders protested and raised slogans outside SEBI over the alleged stock market manipulation.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant said, “The agencies because of which Rs 13 lakh crore has been lost of the common man, the same agencies are working for FII and exit polls. That linkage with them is a serious thing to be investigated…” TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee said, “…We will take the matter in the monsoon session. PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should resign…”

Earlier in the day, the TMC delegation met NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar who supported their demand for an investigation into the alleged stock market manipulation following the exit polls. NCP (SCP) leader Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar said “…SEBI is a regulating authority which controls the stock exchange. If there is any complaint about anything unethical or illegal, there is only one institution that can intervene is the stock exchange…”

Ahead of their meeting with SEBI officials the leaders of Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) met with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. Earlier, TMC Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale wrote to financial markets regulator SEBI, alleging “manipulation” in trading activities, a day after private exit polls were announced.

In a letter to the Securities and Exchange of India Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch dated June 11, the Trinamool parliamentarian registered his complaint with the regulator, what he termed “stock market manipulation”. Gokhale has specifically demanded an investigation into statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during the poll campaign, where they apparently “advised” people to invest in stocks hinting at positive election results for BJP.

During TV interviews, both Modi and Shah had asserted that the Indian stock markets will trade firm soon after election results, which was inferred by many in the Opposition, including TMC and Congress, as stock advice. “PM Modi and BJP do not run a brute-majority government anymore. Along with SEBI action, this matter will also be taken up in Parliament if required,” Gokhale wrote on his X timeline, attaching the letter he wrote to the SEBI.

“There was something very rotten about stock market fluctuations on 3rd and 4th Jun after rigged exit polls. The statements by Modi and Shah also contributed to losses of investors,” said Gokhale. Through the letter, the TMC leader also urged SEBI to investigate whether any entities linked to PM Modi, Home Minster Amit Shah, or BJP made substantial gains or profits during the stock market volatility on June 3-4.

Further, citing SEBI rules, he noted that only registered investment advisors are allowed to provide investment advice to the public. “Neither Shri Modi nor Shri Shah are investment advisors. Further, these statements were made in their capacity as Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, respectively. It is natural that when 2 such powerful Individuals proffer investment advice, investors are likely to take it with a lot of credibility and assurance,” Gokhale’s letter read.

Chhagan Bhujbal Eyes Shift to Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Amid Party Discontent

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Akshay Redij

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June 18, 2024

chhagan bhujbal, ncp, nationalist congress party, uddhav thackeray, shiv sena, shiv sena (ubt), obc, caste census — Chhagan Bhujbal Eyes Shift to Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Amid Party Discontent 4

In a significant political development, State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a key figure in the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is reportedly preparing to defect to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.

Sources indicate that Bhujbal feels sidelined after being denied a ticket from the Nashik constituency. Despite his aspirations for a Rajya Sabha seat, the party chose to nominate Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Ajit Pawar, who subsequently lost to Supriya Sule from Baramati in the Lok Sabha elections.

Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader and head of the Samata Parishad, a social organisation, held a meeting with his supporters on Monday to weigh his options. During the meeting, he expressed his intention to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct a nationwide caste census to ascertain the exact OBC population.

This potential shift by Bhujbal comes amidst claims by NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rohit Pawar, who stated that 18 to 19 MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction are in contact with them and may switch allegiances after the monsoon session. Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, mentioned that these MLAs have refrained from criticising senior party leaders since the split in July 2023.

“There are 18 to 19 NCP MLAs who are in touch with us and Pawar Saheb,” Rohit Pawar told reporters on Monday. “They must attend legislative sessions and secure development funds for their constituencies, so they will wait until the session is over before making the switch.”

The final decision on re-integrating these MLAs will be made by Sharad Pawar and other senior NCP leaders, according to Rohit Pawar, who represents Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district.

However, Bhujbal sought to clarify his stance following the Samata Parishad meeting. “I never said I was unhappy with the party. Sometimes you pay your dues; sometimes it takes time in politics,” he stated. He reaffirmed his commitment to reservation and advocated for a caste-based survey of OBCs. Bhujbal emphasised that with the Modi government back in power for a third term, it is crucial for the state government to push for the survey to ensure communities demanding quotas receive them based on their population.

PM Modi to Release Rs 20,000 Crore Under PM-KISAN Scheme in Varanasi Today

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ANI

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June 18, 2024

modi, pm modi, narendra modi, tribal welfare scheme — PM Modi to Release Rs 20,000 Crore Under PM-KISAN Scheme in Varanasi Today 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Varanasi on Tuesday will release the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, in which more than 9.26 crore farmers will receive the benefits amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore. The Prime Minister will also distribute the certificates to more than 30,000 self-help groups trained as Krishi Sakhis to work as para extension workers.

The event is being organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in coordination with the Uttar Pradesh government. After assuming office for the third term, PM Modi authorized the release of the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi, which aims to benefit 9.3 crore farmers and distribute around Rs 20,000 crore.

PM-KISAN scheme was launched in 2019, to supplement the financial needs of all land-holding farmers subject to certain exclusion criteria of higher income status. The financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal installments, every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Till now over Rs 3.04 lakh crores has been disbursed to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation and with this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crores.

Earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan elaborated on PM Modi’s program in Varanasi. During a press conference, Chouhan said that the 17th installment of PM KISAN, amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crore, will be disbursed to over 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers by the Prime Minister with a single click of a button from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

The four-time CM, who was recently sworn in as the Union Agriculture Minister, noted that around 2.5 crore farmers will join the event across the country. Additionally, 732 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), over 1 lakh Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, and 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) from across the country will also participate in the event to raise awareness among farmers. “This financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their agricultural and other incidental needs. A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without any involvement of middlemen. Maintaining absolute transparency in registering and verifying beneficiaries, the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.04 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers across the nation,” Chouhan said.

“With this release, the total amount transferred to the beneficiaries since the inception of the scheme will cross well over Rs 3.24 lakh crore,” he added. Several Union Ministers will also be visiting 50 KVKs to interact with farmers and raise awareness about the various schemes of the Department. They will also distribute certificates to the trained Krishi Sakhis of the area, he added.

The Krishi Sakhis have already received extensive training in various agricultural practices, making them well-equipped to support and guide fellow farmers effectively. As of date, over 34,000 Krishi Sakhis out of 70,000 have been certified as Para-extension Workers. Later, in the day around 7 pm, Prime Minister Modi will also witness the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. At around 8 pm, he will perform puja and darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Rahul Gandhi to Choose Raebareli Over Wayanad

By

Vaidehi Taman

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June 17, 2024

raebareli, lok sabha, wayanad, lok sabha constituency, congress, gandhi — Rahul Gandhi to Choose Raebareli Over Wayanad 8

The time has come that Rahul Gandhi has to give up the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat today in favour of the family bastion of Raebareli, which he had also won with a big margin. This will pave the way for the Congress leader’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to contest from the constituency in Kerala, buzz about which has been building up for a few days. Raerareli is one of the 80 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is considered to be the foundation of the Indian National Congress. From 1967 to 1977, the seat was held by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and from 2004 until her appointment to the Rajya Sabha in 2024, by Sonia Gandhi.

It was Raerareli from where Jawahar Lal Nehru started his political journey by making a public speech in the year 1921. It was the first Lok Sabha election held in independent India in 1952; this seat was represented by Feroze Gandhi and then again in 1957 until he died in 1960. The baton was then passed to Indira Gandhi, who represented Rae Bareli from 1967–77. (She lost the seat in the 1977 elections in the wake of the emergency.) Again, Indira Gandhi won the elections in the 1980 general election by defeating Rajmata of Gwalior Vijaya Raje Scindia (who got only 13.1% of the vote share). Although Indira Gandhi later resigned from the Rae Bareli seat,. After that, from 1980–1989, this seat was represented by Arun Nehru and from 1989–1996, this seat was represented by Sheila Kaul. (Both members of the Nehru-Gandhi family.)

Sonia Gandhi has been representing this constituency from 2004 till now. A total of 17 Lok Sabha elections have taken place in Raerareli and all of these Indian National Congress candidates have won 14 times. To keep up this Congress party legacy, Rahul Gandhi is going to give up the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in favour of the family bastion of Raebareli, which he had also won with a huge margin. In future, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can contest from the constituency in Kerala, buzz about which has been building up for a few days.

The Congress is holding a high-level meeting and the decision on the Wayanad constituency is likely to be taken there because today is the last day for it to be conveyed to the Lok Sabha secretariat. The call on the pick for the Leader of the Opposition may also be made during the meeting but the selection of the Wayanad candidate can wait as the by-poll will be held within six months of Rahul Gandhi giving up the seat. The Raebareli seat was held by Sonia Gandhi from 2004 until she moved to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. Cementing its status as a Gandhi family bastion is the fact that it was also represented by Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, former PM Indira Gandhi, and her husband, Feroze Gandhi.

While Rahul Gandhi was not inclined to give up Wayanad, what also worked in favour of Raebareli was the fact that it is in Uttar Pradesh, home to the largest number of Lok Sabha seats in the country, the sources said. The astounding performance of the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance in the state, where it won 43 of 80 constituencies, reducing the BJP from 62 to 33, also played a role in the decision-making.

Amethi, another crucial constituency for Congress, under Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, had a good number of industries (mostly in Industrial Area Jagdishpur, the brainchild of Sanjay Gandhi). Both brothers really developed this place. After Rajiv Gandhi, development stopped. Malvika Steels is defunct and there are not many new projects. Promises and blame games only. Amethi Rural is plagued with underdevelopment. Rural development is about the rejuvenation of agriculture. Unfortunately, it’s in a pretty bad state.

The crime rate is low; local muscle men have their influence, though. In 2019, Smriti Irani won elections from Amethi but most of the time was spent attacking the Gandhi family, especially Rahul. Hardly any development, people were angry with her unreasonable attacks. Finally, her seat succumbed to anti-incumbency. Let’s see how Gandhi’s once again brings some new breeze to their family turf.

Aaditya Thackeray Alleges Election Fraud, Vows Legal Action

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PTI

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June 17, 2024

aaditya thackeray, thackeray, shiv sena, sena, shiv sena ubt — Aaditya Thackeray Alleges Election Fraud, Vows Legal Action 10

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed on Monday that the BJP would have secured only 40 seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls if they were conducted in a free and fair manner.

In a press conference, Thackeray called the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat results ‘fraudulent,’ as Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amol Kirtikar lost narrowly to Ravindra Waikar from the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

‘Our victory was stolen through misuse of official machinery,’ Thackeray asserted, announcing his party’s plan to file a court petition challenging the results.

‘If the elections had been fair, the BJP would have won only 40 seats, not 240,’ he argued.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Vanrai police have filed a case against Waikar’s brother-in-law for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon on June 4, when the election results were announced.

‘We suspect the mobile phone seized during the probe might have been switched,’ claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former state minister Anil Parab.

Parab urged the Election Commission of India to take suo motu action and declare Kirtikar the winner based on available evidence.

‘The election result is suspicious. We are pursuing legal action and will move the court shortly,’ he added.

Parab pointed out irregularities in the counting process after the 19th round, where their candidate led by 650 votes.

‘Forms 17C and 17CII were not provided to candidates in various locations,’ he claimed, alongside questioning constant phone calls made to the returning officer of the constituency.

Pankaja Munde Urges Maharashtra to Address OBC Protesters’ Demands

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PTI

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June 17, 2024

pankaja munde, bjp, munde, sugar mill — Pankaja Munde Urges Maharashtra to Address OBC Protesters' Demands 12

BJP leader Pankaja Munde has urged the Maharashtra government to seriously address the concerns raised by OBC protesters Laxman Hake and Navnath Waghmare. Both protesters have been on a hunger strike for five days, campaigning against the government’s draft notification linking Kunbi certificates to Maratha quota benefits.

The demand for scrapping this notification has been vocal among various OBC outfits. Taking to the social media platform X, Munde emphasized the need for non-discriminative treatment and equal rights for all protesters.

“NCERT No Longer Professional Institution,” Congress’ Jairam Ramesh Lashes Out After NTA Blames NCERT for NEET 2024 Row

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ANI

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June 17, 2024

jairam ramesh, ramesh, congress, caa, congress party, bjp — "NCERT No Longer Professional Institution," Congress' Jairam Ramesh Lashes Out After NTA Blames NCERT for NEET 2024 Row 14

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday criticized the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and said it was “no longer a professional institution” but a political tool for the ruling party. The comments by the Congress’ General Secretary in-charge-of Communications were made in the wake of the National Testing Agency putting the blame on NCERT for the “grace marks” fiasco in the 2024 examinations of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges.

Jairam Ramesh said that the blame game only served as the NTA’s effort to draw attention away from its own “abject failures.” “However, it is true that the NCERT is no longer a professional institution. It has been functioning as an RSS affiliate since 2014. It has just been revealed that its revised Class XI political science textbook criticises the idea of secularism as well as what it considers policies of political parties in this regard,” he said in a post on X.

The Congress Rajya Sabha MP said, “NCERT’s objective is to produce textbooks, not political pamphlets and propaganda NCERT is mounting an assault on our country’s Constitution in whose Preamble secularism features explicitly as a foundational pillar of the Indian republic. Various Supreme Court judgments have clearly held secularism to be an essential part of the basic structure of the Constitution.” Further, he mocked NCERT stating that it “needs to remind itself that it the National Council for Educational Research and Training, not the Nagpur or Narendra Council for Educational Research and Training.”

“All of its textbooks are now of dubious quality vastly different from those that shaped me in school,” he said. On Sunday too, the Congress leader had addressed concerns about NEET’s fairness and transparency.

He noted that during his time on the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (2014-2019), there was broad support for NEET, though some MPs, particularly from Tamil Nadu, were worried it would disadvantage students from non-CBSE schools. Ramesh called for a proper analysis of whether NEET is discriminatory and if students from poorer backgrounds are being denied opportunities. He also highlighted concerns about the integrity of the NTA and the way NEET is designed and administered. He expressed hope that the new Parliamentary Standing Committees would prioritize a comprehensive review of NEET, NTA, and NCERT.

Meanwhile, students across the country have protested the issues surrounding the 2024 NEET-UG exam, including reported paper leaks and the allocation of ‘grace marks’. The NTA announced that the scorecards of 1,563 candidates who received ‘grace marks’ would be cancelled, and these candidates would have the chance to retake the exam on June 23, with results expected by June 30. Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking to recall the NEET-UG 2024 results and conduct a fresh examination due to alleged paper leakage and malpractices during the May 5 exam.

Goods Train Collision Derails Kanchanjunga Express Near New Jalpaiguri; Five Dead, 30 Injured

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PTI

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June 17, 2024

kanchanjunga express, good train, collision, train collision, derailment — Goods Train Collision Derails Kanchanjunga Express Near New Jalpaiguri; Five Dead, 30 Injured 16

A tragic incident unfolded near Rangapani station in West Bengal on Monday, where a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express, resulting in at least five deaths and around 30 injuries, police confirmed.

Rescue operations are currently in progress at the site, located approximately seven km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station. The injured individuals are being transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

”Five persons have died in the accident till now and around 30 people suffered injuries, which are not fatal,” a senior police officer reported. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw commented: “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations are ongoing at war footing. Railways, NDRF, and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured individuals are being moved to hospitals.”

The collision led to the derailment of three rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express due to the impact from the goods train’s locomotive, the police officer added. The divisional railway manager (DRM) of North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division noted that the 13174 Kanchanjunga

West Bengal Governor Bose Orders Kolkata Police to Vacate Raj Bhavan

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PTI

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June 17, 2024

ananda bose, cv ananda bose, kolkata police, west bengal governor — West Bengal Governor Bose Orders Kolkata Police to Vacate Raj Bhavan 18

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose took decisive action on Monday morning, instructing Kolkata Police officers stationed at the Raj Bhavan to vacate the premises immediately. This directive is part of Bose’s plan to turn the police outpost near the Raj Bhavan’s North Gate into a ‘Jan Manch’—a public platform aimed at enhancing civic engagement.

An official confirmed the governor’s orders, which compel all police officers, including the officer-in-charge, to leave the governor’s residence without delay. This move comes in the wake of an incident where police barred BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and alleged victims of post-poll violence from meeting the governor, despite his prior written permission.

The governor’s bold decision underlines his commitment to establishing a more open and accessible public forum at the Raj Bhavan, reflecting his resolve to bridge gaps between administrative confines and public discourse.

Atishi Writes to Delhi Police Commissioner; Urges Protection for Major Pipelines as Water Crisis Intensifies

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ANI

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June 16, 2024

aap, aam aadmi party, atishi, atishi marlena, ed, kejriwal's phone, arvind kejriwal — Atishi Writes to Delhi Police Commissioner; Urges Protection for Major Pipelines as Water Crisis Intensifies 20

Delhi Minister Atishi on Sunday wrote a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, urging the deployment of police personnel to protect major pipelines in the national capital. The letter read, “I am writing to request deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days to stop miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering with water pipelines which have now become Delhi’s lifelines. At this juncture, any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi.”

The letter further added, “Delhi Jal Board has patrolling teams for our main water distribution network that carries raw water to the Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and then from our WTPs to our main underground reservoirs in different parts of the city. In addition, we have deployed teams under the supervision of ADMs to support in this work.” Delhi Water Minister Atishi said the ground patrolling team found water supply pipelines were damaged in some places.

“Yesterday, our ground patrolling team reported a major leakage in our South Delhi Rising Mains, the main water pipeline that carries water from Sonia Vihar WTP to South Delhi. This was near the DTL substation in Garhi Medhu. Our patrolling team found that several large 375 mm bolts and one 12-inch bolt had been cut from the pipeline, causing the leakage- The fact that several large bolts had been cut seems to indicate foul play and sabotage,” she said in a letter. Atishi further mentioned that the maintenance team worked for six hours to repair the leakage problem, exacerbating the water crisis in South Delhi.

“Our maintenance team worked for six hours continuously and repaired the leakage, but this meant that we had to stop pumping water for 6 hours and 20 MGD of water was not pumped during this time. As a consequence, a further 25 per cent of water shortage will be experienced in South Delhi,” the letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner read. Atishi also requested the Commissioner to deploy personnel to protect the major pipelines for the next 15 days.

“I am writing to request the deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days. This would be very important for putting a stop to miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering with our water pipelines, which have now become Delhi’s lifelines. At this juncture, any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi,” she added.