A courtesy call changed Bihar political scenario

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August 11, 2022

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time after forming a new “Grand Alliance” which includes Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties.

Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD. According to the top source of the Congress from Bihar, the screenplay for the political change in the State was written by a courtesy call. This call was made from Nitish Kumar to Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi when she was battling COVID-19.

During this call of Nitish Kumar to Sonia Gandhi to inquire about her health, the Bihar Chief Minister referred to the pressure being put on him by the BJP, during his political conversation with Sonia Gandhi and he said that the BJP is trying to break his party.

He sought cooperation from Sonia Gandhi for change in Bihar. Sonia Gandhi asked him to contact Rahul Gandhi as well.

However, Kumar gave the responsibility to contact Congress leader Rahul Congress to Tejashwi Yadav. Tejashwi immediately contacted Rahul Gandhi.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi agreed to be in touch with the party in-charge of the state Bhakta Charan Das. After this talks took place and the script for the change was ready. Nitish wanted such a majority so that the BJP could not topple the government by making a dent in it, so remained silent till the figure reached 164 through the Left and Congress and the bet was played as soon as he got the chance.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi suggested that the fallout between his party and Nitish Kumar could be linked to the Bihar chief minister’s desire to become the country’s vice president. Kumar parted ways with the BJP alleging that the party was trying to break the JD(U), and joined hands with the political opponents RJD in the Mahagathbandhan on Tuesday.

Speculation was rife regarding his future with suggestions of his ‘national ambitions’ doing rounds in the political sphere. Kumar was a long-time BJP ally before snapping ties in 2013.

He later joined hands in 2017. Kumar said that there was a unanimous decision in the party meeting in the morning “to break off ties”.

JD-U and BJP had fought the 2020 assembly polls together and Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister of the alliance though the BJP had won more seats. Nitish Kumar’s ties with BJP stretched to over two decades and he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996.

JD-U leaders indicated that factors including the developments related to the exit of RCP Singh from the party had soured the ties with BJP.

JD-U leaders have also been chaffing at the role of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan during the 2020 assembly polls and have indicated that his putting up candidates from seats contested by the party had damaged it.

JD-U and RJD had fought the 2015 Bihar polls together. JD-U has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly. JD-U is the third major ally to leave the BJP in the past over three years after Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab.

TMC cleaning works start mid-monsoon

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Saket Loke

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August 11, 2022

IMG 20220811 WA0001 — TMC cleaning works start mid-monsoon 3

TMC workers start cleaning chocked gutters in mid monsoon.

When asked a worker said the gutters get chocked in monsoon as well.

Other senior worker said we have no right to question we do what TMC says.

It’s clear that TMC not doing their job well.

Inefficient work of TMC is seen clear as cleaning works should have done before monsoon and not mid monsoon.

Bail to Kirit Somaiya- Opposition calls it privilege as BJP leader

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Brena Soni

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August 10, 2022

Bombay High Court granted an anticipatory bail to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil Somaiya who were booked for cheating as they were collecting money for the restoration of the INS Vikrant, Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier. Mumbai police is investigating this case in which they informed the court as of now they have not received any evidence to prove the charges applied on Kirit Somaiya and Neil Somaiya.

Anil Kokil corporator of Shiv Sena told Afternoon Voice “ It is easy to get a bail especially if person is seeking bail from the BJP party”

A case which was registered against the BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and Neil Somaiya are under sections 420 for cheating, dishonesty, inducing the delivery of the property, 406 for the punishment of the criminal breach of trust and 34 acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Mumbai at Trombay Police station. INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier which played an important role during the war in Bangladesh in 1971 after which it was not used. In the year 2013 ship’s maintenance was becoming difficult so it was sold to a private company for approximately 60 crore.

Nationalist Congress party leader Clyde Crasto told Afternoon Voice that “Justice should be equal for all and not to favour anyone and when the government did give permission to collect the funds for INS Vikrant one needs to know”.

Anant Bhiku Nar corporator from Shivsena said “ All the documents, in this case, should be checked thoroughly and also it should be checked on which grounds the anticipatory bail was requested”

Somnath Sangle ex- corporator with shiv sena party told afternoon voice “Investigation is not done properly in a biased manner and when Sena leader Sanjay Raut spoke about kirit Somaiya’s case and its investigation at that time he was further taken for the investigation in patra chawl case”

Balchandra Mhatre shiv sena corporator told Afternoon Voice “Shiv Sena party has trust in Sanjay Raut and why the investigating team not checking all the details of BJP party leaders”

Maharashtra to house transgender inmates is special jails

By

Vaidehi Taman

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August 10, 2022

transgender jail — Maharashtra to house transgender inmates is special jails 6

Imagine one transgender women lodged among hundreds of male prisoners how much risk is involved to his/her life. Complaining would mean only one thing – get raped. Frustrated male prisoners can never be kind to them. They are subjected to all sorts of abuse. Not that they would not attack her otherwise, but being silent at least reduces the physical harm. There are hundreds of such horrors in the prison. The transgender prisoners regularly face mental and sexual assaults.

They have to live among several convicted and under trial prisoners, and jail staff – all men – of molesting and raping them. They drop complaint letters in the grievance box, placed under the vigilance of a closed-circuit TV (CCTV) camera and meant to be accessed only by the designated visiting magistrate. Similar complaints were also made to the prison superintendent. However, neither the prison authority nor judiciary came to their rescue. In 2020 petitioning the court or informing the lawyer became difficult as a lockdown was imposed and jail mulakat (visits) were abruptly stopped.

Finally, some relief five more Central jails in Maharashtra have been identified by the prison department for housing transgender inmates. At present, transgender persons apprehended from any part of the state are brought to three prisons – Thane, Yeravada and Nashik – and are kept in cells separate from male and female prisoners. Creating spaces for transgender inmates in more prisons would reduce the possibility of any overcrowding in future if their numbers were to rise. Further, it would become possible to lodge them in a facility closer to their hometown, making it easier for friends and family to visit. At least they can feel protected.

Understanding how transgender people, who committed criminal offenses and are detained in prison is real concern. They need counselling, they are already stigmatised by society by and large and in such circumstances when they commit crime and reach prison they are treated in human because their sexual orientation is not normal. For trans women who survive on traditional systems like badhai and mangti, being uprooted from their immediate ecosystem meant not just a loss of livelihood but also exposure to bodily threats. Attacks and public humiliation have been a common experience.

In jail, the transwomen were placed in a “separate ward” assigned only to those suffering from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, scabies and HIV. The prisoners here are neglected, and so is the barrack and they would be in a constant fear of getting infected. Transgender woman needs constitutional provision to safeguard transgender women’s rights in prison? Are they not Indian citizens? Are they placed among male prisoners only to satiate the lust of prison officials and other prisoners? Government should grant them dignity to live in each circumstance.

”Cong. think that by wearing black clothes, their period of despair will end. ” PM Modi on Cong. over 5 Aug protest

By

ANI

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August 10, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a jibe at the Congress over its protest over “price rise” on August 5 in black clothes and said some people “are resorting to black magic as they are immersed in despair and negativity”.

“We saw on August 5 that there was an attempt to propagate black magic. These people think that by wearing black clothes, their period of despair will end. But they do not know that however much black magic they do, resort to superstition, people’s trust on them will never be restored,” the Prime Minister said in his speech through video conferencing at the inauguration of the second generation (2G) Ethanol Plant in Panipat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation of a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. The Prime Minister said that during the Amrit Mahotsav when the entire country is painted in the colour of the Tricolour, he would like to draw the attention of the country to something that has happened.

He said an attempt has been made to defame this holy occasion, “to humiliate our brave freedom fighters” and it is important to understand the mentality of such people.

The Prime Minister said there are some people in the country who are trapped “in the vortex of negativity, immersed in despair” and even “after lying against the government, the public is not ready to trust such people.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had hit out at the Congress over its protests on August 5 on price rise, saying the party chose the day for protest and its leaders wore black clothes because they “want to give a subtle message to further promote their appeasement politics” on day PM Modi laid the “foundation of Ram Janambhoomi”.

“I can’t understand why they protested today. Every day when they protest, they used to wear their usual normal dress but today they wore black clothes. Congress chose this day for protest and wore black clothes because they want to give a subtle message to further promote their appeasement politics because on this day itself PM Modi laid the foundation of Ram Janambhoomi,” Amit Shah had told to the agencies.

He said that the foundation stone of the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya was laid by Prime Minister Modi after a peaceful solution was found to the issue that had been pending for 550 years.

“There was no riot in the country, no violence, the Prime Minister fulfilled the aspiration and faith of crores of people. Congress held a protest today and especially in black clothes at it wanted to give a subtle message that they oppose the foundation stone of Ram Janambhoomi and want to carry forward their policy of appeasement. This policy of appeasement is neither good for the country nor for Congress. It is due to policy of appeasement that Congress is in the state in which it is today,” Shah said.

Congress MPs led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held a protest in the Parliament House complex on August 5 wearing black clothes as part of the party’s stir against the government on price rise and unemployment.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also slammed the Congress over its August 5 protest and alleged that the party chose ‘Ayodhya Diwas’ to sport black outfits to “insult” the Ram Bhakts.

In his speech during the inauguration of the 2G Ethanol Plant, the Prime Minister also spoke against the culture of freebies.

He said if there is selfishness in politics, then anyone can come and announce to give free petrol and diesel and noted that such steps will take away the rights of children, and prevent the country from becoming self-reliant. Due to such selfish policies, the burden on honest taxpayers of the country will also increase, he said and noted that challenges faced by the country require clear intentions, commitment, extreme hard work, policy and huge investments.

“Anyone can come and announce to give free petrol and diesel if their politics is self-centred. Such steps will take away rights from our children and prevent the country from becoming self-reliant. It will increase the burden on the taxpayers of the country,” he said.

PM Modi said that people who have a tendency to avoid problems by adopting shortcuts for political selfishness can never solve the problems permanently.

“Those adopting short-cuts may get applause for some time, and may gain political advantage, but that does not solve the problem. Adopting a shortcut will definitely result in a short-circuit. Instead of following shortcuts, our government is engaged in permanent solutions to the problems. A lot has been said about the problems of stubble over the years. But those with a short-cut mentality could not solve it,” he said.

The Prime Minister listed steps that aim to solve the problem of stubble (parali) in a comprehensive manner. Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO) were given financial support for ‘parali’ and up to 80 per cent subsidy on modern machinery for crop residue.

He said this modern plant will help in providing a permanent solution to this problem. “Farmers who were given a bad name due to compulsions of parali burning will now feel the pride of contributing to production of bio-fuel and nation building”. The Prime Minister also mentioned Gobardhan Yojana as an alternative means of income for farmers.

The Prime Minister said that those making populist declarations for their self-interest will not invest in new technology.

“They will make false promises to farmers but will not set up plants such as for ethanol,” he said.

The 2G Ethanol Plant has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 900 crore by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and is located close to the Panipat Refinery.

Based on state-of-the-art indigenous technology, the project will turn a new chapter in India’s waste-to-wealth endeavours by utilising about 2 lakh tonne of rice straw (parali) annually to generate around three crore litres of ethanol annually.

9 Indian fishermen arrested for trespassing in Sri Lankan waters

By

ANI

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August 10, 2022

Nine fishermen travelling in a boat from the coastal district of Tamil Nadu have been arrested for allegedly trespassing and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

Rameswaram Police said the arrested fishermen from Nagapattinam are being taken to Trincomalee port. More information is awaited in this regard.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan Navy rescued six Indian fishermen who were stranded after their boat drifted in Lankan waters due to a glitch.

Fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram went into the sea for fishing. Around 532 boats from Rameswaram fishing harbour left for the sea. But the boat owned by Sagear Pandian developed a mechanical snag in the Palk Bay area, the Indian-Sri Lankan sea border.

Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis says ” Real Shiv Sena has now come along with us”

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Web Team

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August 10, 2022

BJP does not finish off its allies and this is evident from the fact that in Bihar, though BJP secured 75 seats, it made Nitish Kumar the chief minister though his party secured only 42 seats.

In Maharashtra, it was the Shiv Sena that backstabbed us and that is why the real Shiv Sena has now come along with us.

Justice UU Lalit appointed as 49th Chief Justice of India

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ANI

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August 10, 2022

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was on Wednesday appointed as the 49th Chief Justice of India. A Law and Justice Ministry release said on Wednesday that President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Uday Umesh Lalit as the next CJI.

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit will take over his new responsibility on August 27, 2022. He was appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India in August 2014 from the Bar.

Justice Lalit will become the second Chief Justice of India to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar, after Justice SM Sikri, who served as the 13th CJI in 1971.

Justice Lalit has served as a Member of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee for two terms. An official release said that Justice UU Lalit has to his credit several landmark judgments.

Born on November 9, 1957 ,at Solapur, Maharashtra, Justice Lalit was enrolled as an Advocate by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in June 1983. He practised in the High Court of Bombay till December 1985 before shifting his practice to Delhi in January 1986.

He worked in the chambers of Soli J. Sorabjee from October 1986 till 1992 and was on the panel of lawyers for the Union of India during the period Soli J. Sorabjee was Attorney General for India. From 1992 till 2002, he practised as Advocate on Record and was designated as Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court in April 2004.

He was also appointed Amicus Curiae in many important issues, including forest matters, vehicular pollution and pollution of Yamuna. He was appointed as Special Public Prosecutor for CBI under the orders of the Supreme Court to conduct the trial in all 2G matters.

CJI NV Ramana had last week recommended to the Government the name of Justice UU Lalit as his successor.

The Secretariat of the CJI had received a communication from Law Ministry on August 3 requesting the CJI to recommend the name of his successor.

Bombay High Court grants anticipatory bail to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil

By

Web Team

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August 10, 2022

Somaiya in an alleged misproportion of funds case related to INS Vikrant. Mumbai Police has informed the court that it has not got any evidence against Kirit Somaiya in the case yet.

An FIR was registered against the BJP leader and his son Neil Somaiya on April 6 at the Trombay police station in Mumbai following a complaint by an ex-Army person, who claimed that former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had collected Rs 57 crore from the public in 2013 for restoration of Vikrant.

Heavy rains in Maharashtra, two universities to suspend exams

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Web Team

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August 10, 2022

Rains, heavy rains — Image: Representative

Mumbai witnessed moderate rains along with strong winds since Tuesday and more showers are predicted over the next 24 hours, officials said.

Many parts of Maharashtra witnessed heavy rains on Wednesday, prompting two universities to suspend or cancel exams.

IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the low-pressure area attracted strong winds from the Arabian Sea which brought heavy rainfall over the region.The intensity will come down from Wednesday, he said